- If you’re traveling to run a half marathon, make sure it’s a place you want to visit anyway. No point in going somewhere and punishing your body if there’s nothing to do after you’re done. Even if you find yourself limping around like an octogenarian.
- Take your cold wraps. I don’t know why I thought I wouldn’t need one after a race when I need one after any run over 6 miles. I am an idiot.
- I raced in my Tar Heel 10 Miler shirt from last year (is running in previous race shirts like wearing a band’s shirt to their concert? idk) and it was really nice because loads of spectators yelled go Heels at me, and particularly shouts to the guy around mile 10 who yelled f&^% Duke. So, like, if you’re from somewhere that means something to you, maybe wear something that will generate in-race pump up comments.
- I was a lot slower than I had hoped, and that’s okay. Now I know what to work on.
- Did I really think I could run a half marathon when I started telling people in 2024 that I was going to? No, I didn’t. But if you say something enough times, sometimes you actually start to believe in yourself, and I did that, and then I did it.
- I used the Couch to 5K half marathon trainer, and it really worked well for me. I’ve used the original Couch to 5K, and the Couch to 10K trainers as well, and honestly I like the way the half marathon workout plan is built best. It’s got some long, long runs – but none of the running intervals are ever more than 4 minutes. Can I run 12 miles in 4 minute / 1 minute intervals? Bet your ass.
- Sometimes it’s okay to travel alone, even if you’re married or partnered or usually travel with your BFF or your sister or your work bestie. This is the second solo vacation I’ve taken in six months, because of Trav’s work stuff, and I miss him when I’m alone, but also I kind of love it? I am responsible to nobody when I travel alone. If I want to get up for sunrise every morning, I can do it without waking someone else up. If I want to take a mid-afternoon nap in front of the Olympics with the hotel air-conditioning turned down to arctic, I can also do that.
- You don’t have to do everything on a vacation. I tried to learn this when we were in Scotland, and I’m still really bad at it. But most places aren’t going anywhere, not immediately. I had outlined an enormously full day on Sunday with my camera, and about halfway through my list I realized I was fucking exhausted and went back to the hotel to take a nap in front of the Olympics. It’s okay. Savannah’s still going to be there next time.
- I love a VRBO but honestly I kind of prefer a hotel these days because mostly they still have cable, and sometimes on vacation I just want the ease of cable. Is this lame? Am I An Old? Do I just want to watch Rizzoli & Isles reruns in syndication?
- Get the pizza carry-out and eat it in bed. It’s worth it.
brand new kind of photography 