**This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission on purchases made through these links. My lack of fitness motivation earlier this year got me thinking about why I started running in the first place. Before 2011 I was not interested in working out or running -- at all. I couldn't finish a mile if my life depended on it. I was not in a good place in my life at all, ... Read more
Gaining Back Motivation to Work Out | Half-Marathon Training
** This post contains affiliate links. Yoga pants by 90 Degrees by Reflex (similar)**; C9 sports bra (similar)**; Fabletics headband**; Brooks Adrenaline GTS 17 shoes** In October I became a work-from-home parent, and the adjustment period has taken a toll on my fitness motivation. Keeping up with a toddler is a workout in itself, am I right?! I've skipped workout after workout recently and ... Read more
4 Awesome Races to Run + Their Medals!
** This post contains affiliate links.I recently bought a race medal holder on Etsy** to finally display my medals from my five-plus years of running. I previously kept my medals tangled in a pile in my athletic attire drawer, and they were begging to be rescued. But I worked too hard to earn this bling to keep it locked away collecting dust.Now my race medals reside on a medal holder containing ... Read more
A Virtual Half Marathon | Post-Marathon Thoughts
After the Chicago Marathon I had no plans to run another marathon. I didn't have any 10Ks or half marathons in mind, either. I was only focused on finishing the marathon, resting the next day and then flying to Phoenix to pick up Victoria and returning to Chicago in one day. It was the most exhausting week of my life; even more tiring than moving to Chicago with just 11 days to prepare. Now that ... Read more
Marathon Training: Differences Between First and Second Marathons
Photo by Marathon Foto I had two goals for my second marathon: don't walk, and try to get any time better than my first marathon. When I crossed the finish line on Sunday, Oct. 9, I had no idea whether I had accomplished the second, and I would later find out that I didn't. I got almost exactly the same time, and I was initially a little disappointed. Then I realized that I shouldn't be too ... Read more
Chicago Marathon 2016 Recap
I did it! After months of training and recapping, I finished the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. I was nervous in the days ahead of the marathon because I did a lot of walking around the two days before and because I slipped in the shower and bruised my behind. I also had a stressful week at work and my life is about to be changed forever. In comparison the marathon seemed like it would be a piece ... Read more
Chicago Marathon Training Weeks 15 and 16 | It’s Race Week!
It's race week! I can't believe it: I am running 26.2 miles this weekend. And next week will be even crazier, but I'll share more about that after the marathon.Week 15I didn't recap Week 15 of Chicago Marathon training because I had a cold and didn't work out much. I didn't run my planned 10 miler either, because it was raining and I felt terrible. That week consisted of three Orangetheory ... Read more
Chicago Marathon Training, Week 9
I got on track with Chicago Marathon training in Week 9 after taking it easy the previous week. I feel good about where I am in the process, and I can't believe the race is coming up in just 54 days! Here's how I trained in Week 9:Monday: 2.06 miles at Orangetheory. We all started on the rower and the floor, which is a nice change. I typically like to start class on the treadmill to get it ... Read more
Marathon Packing List
A common question I have received recently is whether the Chicago Marathon will be my first 26.2 mile race. The answer is no. It's my second after the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville in 2015. I signed up for the race in January 2015 when I lived in Phoenix, and the plan was to spend a week in Louisville to visit family. Two months later, Graham and I made the decision to move to ... Read more
Races That Will Challenge You
Runners looking for their next challenge have tons of options. Races are no longer limited to running on a road or trail, nor are they limited to a single day. Trying out a new and different race can add variety to your race calendar and test yourself in new ways. These can include obstacle, relay or mud races. Are you ready for your next challenge? Some of the toughest races I've heard about: ... Read more