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5 Training Rules from Coach Caleb
I get asked what my training philosophy is on a regular basis. My usual response is, “Nothing gimmicky: ‘Don’t Do Anything Stupid.’” That pretty much sums up my approach to my own training and what I...
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Running bracketology
Since it’s March, everything needs to be turned into a win-or-go-home tournament competition. Running workouts will be no exception. This bracket helps illustrate that there’s more to running than just...
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When to and How to Warm Up for Better Race Performances
The Happy Rower: Flickr images (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehappyrower/)What is a really simple thing that a significant proportion of runners skip? Also, what concept has a pretty long history of...
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Marathon-specific Workouts: Tweaks to Classics for Long Race Success
The marathon gets a lot of focus in running circles, and for good reason. It’s long enough that it requires a different approach than other common race distances. Once you commit to “racing” for over...
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The Coach’s Wish List: Short Memory, Long Outlook
As a coach, I don’t ask for a lot. I’m not worried about the genetic makeup of my athletes, as I think that everyone has the potential to become a better, faster runner with a smart approach. Sure,...
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Breaking Down the Rest Week: the Difference Between Getting Better or Getting...
Here I am a few days into my rest week following my first ultra (and first trail race since high school cross country). It went, you know, pretty well. If you’ve seen me interact with others after...
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Crush Your Goals with the Help of Your Running Community
We all have important running goals – some are lofty like running your first marathon while others are simple like “run at least four days this week.” Usually the big goals are accomplished after...
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Track Speed for Short Races: To the Pain Locker!
A few weeks back, I posted some key workouts that I like to put in training plans for marathons. The marathon is about control and endurance. Shorter races (5k to 10k) are about running hard and...
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How to Run Boston (also, How Most People Get Broken at Boston)
I know that everyone who reads this post that is running the Boston Marathon on Monday has already spent more time than they would care to admit obsessing about the course profile. You’ve probably...
View ArticleRace Cramping: Causes and Prevention
I understand going into this post that a few people will probably disagree with what I have to say. But, I feel it’s important, as someone who coaches others to be more successful distance runners, to...
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The Base Phase: Starting a Training Cycle on the Right Path
Here’s a visual of how any good training cycle should be composed: See the bottom there? A nice big base of aerobic fitness. It’s kind of a big deal for a whole host of reasons: Improving your...
View ArticleDo What You Do Well
I’m much better, admittedly, at the number-crunching side of coaching than I am at the inspirational platitudes. So here’s my attempt at a general pep talk. We’re already off to a good start: I’ve...
View ArticleWhat to Do When Everything Goes Wrong
If you think about any given day, being committed to training really isn’t that much of a commitment. An hour this day, an hour that day, maybe a couple of hours on weekend days. Manageable, and in...
View ArticleOn the Fly: Salvaging a Workout “Gone Wrong”
Quick rule of thumb: If you have roughly equivalent numbers of workouts that go well and workouts that are a bust, then you’re doing pretty well. Workouts are supposed to be challenging enough to...
View ArticleTraining Variability: Your Best BFF, Forever.
I have a bone to pick with lots of training programs out there. They are way too consistent. I’m not arguing with consistent training (i.e. getting out there day after day to put in quality work),...
View ArticleDiscomfort Now or Discomfort Later
When you’re training for something big, you’re constantly making a bargain with yourself. Or, maybe “compromise” is a better way to phrase it. You have to be willing to give something up to get...
View ArticleHow to Sequence Training Sessions for Maximum Benefit
Whether we are diligent about it or not, most runners know that there is a benefit to including multiple training modalities in a session. For example, not just heading for a run and then sitting...
View ArticleRunners and Superstitions: Do They Work?
In general, athletes are a very superstitious bunch, and runners are definitely not an exception. We all have some silly idiosyncrasies that, for one reason or another, have become a part of our...
View Article3 Different Long Runs, 3 Different Reasons
No matter the race for which you are training, the long run is a key part of your weekly training. If you’re planning to run your first 5k or your 50th marathon, the major goal of the long run is the...
View ArticleWhat are Strides?
Yesterday, a conversation took off on Twitter about what a “Stride” is and how it should be approached. @SeanBrown said: Q: What, exactly, are strides? Coach: “Do 8 miles, moderate pace, finish with...
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