Run Challenges

Run the Year 2016 (August edition)

Published August 31, 2016

Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016

August 2016 update: BIRTHDAY month – week on Cape Cod, chicken soup for the soul 🙂

Similar to July, fell behind on total miles but overall trained consistent. Issues mostly mental while awaiting a diagnosis. Solid [medical] plan now in place – will catch up run totals this Fall. Biggest struggle? GERD diet. Not an easy adaptation.

2 month focus (September & October): STAMINA

Marathoning 7 of the next 9 weeks. Ran 14 consecutive weeks Fall 2015 – totally doable. Mentally on board, gonna finish STRONG.

Race ReCap: Kept the streak alive at 33 months. Finished marathon #68 in Santa Rosa CA (new California PR time).

Mileage ReCap: Lagging behind, ended August at 1,313 miles (31 miles short of goal).

: ended August at 1,313 miles

: AbFab 2016

: Milestone 1200

: Milestone 1300

…remember, if you want to change your body, exercise. If you want to change your life, become a runner.

Run the Year 2016 (July edition)

Published July 31, 2016

Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016

July 2016 update: Month o’ mighty family vacations – week in St. Louis, week in Montana. Struggled to get in all my miles, but overall fairly consistent – missed only 6 days. It’s summer time, I’ll take it.

2 month focus (July & August): ENDURANCE

Never been a summer runner – completing my miles, just getting it done in July & August will be a personal victory.

Race ReCap: completed marathon #67 in Aspen, my 5^th FULL in Colorado, 32^nd consecutive month marathoning 🙂

Mileage ReCap: Still on track, ended July at 1,171 miles (5 miles short of goal).

: ended July at 1,171 miles

: summer fire season

: waiting for Papa to finish his miles

: Milestone 1100

Run the Year – August Newsletter

When you take on a year long challenge like this, you have to remember that you are not perfect. If you were perfect, there would be no room for improvement, no reason to make goals, take on challenges, or fight to improve who you are.

If you were perfect there would be no room to grow, to learn, to struggle, or to take on the impossible. Being imperfect is what makes you interesting, beautiful, complex, fun to talk to at parties. Being imperfect forces you to strive for success and to understand that failure is part of the process.

This month, celebrate your imperfections. Pick one thing to improve. Maybe add an extra mile to your weekly log. Maybe skip your afternoon snack. No matter what you choose, choose it knowing that you will still not be perfect – but that’s what makes the progress feel so good.

morning run series: Queeny Park (StL)

Published July 3, 2016

Last month kicked off the series with my local ‘go-to’ run, a quick 5 miles ‘round Waneka Lake.

This month thought I’d highlight one of my sis’ favourite runs in St. Louis. Past 3 years have FaceBook-followed Sis’ love/hate relationship with Queeny Park – summer time she’s red-faced, spring time: rain soaked, dodging lightning.

Family Reunion 2016 in St. Louis: HAD to experience Queeny.

4th of July weekend; most of Sis’ running group no-show’d (think there was a competing run in Forrest Park). Luckily this day, also missed St Louis’ infamous hot humid summer weather. Overcast skies kept morning temps in the 70’s/low 80’s. FAAANNTASTIC!

Shaded deciduous, big leafy vegetation, long patches of wildflower, multiple lake views AND hills – lotta up n down. Let’s the body know you’re alive. Often I zone during mile-stretches of flat road.

Don’t get me wrong, LOVE my Colorado trail runs…but St Louis’ Queeny Park did not disappoint. GREAT morning run!

Post-run food reward at The Shack. Family that runs together, stays together 🙂

Welcome to the fourth annual edition of The Go! List, a celebration of the best people, places and things in St. Louis. Here are our critics’ and readers’ picks.

Best breakfast • The Shack
Where 13645 Big Bend Road, Valley Park • More info 636-529-1600; shackstl.com
Where 731 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Frontenac • More info 314-736-5900; shackstl.com

The Shack began life as a midtown restaurant serving larger-than-life sandwiches. Since relocating to Valley Park and later expanding to Frontenac, it has made larger-than-life breakfasts its main calling card. (Lunch is also available.) Feast on waffle-breaded fried chicken, corn-flake-encrusted French toast or any of the omelets, skillets or other dishes, and you can skip lunch. Maybe dinner, too.