Run Happy is one of my favorite sayings when it comes to running. I have shirts that say run happy and I use it in my social media posts and I truly believe that running can make you happy.
There have been studies about a runner’s high. Running is known to release endorphins in the brain. Endorphins act as a natural “drug” that make a person more energetic, more awake and, yes, happier.
As I talk about running and being happier I also encourage runners to be careful when it comes to run streaks and challenges. Around this time every year Runner’s World promotes their RW Run Streak. The run streak is designed to keep you running through summer, and to bridge the gap between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. It can be difficult during the warmer months —especially with few races on the horizon—to stay motivated, but it’s much easier if you have a goal.
I agree that run streaks and challenges will keep you motivated. My advice is to take at least one day off and to add cross training and strength training to your run streak. For example as your keeping up with your run streak you can add a 1 mile warmup at the beginning of your strength training day and add a 1 mile cool down at the end of your workout.
By taking at least one day of rest for your body and doing other types of workouts you will have an opportunity to recover while keeping injury free.
Keep in mind just because other runners are doing the run streak doesn’t mean that you should join them. You can cheer them along and support them
Also, check out the faq’s on the runner’s world website so that you can stay safe and run happy.
Speaking of challenges, I’m currently doing the BGR! Global Running Day 6-Week Virtual Challenge. This challenge has kept me accountable. I started off with 5 miles on level 3 and each week I took it up by one mile. I’m on week 5, which means I have 9 miles to run this Sunday and I will finish next week with 10 miles.
This challenge is open for new and seasoned runners. Just get off the couch and get moving with the Run 1 Tag 1 social media challenge! This calls on people across the world to celebrate Global Running Day by running 1 mile for someone that inspires them (or completing an at-home exercise) and tagging a friend to do the same. Tag #Run1Tag1, #EliteAccessRunning, and #GlobalRunningDay to celebrate and run across the globe together in a worldwide game of virtual tag. ~ Join Elite Access Running — We run to make the world a better place! #RunHappy
“We are excited to bring our signature race and conference to Philadelphia this year,” said Toni Carey, co-founder of Black Girls RUN!. “We have made this year’s conference two days, but still jam-packed with fun workshops, dynamic speakers, and a great race route. Philadelphia is a great, neutral location to take a drive or fly in for the conference on Friday and you can be back home by Saturday evening.”
The weekend will kick off with a one-day conference starting at Noon on Friday, September 29. The conference will include interactive workshops with nationally recognized trainers and fitness instructors and speakers, and a vast amount of knowledge-sharing on running, health and nutrition.
On Saturday, September 30 the weekend continues with a 5K and 10K run/walk along the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Following the race, the weekend will conclude with an Awards Brunch with award-winning writer and speaker, Luvvie Ajayi. Black Girls Run! will recognize four national Black Girls RUN! Ambassadors and Run Coordinators during the brunch as well.
“Having Luvvie Ajayi as our keynote this year is spectacular,” comments Ashley Hicks, co-founder of Black Girls RUN. “Her wittiness, intelligence, and beauty is the epitome of what we do on the pavement each day… motivating each other through humor, humility, honesty and sometimes saying the things we do not want to hear. She will be a special touch to this year’s conference.”
The Sweat with Your Sole conference is open to Black Girls RUN! members and women who are interested in attending. Men and women are invited to attend the brunch and participate in the road race.
In previous years, Sweat With Your Sole has been hosted in Atlanta and Charlotte, bringing more than 3,500 men and women to the area.
Black Girls RUN! is a national running group launched in 2009 by Toni Carey and Ashley Hicks. The organization has grown to include more than 70 running groups across the nation with more than 225,000 members. The group was created to combat the obesity epidemic among women in the African- American community and dispel the myth that black women do not run. The groups include beginner and experienced runners and provide a support system to help members reach their fitness goals. Black Girls RUN! provides a community and inspires all women to run. For more information about Black Girls RUN!, visitwww.BlackGirlsRUN.com.
I completed my 3rd marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon last Sunday, October 9, 2016 and set a personal record of 4 hours and 20 minutes. My goal was to beat my first marathon time of 4 hours and 26 minutes (My previous PR was from the Philadelphia Marathon in 2012.) Whoo Hoo!! Goal accomplished!!
Post race Photo! ~ I was so happy to finish with my new PR!!
In addition to accomplishing my time goal, I’m pleased to share that I had a GREAT race.
Thank God my marathon experience was much better this year in Chicago, than Philly (2012) and New York (2015). ~ I did much better with my training and fueling which makes a big difference in a marathon. My last two marathons I had to walk a few times to complete 26.2, this time around, I completed the marathon with no walking.
*I must say that Chicago wasn’t on my radar, but my pace/business partner, Kendra Todd Dixon, Elite Access Running, LLC signed up for the Chicago Marathon lottery and I decided to follow her lead. I’m glad that I did!! 🙂
Kendra and Dawn, Marathoners and owners of Elite Access Running, LLC.
My question to those of you that ran Chicago is, who said the Chicago Marathon is flat? LOL! The course was not flat! I enjoyed the course and I was cool with it because I’m always prepared for inclines and I knew about the hill at the finish after attending the Course Review session at the Expo. 😉
I was happy throughout the race, despite my legs being tight most of the race and a weird foot pain in the later miles. My hydration and fueling the night before the race and race morning made a difference during this marathon. I alternated between water and Gatorade at each water stop and it helped!! Proud to say that I did not hit the “Wall.” Thanks to my long miles during training, the perfect weather, the Chicago marathon race organizers and the excellent crowd support, my only job was to keep a consistent pace, push through the pain and finish the race and I did just that without stopping. ~ During the course, one of my favorite signs was… “Pain is Temporary, Glory is Forever,” this statement is so true!
Thinking about my race experience overall, the Chicago Marathon was AWESOME! Very organized from the Expo to Race Day.
The nice couple in the photo offered to take my photo while we were in our corral, so I asked for a photo with them as well!! 🙂
Shout out to my Soror and fellow marathoner, Oui Brown for her hospitality. Thanks to Oui, I had the best and the closest lodging that I’ve ever had for a race. She made me feel right at home!! I walked out her front door and literally walked 5 minutes to the race location. I was so happy!!
Friday Night Fun with Oui!
My race weekend started early Friday morning. I took the first flight out from Philly to Chicago O’Hare. Upon arrival, I was able to connect with my good friend and fellow marathoner, Melanie Eversley at the airport.
Melanie and I took the train together. My ride was a little longer, but well worth it based on what I shared above about the close proximity to the race. Also, the train is great because you don’t have to sit in traffic.
If you are staying in the downtown area, near the starting line, which I highly recommend, take the train, due to Chicago traffic and it’s a good way to save money, so that you have more to spend on other things at the expo and of course pre and post race food. 🙂
Speaking of food ~ I had lunch at Meli Cafe my first day in Chicago and breakfast there my last day in Chicago.
Friday night fun, Thanks to Oui, we hung out with the Black Chicago Runners. What an AWESOME Fun Group. I felt at home from the start!!
Friday night Fun -w- the Black Chicago Runners!!
Saturday night, I attended the National Black Marathoners gathering at Bar Louie’s. It was a very nice gathering. A great opportunity to catch up with friends and sorority sisters that you see on Facebook throughout the year. ~ Always Great seeing my namesake Dawn Davis Calhoun. 😉
My lovely Sorors!!
BGR! DE & Philly
My NABJ Family: Melanie Eversley and Maria Reeve
More about the race, running a marathon is no small accomplishment, It’s tough! Running a marathon takes mental and physical determination. ~ The marathon teaches you to keep going despite the obstacles before you. “Life is a Marathon!”
Some of my thoughts during the marathon ranged from I Got This! Positive Thoughts… Keep smiling… And this is a nice tour of Chicago! Dig deep! At mile 13.1, I was like YES! I’m half way there. ~ Nice Half time! ~ Mile 20, I was at 3 hours and thought, yes.. sub 4, let’s do this! ~ I thought about everyone back home and the virtual cheers. ~ It was Cool seeing the board between mile 16 and 17 with all the cheers. The board came up so quick, I noticed Bart Yasso’s name a couple of times. ~ After mile 20 is when the race really begins, I thought about my Aunt Peggy back in Philly on life support and thought if Aunt Peggy can fight for her life, I can certainly fight past tight legs. ~ Push, push, let’s finish this race!
No promises for Marathon #4, but I am looking forward to pacing the Philadelphia Half Marathon next month with the Philadelphia Runner Pace Team and I am looking forward to racing my next Half Marathon after coming through at 2:07 with 13.1 miles to go. ~ I am looking forward to beating my 1:45 Half Marathon PR this Fall/Spring 2017 and becoming a stronger runner.
My Pre Race & Race Day Tips/Reminders include:
Practice & Train with your race hydration and fuel during your longest runs, especially the 20 miler.
Practice your eating the night before a long run.
Practice your eating before your long run.
Practice running fast!
Nothing new on race day!
Get at least 7 – 8 hours of sleep prior and leading up to race week.
Pick one day to visit the Expo. If you really want to go for two days, go early and get back to your room, relax and stay off your feet.
Attend the Course Review session ~ I find it fun to hear course tips from the experts
Stay Positive during the race and trust your training!
*Please visit and LIKE my pages, Elite Access Running and Coach Dawn for Race Day Tips, Training and more.. ~ I love sharing and I am committed to health and wellness for individuals and families.
Back to my Chicago Fun!! Post race dinner was Sunday night at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria with Erica and Adi, my BGR! Delaware Family. It was Great having deep dish pizza and pasta some of the things that I don’t eat much of during training. (I carb load after the race. LOL!)
Monday morning, I went out for a recovery walk/run and met up with BGR! Delaware Ambassador Damali Thomas for my favorite meal, breakfast. Also, Fleet Feet Chicago was engraving medals for FREE, so I was able to get my name and finish time on the back of my medal.
Back home, I found out that my race day inspiration, Aunt Peggy passed away. Wow! She gave a good fight and she is no more pain.
My Aunt Peggy Corson – My race day Inspiration!
Lessons learned from Aunt Peggy include… Her love of family and to Live Life to the Fullest. She did just that!! She loved everyone and everyone loved her. Aunt Peggy enjoyed life and I plan to continue to enjoy my life of wellness and fitness, as a runner. And I plan to continue to love everyone as God loves us.
My post race recovery on Tuesday included a relaxing massage at Alternative Therapy Massage and lunch with Kendra.
Next up… I plan to get a well deserved pedicure this Friday as I continue to enjoy my days off from running.
If you are considering your first or your next marathon, I highly recommend the Chicago Marathon. Next year the Chicago Marathon is celebrating their 40th Anniversary, so I’m sure that the race will be even better than this year. In addition to Chicago, I enjoyed the New York Marathon last year as well as my hometown favorite, the Philadelphia Marathon.
I’m headed to NYC tomorrow, October 31, 2015 (Halloween) to run the TCS New York City Marathon this Sunday, November 1, 2015.
Last Sunday’s Perfect 10 Miler was my last long run / training run for the TCS New York City Marathon.
The New York City Marathon (My second marathon) is extra special because I am running on behalf of a non-profit organization, the Minding Your Mind Foundation.
My good friend, Wendi Platt is a board member with Minding Your Mind and she asked me to run for MYM last summer and here I am today preparing to run 26.2 miles for my family members, friends and people touched by mental illness.
I am Blessed to Make a Difference and determined to help educate more people about mental illness.
Join my Team Today. Your tax-deductible donation will go a long way in educating families about what they can do to help someone touched by mental illness.
One in five. One in five teenagers will suffer anxiety, depression, self-harm, substance abuse or suicidal ideation.
One. It only takes one person to make a difference. You can “be the one” to make a difference by supporting me and Minding Your Mind.
Minding Your Mind’s (MYM) primary objective is to provide mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators. MYM’s goal is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues. Treatment is available, yet only 3 out of 10 individuals needing help actually seek help. Minding Your Mind Programs move away from crisis based response to prevention through education.
RunPRDawn 