Running coaches have a job that is often misunderstood. When I speak with non-runners one question that occasionally comes up is why running coaches are even needed. To those that have not seriously prepared for a race, training seems incredibly easy: “just run a lot.” This frustrates me because I think running coaches have one […]
A Running Holodeck
I have always been fascinated with the idea of the “holodeck” on Star Trek. In the show, the holodeck is an enclosed room in which objects and people are simulated by projected holographic images. Participants walk on a multidirectional treadmill that causes them to feel like they are walking through the world. How cool would […]
The Michigan Workout
In the mid 1970′s, Ron Warhurst, the coach of the University of Michigan, devised a workout for his cross country team that has became a staple for runners throughout the country. Known as “The Michigan,” the workout is designed to simulate the change of paces that runners experience in a race. It is a combination […]
Getting Dizzy When Running
Nothing can ruin a morning run like suddenly feeling dizzy or lethargic. It can come on slow, or it can hit you at 10 or 15 minutes in, but the feeling of not having any energy is so frustrating. Fortunately, there are some things runners can do to improve their odds of having plenty of […]
Lessons from the New American 10k Record
Last Saturday, Chris Solinksy set a new American record in the 10k at Stanford University’s Payton Jordan Invitational. Solinksy ran 26:59, which broke Meb Keflezighi’s record of 27:13. 26:59 is about 4:20 mile pace. The race had been set up for Galen Rupp to make a run for the record, but Solinsky did an amazing […]
History of the Marathon
The marathon is one of the most popular running race distances in the world. Most runners know where the term “marathon” comes from – it’s the story of the ancient Greek runner Pheidippides. In 490 B.C., Pheidippides ran 24.85 miles from the town of Marathon to Athens to tell the Athenians of the incredible victory […]
