Long runs matter in training. They boost your confidence and benefit your training if you feel good on your long runs - or can lead you questioning your fitness if they do not. (Remember, your fitness is not just one run - it is the summation of many.) Long runs mean any extended time on your feet, for a longer duration than your other runs of the week. They build endurance and increase your resistance to fatigue. Even if you are not training for a long-distance race, a long run is a ...
marathon
How to Determine How Many Miles You Should Run Per Week
Running is a skill sport. The more you run, the better of a runner you become. Up until a certain point, running more miles per week will make you a better runner. But how do you know what that point is? How many miles should you run per week? First, it is vital to recognize individual variations. Factors including genetics, injury background and risk, training background, work and life stress and schedules, gender, medical conditions, sleep, and nutrition must be ...
How to Safely Increase Your Weekly Running Mileage
One of the simplest ways to improve as a runner is to run more. When executed smartly, increasing your weekly running mileage will make you a stronger, faster runner. When done incorrectly, ramping up your mileage will cause overuse injuries, lead to overtraining, and mentally burn you out before you even toe the starting line of your goal race. The key is to focus on a smart, sustainable approach to increasing mileage - and here is how to implement that in your training. Why Increase ...
Training for a Marathon with a Stroller
This article is a guest post from Whitney Heins of The Mother Runners. Thank you to Whitney for sharing her stroller running tips! As any mother runner knows, running with a stroller is no joke. When I’m running up a hill pushing the double BOB stroller, my kids will ask me if I’m even running. “Yes!” I’ll huff as I try to catch my breath. Running with a stroller doesn’t just feel hard. It actually is hard. That’s according to science! One study in ...
Top Nutrition Tips for Marathoners and Half Marathoners
You trained hard for months, worked on your mental toughness, and tapered appropriately. The only thing that remains is race day itself. As all runners know, race day is not just simply showing up at the start line and then crossing the finish line. A successful, enjoyable marathon or half marathon requires having strategies for pacing, coping with discomfort, and nutrition. A smart, individualized nutrition strategy can set up you for a strong race; the lack of one can lead to bonking at the ...