Author Archive | Trevor Spencer

Help us Plant a Tree for the John Muir Trust

We are running the London Marathon this year for the John Muir Trust -a charity which manages wild lands in the United Kingdom. The goals is to raise enough money to plant a MTA Forever Forest in Scotland’s Mountain Schiehallion -an area undergoing reforestation and preservation.

We’ve set an initial target of planting 262 trees (you will see what we have done there) as part of the Trust’s Wild Woods tree planting appeal during 2019 as they look to significantly increase the number of native trees across the land in their care. Continue Reading →

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Things I Learned from the Jerusalem Half Marathon

Editor’s note: Here’s a short race report from one of our coaching clients named Brooke Taylor who ran the Jerusalem Half Marathon last Sunday.

Dear Angie and Trevor, Greetings from Israel! As we wait to board our flight back to the U.S., I wanted to check in and thank you for helping me get ready for the Jerusalem Half Marathon.

This race has been in the works for many months. It was my first-ever international race and I was also rehabbing my knee. I decided to become an MTA member and was paired with Coach Lynn to get me ready. I can say now, there is no way I would’ve had such a successful race without her help. Continue Reading →

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MTA Podcast Featured by Competitor Running

Big thanks to Competitor Running for featuring the Marathon Training Academy podcast in their list of 7 Podcasts For Your Next Solo Run!!!

If you’re a student of running who looks to train smarter, not harder, Marathon Training Academy is for you. Coach Angie Spencer, a nurse and experienced marathon runner, began running in 2008 as a way to get in shape. She fought through her first 26.2 miles despite being injured and quickly decided she needed a better way to train. 55 marathons later, she and her husband Trevor use their platform to discuss the science behind training, mental toughness, endurance, and using pain to your advantage. Elite athletes, sports doctors and authors regularly join their show for advice on getting the most out of your marathon training. Recent episodes have included ultra-runner and author Akshay Nanavati as well as Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi. -Competitor Running

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London Marathon Meet Up

Join Angie, Trevor, and fellow runners for an afternoon tea on April 27th, 2019, the day before the London Marathon! We are meeting at Docklands Bar & Grill inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 2:00 pm (14:00) London Time. The restaurant is a short 8 minute walk from the race Expo.

If you’ve never had a proper English afternoon tea then you are in for a treat! The cost is £16.00 per person. No need to dress up. We will be wearing running shoes. Friends and family are welcome to come too! Please select “going” on our Facebook Event page if you plan to attend so we know how many to expect. Or drop us an email. Thanks!

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How We Help Runners Achieve Their Goals

We all have the tendency to imagine that a future version of ourselves will be more disciplined than the present version of ourselves. Why is that?

Studies have been done in which people were asked if they would rather have fruit or cake one week from now. They usually say “fruit”. But a week later, when a slice of chocolate cake is offered along with an apple, test subjects were more statistically likely to go for the cake.

This is called Present Bias, the belief that what we want now isn’t the same thing you will want later. The future version of ourselves that we imagine always has more willpower and a flatter stomach than the present actual version.

Author David McRaney says, “When you are making plans your better angels point to the nourishing choices, but in the moment you go for what tastes good”.

The trick is to realize that you can only control the now you. Make the future you thankful for the action that the present you takes.

This could mean signing up for your first marathon or half marathon, hiring a coach, joining a yoga class, or cutting out sugar from your diet.

You’d be amazed by what your future self can become! This video explains how our MTA coaches help runners go from the present version of themselves to a stronger, faster, more confident version. Continue Reading →

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What Happens When You Take Action

Here is a wonderful note we received from a client Angie worked with named Elliot Shelton who ran a PR at the CIM Marathon in December. I love this story because he took bold massive action and wasn’t afraid to set higher goals.

Dear Angie, I wanted to take a moment to thank you and Trevor for the incredible difference you’ve made in my life. About 3 1/2 years ago, I was unhappy with the direction my life was headed. I was about 30 lbs overweight, had not exercised regularly in years, and had few interests outside of work.
 
I decided to take action. I started a couch to 5k plan and a month later decided to set my goals higher and I committed to running the San Francisco Marathon the following year (without really knowing what I was getting myself into). Continue Reading →

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Doctor Said He’d Never Run Again

Here’s a note we received a couple days ago from an Academy member named Pat McCain who has been a long time supporter of the MTA podcast and inspiration to us. If your doctor says you will never run again please go get a second and third opinion!

Pat McCain with fellow MTA’er Debbie Gelber at the Texas Marathon

“Hi Trevor and Angie,

After almost two years struggling with injury, and after a doctor told me I’d never run again, I just finished the Texas Marathon on New Years Day. Thanks to you and the MTA community for being a part of my comeback–y’all have taught me how to train, cross-train, fuel, pace, and stay on top of the mental game that enables all of us to run safely and do much more than we ever think possible. I did a 3:00 run/:30 walk to a 4:35 finish. I crossed the finish line stronger than ever and injury free.

Thanks for all the encouragement from you and our MTA family!” -Pat

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