Most of the time, running is enjoyable. That’s ultimately why we all lace up our shoes, log those daily miles, and train for distances that seem crazy to the average person. But what happens when running is no longer enjoyable? When should you take a break from running? Obviously, there are situations in life that necessitate an extended break from running. The postpartum phase, stress fractures or serious injuries, surgeries, contracting a serious illness, and other medical reasons all ...
Training Tips
Pre-Run Snacks: When and What to Eat Before Your Run
One of the most frequent questions I receive from athletes is about pre-run snacks. Trends of fasted running, fears of GI distress, and early morning alarms all compel runners to sometimes skip a pre-run snack. Why Should You Eat a Pre-Run Snack? No matter what time of day you run, a pre-run snack enhances performance by literally putting fuel in your tank. As a 2018 meta-analysis in the Scandanavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports points out (and most runners can ...
Returning to Running after Having Covid-19
Unfortunately, one of the questions for many runners in 2020 is, “How do I safely return to running after having Covid-19?” While there will be a range of individual recovery rates, these guidelines outline how to safely return to running after a Covid-19 diagnosis. Covid-19 recovery is highly individual, especially in regards to returning to running. Some people recover quickly; others will experience lingering symptoms for months. Some will be back to normal training in a matter of ...
The Benefits of Varying Your Running Route
Runners are often creatures of habit - which is generally beneficial for a sport that depends so heavily on consistency. However, habit can be detrimental if it devolves into monotony. Running the same distance every day is less beneficial than running shorter some days and longer on others. While running the same route every day will not harm your training, you will benefit from regularly varying your running routes. Preventing Mental Burnout A well-structured training plan actually ...
Essential Books for Running Coaches
A weekend or online certification is only the beginning of being a running coach. Run coaching requires a commitment to continual education and refinement of your training philosophy. The best approach? Read everything you can. These books are what I (and from what I have read, many other coaches) consider the essential texts for running coaches who train distance runners on the road. Daniels’ Running Formula by Jack Daniels Daniels’ Running Formula is one of the seminal works of ...