STL NEWS

04.5.16

Taper or Existential Crisis?

In kindergarten, I memorized a poem by Shel Silverstein called “Sick.” I think I must have known, subconsciously, that its message would resonate with my adult self. Namely, my adult runner self. It begins,  “I cannot go to school today,"Said little Peggy Ann McKay.&#…

Read More › 03.29.16

Dear People Turning Right

Dear People Turning Right,  You probably don’t remember me—then, again, maybe you do. You looked startled to see me. Actually, you looked equal parts startled and horrified and, traditionally, one doesn’t so quickly forget such a traumatic moment.  It was Saturd…

Read More › 03.20.16

Hurt Work

I get it. I do. Throughout marathon training, you have to challenge your body’s different systems through a variety of workouts. Tempo runs to build lactate threshold. Long runs for aerobic fitness. Speedwork to stretch VO2 Max. Then, on race day, God willing and the creek don’t …

Read More › 03.12.16

The Fire Pole

Every year, my sister and I, along with our friend Martin, would go to the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton. The event plops itself smack dab in the heart of Clayton, blocking off otherwise busy streets like Forsyth and Maryland for a temporary colony of artists from across the country who disp…

Read More › 03.11.16

Runners Make the Best Friends

I’m just gonna put it out there: we're all crazy in one way or another. At least everyone I know is a half a bubble off. We all have our idiosyncrasies that make us unique, make us who we are. Finding a friend or group of friends who can appreciate us for all of our flaws and foibles i…

Read More › 03.3.16

You Say Reckless, I Say Dedicated

There is something about distance running that transforms otherwise sensible people into irrational recreational enthusiasts. A gentler person might be inclined to say carefree or cavalier, but deep down, we all know that reckless and obsessive are more fitting. Individuals who are responsib…

Read More › 03.2.16

Run Strong

To put it simply, runners who strength train are better runners than those who don’t.  You can split runners into two categories: those who run only and those who are well-balanced athletes. Runners who incorporate strength training in their program are typically stronger, heal…

Read More › 02.24.16

The Problem with Numbers

I’m not a big numbers person. I’ve often said that were I an architect or an engineer, bridges would fall and buildings would crumble. I mean, I keep my budget on a Word document. (I know. I can hear the collective gasp of horrified finance and accounting majors.)  Numbers …

Read More › 02.18.16

Train Like an Olympian

The Olympic Marathon Trials certainly were entertaining this past weekend. There were so many story lines to follow. You had the BFFs Amy and Shalane working together to defeat the heat; Desi sticking with her game plan and letting the leaders go ahead early only to reel them in as the attri…

Read More › 02.9.16

The Power of Distraction

Don’t you get bored? What do you think about the whole time? What do you do in the winter? How do you find the time? How much do your shoes cost? No, but seriously, don’t you get bored?  Do these questions sound familiar, runners? Of course they do. Because these are the qu…

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