We serious runners like to be hardcore. When it comes to mileage we value more. When it comes to pace we value faster. When it comes to rest we value minimal. Prizing the hardcore has helped many a runner become successful, but it has been many a runner’s downfall too. Some runners can thrive on pushing themselves to limits that would break many others–and that’s great for them!–but being someone more » Read more
5 Things You Just Don’t Say to an Injured Runner
This week’s Friday 5 was crowdsourced among the Salty Bloggers! Running healthy is a top priority around here, but nonetheless we all know what it’s like to be on the injured list. I’m willing to bet a few of you know what it’s like as well. The physical pain of the injury itself is often nothing compared to the frustration of not being able to run and the anxiety about more » Read more
A Supplemental Guide to BCAAs
Most of us have probably had an experience like the following: you walked into your local supplement store, you were bombarded by an overzealous “health expert,” and you felt so overwhelmed by the seemingly endless floor-to-ceiling displays of protein powders, jugs of creatine, and bottles of gluta-something-or-other capsules that you walked out empty-handed, your brain bogged down by over stimulation. Sound familiar? It also doesn’t help that the supplement business more » Read more
Running, Nothing Compares To You?
It’s been seven hours and fifteen days since you took your love away. Actually, it’s been five hours and 14 days since you, achilles tendon, prevented me from running. And much like we all experience, the first few days of surrendering to an injury were not fun. Not only because I couldn’t do that which keeps me sane but I ended up getting this one hit wonder stuck in my head more » Read more
5 Ways Running is RUINING YOUR LIFE!!!
Ahh, infotainment! I’ve always detested “human interest” pieces in the news; they’re so often transparent ploys to manipulate the audience into associating the news organization with emotional high ground, and they wind up blurring the lines between real, factual news and gelatinous informational flatulence. I hold infotainment responsible for convincing non-runners that we are ruining our lives by pursuing a hobby that keeps us happy and fit, a position that’s more » Read more
Know More than Squat about Squats
Today I am writing to extol the virtues of the deep squat, and to convince all you Salty Readers to try it and maybe even spend some time in it every day. Squatting isn’t easy for a lot of us in this country. We don’t do it much once we leave our childhood years, and when we try as adults we either barely get down, or fall over while we’re more » Read more
Running as an Act of Remembrance
Memorial Stone at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont On December 6, 2014 I tucked the names of seven women into my pocket for my seven kilometer park run. After each kilometer I paused to read one of these women’s names and held her in my thoughts until I got to the next kilometer. On December 6 1989 Marc Lepine walked into École Polytechnique in Montreal and shot fourteen women, most of whom were more » Read more
How to Replace Slouchy Negativity with Sit-up Straight Optimism
“You need to come to grips with the fact that this won’t be your fastest marathon,” my physical therapist wrote, responding to my question about how to build my mileage back up after a stress fracture. He’s a smart guy, throwing out that little gem in an email rather than waiting for the next appointment to provide his poorly received opinion. I stomped around the house (putting well over 4x more » Read more
A 365 Day Full Circle: My 2014 Akron Marathon Race Report
Last year I lay defeated. I hit rock bottom and then some. Sure, September 28th is just another date and September 28th, 2014 is 365 days since September 28th, 2013. But what happened on September 28th, 2013 will always be in the back of my mind. And what happened in the 365 days since then will always blow my mind. In theory, I understood that life could come full circle, but more » Read more
A Friendly Guide to the Running Feet
Every runner has her proverbial Achilles heel, and for me, that chronic problem body part is my feet. During my time running as an adult, I’ve been graced with many of the common runner’s foot ailments: plantar fasciitis, tibialis posterior tendonitis, peroneal tendonitis, bruised metatarsal heads, blisters…the list goes on. In my quest for healthy feet, I’ve discovered a lot of good resources and picked up some wisdom in the more » Read more
How to Keep Spirits High When VO2 Max Tanks: An Injured Runner’s Guide
“We all have had injuries and disappointments. It is a part of running. It can bring us down and at times be overwhelming when we see how far we have to go. But I encourage you all to take your time, stay inspired and focused. Instead of stressing about how far behind we are, we need to focus on the progress we are making and continue to make.” – Kara more » Read more
Move Well to Run Well
As competitive runners, either in spirit or in practice, we can be counted on to rattle off our latest PR, our optimal target heart-rate, how many calories per hour we need during a race…name your statistic. But if I asked you if you have adequate shoulder mobility or rotary stability, would you know? My guess is you wouldn’t; you might not even know what they are, and these are two more » Read more
Want a Strong Core? Think Beyond the Plank!
Can you hold a plank for more than a minute? Do you diligently hit the mat for your daily dose of core work before or after every run? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you might want to consider trading in some of your planking time for some good old strength and power work. Open any running magazine and you’re sure to find at least one article extolling the more » Read more
5 Post-Long Run Flapjack Recipes
Runner’s World recently posted an article about those flaky, syrupy, delightfully light yet sinful delicacies. Pancakes. Griddle Cakes. Hot Cakes. Flapjacks. Whatever you like to call them. I’m not a huge fan of breakfast foods (eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls and the like are not my favorite; it takes a while for my body to wake up and heavy items like such usually result in some immediate GI discomfort for this more » Read more
My Daughter Says, “I’m Fat”
I am a runner. It defines me. Whether I’m kicking my training plan’s butt or in a running rut, I’m still a runner. So when it comes to my body, I am more into what it does than how it looks. Even so, from time to time when I step on the scale I still critically examine my muffin top in the mirror, and go to drastic measures (like skipping more » Read more