a to z running by A to Z Running
This week on AtoZrunning:
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Once upon a time, you went for a run with some friends and that one friend had one of those fancy new watches–they called them GPS watches. Remember that? Remember how silly it was when that friend kept updating everyone on the pace you all were running? Remember how that friend would keep jogging circles at the end of the run to make sure the watch hit a round number?
Running is a wicked environment… at least as David Epstein defines the term in his 2019 work Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. In today’s episode, we’ll take a look at WHY running is a wicked environment and what we might want to do about that.
If I see one more time a headline about how everyone sets new year’s goals and quits by February, I’m going to quit the internet! And yet, I was chatting with another runner recently, a wise and accomplished man, and he casually mentioned a habit of his that rocked my thinking. Best part? This week, we’re bringing that idea to you–the unbreakable rule!
We’re going to get practical and talk about the key difference between running hard and running easy and when we should be doing both. You’ve heard about the 80/20 rule, you know about Lydiard and Jack Daniels and double threshold… but do you know what all of that means for YOU and this week’s training? That’s where we are taking you in today’s discussion.
When the pressure is high and expectations abound, performance can suffer. But it doesn’t have to. Even for runners who feel like race-day pressures are insurmountable, certain deliberate strategies and the right practice of those strategies can change everything!
In a recent conversation with other runners, we fell to discussing the challenges of digging deep or pushing harder or hurting a little more. Given the close connection to our recent discussion about mindset and the mind-body connection, we dive deeper into pain, both what it is and what we can do as runners to overcome it better.
Just how important are mindset and expectations on physiological experiences? Research has suggested that the connection is so significant that a person can literally create a physiological response to something that is not at all present. We kick off the 7th year of AtoZrunning by taking a closer look at the connection between the mind and body and what that means for runners.
In a world constantly battering us with the new–new ideas or technologies, new workouts or training approaches–it becomes that much more important for us to seriously consider what things we need to STOP. In this final episode of rules to realize your dreams, we share the last three rules: stop taking shortcuts, stop compromising, and stop negativity.
What is the most important thing every runner needs to know to realize our dreams? As we continue our series on rules to realize your dreams, we tackle #6: Get Knowledge.
One of the most valuable things we can do for ourselves as runners is define a clear vision for why we run and what we are hoping to achieve by this crazy endeavor. For many, that’s a very arbitrary and unclear idea at best, so on our quest to share the 9 rules for realizing your dreams, we are next tackling vision.
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We are living in the age of legends in distance running, and I hope you aren’t missing it! Faith Kipyegon may not be close to breaking 4 in the mile yet, but she is still setting World Records year after year. Add to that countrywoman Beatrice Chebet and you’ve got an amalgamation of excellence that is still only scratching the surface! And we’re only talking about this weekend’s results.
This is yet one more reason why one should never assume that just because a race isn’t the headline event, it won’t be electric! That’s exactly what the men’s 1500m at the Paris Diamond League was! ELECTRIC! And even though there were 4 national records, 13 personal bests, and a new world leading performance, it was the teenager in 2nd place who you should really be watching. We’ll tell you why next on AtoZrunning.
The most interesting thing about the NCAA championships is how unpredictable it can be! NCAA record-holders don’t make finals and past champs go home devastated. And just as often, champs defend titles and new records are set… it’s some of the most exciting track and field around, and we’re breaking it down for you here.
How great is Beatrice Chebet? How do we even measure this? Dominant performances in the Olympics and world cross country champs, world records on the track… She recently got even more ambitious and targeted one of the most insane (and probably illegitimate) records out there. Stick around for the full story.
Erin Kunst, massage therapist, marathoner, trail runner, and ultra marathoner, among other things, joins the show to talk about returning from hip labrum surgery to run a lifetime best marathon 15 months later and what it took to make such a feat possible.
The best part about running news lately is that there’s been a little bit of everything! If you want track, we’ve got Grand Slam and Diamond League both in full swing. If you want roads, we’ve got record-setting Marathon Majors and US road circuit. If you want shenanigans and controversy… yep. We’ve got that, too.
If you didn’t know the name John Korir before this year’s Boston Marathon, it might be because you weren’t paying attention when he won Chicago last year in under 2:03. But it also might be because plenty of talented runners show occasional moments of glory. It’s when a runner repeats the performance on the big stage that spectators start to wonder: are we seeing the rise of the next marathon king? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
What will it take to bring back track, as the saying goes? Michael Johnson’s new Grand Slam Track series has staked its reputation on the idea that they can bring new audiences to track and field. The recipe? Money and fame, apparently. But more importantly, the first installment of Grand Slam has come and gone, and we get to tell you all about it!
Is 2 hours of exercise a day enough movement? Does light actually matter for health? Why is everyone obsessed with cold plunges right now? As we wrap up our discussion about Casey Means’ book Good Energy, we’ll be tackling these and other questions about areas outside of food that fuel our energy.For more, visit atozrunning.com
If you’re betting on a race, would you bet on the runner who started 100 meters behind everyone else? In what has swiftly become one of the most competitive 10,000m events in the world, the TEN features the fastest distance runners the US has to offer in addition to an outstanding selection of international talent. That’s why it was even more impressive when Telahun Bekele, despite literally starting the race 100m behind everyone else, found himself vying for the win with one lap to go.
What does it look like to fuel well? Is it the perfect diet? Is it all or nothing? Is it really just a food thing? To continue our discussion about Good Energy by Casey Means, we tackle the 6 most influential areas and share specific recommendations to minimize bad energy and maximize good.
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In recent running news: Jane Hedengren breaks multiple high school records. NCAA Nationals features legends and legendary upsets. One of the greatest half marathoners in history has been suspended. Don’t miss the latest running news brought to you by AtoZrunning.
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In the world of running: Ingebrigtsen is, quote, “loaded with training”. Who sets national records 8 years after retirement? How fast should you be able to run 1 mile?
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Today on AtoZrunning, we target the effects of aging on running performance for this week’s search engine challenge. In the world of running, Valencia Marathon was insanely fast. Track season is off with a bang at the Boston opener. Make your prediction now: how fast do you think 60-year-old Anne Gilshinan ran 1 mile?
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This week on AtoZrunning: We finish our series on wise decisions by taking a close look at ways to manage energy, emotion, and stress. We also answer a listener question about cool down jogs after hard efforts and races. In the world of running, Boston Marathon was a nail-biter but for two totally different reasons between the men and women. College kids continue to assault the records boards. And from the headlines, Strava is being called into question yet again.
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What does it take to be a patient rather than greedy runner? Pete has thoughts on that and more.
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This week, we answer listener questions about running efficiency and the connection to injury reduction, nose breathing, and how to change training during an existing season.
This week, we examine motivation and the factors that make us want to do things, including the role of other people, our own perceptions, and more.
This week, we deliver as promised a comprehensive 5-step approach to being better at running by developing neuromuscular control and efficiency.
