Running
Snowmageddon
When I decided to move from Boston to Washington DC, one of the first things everyone said was, “Hot summers in DC… But much milder winters. You’ll enjoy that.” When I decided to train for the Boston Marathon, one of the first things everyone said was, “Milder winters in DC… Much easier to run down there. Lucky for you.” As a lifetime…
Read MoreThe Great Rivalry of Boston 2010: The Kenyans v. REM Runner
Like all great rivalries, this one goes way back. I don’t remember why or when it started. Oh wait, yes I do. It began exactly two weeks day ago, on the day I ran 15 miles. When I left for my run that day, I removed my apartment keys from my keychain and tied them into my…
Read MoreAnatomy 101
I’ve just learned a new word: “piriformis.” It’s my new favorite word, I can’t stop saying it — piriformis, piriformis. It sounds like something delicious, an Italian dessert perhaps. And in fact, “piriformis” means pear-shaped in Latin – which I find adorable. Who doesn’t love pears? However, the context of how I learned my new…
Read MoreDecisions Decisions.
“What if you don’t finish?” My brow furrowed and my eyes squinted, as I mulled the question over in my head… Hmmm. What happens if I don’t finish the marathon? I didn’t know how to respond; I drew a blank. Noticing my dumb-founded expression, my inquisitor quickly backtracked, thinking they’d deeply offended me. Re-clarifying, they…
Read MoreThis just in from Boston…
Today in the mail I received official notice from the Boston Athletic Association confirming my acceptance into the 114th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 19th, 2010! So it’s actually happening, this 26.2 mile run of mine. I ran 14 miles last week, and although it went smoothly – it’s hard to imagine that this was…
Read MoreDangerous Laughter
I was already dressed for my run: my favorite mint-green running shorts, baggy white t-shirt, and sneakers double-knotted. My iPod lay on the kitchen counter, charged up and ready to go. But before I could leave, I got caught up in a lively conversation with my roommate in our living room. Something was funny and when…
Read MoreREM Runner’s New Year’s Resolution
I hate stretching. Always have. Always will. Some runners never stretch – I used to be one of them. Unfortunately, I learned the importance of stretching the hard way… (A story I’ll share in a future blog post). For now, let’s just say – if I somehow manage to cross the finish line in April,…
Read MoreBorn to run? Not me.
“You don’t strike me as the marathon type.” There is a prolonged silence on the phone… I’m totally caught off-guard. Up until speaking with this particular friend, everyone else was ferociously applauding my efforts to train for the marathon. I’m used to saying “thank you” and taking a bow at this point of the conversation.…
Read MoreIntroduction: From Where I Stand
There are times when I can’t walk from one side of a room to the other without falling to the ground. I have a disorder called narcolepsy with cataplexy, and cataplexy is a rare form of temporary muscle paralysis that can lead to full body collapse. There is no cure for this disorder at this…
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