Where Amy Runs

If I hadn't moved from NYC to downtown Stamford, I would have moved to SoNo--a charming little downtown for the city of Norwalk. The SoNo Half Marathon is the biggest half marathon in this area of Connecticut, and I didn't run it last year because of timing with marathon training. In 2018, I kept my (minimal) marathon training secret and signed up for whichever races I wanted to. SoNo was definitely on my list. I'd participated in the Lightfoot Summer Series races in Norwalk, which culminated in a half marathon race in September, and I felt this October half marathon race would be a nice continuation. (I certainly wasn't alone, as I saw many familiar faces.) I completely treated this race as a fun challenge. I had no explicit goal, though it's always nice to beat your own personal best, and decided to stick with my new method of only checking pace for the first two miles. Once the pace was established, I would run ahead without looking back, and tell myself that I...

"Riff raff" runners are what my husband and I call ourselves when we end up in a very exclusive-seeming neighborhood. We're totally harmless of course, but it always makes us giggle. Since moving to Connecticut from the Upper East Side a year and a half ago, we've covered a lot of ground (literally) in Fairfield County, but we hadn't actually gone on a run in Greenwich. This past weekend, we decided to give Greenwich running a try. Beautiful day, with a "private" sign--quite representative of our Greenwich run. It was a beautiful late fall/early winter day: totally clear skies, no wind, and about 38 degrees. We parked near the train station and ran around the Delamar, Bruce Park and the adjacent neighborhood, and then finally around Belle Haven. Several of these neighborhoods have guards stationed in booths at the border (a bit much, I think!). At one neighborhood entrance near Bruce Park, my husband noticed a car drive out so the gate opened, a...

This morning, my friend Alexa texted me asking about whether or not I would recommend doing the New York Road Runners' (NYRR) Shape Women's Half Marathon. Her text reminded me of why I am writing this blog (to share my knowledge with fellow runners!) and that I was overdue for a new post (happy belated Thanksgiving!). I've run the Shape Women's Half Marathon twice--in 2016 and 2015. When I raced it in 2015, I achieved my then-PR of 1:42:06. The course consists of two loops of Central Park--one of the best places in the world to run--and there's something special about running with all women. Thousands of strong women running 13.1 miles together...it's pretty powerful stuff. Just before turning the corner to finish, achieving a then-PR at the 2015 Shape Women's Half Marathon. Even with my positive race experience, I didn't end up recommending this race to Alexa. The reason: there are too many runners for a two-loop course. The second year I raced...

Yesterday, I ran the most incredible race of my life: the Philadelphia Marathon. I told only my husband and immediate family that I would be participating, because I've found that my cardinal sin of racing is putting pressure on myself--the more people I tell in advance, the more pressure I tend to feel. Don't get me wrong, I love being supported, but I don't like knowing in the back of my mind that people are tracking me. I'm a people pleaser, and always like to do well by others, but the only reason I'm running is for myself. My goals are my goals; I'll keep them to myself, thank you very much. Yesterday, my goal was to smile the whole time--I met that goal and got a PR by 9 minutes. There are several reasons that the Philadelphia Marathon was the most incredible race of my life (so far), and the first happened around 6am. On marathon morning, I got up at 4:30am, ate 1.5 Clif bars with a little coffee, and boarded a nearby shuttle from the hotel to the start...

I wasn't planning on running a full marathon in fall 2018. The past two years (2017 and 2016), I'd gotten so caught up in trying to get a Boston qualifying time that I just had not enjoyed the races. In 2016, I ran my third NYC marathon in a row, knew the course too well, and was also running sick and stressed (had the worst job ever at that time). In 2017, I ran the Narragansett Marathon and was in a much better place but applied so much pressure on myself, was constantly checking my watch, and there was a nor'easter happening...plus I was not a big fan of the course. 2016 and 2017 were my two worst marathon times--I'm sure in part due to the circumstances I described, but I think mostly due to the pressure I applied on myself. I'm not a professional runner, I'm not after the prize money, so running should be FUN. When I lose sight of that simple fact, and that I'm running because I love running, I lose my purpose and the ship sinks quickly. After my ex...

A few months ago, I had a wonderful trip all round the tiny yet geographically diverse country of Slovenia. What was originally supposed to be a trip for my husband and I turned into a full family vacation. I do pride myself on creating bomb itineraries, and I proudly gave my mom a preview of what our trip would look like. Well, that turned into my mom, dad, and brother coming along for our Slovenian adventures. We all ended up having a great time, with a nice balance of together time and divide-and-conquer time. As always, running gave my husband and I a chance to catch up solo. One of the most beautiful runs of the trip was in Piran. We followed a path along the jagged coastline from our hotel (Hotel Piran) towards Portoroz, admiring the natural beauty of the Adriatic Sea and window shopping as we trekked past luxury hotels and shops. A quick pause on the run for a photo op with the Adriatic Sea. Piran to Portoroz is just about a perfect 5k, so round-trip we covered 10k. The...

In honor of its latest installation on Sunday, today I'm writing about the NYC Marathon. The race, like the city, is unlike any other. I lived in NYC for five fall marathon seasons, and participated in the NYC marathon three of those seasons (one season no marathon, one season Brooklyn Marathon). All that to say, I certainly got swept up in the excitement. Before the actual marathon, you experience the marathon of getting to the starting line. This entails a super early wake up (though often on the night of you gain an hour of sleep for Daylight Savings), transport to the Staten Island Ferry, the actual ferry ride, bus from the ferry station to the start village, and then actually locating your wave and corral. The race staff and volunteers are incredible by and large, but I did encounter one "soup Nazi" type who turned away about 30 runners (myself included) who were 30 seconds late to line up at the corral due to a bus delay (the third time I ran the race). After th...

It's a rainy day here in Connecticut, with the steady sort of rain that reminds me of Ireland. They say in Achill Island, every season is rain, rain, rain. Summer: rain. Winter: rain. And so on. However, it is absolutely gorgeous, and the rain often clears in the early evening. A beautiful evening in Achill, Ireland. My husband and I planned a trip to Ireland in July 2017, and signed up for the Achill Island Half Marathon. Had it not been for that race, we wouldn't have discovered this beautiful, unspoiled destination where the cliffside mountains meet the sea. After spending a day and night in Dublin, we journeyed northwest to Achill Island--a typical scenic Irish drive. We picked up our race packet, had an early dinner at our bed and breakfast's restaurant, and hit the hay. Our B&B, the Achill Cliff House Hotel, was no frills, charming, and a short walk to the start line. Which was a good thing considering the (predictable) forecast--rain! It was about 50 deg...

I reside in Downtown Stamford, which poses some running challenges. For one, there are tons of stoplights. For two, they last for-ev-er. For three, people drive like maniacs. (Yup, I've been flipped the bird for crossing at a crosswalk while a walking sign was displayed.) But once you get through the pesky stoplights, you can run in some pretty gorgeous neighborhoods. One of my regular morning runs is through the Revonah neighborhood. Just about in the middle of the Revonah loop. (PC: Stamford Advocate) The beginning of Revonah Avenue is about 1.5 miles from my apartment, and the Revonah loop is just over a mile if you include Toilsome Brook (pictured above). The loop includes rolling hills, and minimal traffic. Whether you want to zone out and relax or add in some speed work, this quiet neighborhood is your spot. When I run there in the mornings, I usually spot another runner or two...and about 10 deer. (When I first moved out here from NYC, this was a total shocker!)...

I suppose I don't have a typical first race story. Not that I have any statistics to back this up, but I imagine most folks begin with a 5k or 10k. For me, this was not the case. Always a go big or go home type, I started off with a half marathon. In summer 2009, I had just finished my first year at the University of Virginia (wahoowa). I was home in Norfolk, VA, living the good life...which consisted of hanging out with friends, soaking up the sun, and hostessing at one of my favorite local restaurants, Azar's. I was having fun, but was slightly bored. Let's face it, coming home after a year in college can bring a bit of a lull. One night, I received an email on my sorority's list-serve that a "sister" of mine would be running the Virginia Beach Rock N' Roll Half Marathon, and was wondering if anyone would be interested in signing up with her. Norfolk is only half an hour from the beach, so it got me thinking...that race is pretty much in my backyard ...

I haven't been everywhere, but so far the Rockefeller State Park Preserve is my favorite park for running. I lived in NYC for five years, so of course Central Park has a special place in my heart, but let me tell you a few reasons why Rockefeller State Park Preserve's got the edge: Pedestrians only (no pesky bikers or cars) Peaceful (not crowded once you get away from areas closest to the main parking lots) Stunning, diverse scenery (from views of the Hudson River, to running through farmland, to spotting tortoises and hawks) Incredible in every season (see fall photo below) Soft surface (hello happy joints!) Hills, hills, hills (your body will thank you later, during a tough race) Vast (I mean, who doesn't need to get lost on a 20-mile run?) A gorgeous 50-degree, sunny fall morning at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. That last point ("vast") is something I cannot emphasize enough. You could run 20 miles in Rockefeller State Preserve without c...

I started running almost ten years ago. When I say running, I mean running for the sake of running. Not as punishment on a sports team, not for the mile in school, not as a warmup at the gym. Actually setting off on a run as a standalone workout.  Over the past ten years, I've run approximately 60 races totaling roughly 600 miles. (Training not included!) And that got me thinking...why not share my race and route experiences with others? The idea being that someone, somewhere might read about a race or route I've run and benefit from the knowledge I share. Whether that means choosing (or not choosing) to run a certain race, having a better game plan for a certain race, or checking out a new route, I want to pay it forward to other runners.  Running to the finish line...little did I know I'd be the first woman finisher! Unsurprisingly, this idea popped into my head while I was on a run. Not just any run, either. An idyllic, 50-degrees and sunny, 13 mile, fal...