There's tired and then there's tiiiiiiiiired. When you are bone-tired after a hard workout, or you are dragging yourself straight to the couch after yet another stressful day of work, you're bound to wonder if it's all worth it. Fatigue isn't fun. But it's a tool and a teacher. Of course, fatigue can be problematic because it's an indicator of all sorts situations we want to avoid (too much stress, overtraining, illness, and more). It's there to tell us to slow down. But, when used wisely in...
9 days ago • 3 min read
Being a human is hard. We all want to do the right things in life (and running), but it can feel like we are our own worst enemy at times. We know we can run faster, but we are held back by doubt. We know that consistent strength training will help with just about everything, but it's so easy to skip it. We know that the tough track workout will be worth the effort, but we end up slowing down or even stopping when the effort rises too high. Fortunately, you can train yourself to overcome...
16 days ago • 3 min read
I'm going to guess you really don't need anything on Prime Day. Yes, the marketing from the retail giant is pretty compelling. Believe me, I'm tempted to save a dollar on my favorite lotion and check out the deals on shoes I don't need. The reality is that most of the products I love go on sale every so often during the year and if I'm paying attention, I can get what I know I'm going to need later now when it's on sale. Which got me thinking, how often do I offer sales? You know, a little...
23 days ago • 4 min read
Most of us have been taught practice is perfect. If you want to learn to play the flute, you practice your scales and your finger placement over and over again until you can do it without thinking. If you're a singer, you practice your songs over and over again until they are perfect for the performance. And when you have a presentation to give, you go over your notes and your Power Point until you are confident you've got the material nailed. So it's not a surprise that most runners want to...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Have you ever wondered why you get winded running up a flight of stairs? You're a runner! You should be able to handle this, right? The reason even the fittest athletes can get winded if they suddenly sprint up a flight of stairs has nothing to do with their fitness. It's because they aren't warmed up. I explore the science behind the warm up and what you need to do to get ready for your next run... read more (5 minutes) TEAM SPONSOR Liquid IV Make Liquid I.V. your new hydration ritual this...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
When I was twenty-six, I went through a bad break-up. I found myself alone in the house I had rented together with my ex with a lot of extra time, hurt feelings, and a very energetic dog. So I started to run. I didn't know anything about running or training at the time. I just ran until I wanted to stop and then walked back home. My runs got longer and longer. And so did my walks home. In a single summer, I went from couch to half marathon. And my run/walks were getting so long that I needed...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
This time of year can be a confusing time for runners. Most of us have already run our big spring race and training for fall racing is a good 6-8 weeks away. Some runners are grateful for the break from intense training and let running take a backseat to all the other things going on in life. At first, the free time and rest are welcome, but there usually comes a point when not running starts to feel uncomfortable. You miss training but you're not sure what to do. Other runners can't bear...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hydration should be pretty simple. When we need to drink, we feel thirsty. When we drink enough, we stop being thirsty. So why does it seem more complicated with runners? Actually, drinking to thirst can work really well for most people most of the time. But, unfortunately, you can't rely on your thirst to tell you how much water to bring on your long run ahead of time. And your thrist isn't suddenly going to activate at the preceise moment you see an aid station in a race and subside for the...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Running is undoubtably an amazing stress reliever. More often than not, we feel better after a run than when we started. But running itself is a stressor and when we have other stressors in our life (like we all still do, even in the post-pandemic world), something's got to give. Learn how running can affect your stress levels and, perhaps more interestingly, vice versa. read more (5 minutes) TEAM SPONSOR Liquid IV Make Liquid I.V. your new hydration ritual this year. Just one stick + 16 oz....
2 months ago • 3 min read