long runs - The Fairest Run Of All

In Which Jenn Recaps The 2018 National Capital 20 Miler

October 2, 2018August 23, 20212 Comments

I have knocked out a fair number of 20 mile runs in my day as preparation for a marathon. Some have been treadmill runs; others were outside. But I can tell you with certainty there’s nothing like the serenity that comes from knowing that somebody else is in charge of providing your snacks and water. Which is why I...

In Which Jenn Finds A Whole New Running World

February 22, 2018August 27, 20212 Comments

Last weekend I was very brave. I did my longest pre-marathon run of 17 miles… OUTSIDE. WHAT. For the longest time I was strictly a treadmill girl. But time and circumstances pushed me outside more and more. Then last June I lost my nice, walking distance gym, and vowed to perform as many of my runs as possible outside...

In Which Jenn Runs 20 Miles Thanks To Jeopardy

October 2, 2017August 30, 20212 Comments

I didn’t have to do it. There were a million reasons not to. I had the remains of a splinter in my heel. I suspected I might be fighting off a very very low level cold. I’d already run a 17 miler, and that’s been enough marathon prep in the past, right? But it was on the schedule, so...

In Which Half A Marathon Wasn’t Enough

September 26, 2017August 30, 20212 Comments

Don’t judge his grammar here; he’s not a morning person. (Also: pork butt.) One of the perks for locals of running the Parks Half Marathon was historically that the race ended right in downtown Bethesda. You could finish your race and then stroll straight home! But then they do say all good things must come to an end, and...

In Which Jenn Goes On A Running Food Bender

September 7, 2017August 30, 2021Leave a comment

Let’s see, how to explain this. Have you ever… gone on a sort of… pre-long run food buying spree… like, way in advance… without planning it? Now that I’m officially training for the Baltimore Marathon, I gotta get those mega-long runs on the docket. And I have – I have a 15 miler, 17 miler, and 20 miler laid...

The Fairest Week In Review: 2/14

February 14, 2017September 1, 20212 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s how I’m celebrating. Anyway. Now that Gene has walked us home we can discuss last week’s long run. I’ll tell you one thing: you want an empty gym, you go way early the morning after the Super Bowl. Sunday | rest We had a couple friends over for the Superb Owl. Still maintain I would...

In Which Jenn Has A Much Better National Capital 20 Miler

September 28, 2016September 2, 20213 Comments

It is only in a universe of comparison that I can say this, but as I do live in such I won’t hesitate: that was much better. Last year my showing in the National Capital 20 Miler was, shall we say, not my best work. I was very slow. I walked a lot. I was in a fair amount of...

The Fairest Week In Review: 9/27

September 27, 2016September 2, 20215 Comments

I did it! I did it! My twenty-miler is BEHIND ME. Take that, marathon training cycle! It’s all downhill from here, baby! All of which is to say that on Sunday I ran the National Capital 20 Miler and it wasn’t nearly as terrible as last year. Review to come, of course. The rest of this week I’ll be...

In Which Jenn Gets Jazzed For A Long Run

August 25, 2016September 2, 20213 Comments

Last week I came to a startling realization: I was actually excited about my planned 16 mile long run. I expressed this unexpected feeling on Twitter and received the expected response: that I was crazy, and everyone who had a long run on the docket was dreading it. And so I thought: what if I explained how I got myself...

The Fairest Week In Review: 8/16

August 16, 2016September 2, 20212 Comments

I was at a conference last Sunday afternoon through Thursday morning, so my schedule was a bit discombobulated – no lunchtime walks and in some cases unfamiliar running territory. I did do a fair amount of power-walking around the conference center, though, which added to my daily count step even if it’s not GPS official. Here’s how all the...