Michelle Runs With It

06.18.24  @runjuneteenth is a VIBE!! It’s free, accessible, supportive, and DIVERSE!! This was the race’s 5th year and it has grown larger, making an even greater impact on the communities it represents. With a 3am alarm, April, Beth and I headed to Anacostia to run along the Fort Circle Trail to the sites of six Union Army forts built during the Civil War. They played a significant role as African Americans escaped slavery in Maryland came to the forts, seeking protection and employment from the Union army. 📸 Credit: @sarahtruittphotography This was my 3rd year running these lush trails in the middle of the city, finishing strong up the Green Monster, meeting new friends, enjoying tasty BBQ and an excellent DJ! I will continue to spread the word of this incredible event and its mission. So who’s coming with me next year?

06.09.24 Our first @hcstriders Women’s Distance Festival 5k today was such a memorable experience! Team Running Swifties loved seeing so many strong women and young ladies out there on the course. Whether they were racing, trying to set a PR, encouraging their family or friends, or just wanting to cross the finish line with a smile on their face - everyone was so supportive! This was Fiona’s 7th 5k and 9th running race - each with its unique challenges and victories. Today we listened to Taylor Swift, did a mix of intervals and fartleks and ultimately, thanks to the advice of Striders President Bill Brown, Fiona took off after the last turn to the finish line! So proud of her!! Thank you, Striders, volunteers, and the running community for showing Fi what it’s like to be embraced and celebrated for reaching your goal regardless of what that might be!!

  Whoa. What a freakin day. I knew it would challenge everything I thought I had figured out about myself and ultra distances, but a tough course, with new rules, self-placed expectations, minimal support crew, and unknown competition?! I wanted an adventure with a large side of learning experience and @moremileslastonestanding Backyard Ultra delivered! When it’s up to you on how much time you leave to fuel, use the bathroom, hydrate, change clothes, etc. it can get real dicey. Run too fast (guilty) and you’ll wear yourself out. Run too slow and you won’t be able to do any of the above…or worse, you’re eliminated.  I slept terribly, per usual, the night before. However, I slept  8-9 hours /night every day leading up to race day. While driving, I listened to music including Cake’s “The Distance” which woke me up.  I pulled in to Camp Manidokan  at 6:00 . The sky was lit and tents were up. I parked and went to the registration table to find out where to setup. For...

Before I get into to this, I want to give a shout out to the woman I ran with at the very end of the race. Many may see it as though she sparked my competitive spirit, however, I was just happy to have someone to talk with the last 1/2 mile. She had seen a black snake at around the time I caught up to her and, thankfully, I had just missed it. Had I seen it, my heart rate probably would have spiked, and I would have slowed down. She scared it away and for that I am grateful. White Oak Running kicked off this new series on 4 Wednesdays in May (5/8,  5/15 ,  5/22 ,  5/29 ). It's a low key 10k through trails from a private part of Patapsco State Park. The Pickall area pavilions are only open to private parties who rent them, so it felt like quite a treat to be there. This inaugural event in the series was a 5k-loop that you ran twice. A nice aide station with the essential trail snacks was setup between loops.  Originally, I had reached out to Race Director Mario a...

This month, I am running in support of Mental Health Awareness Month! I run for my mental well-being and am very grateful to live in Columbia, Maryland with its 96+ miles of paved trails. My goal this month is to run all 96 of them and tracking them on the CA Pathway Map while raising money for the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Howard County. NAMI helps thousands of people all year long. Please consider donating to NAMI , a cause that supports you and/or your loved ones, or join me as I run/walk/explore the paths!  Below are some of the interesting things I've learned from exploring Columbia Association's paths. Lessons from Traversing the CA Paths Most paths that lead UP to streets, are incredibly steep. Great for hill repeats.  There are many hidden ponds in neighborhoods with lots of wildlife.  Since I am running up and down to cul-de-sacs (where the trail dead ends), many people think I’m lost.  I got 96 miles and a road doesn’t count as 1. Therefore, I’...

"if you want to go fast, go alone. if you want to go far, go together." ~African proverb.  DFL at the forest bathing triple crown yesterday in newark, de. and i wouldn't have it any other way. thank you, beth, trail dawgs, and my fam for the pick me up. if you haven't explored the trails at white clay creek state park - on foot or by bike - i highly recommend its very runnable, remote, nature-full beauty. we took so many pictures, trying to capture its peaceful vibes. here are just a few that still don't do it any justice. April 28, 2024 sometimes i run races for the medals/tshirt/mug/etc, and being fed aide station food. other times, i just want to explore new trails in remote places with a well-marked and self-supported course with friends, caring less about swag and finishing times. yesterday was the latter and it was oh so peaceful!  the forest bathing triple crown was a free race by the awesome trail dawgs crew in white clay creek state park, just outside of ...

Lori and I had been talking about another adventure on the Appalachian Trail leading up to our races in June. We have done many parts of the AT, including some of the PenMar sections last year. I went out and attempted the 4-state challenge last May. Unfortunately, the heat and lack of water did me in at mile 31 at Gathland State Park. I was determined this year to go further. After sharing this idea with Dylan at a Feet First Fun Run, he decided he and our friend Josh would join. Heather is training for a big race that required a training camp weekend totaling 100 miles over 4 days, so she joined us as well.  We all decided we would start together at PenMar and head south towards Harpers Ferry. Dylan‘s wife Megan had agreed to meet us somewhere along the route with fuel food and two very energetic boys to help!  The weather was perfect. It was 53° at the start and would climb up to 68° by the peak of the day. A light breeze in the afternoon would lead us into a cool evening....