I don’t have a particular question or topic in mind today, so I thought I’d open up the floor (again — we did this once before and it worked out great). What’s on your mind?
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?
Also, I wanted to share a couple of newsletters I’ve come to read and love lately:
Julie Hughes’s Run to Write, a daily email for writers who love running (and runners who love writing), and
Neal Bascomb’s Work/Craft/Life — you’ll be hearing more from Neal soon in this space, as he wrote an amazing biography of Roger Bannister called The Perfect Mile, a new edition of which will be out soon.
If I don’t hear from you, have an awesome, awesome Friday 👍 — Terrell
Just wanted to say I'm scaling back a little on running, finished my 36th H/marathon, May 28th, at Ft Benning GA,,,, the day before I turned 70....
Just wanted to share it's never to late to Start... Did my 1st h/m in N'ville in '02, month before turning 50..... I finished my 35th one back in N'ville a month before turning 70!!!!!!!!! Feel so Blessed to be able to still do what I love.... Have had 3 back surgeries,,,, and 3 foot surgeries,,,, but the worse thing I could do for myself is to Quit.....
Will do! If you’d like to read more, “Stingy Nomads” has some great online guidebooks/writing about the ‘Camino del Norte’, Muxia/Finesterre route” and ‘Camino Ingles’ routes- all great possibilities for next year spring for a run/walk pilgrimage. Many choose to go on to the “end of the earth” (before we knew better), a few days to Muxia/Finesterre from Santiago.
I recently changed my diet from being a vegetarian/ vegan for 16 years to eating some meat occasionally simply because I was starting to feel very weak and like I was hitting a wall in terms of my running goals. This week I went on my first 10k run since this diet change and ran my fastest mile in a really long time! Really exciting to feel stronger! Hope everyone has a great weekend
It has been quite a while since my last “ultra”, but looking forward to pacing the MCM 50k this fall in DC! So, one idea I’ve had in my mind and heart is organizing a multi-day running Ultra Pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago, along north coast of Celtic Spain, to cover 100-200k over 4-7 days… have taken small walking groups and helped lead retreats there the past 7 years, and observed how beautiful it is to run along the trails and coast, and incredible international fellowship as one stays in pilgrim hostels and meets fellow outdoors lovers, spiritual and cultural explorers :-)
Shin Splints. How long to recover before I start running again? Was on my last run before my taper to do a marathon and ended up missing the race. Been two weeks now and still can’t run.
Started the Runner's World Streak on Memorial Day -- to run at least 1 mile a day for 36 days to July 4th. Today is Day #19. Thank you and have a great weekend.
What is everyone's go -to/favorite cross training exercise? Mine is yoga. I started doing it seriously 7 years ago and it has been a complete game changer and kept me running healthy and injury free. Running and yoga complement each other like beer and pretzels.
I am in the middle of a get faster 5k program...just finishing first cycle (4 weeks) and about to start the 2nd cycle. I've hovered around 27min for years...have slowed down a ton with more halfs on the schedule. Seeing if i have it in me to reach the elusive 26 min mark. I like it - pushing me!! Happy Friday and Weekend Terrell and crew.
Can you send out the half marathon training guide you used earlier in the year but the whole thing as I will be starting training soon for a Sept race.
Terrell, super cool and generous of you to share Run to Write here! Thank you. I would love to share an achievement here...my first 50K is in the books! :) WOOHOO. It was hard and awesome! Thanks again!
Jun 17, 2022·edited Jun 17, 2022Liked by Terrell Johnson
Terrell, You’re a prince for recommending my newsletter and so happy to have made a connection with you. I was out running today, thinking about how much my love for it came from my own father. Watching him lace up his shoes in the morning early, then take off down the path until he rounded a corner. He always returned happier than before, and that stuck with me. Anyway, good morning to all and hope you take a look at this new avenue of my writing. Best, Neal Bascomb
After a rough year of teaching 7th graders & dealing with Covid, masks, lockdowns, students’ mental issues, war in Ukraine, human trafficking, upcoming elections, the homelessness in my city, etc., I felt myself getting REALLY negative. That’s not my nature. I wake up happy & see good on about everyone I meet.
So I decided to start looking for miracles in my life & those around me. I even started a journal to capture them in writing. It’s been fun to think of things that have happened in my life that were amazing. My mom & sister & husband jumped on board & keep pointing out miracles they remember or we experienced together. It’s been really helpful for me—mentally, spiritually, & emotionally. It’s even given me more to think about when I run! (Some of my best ideas & memories come to me when I’m running!)
It’s the third Friday of the month and that means “Keep it light!” So, with that in mind, how about sharing your favorite signs you have seen along the way in your races. I’ll start it off with 3 of my favorites: 1) at Disneyworld in 2008, Sharpie had placed a series of signs to lighten the mood … “Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of a bottle?”; 2) at Nashville Rock ‘n Roll in 2018 … “I trained for four months … to draw this sign”; 3) at Spacecoast (Cocoa, FL) in 2021 … “This sign canceled due to Covid19”
I would love to hear from others about how they have treated/prevented lower back pain at longer mileage. It never happens to me during marathon training, perhaps because I'm running slower on those long runs (even at the 20-milers), but on race day, my back starts to go around mile 19 and it has happened to me the last two marathons. Some have told me yoga, so I've gone back to that on cross-training days. Others swear by glute bridges--so I'm doing those again. I do work a desk job, and I feel like that counteracts how active I am with all the running and has given me a weak spot in my back. Would love to hear your thoughts/suggestions.
Friday Open Thread!
This week was rough in terms of running however did complete a full 8 miles today! Only six more weeks until first Half Marathon!
Just wanted to say I'm scaling back a little on running, finished my 36th H/marathon, May 28th, at Ft Benning GA,,,, the day before I turned 70....
Just wanted to share it's never to late to Start... Did my 1st h/m in N'ville in '02, month before turning 50..... I finished my 35th one back in N'ville a month before turning 70!!!!!!!!! Feel so Blessed to be able to still do what I love.... Have had 3 back surgeries,,,, and 3 foot surgeries,,,, but the worse thing I could do for myself is to Quit.....
So let's keep moving.....
Will do! If you’d like to read more, “Stingy Nomads” has some great online guidebooks/writing about the ‘Camino del Norte’, Muxia/Finesterre route” and ‘Camino Ingles’ routes- all great possibilities for next year spring for a run/walk pilgrimage. Many choose to go on to the “end of the earth” (before we knew better), a few days to Muxia/Finesterre from Santiago.
My biggest recent running win — that also has non-running benefits — has been:
Monthly. Pedicures.
I don't know why it took me this long to outsource this critical aspect of my running health and happiness to a professional. It's worth every cent.
OK BYE happy Friday! And GO GET A PEDICURE.
I recently changed my diet from being a vegetarian/ vegan for 16 years to eating some meat occasionally simply because I was starting to feel very weak and like I was hitting a wall in terms of my running goals. This week I went on my first 10k run since this diet change and ran my fastest mile in a really long time! Really exciting to feel stronger! Hope everyone has a great weekend
First, congrats to Julie in 1st 50k!!
It has been quite a while since my last “ultra”, but looking forward to pacing the MCM 50k this fall in DC! So, one idea I’ve had in my mind and heart is organizing a multi-day running Ultra Pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago, along north coast of Celtic Spain, to cover 100-200k over 4-7 days… have taken small walking groups and helped lead retreats there the past 7 years, and observed how beautiful it is to run along the trails and coast, and incredible international fellowship as one stays in pilgrim hostels and meets fellow outdoors lovers, spiritual and cultural explorers :-)
Shin Splints. How long to recover before I start running again? Was on my last run before my taper to do a marathon and ended up missing the race. Been two weeks now and still can’t run.
Started the Runner's World Streak on Memorial Day -- to run at least 1 mile a day for 36 days to July 4th. Today is Day #19. Thank you and have a great weekend.
What is everyone's go -to/favorite cross training exercise? Mine is yoga. I started doing it seriously 7 years ago and it has been a complete game changer and kept me running healthy and injury free. Running and yoga complement each other like beer and pretzels.
I am in the middle of a get faster 5k program...just finishing first cycle (4 weeks) and about to start the 2nd cycle. I've hovered around 27min for years...have slowed down a ton with more halfs on the schedule. Seeing if i have it in me to reach the elusive 26 min mark. I like it - pushing me!! Happy Friday and Weekend Terrell and crew.
Can you send out the half marathon training guide you used earlier in the year but the whole thing as I will be starting training soon for a Sept race.
Thanks
Terrell, super cool and generous of you to share Run to Write here! Thank you. I would love to share an achievement here...my first 50K is in the books! :) WOOHOO. It was hard and awesome! Thanks again!
Terrell, You’re a prince for recommending my newsletter and so happy to have made a connection with you. I was out running today, thinking about how much my love for it came from my own father. Watching him lace up his shoes in the morning early, then take off down the path until he rounded a corner. He always returned happier than before, and that stuck with me. Anyway, good morning to all and hope you take a look at this new avenue of my writing. Best, Neal Bascomb
After a rough year of teaching 7th graders & dealing with Covid, masks, lockdowns, students’ mental issues, war in Ukraine, human trafficking, upcoming elections, the homelessness in my city, etc., I felt myself getting REALLY negative. That’s not my nature. I wake up happy & see good on about everyone I meet.
So I decided to start looking for miracles in my life & those around me. I even started a journal to capture them in writing. It’s been fun to think of things that have happened in my life that were amazing. My mom & sister & husband jumped on board & keep pointing out miracles they remember or we experienced together. It’s been really helpful for me—mentally, spiritually, & emotionally. It’s even given me more to think about when I run! (Some of my best ideas & memories come to me when I’m running!)
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Look for miracles. 🥰
Plantar Fasciitis. What works for people? I rehab and get rid of it for weeks at a time but like a bad penny it comes back.
It’s the third Friday of the month and that means “Keep it light!” So, with that in mind, how about sharing your favorite signs you have seen along the way in your races. I’ll start it off with 3 of my favorites: 1) at Disneyworld in 2008, Sharpie had placed a series of signs to lighten the mood … “Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of a bottle?”; 2) at Nashville Rock ‘n Roll in 2018 … “I trained for four months … to draw this sign”; 3) at Spacecoast (Cocoa, FL) in 2021 … “This sign canceled due to Covid19”
I would love to hear from others about how they have treated/prevented lower back pain at longer mileage. It never happens to me during marathon training, perhaps because I'm running slower on those long runs (even at the 20-milers), but on race day, my back starts to go around mile 19 and it has happened to me the last two marathons. Some have told me yoga, so I've gone back to that on cross-training days. Others swear by glute bridges--so I'm doing those again. I do work a desk job, and I feel like that counteracts how active I am with all the running and has given me a weak spot in my back. Would love to hear your thoughts/suggestions.