Once a runner, always a runner

Introducing my new summer line of merchandise, for runners and all of us who like moving our bodies and exploring outside.

Good afternoon, friend!

Somehow this was 13 years ago now. My smile is genuine — I was so excited for my race — but I was also nervous as hell.

It was a cool spring evening in northern Michigan and Joe and I were out to dinner at one of our favorite downtown restaurants, Amical. It was a special occasion: the following Saturday, Memorial Day weekend 2011, I was running my first marathon, the Bayshore Marathon in my hometown of Traverse City.

That chilly night we enjoyed a decadent dinner, topping it off with slices of rich chocolate cake and steaming mugs of coffee we wrapped our hands around as we sat on the outside patio near a towering heat lamp. We were celebrating almost-summer — we could nearly taste it — and the upcoming race weekend.

Mixed in with the excitement of the season was near-overwhelming nervousness about tackling this long distance. It would be my first attempt at 26.2 miles following 22 weeks of training all winter long, in snow and on icy roads, and — as my mileage reached high double digits for the first time in my life — amid lots of frigid rain and sleet (early spring in northern Michigan is really just an extension of winter). Thankfully, there were a few sun-filled days sprinkled throughout my training, too. But I counted those tougher, colder runs as essential; they had prepared me, mentally and physically, for whatever race day would throw my way. Or so I hoped. The coach I hired to help me finish this race — did I mention I ambitiously was gunning for a Boston Marathon qualifying time? — assured me this would be the case.

I’ve been thinking back on that spring and my first marathon, and all the other times I’ve ran the roads that make up the Bayshore route. For many years, to include last spring when I ran my first post-Covid half marathon, this time of year was about time on my feet, fueling well, getting good sleep, and tapering as I geared up for the Bayshore races, which always serve as an unofficial kick-off to summer here in northern Michigan. These races take place on incredibly picturesque routes on Old Mission Peninsula and along East Grand Traverse Bay, and people from all across the state, country and even world come to our small Lake Michigan town to run the marathon, half marathon and 10K.

I’ve also been thinking about the countless miles I’ve run out and back and all around the peninsula over the years as I began considering adding new items to my Michigan Runner Girl online store. It’s been awhile since I’ve added a bunch of new items — the pandemic shook up so much of this aspect of Michigan Runner Girl, most notably the fact that for a long while I no longer was at racing events around the state meeting up with fellow runners and selling merchandise at expos. And as I’ve shared here in this newsletter, I’ve also been contemplating over the past couple of years how what began as a small and humble Wordpress blog in 2010 and grew to become a little lifestyle brand could evolve and change and continue for years to come.

One of my coziest, most favorite sweatshirts. You can find it at michiganrunnergirl.com/shop

These roads in my hometown of Traverse City, Mich. — Bluff, Center, East Shore — will always be significant to me — and to many others (maybe you, too!). You can find this soft tee on my online store at michiganrunnergirl.com/product/bluff-to-center-to-east-shore-tee/

A new fave tee, honoring my hometown ❤️ I also have other Michigan/region-specific tees available at my store now that I’m so excited about! Check them out at michiganrunnergirl.com/product-category/clothing/shirts/

Here’s where I am at today: running remains an integral part of my life, even though lately I’ve been doing less racing and training and more simply going out on a run when the mood strikes. I like riding my bike, spending time on my stand-up paddle board, following my Pilates practice, and hiking in the woods, but running holds a special place in my heart, and I believe always will. It clears my mind, settles my insides, and leaves me feeling strong like nothing else. Even as my body talks to me in different ways these days — hello, right hip that speaks up anytime I go longer than 5 miles — I keep at it, making it a walk/run when I need to and taking to the trails whenever possible. And I’m thinking about returning to racing this summer.

My passion for running, for what I’ve built with Michigan Runner Girl, is still strong. And part of its evolution, I’ve determined, is to keep thinking of fun and different ways to celebrate all that movement and outdoor activities — whatever they may be for each of us — brings into our lives.

I’m excited to share special savings on my new Summer 2024 line of t-shirts and hoodies (and other fun accessories) now available at the online store. This is special for paying subscribers, but I invite everyone to take a look at the store! Please let me know what you think, and please know that your support and your being here means so much! And I hope you find something that you like there.

OK, keep reading for your special savings, and also a final thought on that first marathon of mine … (You can get this savings, as well as early access to my next podcast episode, to be released in the next several days here, by upgrading your subscription if you are currently a free subscriber. Thank you for considering doing this, and if it’s just not in your budget at this time, please send me an email at heather@michiganrunnergirl.com and I will comp you a paid subscription, no questions asked.)