Join Log In Coaching Training Plans

Author Archive | Angie Spencer

Interview with Traci Falbo – 242 Miles in 48 Hours

By on September 19, 2014 in Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

traci2*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

Traci Falbo recently set the World Indoor 48 hour record by running just over 242 miles at an event called Six Days Under the Dome.

Traci is a pediatric physical therapist. She belongs to all 3 of the 50 states clubs and is a Marathon Maniac. She lives in Charlestown, IN, with her husband Mike and two teenage children.

Ten years ago Traci decided to lose weight and train for her first marathon. She lost 80 pounds and completed her first marathon and has since run a marathon in every state and many 100 milers.

See the before and after picture: Continue Reading →

0

Harnessing the Power of Habit in Your Marathon Training

By on September 6, 2014 in Motivation, Podcasts

power of habit*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

We recently read the book The Power of Habit—Why we do what we do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.

It’s an excellent book that I’d highly recommend. In fact while I was reading it I thought of numerous examples how developing the right habits can help us achieve our running goals.

You may also be trying to implement positive habits (like running and healthy eating) in your life and working on cutting out bad habits.

This post will help you understand how to make habits work to your favor! Continue Reading →

6

Mental Toughness – Lisa Smith-Batchen on Completing a Badwater Quad

By on August 15, 2014 in Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

lisa_smith-batchen2*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

She did it! In July of this year Lisa Smith-Batchen became the first woman to complete a Badwater Quad.

That’s four back to back Badwater Ultra Marathons, 584 miles through Death Valley where temperatures reached as high as 127 degrees.

Lisa is an accomplished ultra-marathoner and coach and lives with her family in Driggs, Idaho. The first time we spoke with her was on podcast episode #78.

In this interview we talk with Lisa about her record setting run, her training, mental toughness, hallucinations, her money raising efforts to provide clean water to villages and much more. Continue Reading →

0

Q and A with Dean Karnazes

By on August 1, 2014 in Elite Runner, Interview, Podcasts

Death Valley sunset*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

Dean Karnazes is author of the NY Times best selling book Ultra-Marathon Man –Confessions of an all Night Runner.

He is known for pushing the limits of human endurance, like when he ran 350 continuous miles without sleep, or the time he ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days.

Dean is also an accomplished entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He has succeeded in convincing millions of people that they can go far beyond their perceived limitations.

List of questions Continue Reading →

3

Race Recap: Portland’s Foot Traffic Flat + Angie Qualifies for the Boston Marathon

By on July 25, 2014 in Podcasts, Race Recap

Trev and I at the Pumpkin Patch, Sauvie Island, OR.

Trev and I at the Pumpkin Patch, Sauvie Island, OR.

*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

On our recent trip to the Washington coast to visit Trevor’s parents we had the opportunity to run a marathon in the State of Oregon.

Since I’m always looking for ways to knock off a new state I started researching races a few months ago. We considered around four marathons during the summer and settled on the Foot Traffic Flat near Portland.

My in-laws and Trevor’s brother all came down to Portland with us and we rented a house in the Hollywood district and made a fun weekend out of it.

There were just over 422 registered for the full marathon and a total of 346 finished: 181 males and 165 females. The half marathon was obviously the most popular option with around 1,800 runners and 240 participated in the 5k. Continue Reading →

12

Tips For Improving Your Sleep

By on July 19, 2014 in Health and Wellness

In a previous post I talked about the importance of getting quality sleep during your marathon training.

If you have not read this post or heard the accompanying podcast episode, the main take-a-way is this: Sleep has a huge impact on your athletic performance!

Now I want to give you nine tips on how to improve the quantity and quality of your sleep so you can be a stronger, happier runner. Continue Reading →

0

Interview with Stephanie Howe -Western States 100 Mile Champion

By on July 14, 2014 in Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

stephanie_howe*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

In this episode we talk with Stephanie Howe the winner of this year’s Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run.

Stephanie finished in 18:01:42 -the fourth fastest female finishing time recorded in WS history.

She is also a running coach, a North Face sponsored athlete and a PhD student at Oregon State University with a minor in nutrition and major in exercise physiology.

Continue Reading →

2

Getting Quality Sleep During Your Marathon Training

By on July 5, 2014 in Health and Wellness, Podcasts

angie_sleep*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

I must admit that I love to sleep. I was this way even as a child where I could sleep nearly anywhere. Even in my teenage years I would happily sleep 10 hours a night.

This started to change when I had to work 12 hour night shifts in my early years as a nurse. Then, unfortunately our oldest son did not share my sentiments about sleep and his babyhood was literally a rude awakening for me.

The first year of his life made me doubt if I’d ever sleep through the night again. Parents of young children can probably relate to this.

Now maybe you’re not as fixated on sleep as I am but most people underestimate its importance and many struggle with sleep difficulties. Continue Reading →

2

Marathon Success Story with Jeriod Turner

By on June 23, 2014 in Interview, Podcasts, Success Story, Weight Loss

jeriod_turner*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

In this podcast episode we talk with Jeriod Turner a member of the Academy who has been on a life changing transformation in his health and fitness.

He has lost 50 pounds in the last six months. He recently ran a 1:31 half marathon and is currently training for his second full marathon in September.

Jeriod works as a commercial lender for Commerce Bank he is married and has two kids and lives in Hannibal, Missouri.

His progress has inspired us all!

See before and after picture. Continue Reading →

1

Marathon Pacing

By on May 29, 2014 in Pacing, Podcasts, PR

marathon pacing*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

One of the most frequent questions that I get as a running coach is about marathon pacing.

Runners often wonder which time goal they should shoot for, what type of strategy they should use during the race, whether they should run with a pace group, if they can qualify for Boston during their first marathon, etc.

For example, Jeff sent in this email:

“How do you avoid losing motivation when you get to the point in a marathon where you realize you aren’t going to finish close to your time goal? In my last two marathons, I felt a horrible deflating feeling when I got to the point when I knew I was not going to be happy with my finish time. I get really down on myself, and it is hard to push through those final miles. I feel particularly awful when I get passed by the pace groups. . . I use my time goal as motivation during training, and then when I fall hopelessly off pace in the later miles my motivation leaves me like air out of a popped balloon. It is just hard to press on when you are dealing with that amount of disappointment.

I hate for people to feel awful about their marathon times, so let’s talk about some of the factors related to marathon pacing. Continue Reading →

1

Race Recap: The River Towns Marathon

By on May 16, 2014 in Race Recap

rivertownsWhen I’m traveling I often look to see if there will be any marathons in the vicinity—especially in a new state that would put me closer to my 50 States goal.

When I decided to visit family in Pennsylvania I found the River Towns Marathon which was only 2.5 hours away from where I was staying.

As a bonus, it was easy to convince my youngest sister Autum to join me for the race. Here’s my recap (with pics!).

Continue Reading →

0

Boston Strong! The 2014 Boston Marathon

By on April 28, 2014 in Podcasts

13979071153_148b9313eb_z*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

The 118th Boston Marathon was held on April 21, 2014. Started in 1897 this is the world’s oldest annual marathon held the third Monday of April on Patriot’s Day. It is also one of the 6 World Marathon Majors (joining Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City).

Entrants must qualify using a set of gender and age specific standards or run for charity. Every running of the Boston Marathon is a historic event. This year had even deeper significance because it was one year after the horrific bombings that took place on Boyleston Street near the finish line in 2013 where 3 people were killed and 264 wounded (not to mention all the emotional scars left behind).

A year later it’s still hard to grasp that something like that would happen at an event like this—one that holds so much pride for the community, the running world and the many charities it supports. If you read running magazines, blogs or follow various running outlets on Facebook you’ve probably read some of the amazing stories of loss and triumph. Continue Reading →

0