Plain Jane Plain Talk
Journals from the road, trails and at sea
Category: Running Tales
-
At the darkest of night when the moonlight fades, the winds are still and the-sane-ones are in deep REM, we stood in a parking lot for the first-time questioning the brilliance of running a marathon. A car door opened in the distance and we weren’t alone, we just weren’t sure who we were alone with. …
-
The organizers of the Grand TrailFest brimmed with positivity. We survived trail running days 1 and 2 and through their words dreamed about our final treat — running on Navajo land viewing the Grand Canyon at Horseshoe Bend before dropping into the Slot Canyon. It’s day 3 on legs that no longer bend and who’s…
-
Any pains from weary legs and tenderized feet melted away thanks to temps in the 40s, half the elevation of Bryce, and anticipation of views along the Mesa’s of Zion. Today’s course would start with a 3+ mile descent, a 7ish mile loop around the rim of the Mesa — a mountain that is wider…
-
There is a certain excitement that takes over when you are about to embark in something that is completely beyond your comprehension — and skill level. How can we possibly climb these cliffs?, and what exactly did the race organizers mean by steep descents — is that code for free fall? — and why must…
-
We departed Kansas City at 5:30 am and drove an entire hour before finding coffee a few miles east of Topeka. It was a lucky find. After Topeka there was no chance of waking up for 400 miles. Wiki refers to Kansas topography as having 2 sections — the Osage Plains and Flint Hills —…
-
We put Ruby Red Lips to bed, sipping juice on a charging station in front of the hotel just west of Columbus, Ohio. I crashed from a long day of driving, and Ms Mario could not let go of racing Ruby in her dreams, so she lay awake the night. I opened my eyes at…
-
Ruby Red Lips had her favorite driver behind the wheel, the one who tested the outer bounds of every speed limit, the one with no fear of jamming the accelerator to the floorboard, watching all objects appear further in the rear view and a co-pilot riding fetal. Her tires barely touched the road and she…
-
Sign-on for 3 days of trail running in remote Utah because it sounded cool – 9 months back. Begin altitude training without the altitude – 4 months ago. Plan juice stops for a x-country ride in an electric car – 3 weeks deep. Pat ourselves on the back for our superb organization, packing & food…
-
The morning alarm blared far too early and this time coffee was not strong enough to loosen my fog but that was OK as Jill was driving us today to our simulation run of the Utah Canyons — via downtown Washington, DC. Our Thelma and Louise cross-country road-trip for The Grandfest is less than 2…
-
Blog Post: by Jill We are 5 weeks in and I am just leaning in to contribute to our Grand Trailfest training journal. The challenges of the training go beyond the quick steps on hot pavement; out maneuvering the invisible spider webs in the early morning hours; avoiding prickly, clinging bushes as we trail-blaze through…
-
The best discovery of surviving 3 days of running in excessive heat — is learning that training in heat is a handy substitute for training in higher altitudes. According to research, if your training lacks altitude, just run in an oven. Grand Trailfest, here we come! Given this news, we’ve considered adjusting our attitude. Maybe…
-
The weather forecast is filled with phrases such as “Excessive Heat”, and recommendations to stay inside, find air conditioning, avoid exercise, and I thought about heeding those warnings.
-
When the FitBit reads oh-four-thirty-ish, running gear includes headlamps and the thick wet morning air belongs in a sauna — you can stake claim to the label: Sleep-deprived East Coast runner. Or, simply someone who has lost their sensibilities. Yes, the Grand Trailfest is under 3 months away. Yes, we are still searching for replica-trails…
-
Three back-to-back training days included a 13 mile jog/walk on the 4th of July (with fireworks detours), an 11 mile run the day after with less than 1/2 mile of actual trail running, and a final day of 6 miles that included 2 miles running home-runs over-n-over on the local baseball field. Here is where…
-
Jill insisted we take to the trails of Patapsco Park near Ellicott City at 0600 and I was not one to argue when her mind is made. So off we went, first along delightful pavement of which I am familiar, then over to a rocky trail surface filled with stones 3 inch in size, millions…
-
The sistahood (sister-in-law’s Jane and Jill) are bonded by more than family, same age (within months), and hours and hours of training and partaking in exercise events that sometimes requires kicking and fussing (think open water swimming) to get to the start line. The sistas are bonded by a twinge of madness that includes never…
-
A decision to run another marathon might include mulling the details of fitness, nutrition, volume running, long runs, speed-work, hill work, the course layout — is it flat? hilly? urban? oh-natural? — all of which require dedicated planning and training for 16 weeks prior to showing up. Or, the decision might evolve from a chance…
-
I learned from my own NYC Marathon finish in 2014, that the volunteers are a special breed of human. From a runner’s perspective, NYC Marathon volunteers, wear official jackets, along with unofficial halos. They take the time to look you in the eye, grant your every wish (mostly), restore your anxiety to a sense of…
-
Wait! Ok…go on now with multiple exercise opportunities! Start with a bicycle ride along the Baltimore Harbor waterfront
-
We had signed up for the Blue Ridge Half Marathon in the dead of winter. The days when the temperatures were in single digits, the outdoor runs were slim to none and signing up for something that was advertised as the “worlds hardest half marathon’ seemed like a way out of the winter doldrums. We…
-
It all started when my running partner was running late for our rendezvous in Bethesda. With 15 minutes of spare time on my hands, I wandered through the Barnes and Noble bookstore. With no particular agenda (other than to stay warm for 15 minutes), I pretended to be a customer. Meandering along shelves of books,…
-
We left our campground in Mount Pleasant by 6AM – for a 30 minute drive into downtown Charleston. At 36 degrees, I was expecting to be bone cold while waiting outdoors 1.5 hours for the 8AM start but the run gods were on our side as Burke Middle School was open and all 4300 runners…
-
We are seeking a winter reprieve to 20 something degree Maryland temperatures, and choose Charleston SC as our destination. What’s not to love about Charleston? A big city, with a small town southern charm. Oh – and it should be warmer than Maryland. Our southern mini-vacation began with a good old fashioned ice storm. The…
-
The Alps of Crozet are located in France, exactly where they belong. But, if you are not needing to cross the Atlantic, live in the vicinity of Washington DC, and have a “thing” for running uphill in an all femme half marathon – the Alps of Crozet located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge…
-
I could tell you that 5 layers of clothing and 2 heat sheets were not enough to keep you warm at Fort Wadsworth. I could tell you that the 50+ mph winds were so severe, that the race organizers had to modify the start for the wheelchair division athletes — so that they avoided the…
-
My NYC marathons are on a 15 year (approx) cycle. In 1985 – I ran/finished my first NYC marathon….followed by #2 in 1999….and #3 yet to come – Nov 2, 2014. So many things have changed….
-
On the road by 4:30AM, and accompanied by triSista Tamar – we made our way north for a 2.5 hour road trip – to Philadelphia for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. The Philly Half Marathon has become one of my favorite venues – thanks to the amazing course route that blends both downtown cityscape…
-
My next ‘long run’ would be in a new neighborhood. A new city. On the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I was looking forward to running in new territory. But first, we had to ‘get there’. OK. It wasn’t the best weather day for a 35 mile sail from Baltimore to Georgetown Maryland. We were…
-
One of my favorite events – is the Baltimore Women’s Classic 5K. I’m not sure if it is a favorite because the distance is short…the course is fast…the vibe is great…or some combination thereof! Regardless, just under 4000 women of all ages and abilities – join together to walk or run a 5K and support…
-
I ran up the winding switchbacks of South Mountain, lungs ready to burst, barely noticing the Susquehanna Valley views. Ten more steps to reach the summit, where the city turned to country, and the country roads flattened. Flipping through a jukebox in my mind for songs that kept up the tempo of feet hitting asphalt…
Plain Jane Plain Talk 