Ready. Set. Marathon. Blog - Page 8 of 14

5 Best Ways to Carry Your Phone While Running

There are a lot of reasons to take your phone with you while you run, the number one reason being for safety. Some runners do have cellular-enabled smartwatches that allow them to leave their phones at home, but many of us haven't made that investment. Ultimately, heading out for a run with your phone is a wise decision. And believe it or not, there are actually some pretty convenient and comfortable ways to bring it with...

What is conversational pace running?

Conversational pace is a frequently used term in the world of running. You may have a training plan that asks you to complete a scheduled run at a "conversational pace." Conversational pace is an easy running pace in which you can run while comfortably holding a conversation. Even when running alone this can be determined by talking to yourself, humming or singing. Including conversational pace running into your regimen is...

How to Prevent Injury in Marathon Training

There is no doubt that runners place a lot of stress on their bodies when they train for marathons. The kind of mileage that properly training for a marathon requires means there is usually a much higher risk for injury than for someone who simply runs for exercise or who is training for a shorter distance race. So how do you prevent injury so you can get to the starting line ready to roll? The best way to prevent injury in...

The Power of the Medium Long Run in Marathon Training

Most won't argue that the long run is the glue when it comes to marathon training. Every single week runners improve their endurance by gradually building the mileage of their long run. Skipping them or even cutting them short can easily cause your training to completely fall apart. But long runs aren't sufficient on their own to getting a runner to reach their potential in the marathon. Today we're talking about another...

How Yoga Can Help Your Running: Get Faster, Train Your Mind, and Stay Injury-Free

When athletes get hyperfocused on one sport, it can be difficult to make room for other areas of fitness. I've personally found this to be true while marathon training as the running itself already takes up so much time. Often we see the exercise itself, in this case running, to be the most important aspect of the training and it's difficult to see how conditioning in other areas can help you improve. Yoga is definitely one...

The Best Sunscreen for Runners to Keep You Safe Through Sun and Sweat

As a Colorado resident, I run at fairly high elevation and in a lot of sun. Because of that, I have to be extra vigilant about applying sunscreen. With at least 4 days per week of outdoor running, one of those sometimes upwards of 3 hours at a time, wearing sunscreen is vital to keeping my skin safe and healthy. The fact is that you should be applying sunscreen every time you go out for a run. Cloudy days, sunny days, long...

Marathon Nutrition: How to Fuel Your Best for Race Day

Other than all those miles you have to run during marathon training, trying to figure out how to best fuel those runs might be the next hardest part. Because every person's needs are different, nailing your marathon nutrition can take a lot of trial and error. In order to be the best endurance runner you can be, you need to be fueling in a way that allows you to replenish the energy you burn while running long. Perhaps most...

Masters Marathon Training: Running Your Best in your 40s, 50s, 60s and Beyond

Although I've heard the term "masters" before, I'd never really put much thought into it. That is until I posted on my podcast training group that I had just completed my last run of my 30s and someone responded with, "Welcome to the Master's Club!" Huh. It definitely sounds cooler than it is...really it just means I'm getting old. But then I reframed my thinking and thought, "Hell yeah!" I would've never envisioned I'd be...

What to Wear for Marathon Race Day

"Nothing new on race day," is something you'll hear runners say over and over again. It's applicable in lots of ways, but many newbies make the mistake of not adhering to this rule when it comes down to their clothing. In other words, be prepared far ahead of time with what you're going to wear for your marathon and don't change it! Knowing what to wear for a full 26.2 miles while you're constantly moving and sweating can be...

The Importance of Recovery Runs in Marathon Training

Almost every (dare I say, every...) marathon runner deals with some form of discomfort, nagging pain, or injury at one time or another. It really just goes with the territory. But this doesn't make marathons dangerous or even risky, it just means most runners need to be better about the process that's usually an afterthought. And that's recovery. There are lots of types of recovery that runners should be engaging in, but...