Run, Karla, Run!

Runners have taken to the streets and to the internet to show their support for everyone affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.

So I wanted to share two ways to run for Boston that I’ll be taking part in—one live event in New York City and one virtual event that anyone, anywhere can join. Both runs will benefit The One Fund Boston, a coalition of corporations and individuals that aims to help the families most affected by the attack.

Run For Boston Anywhere In The World

On Monday, April 22, I’m joining NYCRUNS for Runners For Relief: A Virtual 5K Supporting Boston Marathon Bombing Victims. Read the rest of this entry →

The 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend featuresmany changes to improve runners’ experience. (Photo: runDisney)

Registration opens today at noon EST for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna from January 8-12, 2014.

Last month, runDisney announced the addition of the Dopey Challenge and the Walt Disney World 10K.

Now, Disney’s running branch has announced another slate of changes for the 2014 edition of the race, and a video to explain it all. Read the rest of this entry →

Run, Karla, Run goes Dopey at the Walt Disney World Marathon (Photo: Marathon Foto)

The folks at runDisney are at it again. After rolling out the biggest Walt Disney World Marathon yet—complete with a new race course and new post-race party—for the race’s 20th anniversary in January 2013, runDisney seems intent to top themselves once more with the introduction of the Dopey Challenge for the 2014 event from January 8-12.

If you think Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, where runners tackle both the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and Walt Disney World Marathon on consecutive days, was a lot of running then think again. The Dopey Challenge dares runners to conquer four races on four successive days: the Family Fun Run 5K on Thursday, a new Walt Disney World 10K on Friday, the Walt Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday and the Walt Disney World Marathon on Sunday. Runners who complete the challenge will earn a whopping six medals—one for each race, one for Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge and one for the Dopey Challenge for running a total of 48.6 miles in four days. Read the rest of this entry →

Photo: Adventure Fit

Want to run the SHAPE Diva Dash obstacle 5K in one of 10 cities across the U.S. this year? Get $5 off registration in Boston and $10 off everywhere else with code BLOG.

SHAPE Diva Dash obstacle 5K

Organized by Boulder, Co., based sports marketing company Adventure Fit, the SHAPE Diva Dash is a series of women’s-only obstacle 5K runs sponsored by SHAPE magazine, LUNA and Oakley. The series began as a single obstacle run in 2011, before expanding to four cities in 2012 and now 10 towns in 2013.

But unlike many popular obstacle runs, you won’t find mud trenches, fire pits or barbed wire. Instead, every race has a dozen obstacles designed to test overall fitness from strength and balance to agility. Obstacles include mazes, ropes, monkey bars, and more. It’s about empowerment, not mud slinging. Costumes are officially encouraged, and every participant receives a technical T-shirt and custom bib with their name on it. Read the rest of this entry →

SHAPE Diva Dash obstacles include rope ladders and monkey bars, not barbed wire and mud pits. (Photo: Adventure Fit)

The SHAPE Diva Dash is expanding to 10 cities in 2013 to meet the increasing demand for women’s-only obstacle runs. The series began as a single obstacle run in 2011, before expanding to four cities in 2012. Now they’re looking at their biggest year yet as they expand to 10 cities in eight states and Washington, D.C. The series’ first race takes off today weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

One of the drivers in the current running boom has been the proliferation of women. A record 7.6 million ladies finished a road race in 2011 and women now account for 55 percent of all road race finishers in the U.S., according to Running USA. While men’s participation in road races has not quite doubled since 1990, female participation has increased more than 600 percent in the same time frame. Read the rest of this entry →

Running toward New Year’s resoultions (Photo: Phil Hospod)

2012 was a notable year in running. The pros dazzled at the London Olympics, the New York City Marathon was canceled for the first time in its history, and a vice-presidential candidate’s not-quite-true claims of marathon glory brought running into the national conversation.

On a personal level, it was a meaningful year for me too. I married my Prince Charming, who proposed after a half-marathon; I ran for my cousin Laura, who died from cancer in June; and I started hosting a web series about running. I also knocked out four personal records in the marathon, half-marathon and triathlon, and ran 10 races total to reach a personal milestone of over 50 “career” races.

Running Goals for 2012

Every year, I like to look back at the goals I made the year before and see how I did. Read the rest of this entry →

The 12 Days of Disney Running Christmas celebrates the spirit of joy that Christmas and Disney bring. For a full list of lyrics, check out my first post on the song. Merry Christmas from RunKarlaRun.com!

All photos courtesy of runDisney.

(Photo: runDisney)

The “12 Days of Christmas” was one of my favorite carols growing up.

In honor of the child that lives not-so-deep within me, I’ve crafted the “13.1 Days of Disney Running Christmas.” I love that Disney celebrates the child in all of us, and that Disney running does it while putting one foot in front of the other.

So here is my homage to Disney running and the Walt Disney World Marathon, which my true love and I will be tackling on January 13, 2013. I tried to incorporate as many elements and runDisney events as I could—including the brand new Dumbo Double Dare at the Disneyland Half Marathon and bonus verses in homage to half-marathons. If you prefer, I’ve created a very silly video version here. Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry →

Runners pose in front of Cinderella Caste. (Photo: runDisney)

Disney lovers, it’s not too late the run the 20^th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna on Jan. 13. The Marathon, Half Marathon and Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge may be sold-out, but there are still a few ways to get in on the runDisney action.

A record 58,000 runners have registered for the event, with 27,000 toeing the line in the half marathon and 25,000 in the Disney marathon. A whopping 10,000 participants will tackle both races as part of Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, which dares runners to complete the half-marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday during the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend. 

If you’d like to be one of them, you still can by registering through a group, charity, or the Runner’s World Challenge, which give runners access to training advice from Runner’s World editors along with other VIP amenities. Read the rest of this entry →

Hey New Yorkers! Looking for a 5K to race this weekend? Look no further than Randall’s Island!

The New York Harriers, my very own running team, is putting on 5K this Saturday, June 30 at 8 a.m. This is no ordinary 5K: it’s sponsored by Skechers ‘Go Run’ and features a USATF certified course that begins and ends at Icahn Stadium, a world class facility that hosts IAAF track and field events like the Adidas Grand Prix Diamond League.   Read the rest of this entry →

Letting kids race teaches them that fitness is fun. (Photo: runDisney)

When Disney puts on a race, they don’t just plan one running event. As the world’s largest media empire—Disney sits at No. 1 on the Fortune 500 list of entertainment companies—they orchestrate an entire weekend of festivities that everyone in the family can enjoy, from first-time runners to marathon masters, kids to adults, and even spectators. That’s one of the best parts of Disney race weekends: there is something for everyone.

At Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend from Feb. 24-26, my family is putting the Disney races to the test. At least one family member will be participating in every race distance offered during the weekend, including the Princess Half Marathon, Tangled Royal Family 5K and Disney Royal Family Kids’ Races. We’ll also hit the Pasta in the Park Party at Epcot and Disney’s Fit for a Princess Expo. This is my third Disney race weekend, but the first with my nephew and niece. It makes me happy to pass along my love of running to another generation. But more than that, I think it’s important to include kids in fitness events from an early age. Read the rest of this entry →

Making goals for the year can help keep you motivated. Photo by Charles Thompson.

Runners tend to be goal-oriented people. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but so many of us have a few dreams hitched to our running shoes. It’s the nature of the sport; when there are hundreds to thousands of us in any given race, the vast majority of us aren’t in it to win it.

We call them races, but we’re really racing against ourselves more than any of the people around us. Unless, that is, you are national class runner who is fast enough to actually win, like some of my friends and teammates who’ve nabbed victories at races all over the globe like the Red Rock Canyon Marathon in Nevada, the Brooklyn Marathon in New York, and the Antarctica Marathon.

But if you’re a mid-packer like me, you’ve probably never won a road race, unless it was in high school. I know the sweet taste of victory as a swimmer and a rower, but it has eluded me as an adult runner. My best finish was 10th in a local race in Rhode Island. I felt like I’d won the Olympics. Which is why making and then chasing down goals is so important to me as a runner. If I can’t win the race, I can still win the goal. Read the rest of this entry →

Photo courtesy of runDisney

Yesterday runDisney unveiled a new race weekend for 2012. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend will debut in September 2012 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida. The race is a re-imagination of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K last run in 2009.

The main event of the weekend is a nighttime 10-mile race, scheduled for Sept. 29. The course will run through the set of Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, past Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat and finish near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In true Disney fashion, the race will culminate in a villain-themed post-race party with live music, characters—including your favorite Disney villains, of course—and exclusive access to attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours and Toy Story Mania. Read the rest of this entry →

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, I was a YMCA kid. I spent countless afternoons as a child going to Mommy and Me swim classes, Swim and Gym, and then swim team when I was a bit older. I’d run on the Y’s indoor track, play Horse on the basketball court, and hang out with friends in the rec room.

Here in New York City, the YMCA wants all of our city’s kids to lead active, healthy lives. The West Side Y is sponsoring the Fit For All 5K to fund free programs for kids.

My mom was a single parent with a limited budget who couldn’t necessarily afford the swim team fees in addition to a family Y membership. But she knew the importance of getting your kids into activities, and specifically physical activities. So she took a part-time job at our local YMCA as a lifeguard in order to get free Y membership for our family. She did that on top of other jobs she held, like working as a secretary, waitress, and much else.

I have her to thank for being a fit adult now. Read the rest of this entry →

Karla at the NYRR New York Mini (left) and at the NYRR Team Championships (right). Photos by Phil Hospod and Anne Hospod.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was…well, you get the idea. Such was my own tale of two races.

We all have ups and downs when it comes to running. One minute we are trudging up the hill, both literally and metaphorically, the next we are sailing down it. But the difference between the best of times and worst of times is often a matter of execution.

Knowing better is one thing. Doing better is another. This summer, I learned that the hard way. With the NYRR Team Championships on August 6, I tried to heed my tale of two races and come out with a personal best. Read the rest of this entry →