This Week in Running – When a PR isn’t JUST a PR…

What day is it? Oh, it's Sunday. That's right. I'm glad technology is tracking that sort of stuff, cause we're losing most of our reasons to care about such things. I did go to church on YouTube this morning, so we're adapting where we can to the current situation. One other way that we've had to adapt as runners is by coming to the realization that we aren't racing anymore for a while. I had big plans for Shamrock, but of course plans are changing. I decided to do the Dolphin Challenge virtually cause I DEFINITELY want to wear those awesome race shirts and I felt like I better earn them. 🙂

The Shamrock Dolphin Challenge – Challenge…Accepted.

Hey there! It's Friday afternoon and I'm watching a movie with my family while also doing a little blogging. 🙂 I'm in the middle of marathon training week 2 and feeling a little dead legged. I have a 14 miler tomorrow, so I don't see that feeling getting any better. Coach Brooke says it's good for me, so I'll suck it up, Buttercup. Some of my best races have been in the middle of marathon training, so lucky for me I was given the chance to sign up and be a part of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon weekend in Virginia Beach! I'll be running both the TowneBank Shamrock 8k AND the Anthem Shamrock Half Marathon, aka The Dolphin Challenge. The plan is to use the 8k for a casual stroll on Saturday and then break 1:30 on Sunday. That would be a PR.

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem (PA) – Runner’s World Grand Slam Recap!

Here I am. Back to work on a Monday after an action packed weekend. Tight legs and a less than normal stride. I feel kinda like I just ran 26.2, because I DID RUN 26.2! I just didn't do it the old fashioned way. I spaced it out over 3 fun-filled days at the Runner's World Half and Festival in Bethlehem, PA. (I started this on Monday, but this one took some time since I had so much to say!) The weekend started on Thursday (I love when that happens) with a drive up to sweet, delicious Hershey, PA. I didn't eat a whole lot of chocolate this time, but I completed my first objective for this trip by trying the AMAZING Hershey Chocolate Porter made by Yuengling.

The Runner’s World Half & Festival – It’s not just a race, it’s a FESTIVAL. <1 week!

This year is FLYING by! Christmas stuff is already being sold at Lowe's (of course) and here I am less than a week from the biggest running event of my 2019, the Runner's World Half and Festival, in beautiful Bethlehem, PA. It isn't just a race....IT'S A FESTIVAL. I'm pretty excited about the stuff I'll be doing when I'm NOT running too. The running community is a huge part of what makes running special for me, so it'll be great to mingle with other runners in town. The festival really has it all, even for kids and pets! My kids won't be tagging along this trip and the Birnschein house is a pet-free house, but there's always next year. 🙂

This Week in Running – We can’t run ALL the races, can we?

Hey hey, it's Saturday! I finished up a great run this morning (more about that later), but while I was out running alone the whole TOWN was living it up at the Virginia 10 miler. I had some FOMO issues, but I chose to miss the race for several reasons. Such is life. I had run the Lynchburg Half Marathon a few weeks ago and I'm saving myself for the big event, the Runner's World Half & Festival Grand Slam! I seriously can't believe I'll be running that one in 3 weeks!

This Week in Running – The Regret of Quitting on Yourself

It's Labor Day weekend! That means I get to avoid the feeling of the weekend slipping away on Sunday afternoon, since it's kinda sorta Saturday afternoon. 🙂 My vacation seriously messed with my running/training, so I ended up running a 10 mile long run on a Monday. Who does something like that (beside you, Alissa)??? I'll …

Kentucky Derby Mini Recap – Bourbon, Bats, and Bestest Buddies

Sup friends! I'm finally back to normal (at least for me) and am ready to recap such an amazing weekend in Louisville, Kentucky for the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon. I was accompanied by the friend and co-worker Cody and his wife Katie. I was happy to have them with me for the over 7 hour …

This Week in Running – Going to Kentucky, I’ll have a mint julep

Last I checked in, I had finished up the Ville to Ville Relay (here's my recap). My 25 mile sufferfest closed out a 38.4 mile week, which is by far my highest mileage since November. I learned something though, 25 miles is definitely 25 miles, no matter how you slice it up. I rested for …

Shamrock Half Marathon Race Recap – Catch Meb, or Blow up Trying

I'm back from a long weekend that involved not quite 2 hours of running, but involved over 7 hours of driving. Needless to say, I'm in need of a rest day. That was a lot of driving in a 24 hour period, but it's not all the time that I get an opportunity to run a race that I'd heard SO many great things about. It helped even more that some friends of mine were going to be there and so graciously allowed me to crash on their extra hotel room bed (you're the BEST, Clark and Abby). I'd heard many great things about Shamrock and the legends are real. It's really not just the race though, it's the whole kitten kaboodle. There's an 8k on Saturday, which I unfortunately could not attend and of course they have an after party for that. Sunday is for the half/full marathons, which both start at the same time and the same place. I like that.

This Week in Running – I Wanna (Sham)Rock!!!

It's just another Manic Monday, but we've just about made it through. Daylight savings time can be a real beast. My kids are so confused! Charlie keeps seeing how much light there is outside and getting SO disappointed when it's time to get ready for bed. Poor guy. I hit 28.9 miles last week, which is the most since December. I guess I'm ramping up. I finished the week with back to back to back 6 mile runs! I really love a 6 mile run and I think I could do one everyday for the rest of my life.