Dad Jogger

This past weekend, I participated in my second backyard ultra marathon. It was a test of physical endurance, mental fortitude, and adaptability. While I finished with 7 loops (29.16 miles or, if you're counting, over 60,000 steps), which matched my performance from last year, this race was different. I completed my loops faster, and more importantly, I felt a...

Tomorrow, I’ll be taking on a Backyard Ultra Marathon, a unique and grueling race format where runners complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains. It’s a true test of endurance, strategy, and, maybe most importantly, mental toughness.  I ran this race last year. I plan to do even better than that performance! I’m...

I’m the kind of person who strives to be on time, or even early. I can’t stand being late unless there’s a clear expectation that lateness is acceptable (looking at you, casual backyard BBQs). For everything else, being punctual matters, at least to me. But as any dad knows, getting kids out the door on time can feel like trying...

Move over, energy gels and interval training, science* has revealed an untapped performance enhancer for runners everywhere: dad jokes. That’s right. Those groan-worthy puns you force your kids to endure might just be the key to shaving precious seconds off your PR. While elite runners obsess over VO2 max and carbon-plated shoes, we’re here to ask the hard-hitting question no...

Over the past few years, new trends have been popping up that encourage us to rethink our relationship with alcohol. Along with No-Shave November, we now have the “sober curious” movement, Dry January, and a bunch of drinking apps to keep drinking habits in check. It’s clear that there’s a growing interest in sober or sober-ish living. More and...

Ah, parenting (and homeowning), where unexpected surprises lurk around every corner. From a sudden trip to the ER after your toddler decided to turn the couch into a trampoline, to the car mysteriously making that new sound right after you thought you were in the clear, life happens. And when it does, you’re responsible. So, having an emergency fund...

For those of us who love outdoor runs but don’t naturally thrive in the cold, winter can be a tricky season. The nice part, this year has been really warm up until this week. If you normally stick to your treadmill in the winter, but crave the open air, there are ways to make cold-weather runs doable; even enjoyable....

Picture this: it’s early morning, and you’re lacing up your running shoes for a quick jog before the day fully kicks off (maybe your coffee is brewing, but not mine). The house is quiet with sleeping children. Alarms are minutes away from sending the house into the get-ready-for-school panic. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The peaceful start you were hoping for?...

For my family that thrives on the “go, go, go,” a trip to Disney is like the ultimate endurance test, think marathon, but with more popcorn and Dole Whips. This recent Disney trip gave me a fresh perspective on endurance, both in terms of patience and physical stamina, and even provided some lessons that could benefit a distance runner.  The...

You’ve read the books, scoured the blogs, and watched countless videos. Now you're thinking you’re ready for this wild ride called parenting. But the truth is, no book can fully prepare you for what’s ahead. It’s like looking at a picture of a spectacular view versus standing on the mountain yourself—completely different experiences.  Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this more...