by Tracy Wynant

I thought running would be something my husband and I could do together. He was a runner in high school, but hadn’t run in many, many years. About 10 years ago he became serious about it again. I really didn’t get with the program until maybe three years ago, totally out of shape and barely able to run a block. Little by little I kept chipping away at it. I would give myself little goals that seemed achievable at the time to not discourage myself.  I’m just going to run to that mailbox.  OK, made the mailbox.  You can only walk to that tree and then you start running again. Or, if I was at my athletic club, which has an inside track, I’d walk one lap, run one lap, until I was eventually “slogging” (slow jogging) a mile at a time. 

by Erin Croley

As my running friend was racing in his first marathon Sunday,  I was checking his Facebook page for updates. At the midway point, a friend posted a picture. He looked relaxed and ready for the next 13.1.

I was reminded of a picture my husband took of me at the 16 mile mark of my first marathon. He posted it on Facebook and a mutual runner friend commented that I looked really good for mile 16, which was true. I felt amazing! It was mile 20 that had me walking and crying. The race was the 2011 Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. Mile 20 is near the beginning of the trek around Lake Merced. The hills behind us, this flat section leading back to the ocean front final miles should have been a breeze, but as many former NWM runners had warned online, Lake Merced tests a runner’s resolve. I didn’t believe it going in. 

by Trisha Brennan

There are a ton of words I would use to describe myself:  wife, mother, teacher, sister, daughter, friend, cousin….but, runner?  I have “run” in a countless number of 5K’s (even coming in first place in my age group) and eleven half-marathons, and yet I still hesitate when someone asks, “Are you a runner?”.  

by Steffan Ledgerwood

The road that is life is a long journey.  Sometimes you have your route all planned out while other times it seems like you are always stopping and asking for directions.  There are even occasional moments where you sit there and wonder, “how did I get here anyway?”  Recently, while running a 20-miler in preparation for the first marathon of my life, I found myself asking this very question.

I was eight years old, enjoying a family picnic in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  Three of my siblings and I were playing in the river when we heard the loud clanging of metal from the opposite bank.  We turned in unison to see our mom beating a garbage can lid with a stick and yelling inaudibly.  We looked at her, then at one another, and yelled back in chorus “What?”  She repeated herself a second time in true southern fashion…(slow and drawn out) “There…Is…A…Bear…Behind…You!”

by Tracy Wynant

During packet pickup for my last 5K race, I decided to treat myself to a new pair of running socks. After perusing the rack and getting the input from the sales associate, I pick a pair that appealed to me, truthfully, based on color alone. They are a brand called Feetures.  I have small feet, although somewhat Fred Flintstone-like, so I grab size small and pay for them.  5K race, done, no problem.  

The next time I wear the socks, I notice they feel a little tight on my toes but attribute that to them being brand-spanking new.  I keep yanking on the toes of the socks to give my tootsies breathing room before stuffing the Fred’s into my shoes.  Next run, done, no problem.  Back at home, as I’m relaxing, I look down at my feet and see this:  

by Erin Croley

When you've had two kids, peeing yourself unexpectedly is part of your joyful new life, or so I'd heard from a few mama friends. I'd even known a mama friend on my soccer team to bring a fresh set of underwear and shorts for the second half of games. She said it happened every time she ran, escaping pee. Yikes! Really?

Besides when sneezing, because who can fight that powerful force of nature, I felt lucky to have escaped this mama fate. Sure, neither of my kids slept through the night until they were 15 months old, but public urination, avoided! 

by Andy Croley

It was 1:15 a.m.  I awoke to minor chest pains.  I laid in bed contemplating if my mind was once again overpowering my body.  I am guessing it was heartburn.  You see, I typically have trouble sleeping the night before a scheduled long run. 

by Tracy Wynant

I am very new to this “running” thing.  I can’t say that I’m enamored with it, but I can see the health benefits of doing it, I’m proud of how far I’ve come in this journey, and I know that it’s helped me become more health conscious and physically healthier over the past few years.  I have to MAKE myself go out and run.  I don’t ever think, “Wow, I really want to go for a run”.  I haven’t had the experience of the runner’s high, nor do I feel at peace while I’m out there.  I usually think about how much further I have to go until I’m done!  Geez, listening to myself complain about it, it’s a wonder I’ve stuck with this exercise program. 

We're so busy running or avoiding running, we just don't have time to write yet!

OMG! Is that Kurt Warner? (Quick, hide while they're distracted!)