About the Author
Serena Burla
Mizuno Brand Ambassador and Professional Athlete
Residence | Ellisville, MO
Besides being a world-class runner, Serena Burla is a wife, mother, and cancer survivor. With strong performances at major events like the 2008-2010 USA Half Marathon Championships and the ING New York City Marathon, Burla continues to raise her standing amongst the running elite.
Recent articles
Stages of Grief
by Serena Burla on May 9, 2013
Several years ago I was struggling through a track workout when a good friend of mine, Tim, started saying things to me during the workout that were kind of out of character for him. I remember feeling sorry for myself for an interval, getting really mad on another, and eventually finishing on a much better note. As we talked while I stretched he told me he saw me losing the workout and used the stages of grief to try and push me through. He said his thought process was, the faster I got to acceptance stage the more successful my workout would become. I bring t...
Remember
by Serena Burla on March 27, 2013
I find myself running the wrong way from the starting line when the gun goes off. I am frantically trotting with one foot in my Mizuno Wave Ronins and the other in my Nirvanas. I am not even sure if they are tied. Somehow I catch up to the field only to find myself running through a stairwell. My legs get so tired that I have to pull myself up with a rope, andseveral times I stop to talk to people I have never seen before. Even though I am going up stairs I eventually find myself on a grassy field. Huh? I open my eyes briefly, shake it off, and realize it was a...
Preparing for Boston
by Serena Burla on February 26, 2013
I like to think that I’m in the heart of my marathon training build up for Boston right now. I’m at the point where volume and intensity collide, where recovery in all aspects is critical. Nutrition, hydration, sleep, stretching, ice, massage, communication with my coach, and conserving mental energy have never been more important. I admit that the number of times per day I give thanks for my health and pray for continued health has increased. My grocery bills have doubled due to increased need to refuel and I think my favorite baker gave me that, &...
A Runner’s Brain Inspired by the Children’s Book, Never Take A Shark To The Dentist
by Serena Burla on January 17, 2013
The other day my son Boyd (now 4 years old) and I went to the library and checked out our weekly pile of books including some old favorites and some never reads. We always check out more than we can carry and get an extra weight workout in during this process. Children’s books are one of my guilty pleasures. I love reading books to kids (especially Boyd), because I can then listen to their insightful comments and predictions. I also find the level of imagination required by the authors and illustrators to be very interesting. I have always loved ...
The Expected and The Unexpected
by Serena Burla on November 30, 2012
In my New York marathon build up I played out hundreds of race scenarios in my mind, played the marathon version of “what would I do if…” with my coach on countless occasions, and trained to be able to respond to these numerous race situations. With that said, I was also prepared to expect the unexpected. My coach warned me that in any given marathon, there will be at least one moment where something happens that I did not plan for, expect, or see coming. So, as I banged on his door in New York and with wide eyes and questioned, “Is the marathon re...
