I chose this (Christmas 2014) picture because it takes me back to the sleepless days & nights of babies in the house...sure we could smile & things look cute, but holy crap were we at our end & tired. I think I was recovering from appendix surgery. Is this how Christmas is? We smile, mix … Continue reading Advent & Waiting
Youth Sports & The Games We Play
Youth athletics ... so much to say, but I'll try to keep it short. I get asked from time to time, "how should we *train* our kid(s)?". I'll be honest, when it comes to kids & sports, don't train them. At Blue Ox Running, we don't coach athletes under age 18. Encourage them. Motivate them. Show … Continue reading Youth Sports & The Games We Play
My First Road Ride in 25+ Years!
I feel like I've been posting "the hard stuff" lately and wanted to share how carefree and fun my morning was ... Running is getting better - I'm up to ~55 minutes of running every other day, but have been cross training a lot too! Today was the first time on a road bike in … Continue reading My First Road Ride in 25+ Years!
Fragile and Broken
Such an inspiring post title, I know. But it's true. Don't believe me? See me documenting sweet baggy clinic shorts ... this was last November. X-rays, much time off, strength training, eventually MRI, more time off, much cross training, the whole nine yards. It's been a season of injury and rehab longer than expected, but … Continue reading Fragile and Broken
My first taste of “real” injury …
Don’t let my finish line pics, race reports, and job title fool you … running is really really hard for me right now. I feel out of whack and in a slump. Injuries don’t help. I cancelled my November and January races and have been working through physical therapy, x-rays, MRI, and more since November … Continue reading My first taste of “real” injury …
2021 Whistlestop Marathon – Alicia!
16 short years ago I bought my college girlfriend a pair of shoes for her first #Marathon (Grandmas!) ... she didn't make it to the start due to injury. Since then we've married, had three babies, and changed our life more than we've kept it the same. These 16 short years she's gone back and … Continue reading 2021 Whistlestop Marathon – Alicia!
2021 Eau Claire Marathon – LOOK UP!
I don't think I was supposed to win this one. 14+ years older than the next 3 finishers. Legs didn't have that "pop" all day. I just felt a bit off and tired from ~ mile 4. Short version ... I'm still learning a lot from this sport. Sure, we can learn *about* the sport … Continue reading 2021 Eau Claire Marathon – LOOK UP!
2020 “Virtual” / Solo 50mi (Roads)
What a #Saturday of (road) #ultrarunning. 5x 10mile out-and-backs and they certainly got tougher each lap. A 7am beautiful sunrise, my mantra to RUN WITH #JOY and my cheerful pacer Cole Cloutier kept me in great spirits early hitting the first 25miles in 2:51:xx and a new 50k PR of 3:33:xx, but that's when the … Continue reading 2020 “Virtual” / Solo 50mi (Roads)
A Plea For Normalcy
This is a plea for normalcy. Yes I know things aren’t normal, but we need normalcy. Yes I know our daily and weekly lives are irregular, but we need to fight for regularity. It feels as though each day, something’s new. New article here, new data there, new rumors about school scheduling here, new banter … Continue reading A Plea For Normalcy
2019 Recap Reflection Recovery
Do blogs & articles still even exist? The last two years, I've essentially copied & pasted my social media "recap" posts after some big races and fun adventures, but at the end of this year especially, I still try to put it all together. My thoughts seem disjointed and often frail when I'm down in … Continue reading 2019 Recap Reflection Recovery
2019 JFK 50 Mile
It was my #crew that got me through!!! . Quick report regarding my first @jfk50mile - a world class event! My typical mantra and prayers for God's grace to FLOAT, RUN, & GRIND paid off as I was ... . ** FLOATing on the early rugged trails thankful for a beautiful sunrise - 21st place @ 15 miles . … Continue reading 2019 JFK 50 Mile
2019 Hixon 50k
I probably say this every time, but it was my favorite #finish line! A much needed confidence boost. . 5 weeks prior - a race gone wrong with my worst bonk to date. . 3 days prior - a loved one in the hospital, I didn't know where my head would be at for this one. . … Continue reading 2019 Hixon 50k
2019 Goosebumps 6hr
A grind to the end, but we finished it #together. I felt everything in this one... . The first half was carefree, fun, light, and incredibly easygoing. Running 26.x miles the first 3 hours I was even catching a few footballs and enjoying the day 🏈. . As if a light switch was turned off, after … Continue reading 2019 Goosebumps 6hr
Colorado & My 1st 14er! (Mt. Elbert)
🌲🗻♥️ quick escape to #colorado w/ #friends! . . ✔️ Hiking ✔️ Running ✔️ Mt. Elbert (14,4xx ft!) ✔️ Biking ✔️ Climbing ✔️ Driving ✔️ Back at 4am then work! Original Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0oMQ1unucI/
2019 Afton 25k
💙💙💙 1 year ago .... . We heard about a crazy course record by @justingrunewald1 in the @aftontrailrun 50k and later that day he and his wife @bravelikegabe took a stroll through the store before heading to a concert in Eau Claire. Unassuming and window shopping they were both although they were two of the fastest (professional) athletes we've had grace … Continue reading 2019 Afton 25k