Georgetown, Jersey City, Moline, Monterey, Tromsø + Windsor
Races you'll love running + weekly recommendations
Good morning, friends! ☀️
The first time I trained for a marathon, Sundays were “the day.” The day of our group long runs, the day when all the miles we’d been running during the week really made a difference, as they prepared us for the number we had staring back at us from our training plans, whether than number was an eight, a ten, a twelve, a fifteen or, when we got deeper into the program, a twenty or a twenty-one.
Back then, a friend of mine who trained on her own used to skip many of her mid-week runs and focus her training solely on the weekend long run. She worked for one of the big consulting firms, so she was constantly traveling for work, often on planes during the times I’d be running.
One weekend, we did our long run together. Even though I had (much!) more weight to carry around than she did, she struggled more than I expected she would, especially after we got past mile ten.
That’s what made me realize that every step really does matter — every mile, every time I got out there for a mid-week run, no matter if I thought it wouldn’t matter much, it really did. As Wes Judd, a running coach I spoke with back during Covid told me, it’s all “hay going into the barn.”
I think about that sometimes, because it’s tempting to think that only the big things we do actually “count.” That only our long runs matter, or only the big gestures we make in our relationships with the people we’re close with, for example. What I found is, that’s not true at all — that everything, every little thing, counts a lot more than I thought it did.
If you’ve got a long run this weekend, or are just finishing up yours, I hope it goes/went great for you and you finish feeling strong. (And enjoy your well-deserved rest for the rest of today!)
I hope you have an amazing, amazing Sunday out there — as always, keep in touch and let me know how your running/life is going.
Your friend,
— Terrell
🏃 To run
🌜Midnight Sun Marathon. Located in Norway, more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the city of Tromsø is a place where, thanks to its latitude, the sun never dips below the horizon in the summer — and so, you’ll run in broad daylight, even though the race takes place at midnight. Then, you’ll still get to take in this island city’s gorgeous views, from the sea to the mountains that surround it. In addition to the marathon, the race also hosts a half marathon and 10K, all of which start just before midnight. Set for Jun 17, 2023.
🏖️ Golden State Trail Run. A challenging and beautifully scenic run through Fort Ord National Monument, a former U.S. Army base along Monterey Bay, roughly a two-hour drive south from San Francisco. You’ll run along hilly trails that wind through “maritime chaparral to grasslands, marshes and gorgeous fields of flowers,” organizers say, adding that you’ll likely run past plants and wildlife that live only here in the protected areas of Fort Ord. The race offers a 50K, 35K, 10K and half marathon, all along its smooth single-track trails, sandy hills, and exposed fire roads. Set for July 1, 2023.
⛰️ Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon. A high-altitude half that’s all downhill through Colorado’s Clear Creek Valley, starting up in the Rocky Mountains just west of Denver at about 8,500 feet above sea level. From there, you’ll follow a point-to-point route to the tiny nearby town of Idaho Springs, descending about 1,000 feet by the time you reach the finish line. Along the way, you’ll take in breathtaking views of the mountains, streams, forests and valleys in all directions. Set for August 12, 2023.