Things I Love Thursday - Grammar Nazis

Because it has been a decade for some of us (just go with it) and even longer for others since your last grammar lesson in high school, I just want to tell you how much I love it when people use correct grammar. Some of my favorites, when used correctly, are:

It's and its

• It's means it is or it has. If you can't substitute one of those for it's, you shouldn't have the apostrophe in there. Example: It's been rough tapering this week. It's going to be even worse next week.
• Its is the possessive form of the word. Yes, possessives normally have an apostrophe, but this is an exception. Get over it. Example: I put my Garmin on its charger but forgot to plug it in.

Your and you're

• Your is a possessive pronoun. Don't remember possessives or pronouns from middle school (or probably elementary school)? Basically it shows ownership. They are YOUR running shoes. It is YOUR marathon PR.
• You're is the contraction for you are. If you can't replace you're with "you are," get rid of the apostrophe and the e. Example: If you don't have some bad runs, you're doing it wrong. Or you're a freak of nature.

There, their and they're

• There indicates direction. I would add that it is an adverb, but I don't want to confuse you. Direction can also mean location. There can also be used like a pronoun. This one is a little tougher so here are two examples: 1- You can pick up your race packet over there. 2 -There were too many port-a-potties at that race, said no one ever. 
• Their is a possessive pronoun. It is like "your." Still confused? Remember that whole ownership thing. Example: Look at their bloody nipples!
• They're is a contraction for they are. Don't stick the apostrophe in in there and add an e at the end unless you can substitute they are for the word! Example: They're going to kick booty at the Ogden Marathon next weekend.

To, too and two

• To is a preposition. Don't remember what a preposition is? Lets just say it means in the direction of. If that is still throwing you, learn the uses of too and two, and then use TO when the others don't work. Here are some examples anyway: She went to buy bananas. To run or not to run; what a stupid question.
• Too means very, many, also or a degree of something. Examples: I am too sore from my marathon to walk down those stairs. She wants to qualify for Boston too. That is too much foam rolling for one day.
• Two is a number. You probably learned it in preschool. Maybe even before. As in when you weren't much older than TWO. If you use this one incorrectly, that's just sad.

There is no shame in printing this out and hanging it above your desk. Bookmark it on your iPad. Add it to your favorites. Or take a screenshot and save it on your phone. You can even make it your screensaver. Or just hire me to edit your Facebook, IG and blog posts. Up to you.

Things I Love Thursday - Struggles

One of the things I love most about running is it has taught me I am stronger than I ever thought. I have been thinking about this more lately as I've seen some of the people I love face different challenges in their lives.

No matter how hard a run is or what struggles I face in running, whether physical or mental, I am never alone. There is always someone who has gone through the same thing. Someone there to understand, commiserate and comfort.

In running, as in life, we are not alone in our struggles. Whether the people around us have experienced the same thing or not, they have had their own obstacles to overcome. No one is immune. And if we can let our guard down, admit that we are human, let others see deeper than the surface, we can have an amazing support system.

As a runner, I am constantly amazed at how runners support and lift each other up. We share something, and it's something that only runners understand. There's a strength that goes to the very core of a runner.

My hope is that as a runner, and as a person, I can let my guard down. I can be real. And I can be there for others in their time of need. Like so many have been there for me.

Things I Love Thursday: Food

I've heard other people talk about how they get incredibly hungry during marathon training. I've trained for four marathons and never really understood what they were talking about. Apparently it kicks in when training for the fifth marathon.

I am starving. All. The. Time. Seriously famished. I eat until I can't eat any more. Then once the full feeling subsides, it turns directly in to ravenous hunger. There is no grace period where I feel blissfully and comfortably satiated.

The only good thing I can say is that this crazy hunger didn't kick in until this week. With only a little over three weeks to go, I'm hoping I can keep things under control and not gain any weight. So far I've been able to curb my hunger (so very temporarily) with a snack like a boiled egg when I really just wanted to down an entire bag of cheese puffs (and I don't even like cheese puffs!). And I had a smoothie for breakfast when I could have inhaled an entire box of cereal.

So yes, this week the thing I'm loving more than usual is food.

What are you loving?