This past Tuesday was the first start of the Running Room marathon clinic I signed up for. You may be wondering why, after running so many marathons, and having taught the clinic twice before, did I feel the need to sign up for it. Well, I have a few reasons: Wanted to find a new group of people to run/train with. Figured that officially signing up for a clinic with $$ would make me more committed to getting out during the week.

As I reflect on my running for the year 2010, it’s hard not to get depressed. It has been a dismal time. I started the year out with the intention of breaking the 3:20 time goal and qualifying for Boston, and ended up with me over an hour slower than my best time. I’m also 10kg heavier than I was at this time last year, which doesn’t help the running a whole lot.

Had a great run on Boxing day with some of my Flying Fartlek running friends. I had two goals for the day; run the whole race (no walk breaks) and come in under 1:30. Despite having to walk up the big hill in the golf course, I squeaked in at 1:29. Better yet, I felt great when I finished. A good omen for 2011, for sure! Check out all the gory details here

The marathon is kind of like the Ph.D. of public fitness accomplishments. There are very few times as an adult that you can go out and do something that’s authentically difficult and be publicly lauded for it. – Marcy in Cate Terwilliger’s “Marathon Woman” Ever since I’ve started running and entering races, I noticed that I have two interesting quirks that occur on race day. Firstly, I never sleep well, if at all, the night before a race.

Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction. – William James, philosopher Today’s stage is, on paper, the easiest races of all the stages. It’s everything the other stages were not. It’s flat, point-to-point, and a net downhill run, taking place along just three streets.

There is no time to think about how much I hurt; there is only time to run. – Ben Logsdon The description of the fifth stage of the ENDURrun is as follows: “This demanding and hilly 25.6km cross-country course is run through the Chicopee Ski Resort and boasts incredible alpine scenery. This multi-loop course includes many extended hill climbs.” Ask anyone who’s run this stage before, and they’ll tell you that this is a HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT of what the course is about.

The essential thing in life is not so much conquering as fighting well – Baron de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games Trail Race. 30km. 5km loop. Each loop run six (6) times. Hilly and demanding course, with parts asphalt, grass, dirt, and wood chips. Eight (8) hills per 5km loop, for a total of 48 hills to ascend and descend. This stage separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls, the runners from the casual joggers.

I race in order to dig deep within myself and see what I’m really made of – Maggie, runner from Idaho Monday. Traditionally bad-mouthed the world over, as it is the first day of the work week, and many people are probably still mentally wishing that the weekend was still in effect. Nobody likes Monday, especially me. However, this Monday was different, and I liked it. Today was Stage 2 of the ENDURrun, and, after a ton of sleep the following afternoon and evening, coupled with some liberal doses of cough and cold syrup, I was actually feeling quite normal, and not hacking up a lung.

When people ask me why I run, I tell them, there’s not really a reason, it’s just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got. – Courtney Parsons Today I woke up to the sound of rain pattering my window. Great, I thought. My first ENDURrun stage in the rain. Last year, it rained a few times during the week, and quite hard, but always at night.

To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality – Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop So, it is the night before Stage 1 of the ENDURrun, I’ve just finished a very wonderful IPA, and am getting my things ready for tomorrow. In just about 8 hours, I will be running the half marathon. I am excited, scared, and nervous, all at the same time.