A common question I hear from newer runners, or at least new-to-trail runners, is whether or not they can use their road shoe on the trails, or "do I really need trail running shoes?". Runners seem to come from two different mindsets: the "sweet, an excuse to buy new gear" camp, or the "ugggh why is this 'inexpensive sport' costing me SO MUCH MONEY?" team. In this post, we're going to break Continue reading →
8 Core Strengthening Exercises for Trail Runners (No Equipment Necessary)
In the running world, I often joke that strength training is akin to flossing your teeth: everyone knows that you need to do it, but not everyone takes the time out of their day to actually do it. Instead, you put it off time and time again, convincing yourself that brushing (running) is enough. Until one day your dentist says "Have you been regularly flossing?" and you sheepishly nod your head Continue reading →
Knock on Wood 100 – 2018 Race Report
"Sometimes think I'm in this for the wrong reasons." It was somewhere around 9:30 pm on Saturday night and I was sitting on the floor of a massive wooden observation deck among the trees in the middle of the Lake Conestee woods. In retrospect, it was an absolutely ridiculous place to be. I had spent the last 25.5 hours and 87 miles on my feet and the 25 or so steps I had to climb to Continue reading →
Wambaw Swamp Stomp 50 Mile – Race Report
"Miserable" is perhaps the first word that comes to mind when asked to describe the woods of the Swamp Fox Passage in the Francis Marion National Forest. It's notoriously hot, humid, and buggy, as swamps typically are. The trail itself is deceptively difficult, with knobby roots and grass covered holes just waiting to turn an ankle, making sure you can never truly open up and run the endless Continue reading →
Tuck Fest: A Trail Runner’s Review
Laying in the grass with my eyes closed and the deafening roar of whitewater filling my ears, I found myself in an almost out of body experience as I observed my present situation. Frankly, I was a hot mess. Despite the fact that I had been wearing a hat and sunscreen all day, I could feel the exhaustion and tightness in my face and lips that comes after hours of relentless sun exposure. My Continue reading →
Everything you Need to Know about Trail Running and Poison Ivy
Let's get right to the painful, itchy topic: trail running and poison ivy. I imagined I'd be writing this post much later in the season. I did not imagine I'd be ignoring the dull roar of itchy skin while doing so. Alas, it's early April and I'm already covered in a rash from a run in with poison ivy. Ugh. I grew up in the mountains of Vermont, during the era when moms would force you out Continue reading →
Sea Level Solidarity
On January first, I wrote out the obligatory list of things I hoped to do in 2018. Some of the goals on this list are easily obtainable with a little bit of focus; some of them are a significant stretch. Reach for the stars, right? Sandwiched in the middle of the list between the easy and outlandish to-do items, there are a number of goals that I know deep down I can achieve, if I truly bust Continue reading →
5 Ways to Combat The Post Race Blues
Recently, a phone call conversation with a client revealed that one of her more pressing concerns about her upcoming 100 mile ultra wasn't necessarily finishing the ultra, but the potential onset of the post race blues. While I've never had a client say this was a concern before the race even happened, I can't say that I blame her. The post race blues are very real, and actually very Continue reading →
‘Till Lactate Threshold Levels Do Us Part
When I decided a few weeks ago that I was ready to start running again, I simultaneously decided to hand over full control of my training (and all of the planning and stressing that goes with it) to someone else. But not just anyone. I've trained as an athlete under running coaches in the past, and both times, it didn't quite work out for me. Not at any fault of the coach mind you ("It's Continue reading →
2018 Hallucination 6/12/24 Hour Trail Race Recap
To be honest, I believe a small part of me wanted to forget that the 2018 Hallucination 6/12/24 hour trail race ever happened. I suppose that's why it's taken me 54 days to write the race recap. Whenever I stop to think about how long I've been running, I think of how old my oldest kid is, and count back 60 days. Eleven years and four months. Granted I had certainly before that, I grew up an Continue reading →
6 Useless Tips for Running with Seasonal Allergies
In order to talk about running with seasonal allergies, we've got to talk about what causes the allergies in the first place. In my case, and in the case of this written-out-of-total-frustration-and-lack-of-oxygen blog post, it's the trees. Trees truly are one of the most important things on this green planet. Simply put: without their life giving oxygen, we wouldn't exist. And I'm convinced Continue reading →
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