One of my favorite runners to follow on Instagram is the 5K champion Lauren Fleshman. She’s a runner, mother, entrepreneur, and writer; her column in Runner’s World is one of the first things I read each month, and I wish I could steal her Oiselle-sponsored running wardrobe. What I find most inspiring about her Instagram, however, is when she shares photos of her training journal. Lauren Fleshman’s Instagrams of her training journal show a highly detailed journal of mileage, paces, weather, ...
Training Tips
Staying Fit Over the Holidays + Holiday Running Plan
There’s a whole bunch of factors that makes maintaining running fitness difficult over the holiday season. The frigid cold, ice, and snow make running outside uncomfortable and at times unsafe, the shorter amounts of daylight mean you’re likely to be running in the dark, and travel and holiday celebrations can make it more difficult to find time for a run. However, finding time for working out and staying fit over the holidays benefits your health and well-being in many ways. ...
How and Why of Tapering Before a Race
If you have been following a training plan for a race, especially a half or full marathon, you likely noticed that the week or two before the race calls for less mileage and shorter workouts. The decrease in training volume (how many miles you run in a week) and intensity (how hard your runs are) is called tapering. Tapering before a race serves as a culmination of your training to prepare you for your quickly approaching race day. It may be tempting to add in a missed long run or one ...
Tips for How to Run with Your Dog
If you own a dog, you likely know that dogs love being outside and being active. Dogs, like people, need exercise to be healthy and happy. Dogs’ love of exercise and the outdoors makes them ideal running partners. If you already run with your dog or want to start running with your canine best friend, read on for some useful tips on how to run with your dog. I regularly run with Charlie on top of our daily walks, weekend hikes, and his normal crazy puggle behavior (as I write this, ...
Run for Yourself and Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
There’s a famous quote, most often attributed to former U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt, that I’ve seen numerous times across Pinterest and the blogosphere. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” These words are so prolifically quoted because the sentiment holds true for anyone seeking any goal: you diminish your sense of accomplishment and pride when you compare what you have done to what others did. When I began running six years ago, I ran only for my own health, fitness, and personal enjoyment. ...