Go & Glow

Another NYC marathon completed and the vibes were so strong! I absolutely love this race. I was originally on deck to pace a much slower time (will run any time I get selected to do!) but then got switched to a faster one a few weeks ago. Lots of miles logged this Fall (insert an ultra, and 2 marathons in the past month!) but every cell in my body was trying to hang on and be healthy for NYC as this is THE race to celebrate being a part of. Running this race makes me feel so alive, and this city brings it on so many levels. The energy is electric. That’s one of the many reasons I keep coming back.

Also, I feel incredible gratitude to my whole community who helps support this tad bit of weirdo running obsession I have! Those who know me, understand it keeps me grounded, a bit less scatterbrained and holds my anxiety in check. It provides a source (ironically) for endless energy and gives me even more motivation for routing for a bigger goal - and the curiosity to explore just that. And to run - pace (!) - this specific marathon, allows me to fully embrace so much of this. Sure, I had doubts going into this marathon if I could actually keep a relatively even effort/pace the whole way (I am human after all - I am also ‘trending’ on the slower end - hello, getting older!- yet embracing slower paces these days so this was a bit out of my comfort zone!), but even despite some stomach issues on course (I could only take one bag of gummies…not ideal!) I was able to stick to my assigned pace. Knowing you are part of something bigger is an incredible motivator. And that’s also what makes us stronger - and allows you realize what you might be (or are!) capable of.

The energy and aura were so strong today and I felt all of it both and off the course. I saw so many friends today and know I so missed even more - but I truly felt all your love. Thank you! ❤️

Ran the Hartford Marathon today and it exceeded all my expectations and more. This was the second time I ran it, and like the first time, my goals were simply to have fun and enjoy each mile. While I had no specific time goals - I definitely wanted to be ‘around 4 hours’ simply because I had a lot of things to do in the afternoon and that just seemed like a good time to shoot for based on the paces I typically run these days.

The last time I ran what I call a fast marathon (a sub 3:30) was 5 years ago - when I was still in my 30’s. Then the pandemic happened and races were cancelled and when they did resume, I just didn’t feel the desire to even run road marathons again (other than pacing them) and focused on getting into trail running and the occasional ultra. This meant fully embracing my ‘slow running era.’

But today, when I started the race, my watch started to show I was running some paces that I rarely run on my everyday runs, but I just figured I would eventually slow down at some point. But as the miles become double digits, I found myself feeling even stronger. I started to have multiple conversations in my head about various finish time scenarios - if I slowed a full minute per mile, I would still be under 4, but what if I didn’t? Could I even get under 3:50? What did I want to do? The last few miles I kept getting faster - despite me stopping multiple times for water. When I finished - I felt like I was flying and wanted to keep going. 3:47:30. While that’s nearly 20 minutes slower than my PR, it’s also a time I did not train for, and the fastest marathon in my 40’s. I also ran (paced) another marathon 6 days ago! So to me, it feels like a PR. A completely unexpected one. Sometimes you take a swing and go for it - even if you didn’t realize what you were actually aiming for. It feels amazing.

And times aside - I enjoyed this event even more this year! Saw so many friends and familiar faces on the course, and left inspired by the crowds and fellow runners. This community lifts you up in so many amazing ways.

Last weekend, I ran across the state and in doing so, logged a new distance record for myself (56 miles!). I’m still coming down from the runners high and left wondering…’how did I do that?’…not because I didn’t trust that I could run that far, but because it was an incredibly hot and humid day and yet I felt strong the entire way. I also finished the run as the first female finisher and second overall! I went into the event pretty confident I would be able to finish before the cutoffs, but I didn’t expect to feel so good the whole way in adverse conditions, and do so well. I was determined to finish but had no time goals, and assumed I would eventually switch to a run/walk in the later miles but for some reason, going a little faster (and running the whole time) was what worked for me. I ran with some great people for the first half and then ran mostly solo for the second half but just conjured up positive thoughts while continuing to pour water on myself to keep cool from miles 30-56. I’m really proud of what I pulled off, and grateful for a community of support both on and off the course. Collectively, those who ran raised thousands of dollars for a great organization and having a larger mission attached helped fuel the drive to keep going. The soda and snacks along the course sure helped, too.

But beyond all this, I’m realizing that I’m rewriting my own narrative. For me, as a person who is very new to the ultra running community (and up until a few years ago thought I would never do anything more than 26.2 miles), I’ve been slowly pushing these barriers of what I think I can do, even as life gets busier and I get older. Whatever I once thought were limits are now purely ones of fiction. I love having big goals that seem nearly impossible, then tackling them piece by piece (or mile by mile). If you give someone time, harness a bit of willpower and grit, they’ll get there. And the bonus is if they can find joy and appreciation in the process, as that makes it even more meaningful. Slowly, the idea becomes more attainable, within sight. It becomes a real, tangible thing. While the image is constantly evolving, I’m putting myself in that picture.

What a treat to pace the Wineglass Marathon this year! Despite unseasonably warm weather (temperatures soared into the low 80’s), it was a joyful experience. From the wine tasting at the expo - which was also in a museum (!) - to taking in the scenic surroundings, it filled my cup. Most of the pacers were housed together which provided some bonding time and made it feel like summer camp. We connected over running stories and the shared love for this crazy sport we willfully keep coming back to.

This opportunity popped up less than a week before the race, but I was so glad I could make it work. Once I figured out the logistics of juggling kids’ activities/family schedules it was smooth sailing. (The long drive was the hardest part because I hate to sit for long periods of time but snacks and The Life of a Showgirl helped.) I never thought that one day I would be in ‘marathon shape’ enough to be able to jump into a race of this distance with little notice (and more marathons planned over the next few weeks!), but here I am, casually running marathons on weekends when I can. It is truly a gift that I don’t take for granted.

My finish time: 4:14:32, so 28 seconds under my posted time. Pacing duties ✔️

While these are stressful times we are in, when we are able to connect with strangers towards a common goal, it gives us a renewed sense of equanimity.

This year, Mother’s Day made me realize that I have been officially coaching runners for a decade. 10 years…and probably hundreds (or thousands?) of so many athletes I have had the pleasure to work with. The connection to Mother’s Day is rooted in the fact that the side of me that is a running coach originated soon after I became mom…some of you may know I was a pretty avid runner before (and during my first pregnancy) but after I gave birth I felt like it was uncharted territory. ‘Back in the day’ there wasn’t a lot of information for women navigating their postpartum/return-to-running journey so I figured I would get a couple certifications for my own knowledge. But I quickly realized that I could actually share this and my own experiences with others; I didn’t have to be an elite runner to share coaching wisdom, and that coaching brings people together and can in many ways make a big difference in one’s life. What was at many times a side hustle that I juggled on top of other jobs (and raising a family!), it was also at times my lifeline. When you challenge yourself, it can be scary but also brings out some of the qualities that you didn’t know existed-but that were there all along. Running can do this. It can bring community that you didn’t know you needed, and it’s there if you reach for it. It makes us realize that our strengths come in many forms - and it’s not just the physical ones. And above all, it’s about connection. Connection to our inner selves, and to one another. We are more alike than we realize. As I reflect back on the last 10 years, I am forever grateful for all my athletes who have taught ME so much. May you all continue to forge your own journeys. Let’s keep on inspiring each other as we look ahead down the road, and on to the next path on the horizon. photos:

I always feel a bit off at this time of the year - after all, some parts of the world follow one type of calendar while others do not (here in the ‘west,’ we follow the Gregorian calendar), so in theory, we flip to the next day and it’s a new year! So in one ball drop, a flip of a switch, voila (!). Many of us feel pressure to abruptly adhere to resolutions we feel we have to commit to…or have a momentary reflection of the past ‘year’ (again, what really IS a year in our world?!). The older I get, the more I realize - or viscerally feel - how lines merge and things kind of blend together. There is no hard line or date that makes me realize I am suddenly a more enlightened person (or feel the need to better myself) - it’s simply just a journey and process. For me, last ‘year’ was pretty good to us, just like the last, and yes there were many ups and downs but we are still here, and thrusting forward, whether we like it or not. So dates may change but it’s that forward momentum, the desires and wishes and curiosity that propels us onward into what? Perhaps it may be not all new, but a familiar place at its root (yet full of wonder) that teaches us to still be both at peace with ourselves and also pushing us to explore more. So on to the next.

The NYC marathon is absolutely my favorite day of the year, and sums up what it means to be a human on this earth. It’s got a whole lot of ups and downs, it’s really f*cking tough for a lot of the time, but yet…what is constant is that if you look around you, there is still kindness and joy. In this journey, there will be people shouting at you, and honestly at times you want to tune it all out. That’s ok. But if you listen, and be selective about what you hear, you’ll realize that even strangers are chearing you on. We all hope we have our own village, but beyond that, it’s a big and even scary place of unknowns. Yet, in the race, there are people from all over the world, all trying their best in their own way to lift each other up. You’re running in the footsteps of so many others that come before you, showing that yes, you too can carry on. Many of us will cross those actual finish lines, and some others will not in a given day, but hopefully we will all be motivated to try again…or even pivot to what a finish line actually means. We are driven by a combination of our inner desires and yet we rely so much on our support network, which if you truly look around, it’s in the faces of both the familiar and the unfamiliar. So thank you, as always, NYC. Thank you for reminding us all that we are all connected in some way and if you reach out, smile at a stranger, or simply nod with a look of ‘I see you,’ we are all better off because of all this.

Pacing NYC marathon #4, (8th NYC finishes total), 20th marathon. Last slides are my watch splits vs official splits, so a whole lot of runner math and a bit of luck to have our mission accomplished and pretty much nailing the pace.

A bit of a photo dump from part of my summer…now that I am back stateside, I am still feeling very forever grateful for the opportunity to spend many weeks soaking so much goodness that comes in my forms: surroundings, history, culture, and family.

I see my in-laws only once a year, but every year we are constantly adapting and figuring out ‘how this all works’ with packing as much in with our visit especially as we experience aging parents, working remotely, and making sure our kids are stimulated. Fortunately, kids’ activities here are incredibly cheap and very accessible, so that’s the easy part! We also got to fit in a few days of actual vacation (my husband and I worked remotely for 90% of the time!), and the tru vacation highlights include in a visit to Barcelona for a week with just him and I and then having long weekend in Normandy visiting the D-Day sites with the whole family. And yes, I probably ran too much when so was there (my whole being is feeling like I now need another vacation 😬), but when this is truly one of your happy places (and yet you’re also an introvert and reallllly need your alone time!), you maximize your time.

These blissful scenes are something to hold onto, as it’s easy to be distracted by the other reality of not really knowing the language (despite me going there annually for 17+ years), being a little sick when I was there probably due to copious amounts of meat in every meal, and of course missing what I am so privileged to have here that many of us take for granted: a fast internet connection, snacking, peanut butter, stores open all day, air conditioning….

Still, these are still core memories to feed off on, even if they have a more nuanced taint upon reflection.

So I decided 2 days ago to run a trail race and very happy with this decision…ended up netting 34 miles and getting first place female overall! Haven’t run a trail race in almost a year in a half but I guess some takeaways are you never know what can happen if you don’t put yourself out there and take some risks (yes, I fell today, but I am ok!). Very pleased to have this be my third ultra and finally win one for a change!

Spoiler alert: marathons are still hard no matter how many you run and whatever pace you decide to run them in! I swore off (road) marathons a few years ago (or wanted to take a hiatus), as I felt like that ship had sailed, there was still a lingering pressure (probably my own!) of hitting certain paces, I wanted to focus more on occasional trail or ultra races when I felt like it, and I really didn’t want any constructs to training like it used to be when I was in the cycle of marathon after marathon (and many race distances in between). But when asked me to pace the 4:15 finish time a few months ago…it was an offer I couldn’t refuse! I LOVE THIS RACE. It’s my favorite day. Yes, everyone moans about the fact there are 2 marathons in one…getting to the start, then the marathon itself (and depending on where you live, getting back home!). But the trade off is that the energy on the course is electric (to the point of absolutely fatiguing but all in a good way!), and it’s really a huge party for all 26.2+ miles. Even introverts like me just soak it up and want…more. I was so happy to be back, despite having a cold (thanks to my kids!), having awful stomach issues (yes, I only had 2 gels and water…don’t repeat this!), watch gps weirdness (so just go by elapsed time and do runner math!)…I could go on with all the things that didn’t quite go to plan and honestly, it doesn’t matter…all these things that were out of my control. What was in my grasp was taking in the joy that all the crowds and fellow runners brought. I saw so many friends out there and even strangers felt like friends, too. I deeply felt this and will carry this long after I put away my medal. Thank you, NYC! ❤️

Virtual Run Club for enrollment opens Monday Sept 4! The 7-week Fall series will run from Sept 18-Oct 30. This sells out! This is co-hosted with so you get run workouts, weekly fascia release modules, cardio workouts, coaching calls and advice, and support from the group (and more!)!

Curious about what this entails? Click the link in my bio or DM me!

I got into the lottery for the Mt. Washington Road Race earlier this year and was ready for the challenge! It’s a race that follows the auto road and finishes at the summit, with an average of over 12% grade and nearly 4700 feet of elevation gain, in ‘only’ 7.6 miles. The tough parts are that there are no level areas for relief (‘it’s just one hill!’), it’s unrelentingly steep, and you also need to be prepared for different weather between the base and the summit. This year, they officially modified the course last minute because of severe summit conditions (wind gusts were nearing 100mph, with ice + snow and windchills in the low teens to sub-zero.) Originally we were supposed to be responsible for our own transportation from the top (carpool!), but this time because of conditions, the course finished at the 4 mile mark and we had to run or walk down. You’d think that being born in NH and raised in VT I had been to the area, but I had never been up to the White Mountains (I wasn’t outdoorsy growing up.) When I arrived to the area yesterday and didn’t yet know if the race was either going to be cancelled or modified, I figured I would just consider the entire experience and not put my eggs in one basket. I did an intense hike, then went on a run on a rail trail. After picking up my bib, I ran a mile up (and down) on part of the course to see just how hard it would be…it’s extremely steep! When I woke up on race morning, no surprise but I was sore from my nearly 15 miles (!) logged the day before. The race was one of the most humbling of races I have experienced-while I feel like hills are my jam…it sure takes a monster one to put you in your place! Early on I decided to do run/walk intervals, but I would limit my walking to 10-20 seconds. This helped especially when the wind started to pick up, I felt like I had more control over my effort even if forces seem to push me back. When I finished I quickly bundled up and ran back down (hard when you’re 40 and had two kids…pelvic floor needs work!). I snagged 7th in my age group! I’ll be sore for a bit but will savor this experience for much longer.