If you’re feeling injured, dumpy and grumpy, then watching a video of someone like Anna Frost might make you feel worse. Or it could be just the thing to transport you to a better place. I clicked through to watch it reluctantly, aware the episode could stir as much jealousy and cynicism as escapism and […]
Tag Archives | Sarah Lavender Smith
You Don’t Want to Peak and Taper Like This
I went from thinking, “This can’t be happening,” to, “I can’t believe I did this.”
Headstrong but Body Weak: How Injury and Imbalance Derailed the Best-Laid Training Plan
What the heck happened to summer and to my running? My training totally fell apart as I experienced a double whammy of injuries and had to re-learn the importance of moderation and balance.
Grand Canyon Rafting and Camping: Eight Sublime Days for One Extraordinary Family Trip
I didn’t know how much I didn’t know about the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River before rafting its length. Going all 277 miles from Lee’s Ferry to Pearce Ferry, and stopping frequently along the way to hike around the rocks, is a profoundly awe-inspiring, humbling, fascinating and thrilling experience. This post includes a section […]
Maine by Backroads: Don’t Miss These Must-Do’s
Where to run, bike, eat and stay around the coast of Maine based on our week-long trip with Backroads. I highly recommend this destination!
A Rusticator’s Dream: Running and Biking the Carriage Roads of Acadia National Park
I ran and biked a network of wide trails so idealized, perfectly groomed and thoughtfully designed that they don’t qualify as “trails.” But they’re not dirt roads, either. They are the Carriage Roads of Acadia National Park, and like the people who live around this neck of the woods, they’re in a class by themselves.
Four Reasons to Race
Racing four very different races in a six-week period gave me a lot of time to ask “Why?” Why do I repeatedly register for something that sort of feels like taking a test? This post recaps the races and gives four reasons why.
In Awe of Ann Trason
The Trail Runner blog symposium prompt this month is, “Tell about someone awesome you’ve met through trail running.” A lot of runners think Ann Trason is more than awesome; she’s considered legendary because of her unparalleled accomplishments at the peak of her running career. But I think she’s awesome for what she’s doing now, and […]
Why I Hired An Omniscient Hardass Coach
I’m entering a new phase in my training: being coached. I hired Matt Hart three weeks ago to dictate how I run. We barely know each other, but, like Santa Claus (though not at all jolly or fat), he knows when I’ve been bad or good.
A Q&A with Scott Dunlap, Master Trail Runner & Blogger
Longtime trail-running blogger Scott Dunlap was named USATF Masters Ultrarunner of the Year in 2010, and has won Masters titles in the 10-mile, half marathon, marathon and 50k distances. Then he went and set a new marathon PR last month (2:44:35). He also has a very full career and family life. How does he do […]