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Giving Thanks for Running – Stories from Real People Who Have Transformed Their Lives Through Running

By on November 28, 2013 in Motivation, Podcasts, Weight Loss

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Hi Folks, Angie came up with a great idea while out on a run one morning, “Let’s do a special Thanksgiving episode that’s all about why we are thankful for running”.

So we solicited running stories from our audience and the response was great. You are going to hear from people who have lost 100+ pounds, busted through depression, took control of their health and positively redefined themselves.

  • Special thanks to: Lea, Melissa, Jim, Omar, Kate, Corinne, Glynda, Ed, Foti, Nicole, and Anna for sending in their inspiring running stories!

My Transformation
I also talk about my own running journey which roughly began in 2010. Thanks to Angie’s guidance I went from desk potato to marathoner.

I hated running. Building up to my first 5k was slow and torturous. But my body adapted!

Below you will find a side by side comparison of what I looked like before and after becoming a runner. I didn’t start running in order to lose weight but, as you can see, running has taken off 20 pounds of fat. Continue Reading →

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Run More! Interview with Chuck Engle aka Marathon Junkie

By on November 23, 2013 in Interview, Podcasts

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In this episode we talk with Chuck Engle the man who holds the record for most career marathon wins of any person in the United States.

He has won 164 out of 332 marathons with an average time of 2:43. At age 42 he continues to race almost every weekend and he continues to win.

Chuck lives in Coos Bay, Oregon, and is the internet marketing director for marathonguide.com. His approach to marathon training is “run more”.

Ten questions for the marathon junkie: Continue Reading →

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Guest Post on the MTA Blog!

By on November 20, 2013 in Uncategorized

Hi folks, here’s something for you creative runners interested in sharing your knowledge and experience with our community. We are putting a call out for new content contributors to our blog. The content should be relevant to marathon training and be helpful to our readers.

Click here to see how to apply

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Improve Your Running Form by Focusing on Cadence

By on November 11, 2013 in Guest Perspective, Running Form

How fast is your running cadence?

How fast is your running cadence?

Is My Running Form Bad?

About 2 years ago I attended a coaching symposium put on by Newton Running Company in Southwest Oklahoma.

Throughout the classroom portion of the course I had been glued to the instructors, hanging on their every word. Not because my form was bad, no obviously I wasn’t a “heel-striker”, but I was incredibly anxious to start helping others run better!

When it came time for my videotaped gait analysis I was excited to see how good I looked…assuming they’d pause the video and use me as the textbook example.

Okay, there I am . . . and . . . wait . . . no, that can’t be right.

Devastation.

I was the textbook example of a heel striker. I looked just like everyone else! Landing in front of my body and putting the brakes on with every step. Unbelievable. Two weeks away from running the New York City Marathon and an expert tells me that my running form is bad and my mechanics need a lot of work.

How do I fix it?

Being so close to a race, what should I do? I approached one of the instructors and asked this very question. I fully expected him to say that I should proceed as I always have and start a slow transition to Natural Running when my race was over.

Wrong again. He explained that nothing good can come from bad form and that I should start working on improving my gait immediately.

Then he said to focus on increasing my cadence. Continue Reading →

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Understanding Heart Rate Training

By on November 7, 2013 in Heart Rate Training, Podcasts

Heart Rate Training *[Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now]

Maybe you have a heart rate monitor (HRM) that you never use or use a heart rate monitor and get frustrated because you don’t fully understand how to go about using this training method.

In this post I want to cut through the clutter and tell you how to get started with heart rate training. You will learn:

  1. What to know before you start heart rate training
  2. Three ways to find your ideal training zones
  3. The limitations of heart rate training

Ready, set, go! Continue Reading →

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Interview with Elite Runner Leah Thorvilson – 2:37 Marathoner

By on October 15, 2013 in Elite Runner, Interview, Podcasts

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Leah Thorvilson is the 4 time winner of the Little Rock Marathon, competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials and holds the 4th fastest 50 mile time ever recorded for an American woman.

She won the Tupelo Marathon this year (I saw her blazing by me on the out and back section). And she recently became the director of athletic development at her alma mater, the University of Arkansas Little Rock.

We talked with her about her runner career, training and the lessons she learned from a torn hamstring.

Here are some of the questions we asked Leah and a few tips about injury prevention Continue Reading →

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Race Recap: Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio

By on October 3, 2013 in Fueling, Podcasts, Race Recap

Brain overload at the Air Force Museum in Dayton

Brain overload at the Air Force Museum in Dayton

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On Sept 21, 2013 we got to run the 17th annual Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH. This year there were a total of 15,000 participants between the 5k, 10k, half and full marathon.

We made this a family trip and were able to visit the National Museum of the United States Air Force the day before the race. This is a pretty amazing place (with free admission!!) that details the history of aviation with many aircraft and memorabilia from over the years. The kids were as impressed as kids can be with a museum and it was an educational experience that they’re still talking about.

Continue Reading →

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Interview with Ian Sharman -Winner of the Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon

By on September 18, 2013 in Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

Leadville Champion Ian Sharman [photo credit: irunfar/ Bryan Powell

Leadville Champion Ian Sharman [photo credit: irunfar/ Bryan Powell]

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We recently interviewed Ian Sharman the winner of this year’s Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon. He has run over 180 ultramarathons and marathons in over 30 countries. He is a certified running coach and writer for irunfar.com.

In addition to winning Leadville this year, he completed the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning -four 100 mile races in one summer – beating the previous Grand Slam record.

Here are a few of the questions we asked Ian: Continue Reading →

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Race Recap: The Tupelo Marathon –Trample the Weak Hurdle the Dead!

By on September 12, 2013 in Podcasts, Race Recap

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Angie and I recently ran the Tupelo Marathon in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Although Elvis was born in Tupelo, this is not a race for pretty boys.

First of all, it’s hot. I’m talking about seventy-six degrees at the starting line at 5:00 in the morning. Humidity was probably 90%. A couple years ago a tropical storm hit during the race. They kept it running.

Second, it’s ugly. I just say that because it looks too much like S.E. Missouri –bugs, brush, and bungalows. I wouldn’t go down there for the scenery but I would for the BBQ.

Third, it’s small. The race draws about three hundred marathoners and does away with race expos, pacing groups, music, the national anthem, spectators, porta-potties (not entirely), and course photographers except at the very end. But it was easy to find parking.

Fourth, you run in the dark for the first hour. I enjoyed it even though I didn’t have a headlamp. As far as I know . . . only the weak got trampled. Continue Reading →

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Interview with Vinnie Tortorich – How Your Good Intentions Have Been Stolen

By on August 28, 2013 in Fueling, Interview, Low Carb, Nutrition, Podcasts

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Vinnie Tortorich is the author of the book Fitness Confidential – adventures in the weight loss game. *Quick heads up, the book does contain adult language and content.

He is the go to guy for celebrities and athletes who need to get fit fast. He hosts the Angriest Trainer Podcast and is an ultra-endurance cyclist. He has also battled Leukemia, a struggle he chronicles in the book.

Vinnie calls himself America’s angriest trainer but he’s actually a really nice guy. As a personal trainer he doesn’t scream “feel the burn!” when making his clients do push ups. He says that’s only what made-for-T.V. trainers do.

He is angry because of the misinformation that exists in the fitness industry -an industry he’s been working in since the 80s. Vinnie’s contention is that the calorie in calorie out weight loss model is a bunch of bull.

“Your good intentions have been stolen, and I’m here to help you get ’em back!”

The book opens with a situation where movie execs from Disney need him to take 35 pounds off an actress in six weeks.

When you see an actress on the red carpet and you know she just had a baby three weeks ago but she looks fabulous; she either has me or someone like me working with her. -Vinnie Tortorich

He will be the first to tell you that these celebrities types are not genetically perfect. What works for them will work for us. The secret sauce of Fitness Confidential is called NSNG (no sugars no grains). Continue Reading →

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Adventures in Running Downhill

By on August 13, 2013 in Hills, Podcasts

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Many people underestimate how running downhill can zap their muscle strength leading to things like cramping, heavy legs, sore feet, blisters, lost toenails and post-race soreness.

At my last marathon, The Deseret News Classic Marathon in Salt Lake City, about sixteen miles of the course was downhill. I can honestly say I have not been this sore since my first marathon six years ago.

In this podcast/blogpost I want to show you why running downhill is so hard on your body and how you can prepare for this challenge better than I did. Continue Reading →

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Race Recap: Deseret News Classic Marathon

By on August 1, 2013 in Race Recap

Salt Lake City, Utah

Deseret News Classic Marathon Medal

We just got back from a 5,000 mile road trip. We drove from Missouri to Washington State by way of Montana -stopping to run the Missoula Marathon. When it came time to plan our return trip home Trevor asked, “Do you want to do a marathon in Utah next week?” You may have guessed by now that I can’t say no to a marathon, especially in a new state. So that is how I came to run the Deseret News Classic Marathon in Salt Lake City Utah. Continue Reading →

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