FitSugar

Run Like a Girl: Nike+ Women's Half Marathon

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:30:00 PDT

If you were into the virtual element of the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31, you're going to love this Nike+ Women's Half Marathon. On Oct. 19, you can be part of the largest women's online race benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This Nike+ event is on the same day as the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. Unfortunately there's no more room left to register for that 26.2 mile race, so Nike is giving runners a chance to run alongside those 20,000 lucky runners with this 13.1 mile race. Just like with the Human Race, you can either sign up to run at select locations, or you can run wherever you are at whatever time you choose, using your Nike+ gear. After your run, you can upload your data to Nikeplus.com. The entry fee is $45, but all finishers receive their own Nike Sports Essentials Finisher's T-Shirt and an Official Finisher Keychain designed by Tiffany & Co. Interested? Then register now before the deadline ends October 8.

Run and Train Like a Mother

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:46:20 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Five years ago, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea immersed themselves in running while training for the Nike Women's Marathon together. While they had support from one another, they realized that there weren't many resources to help working moms balance race training with life.

"There is a huge community of women just like us: women who get up before the sun rises, lace up, and head out," McDowell says. "We wanted to write a book that spoke to those women - our tribe - that addressed the various reasons why we run." And that is how Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving - and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity was born. The pair's new book, Train Like a Mother, is in stores now and "fills in the gaps." You'll find motivation tips, "motherly advice," funny anecdotes, and nine busy-woman-friendly training plans for races from 5Ks to marathons.

We laughed, nodded in agreement, and dog-eared countless pages while reading Train Like a Mother, but nothing stood out quite like the running bucket list. It's like a fitness game full of fun challenges that you can start today! Here are a few bucket list items from the authors to get you started - check out the book for more or brainstorm your own ideas that will inspire you to "run this mother!"

Read on to get the bucket list!

More from Fitness Magazine:

Rock Your Run: Eight Beginner Running Tips

The 10-Week Half-Marathon Training Guide

The Top Seven Foods For Runners

Run Like a Mother

espnW — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:06:07 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

The Run Like a Mother authors, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, provide words of wisdom for balancing training and motherhood - minus the guilt.

Running résumé:
McDowell and Shea are co-authors of the book, Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity (Andrews McMeel, 2010) and Train Like a Mother: How to Cross Any Finish Line and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity, which will be released in mid-March.

McDowell has two kids, has finished two marathons and has her eye on an Ironman in 2013, while Shea, mother of three, has crossed seven marathon finish lines and will cross her eighth at the 2012 Boston Marathon in April.

Olympic hopeful Erin Taylor-Talcott readies to race the men

Sage advice:

Don't think, just go. The hardest thing about being a mother runner is finding time to train - and having your running cause as few ripples in the family schedule as possible. Early morning runs are usually easiest, but motivation can be hard to find when the bed is warm and the sky is pitch black. Lay out your clothes and anything else you need - pre-run banana, water, Garmin - the night before, and when the alarm goes off, say to yourself, "Don't think, just go." Then do it. (The same four words also work when it's later in the day and your kids are begging you not to run. Don't think about guilt. We promise: They'll survive the hour or so you're gone.)

Tune into your breathing

Keep on reading for more advice on running.

The Five Best Races For Women

espnW — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:09:19 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com.

Women's races offer a decidedly different vibe than their coed cousins': more camaraderie, a sole sister atmosphere that welcomes all runners and walkers, and lots more running skirts. Here are five of the top women's races and series in the country. Sign up then train like Sage.

Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons
Sage picked a winner. Let your inner child run free through the Magic Kingdom at these festival race weekends. Tinker Bell is in Disneyland, while Princess is in Disney World, but both allow thousands of runners to mix and mingle with Disney characters on courses that wind through each park. Racers put almost as much effort into costumes - Snow White, Belle, or Minnie, anyone? - as training. Bonus: your kids will be especially psyched to cheer you on.

Sage Steele gets some training advice from Disney runMom Lori Lovell

Nike Women's Marathon
Yeah, it's tough to snag an entry, but if you can, this race is so worth it. (Psst: Go through Team in Training.) This 26.2-mile race, and its half-marathon companion, traverses San Francisco with sweeping vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean to take your mind off the killer hills in the first 10 miles of the race. Tuxedo-clad firefighters bestow each finisher with a Tiffany & Co. pendant.

Run fast by fueling up smart

Three more great races after the break.