Author: Liz Derstine
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Expand Your Comfort Bubble
It’s been two days and I’m still beaming after getting to present for Green Mountain Club’s 31st Annual James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series. Public speaking: it’s a similar feeling to racing a 5K, climbing a gnarly mountain above treeline, or putting on a music performance. These are things I will get butterflies in my […]
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January Blues Are Real
Hello darkness, my old friend… It happens every year, I shouldn’t be surprised, but wow is January tough. Maybe it’s the “back to the grind” mentality when physically and mentally I’m still in hibernation mode. To feel pressure to produce when I feel much more compelled to curl up in a ball. But–time doesn’t stop […]
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Just One More Loop: ATY Recap
On the first afternoon of 2023 I took a little bow after dipping out of the Last Person Standing event at Across the Years, a long-distance running festival put on by Aravaipa Running. It was a happy exit with smiles and giggles. I went somewhere I’d never gone before… all on a singular loop, exactly […]
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Across the Years We Go
I hope you’re having a joyful holiday season! I celebrated Christmas with my family in Philadelphia and feel grateful for every year we get to spend together. I can only begin to understand the bittersweetness or sadness that the holidays bring for some, if not many, that have experienced loss in some way. I have […]
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To Take a Rest
Sometimes we choose to rest, sometimes that decision gets made for us. The body or mind gives, or perhaps you get unlucky and catch the bug that’s going around, or worse (the dreaded C-word)! I was one of the unlucky ones in recent weeks, but I suppose I should actually feel quite lucky, thanks to […]
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In the Pursuit of Excellence
“I don’t know where the limits are, but I would like to go there” – Eliud Kipchoge I took the above photo in Philly on my first run post-JFK over Thanksgiving weekend. There’s no better time to reflect than in the days/weeks of rest and recovery following a big effort. I think we (when I […]
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JFK 50 Mile Race Report
Photo by Paul EncarnaciĂłn At 6:30am on a crisp, chilly morning, just as the sun was just beginning to rise, my friend Tara and I dashed across the start line of the JFK 50 Mile in the little historic downtown of Boonsboro, Maryland. We had been huddled up in a coral of runners as if […]
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A Rose by Any Other Name
Photo by Jason Hill It’s that time again: the Fastest Known Time of the Year nominations are open, and my social media feed is flooded with photos and stories of amazing athletes and efforts from the last year. I submitted a nomination right away for a friend that I feel hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention […]
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Not All for Naught!
Above is a photo from my walk to school from the subway station. Most days it is bouncy walk full of optimism of the day ahead. It usually starts with a couple hours of practice to myself, followed by classes, lessons, and rehearsals. Occasionally it is the walk of doom if I know I have […]
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When the Dreaded Fog Recedes
I took the above photo during an unplanned run break while at school this week. The fall colors in New England have not disappointed. Just when I thought we’d reached “peak foliage”, the shades of red, orange, and yellow have only become more brilliant. Last week I wrote a bit about the struggle to get […]
Mercury on the Run 