Search Results for: blog running your first marathon

The Truth About Your Diet During Pregnancy

One of the assumptions I made about pregnancy prior to becoming pregnant is I’d have a diet-related Get out of Jail Free card.  I knew that there are certain foods it’s best to avoid, but I thought at least I’d have a free pass to eat, well, not quite as much as I wanted, but to feel a bit more guilt-free about evening ice cream binges. That turned out not to be the case at all.  First off, the whole “eating for two” thing isn’t true.  At most, you should eat for one and a quarter.  In addition to that, … Continue reading →

The Many Marathons of runDisney

I just came in from my morning run with my dog, so it seems appropriate that now I’d sit down to write about the Disney Parks’ many marathons. I run for the sake of my health and my dog’s health, however, not so much for fun, so don’t expect to hear of me signing up for any of these any time soon. For 2012 runDisney has added another marathon to its schedule. The Los Angeles Examiner reports that on January 29, 2012 Disneyland will host the Tinker Bell Half Marathon. This is another event exclusively for women, joining the already-established … Continue reading →

Marathon Monday at Disney World

Now there’s more than one way to earn a free day at Disney World. For 2010, those who volunteer in their local community can sign up for a free trip to Disneyland or Disney World. Next year, anyone who completes the Walt Disney World Marathon gets free admission to the park the following day. The official Disney Parks blog announces “Marathon Monday,” taking place on January 10, 2011. Everyone who finishes the 26.2-mile Disney World Marathon on January 9 can bring their finishers medal in place of a ticket to one of the Walt Disney World parks the following day. … Continue reading →

Running Your First Marathon?

If you have been running for some time and are contemplating taking it a step further prepare your body first. Running in a first-time marathon is major. It is major exciting and major challenging. Like most beginning marathon runners you probably like both of those ideas, excitement and challenge. It is a thrill to be out there for the first time with a bunch of other runners. You are hoping to win, of course, but that is not the most important thing in mind. We all want to win, but even more you want to prove it to yourself that … Continue reading →

For the Love of Running

I don’t love to run. In fact, on most days I dread the thought of having to lace up my Brooks Ariels and hitting the trails near my home. Still, I do it, because it is a cheap way to maintain a decent fitness level and it allows me to occasionally devour my daughter’s leftover jelly donuts with the least amount of guilt possible. Apparently I am not the only one. According to a new survey, more and more people are turning to running as a way to get fit. Officials from some of the biggest marathons and triathlons in … Continue reading →

More Ways to Make Running Fun

I have Oprah Winfrey to thank for making my hour-long runs tolerable. When I was training for my first marathon (in the dead of winter) I would run on the treadmill at my gym. I always chose the treadmill that was located in front of the largest TV, so I could have some sort of distraction while I logged my daily miles. Since I worked out at the same time each day I eventually got hooked on Oprah. Needless to say, her shows helped the time fly by. It was only after the season changed and I started running outdoors … Continue reading →

Make Running Fun

If you are a recreational runner looking to kick up your workouts a few notches, I highly recommend running a marathon. I know; it may sound crazy at first, but if you are logging the miles anyway, you might as well put all that hard work to good use. That was the rationale I employed while training for my first marathon. If you are serious about running, road races can give you added incentive to train. What’s more, marathons can be fun, if you find ones that offer great views of spectacular cities. I reviewed a few of my favorites … Continue reading →

Finding Your Perfect Pace

Shortly after registering for my first marathon (way back in 1999) I joined a local running group called: Pacesetters. Little did I know how appropriate the group’s name would prove to be, especially for someone like me who knew nothing about prepping to run 26.2 miles. If you are an avid runner then you’ve likely found your perfect pace. It’s the speed where you feel as though you could run from New York to Boston without stopping. I refer to it as running in “the zone,” and always thought it had more to do with psychological factors than physiological, but … Continue reading →

Running: It’s All About the Shoes

It is for me anyway. I am a severe overpronator and I sustained a nasty injury as a result of not wearing proper shoes when training for my first marathon. That was nearly a decade ago and since then I have spent countless hours researching running and other sport specific footwear. If you are just getting started in a specific sport and are shopping for shoes I would suggest the following: Find a Reputable Specialty Shoe Store. With all due respect to discount retailers, if you want a quality pair of running shoes you need to shop at a store … Continue reading →

Running While Pregnant

In a previous blog I marveled at a spirited mom who was featured in a recent issue of Runner’s World magazine. She ran a marathon while she was eight months pregnant and is now preparing to run another with the son she carried in utero. Having struggled to complete the various marathons I’ve run (while not pregnant) I can’t imagine the mindset this mom possesses. It’s simply amazing to me. While sharing my thoughts about the fearless mom with a fellow running friend of mine I was reminded that super runner Paula Radcliffe also trained for the New York City … Continue reading →