I’ve sent out weekly training plans — for different schedules/dates, from a 12-week to an 18-week training plan — and we’ve run them together each week.

My question is, are you up for that again? I’d love to get your input, as making it a group endeavor makes it a lot of fun — but we don’t have to. I just thought I’d throw that out there in case you’d like to.

Let me know your thoughts! — Terrell

Leave a comment

Leave a comment

“A newsletter has to have a theme and it has to evolve… One thing I've learned is never to limit your scope of interest. If you’re obsessed with something off your beat don’t be afraid to cover that too, whether it’s spy novels, sad sports teams or the Westminster dog show.”

Okay, that’s probably a little further afield from where we generally travel here, but it got me thinking: how have you changed/evolved as an athlete since you started your running journey?

What new goals have you reached for, especially if they’re things you didn’t think were possible for you previously? What’s changed about you? — Terrell

Leave a comment

• Have a question? Or a thought to share?

• Something cool/funny/sad/exciting/etc. that happened this week?

• Any accomplishments or goals you reached, running-related or not?

(This may be a huge mistake… 🤣 we’ll see!) — Terrell

Leave a comment

I love hearing about all of your amazing adventures in running, so I thought this might be the perfect topic for today, especially as we head toward the end of the summer and start dreaming about the fall.

Tell us about your favorite place(s) to run, if for no other reason than to give us all something to daydream about 😃 — Terrell

Leave a comment

What are you dreaming about/aiming for/looking forward to later this summer, fall (or even winter)? Do you have a big goal race on your calendar, a new distance you’re shooting for, or anything else that is getting you excited to get out there?

So, what are you looking forward to in the second half of this year? — Terrell

Leave a comment

This is one of those questions I can’t believe I haven’t already asked, but when I stumbled across this story earlier this week, I knew I needed to check in with you all.

When you read running magazines or follow famous runners on social media, it’s very easy to get the impression that many (most?) runners are constantly changing out their shoes.

But I really… don’t. The common rule of thumb is that you should replace your shoes after about every 300 to 500 miles — but that’s really just a guideline. There are people who run a lot less (and a lot farther) in their shoes than that.

So, my question to you is: how often do you get new running shoes? When do you know it’s time for a new pair? And, do you run in multiple brands, or stick to one? — Terrell

Leave a comment

Morning, friends! ☀️ It’s (slightly) unseasonably chilly here in Atlanta this first Friday of June, which I’ll gladly take as we no doubt have plenty of sweltering weather ahead of us here this summer.

For this morning’s thread discussion, I thought I’d throw out a question I love to ask, as it shows how far and wide we all hail from — over the years, I’ve heard from readers in just about every state, plus Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jerusalem, Tajikistan, India, Italy, France, Poland, Lithuania… the list goes on and on and on.

And, since so many new people have joined over the past week — thanks to THM being featured in Substack’s The Weekender — I wanted to say welcome and ask everyone, newly joined or longtime members:

• Where are you from/where do you live, and

• Where is your favorite place, or your favorite distance, to run?

I’ll start in the comments, and I really look forward to hearing what you have to share 😀 — Terrell

Leave a comment

The other day I took my son to play golf, which has become the thing we do on the weekends lately. He’s been into the sport, big time, ever since we watched the Masters this past April.

I’ve loved how he’s taken to it, as I love to play too and have since Tiger Woods first turned pro back in the late nineties. Even though he’s only been playing for a couple of months now, he’s already improving, hitting shots he couldn’t when we first started. It’s so much fun.

One time, on the drive home, I asked him what he liked so much about golf. His reply has stuck with me: “It’s the only sport I’m half-good at.”

I assured him what he said wasn’t true. But, as you might imagine, it stuck with me because I felt a little sting of recognition — I remember feeling like that when I was his age, too.

When you can do physical things well, it makes you feel good, you know? You feel strong, you feel capable, you feel alive. And when you can’t — especially when your peers can — it’s more humbling than we’d like to admit, isn’t it?

However: when you do find that thing you can do well — whether it’s running, or cycling, or playing tennis or pickleball — it’s like your wings expand, and you can finally fly.

I thought I’d ask today: what was your experience with sports like, especially growing up — and what did it feel like when you found the thing you could do?

— Terrell

Leave a comment

This weekend marks the unofficial start of summer here in the U.S., and already where I live we’ve started experiencing some summer-like heat and humidity (along with some very summer-like thunderstorms ⛈️).

I’ve started thinking ahead about summer already as I’ve been hearing — and probably you too — about the powerful El Niño that’s brewing right now in the Pacific Ocean, which could lead to some big changes in the weather we experience this summer.

And that made me wonder: what’s your threshold for running outside in the summer heat, what’s your red line between “sure, I love the heat!” and “this is too much, I’ll stay inside or run on my treadmill”?

How warm is too warm for you to run outside, and what is the hottest you’ve ever found yourself actually going outside to run? — Terrell

Leave a comment

Lately, I’ve been juggling a few different books, putting one aside while I read another, then moving on to yet another one… and then going back to the first one again. I’m enjoying each of them, but none has really grabbed me and pulled me in.

That got me wondering a question I’ve asked here before, and always love hearing your answers because I love knowing what’s absorbing you — what are you reading? What has taken you by surprise, piqued your interest, or otherwise set the world on 🔥 for you?

Especially now that summer is almost here, which is my favorite time to really dig into a book: what are you reading that you’re loving right now, or what books are you excited about? — Terrell

Leave a comment

We haven’t done one of these in a while, so I thought I’d ask a question I love because I feel like we’re one big group, out there doing our individual things, and this gives us a chance to come together, even if only virtually.

So, how is your running going so far this year? Have you accomplished anything you’re particularly proud of, whether it’s a new distance, a new time, or something really cool/fun?

And on the other hand — have you hit any roadblocks? Anything keeping you from getting in your miles, or taking care of your fitness, the way you’d like?

I’ll chime in too in the comments, but I always love to hear from you — feel free to share if you’ve run a big race you’re really proud of, or have one coming up, or really just anything 😀 — Terrell

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

So, a little about my running history: I started back when I was in my twenties, first with runs around my neighborhood park and later ramping up to 5Ks and 10Ks. It was only when a friend of mine suggested training for a marathon together that I even considered running a distance as long as 26.2 miles — but I surprised myself and did it.

I ran two more full marathons — in all, I’d run marathons in Bermuda, Washington D.C. and San Diego — but the friends I’d trained with for those races mostly stopped running those kinds of distances, so I did too. And switched over to halfs, which I’ve more or less stuck with since.

What I noticed is that, as the half marathon distance became more popular over the years, people ran marathons — the 26.2-mile distance, I mean — less and less, to the point where many cities stopped offering them in their big annual race weekends.

But things always change. Over the past few years, especially as the World Marathon Majors have expanded and grown, I hear about and see people talking about training for 26.2 more and more.

My question today: what about you? Do you have any interest in running 26.2, and/or have you put a marathon on your calendar lately? What’s inspiring you to try the distance (especially if you never have) and how are you fitting it into your life? — Terrell

Leave a comment

Morning, friends! ☀️ For our first Friday thread discussion of 2026, I thought I’d throw out a question I love to ask because it shows where we’re all scattered around the planet — over the years, I’ve heard from readers in just about every state, plus Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jerusalem, Tajikistan, India, Italy, France, Poland, Lithuania… the list goes on and on and on.

Some of you have already used these threads to meet up for races in person — which is awesome! — and I love it because it gives us the chance to get to know each other better, and perhaps meet up to run together in person, whether it’s for a race or to set up a weekend running group.

And since we’ve had lots of new people sign up since the new year began, I thought I’d ask: where are you from/where do you live out there in the world? Where do you love to run? 😀 — Terrell

Leave a comment

Now that we’re fully into fall, it’s a time of year we’ll all be spending more time indoors, the perfect time to curl up with a book. Right now, I’m in the middle of two or three books I’m enjoying immensely. (Maybe even three or four, depending on what catches my eye.)

I always love to know what’s on your minds, so I thought I’d ask a question I throw out there from time to time: what are you reading, especially if it’s something you’re loving? What has grabbed your attention, is something you can’t put down? (It doesn’t have to be a book; it can be a great magazine article you’ve read lately, or a newsletter you’re loving.)

I always love hearing what’s capturing your imagination. — Terrell

Leave a comment

Morning, friends! ☀️ I know I haven’t been consistent about posting Friday threads recently, but let’s use today’s as a chance to get back on track — I’ve always loved our Friday discussions, and with the New York City Marathon coming up this weekend, it’s a good time to connect.

I’d also like to turn the mic over to you and let everyone feel free to ask away with any question you have — there are so many readers here who can help, and might have just the insight you’re looking for.

So, consider this a completely open thread, ask away on any topic. Because it’s the last day of October — it’s Halloween! 👻🎃 — I’m particularly interested if you’re:

• Running the New York City Marathon this weekend?

• Have a big long run you’re gearing up for and need a little encouragement?

• If you’re dressing up, what are you going as for Halloween tonight?

• Anything of interest that you’d like to share

Let your freak flag fly! 🏁 — Terrell

Leave a comment

Morning, friends! ☀️ I hope you’re waking up to — or have already started! — a pleasant Friday morning. Today here in Atlanta is just a picture-perfect fall day; the air is crisp and cool, the wind is blowing, and the sun is shining.

Today is one of those Fridays where I don’t have a specific question to ask, so I thought I’d check in:

• Have a question? Or a thought to share?

• Something cool/interesting that happened this week?

• Any accomplishments or goals you reached? Running-related, or not?

Feel free to chime in! — Terrell

Leave a comment

Morning, everyone! ☀️ Now that October is officially here, that means marathon (and half marathon) season is in full swing, so I thought I’d reach out with a question to everyone: do you have a race on the calendar this fall, or are you planning a trip to run someplace you’ve always dreamed of?

I’d also love to know if you’re planning on joining us in a few weeks for the Atlanta 10-Miler — if you are, let me know! — Terrell

Leave a comment

👉 First: let me take this opportunity to remind you that I’ll be hosting a group run this October here in my hometown at the Atlanta PNC 10-Miler, for any and all THM subscribers who’d like to join. We’ll get together for a three- or four-mile run on Saturday, Oct. 18 before a group dinner, followed by the race on Sunday morning, Oct. 19. I hope you can make it!

And now, our Friday Thread question: what race(s) or event(s) are you planning on running in the second half of the year, now that we’re fully into the latter half of 2025? What are you dreaming about and/or training for — what’s your goal for the rest of this year?

It could be anything — it doesn’t have to be a race, it could be simply “get in better shape,” “be able to do a hundred push-ups,” “run three miles without stopping,” or even “walk every day this month.” Or, it could be “stop drinking for the rest of the year,” “abstain from sweets,” etc. It’s all great, it’s all fair game.

I always love hearing what’s getting you going, and what you’re aiming for — Terrell

Leave a comment

Here where I live in Atlanta, for the past few weeks it has felt like we’ve been living in a rain forest — we’ve had stormy downpours almost every single day since the start of the month. From what I can see in our forecast, though, that’s about to come to an end as summer officially kicks off today.

Just look at that temperature forecast map for today from The Weather Channel — Rapid City, S.D., and Denver will hit 102 degrees! (While, oddly enough, Miami will remain below 90° 🤷‍♂️)

My question to you is, do you enjoy running in the heat? (I know some of you do!) If so, how do you do it/prepare for it? Take any special precautions, or do you just love it no matter what the temperature is? Are you still getting outside for your runs — and able to get them in safely?

Leave a comment