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Running

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...

Building Running Endurance for a Marathon

Perhaps the scariest thing about running a marathon is wondering how in the world you're possibly going to make it the entire way without walking or even stopping altogether. The last thing you want is to spend all your precious disposable time training for a marathon only to not even be able to finish all 26.2 miles. And even though walking is still a worthy way of earning that shiny finisher's medal, many runners who are...

Best Running Underwear to Prevent Chafing for Men and Women

We have an important topic to discuss today. That's right - underwear. Think this isn't high on the list of priorities of things you need to know when it comes to your training? Think again. Once you start upping the mileage, it won't take you long to notice if it's time to up your undies game. Trust me, you'll know. Bad skivvies don't discriminate between the sexes, both men and women can experience the excruciating rubbing...

Advil or Tylenol Before Running: Not as Harmless As You’d Think

As runners, we put our bodies through a lot. Especially when in training mode, soreness and discomfort from mile after mile of hitting the pavement is often inevitable even when you're training smart. Aches and pains are one of the normal byproducts of an athlete working to improve their performance. A typical response people have to feeling uncomfortable is to take an over-the-counter painkiller. But should you really be...

The Running Time Trial: Purpose, How, and Interpreting Results

When you begin a new training cycle, it's common for a coach to ask you to complete a time trial. No matter what distance of race you're training for, these running time trials give both you and your coach valuable information. This type of time trial is not intended as a dress rehearsal for your goal race because they will be much shorter in length. Instead, think of the running time trial as a dipstick of your current...

Finding the Best Water Carrier for Runners

We all know we need to be drinking water when we run, but the research says we're not correctly estimating our hydration needs. This doesn't mean we're necessarily dropping like flies because we're not drinking enough water (though this certainly is a risk), but drinking too little water can drastically affect running performance and recovery. For any run over 45 minutes (or less if it's hot out), you should be carrying...