Running Clinic for Women

Come hear what I have to say on running injuries, prevention and footwear!
I'm giving a fun talk at Cosport Physical Therapy, June 16, 6:30-8:30 pm
We'll have food and some fun give aways. Spread the word

All the Right Ingredients

I really do like to cook. Its true. My family probably doesn't realize this fact because it doesn't happen as often as it should or as much as it did before kids. I can make homemade spaghetti sauce from scratch, chocolate cheesecake from scratch, lasagna, chicken enchiladas and more! I admit I skimp on it usually because of lack of time or lack of ingredients in the house (again lack of time to go to the store, Peapod.....please come to Elburn!) I admit there have been times that in a rushed attempt to make due, I have skimped on ingredients or rushed the process of whatever I'm cooking just to get the job done. The result...a fair resemblance of a spectacular dinner. It ends up being just fair. Not a true picture of what I am capable of if I had taken the time and used all the right ingredients.

The same is true with athletes and race performances. Motivation and desire might be high, but lack of time is missing or time management is missing. Or...the time to train is there, but skill is not. Or, time and skill is there, but motivation is not. To succeed in high level performance such as.... qualify for Kona, World Championships, Boston, or even just PR huge and beat the local rival it takes all the right ingredients. That means, all of it mixed and stirred to complete the perfect recipe for success.

All the right ingredients for a successful performance are:
1. completing workouts as written
2. not fudging or skimping
3. resting only when its called for
4. believing in your coach/ training plan and sticking to it
5. believing in yourself
6. learning from mistakes, and moving on
7. going out and getting the job done come wind, or heat, or cold, or power meter dying, or training partners bailing.....or insert any excuse
8. proper nutrition to get you through the day, the workout, and help recovery after. (what really are you putting in your mouth. does it help your performance?)

So my homemade recipe for successful performance is:
1. one mega doses of plain old hard work,
2. multiple cups of motivation and determination,
3. 100s of tablespoons of not giving in to fear or failure
4. 1000s of teaspoons of patience and sticking to the plan

Go on a shopping spree before your next big race. Take the time to invest in all the right ingredients to experience a spectacular finish vs. thrown together concoction of what you are truly capable of.

For Moms with an Endurance Habit.......

I’ve been a mom for almost 8 years. Before taking on this job, I had no experience other than caring for my 2 dogs that didn’t talk back, did what they were told and I could leave alone in the house for hours. My own Mom is the best there is and I have tried to follow in her footsteps, while at times continuing on the path of endurance junkie. Trying to be good at both worlds isn't always easy.



In only 8 years I have experienced so many memorable moments (good and bad) that it’s a job I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. With Mother’s Day approaching I have taken some time to remember some of the crazy things I have already experienced in my 8 yrs of motherhood.

It all started immediately after I gave birth to Jack when my doctor was stitching me up and I asked how soon I could run because I had a World Championship race to get ready for in 6 months……

I have:

Woken up at 3 in the morning to nurse a newborn before leaving to race at 10 weeks post partum

Done a track workouts 8 weeks post partum with swollen boobs that actually bounced and jiggled something I’m not familiar with (Gross!)

Gone to work with puke on my clothes and not known about it until an hour later when I could smell it

Sat in a pre-school size kiddy chair being served tea with trashed cycling legs so sore I could barely stand up

Driven around in the car solo with kids music still playing and singing out loud

Cried in front of strangers watching him go to kindergarten, and cried again when he graduated, only a mom would know.



Sat outside the school at the start of 1st grade to make sure he made it all the way in the door… for the first month.

Ridden my trainer watching Backyardigans, Scooby Doo, and more recently star wars clone wars, now that’s mental toughness

Used bribery to get him to stay in the jogger longer so I could fit in an entire run workout

Sat at soccer, baseball and wrestling practices so tired from getting up at 5 a.m. I could barely keep my eyes open, yet didn’t want to miss a minute

Skipped workouts or races because sometimes…….being a mom is more important.




Stressed more about figuring out how to fit in a workout than actually doing it

Been up for hours in the night with a sick kid and still managed to fit in workouts the next day

Tried to set a positive, balanced example for my kids that fitness, training racing and goals are fun and rewarding



Happy Mother's Day