What if you came to me and I told you it was going to take a year, or more, to reach your goal?
Would you have the patience and persistence to reach your goal? Would you stop trying to go out and run a crazy fast (for you) pace every time you put your shoes on? And put aside the immense pressure you have to run a certain pace? After all, nobody needs to run “x” pace in “x” amount of time.
Read MoreThe plan is a guideline.
Take it and move it around to suit your schedule. If you need a rest day on Wednesday because you have other things to do, make Wednesday a rest day.
There are three things to keep in mind when moving workouts around:
Don't stack hard workouts (like intervals) together.
Don't stack a workout and a long run together.
Never try to make up for a day by trying to do two runs on the same day.
That's it. Don't' do those three things, and go ahead and move the runs around, so they work for you.
Read MoreWhen you are looking for an expert, be very selective about who you are going to. Don't just choose someone based on convenience, like the clinic your local shoe place is putting on or the fast guy in your local running group. Go to someone who clearly understands and has demonstrated both through their own expertise as a runner and their students' results. Remember, a true expert is always learning, just like the new runner is. They are learning based on emerging science, their own experience, and the results of their students.
Read MoreThe term mental toughness has been used for a long time in sport and is used pretty regularly in most performance-based environments, whether it is in sports or at work.
But what does mental toughness mean, really? The academic definition for mental toughness as defined by the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology is: "Having the natural or developed psychological edge that enables you to: generally, cope better than your opponents with the many demands (competition, training, lifestyle) that sport places on a performer; specifically, be more consistent and better than your opponents in remaining determined, focused, confident, and in control under pressure."
Read MoreRunning an ultramarathon is a journey in getting to know yourself. The difference between a marathon and a 50-mile and a 100-mile race isn't so much about moving your legs. It is much more about the time you get to spend in your head. And on your training.
Read MoreIf you are running, and you are struggling with repeated injuries or lack of energy, likely, you are not taking in enough calories. Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein, you can focus less on calorie counting and more on making sure you eat enough to keep up with your activity level. Crashing after your long run is not something that should be happening regularly, and is entirely preventable if you are eating enough and at the right times.
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