Most people think runners love food. I would actually argue that most people love food. But when it comes to a runner’s diet, there’s a cliche that comes to mind: pasta the night before races, bagels at the finish line, and beer and burgers after races. And while we’re at it, let’s throw in the post-long run breakfast – anything from a tall stack of pancakes to a full farmer’s more » Read more
A Runner’s Greatest Fear: Training Season DNF
Despite all the work we put in and the hopes we bring to the starting line, not all races are perfect performances. We often talk about the tough races – you know the ones – the ones in which you miss your goal time, you get hurt, or even worse, you DNF (do not finish). But we don’t often talk about what happens when your entire season tanks. Today we more » Read more
The ABCs of Preventing Ankle Injuries
There is one injury I am proud to say I have never encountered throughout my over 15 year running career (knock on wood). In all that time running, including many seasons of cross country and years of endurance trail races, I have never sprained an ankle. Luck, you say? Perhaps, but I have a theory that my 6th grade home room teacher and cross country coach created a daily habit more » Read more
Ask a Salty: How Do I Know if I am Going to Lose a Toenail?
We runners may be known for our rock solid legs and sculpted backsides, but we don’t have the hottest rep when it comes to our feet. In fact, some runners are downright embarrassed by the state of their tootsies. Why? Because it is not uncommon for distance runners to get black toenails and to, gulp, lose toenails entirely. Yeah, yeah, I know, ewwwww. But look, losing a toenail is not more » Read more
Beginner’s Guide to Weight Training for Runners
I am exhausted. My muscles burn. Arms shake. I am pushing my body in a way that I know I will be sore tomorrow. And when my coach says “one more,” I’m pretty sure I can’t do it. But I do it. Do what? Not another mile, or 400 repeat, but another rep with my 15 pound free weight! Runners are divided on the need for strength training, and the opinions on the matter range more » Read more
Ask A Salty: Poor Body Image
Welcome back to our Ask-A-Salty feature, where you ask us questions and we give you the answers. If you have a question for us you can send it to us by clicking on “Ask-A-Salty” above the banner or by clicking here. Today’s question comes from Katie: I am a 16 year old girl and I love to run. I’m on my school’s cross-country team and I’ve been in the sport since 7th grade. I usually more » Read more
So This Road Runner Walks into a Trail Race …
As I explained in my last post, I am taking a break from formal training and “just running.” To make this time feel more productive I’ve given myself some goals. Of course, these are not the usual goals I’d make for my running. Instead of hitting race time targets, my to-do list looks like this: 1. Strengthen core (make core work more of a habit even if it means running more » Read more
The Comeback Series Gets Personal
If you’ve been following along with my comeback from having baby #3, at this point you might be wondering what the heck happened to me. I was updating my logs and then I stopped. I alluded to an injury, but never explained what it was. Today I am going to fill you in. Comebacks are not always linear. There are often ups and downs. Setbacks happen and then are followed more » Read more
On Loving Our Runner Bodies: A Salty Challenge Refresher
As runners, we should love our bodies. Strong. Able to carry us many miles. Incredible lungs. Powerful muscles. Legs that are capable of striding us through so many training runs. We are living miracles – each atom, cell, tissue and ligament is intricately crafted to allow us to do just what we love to do: run. Unfortunately, after being inundated by unrealistic-for-most-of-us images of washboard-abbed elites and stick thin supermodels on a daily basis, most of us more » Read more
An Insider’s Guide to Injury Prevention
What’s the most dreaded word in running? No, it’s not poop (although that’s pretty bad). It’s injury. And, boy, am I familiar with that word! I have had at least 3 stress fractures, 1 year long injury and countless other little niggles that have kept me off my feet for a few days to a few weeks over the past 20 years. At the beginning my injuries were mostly caused more » Read more