People race for lots of different reasons, but they all face the same conditions, course and competition. Regardless of why you are at the starting line, you share a common goal with everyone around you — make it to the finish line. Here is our best guidance on how to conquer the hills on race […]
Once a luxury, most marathons now employ a group of Pacers to help lead runners to a certain finishing time. But not all Pacers are the same; and non of them run like the metronome you most likely assume them to be.
Here are a few more points to consider as you head into the final few weeks of your marathon training. Some are simple; some are a bit more complex. My goal here is to give you insights as to how you can improve your taper — and by extension, your race — by broadening the […]
Getting ready to run — or race — a marathon is an undertaking of significant effort. Having miles in your legs isn’t the final arbiter of race day success — or performance. Here are some critical points to consider as you prepare for the final push to your marathon.
One of the most frequent marathon training questions I am asked has to do with the “best” distance for the weekly long run. At first I thought everyone was obsessed with the long run, but I have come to realize that people are really asking me something entirely different: “How far do I need to […]
After the marathon, most runners simply…keep running. No downtime. No rest. No reflection. No time for growth…and ultimately no room for it either. Any marathon finisher will tell you the importance of being 100% mentally prepared for the challenges of race day; yet few choose to exercise their mental muscles in the post-race window when […]
Running the 2013 Boston Marathon was something I was doing more for my family, than for myself. In 2014 I plan on running Boston for the victims of the bombing, and to exemplify the spirit and resiliency of the marathon community.
While registration information is up in the air for the 2014 Boston Marathon a few things are very certain. First, the 118th Boston marathon will be held on April 21, 2013. And second, after the tragic events of this past year, gaining entrance will be exceptionally hard for the event. The Boston Marathon already has […]
Like most of the rest of the world, I continue to struggle with processing what happened in Boston on Marathon Monday. In a matter of 15 seconds, two bombs changed my hometown marathon into a global spectacle of terror, tragedy and intrigue.
Winter training isn’t fun or easy. Everyone needs to run in the snow at least once a year, after that the fun and excitement diminish in favor of worry about falling and concern for missed workouts. But the winter is also a great time for a running re-birth, a chance to leave the hectic race […]
Lining up just before starting gun goes off is a moment of extreme tension. Months of training and focus have brought you to the precipice of race day. In a few minutes, your body and mind will be put to the test. You are ready to go, but there’s just one problem: every fiber in […]
There’s a lot of chatter inside Team MN about becoming a better runner; as a coach it’s a fine line between talking about fitness vs proper technique.
Not all marathon running schedules are created equal, and your training might be suffering because of it. This isn’t the case for everyone, but it’s especially true if you run slower than 9-minute miles during your long runs. Here’s how you can adapt your training plan.
The challenge of running and racing a marathon is a singular pursuit. Before you even start, you know that you’ll have highs and lows, obstacles to overcome, and inevitable suffering — followed by euphoria — on race day. With all of this ahead of you, it makes sense to pick the right marathon. No 26.2 […]
Those cross-training workouts – like core work, pool running or cycling, and strength exercises – have dramatic benefits for marathoners and shouldn’t be skipped. Knowing when to implement them in a smart training plan can help you recover faster, run more, and ultimately get that new personal best.
The end of December is a fantastic time to be a runner…unless you are actually training for something! If you’re like me — and many others — the thought of hitting the road and spending hours each day playing board games sitting parked next to too much yummy food is enough to make you request […]
