The Blog

It was 4:30 am the morning of my very first half marathon.  I stood in my bathroom, barely awake, staring at my shower, and thinking, “Should I take a shower before my run?” I thought perhaps it would make my race go better. Is there a best answer for runners for when to shower around your run?  I’ve done the research, so let's take a look! Showering before your run is the best choice if you have a hard time...

Whether you’re a runner, or just a fan of the sport, you’ve undoubtedly heard the term “distance running” and wondered what exactly it means. Surely the athletes who compete in marathons are partaking in distance running...but where is the line drawn? Are Olympic track stars long distance runners?  Are recreational joggers who hop into the occasional 5k considered long distance runners?  The term...

Are you new to trail running and wondering how it differs from road running? As someone who ran only roads for a very long time before adding in some trails, it's normal to wonder what to expect. The main difference between trail running and road running is the terrain. Road running typically refers to any running that's done on a flat hard surface such as asphalt or cement whereas trail running is done on natural ground...

Being injured can be one of the most frustrating and disruptive aspects of the sport of running, but it’s actually quite common. Estimates vary, but according to a recent study cited in Runner’s World magazine, 46% of runners reported being injured over the course of a year. Luckily, most runners are able to get back to their normal running routine after healing when done the correct way. The best and safest way to get back...

Plenty of runners finish marathons and even 100-mile ultramarathons every year, so it's no secret that we as humans are capable of moving our bodies a pretty long distance if we go about it the right way. Even though most "normal" people I talk to think it's crazy enough just to try and run 26.2 miles or more without stopping, humans can actually run much, MUCH farther than that and I bet it's far beyond what you'd guess....

For a seasoned runner, one mile really doesn't seem very far to go. But for someone who isn't trained, running one mile can be challenging. Ultimately, a variety of factors will determine how long it takes someone to run one mile. On average, it takes an adult between 8 and 10 minutes to run one mile. Trained runners usually run much faster with mile times between 6 and 8 minutes in length with the fastest elite runners...

If you’ve ever gone on vacation to a location at a significantly higher elevation than where you live, it’s likely you noticed the effects of the altitude on your body - especially if you decided to go for a run. I believe they call the term “sucking wind.” Why does running at altitude feel so terrible? The higher you go up in altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air for you to breathe. Because your muscles require more...

If you've ever picked up a pair of shorts that's specifically made for running, you'll notice that most have a liner inside that resemble a pair of underwear. Some people may find this irritating, while others have become so accustomed to it that they don't really know any different. Either way, it can be confusing to know whether or not you should wear underwear with this type of running shorts. Running shorts that have a...