The Truth about Marathons

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 12, 2016November 4, 2018 running little rock marathon, marathon, running 18 Comments

“So? How was it?!” I’ve been answering this question since I crossed the finish line a week ago, and my answers have ranged from the all-I-can-physically-muster-is-the-pathetic-expression-on-my-sweaty-tear-stained-face look I gave my friends and family as I…

I knew this day would come.

By Sarah Martin HoodDecember 20, 2015November 4, 2018 running little rock marathon, marathon, running, training 2 Comments

I had no business running 14 miles today. First, Jeff was sick and truth be told he’s only really back up to 90% or so. Then, I was sick. I fought it all week —…

Boy on the Run

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 14, 2015November 4, 2018 motherhood, running colt, hogeye, running Leave a comment

We ran our first mile together a few months ago and registered for the Kid’s Hogeye Marathon. The race has kids log 25.2 miles leading up to race day and they run that final mile…

High on the Hogeye

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 8, 2015September 18, 2016 gold star family, northwest arkansas, running 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, becky, colt, crazy aunt laura, fayetteville, half marathon, hogeye marathon, jeff, Keeping TIME, The Hogeye, tom 2 Comments

This was my fourth Hogeye. In 2012, it was my first marathon. The course and the hometown location were the familiarity I needed for my first go. In 2013, it was my first run with…

Monkey See, Monkey Run :: The Legacy of Cow Paddy

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 14, 2015September 17, 2016 motherhood, running colt, Cow Paddy Run 1 Comment

The Cow Paddy is special. Four years ago it was my first race, and since that first Cow Paddy, I’ve been back every year to run my sentimental favorite — the race that started all…

Mommy and Me Mileage

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 11, 2015September 17, 2016 motherhood, running colt 1 Comment

I am beaming. That write-up is in this month’s Peekaboo Magazine. And in fact, he’s not just running the Kids’ Hogeye Marathon in April — we’re also planning to run the Cow Paddy together this…

Ok, Little Rock. We’re even.

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 5, 2015September 17, 2016 motherhood, running colt, half marathon, jeff, little rock marathon 4 Comments

On the drive down from Fayetteville on Saturday, I re-read my account of last year’s Little Rock experience. And as the snowy, icy winter weather flew by outside our car window, these words I wrote…

The Ice Bucket Bandwagon

By Sarah Martin HoodAugust 20, 2014September 4, 2016 running, work life balance #icebucketchallenge, ALS, saatchi, saatchi & saatchi X, Walk to Defeat ALS Leave a comment

Conveniently, I don’t even have to explain it to you. The #icebucketchallenge. The origins of the challenge are incredible and moving… And the way it’s taken on cult status through the magic of social media…

The Hogeye Tradition

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 6, 2014September 4, 2016 northwest arkansas, running 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, arkansas, fayetteville, hogeye, hogeye marathon, Keeping TIME, marathon, sesamoiditis 6 Comments

My love/hate relationship with the Hogeye Marathon continues. We go way back, me and the Hogeye. Well, not WAY back, but far enough. The Hogeye gave me a nothing-if-not-memorable first marathon experience in 2012, rounded…

Angry Feet

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 29, 2014 running becky, Cow Paddy Run, hogeye marathon, inflammation, little rock marathon, marathon, marathon training, running injury, stress fracture, triathlon training 2 Comments

I was waiting for confirmation before I mentioned it, and I got the phone call this week. Diagnosis: Angry Feet. After a marathon, things hurt. And after the Un-Marathon that was Little Rock this year,…

The Little Rock Un-Marathon

By Sarah Martin HoodMarch 10, 2014March 10, 2014 running #epic, arkansas, little rock marathon, marathon 4 Comments

In the friendly, neighborly South, introductions usually include a “Where’re y’all from?” And like most Army kids, that part is usually followed by a slight hesitation from me and a “well…”. I sense I’ll have…

2014: off to a running start

By Sarah Martin HoodFebruary 4, 2014September 17, 2016 personal reflections, running, work life balance #30DayChallenge, colt, jeff, little rock marathon, making plans, marathon training, resolutions, saatchi & saatchi X 2 Comments

You know those parents who hold off on naming a new baby until they meet him in the hospital? Typically, they have a few favorite names in mind, but they just need to see that…

A little bit Rock ‘n’ Roll

By Sarah Martin HoodNovember 26, 2013September 18, 2016 gold star family, running #RnRSA, 1LT Tom Martin Memorial Foundation, dad, half marathon, Keeping TIME, mom, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, San Antonio, tom 8 Comments

Do you remember my favorite sentence? It’s a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. – Lester Burnham, American Beauty Well, it turns out I might just come by…

One man’s treadmill

By Sarah Martin HoodNovember 14, 2013September 18, 2016 personal reflections, running Spartan Race, treadmill 3 Comments

A few days ago I read a post in my Facebook News Feed that stopped me, made me smile, and think, “yeah!” Without another thought, I tapped “share”. No one ever got a great story…

Time to run with it

By Sarah Martin HoodJuly 31, 2013September 17, 2016 personal reflections, running headshot, Linda Richards Photography 5 Comments

There is no shortage of photos of my family. It’s true. Even Jeff, who comes from a long line of people who generally detest having their pictures taken. He humors me and — mostly —…

Hot Fun in the Summertime: Cancer Challenge 10k

By Sarah Martin HoodJuly 2, 2013July 2, 2013 running 10k, cancer challenge 10k, celebrate arkansas magazine, colt, jeff 2 Comments

Six weeks ago it was not yet blazing hot outside. At 7am. And six weeks ago I was still riding the high of Half-a-palooza 2013. So six weeks ago my friend Greg successfully convinced me…

Back for more

By Sarah Martin HoodMay 23, 2013May 23, 2013 running becky, jeff, warrior dash 4 Comments

A few months ago, when our friend Keith declared he wanted to run the Warrior Dash this year, we were happy to join in. Add Becky to the mix and we’ve got a team. Then…

Half-a-palooza: Part 3 of 3

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 25, 2013April 25, 2013 running garmin marathon, garmin marathon in the land of oz, half fanatics, half marathon, half-a-palooza, marathon maniacs 11 Comments

I didn’t go looking for Half-a-palooza. IT found ME. Bentonville Half and Hogeye were only a week apart this year — and I couldn’t NOT run races like that so close to home, right? Then…

Half-a-palooza: Part 2 of 3

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 18, 2013September 4, 2016 northwest arkansas, running becky, colt, fayetteville, half marathon, half-a-palooza, jeff, The Hogeye 12 Comments

They say running is the ultimate solitary sport. Lonely, even. But I have found it to be anything but. Believe it or not, I’m still relatively new to the running community. I ran my first…

Half-a-palooza: Part 1 of 3

By Sarah Martin HoodApril 11, 2013April 24, 2013 running becky, bentonville half marathon, colt, half marathon, half-a-palooza, jeff 6 Comments

You may remember some nonsense from a week ago about my running a half marathon in a few weeks. I was (mostly) whining about running, not running, then running some more. So naturally, I decided…