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Allison Larkin

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You are here: Home / And I ran / Because I don’t have enough on my plate . . .

Because I don’t have enough on my plate . . .

April 30, 2009 Filed Under: And I ran, I ran so far away

I’m starting marathon training.

Now, don’t get all excited. I don’t actually have any plans to run a marathon in the near future. I simply need some goals and a structure for building my strength and endurance.

I used to run seven miles a day, five or six days a week. It was hell on my joints, and I eventually gave up. But then I discovered barefoot running, and have dabbled in running on and off ever since, without any joint pain. (Warning: You HAVE to work on your stride before you can go back to, or begin, a running regimen with barefoot running).

When I working on revisions for my book, I knew I needed to get more serious about exercise. Writing is a very sedentary activity. I also tend to get the munchies when I’m working on a particularly difficult scene and my brain starts concocting avoidance techniques that usually involve things like chocolate, Sharkies, red bean and rice chips, and peanut butter chocolate soy “ice cream”. So, now, more than ever, I need to keep my health and activity levels in check. I also find that running does wonders for my mental health. It’s a great way to clear my head and boost my mood.

J came across a marathon training schedule, and I decided to jump in and give it a go. I’m in week one. I don’t know that I’m concerned with graduating past the build-up schedule. I think that’s something I’ll determine when I hit week 19. But I’m loving the idea of being able to run ten miles without dying, and I think that’s a reasonable and healthy fitness goal.

Anyone want to join me?

9 Comments

Comments

  1. courtney says

    April 30, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    That’s great! Unfortunately, running is something I just cannot get into. I envy people who just love to get out there and run several miles, but it bores me to tears.

    Reply
  2. Dingo says

    April 30, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    Jealous.

    Reply
  3. 3carnations says

    May 1, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    My son and I went to watch hubby run a 5k last weekend, and the guy that came in second was barefoot. That looks painful to me.

    Reply
  4. Reluctant Blogger says

    May 2, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    Oh good for you. I am not up for running those sort of distances. I like to run but 5 miles is perfect for me.

    I have given up on the barefoot shoes – I use them for walking around now but am too scared to risk injury to use them for running. I tried again in Australia and could feel a twinge in my tendon so gave up. But they did feel good. And I love them.

    Reply
  5. Mickey says

    May 3, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Cool! You should really find a marathon or half marathon somewhere nearby that fits your schedule. That way, you’ll have a concrete goal and a deadline to shoot for, one more weapon against the allure of peanut butter chocolate “ice cream.”

    I began training for a marathon once, too. I decided that kind of distance just wasn’t good for my joints, so now I’m happy keeping my runs to less than four miles with higher intensity. I’ve always seen running as training for mountains, though, so I figure it would be stupid to ruin my knees just to run down a paved road.

    (That last bit wasn’t intended as discouragement; just my own personal verdict on running.)

    Reply
  6. rach says

    May 5, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    the temptation to join you is killing me…don’t tell xian but I’m gonna think about it anyway.

    Reply
  7. Life With Dogs says

    May 6, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Running barefoot? Never heard of it! The again, I never run ;)

    Reply
  8. The Modern Gal says

    May 11, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    I’m right there with you as far as the writing-exercise thing goes. I HAVE to exercise more this time of the year when my writing schedule is more office-oriented and less out-in-the-world oriented.

    I just might take you up on your request to join in the fun. I definitely DO NOT want to run a marathon, but it would be interesting to see how far I could make it in the training.

    Reply
  9. Vanessa says

    May 16, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    Maybe once I get my cast off and can put weight on my ankle? I’ve always thought running would be a good way to work out what’s rambling around in my head.

    Reply

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Allison Larkin

allielarkinwrites

Internationally bestselling author of three novels as Allie Larkin and THE PEOPLE WE KEEP. Look for HOME OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS @gallerybooks May 2025

“Larkin abandons the typical story arc in favor “Larkin abandons the typical story arc in favor of a more naturally flowing up-and-down journey that basks in beautiful moments like a slice-of-life story. Whether it’s banter at the bar Freya’s working or a leaking roof that is simply one more thing than she can possibly handle right now, the characters and their experiences are so real and pure that their joys and sorrows are amplified tenfold.” 

So honored by this AP review of Home of the American Circus! 

https://apnews.com/article/home-american-circus-allison-larkin-book-review-79ea3d1fdb69ef16232a8dfb7d148ad6

#homeoftheamericancircus #booksbooksbooks
I’ve seen a bunch of references to Home of the A I’ve seen a bunch of references to Home of the American Circus as my second novel. It’s actually my 5th! Before The People We Keep, under the name Allie Larkin, I wrote three books: Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, and Swimming for Sunlight. Here they are in their various editions with some of their translations! (And @justjuliawhelan also narrated Stay and Why Can’t I Be You, if you’d like to listen!)

Fun fact: That gorgeous dog on the hardcover of Stay was actually our dog Argo, and I took that photo of him when @duttonbooks couldn’t find the perfect photo of a black German Shepherd. #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram
Pub Day Part One. The thing is, it’s really hard Pub Day Part One. The thing is, it’s really hard to be a creative person in the world, and the blessing, the salvation, the joy of it is the community around art: the writers who will call an emergency novel Zoom meeting when you’re stuck on a draft, the ones who roll up their sleeves and make sure your words are saying what you intend to say, the one who writes an interview to promote your book in the local paper, the reader who captures pictures of the event and makes a reel, the bookstore saints who plan a meal based on the story and serve blue and yellow cupcakes and sing happy birthday to your book on launch day, the readers who show up and get books signed and ask great questions and tell stories about their lives. That’s book magic. And thanks to @townecenterbks (especially Judy and Stacey although I know there are bookstore saints behind the scenes too) and @reneewritesnovels and @woolfmania and @cassandra.a.dunn and @lindalattelessons @aneedleinmybookstack and everyone who showed up to Read it and Eat, I will never ever forget the pub day for Home of the American Circus. You all made it so special. Thank you! I love you. I’m so grateful to be part of the community of writers and readers. ❤️🐘
@deborahblakeauthor RIGHT BACK AT YOU! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will be back on Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will be back on the grid tomorrow! I love you all so much and I’m so grateful for your support! 😘😘😘 #homeoftheamericancircus
Well, here we are on the eve of Pub Day for Home o Well, here we are on the eve of Pub Day for Home of the American Circus! 

You know that classic bit of writing advice about how you’re supposed to write the book that scares you? Well, for a long time the thought of actually writing and sharing Home of the American Circus scared the heck out of me. I spent many many years collecting ideas for this book, terrified by the thought of how deep I’d have to dig to tell this story the right way. The book is firmly fiction, and the characters are all my imaginary friends, but the setting and themes are literally and figuratively close to home for me. Freya’s story isn’t mine, we have different life events and demographics, but I understand her sense of grief and loss and floundering and hope on a cellular level. And of all the characters I’ve ever written, the way her mind works is the closest to how I think and feel. It takes place in the town where I grew up. And I think when you read this book, you won’t know my life story, but you will know the tenor of my heart. I grew up as a kid with undiagnosed ADHD in a place where I didn’t fit, frantically trying to look normal, believing it was the only way anyone would love me. Always falling short, terrified of failure. And then in my early twenties, I dropped out of college and worked at a biker bar and made such a huge mess of my life that I was forced to build myself up again brick by brick—this time knowing that failure isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a person. That as long as you can find the strength to try again in one way or another, falling flat on your face is not the end of the world. And I learned that the only way to truly feel loved is to be yourself and see who’s up for loving you in your natural form. The people I keep taught me that. And even though it scared me, this was a book I needed to write, it’s the work I’m most proud of, with characters I love the most. So sharing it doesn’t feel like the end of the world at all. Just the end of the world where I have not shared this novel set in ny hometown with a character who has a heart like mine. #misheardlyrics #rem #homeoftheamericancircus #awkwardguitar #itstheendoftheworldasweknowitandifeelfine
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