A common question I receive from many of my athletes regards treadmill running - a question that I’ve had myself and you have possibly had as well. Most runners use a Garmin or other GPS watch to track their runs - it’s a commonplace piece of gear for a majority of runners. The Run Indoor setting on many Garmins allows you to track and record your treadmill run, just as you would an outdoor run. However, several of the runners I coach ask me about the accuracy of the Garmin Run Indoor mode. More ...
Ask a Running Coach
Ask a Running Coach: Easy Runs
Easy runs are featured in a majority of training plans (with exceptions being plans similar Run Less, Run Faster). The concept sounds simple enough - you run at an easy effort - but concepts and reality can diverge. Easy runs can be one of the trickiest aspects of training for some runners to master. Today's Ask a Running Coach answers several questions I have received about easy runs. How do I know if I'm going easy enough on my easy runs? You can use three metrics to ...
A Day in the Life of a Running Coach
When I tell people I’m a running coach, the first image that comes to most minds is standing at a track, shouting instructions to young collegiate athletes. And while this is certainly what some coaches do, my job as an online running coach to adult runners is much different. I work full-time as a running coach, running blogger, and consultant to companies including Runkeeper. I love my job, as it allows me to work from home, be creative, and work with people individually. Currently, I coach ...
Common Winter Running Problems
From snow and ice to negative degree wind chills, winter running presents several difficulties to runners - especially if you hate the treadmill and want to run outdoors. From itchy red skin to picking out the right winter running gear, these are some questions I’ve received as a running coach about common winter running problems - and the answers to how you can solve them. Remember that each runner is an individual and will respond to cold weather differently! Above all else, prioritize ...
Ask a Running Coach: Fueling, Cross-training, and Foam Rolling
I posted the first edition of “Ask a Running Coach” a few weeks ago and today I am back with more common questions from runners. These topics include fueling on long runs, cross-training, and foam rolling. When should I start fueling on long runs? Assuming you are eating before your long run (which you should be!), there is no need to take fuel for runs less than 75-90 minutes. Your body doesn’t need a gel for energy on a quick 45-minute run, even if you are running hard. Between ...