Aesthete Runner

The first edition of Trail Tuesday! Every Tuesday I will post some sights from the trails from the week's runs. Enjoy... Waterfall Glen loop Waterfall Glen loop Possibly a blue heron in Greene Valley Forest Preserve Bolingbrook Dupage River Greenway Trail "My" heron (white ) with his mate (grey)-  Bolingbrook Dupage River Greenway Trail

Today I officially completed the first 4 weeks of the Hansons Marathon Method Beginner plan . The first 5 weeks are basically base building weeks, and I have been using them to build back up my mileage after running a half marathon about 6 weeks ago. I used Hansons Half Marathon Method Beginner plan for my half marathon, and took 6 minutes off of my half time which was pretty impressive and sold me on Hansons. I had been on the fence about whether or not I wanted to use Hansons or Daniels Running Formula, which is another popular marathon plan. I read both books, and decided I would use Hansons for my spring half marathon and see how I liked it and whether or not I could commit to it for my fall marathon. In previous posts I had alluded to the fact that I was not happy with my first marathon time, and I really wanted to commit to getting faster. Granted I will never be a fast runner who wins an age group, however after reading a lot about marathons I understood that part of improving...

What broken elbow? Everyone has their reasons for running, and I have found that it is much easier to commit to training and running a distance race when you have something motivating you. The first time I ran a half marathon, I did it for me as a personal goal. Naturally I race against myself every time I enter a race. I want to beat my previous time on that course and achieve a personal best. Sometimes motivation might be finishing a race after injury. I ran my slowest half marathon just 2 and a half months after breaking my elbow, yet I felt amazing because I was able to finish. For me, running for charity is one of the best ways I can give back to a sport that has given a lot to me. I will never win a race or have the fastest time and I am okay with that. Instead, I choose to run to raise money and awareness for causes that are important to me. When I look back at my first half marathon, I was most inspired by those running for something bigger than themselves. I remember run...

It is hard to believe that this time last year, I was starting to train for my first marathon. I had no idea what to expect, and just like those who have given birth, you really don't know what something is like until you experience it yourself. Yes, I am the fool wearing shorts in October in Michigan. Lesson learned. Overall, I had a great first marathon experience. I read the books, followed a plan to a "t", listened to advice from experienced marathoners and was as prepared as I could be. I did not go into the race with a time goal and I knew that it would hurt and be one of the most difficult things I had ever done. I chose a race that I felt I would enjoy - one that did not have a time limit and a course that included a trail portion. I crossed the finish line and I had never felt more proud of myself. No one had done it for me - I did it myself, with weeks of hard training and dedication. I enjoyed my achievement, but I could not help by reflect on my perfo...

Who am I? My name is Heather and I have never been classified as a runner. As a child and teenager, I hated running and was often teased during team sports for how slow I ran. Many years and races later, I am indeed a runner. I love the saying, "If you run, you are a runner". The wonderful thing about running is that anyone can do it. Some of us may be faster than others or run longer distances, but if you put on a pair of shoes and move, you are runner. I started running after I signed up for a 5k. Being from Chicago, I am a huge Blackhawks fan and the team used to hold a 5k every year on the day of training camp. A runner could get free entry into the practice if he or she ran the race. I figured this would be something my husband and I could do together. Like most, I searched for 5k plans on the internet and came across the Couch to 5k training plan. I spent the summer walking, then walk-running, then run-walking, then running according to the plan wearing...