We must slow down to get faster.

Even more, absence makes the heart grow fonder, with anything that we love so dearly.

As fun as it is, runners must take a break from training and racing to reset, reboot and reflect.

Only then can we return stronger and ready to continue our journey of running for a lifetime, not just racing for today.

After running 11 races from distances 5K to 50K in 12 months and winning first overall female in four, second overall female in four, third overall female in one and first in my age category in the remaining two, I am ready for a running break. 

I had my second son, Grey, on April 2, 2017 and began running 20 days later. Read how I made it to the start line injury free and happy: From Birth to 5K: Running My First Race at Four Months Postpartum and Five Tips to Get There. 

Since then, I have been so utterly ecstatic to be a healthy, running mom of two boys, that I just could not get enough of the racing love! Mingling with other racers, pushing my limits, experiencing life on the run, ah, it has been MAGNIFICENT! 

Yet, now, my body, soul and mind must restore itself.

Below I give you a list of five things to do to keep your little running heart content while taking a break from the trails (or roads if that's your jam).

On Sunday, August 19, my oldest son, Avie, five years old, joined the Ohiopyle Biking Club to break trail for the Upper Canyon Edge Trail, which will connect to McCune and Canyon Edge proper, eventually connecting a system of trails on Sugarloaf Mountain in Ohiopyle, Pa. The new trails will make for non-stop, long, flowing, single track fun on foot, bike or skis.... a dream come true! As a native Ohiopylian and leader of the all-female trail running group, the Trail Run Tribe, it touched my heart to build trails for the ladies with whom I run as well as our future generations of young ones.

Contact your local parks to learn about trail building opportunities. 

Running World magazine posted a list titled Best Running Documentaries. Trail Runner Magazine posted 11 Inspiring Short Films About Trail Running. A friend sent me a short, sweet award-winning film, For The Love of Mary, about a 98-year-old man who runs to remember his late wife. Watching others LOVE what you love just feels good and brings me back to the main reason why I and many others run and race... for the connection to others and the community. 

3. Cross Train - Running breaks truly fly by when you have other physical passion pursuits. Mine include biking (mountain, rail trail and road), white water kayaking, swimming in the river, hiking, rock climbing, strength training and, of course, yoga. Getting back to some of these activities and increasing the amount of time spent with others (yoga!) has has been quite nourishing. Variety is definitely the spice of my life!

4. Volunteer 

For several years I have been teaching yoga for runners to the cross country team during their end-of-summer mini camp at my alma mater, Uniontown Area High School. Sharing yoga with other runners is the reason I became a yoga instructor, and I love giving back to the school that fostered my joy of racing.

Make a collage of your race bibs, create a photo album of your recent races (I'm making one for my Ragnar team, who won first place female team at Ragnar Trail Appalachia on August 10!), write out how you feel about your races and dream races for the upcoming years, compose a poem about your first 50K (it's on my list!), create a running playlist for when you return to the trails... in other words, let your creativity be free!

All in all, a running break allows time to ponder and absorb the experiences from which you have just emerged as a stronger, happier, peaceful, more connected and confident runner. After all, that's why we do this crazy thing we runners do, right? To become a better human being by expressing our talents, passions and hard work in a positive way. 

So, runners, fill your running break with fun, fulfilling, productive activities, and before you know it, you'll be returning refreshed and ready for the next running adventure :) 

Here's to running for a lifetime! 

xo,
​Brynn 

On Sunday, July 1, I ran and biked with my all-female trail running group, the Trail Run Tribe and confessed that the 26-week 50K training program, which included running a marathon, was wearing me down. I was ready to throw in the towel. 

On Friday, July 6, I replaced a run with a 13-mile bike ride that included four miles of pavement, seven miles of dirt road and two miles of single track. Descending the technical, wet, muddy mountain biking section, I hopped a slippery log that sent me flying sideways and landing hard on my left wrist.

The result? A broken forearm bone, bone bruising, edema and contusions of the wrist. I was placed in a cast for two weeks followed by a brace.

It would have been a good excuse not to run the 50K. And for the first few days, the pain was so intense that it seemed impossible to proceed with the training. I had to miss two key long runs (five-hour and two-hour back-to-back runs), totaling six days of zero running.

Instead, I saw it as a sign from the universe telling me to stop whining, get over the burn-out and to find the strength and faith within the training - to trust all the hard work and dedication I had logged.

It did not matter how I felt. The fact of the matter was that I was ready, on a physical and mental level.

​Not racing the 50K would be down right regrettable.

Keeping in line with my most common race goal, "to run without regret," I decided that no matter what happened, I would show up to the start line, broken or not.

Then, on August 1, at a check-up with the doctor, I did not get good news.

Yes, sticks and stones and mountain bike crashes can break your bones. But words? They can break your spirit.

So, when an MRI revealed that the fractured radius (broken forearm) was still not healed, and the non-runner of a doctor advised not to run the race that had been stirring in my soul for six years, there was only one thing left to do (after crying in his office and making him feel quite awkward, I think, lol!)... 

​Come back to my WHY. Why run? Why race? Why 50k? Why ultra?

Do you see the man in the photo above? He’s my dad. And he’s my why.

In 2012, he lay dying in a hospital bed as I gushed about the 27 miles I had run in a trail race the day before. I told him I wanted to run marathons and ultras. He told me to run the Mount Summit Challenge.

He did not live to see me run again. But his spirit lived on and has met me in miraculous ways at 13 races now.

I did not tell the doctor about my why, but he felt it. And on Thursday, August 2, he believed, with me, that a woman with a passion could live her dream and overcome obstacles. 

"Wear the brace. Don’t fall. Good luck," were his final words. ​

With the blessing of the doctor and an eagerness burning inside me, I showed up at the Kanawha Trace 50K Trail Race on Saturday, August 4, so excited to run!

What would be the longest race I have ever run was predictably going to be the hottest. I knew the heat would be a force as my husband, Eric, and our two sons, Avie, five, and Grey, 16 months, slept in our tent the night before the race. I nursed Grey all night and, despite sweating while just lying there, we did sleep. But we sweated, too. At 7 a.m., the stickiness in the air was palpable. 

Blazing hot, brutal conditions at 88 degrees and 100 percent humidity provided for some Race Lows:

🔸Racers, even those in the 25k, were collapsing, quitting and cramping (I had the latter off and on for eight miles, oh those inner thighs made me SCREAM out loud!!!). One man quit with just four miles left (don’t blame him). A group of 10 quit at mile 17. Yes, the heat exasperated the already physically demanding challenge of running 31 miles. And though my knees ached at times, muscle cramps slowed me down, food made me gag, and I couldn’t urinate... 

Mentally, I was golden. 

Race Highs: 

🔸My broken arm stayed intact! 

🔸Meeting the experienced ultra runners there to train for 50 and 100 milers and seeing their excitement as I told them it was my first 50k. I’m sure there were others, but I did not meet another first timer.

🔸Feeling the love of my why, race angel dad and the company and encouragement of the men (because I saw zero women after mile two) with whom I climbed, descended, crossed creeks, ran through bull fields , crossed suspension bridges and foot bridges, belly crawled under electric fences, ladder climbed over barbed wire fences, opened and locked three gates behind us, ran through a cave, a tunnel and West Virginia hollers over single track, dirt, gravel, pavement, rock beds, creek beds and enjoyed ICE cold water at aid stations. The miles became easier with these ultra-loving men at my side: Emit from Ireland, the local West Virginian Shawn and Indiana-natives Kelly and Randy, who hung with me in the final miles and gave me positive words over and over. 

🔸Seeing hubby Eric, Avie and Grey, my biggest fans, at mile 22, and hearing them cheer and shout and run into my arms. My favorite cheer: ‘I love you, Mom!’

🔸Finishing in 6:29. Like all races, I had no idea what my time was or of time in general (one reason I love running!) until I crossed the finish line, at which point my heart leapt with glee and surprise at my time, so happy that I had remained strong and steady, simply moving forward despite pain, heat and the broken forearm supported by a sopping wet brace. "Second Overall Female!!!" announced the finish line volunteers as they handed me a hand-thrown vase. 

Ahhhh, sweet satisfaction. :) :) :)

I ran without regret. I captured a dream. I have so many to thank - dad, mom, sister, Eric, Avie, Grey, the Trail Run Tribe, fellow racers...

Here's to feeling the love, spreading the love and living a life you love <3

xo,
Brynn :)