Thoughts on cross-training

I have never been a fan of cross-training, with the possible exception of supplemental strength training. I feel that in order to be the best runner you can be, you should dedicate as much time as possible to actually running. Why bother going for a bike or swimming laps when neither of those activities work the same muscles in the same fashion as running? If you went for a run instead, you would be gaining Read more…

Adidas AdiZero Adios Boost review

In my last review, I discussed the Adidas AdiZero Takumi Sen, which, though pricey, feel great and helped me along to my 2:39 finish at Grandma’s Marathon in 2013. Today, I will be reviewing another pricey Adidas racing flat: the AdiZero Adios Boost. You may have heard about Adidas’ new Boost technology, which utilizes a different kind of midsole foam that is alleged to return more energy than traditional EVA, and also last much longer Read more…

The quest for the holy… marathon in each of the 50 states!

A few years ago, my wife Ashlie and I decided to set a goal together. That goal is to run a marathon in each of the fifty states and join the 50 State Marathon Club. Today, nearly seven years after my first marathon, I have a grand total of nine marathons in eight distinct states, and Ashlie has eight marathons in eight states. Whoops. Looks like we better get our butts in gear! Luckily, we Read more…

Indicator Workouts – A Useful Tool

So you’re training for a big goal race in four months.  You probably have an idea of what your goals are.  Week after week, you put in the miles, run the workouts, and slowly but surely inch your way closer to your goal fitness.  How do you measure your fitness gains as your training progresses?  One of the best ways is to enter some races, and measure your gains by how much time you drop. Read more…

Strength training for distance runners

I know, I know.  Strength training and distance runners seem to be mutually exclusive.  After all, running 70 miles per week is not exactly conducive to bulking up, and carrying around an extra 10 pounds of muscle would be detrimental when trying to race a marathon.  Many distance runners are of the philosophy that strength training takes up valuable time that would be better served by running more, as well.  After all, the specificity of Read more…

DIY Turtle Resort!

My wife Ashlie and I have turtles.  That fact alone should tell you a little about us.  They were the first pets we bought together (although they were and still primarily are Ashlie’s pets).  We bought them six or seven years ago, when they were only a few inches in diameter, and relatively cute, as far as reptiles go.  They are both female Red Eared Sliders, named Cuff and Link, after the turtles owned by Read more…

A slight change of plans

I have decided to make a slight alteration to my spring plans.  Originally, I wanted to break 16:00 in the 5K this spring, and then enjoy a semi-retirement from logging all sorts of miles and crushing workouts.  Ashlie and I planned on ticking a few states off in our quest to run a marathon in each of the 50 states, notably North Carolina with the Tobacco Road Marathon, and Colorado with the Colfax Denver Marathon. Read more…

A look to the year ahead

Taking a cue from Roadkill’s founder Josh, I will not be writing up a recap of 2013.  As he mentioned, it’s all on this blog or the Roadkill Racing blog, so if you really had it in you to relive all of the exciting drama, you can just click on “Older Posts” below.  If you really wanted to, that is.  Instead, I want to post some goals for 2014. Contrary to most competitive runners, my Read more…

Winter racing

For those of you that live in western or upstate New York, you know what the weather has been like lately.  Last year we were spoiled by an exceptionally mild winter (except, of course, on the days that a Freezeroo race occurred).  This year we seem to be enjoying a more typical winter, as evidenced by the several feet of snow and slush on the roads. The first Freezeroo, the Bill Curran Memorial 5K, took Read more…

It’s autumn, and that means cross country!

Three of us from Roadkill Racing trudged down to Ithaca for the fourth race in the Pete Glavin Upstate New York Cross Country Series on Sunday.  I wrote a race report on the Roadkill Racing website if anyone wants to read all about our harrowing adventure.  There is one more PGUNYXC race on the 24th, and then Ashlie and I will be running the Buffalo Turkey Trot 8K on Thanksgiving.  My PR of 27:32 was Read more…