running - The Fairest Run Of All

Running In Isabela, Puerto Rico

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021Leave a comment

You know you’re a running NERD when you’re geeking out over a new running trail days after finding it. But we already knew I was a running nerd. The question is: are you a big enough running nerd to geek out with me? Let’s find out! Pat and I went to Jobos Beach in Isabela, PR over the long weekend because he wanted to check out the surf break. Surfing is still a little too scary for my taste, but my enthusiasm for the trip shot up when Pat told me there were a couple running options near our...

Half A Race Schedule Is Better Than No Race Schedule At All, Right?

October 5, 2021October 5, 20212 Comments

We still live in uncertain times, but I’m feeling hopeful enough to wedge a race schedule in there anyway. Well, half a race schedule. Not ENOUGH races, but some. Not the WHOLE year, but part. And yeah, sure, most are retreads of runDisney races, but I’m registered! That’s what counts! And so I am officially looking forward to: The Wine & Dine Half Marathon, November 2021 Continuing my registration strategy of registering for EVERYTHING. I’ve been thwarted at every turn so far but it’ll pay off eventually, I just know it. Plus Pat’s really excited for his first ever...

Is A Sparkle Athletic Sparkle Squad Membership Worth It?

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021Leave a comment

I’m decidedly NOT a team sports person, but I’m not against joining a team of running individuals, especially if they offer discounts. Did I join Sparkle Squad for the camaraderie or the discounts? Trick question! I joined it for the visor! And the blog post, of course. Anything for a blog post. WHAT IS SPARKLE SQUAD? Right, so, Sparkle Athletic is a small but mighty athletic apparel store geared primarily toward women, although I’m sure they’re happy to sell to anybody who’s angling for a sparkly running skirt or ball cap. You’re almost certainly familiar with them if you’re...

Like A Flash Mob, But Running: Tales Of The Reluctant Spectator

September 21, 2021October 11, 2021Leave a comment

Oh my gosh, you know what cracks me up every time? When you’re running a race in a downtown/populated area and there are people there that clearly had NO idea there was a race happening. I’ve kinda-sorta talked about this before, specifically in a runDisney context – once upon a time Elizabeth and I dashed about Walt Disney World ourselves dodging marathon and half marathon – but that was different. We were vaguely aware there were races happening, so while we were mildly inconvenienced in unexpected ways at times, it wasn’t completely out of left field. I don’t know...

Divide, Run & Conquer: Adding Two-A-Days To My Training Plan

August 30, 2021August 30, 2021Leave a comment

I’m a lot of things, but I’m not more things. One of the many things I am not is a running coach. I do not run professionally in any capacity. But I’ve had a bit of success with this method, so I figured, why not share? Obviously if try them and suffer up to and including an accident we never talked, though, okay? You’ve most likely read about elite athletes performing two-a-days as part of their training plan. It’s exactly what it sounds like: two workouts in one day. What those workouts consists of varies from athlete to athlete,...

runDisney Race Registration Has NOT Been A Nightmare?!

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021Leave a comment

Back in 2020, when runDisney was still operating as though races would continue in the coming year, the 2021 WDW Marathon (RIP) sold out in record time. How fast, you ask? My race buddy was thirty minutes behind registration opening and the marathon was already sold out. And that’s the full marathon, which historically has been a waltz. Yikes! Mind you, that was with alleged COVID-induced registration caps and such, and anyway the race ended up cancelled. But when runDisney relaunched the race season, I was scared. With pent up demand for an already popular race, how hard would...

DuoLingo Says: Shut Up About Running

August 12, 2021August 12, 20212 Comments

Ever since we moved to Puerto Rico we’ve been working on learning Spanish, and everyone knows that one of the first steps of one’s language journey is downloading the DuoLingo app. I like to do my daily session after my workout and before my shower, while I wait for the water to heat up. Or to ramp this post up another way, I came out to have a good shower and honestly I’m feeling so attacked right now: Okay, so if you don’t speak Spanish, basically what’s happening is that this guy Eddy has a date with a lady...

In Which Jenn Identifies A Gap In The runDisney Expo Market

August 6, 2021August 6, 20212 Comments

The Wilmington Marathon isn’t, say, runDisney or Marine Corps Marathon big, with fancy sponsors and thousands of participants. But it’s gotten big enough to have its expo in a convention hall, which is where I found myself for bib pickup the day before the race. There was all the usual stuff – official race merch, running store and athletic store booths, local businesses – and one thing more: discounted old race gear. Not for the current race, of course, but the organization puts on multiple events per year and was selling some leftover stuff from races past for, I kid...

In Which Jenn Suffers A Sport Headphone Emergency

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021Leave a comment

Ever notice how gear emergencies only seem to happen right before you have a big run planned? Remember the whole GPS watch debacle? And now this! Oh, it wasn’t so bad. But the universe does like to have fun. A couple weeks ago I took a trip to Ocean City, MD for an annual vacation with Pat’s family. Ocean City has a pretty sweet boardwalk that makes for a great running venue, and has much cooler mornings than my home base in Puerto Rico. I figured my week in OC would be the perfect staging location for a practice...

In Which Jenn Picks Her Very Favorite Posts

July 23, 2021August 16, 2021Leave a comment

Hey guys! As of a couple weeks ago, this little blog (it’s called The Fairest Run Of All, but you can always glance up at the header if you forget again) turned eight years old. This isn’t as big a deal as the sort of anniversary that has a five on the end of it, but not bad, right? A good run so far. We’ve racked up a heckuva lot of posts over the years, and I figured this would be as good a time as any to comb through the archives and put together a list of my...