Peachtree Road Race: What Will Your Verse Be?
What Will Your Verse Be? When I first started running nearly 15 years ago, I found it satisfied a yearning I didn’t even know I had: a desire to find and push my limits, to challenge my body and [...]
I’m Not Bad; I’m a Beginner
You're not bad; you're a beginner “Nick!” I yelled at the end of a frustrating boxing drill late last year, “Why am I so BAD at this??!!” My personal trainer looked me in the eye and said in a [...]
The Gift of Friendship
In 2009, I lived in Florida and understood running as something other people inexplicably did. Then, one day, out of the blue, my good friend and fellow teacher Blythe decided that she and I were going to start running. [...]
The Surprising Benefits of Boxing
Boxing: A whole new world I entered the world of boxing purely for the catharsis. Beating up on things felt like the perfect outlet for the frustration and fear I experienced from thyroid surgery and its aftermath (cancer diagnosis, [...]
Rediscovering Myself after Thyroid Surgery—or Introducing Pambo
Thyroid surgery: The aftermath About two months ago I had thyroid surgery to remove half said thyroid, and life since then has been…interesting. The same kind of interesting you use when you can’t think of anything kind or complimentary [...]
I Feel Weird About My Neck: Thyroid Issues + Running
We have a routine I feel weird about my neck. Not bad, but weird. Until recently, my neck was just the connector of head and chest, housing bits of spine, larynx, esophagus, vocal folds - and thyroid. The thyroid is [...]
Always Run the Uphills
Pam discovered long ago that she can have a decent time OR a decent race photo “Pick it up!” came the voice behind me. “We always run the uphills! You can walk on the downhill!” I took a [...]
It Felt Like Freedom
Losing control... Even before the world went sideways in March, 2020 felt hard. I was burned out from continuously chasing times and distances; I had a young kid who wasn’t what you’d call a superfan of sleep; things were happening [...]
Three Things I Was Wrong About
I love making definitive pronouncements almost as much as I love being proven wrong about them. I don’t run. Cross-training? I’m a runner! Who has time for more? And why? Yeah, no. Strength training isn’t for me. That’s way too [...]
Running Hard and Choosing Adversity
The day before her time trial, Pam is dressed for success with a shirt quoting Kara Goucher. The Challenge “Well,” I say between labored breaths as I lie on the dew-damp blades of itchy grass inside the track, [...]