#BRHM

Meaning?

Busy running half marathons. Plus some.

Yes. For the past six weeks, The Bank of America Chicago Marathon Training Plan had us running miles in the double digits. Fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, fourteen and so on. 

Cue the nerves.

Tossing and turning the night before a half marathon because I don't want to oversleep. Did I put my gels and the right shorts in my bag?

When that Saturday 5 a.m. alarm rings, I'm dragging myself to long runs. Sometimes upset with myself because I stayed up way too late, other days I'm just exhausted from the week. But on those magical days you wish to have always, I feel perfect!

That's why I strongly suggest running long runs with a group of people. It's accountability at its finest, a silent understanding of sacrifice and a shared respect for the decision you made to commit to training.

The big day is getting closer. We have six weeks left.

Here are nine acronyms, I live by for Saturday group long runs.

G - is for Glide. The stick that fights chafing and blisters.

R - is for Route. Because when the miles get higher the views get more interesting. The lakefront anyone?

O - is for orange juice. Because bottomless mimosas are the best post reward after.

U - is for Unity. The gift of running in a pack that keeps on giving.

P - is for Prepare. Packing your bag the night before a long run should be routine. That can mean anything, like putting an extra tank in your bag to making sure you have tanning lotion.

R - is for resourceful. There's more than enough time to learn from one another share tips, tricks and fun stories.

U - is for Unconditional. The mindset every morning. No matter what life or weather conditions throw at us.

N - is for Nuun hydration. One of my favorite and tastiest ways to keep hydrated on long runs.

S - is for Sleep. Because in a ideal world we should get a good amount of sleep before a long run. But do we ever, really? Maybe every once in awhile.