Amanda writes a lil’ blog called, Run To The Finish. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?
It’s pretty much one of the biggest running blogs out there and has been a “Best Of” blog for far too many awards, sites and lists to count! If you like actual information and not just “look what I did today” kind of articles, you have to read it. But start after you check out today’s post. Kay?
All of that to say… see what I did with the title of this post?
Proud moment.
Let’s talk running…
I took a few months off from it. And it was wonderful.
Well, breaking my leg wasn’t wonderful but what I learned about myself without running was.
For too long, I’ve turned to running for my fitness base. I thought if I stopped pounding the pavement/trails, I would puff up and lose my fitness and body.
Thank goodness for breaking my leg and learning that that’s not the case. If fact, during my 6-month(ish) hiatus, my body changed a bit…
For the better.
I learned to focus more on strength and how to stay strong with endurance without running miles upon miles.
It was liberating!
So now, I don’t NEED to run.
Well, that’s a lie. I do.
Races are officially written in pen on the calendar. Running is pretty mandatory.
But I’m looking at it differently.
It’s not something that I have to do to stay in shape. It’s something I want to do and it’s a part of my training as an athlete (if I’m allowed to call myself one).
It’s great! Last week I got in 30 miles! Not too shabby for just getting back into regular training. If I do say so myself.
How To Celebrate The Return Of Running?
By talking with your favorite runner friends about running! Duh!
Amanda is always up for a runchat, so I asked if she would be interested in doing a…
Runner’s Q & A Podcast…
She immediately was game and via my facebook pages, we received some awesome questions.
Together, the two of us have been running for over 20 years! ← Damn, we’re getting old!
Yes, I think we, especially Amanda, know a thing or two about this whole “lacing up your shoes and running” thing.
In the podcast, expect a lot of useful information that you can apply to your current running program.
Not a runner? We talk about that too!
I bet there’s a gold nugget in this podcast for everyone!
Your Most Pressing Running Questions
Without further ado…
Show Notes:
We will do this “She Said”/”She Said” format. Notes from Amanda, followed by my own tidbits of information.
What are a few good fuels for long runs/races?
Great question!
She Said (Amanda)…
Amanda’s recommendation is to try and avoid Gu’s.
While they are easy to grab and take, they are often sucked down all at once. That extremely large intake of sugar all at once can cause stomach issues along the course. Runner’s trots are no fun.
Instead, choose a fuel that you can nibble on along the way, as needed.
If you like candy, go with jelly beans (you don’t need the sports specific ones) or gummies.
If you like the idea of whole foods, dried fruit is a great option! Pineapple is high in vitamins and nutrients that can assist with not only blood sugar (energy) but also helps prevent stomach issues and cramping. I also found that pineapple contains something called bromelain which helps speed up muscle recovery! Who knew?
Keep in mind, if you’re new to running that not every distance needs to have a sugary treat. For 5ks there is no reason for race fuel. Fuel up for races that will take over 1 hour. And make sure to test fuels before getting to the start line.
She Said (Taylor)…
I’ve experimented with a lot! I’ve done the candy route and I’ve done the whole food route. For my 50K, peanut butter sandwich thins for the win!
What I’ve learned is that my body handles real food the best.
My favorite long run (for trails) includes:
– Epic Bars
– Mustard Pretzels (mustard is great for preventing muscle cramping)
– Fruit: Specifically dates and dried mango.
What should I eat the night before a race?
Probably the most common running question but an important one!
She said…
Amanda stressed that there is no need to fill up on heavy pasta the night before a race. This can overload the system and cause bloat and digestive distress.
Runner’s trots are real. And not something to brag about.
Instead, go with a balanced dinner that you know make you feel great. Salmon, veggies and some quinoa is a great one. You get the protein, carbs and the omega-3s (great for inflammation) without feeling the “load” of carb-loading pasta.
Amanda’s personal choice nowadays is pizza but she knows her limits and what makes her feel great and what makes her feel like crap.
Find what works and if possible, stick to it!
She said (Taylor)…
I am all about a very balanced meal the night before a race. I don’t ever try anything new. I always have some sort of lean protein, a vegetable and a healthy carb.
Our go to is normally: Chicken breasts, sweet potatoes (or plantains) and salad. It’s easy and it makes me feel on top of my game.
I flipping LOVE speed training!
She said…
Amanda things that speed training is a necessity for training. It helps to build strength and teach your legs what “race pace” (and faster) feels like.
But it can be pretty intimidating, especially to a new runner. Instead of heading to a track and doing 8 x 800s (which sounds terrible), do some messy sprints. Run as fast as you can from one mailbox to another, then rest and repeat.
Another great idea is timed training. Run fast for 3 minutes, run slow for 3 minutes. Pick it up for 2 minutes, then rest for 2. Give it your all for a minute and rest.
With this, you can make it more intense as you become stronger. Start with just 1-2 session of this and work up to complete 3-5.
Oh, and make sure not to overtax the system. Speed work takes a lot out of a runner and should be performed just once per week.
She Said (Taylor)…
I love, love, love speed workouts!
But only when I’m training for road races. For training for our trails, we have to adapt to our races. Because many are in the mountains, “speed work” gets replaced with “incline work”.
Instead of traditional sprints, we find ourselves running fast the doing a ton of lunge jumps, stadiums or stair-steppers throughout the workout.
It’s important to think about what you’re training for and make your workouts around the end goal.
What do you suggest to make the final 2 miles not so ugly?
This is an awesome question that we can all relate to! Sometimes you find yourself just taking it stride by stride and counting down….
…2 miles left! 1.5 miles left! LAST MILE!
But that’s not fun every single time. We want to be able to start and finish a run feeling great, right?
She Said…
Make sure you’re not starting off too fast. Pace yourself so that you can avoid burnout during those last few miles. Start slower and if feeling great, then pick up the pace the last bit.
If that’s not the case, and you find your mind just dying of boredom, try some of these tricks:
Only listen to music the 2nd half of your run.
Try listening to podcast or a book on tape.
Think about life. Let your mind wander those final miles. Maybe you have something coming up this week that needs planning, start planning.
She Said (Taylor)…
Podcasts are amazing and a few of my favorite include:
Girls Gone WOD
Harder To Kill Radio
Fat-Burning Man (just recently found, but so far so good)
Tim Farriss (Depending on the guest)
And of course Lifting Revolution Podcast is pretty sweet too! But I don’t listen to myself.
Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones?
And so much more!
Did you think I was going to indulge in every question we answered?
Make sure to listen to the podcast to get all our questions and answers!
Additional topics we cover include:
– What’s the difference between being fitted for running shoes with a treadmill (camera) versus the stores that have you walk around? Which is better?
– How to run safely while traveling?
– Dealing with plantar fasciitis… finding the right shoes, recovering fully and more!
– How to become a runner? <– You want so badly to run, yet you hate it when you try. How to overcome the “becoming a runner obstacle”.
This was a blast and I am so thankful for friends as knowledgeable and awesome as Amanda.
Helpful Resources
– How to Truly Resolve Knee & IT Band Pain
– Preventative Foot Care
– 7 Lessons To Crush Your Next Goal
– Picking The Right Running Shoe
We mentioned in the podcast that I would share some helpful posts from RunToTheFinish, so let’s do it!
Make sure if you don’t already read and follow her, to do so. She reveals her next big running adventure at the end of the podcast, and I think we can all agree we want to hear and see all about it!
Thanks y’all. Hope you enjoyed the podcast. This will be a regular occurring event here! I love connecting and learning from others and I hope you do too!
— What’s a running question that you would ask? —
For questions that we didn’t answer, feel free to ask below and I’ll be happy to answer.
Final Thought…
I got new shoes! The Salomon’s in the picture above are my new trail shoes. For a few years now, I’ve sported La Sportiva’s without complaint. They are comfortable and helped me get through many trail races blister free.
But my second pair of Helios had lived a far too good of life and it was time for a new pair. While I loved the feel of the shoe, each time I would run on a muddy trail, I would slip at least once (never falling, just slidding). Dan would chuckle and tell me his Salomon’s never did that.
So after a lot of thought, and a Facebook ad for 30% off at Salomon’s store, I decided to give them ago. I went with the FellRaiser and so far I have to say, I LOVE THEM!
They are narrow (I have a very narrow foot), don’t have a big lift and are crazy light.
Oh, and I didn’t slip on my run this past weekend… which was VERY wet from a ton of rain.