The 15th Annual Grand Rapids Marathon is Sunday. I love the Grand Rapids races. "Marathon Don" Kern and his team of volunteers put on an incredibly fun and efficient festival of races every single year. I've run the marathon and half-marathon two times each: '14 and '15 for the full, '16 and '17 for the half. …
Summer Days Are Gone
I like all the seasons. As LCD Soundsystem once said, "there's advantages to each." But, I'm sure I'm not blowing anyone's mind by saying that summer is inherently awesome. Especially Michigan summer. It's my favorite time to train; partially due to my teaching schedule (or lack-thereof), and partially due to those sunny days, hot temps, and the lakes, …
Pittsburgh. Part Two.
I woke up on May 3rd, 2015, put on a pot of coffee, and paced around the small kitchen, brimming with nervous energy. I quickly killed the pot by myself and swallowed a few sips of water, failing to recognize the preposterous hydration imbalance I'd just subjected myself to. For those of you keeping score at home, …
Pittsburgh.
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." - Murphy's Law There's an eerie stillness in those first few moments as you stare up at the sky, flat on your back, in the middle of a congested, bustling street, after your legs finally give out and you collapse to the hard concrete. It's a humbling …
Starting Line
I run a lot. Every day. No matter the weather, my current physical condition, inhospitable travel logistics, or other unforeseen calamities. I haven't missed a day since January 1, 2014. There was nothing particularly significant about that date, nor was there a need to draw the figurative line in the sand and embark on a …
A Running Life 