A couple of weeks ago I was blessed to have the opportunity to travel to Germany for work. I spent 5 days in Tegernsee and 4 days in Hamburg. For the record, Germany is gorgeous. But, while I loved being there, I did find that sticking to my training schedule was nearly impossible. Instead of running my prescribed 26-30 miles/week…I was lucky to hit 10.

I managed to to squeeze in 3 runs while I was there. I did two runs along the gorgeous Lake Tegernsee and then a 7 miler around the lake in the center of Hamburg. There really is something amazing about running in a new city or location.

Sadly, I’m pretty sure my running style hovers somewhere between ‘The Geezer’ and ‘The Stiffy’…although both of them appear faster than me.

This past saturday I somehow got duped into a run I had never intended to attempt. I set out with the intentions of doing a 5 mile run.

Two hours later, I found myself breaking through the double digit mileage barrier like a wounded animal. Too say that I was slow during those final 2 miles is a gross understatement. I’m quite certain….NO…I’m positive that a small child could have walked faster than I was jogging. But, for me it wasn’t about the speed at that point, it was about finishing without stopping.  The most surprising thing to me was that I never felt taxed cardiovascularly…it was simply that my legs and knees grew sore.  In hindsight I suspect that having more than a yogurt for breakfast and a bit of water would have served me well.

The weather was gorgeous here in …

This week I’m out in Portland, OR for work. Rather than do my typical running in the hotel bit, I grabbed my gps and hit the streets and hills of Portland in the early morning hours.

Even if I had tried, I doubt I could have timed my route and run better. Just as the sun began to rise I found myself in the city’s highest point. To date, this is my favorite runners experience.

Apparently I’m not alone. The more I run, the more I realize that I’m neglecting other muscles in my body. Runner’s World Coach Jenny offers some solutions in this informative article. 

Like many, I love my iphone. Like many, I find running with their headphones infuriating. I’m happy to say that I think I have found the cure. I was wandering the aisles of CitySports the other day and came across the Yurbuds display. There happened to be a sales rep right beside me. I asked if these worked. He quickly responded by telling me about their ‘twist-lock system’ and that he uses them and even if you yank on them….they refuse to fall out.  Right then and there I was sold.

I picked up the Ironman Inspire Pro version because I love the built in mic system that my iphone headphones have.

I’m a half dozen runs into my life with Yurbuds and they have not caused me a moment of grief. I whole heartedly give these guys my thumbs up. If …

Dana-Farber Team Member Lauren shared this video this morning. It’s definitely worth me sharing again.

Enjoy. And remember, we are all powerful beyond measure.

Dear Friends, Acquaintances, Colleagues, and Family,

On April 16, 2012, I will be running the Boston Marathon for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge (DFMC). I know what you’re thinking: “What, the marathon?! But you haven’t run more than three miles in your entire life!” And isn’t this going to hurt your back? While those statements may be true, I have found a reason that makes it all worthwhile.

Last summer I lost another close family friend to cancer. That makes five family members or friends in as many years. Whether I had been lucky in years prior or simply walking through life with blinders, I hadn’t really felt touched by cancer. But now, I can’t seem to avoid it.

The reality is that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women will be diagnosed with cancer. If you let that statistic sink in …

My training has been seriously derailed this week. The irony is that it’s because of  a Health Club. Since Monday I have been in Tampa filming a commercial for YouFit Health Clubs. During my trip, I only managed to squeeze in a 3 mile run on the hotel treadmill. According to my training schedule I need to get in 13-17 miles by the end of the week.  That means, I have a busy weekend ahead of me.

For those that are interested, I’ve attached a few photos of what it looks like on the set of a commercial shoot.

I’m really enjoying this interesting infographic via mp3running that highlights some of the difference between male and female runners.  Click to see the entire series of info graphics.

Yesterday I ventured out to the Fellsway with my far more talented running partner to try to get in a long run before the start of NFL games. After spending quite a few miles now running over potholes and worn down commercial buildings (I run in Chelsea) I was pretty excited about the idea of running through the woods. But, when I saw the trail map at the head of the park I immediately became concerned. I’m not sure if time has removed all traces of color on the map or someone just had no idea how to create a trial map….but every trail on the entire map was marked by white squares. Every one. How does someone know what trail they are on if they are all marked the same?  Questions to ponder.

I should note that I’ve spent quite …

My t-shirt shop is up and running.  I wish I could lower the cost, but in order to ensure that $5 goes to Dana-Farber they will be pricier than I had hoped.  If there are any other products (hooded sweatshirts, hats, etc) you might be interested in purchasing please let me know.