My Phases of Running

Phase I: Body

25%. Your body will carry you to the race, and most of the way through it. In the beginning of your run it's all you think about, it's all you use. Your body is a combination of your cardio, stamina, and strength, and it's accumulation over your months of training. Your body is your sprint off the line and your powerhouse. It's extremely vital to be prepared for race day!

Phase II: Psychological/Mind

60%. There is always a point in the race when your body runs out, there is always be a part of a race where you doubt yourself, and when that happens you enter Phase II. There is a phrase that running is a mental sport, and that's absolutely true. This is when you have to ask yourself if you are truly exhausted, or are your legs just tired. Think outside of yourself. "If someone's life depended on it, would you stop?" Asking that question fights back at the negative thoughts that might be cropping up in your mind. It creates a psychological battle. And nine times out of ten, you can keep going. (This does not mean that you should fight through an injury).

Phase III: Heart

15%. The very end of your race. When you've conquered the mental, your energy is nearly out, and you have to think about why you are running. For someone else? For yourself? Use that to find your energy reserves and push in to the end.

Female Fitties: The 3 Most Common Struggles

While I'm a runner I have participated in my fair share of sports, from lacrosse to soccer to gymnastics and dance, I've seen it all and had almost every injury and issue in the book. While a lot of issues that can arise in exercise cross gender-lines some do not, there are plenty of "lady-only" issues. Here are the top 3:

1. Iron. We bleed every month and lose tons and tons of iron. The average adult woman need 15-18mg of iron per day, but because women typically eat less than men they are more at risk of anemia. Runnersworld.co.uk says that "Good sources of calcium are dairy products, dark leafy vegetables, broccoli, canned sardines and salmon, while foods high in iron include liver, fortified dry cereals, beef and spinach". Try to incorporate these foods into your daily meals, but do not take an iron supplement before consulting a doctor as high iron levels can be toxic to your body.
2. Periods. But more specifically cramps. When I have cramps I don't want to leave the fetal position, much less leave my bed. But on days when my cramps are at their worst I drag myself to my closet, put on my running clothes, and I go for a run (walk). Start small, just a half mile, now a mile, now 4 miles. Focus on your breathing and the pain will melt away before you know it.
3. Boobs, Butts, and Feminine Bodies. Men and women are built differently (as I'm sure you discovered in the 5th grade), and so our bodies take impact (like smacking cement on one leg with twice the force of your body weight - ie: running) differently. In fact the reason that you hear that slapping noise is because your shoes are too stiff (and your less muscular female foot cannot bend the material). Another example of women being the under-dog is a single leg squat. While both men and women can complete this movement it is more stressful for a female's body. This is because a female's pelvic girdle is wider and enhances the valgus stress on the knee. For the entire list click here. 

Sources:

active.com

med.nyu.edu

runnersworld.com

runnerworld.co.uk

running.competitor.com