Live. Give. Run. Blog
To Inspire and Move the Human Spirt, One Sole at a Time
I hear it through the bathroom door: “Event 582 Final Call, event 582 Final Call. Please make your way to the paddock.” The official's voice is muffled but unmistakable, and those two words-final call- are a sign to every track athlete that this is the moment. Those words mean go time. I straighten my singlet, making sure the “PENN” I wear emblazoned on my chest is loud and clear. I set my shoulders and take a deep breath and step out of Weightman Hall with my relay team to the roar of the 36,000 deep crowd at the 126th annual Penn Relays.
Trail running is hard, complicated and at times, it can be frustrating. Trail running is also enthralling, natural, the trail is alive and provides the greatest sensation of accomplishment I have ever found. Trail running is spiritual for me, as much as it is physical. My friend and running partner, Celia and I, are running the Appalachian Trail (AT), from Georgia to Maine in long weekend segments. We are two mothers of two, with full time jobs and full plates who created this opportunity for ourselves. We named it the AT RunVenture Project because we wanted to keep it fun, an adventure in exploration
Running is something that, for me, evolved over time. It began with friends as a way to get exercise and connect with other women. Most races in the 1980s were co-ed…The Rite of Spring, The Constellation 10K, The Crustacean Crawl, and the Father’s Day 5K. The Lady Equitable was unique because it was a women’s only race. It was sponsored by Equitable Back and the course was in downtown Baltimore. After many mergers, Equitable Bank no longer exists nor does this race.
As a runner (although that term could be applied loosely these days), spring is one of my favorite times of the year. The weather is starting to turn and suddenly 50 degrees doesn't seem so bad after all. If you trained through the winter you are excited to see what you can accomplish early on as you build toward your goals for the year. If you took the hibernation strategy it's time to get back to business, and building fitness is a humbling but rewarding experience. After a spectacular crash-and-burn in my first marathon attempt, the allure of redeeming myself has me getting back in the training mix. Either way, the roads and trails are buzzing with runners and walkers anxious to enjoy time outdoors.
Picture it: a beautiful day in Colorado, skiing under clear blue skies when out of nowhere: BOOM! I was hit by an out-of-control skier. The aftermath of the accident was a complete tear of my left ACL as well as a partially torn meniscus.
The pain of the injury was intense, but short-lived. By the time I had made it to the emergency center at the mountain base, I had only minimal physical discomfort. However, after learning of my diagnosis and the long road of recovery ahead of me, the mental discomfort was real…and not short lived.
For Charm City Run Events, the festivities begin with the arrival of March and the Under Armour Kelly Benefits St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5K. I can’t imagine any better way to kick off the racing season than with the first race of the B3 Distance Series. The Shamrock 5K is one of the most celebrated annual Baltimore City events with support from thousands of city residents who, despite road closures and other logistic challenges, not only accept it, but embrace it! This can be seen by the large crowds that show up to cheer participants and celebrate Irish heritage. Shamrock is an absolute blast for everyone involved and having the ability to hold the race in person after two years of virtual events adds to the excitement. It’s the precursor to the warmer days of Spring around the corner and a calendar of amazing running Events.
I put off working with a nutritionist until it was the last thing I could think of to improve my running. Charm City Run Nutrition Program Coach and Sports Dietitian Sarah Schlichter and I actually exchanged emails months before I decided to move forward. I wasn’t sure, at that time, I could change. I’m pretty stubborn about certain things, and food has always been one of them. My friends and family actually used to call me “Picky Nicky” because of how particular I was about what I would eat growing up.
