About me

Hi, I’m Tracey. Thanks for stopping by!

During the week you’ll find me toiling in the communications department at a major university. On the weekend, I can be found pounding the pavement across New England – and sometimes beyond.

When my husband joined the Massachusetts National Guard in late 2010 and started doing 5K races, I envisioned a future of weekends spent cheering him on.

And then he signed me up …

This site chronicles my attempts to run without completely shaming myself (which I do anyway). If someone had told me a few years back that I would wind up running, I would have laughed in their face.

In 2012, I’m trying to do 52 organized races in 52 weeks. For me, motivation comes in the form of beer and T-shirts, and sometimes chowder. I have no illusions about being able to run a marathon. I’d just like to finish a race and have my face be the same color as when I started.

I hope you’ll join me in Boston and farther afield. I’ll be the red-faced wheezer at the back of the pack.

I’d love to hear from you at strideandjoy@gmail.com.

If you’re wondering about this fabulous illustration of me chowing down on my favorite crackers, Arnott’s Chicken Crimpy Shapes (they’re from Australia), it was done by Mathew Kurian, an amazingly talented designer who works at The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi. My hair is a little shorter these days. I probably need to ask him to give me a cut …