If you were going by social media standards, a "good runner" would probably look like this:

• impossibly smooth selfie videos while running by the sea in Bali
• sub-3 hour marathon, sub 1:25 half, sub-20 5k, sub-40 10k
• effortlessly gorgeous race photos, every single time

I mean, I want all of that for you. I really do.

But we both know none of those things are even remotely realistic for the vast majority of runners. Social media just makes us feel like that's the standard.

Yes, I've knocked a couple of those off my list, but if that's really what it took to be a good runner, than I've been a "good runner" for exactly two days of my life.

So what does it take to actually be a good runner and what does that even mean? Learn more by hitting the button below.

get good

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Story time:

For years, I thought I could figure out almost anything with Google, YouTube, and stubbornness.

(actually, I still do, for the most part!)

And honestly, with my running, that worked.

Until it didn't.

I happily fell down the digital rabbit hole of marathon training. I read everything I could find, experimented, and kept improving.

Until I didn’t.

At some point, my marathon times were only improving by seconds when I wanted minutes.

Eleven minutes and thirty-nine seconds, but who's counting?

That’s when I realized I was stuck. And alone.

So I sucked up my pride (and my Gen-X DIY attitude) and joined a coaching community.

I stepped away from the search bar and let the experts I already had grown to trust map out my next moves.

A bad workout no longer made me question everything. One tired run no longer made me doubt the whole plan.

I had coaches who could see one imperfect day in context. And I had other runners asking questions I hadn’t thought of yet.

And that changed my running more than any article I’d ever read.

Information is everywhere, but more info doesn’t automatically create clarity. Sometimes it just gives you more ways to second-guess yourself.

That’s why the PR Team works so well.

People join for the plan, but often what they love most is the mental energy they get back when they stop overthinking everything.

Every week I record an exclusive private podcast for the team, talking through what matters right now, what I’d ignore, and where runners often waste energy worrying.

And one of my favorite things is watching new runners realize quickly that they belong there too. Sometimes joining earlier is exactly how you avoid years of unnecessary mistakes.

Curious about what it feels like to skip ahead and level up your running in months, not years?

skip ahead portal

ask me anything

Q:

Should I race my upcoming half marathon, even with a rough training cycle, or whether to run it as more of a fun run with a friend who’s run/walking and just aiming to finish? This race is a bit of a throw away anyway, since I don’t feel like I would be giving it my best, I might as well run with my friend and boost her up. What do you think?

A: ​

I think you've already answered your own question. ❤️

Of course, race with your friend. Helping others is a gift for us too and it will turn a less-than-stellar build into something really positive.

On the other hand, if you race for yourself, you are going to be battling the demons of not having a good cycle which is demotivating from the get-go. It will likely turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Use this race as a long training run with your friend who would love your support.

Then when you are better ready to show off your fitness you can race for yourself.

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podcast

The PR Lab is back! This time with something a little different.

Go behind the scenes with me as I create a custom training plan for one lucky runner on today's Planted Runner Podcast.

In this episode, we feature Clint:

🏃🏽‍♀️51 years old

🏃🏿seasoned marathon runner who’s taken winter off

🏃🏼‍♀️struggling with starting over

You’ll learn how I create a custom back to running training plan for Clint.

If you would like to win a free custom training plan and be featured in a future episode, first write a review of the show on Apple Podcast and then enter here! ​

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inspo

"All really great things are happening in slow and inconspicuous ways."

—Leo Tolstoy

Have a great run today, Coach Claire

P.S. In case you were wondering, Begin With Ten, the new cognitive conditioning program that started this week, has been amazing! I'm doing it too and I'm already feeling a shift. Stay tuned if you'd like a spot in the next wave.

Thank you for being a part of the Planted Runner community!

My mission is to help runners just like you reach goals they never dreamed possible through science-backed training and plant-based nutrition.

Since 2016, I've helped thousands of every day runners become fitter, faster, and stronger with truly customized training and coaching.

I also love to share what I have learned from my own journey starting as a non-runner to a 2:58 marathoner at age 42, as well what I have learned coaching runners, completely FREE. I do that every week in this newsletter and on the Planted Runner Podcast.

Being a part of this email community ensures that you first access to everything we have coming up – from free running and nutrition guides, to events like workshops and retreats, and so much more to help you get results.

I'm so glad you're here and my inbox is always open. Feel free to reply with questions or feedback!

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