My First 100 Marathons: 2, 620 Miles with an Obsessive Runner By: Jeff Horowitz

As someone who has an extensive library of running books, I was happy to add My First 100 Marathons to my collection. Horowitz takes the reader on his journey from newbie runner to experienced marathoner. Each recounting of his races tells of lessons learned through both triumphs and disappointments, and how the experience of every one of his marathons has enriched his life.

Each chapter begins with running tips, which includes advice for trail running, injury prevention, race recovery, form drills, and beyond. The book reads like a novel, but is packed with valuable information for both the novice and elite runner. Further, this book is filled with inspiring words that make you itch to lace up your running shoes and head out the door more and more with each turn of the page.

Horowitz lives, runs, writes, and coaches in Washington, DC. I have been fortunate enough to get to know Jeff, and I now count him as an important mentor and friend. He has also worked directly with our lululemon Logan Circle run club! For more information about Jeff Horowitz’s book, check out www.runtothefinishline.com

One of my favorite annual run events has become the Hood to Coast Relay, a 197 mile race from Mount Hood to Seaside, Oregon. Each team consists of 12 participants, with each person running three legs of approximately 4-7 miles. The legs consist of a variety of difficulty levels from extreme up hills and down hills, to fast, flat stretches. The race takes an average of 24 hours to finish, with many of the legs taking place in the middle of the night on shoulders of northwest highway, as the runners follow the path of light illuminated from their headlamps.

Each team has a team name and two vans with six people each. We were “Strangers in the Night.” I was in Van Two this year, which was an eclectic group filled with a lot of personality.

For many runners, this race is truly roughing it and is as close to camping as some will ever come (myself included). Runners curl up in vans and sleep on the ground between legs, teams subside on Clif Bars and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, and run through all weather related elements.

Like many races, Hood to Coast is also mentally challenging. People are running their hearts out on very little sleep. The lack of sleep, combined with the competition, can be taken out on the run, as just when the athlete starts to feel really stressed; it is usually time for them to run again.

Another unique aspect of the race is that it brings runners of all ages together. My van consisted of my little sister Kate, who is new to competitive running and really embraced her legs with incredible finishes, to Chris, known to me as the Colonel, who brought an incredible sense of diplomacy to everything throughout the race.

For me personally, this race meant a lot to me, not only because some of the most important people to me were involved, but also because it helped me re-find my competitive edge. This was technically my first race back since my stress fracture in the spring. Competing with the purpose of contributing to our team standing made me remember what I love most about running is race day, and putting my heart and soul into my race. It helped me really find the focus that will add the spark to the next couple of months of workouts before my fall marathon.

All in all, the greatest memories I will take away from the race are the people. Being able to do the thing I care about most -- run, with Kate, the Colonel, and my other mentors and friends is what I will remember in the coming years.

Above: Elyse and Rick Amernick (fellow run coach) outside of the lululemon Logan Circle store.

I recently had a conversation with my friend and fellow run coach Rick Amernick, president of the Capital Striders Run Group, about the difficulty of choosing a fall marathon. He was trying to choose between the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, DC and the Baltimore Marathon. The right fall marathon is an agonizing decision that many runners go through. Many times, runners end up signing up for multiple marathons, unsure of which one to run. Marathons are an investment, with the average cost near $100. Typically most runners only have one or two competitive marathons in them a year, unlike a 5k in which you could comfortably race every other weekend.

When choosing a marathon, there is a lot to consider. The most important consideration for me is weather. What are the chances that the climate will be favorable to the race conditions that a runner prefers? Secondly, one has to consider amount of travel. I personally like to do my serious races away from home, so that I can spend time in my hotel room, where I can focus on the race and getting the proper rest. Next, one has to consider the course. Is this a race for the experience or one to achieve a personal record? Some runners like to look at other logistics, such as the post-race entertainment, the size of the field, or the course time limit.

This is the second year I have signed up for two fall marathon, but unlike last year, I will only be racing one. Last year, I ran a late October marathon, and did run the time I had hoped to achieve. I decided to run the second marathon, just a month later. It was a decision that I would not recommend for most runners. If your first marathon does not go as planned, I would advise that instead of rushing into a second marathon, you analyze what went wrong, and use your learnings to improve in your spring marathon.

Regardless of the time you race, you are still running 26.2 miles, which is strain on your body. This fall, I will pick one of the two marathons, dependent on when I reach my season peak in terms of fitness. I will then take some time to let my body recover, and then I will see you at Boston in the spring.

Happy running!

Above: Elyse and her run club!

Life can be most enjoyed when you live your life with passion. As former United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice said, "The most important thing you can do in life is to find a passion. When you find your passion, you'll realize that you didn't find it - it found you."

I was fortunate enough to find my passion as a quiet fourteen-year old in Northern New Jersey. From the very first moment that I stepped foot on the track, I was hooked on running and quickly became immersed in the culture. In college, I ran competitively as well, but I also found myself involved in many activities outside of running, mainly politics. I had this idea that running was just for fun and that I needed to focus on ways that I could build a career. I didn't see a way for me to find a career within the running industry.

After college, I became a political appointee with the U.S. government, and was still running and training hard, but I was very equally balanced between work, running, and my social life. Shortly after the 2007 Marine Corp Marathon, I had a running injury that sidelined me for about two months. As soon as I learned that I had to take some time off from running, I immediately panicked, but I also realized that the reason why I was so upset, was because the sport of running is my biggest passion in life.

Fast forward almost two years later, and I have built my life around running, and found a way to make a career out of the sport of running. Nearly 99% of what I do for fun and for my career revolves around running. As an educator at lululemon, my focus is running, whether it is organizing our run club, or talking to guests about my favorite run products. Now, I coach elementary school students and adults. I am able to share my passion for the sport as President of the Washington Run Club. And I am also studying for my personal training certificate, so I can further my knowledge on working with athletes.

As I write this, I also am icing my foot, as I have a stress fracture in my right metatarsal. Unlike during my injury after my '07 marathon, my life and career are now built around running. So, even though I have to take a short break from running and hit the bike and pool, I still feel very much in the game and involved in the run community, because I know that the athletes I coach need me, that the run club still needs to be organized, and that my friends and training partners will appreciate me just as much cheering from the sidelines. This injury is certainly the least devastating as of yet, because even though I would rather be running with my athletes and friends, I know that everything in my life is about running. I am my passion. And I made the decision to build my life that way.

Making a passion into your whole life is not for everyone. My challenge to all of our lululemon blog readers is to think about what you are truly passionate about and cultivate it. You will be happier and more fulfilled.

Above: Nine lululemon eductors from the Annapolis and Logan Circle stores wearing matching Bon Bon Pink Cool Racerbacks.

A good friend of mine once told me that for every three races you run, you should volunteer at one race. Without volunteers, many of these events would not be possible. Volunteers play a huge role - doing everything from handing out the water and race numbers to ensuring participant safety. In fact, volunteerism is a huge part of the run community. Many runners volunteer their free time for their run clubs, as coaches for run programs, and at various running events.

On a recent very early Sunday morning, nine lululemon educators, all in Bon Bon Pink Cool Racerbacks attended the Zooma Women's Half Marathon in Annapolis, Maryland. Four of the educators ran stellar races, while representing the lululemon athletica team. The other five educators volunteered at the race and were posted at the finish line. Two of the educatars handed out the finisher's medals, which at Zooma are lovely necklaces, while the other three educators poured Gatorade and cut orange slices for the race finishes. By pure luck, the educators had been assigned to volunteer with elite runner and lululemon ambassador Kristen Henehan, winner of the 2007 Marine Corp Marathon and 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials participant. Kristen's spirit of volunteerism and commitment to the sport was truly inspiring.

I was truly touched by how many race participants appreciated our presence and thanked us for volunteering. At the end of the day, both the runners and volunteers came out as winners and with a sense of satisfaction. On a personal note, even though I have volunteered at many events, and volunteer a great amount in the run community as a whole, my experience volunteering with a group of friends and colleagues has inspired me to promote a greater sense of volunteerism at races within my own run club and within my run network as a whole.

Happy Running!