Don’t let your running and training be hampered by arbitrary tales that may lead you off track. If you find yourself caught in the trap laid by one of these myths, it is time to set yourself free!
Myth #1: If you don’t have time for the entire prescribed workout, you should just skip the whole thing.
We all know the nagging pain of a day where the alarm didn’t go off, your toddler is sick, work is a fire drill, or the weather is garbage. The scheduled workout is Just. Not. Going. To. Happen. In frustration, it can be tempting to bag everything and sulk. Don’t. Your schedule is the best-case scenario, and every single runner has had to punt and pivot now and again. If the track workout isn’t an option, an aerobic run can still help clear your head, and keep you on track for either an adjusted workout day later in the week or next week’s tasks. If the schedule calls for 45 minutes and you only have 25 minutes, your body will get a significant benefit from doing even half the work. If you are taking an unplanned “zero” in the log, focus your mental energy on the positives – more freshness for the next session, accomplishment of the tasks and issues that have stolen your run time, and the confidence that a day or few off does not have to have a significant impact on your fitness level.
Myth #2: Days off are for wimps.
Training hard is important to get toward your goal, but without recovery, your muscles don’t have the ability to adapt and recoup after the stress you have placed on them already. Recuperation time allows your body to return to preparedness for the stimulus ahead and in doing so, get the most out of the upcoming challenge. Running hard every day drives your body into a deeper and deeper hole from which it eventually becomes impossible to escape. Build your schedule with some planned and regular rest, and the chances of you making it to the start line of your goal race will increase immensely.
Myth #3: You will set a personal best every single race or you are not trying hard enough.
There are many, many factors that contribute to a personal best day. An accurately (or inaccurately) measured course. A tail or head wind. Hills. A bad meal the night before. How well recovered you are. Your bout of flu last week. Neglecting to hydrate along the route or beforehand. The list goes on and on. These are not excuses, but factors which can both enhance or diminish the yield from your training up to that point. Your actual fitness plays the largest role, but smart training includes a slight cyclical effect where recovery periods are interspersed with hard training and tapering for goal events. 100% effort each time can be a good way to practice the significant demand your body will require when it is primed for a signature day, but even top level effort each time may not always result in a new level of achievement, particularly for experienced runners who have been through the train and taper cycle in the past. Concentrate on the quality of your preparation, the execution of your plan, and when your body is ready, you’ll have good racing habits and attitude down pat.
Myth #4a: The more cushioning in your shoes, the better chance you have of avoiding injury.
Most athletes do not need to purchase the shoes with the maximum potential padding, structure, or stability in order to stay injury free, and in fact these shoes can sometimes impede your stride from operating at its greatest efficiency. Each foot and every person is different. Consider getting a gait analysis from an experienced staff member at a reputable running specialty store in your neck of the woods, and adding that info to your reasoning as you choose your next pair of shoes. Well-cushioned shoes have indeed helped many non-runners become runners through the years, but for many athletes, other choices may serve the body better.
Myth #4b: The less cushioning in your shoes, the better chance you have of avoiding injury.
In recent years, thousands of runners have become enamored with the “minimalist” segment of the running shoe market. These are typically footwear with much or all of the heel lift eliminated, or shoes meant to simulate running barefoot with various ways of wrapping around the foot or articulating the sole. While incorporating barefoot running or minimalist footwear into a larger program to strengthen the foot and lower leg can be very beneficial, these decisions must be made in context. Injury history, the restraint to gradually incorporate this type of running, and the availability of suitable and safe terrain must all be considered. Again, minimalist footwear have been invaluable tools for many runners, but just because you want to be one of those runners, doesn’t mean you are. Get some input from your experienced local running specialty retailer or a podiatrist, and don’t do anything all at once.
Myth #5: Training for a marathon is a great crash diet.
Physical fitness is a great by-product of decision to train for a half or full marathon. Weight loss may result, but the “goal beyond the goal” should always be sustainable, healthy habits. Athleticism, strength, endurance are all aspects of your best self that need to come to the fore in order for you to reach your race finish line. Explicit, short term dieting and caloric reduction while maintaining a schedule of challenging running tasks can be detrimental to your training and health at best, and dangerous at worst. We want running to be a life-long, rewarding pursuit, but we also know it fits into a larger context of healthy diet, sleep, lifestyle, and fitness choices. Incremental changes you can live with, while adjusting to training, can help ensure that this goal won’t be the end of your training, but just the start.
Looking for a way to invigorate your diet? Try adding one or more of these to your daily routine and perhaps discover a new favorite food that packs a punch.
Lentils
During the colder months especially, lentils might appear in the hot case of your local supermarket in soup form, or in spreads and on salads in the summer. Providing a hearty delivery of carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, lentils release energy slowly and in doing so, help blood sugar stay regulated. In other words, lentils help avoid the spike and crash of more simple carbs. Lentils also deliver vital nutrients, such as magnesium for heart health, and over one fourth of lentil calories come from protein – a great vegetarian source.
Chocolate Milk
Once the province of kids and adults looking for a late night snack with a glass of 2% and a bottle of Hershey’s syrup, chocolate milk has happily (for many) fully entered the discussion as a legitimate recovery beverage. With a mixture of slow acting and quick acting proteins found in cow’s milk, plenty of carbohydrates, and a solid cache of calcium, chocolate milk helps you feel like a kid again in more ways than one. Don’t feel guilty, and drink up.
Bananas
They have quick releasing carbs and are easily digestible – perfect for mid race or pre race fueling. They come with a handy, naturally biodegradable case – perfect for carrying, and easy/ guilt-free to discard. Lots of potassium gives you a great source of an important key to electrolyte balance, and hefty amounts of fiber helps with digestion and regularity. What’s not to like?
Walnuts
On your salad, in your cookies, on top of cereal - adding walnuts to your diet on a regular basis can provide a host of health benefits. Walnuts, an anti-oxidant source of Omega 3 fatty acids, have been studied to have a positive affect on a wide variety of health issues, particularly cardiovascular performance and cholesterol levels. Sure, walnuts have a fairly high caloric and fat content if consumed in copious amounts, but the health benefits of a few ounces per day go a very long way.
Water
Just making sure you were paying attention. Actually, it seems axiomatic that water is important, but even if you can’t add some of the more interesting foods into your diet right now, you bet you can add water. Some runners are faithfully dividing their weight in pounds by two and drinking that many ounces per day, but most of us aren’t. Add one more to the former by heading over to the water fountain right now!
In the midst of the second “polar vortex” this winter, running inside might become the rule rather than the exception. Typical winter weather, however, when not quite so harsh, does allow for some outside running, particularly if following a few common sense guidelines about how to stay healthy and safe.
Plan ahead
Running in the winter demands good planning for the actual run, but also some foresight for the aftermath. If you are coming straight in the house, then jumping in a warm shower and sighing “ahhhh” is no problem. But, if you must drive home, or have another stop on the way, it is essential to plan for dry and warm clothes along with your usual fluids and snack. You also need a place where you can change. A car that is shielded enough to change inside, or a bathroom/ locker room that is appropriate and safe for the same purpose is worth planning ahead for when deciding where to park and run.
Layer it up
While actually running, a snug under layer with moisture wicking capabilities, topped by a thicker or wind-blocking layer can often do the trick, with either a third layer between or a vest on top to keep the core cozy as needed. A loose layer underneath allows the wind to whistle through (burr!), and allows the sweat you’ve produced to stay wet against your skin. Sometimes that may be tolerable during the run, but then chill you to the bone a few minutes after stopping.
Your body will heat up during the run, so a down jacket and two scarves is probably not necessary. It is ok to start the run without feeling cozy as you will be feeling fine once you move around for several minutes. On the other hand, if you are as warm as you could ever want when you start, the increased body heat will very possibly leave you feeling hot, sweaty, and stifled halfway through your run, at which point you will likely be running around with a thick layer tied around your waist or just sweating like crazy at a time when you need to be hydrated.
Ease into it
For most middle-aged athletes, warming up slowly is an essential part of a training routine that avoids injury. In the winter cold, this becomes even more important. While we do not recommend a bunch of static stretching for cold muscles before you head out, we do recommend taking the first few minutes of your training run or warm up loop to prepare your body for the desired mid-run / workout pace. You may cringe when looking at your GPS device, but the most important thing is to avoid the needless aches and pains that take you out of action completely.
Watch your step
We always recommend traveling on safe, well-lit routes, but in the winter, this is crucial. For those that must run in the dark, it is important to be even more vigilant about the perils of black ice and other pitfalls of the winter road. Running in the daylight is strongly recommended, and running with a partner or group should be much more of a priority. Particularly if your run is on snow, a device like Yaktrax can be a simple and cost effective tool to assist with traction. Be careful not to cut it close on roads with minimal shoulder or crossings where you have to hustle to beat the light or other traffic passing on the road. The risks are great, and the conditions are even less under your control. Always err on the safe side.
Don’t skimp on the details
In the winter, the aforementioned warm shower or a quick dive into the car to drive home can be tantalizing. Because of the tougher conditions, rolling, stretching post-run, hydrating, and refueling after training take on even greater importance, even as they are often skipped due to freezing fingers, howling winds, or other discomfort. Budgeting even 5-10 minutes for the care and feeding of your body after a run can help increase the chances your training cycle remains intact throughout the tough winter months, and can help build good habits that will serve you well even when the weather is 70 degrees and sunny.
The first blast of the polar vortex may be “sooo last week,” but we can rest assured that more tricky weather is on the way. For some of us, inside running is a regular strategy where you live or an occasional challenge when visiting difficult climates. Others train on treadmills to accommodate the schedule demands of small children and their fickle nap habits. Regardless, each of us will at some point be looking at an indoor run. Here are a few thoughts on how to make the most of those times.
Treadmill Tips
Any first timer on a treadmill can attest that the ride is slightly different than the ground in a variety of ways. To account for these variances, we generally recommend some slight adjustments. Without the wind resistance encountered when moving forward outside, the pace might feel a bit easier on a treadmill than on your normal run. To approximate an equivalent demand, adjust the grade of the treadmill up 1.5% if you are able to put that fine a point on it with your machine.
The second important consideration when running on a treadmill is attentiveness to your form. With the ground traveling underneath and often a softer landing than most outdoor running surfaces, the body can easily tilt into various, slightly unfamiliar positions. If possible, run on a machine where you can gauge your posture in a mirror or reflecting window. Try to keep yourself tall, with your weight over your feet. The only thing worse than grumbling about running on a treadmill is grumbling about being injured because you were running strangely on a treadmill. Attention to your form might even help you when you go outside again and have a clear, fresh picture of what your good form looks and feels like.
Because of the weather and the limitations of running indoors, you may have to adjust your workout a bit. Raising the level of the surface to a tougher grade can yield the raised heart rate you were looking for with your speed workout, even if the treadmill is not able to travel the speeds you would have been scheduled to attempt on a track or outside. It also may be unsafe to run full tilt on a rickety treadmill, changing paces by pressing buttons up and down at 100% effort. Running “uphill” on a treadmill can be a safer route for shorter intervals.
runcoach Elite team member and Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Heather Tanner reports that treadmill workouts have definitely made an impact for her in years past. “One of the best, or at least hardest, workouts I've ever done was rep simulation work on the treadmill to work on economy. 20x30 seconds or 10x1 minute with equal rest @ 20% grade, 6.0 mph (or 15% grade, 6.5 mph), which I think equal a sub 70 sec 400 effort. This can be very hard if you pick the wrong pace/grade!” To adjust your prescribed runcoach workout to a treadmill setting by manipulating the grade and pace, try using a treadmill pace conversion chart such as this one from HillRunner.com. No two treadmills are exactly alike, so keep in mind you may have to make some slight adjustments with your machine.
Bad Weather and No Treadmill?
Occasionally, drastic situations may call for creative solutions. If you are unable to run outside due to conditions and a treadmill isn’t available, all may not be lost. If you are in an urban setting with a series of connected indoor walkways between office buildings, or within a long shopping mall, you may be able to just duck your head at curious onlookers and get at least a few easy miles in indoors. Convention centers and long hotel hallways can even provide a last ditch opportunity on occasion. Nike headquarters actually has a hallway where their athletes can run long strides and do so on a regular basis. Tell that to anyone who questions you! As long as in a safe setting, preferably with a partner, not during heavy traffic hours, and if lit so as to see the ground and watch for black ice, a covered parking lot could even provide a good hilly run – even if cold, it likely would be covered. The long eaves of an outdoor school hallway can also provide shelter. None of these options are ideal, but typically conditions which prevent the completion of a workout are temporary and a bridging solution might end up being better than nothing.
Next week, we will provide more tips for running outside in the cold. Stay tuned!
26.2 miles or 42 kilometers may seem like a completely arbitrary distance, considering how the marathon has captured the imagination of the running public over the past several decades. In reality, the marathon has its roots in a few twists and turns of history, some of which are factual, some of which are in dispute or considered to be not necessarily history in the hard and fast sense. How did we get to the universal understanding of the 26.2 mile distance as an object of fascination and motivation for hundreds of thousands of runners each year?
The conventional wisdom about the genesis of the marathon consists of the brief story of a professional courier named Pheidippides, who lived around 500BC. Running approximately 25 miles to bring news of victory by the Greeks over the Persians at Marathon, Greece, he collapsed upon arrival and announcement of his news.
There are several variations of this story, both in prose and poetry in the centuries since, some of which include the aspect that Pheidippides initially ran from Athens to Sparta to ask for their help, covering about 240 km in two days. The account of Herodotus, writing about half a century after the events, is often considered to be an important source, but really doesn’t describe the events as we have come to accept them, instead mentioning the efforts of Pheidippides, (as he called him, Philippides) to get to Sparta and back, and indicating that Athenian fighters won the battle and marched back to Athens the same day.
Either way, there is a route from Marathon to Athens that spans about 25 miles. This route travels to the south, around Mount Penteli, which stands between the two cities. There is also a steeper route to the north which would require a more technical trip, but only spans 35 kilometers. In the late 1800s, the founders of the modern Olympic movement became inspired by the 1879 poem of Robert Browning, Pheidippides and decided to include a marathon in the 1896 Olympic Games. At the time, the southern route was a well established road and became the setting for the first organized attempts at the distance: the Greek qualifier for the Olympic marathon, and the 1896 Olympic marathon, won by Spyridon Louis of Greece in a come-from-behind 2:58.
Inspired by the 1896 Athens Olympic Marathon, US team manager John Graham returned to New England and helped establish the Boston Athletic Association-hosted marathon of 24.5 miles on April 17, 1897, now well into its second century of annual running. The winner, John McDermott, had already won the first ever marathon on US soil (approximately 25 miles) from Connecticut to the Bronx on September 19, 1896.
The 1900 Olympic race in Paris featured 13 competitors, seven finishers, and Michel Théato of France as the winner in 2:59, while 1904’s effort in St. Louis was a bit of a disaster. Trimming 32 starters to 14 finishers, many received aid such as physical assistance, injection of stimulants on the road to keep them going, and more. One competitor was found prone along the road, suffering from dust inhalation from the lead vehicles, while a competitor who had earlier dropped out, was initially and mistakenly considered the winner while crossing the finish line after being dropped off by his ride a few miles short of the finish line. After everything, Thomas Hicks of the US was declared the winner in 3:28. The Paris distance was about 25 miles, and the St. Louis distance was planned to be 24.85 or 40K.
In 1908, while the distance was anticipated to be between 25-26 miles, long planned efforts to incorporate a protected start from the crowds within the grounds of Windsor Castle as well as to provide a more spectator friendly finish on the track at White City Stadium in Shepherd’s Bush resulted in what became officially “about 26 miles plus 385 yards on the track” when then best start was finally decided upon. Often reported as a special royal request, this starting spot appears more likely to be a pragmatic consideration. Although later measured to be actually a bit shorter than this listed distance, the 26 miles and 385 yards number has stood the test of time as the accepted distance of the marathon ever since.
For additional information on the historical establishment of the marathon distance, check out these sources:
Longman, Jeré “The Marathon’s Random Route to Its Length. ” New York Times April 20, 2012. Web. Accessed January 8, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/sports/the-marathons-accidental-route-to-26-miles-385-yards.html
“Marathon History.” Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. Accessed January 8, 2014. http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/marathon_history.htm
“The History of the Marathon.” Marathon Guide. Accessed January 8, 2014. http://www.marathonguide.com/history/
The good news is that regular exercise can be a strong ally against the common cold, as moderate exercise can stimulate the immune system. However, this is tempered by the body’s reaction to the stress placed on that same immune system when the runs get long. According to researcher David Nieman at Appalachian State University (a marathoning and ultra marathoning veteran), there is a 3-72 hour window after our long, hard efforts (90 minutes +) where the body suffers a temporary impairment of the immune system, making marathoners and half marathoners sitting ducks for the post-long run or post-race cold. What’s a runner with goals to do? While it is impossible to control for everything, with a few precautions, hopefully the odds will skew a bit more favorably.
Stay hydrated
Although we normally associate the need for hydration with the other three seasons, dry winter weather, altitude if visiting a mountainous region, or the unfamiliar humidity of a warm vacation spot can catch us off guard. Even if just staying inside, the dry air in our well-heated homes can make a difference. Particularly if traveling by air or consuming more alcohol than usual (ahem), staying hydrated can be a key component to keeping your body working well and running well. An oft-quoted rule of thumb is to consume 64 ounces of water per day, or 8 regular sized glasses. Some even suggest dividing your weight in pounds by two and using that number for how many ounces you need, or even taking 2/3 of your weight in pounds if you exercise. If these numbers seem daunting, the point is – you probably could use some improvement in these areas, even if only incrementally!
Get a flu shot
True, you could get some variant of the flu that the shot didn’t cover or get sick in other ways, but a flu shot is usually free or very low cost through most insurance or direct providers and it takes about 10 seconds. As recreational adult runners, we can’t always treat ourselves like professional athletes. In this case, however, we can. If you have a winter or spring goal race planned, and your brain fast forwards to a hypothetical, very inopportune flu the week of the race, then this becomes a slam dunk. Don’t let random flu sabotage your training or racing!
Wash your hands like a doctor
No, this has nothing to do with running, except that recreational runners with big plans don’t like them going awry. Wash them well, for 30 seconds with warm water and soap, and avoid touching your face to spread what germs make it through the gauntlet! Carry some hand santitizer, and use it when washing hands isn't possible.
Sleep
Although sleep is always important for performance, it takes on an even greater role during cold and flu season as several studies have shown the body’s immune system can be significantly impaired with repeated sleep deprivation. Six hours instead of eight may not seem like a big deal, but during the winter and while training hard, too many of those nights can end up having the reverse effect from what efficiency you hoped to accomplish during those extra hours of wakefulness – laying you out for a couple days or preventing training during a crucial period. Be a jealous guardian of your sleep time, and you’ll likely be more efficient and effective during your waking hours anyway!
Eat well
It is always a good idea to eat nutritiously, but during cold and flu season, good choices of immune system boosting foods with important nutrients can be particularly important. For example, try a bean chili – lots of veggies and beans with key vitamins and minerals, and some spiciness to clear the nasal passages for good measure makes this dish more than just a warm comfort food, according to researchers at Wake Forest. If you unfortunately do fall prey to the flu, try these foods as a part of your "return to health" arsenal.
No immune system is truly immune. This winter, let your running habit be the catalyst for healthy habits that will hopefully give you (and your family) a better chance of staying active and on your feet throughout the cold and flu season.
Running as a recreationally competitive sport has grown leaps and bounds over the past several years. According to Running USA, the year 1990 featured just about 1.2 million women and 3.5 million male running event finishers in the United States. At the conclusion of 2012, they estimate that women’s participation has grown to 8.7 million, with men’s numbers jumping to 6.8 million. Perhaps you are one of those who has jumped on the running bandwagon relatively recently.
Those numbers indicate that more of your friends and neighbors have laced up their running shoes and gotten out there on the sidewalk or trail, but they also indicate some interesting smaller trends within the overall growth.
Did you realize…. that in 2012, 60% of half marathon finishers were female, with 40% male, while for the full marathon, 42% were female and 58% male, almost a mirrored result.
Did you realize…the median times for a half marathon and marathon were 2:01/4:17 and 2:19/ 4:42 for men and women respectively?
Did you realize…the largest road race in America is the Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, GA, beating out the Lilac Bloomsday 12K 58,043 to 48, 229 (the ING New York City Marathon likely would have finished at least within striking distance of these if it were not canceled due to Hurricane Sandy).
Did you realize,,, the average age of a road race finisher in the US is 35.8 years old.
Did you realize…the 5K is the most popular race distance, capturing 40% of the race finishers in 2012. The half marathon is the second most popular distance at 12%.
Did you realize…that Thanksgiving is the most popular day to enter a running event, featuring 858,000 runners in 2012 and expected to reach 1,000,000 or close to it when 2013 numbers are tallied.
Did you realize…that there were nearly 500 Turkey Trots to choose from?
Did you realize…that after Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July had 248, 000 finishers in 2011, with New Year’s Day taking third at 81,000 finishers. Will you be one of them in 2014?
The holidays and the New Year are a perfect time to make resolutions for the 365 days to come. In recent years, it appears many thousands of people are not only making resolutions, but getting to the start and finish lines of goal races. If this is your first season of training, or if you have been training for years, take heart, many others have successfully taken on the challenge and succeeded. You can, and you will too!
Are you a new runner and hope to join in the conversation with the more experienced athletes on the next group run? Have you been running long enough to have heard these names, but are a bit too sheepish to ask who they are or what they have done? Wait no longer and raise your running knowledge quotient in a few quick minutes right now!
Mo Farah
Farah is a British athlete who has won both the 5000m and 10,000m gold medals at the most recent IAAF World Championships in 2013 as well as the 2012 London Olympics. As you might imagine, this is extremely tough to do, and he is widely considered to currently be the best distance athlete on the planet. Originally born in Somalia, Farah has a twin brother from whom he was separated when only part of his family was able to move to the UK in the early 90’s. He is married with three daughters and trains with American coach Alberto Salazar in Portland, Oregon.
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
The current world record holder in the marathon, Kipsang is a Kenyan athlete, who covered 26.2 miles at the 2013 Berlin Marathon in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 23 seconds. He has run faster than 2:05 four times, was the bronze medalist in the marathon at the 2012 Olympics, and is the reigning champion of the NYC Half Marathon. 2:23:23 equates to 4:42 per mile average, or 26.2 miles of 70 second quarter miles. Continuously.
Paula Radcliffe
Although Radcliffe has competed sparsely over the past few years due to injury and maternity, she remains the women’s world record holder over the marathon distance. Her mark of 2:15:25 at the London Marathon in 2003 stands nearly three minutes ahead of the next best performance, by Liliya Shobukhova at 2:18:20. While famously unable to achieve the Olympic gold medal to match the magnitude of her performances outside of the Games, her long and storied international career and front running tactics have made her a household name and a women’s distance running standard bearer for the current generation.
Meb Keflezighi
Keflezighi, was the first American male to win a medal in the Olympic Marathon since the 1970’s when he took home silver in the 2004 Athens Games. Following the disappointment of not qualifying for the US team in 2008, he returned to form from injury in 2009, winning the ING New York City Marathon, again the first American to do so in a generation. Keflezighi finished 4th in the Olympic marathon at the 2012 Games at the age of 37. His accessible nature and interest in the community have made him a fan favorite. Keflezighi is a current member of the runcoach board of directors.
Tirunesh Dibaba
Nicknamed “The Baby-Faced Destroyer,” this twenty eight year-old Ethiopian athlete has won three Olympic Gold medals, five World Championships in track & field, and five more world championships in cross country. She can close her 5000 and 10,000 events with 400m finishing sprints in faster than 60 seconds, sometimes battling compatriot, rival, and fellow world champion Meseret Defar. Dibaba has two siblings who have also won medals at the world championship level, and her cousin Derartu Tulu, won gold at the 1992 and 2000 Olympics.
Legends (not nearly an exhaustive list, but just to get you started):
Steve Prefontaine
Former University of Oregon and US international athletes initially famous for outspoken criticism of restrictive amateurism rules and a brazen front running style, but remembered greatly due to a tragic passing in a car accident in May of 1975. Eugene, Oregon plays host to an annual Diamond League event in his honor which is traditionally one of the highest quality international meets across the globe each year.
Roger Bannister
A well respected British neurologist, Bannister is just a teeny tiny bit more famous for being the first person to record a mile in less than four minutes. He did so at Iffley Road Track at Oxford in May of 1954. The time was 3:59.4, but the world record status only lasted for a little over a month and a half before the time was bettered again.
Joan Benoit Samuelson
Winner of the first Olympic marathon for women in 1984, this diminutive American athlete still blazes trails while racing regularly. She nearly finished among the top 10 American women at the 2013 ING New York City Marathon.
Sebastian Coe
A former Member of Parliament and head of the organizing committee for the London Olympic Games, Coe earned gold in the 1500m at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics and captivated the track and field world for the years surrounding these events with his rivalries with fellow countrymen Steve Ovett and Steve Cram. Coe was world record holder in the 800 meters for 26 years, running 1:41.73 in 1981.
Frank Shorter
The Olympic Gold medalist in the marathon in 1972, his performances and influence are widely regarded as a crucial factor in the growth of recreational running during this time.
Grete Waitz
Norwegian athlete Grete Waitz won nine New York City Marathons in the 70s and 80s, more than any athlete in history. She took silver to Benoit Samuelson in the 1984 Olympic marathon, but won gold at the 1983 Helsinki World Championships. In all, Waitz lowered the women’s world record in the marathon nine minutes over several races, down to 2:25 in 1983. She passed away due to complications from cancer in 2011 at age 57.
Kip Keino
One of the very first Kenyan athletes to take the world stage in distance running, Keino’s victory over Jim Ryun in the 1500m at the 1968 Olympics made a huge impact. This was followed by future championships in the years to come, and further magnified by humanitarian efforts in his home country.
Jim Ryun
About that silver medalist….Jim Ryun was famously the first high school athlete to break four minutes for the mile, attended University of Kansas, competed in two Olympics for the United States, and set the world record in the mile (the last American to hold that distinction). Ryun also served for many years in the United States House of Representatives.
Billy Mills
The last US male to earn gold in the 10,000 meters, this 1964 Olympian came out of nowhere to take the victory in what still stands as one of the biggest upsets of all time. A well-traveled motivational speaker, Mills is a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe and was the second Native American athlete to ever win Olympic Gold.
Kathrine Switzer
Subject of a famous photo showing Boston Marathon race director Jock Semple trying to pull her off the course in 1967 while entered under her gender neutral initials, Switzer became the first official female winner of the Boston Marathon in 1972, running 3:07.
This list leaves out a great many giants of our sport – including many contemporary world-beaters. However, perhaps the list above can be a conversation starter for your next run, and hopefully an invitation to learn more about the heroes and heroines of our sport!
Don’t let the passing of Black Friday and Cyber Monday get you down – there is still plenty of time to make the runner in your life light up when opening your gift. If you are stumped for ideas, here are a few safe paths to tread. Likewise, runners, feel free to forward this on to non-running friends and family if they need a bit of prodding or direction!
Stocking stuffers
There are many small and low-key items which may seem trivial and perhaps even downright weird to anyone who doesn’t run on a regular basis. These small tokens, however, may provide a path straight to your recipient’s heart. An assortment of gel packets, chews, bars (GU, Power Gel, Clif Bar, etc) in a favorite flavor or range of flavors, breathable or cushioned socks, Body Glide, gloves, warm headband, earphones, and hand warmer packets are examples of the type of item that doesn’t take up too much space, but are regularly used by many runners. Bottle belts, handheld bottles, Camelback systems and other fluid delivery systems are often plentiful at your local running store. Various balls or rolling devices can help your runner treat the odd ache and pain or avoid it altogether. Sunscreen, deodorant, and other items may not scream “gift,” but with a cheeky delivery and some good humor, you can own your creativity as serving a utilitarian goal. Several companies have seasonal flavors or special deals in December, making this time of year a perfect opportunity to increase the impact of your generosity on the same budget.
Reflective gear for nighttime running
A head lamp, Velcro reflectors, a sporty jacket with reflective piping or detailing, and other items can combine the desire to freshen up your favorite runner’s wardrobe with a gift that shows you care for their safety as well. Particularly if your runner must run before work or after on a regular basis, winter is the time these are most needed, both potentially as an extra layer against the elements, and as help to remain visible in traffic.
Go Green! Make a gift toward their cause of choice.
If the runner in your life “has everything they need,” but has a goal race with a charitable drive planned for the spring, use the holiday season as a time to make a contribution toward their total. They will appreciate your interest in what is likely a cause close to their heart, and your gift will be remembered months later as they achieve their goal with your encouragement. Plus, most of these donations are tax deductible, which helps redefine the “going green” theme yet another way!
Fresh flowers? How about a fresh pair of shoes?
Does your runner frequent a local specialty shoe store or buys the same shoe over and over? Do a bit of research and/ or talk to the store to determine if you can purchase a pair of their favorite shoes in the correct size and have them waiting for a fresh start January 1. Is this gift the most beautiful and poetic of presents? No, but the one thing runners use the most is footwear. If you are looking for a gift that will definitely be used, this one is it!
Want to give a game changer? Here are some ideas….
If the holiday spirit has you ready to make a significant purchase for your favorite runner, there are many things runners often dream about, but may not feel are needed enough to invest the capital. A GPS watch is a very popular item on many runners’ letters to Santa, and a treadmill can often be the difference maker for a busy runner as they try to fit everything in. For those looking to cross train, items like an ElliptiGO or an indoor elliptical machine can also be well received. That said, some of these purchases are highly individual in nature. Be very confident in your plan’s positive reception and do your research if you go in this direction, particularly if the gift might be received as an admonition to “get in shape!” Read the warranties, keep the receipts, and be prepared for some assembly in a few cases.
Read all about it!
There are a wide variety of autobiographies and biographies on famous runners, as well as advice books about how to train, and popular volumes like Born to Run and Unbroken. Your bookstore or online resource could be the source for hours of enjoyment for your runner, and you could be the conduit for them learning more about their sport. Read up!
Help them recover from the holidays, or just recover from the long run
A massage gift certificate, a pedicure for the toes ravaged by marathon training, a promise of dinner after the race, a yoga studio gift card, or a surprise spa treatment certificate at the hotel where they will stay following their next goal race could be ideas for a supportive family member or friend who wants to treat the runner in their life.
Give the gift that keeps on giving – runcoach!
If you know a beginner who could use some sound training guidance or have a runcoach customer in the family who you hope keeps up the good work, contact us to extend a subscription or provide a gift! You’ll help them achieve their goals, and if you are already a runcoach user, perhaps you will find an ally as you hook another onto the joys of running.
