Tag Archives: fitness

Consistency in Running: Accountability Matters!

What is the most important thing you can do right now to get better at running? It’s no secret, but the simple act of turning the doorknob, getting out onto the pavement, and getting a run in – regardless of the distance – is the easiest way to progress. I’ve written before about the importanceContinue reading “Consistency in Running: Accountability Matters!”

Strength Training: Why I Lift Weights as a Runner

One misconception runners can fall into is that the only thing they need to be doing in training is running. Certainly, there is some truth to the idea that in order to get better at running you should run. But this can easily lead people to believe that the only thing that makes you betterContinue reading “Strength Training: Why I Lift Weights as a Runner”

What’s the Deal with Carbon-Plated Running Shoes?

You’ve probably seen them, or at least heard about them. The Nike Vaporfly Next%. The Brooks Hyperion. The Hoka One One Carbon X. These carbon-plated running shoes are the fastest on the market and, for the last two years, have been worn by every record breaker in nearly every distance. In 2019 Eliud Kipchoge becameContinue reading “What’s the Deal with Carbon-Plated Running Shoes?”

What Happens When You Don’t Run?

One of the most common questions among new runners is “how often should I run?” This question can be answered in several different ways depending on the athlete’s goals and current fitness level. As a rule, you should start out running fewer days a week (around three) and progress to running five or six daysContinue reading “What Happens When You Don’t Run?”

When the Weather Gets Rough: Running Inside

Let’s get one thing straight: I firmly believe that running outside is superior to running inside, especially when running inside means running on a treadmill. Running outside on a track, a trail, or pavement is better in nearly all aspects, from maintaining form to reducing impact and stress on joints. But let’s get another thing straight: running at all is better than not running and there are some days when running outside just isn’t realistic for most people.

Make Running a Habit (Not a Chore)

When you’re starting out as a runner, just the process of making running a habit can be a struggle. In these first few weeks the quality of your workout doesn’t matter as much as just getting out and running. Depending on your fitness level, this might not mean running the entire time. It’s okay to mix running and walking, the important thing is that you’re getting outside and forming the pattern so that the next time it’s a little bit easier to turn the doorknob and get into your workout.

A Few Thoughts on Consistency in Running

There is no secret ingredient to success in running. There is no pill you can take or button you can push that will suddenly turn you into the next Mo Farah or Jim Walmsley. Good equipment helps, but no shoe will take you from a four-hour marathon to Boston overnight. So, what separates successful runners from just-average runners who can’t seem to make any progress?

Why I Run

It wasn’t until I contracted the coronavirus and couldn’t exercise for fourteen days that I realized how important running is to my daily life. For weeks I have tried to verbalize the connection I found in the last year to this sport but struggled to voice a tangible reason why I keep lacing my shoes up every day. Running hurts, so why do we continue to do it? Why do…