I ran my first Boilermaker 15K in 2001, at the tender age of 17. It took me an hour and a half, and over the next five years, I would only improve to about 1:10. Finally, in 2006, after realizing that training year-round has huge benefits, I ran a huge PR to break 60 minutes for the first time with a 57:27. Every year since then, I have been lucky enough to finish the Boilermaker Read more…
Looking back on my training over the past ten years, I have tried a lot of different things. I’ve done high mileage, low mileage, strength training, cross training, and yoga. I have found what works for me and what doesn’t. I don’t consider the cycles where I learned that something doesn’t work to be a failure though, because it taught me what not to do in the future. For example, I typically do not run Read more…
It seems like I can’t catch a break these days. After a 9-year injury-free streak, the past three years have been very troublesome for me. In the beginning of 2015, I strained my hamstring which turned into a two-year ordeal with proximal hamstring tendinopathy. Then, after a good training cycle leading up to the Rehoboth Beach Marathon, I pulled my hip flexor on one of my first runs back, and spent the next few months Read more…
It is impossible to stay current with training trends nowadays without hearing about the latest technology, gear, and how to use and interpret your data in order to get the most out of your running. Elites and even non-elites get their VO2max tested, their lactate threshold tested, know their resting heart rate, their maximum heart rate, and their hemoglobin levels. They utilize the latest technology, such as GPS watches, heart rate monitors, compression apparel, and Read more…
For those of you who don’t know, Ed Whitlock was one of the most impressive runners in the past few decades. Despite finishing far back in the pack, he obliterated age-group records by running under three hours in the marathon at age 73 with a phenomenal 2:54:49, and still ran under four hours at age 85. Sadly, he passed away yesterday after fighting prostate cancer. There are many, many memorials that are written about him, Read more…
Odd-numbered years are bad for me, apparently. Two years ago I suffered a bout of hamstring tendinopathy that sidelined me for almost the entire year. I was able to come back in 2016 and race a good marathon in December, but shortly thereafter hit another bump. While running on the slippery sidewalks, I aggravated my hip flexor, which made running painful. Being mindful of how minor injuries can turn chronic, I prudently took a few Read more…
This isn’t so much a race report as a race analysis. If you want a really great race report, please check out Brett Long’s or Martha Doody’s fantastic reports. Brett Long and I trained together a fair amount leading up to this race and both were in similar shape and going for the same approximate time goal (under 2:40). I went into the Rehoboth Beach Marathon with these specific goals: Run with Brett Long for Read more…
These days, it seems like everyone is looking for a quick fix, or the next get rich quick scheme. This is true not only with finances, but with fitness as well. Step into a running store, or read the articles about the latest and greatest must-have gadgets, and you will see all manners of products, foods, and services guaranteed to make you fitter, faster, and better. The real question is though: how much do they Read more…
One of the most important things I tell my athletes that I coach is to “trust your training.” It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and feel like you’re not improving fast enough. But, as the saying goes, “good things come to those who wait.” Patience is one of the most important characteristics an athlete can have, as results do not occur overnight, and only through consistent, focused training can one achieve Read more…
I am a data nerd. Because of that, I love my GPS and all the wonderful information it provides me. On every single run, I can know my distance, pace, elevation, mile splits, fastest pace, slowest pace, and more. It is a wealth of information and I love having that readily available for me to dissect and devour. But a few weeks ago, disaster struck. I lost my charging cord for my GPS, and so Read more…