To be a successful marathon runner, you need to do more than just run. Sure, getting in the mileage is important. But how do you ensure your legs have the durability to go the distance? You need to be strong. Strong things are less likely to break, and in a sport where at least half…
You’ve completed a few marathons and now want to finish faster. But, it’s not like you can turn pro and run 100 miles per week. You need an efficient strategy that can fit into your current training schedule yet deliver big performance improvements. No problem. No-Fuel/Slow-Fuel long runs are a proven way to improve your…
People who want instant gratification don’t usually stick with running. Nearly all of the benefits from running come very gradually (over weeks, months and indeed, years) and that’s just the way the body likes it. As you read in my last article on the Stress/Rest cycle (stress + rest = progress), the body is designed…
The first elite runner I coached was Mary Ellen. Her goal was to qualify for and run in the Olympic Marathon Trials. I was in graduate school studying exercise physiology at the time and I don’t remember exactly how it came about or why she decided to ask me to coach her, but she did….
My first coaching mentor, Guy Avery, used to say “Optimal Stress + Optimal Rest = Optimal Progress.” This simple phrase is very instructive for the runner and coach. Every training stress (whether an easy run or hard workout) must be followed by an appropriate rest period (recovery with easy running, cross training or no running)…
The McMillan Training System (aka McMillan Run Team) is having amazing results. In fact, this past weekend, there were new personal records set at distances from the mile to the marathon. And, the great performances came not just from elite runners but from athletes new to the sport as well as older runners who thought…
Every runner has tendencies. Most are positive and help the runner toward her goal, but some are negative and are not helpful. A lot of coaching is identifying the tendencies in the athlete and then creating strategies to capitalize on the positive ones and reduce or if possible, eliminate the negative ones. In this article,…
I love the 5K. It’s such a great race, requiring speed and stamina plus a hefty dose of racing IQ and mental toughness to run your best. And I’ve been lucky. I’ve coached 5K runners running just over 13 minutes as well as runners for whom finishing 3.1 miles never seemed possible. (Plus, I’ve even…
One Eighty A few years ago, it was stated that pro runners have a cadence (steps per minute) of 180 and so all runners should run at a cadence of 180. Additionally, it was stated that a low cadence caused injuries (due to over-striding) so another reason to run with a higher cadence was to…
Double your pleasure. Double the fun. Maybe it’s time you tried a double run. Running twice in a day (called a “double”) was once considered only the domain of elite runners. Not anymore! I use doubles in many situations, some that may even surprise you. If you fit any of the ones outlined below, give…