Informed Runner - Distance Running articles

Running Cycles - Episode #105

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I’m in a down cycle right now but I think there’s an up cycle out there somewhere. This podcast has some notes on the ups and downs of participating in the sport of long distance running.Anyway, someone made a cool video of the Cul-de-sac race #3. I never saw anyone with any type of video [ ... ] ...

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Tastier Carbo-loading Options

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marathon

Published Feb. 27, 2010 at 6:56 a.m.

If you're training for a half or full marathon, you most likely have been adding more pasta to your diet, especially for your pre-long run meals. Pasta is popular among long distance runners because it's easy to make, it's not expensive, and it supplies those much-needed carbs. But even though it comes in many shapes and flavors, the pasta routine can get boring ... To get some delicious fueling options, check out The Athlete's Palate Cookbook , a collection of 100+ recipes from renowned chefs,

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Will Your Motivation Get You to the Finish Line?

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marathon

Published March 15, 2010 at 4:40 a.m.

This weekend we had torrential downpours, high winds, and temperatures in theÂ low 40s - not exactly ideal running conditions. Yet nearly 60 runners on the running team I coach showed up for our group long run on Saturday morning, ready to battle the elements and go the distance (some up to 20 miles) ... The majority of people would think that those runners were out of their minds for running in those conditions. I don't think they're crazy - I know they're motivated, and for the right reasons

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Reader Race Story - Alice's First Half Marathon

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marathon

Published Feb. 20, 2010 at 5:12 p.m.

Although she had never run a race before or trained consistently, Alice decided she wanted to train for a half marathon. "I trained with a group at a local gym," she says. "Making that personal connection to people early made a huge difference for me." ... Like many beginner runners, Alice started with a run/walk approach, running for 1 minute, walking 1 minute for 30-45 minutes about 3 times a week. A couple of months into it, the group increased their running time to 30 minutes straight. Soon

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I believe it's called jogging or yogging; it might be a soft "J".

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nike

Published April 12, 2010 at 2:52 p.m.

Recently, I began running regularly for the first time in many, many years. But it seems like I only have two modes: running and walking with no levels in between. How can I train to keep a more consistent pace so that I can achieve a quicker mile and get a better workout? Sample Run Data from 04/11/10 from Nike+ ... Over the past three weeks or so of going out four or five times a week, I've been able to get back into the swing of a regular workout routine, setting a goal of running 4 mi. at a

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Warning: Running Injury Ahead!

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running shoes

Published Feb. 9, 2010 at 8:13 a.m.

I get a lot of questions from runners who think they may have a running injury, but aren't quite sure. As you increase your distance and intensity, it's normal to feel some discomfort, such as sore muscles. Sometimes you'll feel soreness when you first start your run, but it feels better as you warm up and continue running ... It's also normal to feel pain in your joints, especially your knees, when the cushioning in your running shoes is shot and you need to replace them. When your shoes are

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Does Running Make You Smarter?

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marathon

Published Jan. 21, 2010 at 8:20 a.m.

If you've ever run a marathon, or any really long distance, you may have reached a point where you were so physically and mentally exhausted, a first-grader could have beaten you at a spelling contest. I've experienced this type of "brain melt" during the late stage of a marathon, when I've wished that the mile markers also indicated the number of miles left because it was a struggle to try to do the basic math ... Well, I may be exaggerating a little bit here, but, nonetheless, I was pleased to

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It's All Mental

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distance running, marathon

Published Jan. 18, 2010 at 6:51 a.m.

"Long distance running is 90% mental and the other half is physical." -Rich Davis ... While the above quote is meant to be humorous, like many things that make us laugh, there's a little truth to it. All long distance runners know that the mental challenges of running and racing can be just as difficult, and sometimes even harder, than the physical tests. Staying motivated to keep training can be tough, especially when it's the middle of January and it's cold outside. And getting through long

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Hitting the Slopes

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marathon

Published Jan. 7, 2010 at 3:31 p.m.

Right now the running team that I coach is several weeks into training for their spring marathons and half marathons. Lots of them are planning ski weekends for Martin Luther King and President's Day weekends, and they're wondering how a weekend of skiing will affect their training schedule. Should they still do a long run that weekend? Or is a weekend of skiing enough activity for one weekend? ... First of all, skiing, especially cross-country, or even snowboarding, can be excellent

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Are You Ready for a Half Marathon?

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distance running, marathon

Published Jan. 11, 2010 at 5:42 a.m.

I've been hearing from a lot of runners who have resolved to run a half marathon in 2010. Are you one of them? Or, maybe you've started thinking about takingÂ on the 13.1-mile distance?Â ManyÂ runners choose the half marathon distance because the training is not as time-consuming as a full marathon, but it's still a race distance that's challenging and comes with a lot of bragging rights ... Learn all about what it takes to train for and complete a half-marathon, including schedules, long

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