Monthly Archives: July 2009
Motivation flags on a Friday
My weeklong adventures in mind games took a distinct turn for the difficult this morning, when I started thinking about how I didn’t want to swim today almost as soon as I got up. I decided to follow a tip … Continue reading
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My pre-run routine
My pre-race routine is unbreakable, and never fails to get me in the right place to run fast (or at least try to). So I’m not sure why it took a sports psychologist’s suggestion to develop a pre-run routine to … Continue reading
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Swim the lap you’re in
I continued my weeklong experiment in tracking how my thought patterns affect my athletic performance during today’s swim, during which I got some help from the guy in the next lane, my high-school teammate’s dad and Ryan Hall. Since swimming … Continue reading
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More mind games fuel a trail run
Thanks to my recent realization that I can choose my thoughts, I’ve been a bit obsessed with how this superpower can affect my running performance. Last week, I posted some tips from my interview with sports psychologist Alison Arnold, founder … Continue reading
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Race report: 2-Mile Chris Greene Lake Cable Swim
Can I be honest and tell you that I was a little disappointed I didn’t leave the 2-mile Chris Greene Lake Cable Swim in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday with a medal? I’m still scolding myself for being such a baby … Continue reading
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An exercise in motivation
Several weeks ago, on my ongoing journey to find the end of the Internet, I found a fabulous active.com post co-written by sports psychologist Alison Arnold, a “mental toughness trainer” for a host of Olympic athletes. I gushed about it … Continue reading
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Recovery swim
I’m not doing a full-blown taper for the 2-mile Chris Greene Lake Cable Swim in Charlottesville, Va. on Saturday. I’m actually running a bit harder than usual, to see how my hip does with some tempo runs before my appointment … Continue reading
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It’s tail-fro season again
Summer is here, with its sticky heat in tow. For runners, this means a sluggish pace (as much as 20 to 30 seconds more per mile for every 5 degrees above 60, according to Jeff Galloway), rivers of sweat and, … Continue reading
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One last push: the accidental 4,850-yd. swim
Don’t you love the last hard workout before a big event? The last long swim or speed workout before a race is almost as climactic as the event itself, and it carries the promise of something wonderful ahead: well-deserved rest. … Continue reading
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Hitting the trails again
It seems fitting to start this post from the end of my weekend, when I embarked on the most gorgeous, inspiring and relaxing trail run I think I’ve ever had. What made this run so special? It came at the … Continue reading
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