The chalked messages on the paved pathway along the Dallas Road cliffs were like tangled spaghetti noodles. Obviously left over from an event in recent weeks, the phrases were half-sentences of encouragement. Then from among the mess, one message suddenly stood out as if it had been written in a highlighter pen: “Denise, who inspires you.” It was as if I was getting a personal message from God, or rather the Running Goddess. I have to admit, I was feeling pretty giddy at this point in my weekend long run. It has been weeks since a sharp pain in my right IT band reduced my aspirations for a spring half-marathon to a program of rehab and recovery. Having been injured before, and through visits to physiotherapists, a personal trainer at the gym, slavish attention to stretching and strengthening, I knew that recovery is possible. The alternative is not pleasant to contemplate – giving up ...Read More.

I was so prepared for the longest run of the training clinic – 21K – that I was actually looking forward to it. ...Read More.

The risks of running in extremely hot weather is not something that’s top of mind for runners in Victoria. ...Read More.

Looking out at the crowd of people gathered to walk and run to raise money for an ill young child, Baby Madrona's uncle was on the edge of tears even as his voice spoke with strength and faith. ...Read More.

The day after we arrived in Honolulu, my husband spied in the newspaper a local 10K race. With him being a cyclist, the fact that the event also featured 35K, 75K and 100K bike rides made us both pause mid-Mai Tai. ...Read More.