I Survived A “Productivity Half-Marathon”
bySomeone once told me that every runner, at some point, confronts the urge to run a half-marathon, broken up into smaller segments over the…
RUNNING
Goodbye, Toenail, And Thank You For Your Service
byA few weeks ago in a hotel room bathroom, my left big toenail fell off. I mean, I gave it a little nudge, as…
The Art Of Exercising With A Full Stomach
byThe other night while eating dinner, after a day of doing various work things and around-the-house things during which I had let time slip…
Some Possible Substitutes For Energy Gels
by—Brendan SOME RUNNING + ENDURANCE ITEMS IN THE SEMI-RAD SHOP: The Zen Of Training Coffee Mug ($15.99) I Hate Running and You Can Too…
I Have Decided On A New Goal In The Middle Of My Run And Nothing Will Stop Me
byOne day a while back, I was out on a run, thinking about nothing in particular, just enjoying moving through the world, looking at…
There’s No Way I Could Have Seen This Totally Predictable Injury Coming
by“I don’t know if it’s luck or just taking it kind of easy, but I’ve been able to run a bunch of ultramarathons without…
One Segment: The M Trail
byThe folks at Strava asked me last summer if I’d like to tell a story about a particular segment of trail, for part of…
What We Think About When We Think About Running
byMark Twain was not a runner, at least to my knowledge. But I think of this Mark Twain quote nearly every time I go…
The Mountain-Climbing Lobster And Other Stories
byAs you’re probably well aware, another holiday season is almost here. Every year around this time, I start getting this nagging voice in the…
My Friend Says It’s The Greatest Race In The World
byJust after the crest of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the longest and highest climb of the New York City Marathon, around Mile 1.0, one of…
How I Look Running By Myself Vs. When I Appear In Race Photos
byThanks for reading. Before you go: If you enjoyed this piece, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, which enables me to keep…
How To Make Chip Drink
byLast Sunday, while running on a trail through the forest, I ate what I estimate was my 1,500th Clif Blok. Or 2,000th, who knows….
Perceived Size Of Rock In Shoe Vs. Actual Size Of Rock In Shoe
byThis is not a metaphor for anything; just something that happened to me last week. Or maybe it is a metaphor, I guess (More…
The Rut 50K: A Race Report
byHigh on the east ridge of Lone Peak, at about 10,500 feet or so, The Rut 50K started to feel like a cartoon, in…
What Happens When I Take Off My Shirt While Running On A Hot Day
byRIP gnats (More stuff like this on my Instagram and in my email newsletter, which you can sign up for here)
17 Hill-Climbing Strategies
byThere you are, at the bottom of a hill, on foot, or on your bike, or on skis, ready to start up. But are…
“Parking Lot Laps”: A Rationale
byThanks for reading. If you enjoyed this piece…
You (Probably) Can’t Everest Mt. Everest
byMaybe you’re familiar with this thing known as “Everesting,” in which maniacs people pick a hill of a certain height and bicycle or run…
Going Fast, Going Far
byEven when I was just taping off my steps before the race started, I was comparing myself to the other runners. I don’t remember…
26 Useful Facts About Running
by1. It is OK to take breaks while running. Sometimes breaks last a few seconds, and sometimes they last a few years. 2. There…
7 Illustrations About Running
byIn writing and illustrating my new book, I Hate Running and You Can Too, I wanted to tackle lots of the “whys” and “hows”…
People Who Get To Decide What The Point Of All Your Running Is
by(from Chapter 8, “Write Your Own Definition of Success,” in my new book, I Hate Running and You Can Too, available via bookstores and…
The Zen Of Running
by(from chapter 11, “There Are No ‘Hacks,’” in my new book, I Hate Running and You Can Too, available via bookstores and Amazon here)…
I Hate Running
by[NOTE: To mark the publication of my new book, I Hate Running and You Can Too, on March 16th, I’m re-posting the original essay…
Chart: How To Talk To People About Their Favorite Outdoor Activities
byThanks for reading. These posts are able to continue thanks to the handful of wonderful people who back Semi-Rad on Patreon for as little…
Announcing My New Running Book (+ Free Stuff If You’re Fast)
byTO GET RIGHT TO THE POINT: I have a new book coming out March 16th. It’s called I Hate Running and You Can…