Runner’s World+ Member: Arlene Hall
Arlene is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Running has shown me how physically and mentally strong I really am. I never played organized sports although I always enjoyed running when playing as a kid. I was a great fan, sitting in the stands watching my husband play softball or cheering for my very active and athletic kids in their chosen sports. When I finally discovered running in my early 40s, I was so surprised how much fun it was! I love the physical exertion and self-discipline to keep going for miles and miles. Training hard for a running goal taught me that you have to put in the miles and always keep your eye on the finish. While it may take a long time to get there, the satisfaction of achievement lasts forever–a good rule for races and life in general!
I couldn’t wait for the print magazine to come, especially after it changed to bi-monthly. Every morning, RW+ is part of my breakfast routine–food, coffee, then email, news, and RW+. Every. Morning.
I run because I love how it makes me feel mentally. I am much more open-minded, optimistic, clear-headed, and happy. Gotta love those endorphins! I also run for the benefit of my husband and co-workers–we are ALL happier when I run.
My favorite time to run is at sunrise–and if I can time my route so I turn east at the exact moment the sun peeks over the horizon, THAT is a special bonus! Shorter days and my work schedule, however, conspire to leave me only the weekends for a sunrise run in the fall and winter. I am SO looking forward to retirement when I can run more sunrises!
I have favorite running routes everywhere I go, including the Konza Prairie in Kansas, wooded trails of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Springfield IL, the National Mall in DC, among others. But my very favorite place to run is along the beach on Gasparilla Island in Florida. The sound of the gentle waves, the new sun lighting the high clouds, manatees or dolphins or pelicans off shore, and ghost crabs and shorebirds running along with me as I skip over mini dunes of shells. Ahhhh.... that’s my happy place.
I love my Garmin Forerunner 35. I’ve had more complicated devices but barely used a fraction of the features. This one gives me all I need–it even tells me the weather and temperature of my run! I set monthly and yearly running goals and this one device helps me track them all. Just because I always wear it when I run (or bike or hike) doesn’t mean I constantly monitor it. In a race, I run by feel and I don’t look at my Garmin until the race it over–I don’t want to put the extra pressure on myself if I’m not feeling super speedy and I’m usually pleasantly surprised by my results. And I know I can spend the next days or weeks analyzing every single mile, thanks to my Garmin.
My current running goal is to do my best at the 2019 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in November. If the stars align again, maybe I’ll get another BQ, but this time actually get into Boston and not miss out by a measly 16 seconds! Ultimately, though, my main goal is to keep running for as long as I can.
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