Race Recap: Santa Cruz Half Marathon

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Laura

Yes, I realize that this race was 4 weeks ago. I also ran the inaugural Nike DC half marathon since then and am really anxious to write that one up as it was so, so, SO much fun but my brain won’t let me do things out-of-order (I’m weird like that) so, without further ado… I FINALLY give you my version of the Santa Cruz half marathon!

Bright and early on Sunday, April 7th, I drove easily to Santa Cruz and parked in the lot across from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk just as easily. Grabbed my bib and waited in line for the porta potty. BFF Andrea warned that there weren’t enough porta potties at race start and I really should have listened to her and gotten there a tad bit earlier because the race began and I was barely able to escape the potty in time- thank goodness for timing chips! Continue reading →

Guardsmen “Training” Run

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Laura

The Guardsmen is a non-profit, volunteer based group of Bay Area men that work together to assist and improve the lives of at-risk/inner-city youth through educational and outdoor activities. I found out about The Guardsmen last year when I ran their Presidio 10 fundraising race- it was, and is, one of my most favorite races to date! So when I caught their Free Training Run event on Facebook, I signed right up and anticipated a mellow 10 miler.

Yesterday morning, Andrea and I drove out to the Inn at the Presidio in San Francisco to run with The Guardsmen. I’m not sure what those Guardsmen are training for but I haven’t run a course this difficult in… hmmmm… NEVER! Continue reading →

Friday Favorites: Places I Run

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Laura

My favorite running views!

2 blog posts in 2 days?!?!?! I know, it’s a miracle! Well, today is the the 3rd day in a row I’ve been stuck at home with my sick daughter- poor little thing! So, I figure, now is a great time to write more about my favorite topic in an effort to get a break from The Fresh Beat Band that my daughter seems to want to watch incessantly.

It’s Friday- YAY- and of course I am already thinking about where I want to log my 10-12 miles this weekend. There are so many awesome places to run here in the San Francisco Bay Area, here are just a few of my favorites… Continue reading →

One Week Streak

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Laura

Highlights from week 1! (Yes, I ran in a cemetery- very peaceful!)

Last week, I decided to join the Runner’s World holiday streak, pledging (just mentally, of course, not in blood or anything like that) to run at least one mile a day from Thanksgiving day to New Year’s. So far, so good, and today I just finished up my 9th day in a row- wow!- power to the streak!!!

I’m no Mark Covert but even just these 9 days have been very interesting and I can say that I’m really learning from this commitment and hope to make it all 40 days. Here’s how its gone so far… Continue reading →

Anya’s Ultramarathoning Awesomeness

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Laura

Anya at the finish line of her very first ultra!

I already introduced you to my friend Kate and her Ultramarathoning Awesomeness, and now for part two, I would like you to meet Anya!

I met Anya during our first season with Team in Training but it really wasn’t until our second season together as mentors that we got really close, especially on those 6am, very dark, very cold, very wet buddy runs. She is probably going to kill me for saying this but not only is Anya an amazing runner but is she such a sweetheart! Don’t let the fact that she wears all black fool you- she is kind, funny as heck, and the type of person that will tell you what you need to hear even if you don’t want to hear it! I LOVE THAT!

After completing 2 seasons of road running with TNT, Anya informed me that she was going to go Ultra. And, honestly, I was very surprised! Knowing the struggles she had on the road, I was a little concerned for my friend that jumping from a road half to a trail ultra may just ruin Anya for life; but, knowing this team and these Coaches, she was in the best hands ever. Within just a few runs on the trail, Anya was hooked! And here is what she had to say about it…

Continue reading →

Kate’s Ultramarathoning Awesomeness

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Laura

Kate crossing the Finish Line of her very first Ultra Marathon!

I met Kate my very first season with Team in Training and it was very easy to get to know her as she is one of the sweetest, kindest people I know. Plus, she is an amazing runner- very speedy, very willful. A few months after that season concluded, Kate (as well as a handful of other TNT buddies) told me that she had decided to join Team in Training’s Ultra Marathon team to raise funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society while getting ready to run her first 50K race.

Wow, I thought, that’s freaking crazy- 26.2 seems fine enough but you go girl with your 31 miles of hilly trails!

Kate started ultra training in February and completed the Skyline 50K race one week ago today. I am so very amazed and inspired by Kate’s accomplishment that I had to interview her to find out more about this crazy thing called Ultra Marathoning, and here is what she said… Continue reading →

Run for Sherry, February 11th

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Laura

I learned of the abduction and murder of Sherry Arnold from her cousin, fellow blogger Beth at Shut Up and Run. Sherry went out for her morning run on January 7th and never came home- all that has been found of her was her right Brook’s running shoe. The story was chilling, almost too tragic for someone like me to handle- I can only imagine the myriad of emotions her close friends family are going through. Continue reading →

Race Recap: Brazen’s New Year’s Day 10K

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Laura

If you know me and/or if you follow my blog, you know that I was very anti-holidays this year. When New Year’s Eve finally arrived and we started gearing up to head to Sonoma with BFFs Andrea & Josh to go for our NYE wine tasting extravaganza- I had a mental breakdown. And it wasn’t pretty. Imagine me, a grown woman, throwing my body on the ground, banging hands and feet wildly, holding my breath and screaming, “NO NO NO I DON’T WANNA!!!”

I exaggerate but yeah, I basically threw a tantrum. Hubby said, “Uh… I think you should do us all a favor and stay home.” Continue reading →

running4thereason

many reasons and many miles, all for the love of running

Tag Archives: trail running