Training is the best arena for developing mental toughness for racing. You can create all the vision boards and inspirational mantras you want, but if you have not practiced mental toughness in training, you will struggle with it on race day. Workouts do not merely prepare you for the physical demands of racing; they prepare you for the mental demands of racing. Whether you struggle with mental toughness or want to improve your race times, try one of these running workouts to improve mental ...
Workouts for Runners
Functional Kettlebell Workout for Runners
My coaching philosophy is that every run and every workout should have a purpose. I don’t believe in junk miles and I don’t randomly assign workouts. If an athlete asks me why they are doing a workout, I can provide them with both physiological and psychological reasons. The same applies to strength training, which is why this 30-minute functional kettlebell workout for runners is one of my current favorite strength workouts. Don’t get me wrong - any strength training workout is effective ...
Indoor Track Workouts for Winter Training
I’m not a huge fan of the treadmill. There's no denying treadmill is a valuable training tool, especially in winter. I will use it if the conditions outside are too dangerous to run, but I don’t particularly enjoy it. Like many runners, I prefer moving forward instead of running in place. I prefer to pace based on my own perception of effort rather than dialing numbers into a machine. In previous winters (or conversely, wildfire summers in Seattle), I’d just stick it out on the treadmill. But ...
The Injured Runner’s Guide to Pool Running
A stress fracture, serious soft tissue injury, or other injuries can prevent you from running for weeks. Many runners worry about losing hard-earned fitness during injury. For most runners, the hardest part about an injury is the lack of exercise. A good cross-training option, such as pool running, will maintain your fitness and give you a mental boost during injury. Pool running (sometimes called deep water running) is a non-impact modality of cross-training. The name describes it ...
Modified Strength Workout for Injured Runners
Activity restrictions accompany many running injuries. For some injuries such as stress fractures, any sort of impact or weight-bearing might be restricted. Injuries and activity restriction are frustrating, but they do not have to put you on virtual bed rest. Instead, if your condition permits, you can try this modified strength workout for injured runners. Back in October, a stress fracture on my third metatarsal broke through. I could not run, bike, swim, or do lower body strength ...