Training | My Thousand Mile Year

Mile Measurements

Written by: Amy

19 Jul 2011

I’m working backwards on a few posts … Sunday, July 17, 2miles with Holly around her North Carolinian neighborhood

One of the first things friends ask me: “Where are you at in your 1,000 miles?”

So, it’s no surprise that in “mythousandmileyear.com” I’ve thought a lot about distance. I’ve also been thinking about distance as it relates to growth – personal, professional & friendship – not as easily measured in miles.

As I enter the second half of my year, I’m grateful for all of those who have logged miles during the training that helped prepare me for the half marathon and the full marathon (shout outs to Bridget, Dana and the Mollys, as well as my sister to making a special trip to Madison for the marathon & running 11 miles!).

I’ve also spent time reflecting on those who have allowed me to grow personally and professionally. I was able to spend the weekend with one of the people who have been the most influential in my growth, Holly.

Physical distance between our houses has ranged from 15 feet (last summer when we were roommates) to 5 miles (when we both lived in Boise, Idaho) to 4,500 miles (when we both lived abroad) to the current 280. Our friendship has grown over the past six year from a once-a-month or once-a-quarter “keep you updated,” to a day-to-day friendship with a strong foundation, which includes honesty, trust with equal parts listening and sharing.

On our 2 mile run this weekend, I enjoyed the chance to share an important part of reaching one of my 2011 goals and listening to Holly share a recent realization in her life. It wasn’t all about 10,360 steps on Sunday, rather it represented many more that brought us to the necessary level of trust to bring us together that day.

Holly, thank you for making me a better writer, friend and person. Love, Amy p.s. Neva, we missed you.

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Would I recommend running a marathon?

Written by: Amy

12 Jun 2011

Training Tips

After posting about the marathon last week, I set off for the White House & extended it a little further for a 5 miles run, and haven’t hit the streets since. I’m not sure if it’s been a week of rest, recovery or refueling…or just plain laziness.

Quite a few people have asked if I would recommend running a marathon. The simple answer is, “No.” Just like I answer “no” when people ask if I recommend joining Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. The same goes for working in a family business, bike commuting or doing hot yoga.

I’ve done or am doing, each of the things listed above, but I am intimately aware that they are not “for everyone” and having a positive experience has as much to do with timing as anything else. It also has to do with goals.

I’ve been thinking a lot about goals … and as I write this I am thinking about my goal for next week. I will spend a week as a volunteer counselor for a high school leadership camp in northern Wisconsin. My goal is to be fully present at camp and connected at camp, and I’m off to get a good night’s rest & not stress over thoughts left unsaid in this post.

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Off & Running

Written by: Amy

10 May 2011

Training Programs

I’ve been off. Offline & running.

In February and March, when I went on a hiatus from posting it was because I wasn’t running. I became very good at “resting.” Somehow I managed to sail (relatively) easily through the National Half Marathon in DC and Dana convinced me a marathon was in our sights. So, instead of “resting” for the past few weeks, I’ve been logging a ton of miles with a lot of old friends and new running partners. I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of energy it takes to haul yourself 20 miles in one day and around 35 miles total each week. I will not use the word “sail” or “easy” to describe the marathon, I assure you.

Highlights that I will write more about soon (a.k.a. this weekend when I hit the boardwalk for a weekend get away):

Running my longest distances ever, 4 out of the last 5 weekends (16, 17, 18, 20)

Started running with a new partner (in-crime), Molly M., who joined me for the key final miles of my longest marathon training run yet.

Adding an iShuffle to my routine (thanks Molly G for the playlist!)

Being scared and doing it anyway (thanks @SimplyLeap for the encouragement)

p.s. I’ll give a total miles update in the very near future, I’m curious, too!

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17miles = my “Mission Possible” – What’s Yours?

Written by: Amy

23 Apr 2011

Life Purpose

Tuesday, 5m White House to Washington Monument run; Wednesday, 7.5m White House to Jefferson & around Tidal Basin run; Thursday, 3m White House run; Friday, 90minutes hot yoga with Bridget; Saturday, 8.5m trail run with Melanie, 7m city run alone; 1.5m Mt. Pleasant to Dupont run with Molly = 17 total miles; Sunday, (will be) rest

Pollen is in the air and green is everywhere. White pants are showing up on street corners, and pink toenails are poking out from sandals. Winter jackets are being pushed to the back of the closet, and bike seats are getting dusted off. It’s “time to clear it out and clean it up,” in the words of Melanie.

However, Melanie isn’t spring-cleaning her wardrobe. She’s taking a step back and looking at the intimate parts of her life. The food that nourishes her body, the words she uses to describe her experiences, the music she listens to for entertainment, and the people who surround her. She writes openly and honestly about her struggles and invites others to join in her mission to clear it out and clean it up.

I’m on a mission, too, and I thought it had something to do with running 1,000 miles. It does, I suppose, but there’s so much more. I am continually humbled by the lessons I learn from friends that join me on my runs (maybe that’s why I keep harassing @unmarketing!), and am inspired to keep reflecting (through writing) on the journey.

Sixteen weeks ago, I would have told you that it would be impossible for me to run 17 miles in one outing. Today, I proved myself wrong & I did it with the support of many friends along the way. The mission to run 17 miles is totally possible. I’m taking a hard look at what I need to clear out and clean up in my life that feels impossible to give up.

To my many loving & patient friends: I am grateful you will not only run with me, but also support me in clearing out and cleaning up the garbage in my life to make room for all that is possible. ~ love ~ Amy

Running 17 miles & training for a marathon is my “mission possible.” What’s yours & how can I support you from near or afar?

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Do Your Friends Wander?

Written by: Amy

18 Apr 2011

family

Tuesday, 4miles around downtown DC; Wednesday, 8miles to the Capitol and on the Mall; Thursday, 5miles on White House run; Friday, sunny rest day; Saturday, rainy rest day; Sunday, 15miles with Fred and Bridget; Monday, rest

For the better part of a decade, people have wandered in and out of my life. This happens for a number of reasons. Sometimes it’s moving 3,000 miles or as few as 3. Sometimes it’s a career shift, schedule change, new hobby interest or altered relationship status. There was a bit of relationship wandering this weekend. Some walked out, others wandered in and I lingered with some of my favorites.

I was thankful that Fred wandered back in time for my Sunday morning long run. Fred and I were introduced by a mutual friend a little more than a year ago, but had lost touch. Luckily, Fred called to ask about our mutual friend’s birthday, and we caught up enough so I remembered he was a runner. He quickly agreed to run on Sunday and got me through 9 miles on the Mall. It was a beautiful morning, and a great chance to reconnect. It’s amazing how quickly the miles go by when you’re learning about the opportunities that lie ahead for a friend and the challenges they have overcome since you last spoke.

The same can be said for a friend you see often. You get to be a part of the smaller details of those challenges and opportunities. After running with Fred, I still had 7 miles to go, so I headed across town to meet Bridget. She cheerfully greeted me outside her apartment, and we decided to tackle the slight incline up Connecticut Avenue. I could not have asked for a better running partner and friend to help me physical and mentally get through those 5 miles. Bridget’s constant support and warrior encouragement are uplifting and inspiring.

As part of my recovery mode “training,” I lingered with a few friends: Phil, Mitali, Lauree, Kim, Molly, Brian and Jerry. I enjoyed every moment of egg coloring, random grocery shopping, birthday celebrating, roof deck sitting, errand running and room cleaning with you all this weekend. When I saw this quote, it resonated with me:

When the world lets you down, you should always be able to depend on family.

I was reminded that family comes in many different forms & I’m thankful for my friends who treat me like family.

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Three Steps to Shut Up the Gremlins and RUN

Written by: Sara Grace

4 Jan 2010

Training Tips

Today’s run: 57 min, 5.15 miles. YT: 17.80. Incredible skies and moon over West LA; the Hollywood Hills and San Gabriels were crisp, but lower to the ground Hollywood was in a thick yellow smog. I thought a lot about love on my run today. And about timing. Yes, timing is everything. But I deeply believe that for every opportunity you miss, there’s one you find.

* * *
No, it’s not always easy to pull yourself out of bed, especially in the winter darkness. The gremlins WILL natter in your ear: You’re tired, running is hard, it’s cold out, it’s going to be hard and unpleasant.

Here’s how to shut them up.

1. Fill your head with thoughts about how you’ll feel after the run: accomplished. Strong. Fitter. Joyful.

2. If that’s not enough, enlist help: Your iPod. Put your earphones on, right there in bed. Play a song that gets you moving.

3. If that still doesn’t work, try bargaining. Tell yourself, “You don’t have to go running, but you DO have to get up and put on your running clothes.” Then tell yourself you don’t have to run, you just have to walk.

Nine times out of ten, you’ll end up running.

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Mile Measurements

Would I recommend running a marathon?

Off & Running

17miles = my “Mission Possible” – What’s Yours?

Do Your Friends Wander?

Three Steps to Shut Up the Gremlins and RUN

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