annecreates

How Long Was Your Marathon?

Blue Ridge Marathon Race Recap Well, my race did not go as planned. It was an act of nature, however, not my lack of athletic prowess that was the demise of this event. As the forecast for Saturday’s race was finalized, it was apparent that we would get wet. And the radar in the morningContinue reading “How Long Was Your Marathon?”

Tips for a Great Runcation

How to prepare for your out-of-town race Are you traveling for a race soon? Runcations, as we call them, can be super fun. But preparing for the big adventure can be stressful! I’m going to share a few things that I’ve learned over my years of running and traveling for races that have helped me!Continue reading “Tips for a Great Runcation”

I’ve Been on a News Fast

I like to consider myself well-informed, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed and burdened by the news. Do you ever feel this way? On my commute to work, it’s normal for me to listen to NPR. Public radio is a great source of information, and I enjoy programs like Fresh Air and the BBC News. ButContinue reading “I’ve Been on a News Fast”

Where Did my Mojo Go?

Or is it taper madness? It’s taper time in training for my 11th marathon. Up until this point, I’ve been extremely motivated in the process, going on all of my planned runs at the planned mileage. But now that taper is here, the wheels are falling off. I simply have lost my motivation to run.Continue reading “Where Did my Mojo Go?”

The Time When the Hypervigilant Security Guard Was the One Stealing

More tales from my life in retail I loved working in retail. I love to shop, so of course, I would love to help others find the perfect merchandise, too! But there was one aspect of working for a large department store that I didn’t enjoy. There are lessons that are meant to be learned,Continue reading “The Time When the Hypervigilant Security Guard Was the One Stealing”

It’s My Six Year Vegan Anniversary!

I can’t believe it’s been this long Where has the time gone? Although it’s true that I have been some version of vegetarian since I was 18, I was one of those veggies who swore they would never go vegan. That’s just crazy, right? Of course, I said this about running marathons, too, and lookContinue reading “It’s My Six Year Vegan Anniversary!”

Only Crazy People Run 20 Miles Solo

I guess this makes me crazy It’s peak week in training for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon. All of my runs this week have been on my own. This isn’t necessarily bad, but I’ve surprised myself by reaching this point in my running career where knocking out multiple double-digit runs in one week seemsContinue reading “Only Crazy People Run 20 Miles Solo”

The Time I Helped a Vietnam Vet

Stories from my life in retail Once upon a time, I worked for the now-defunct Hecht’s department store. I love shopping, so it only seemed natural to help others do the same. I took great pride in this job, realizing that I made a bit more than minimum wage, and it was the nicest departmentContinue reading “The Time I Helped a Vietnam Vet”

Road Runners Club of America Convention: Part 3

It’s a wrap! The biggest takeaway from this convention is that I have a greater sense of how special the Richmond Road Runners Club is. I have a much better appreciation for our size as a club, the number of races we do, and how much of an integral part of the Richmond running communityContinue reading “Road Runners Club of America Convention: Part 3”