My name is Joanna Murphy.  I graduated from Linfield in May 2007 with an International Business and Finance degree.  I'm tossing around the idea of going to grad school for Applied Economics, but for now I'm just running and working part time - I am an asst. coach for Linfield, I work part time at a gym and I teach Pilates. None of those things have anything to do with International Business, Finance or Applied Economics.  I live in the thriving metropolis of McMinnville, Oregon and am training with my college coach, Garry Killgore.  I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life, but I would like to add "running really fast" to the list.  Oh yeah, I run the steeple. 

Ready, Set, Plank-Off!

So I've never done the blog thing, but it was cool that I got 4 responses on my first ever blog....I feel popular.  All you guys who commented should feel proud to be part of history.  I just wanted you all to know that my real claim to fame is in fact not running, but actually being the sole female competitor in the 1st Annual Linfield College Distance Runner Plank off - This was a huge accomplishment for me - I made it to 4:39 (that's right, I held the plank position for 4 min. and 39 sec.), however I was narrowly defeated by 5 seconds.  It was heartbreaking.  That, and the fact that I could no longer feel my body at 4 minutes and the fact that my tempo run the next day was terrible because I was experiencing an ungodly amount of soreness....but life's about priorities, right?  How many times do you get the opportunity to compete in a plank off?  Well, this was actually the hardest, most painful thing I've ever done in my life....way more painful than any race I've ever run.  I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but it definitely would go into one of those useless pride banks that include the most pushups, pullups and situps competitions.  Those are always fun.... 

So, the next time you feel like killing yourself with a strength workout, try seeing how long you can hold the plank position... just don't do a hard workout afterwards.