I used to think walking during a run meant I was failing. After all, I had been a runner in high school. I ran the mile and the two-mile. Later, I ran the Army two-mile. Back then, the expectation was simple: “It’s only a mile or two. Just run it.” No walking. No slowing down. … Read more
Thinking About Your First 5K? So you’re thinking about signing up for your first 5K after 50. Maybe you’ve never done one before. Or maybe it’s been a really long time. There may be a nagging voice in the back of your mind saying: “You’re too old to start running.” “You’re too out of shape.” … Read more
I hear this one all the time. “I’d love to do runDisney…but I’m not a runner.” My answer? Good. Because neither are a whole lot of people standing in those corrals. You do not have to be fast. You definitely do not have to be a super athlete. And you certainly do not have to … Read more
Introduction So you’ve started running after 50. You’re feeling pretty good. Then you finish your run/walk/run, glance at your watch, and look at your pace. And there it is. “That was really slow.” If you’re anything like me, the temptation is to compare yourself to everyone else. Open Instagram and suddenly it feels like every … Read more
Introduction Here is where I need to be honest. I don’t like to run. When I’m out there hitting the pavement, I question what I’m doing. Wouldn’t I rather be taking a cardio class? Or, better yet, curled up with a good book and a cup of coffee? Absolutely. And since it’s summer in Texas, … Read more
Introduction Like so many of us, I was scrolling through Instagram before bed when a video made me stop. It was another runDisney runner talking about her training. I don’t remember which race weekend she was training for, but one thing she said caught my attention. She had completed races before but had never tried … Read more
Should you start running at 50 if you haven’t run since you were a teenager? What if you’ve never been a runner at all? If you’re thinking… I’m too old. I’ll get hurt. I’ve never been a runner. Let me say this clearly. Just because you’re over 50 doesn’t mean you can’t do hard things. … Read more
There is something both terrifying and freeing about starting again. Not starting over, exactly. Starting over sounds like everything before this point was wasted, and I do not believe that. Every mile, every attempt, every messy training week, every doubt spiral, every finish line, every walk break, every “I don’t know if I can do … Read more
The Moment This week marks the official start of Dopey Challenge training. That means I have 28 weeks until I attempt one of the biggest goals I’ve ever set for myself. If you aren’t familiar with the Dopey Challenge, it’s 48.6 miles in one weekend. Thursday – 5K Friday – 10K Saturday – Half Marathon … Read more
(It’s More Than the Medals… But Yes, It’s Also the Medals) People ask why I keep going back to runDisney. They tell me… It’s expensive. It’s halfway across the country. You’re too old to be running that far. You’ve already done it before. If they’ve run a runDisney race themselves, they usually ask a different … Read more