The dark, cool morning tricks me into thinking the race will be cooler than it is. It’s not nearly as hot as most of our training runs, but the warm air surprises me early after the starting gun. Still, I run and don’t walk at all on race day. Coach Dawn calls out to me from behind about 2 miles into the race. She asks how I am doing and I reply confidently and honestly that I am doing well.
While I never imagined having twins would include the benefit of a “spare” relay partner, I am grateful that my son will join me for the CS12. The July 4th medal he gave me hangs in my bedroom where I see it every morning as a reminder that running continues to bring our family together in new ways.
4 days before my Charles Street 12 Charm City Run training starts I receive a call. My partner for the CS12 Relay has rolled her ankle in the middle of a trail run. I am calm at first, and then it comes. What if she cannot run the race with me? Now is a good time to mention that my relay partner is also my 13-year old daughter. Before the trail run rolled ankle incident, I asked if I could write a blog for Charm City Run. The response was an enthusiastic “awesome” to the idea to chronicle the experience running the CS12 relay with my daughter.
But one of the best things you can do to enhance your running is add some strength training to your regular routine. That's because a great weight workout will not only make your muscles stronger and more powerful, but it will also harden your body to the impact of running those higher mileage sessions.
