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Shout Out to Gwen Lingenfelter!

By on July 26, 2017 in Success Story, Uncategorized, update

Big shoutout to former Academy member Gwen Lingenfelter who is sharing her passion for running today at her company’s wellness fair.

From Gwen . . .

“I only started running in 2011. The MTA podcasts & lessons are the one thing that helped me to learn to run, to quit smoking, and to understand that running is my fountain of youth!

Because of that, in 2013, I did 12 half marathons (one a month). Ten of those were Rock ‘n’ Roll Series races so I achieved all the Heavy Medals that year.

The above picture is my RnR Nashville Finisher Medal. I also did New Orleans, Dallas, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, San Jose, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Antonio, plus two local halves that same year. -Gwen

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MTA: Where Coaching and Camaraderie Meet

By on June 3, 2017 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Success Story

Pat McCainPat McCain has achieved running goals and embraced a new family of runners in the Marathon Training Academy.

Pat McCain ran in college because it was required.

“Running was not something I chose to do but rather forced to do,” McCain recalled. “I remember the first time I ran — I couldn’t even make a mile!” After joining the Air Force in 1988, he continued running. “You might say that I have been forced to run for almost 30 years!”

But it wasn’t until recently when McCain embraced coaching and the Marathon Training Academy, both of which helped him achieve what he once thought was impossible. Continue Reading →

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Marathon Success Story -How Henry Became a Running Machine!

By on December 10, 2016 in Interview, Podcasts, Success Story

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Henry Howard has managed to go from a frustrated and injured runner to improving his marathon PR by 28 minutes, earning a BQ, and taking on trail ultramarathons.

In this episode we examine how he and Coach Angie worked together to improve his running and reach his bucket list goals. You’ll get to see how the coaching process works from beginning to end and hopefully glean some useful take-a-ways to implement in your training! Continue Reading →

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My Boston Marathon Qualifier, Thanks to MTA Coaching

By on November 12, 2016 in Guest Perspective, PR, Success Story

image2In the weeks leading up to the Indianapolis Monumental on Nov. 5, I was feeling properly trained, thanks to Angie Spencer and MTA Coaching.

Her plans have guided me through two ultras and then onto recovery and preparing for Indy.

I knew I was physically ready for my first real attempt at qualifying for the Boston Marathon, which would mean a 3:25 or better. But I also needed to make sure that I was mentally prepared for the challenge. Continue Reading →

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Race Report: The Heart of America Marathon

By on October 7, 2016 in Guest Perspective, Review, Success Story

img_0828Editor’s note: This report was sent in by MTA fan Stephen Johnson.

Greetings MTA community! I have been listening to MTA for the pat two years and Trevor has inspired me to share my race experiences. Therefore: Now is the time for my first ever Not-Quite-So-Famous Race Recap.

On Labor Day this past September I ran the Heart of America Marathon in Columbia, Missouri. This a smaller race with only 142 runners who finished this year.

The race was well supported for its size. Continue Reading →

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An Inspired Ultra Challenge 

By on September 26, 2016 in Guest Perspective, PR, Success Story, Ultramarathon

img_4006My first two 50Ks, just 10 weeks apart, met a goal a year in the making and also paved the way for new challenges.

By Henry Howard

Last year, I had the opportunity to interview one of the most inspirational people I have ever met, Noah Galloway. 

Best known for his amazing performance on Dancing With the Stars, Galloway is a double amputee from injuries he suffered in the Iraq war. 

During our interview, Galloway told me “everyone should do something that scares them.” I decided to accept his challenge, upping my ultra ante — doing my first two 50Ks just 10 weeks apart.  Continue Reading →

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It Takes a Village to Build a Marathoner

By on August 6, 2016 in Beginner, Guest Perspective, Interview, Success Story

IMG_0153Jon Lepley of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, knew he wanted to be a runner and started out creating a training plan in which he would run three or four days a week, with progressively longer runs.

But he soon developed bad habits — running every training run as hard as possible — and developed running injuries. “I was never fully following a structured training plan, instead just generally trying to increase distance on a weekend long run, and recover in the days in between,” he recalls.

Lepley set a goal for himself: completing a marathon. And he needed help, so in stepped Marathon Training Academy.

Continue Reading →

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For the Love of the Run, the Journey, the Community

By on May 22, 2016 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Success Story, Ultramarathon

Dan Savage

At the Finish of my First Ultra

Shortly after turning 40, Dan Savage looked in the mirror. Staring back was a stressed-out, 65-pound overweight guy.

Savage had been in and out of the hospital, getting treatment for Crohn’s Disease.

His diet and exercise habits were bad, to put it mildly.

“I thought a workout involved lifting a double cheeseburger versus a single. It was U-G-L-Y. It was at this point I had one of those life changing moments – you know where ‘your want to,’ wants to change? I just told myself, if I wanted to see my kids grow up and see any grandkids, I need to change, and change now.”

And so he did, joining the Marathon Training Academy, and becoming more active and improving his diet. Now when he looks in the mirror, he sees an ultra marathoner! Continue Reading →

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Marathon Success Story with Ryan Deguzis —Running Across the Driest Desert in the World

By on October 21, 2015 in Interview, Podcasts, Success Story, Ultramarathon

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Ryan Deguzis is a classical violist and music instructor from Hartford, Connecticut. He just finished a seven day stage race (155 miles) through the Atacama Desert in Chile, a placed he describes as otherworldly.

Ryan first heard about this race from MTA podcast episode #109 our interview with Samantha Gash.

In our conversation with Ryan you will hear why he started running, how much time and energy went into training for this race, what his family thought about it, and the gritty details of sun, wind, blisters, and sleep deprivation. It’s epic!

See the photos . . . Continue Reading →

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Marathon Success Story with Gregory Cheek -Maintaining Three Points of Contact

By on August 10, 2015 in Interview, Motivation, Podcasts, Success Story

Greg running the Munich Marathon in Germany

Greg running the Munich Marathon in Germany

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Greg Cheek is a combat veteran who served in the US Air Force and as an officer in the United States Army.  He’s a college communications professor, motivation speaker, and author of the book Three Points of Contact -12.5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Life and Weather Any Storm.

Greg trained with us for his first half and full marathon in 2011-2012. At that time he was celebrating one year of being cancer free.

His enthusiasm is contagious . . . Continue Reading →

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Marathon Success Story with Lee and Colleen Staats

By on November 22, 2014 in Interview, Podcasts, PR, Success Story

Looking good and loving life. Colleen and Lee Staats with Meb Keflezighi before the Columbus Marathon.

Looking good and loving life. Colleen and Lee Staats with Meb Keflezighi before the Columbus Marathon.

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In this episode we bring you a marathon success story with Lee and Colleen Staats, two Academy members from Galion, Ohio, who are transforming their lives through running.

They have both lost weight since starting to run and recently completed the Columbus Marathon.

Colleen set a PR in the half and Lee qualified for Boston by running 3:21:52.

They have both battled through injury and a busy work load to achieve their goals.

It has been my great honor to be their running coach. Continue Reading →

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Marathon Success Story with Jeriod Turner

By on June 23, 2014 in Interview, Podcasts, Success Story, Weight Loss

jeriod_turner*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

In this podcast episode we talk with Jeriod Turner a member of the Academy who has been on a life changing transformation in his health and fitness.

He has lost 50 pounds in the last six months. He recently ran a 1:31 half marathon and is currently training for his second full marathon in September.

Jeriod works as a commercial lender for Commerce Bank he is married and has two kids and lives in Hannibal, Missouri.

His progress has inspired us all!

See before and after picture. Continue Reading →

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