Category: Training

A couple of weeks ago, I ran my first half marathon in 14 years.

Why did I go 14 years without running a half marathon? After the race, I was thinking out loud about that while talking with some people and I think I came upon the most likely reason: I’m having trouble adjusting to getting slower.

Take a lesson from me: when your PRs are in the past, don’t do what I did. As hard as it is, accept that and keep challenging yourself.

Spring is such a great time to be a runner. After putting in the work through the frigid weather, snow and ice, we get clear roads and trails and perfect temperatures! How can a runner not be excited for spring to come?

Just be careful about how excited you get about spring.

These days, the hacker culture is all around us. How to do more with less. It sounds great, doesn’t it?

No surprise, the hacker culture has also made its way into the running world. From things that have been around for a long time, such as couch to marathon in 12 weeks, to people promising you can get as much aerobic conditioning in 10 minutes as you can in an hour long easy run.

Does the hacker culture really work with running, though?

This past weekend, I was discussing family issues with two runners I coach. Both were facing different family situations but both needed training adjustments due to these family issues.

Note how I stated they “needed” training adjustments?

There’s a reason I stated it that way.

How many miles should I be running per week?

How long should my long run be?

What workouts should I be doing?

How many days per week should I be running?

I don’t know. Anyone who tells you that they do know is lying.

Earlier this week, someone told me to have a good run as I was heading out. The roads were a bit of a snowy, slushy mess but my response was what I often say. Every run is a good run!

These days, we’re bombarded with marketing for the “best” recovery product or method. You can’t get away from it. Buy this product, watch that video, and you’ll know the secret to rapid recovery.

It all sounds great but does it work? Probably not. There are some that offer modest benefits and a lot that do virtually nothing. But there is one great recovery method that does work.

What is it? What’s this secret method to maximize your recovery?

One of the reasons I write this blog and share so freely of myself in other ways is because I want you to learn from my experience.

I had the great fortune early in my running life to learn from some very smart and very experienced runners and coaches. I know not everyone has been that lucky, which is why I feel a responsibility to share so freely of myself. Others have shared a wealth of knowledge with me, I feel the need to pass on that knowledge, as well as the lessons I’ve learned myself along the way.

Over the past few years, I’ve been focusing more on the little things that I thought would help me maintain a level of performance I’m happy with. Over this time, I was seeing my performances slide and last year, when I pulled my calf, I realized something needed to change.

So I went back to the basics. After taking some time to return to health, I broke everything down and went back to the fundamentals. While I built up more quickly than any beginner would, I went toward treating my training like a beginner’s. Nothing fancy, just lay a good base with a bunch of easy miles, occasionally running faster than on other days and about once a week going longer.

How should I run an easy run? It seems so basic, it almost seems ridiculous to ask. Maybe that’s why people don’t ask. Even when they should.

Yes, the easy run is basic in principle but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask the question. Because people seem to be afraid to ask, I’m going to ask and answer myself. So here it goes…