Springfield Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K Lace up those sneakers and bust out those energy gels; it’s marathon time! The second annual Springfield Marathon returns on Oct. 19, though runners will need to register no later than Oct. 18 at 4:00 p.m. The picturesque, mostly flat 26.2-mile race begins Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Runners start west […]
running
Posted inArts & Culture
Swim, bike, run for fitness and fun
Maybe it’s the obesity epidemic that has so many people worried about their waistlines. Or maybe it’s the ongoing recession that has people looking for low-cost extracurriculars. Whatever the cause, it’s clear that Americans are more interested than ever in getting fit. Last year was the first in which the number of marathon finishers topped […]
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Marathon time
Once again, I must apologize for being so lackadaisical about posting here. I’m happy to report, however, that I haven’t stopped blogging because I’ve fallen off the wagon. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I’ve been training intensely for my first marathon, and the big day is this Sunday! I’ve put in my double-digit miles […]
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Running buddy fail
I’ve had a couple of great running buddies over the years. Key qualities include justthe right level of cheerleading and knowledge of such things as stretches, tennisshoes and running paths. (I’m also glad when they’re talkers – ‘cause runninggets boring, and I’m usually too busy panting to bring much to the conversation.) But far more […]
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Do it right in the dog days of summer
Watch this: I love that clip from Will Ferrell’s film Anchorman, and it fits tangentially into today’s post. Summer in the Midwest is a time of wretched, smothering humidity and baking heat, the combination of which usually makes you sweat without exerting any effort. If you dare to move around while outside in this sweltering […]
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Inside a runner’s mind
Perhaps it was the heat. By 9:30 in the evening, one would normally expect the sweltering fever and thick humidity of the day to dissipate, but the sultry blanket of summer seemed to defiantly drape itself over the park even as the waning crescent of moon slowly climbed into the night sky. Full of root […]
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A confession
I have fallen off the wagon. I haven’t run in several days, and the interval between my runs has grown lately. I know that exercise gives me energy and confidence while speeding up my metabolism, so why have I let myself get so far off track? I confess to having been lazy, distracted and unmotivated. […]
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Halfwits at it again
When I decided to get my health and fitness in order, I took up running because it was the easiest way to make a change – easier than improving my diet, that is. Since then, I’ve come a long way, and one group in Springfield has helped me achieve something I thought impossible. The Half […]
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Stepping it up
As a young graduate student, I didn’t see a problem with heading to Steak ‘n Shake after a late night out with friends or grabbing McDonald’s in between classes. And even though I had been active in college — rowing competitively with the school’s team and jogging frequently with roommates — I stopped exercising, too. […]
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A runner’s tale
This dispatch comes from our editor-in-chief and fearless leader, Fletcher Bud Farrar: I’ve been a casual runner for years, but early this year when it dawned on me that I was going to turn 60 in the spring, I decided to step it up a notch. During the winter months I went on several long […]
