Completing a marathon puts ordinary runners in the company of elite athletes—finishing a 26.2-mile run is an impressive accomplishment.
But you don’t have to be an elite athlete to join the ranks of marathoners around the world. With dedication and training, most runners can complete a marathon—and then have the satisfaction of being able to say, “A marathon” Yeah, I’ve done that.”
So don’t shy away from a marathon because it seems too hard, too long, too painful. With the right attitude and a good training regimen, it’s just 26.2 miles away.
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Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
Episode 79 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with legendary University of Arkansas track and XC coach John McDonnell.
In the interview, Coach McDonnell reflects on the stellar IAAF World T&F Champ performances by former Razorbacks Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon, explains why Gay was one of the most disciplined and driven athletes he ever coached, and responds to those critical of the recruitment of international runners, such as former Razorback Alistair Craig, for NCAA Teams.
Download the podcast to hear Coach McDonnell discuss these topics, as well as, the benefits and challenges of his current XC squad’s youth, how to develop a young runner possessing incredible, pure talent (i.e. incoming frosh Duncan Phillips), his lower mileage training regimen vs. 100+ miles/week philosophies of coaches like Colorado’s Mark Wetmore, and when and why he would eventually decide to cap off his Hall of Fame career and retire from coaching.
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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Coach John McDonnell
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File Size: 12.5 MB | Length: 18:15 MIN
Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!
Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK LARA!
ASK LARA is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK LARA — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.
Q. I think I have plantar fasciitis and have a marathon coming up in 2 weeks. I’m not sure how much running I can do between now and then. Any advice on how I can keep my fitness level up? I already bike indoors once a week but I’m not sure if biking can take the place of running. Anything you can suggest is much appreciated.
~Darlene from Boise, Idaho
A. Plantar fasciitis is a pesky problem that affects numerous runners. With a marathon so close, you certainly don’t want to make matters worse, but you do want to maintain your fitness level. The good news is that you are only 2 weeks out from the marathon, and thus the work is done. As you have already accomplished your training over the past weeks, now is the time to begin a taper and thus decrease your training anyway. The severity of the problem should dictate how much you are able to run. If it’s painful to run, it’s not a good sign and you should focus mostly on other activities. Adding some good cross training to the mix can help you heal the problem while maintaining your fitness. First, let’s take a look at the injury.
Plantar fasci-what?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue, the plantar fascia, that connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the forefoot, supporting your arch. When this area is strained through overuse or weaknesses, it causes irritation and inflammation, often causing pain in the heel first thing in the morning and …
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Episode 66 of The Final Sprint Podcast features the second and final installment of a two-part, in-depth interview with the legendary female running pioneer and passionate Lydiard protégé LORRAINE MOLLER. (Click here to listen to part 1 of this interview featured in Episode 65).
Lorraine began an unprecedented, 28-year international career by running barefoot in her native New Zealand. At the age of 41, she concluded her running her career with her fourth Olympic marathon, becoming the only woman in the world to have completed each of the first four Olympic marathons for women. Her multitude of other accomplishments include the longest debut winning marathon streak in history, a Boston Marathon title, and an Olympic bronze medal.
In part 2 of the interview, Lorraine talks about her upcoming autobiography “On the Wings of Mercury”, her decision to retire and her life since, coaching, the advent of the women’s marathon and the special relationship between herself and fellow women’s running pioneers: Kathrine Switzer, Grete Waitz, and Joan Benoit Samuelson.
Download the podcast to hear Lorraine discuss these topics, as well as, helping to create the Arthur Lydiard Foundation, her charity efforts and much more!
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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Lorraine Moller
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 13.9 MB
Length: 20:16
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Episode 65 of The Final Sprint Podcast features the first installment of a two-part, in-depth interview with the legendary female running pioneer and passionate Lydiard protégé LORRAINE MOLLER.
(Note: Part two will be published on Friday in Episode 66).
Lorraine began an unprecedented, 28-year international career by running barefoot in her native New Zealand. At the age of 41, she concluded her running her career with her fourth Olympic marathon, becoming the only woman in the world to have completed each of the first four Olympic marathons for women. Her multitude of other accomplishments include the longest debut winning marathon streak in history, a Boston Marathon title, and an Olympic bronze medal.
In part 1 of the interview, Lorraine talks about the development and progression of her career, being driven by that “pioneering kiwi spirit”, the metamorphosis of female athletics, her bond with iconic running coach Arthur Lydiard, misconceptions about his training philosophies, and why her regimen so seamlessly prepared her for the marathon.
Download the podcast to hear Lorraine discuss these topics, as well as, the special meaning of being inducted to the Colorado Running Hall of Fame and her belief that running is a personal and spiritual journey that enabled her to develop the often under-appreciated, but yet crucial element to success in both athletics and in life: self-understanding and the mental framework of a champion.
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you
Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Lorraine Moller
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 17.3 MB
Length: 25:15
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
In just the past month, I have had to travel on business to three different destinations on three separate occasions. This plethora of traveling has often made it difficult to run, but since I maintain an active racing schedule, I really can’t afford to have these trips impede on the 80-90 miles of weekly running required by my training program.
After my most recent trip, I returned home fatigued and endured a series of terrible runs on the ensuing days. I’ve been spending these trips sitting around a conference table, not hiking around or digging ditches, so it was not immediately clear to me why travel is so taxing on the body.
However, after serious reflection, I identified several reasons why traveling can be perilous to a running regimen:
Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK FLASH!
ASK FLASH is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK FLASH — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.
Hope all you folks are enjoying the nice weather that is finally rolling in this time of year! Keep the questions coming…
Q. Most of the time, summer is the time to put in the miles and build a base for the fall races. Previously, all that was advocated was long slow easy aerobic running during the base building stage. Lately, some schedules have been written to include tempos, strides, etc … in the base building stage. What is your opinion?
~Base in Baltimore
A. To answer your question, let’s begin by asking what is the purpose of the base training period? Every period and every run should have a purpose. Yes, fun is an acceptable purpose. The base training period is primarily about preparing yourself mentally and physically for the demands of the more rigorous portions of your training program. Whether you are training for a 5k or a marathon, you can’t declare a fitness resolution and get at it whole hog. So, how exactly should the base training period be performed to prepare for the tempo runs, long runs, fartleks, intervals, hill workouts, strides, and other components that most running programs rely heavily on?
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Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.
I wholeheartedly agree with the value of hill repeats. Too many runners overlook them and focus almost entirely on intervals and tempo runs. Hard hill repeats provide both strength and cardio-respiratory development; making them an essential ingredient of any serious runner’s regimen. In addition, as many easy and long runs as possible should include some hills, rather than being completely flat.
Hills are a great resistance training tool for strength development … and not just in the form of structured hill repeats. Let me explain:
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I have an odd habit. I try to run naked once a week. By “naked”, I actually mean “without a watch”.
We runners love our gadgets, and the sports watch is the grandaddy of all running accessories. Many of us literally feel naked without one. Take my iPod, GPS, HR monitor, and hydration pack - but leave me my watch!
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Unlike many recreational activities, training for a marathon is serious business. If you fail to train properly you not only run the risk of not finishing, but you could seriously injure yourself.
There are several types of endurance training out there, so finding the right one for your personal goals and needs is crucial. The types of aerobic endurance training differ in duration, frequency, and intensity which will lead to different physiological adaptations within the body that improve your overall fitness level.
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