A Runner’s Alphabet—R Is for Rest
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
  is for rest. I originally published this blog almost exactly a year ago as advice for what do to after a long training run. Especially during this very hot summer, Constructive Rest will replenish your mind and body if you take the time for self-care. Congratulations—you’ve finished your long training run! You’re probably exhausted but very happy and (I hope) uninjured. Allow yourself to enjoy that feeling of sweaty pride—you’ve earned it! What do you do next? If you’re like me, you’ll eat something light (a banana, say) and drink some water to see you through the trip home. You’ll do ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—Q Is for. . . .
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
First of all, I wish everyone a happy, healthy new year! is is for quandary. In other words, I’ve had a hard time coming up with something. So how about quiet? I had a very nice time over the holidays—that is, nice but hectic. Getting those last-minute gifts, doing my share of the Christmas baking, being with loved ones for a happy but loud Christmas gathering—all wonderful, but I did long for some peace and quiet, and took it where I found it. For me this has meant trying to break a lifelong habit. I’m always listening to that inner monologue in my head, re-enacting old dramas and ange ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—P Is for Quite a Bit, Actually
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
  is a good letter. I wish everyone: Peace for you and yours Progress, power, and pep in all you do Personal growth, physical, mental, and spiritual (however you define it) Pride in your accomplishments Promise in your future Also: Pause in whatever you’re doing right now. Allow yourself to be where you are. Quiet your breathing. Give yourself a big pat on the back. I’m sure you’ve worked hard all year, and I hope you’ve achieved most, if not all, of your dreams.   One wish I definitely don’t have for you: perfection. Please don’t let the idea of perfection get in the way of your pr ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—O Is for Opportunity
Running for Masters
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
  is for opportunity. How easy is it to spot an opportunity? Sometimes opportunities are pretty obvious. I’m taking advantage of a little time to squeeze in this blog between all my pre-holiday chores and before the Christmas Eve baking frenzy. Sometimes we don’t even recognize an opportunity till after it’s vanished over the horizon. Or we recognize one but get scared. Fear of opportunities was my special habit for a long time. I was afraid to try new things that would have made my life richer or more rewarding. It just seemed safer to hang back and stay with what was familiar, even if ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—N Is for New
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
  is for new.           Thoughts for the road—you have the power to: Let every step be new Let every breath be new Let every sight be new Let every sound be new   Let your legs be easy Let your breath flow Let your eyes soften Let your ears open Let your head balance at the top of your spine   N can stand for a lot of other things: natural, notice, nurture. I encourage you to explore your own ideas.       Please feel free to send me any questions you might have. I’d love to hear your thoughts. AND if you don’t want to miss my next blog o ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—M Is for Muscle
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
  is for muscle. Don’t worry, this definitely won’t be a lecture on anatomy! I’m all for strength training (with or without weights) to keep your muscles strong and improve your running. But another type of inner work can also help. If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that I am a nationally certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. You can find a fuller discussion here, but the short explanation is that about 120 years ago, an Australian actor named F. M. Alexander discovered that by detecting and releasing, or undoing, unnecessary muscular tension, he could improve his s ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—L Is for Life
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
is for life. “Why do you run?” That’s a question people ask me, especially because I’m an older (65+) runner. What they might really mean is, “Running looks like such hard work, and it really hurts. Why do you bother to put yourself through all that trouble and pain?” My answer is always the same: I run to stay alive. Of course I mean literally alive, heart beating, breathing, and all the rest of it. We all know that running well improves your quality of life—not just the physical side but also the inner, mental, emotional (what you will) side. When I run, I feel really alive to my surroundi ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—K Is for Kindness
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
is for kindness. I drive myself pretty hard when I’m in a race or on a long run, especially toward the end. I don’t imagine I’ll ever win any race unless they have an award for slowest in age group! I don’t care—digging deep to find out what I’m really made of is the big draw for me. But I’m not talking about what we do during a race—it’s after a race or a long run that I’m concerned with. How kind are you to yourself? I don’t mean just physically kind—having a good stretch, a nice hot shower, your favorite recovery foods, and a good nap, in your favorite order. I don’t think you can be truly ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—J Is for Jaw
Barbara Curialle
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
is for jaw. True confession: Sometimes I run with my jaw. When I’m near the end of a longish run or a race, I pull out all the stops to get to the finish. For whatever reason, I push my chin out and up, as if my jaw can pull me ahead faster than my feet. Of course, that doesn’t happen. Instead, I interfere with my breathing just when I need to take in as much air as possible. Completely unhelpful? Absolutely! But it happens all the same. As I said in my “I” blog, running can teach us about how we handle stress. Over the course of our daily lives, we develop habits around stress, some less he ..read more
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A Runner’s Alphabet—I Is for Insight
Running for Masters
by Barbara Curialle
3y ago
is for insight. Almost all the blogs in my alphabet series have had a hidden purpose: to get you to think about why and how you run, and what you get out of running. In other words, what insights do you gain from your running? After almost every run, during my sweaty cool-down walk back home, I do a quick review of what I got out of it—without judging myself. Anything I can discover is a lesson that I can apply next time. Did my form feel comfortable? If yes, why? If not, why not? Was I going too fast? too slow? How can I pace myself better? Was I dressed for the weather? Unless it’s really ..read more
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