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Author Archive | Henry Howard

I am a Marathoner

By on October 16, 2015 in Guest Perspective

Never mind the critics that look down upon the masses who complete 26.2 miles nowadays, we should enjoy our achievements.

By Henry Howard

On Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, I achieved a bucket list goal, completing a 26.2-mile run in 4:07:55 at the Indianapolis Monumental.

Starting that day I could rightfully say, “I am a marathoner.”

I epitomized being a middle-of-the-packer, finishing 1,474th out of 2,911 finishers. Each of the other 2,910 finishers could also call themselves a marathoner, whether it was their first or 100th finish, or somewhere in between.

I worked hard for the distinction of calling myself a “marathoner.” I’ve seen estimates that say that only 1 percent of the U.S. population has completed a marathon. But, apparently, just completing a marathon isn’t good enough for some people. Continue Reading →

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Review: North Face Endurance Challenge Marathon

By on October 8, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Review, Trail Running

Screen Shot 2015-07-14 at 4.33.23 PMBeautiful scenery, hilly trails and scrumptious aid station food await those willing to try a challenging course in race distances from 50 miles to 5K.

By Henry Howard

My 10th marathon was the most challenging, hardest and slowest that I have finished so far. It was also one of the most rewarding.

The North Face Endurance Challenge Series hosted an event Oct. 3-4 in Kettle Moraine State Park in Wisconsin. (Other sites included Utah, Washington, D.C., New York, Ontario and the series finale in the Golden Gate area of California in December.) Continue Reading →

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Marathoner John Young is 4-foot-4 and Full of Heart

By on October 5, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Motivation

photo credit: John Young Twitter page

photo credit: John Young Twitter page

John Young — the first person with dwarfism to complete a half Ironman — doesn’t let his size keep him from his goals.

By Henry Howard

About nine years ago, John Young was not sleeping well so his wife encouraged him to undergo a sleep study. At the doctor’s office, he stepped on the scale and was shocked to see that he weighed 195 pounds.

That weight is incredibly unhealthy for someone who stands 4-foot-4-inches tall. Continue Reading →

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Review: Erie Marathon at Presque Isle

By on September 22, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Review

Erie Marathon medalLooking for a BQ or PR? This flat and fast course will fit the bill, while the cost is affordable especially given the swag and post-race food.

By Henry Howard

The Erie Marathon routinely shows up on lists touting the “best Boston Qualifier races.” In fact, organizers use that as a draw for BQ hopefuls: the race is held each year on the last day for qualifying for the next Boston Marathon.

The course — which is accurately described as flat and fast — is two loops around Presque Isle State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania. For most of the course, one lane of traffic is blocked off and the other lane is for the runners. Continue Reading →

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From 385 Pounds to Endurance Athlete

By on September 6, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Weight Loss

Robert_first raceRobert Wadhams has shed weight, embraced fitness and found motivation along the way from a personal trainer, online community and beat-up ribbon.

By Henry Howard

Robert Wadhams was a big man living in a small box.

Figuratively, of course. Wadhams spent his time eating unhealthy food and playing video games. His weight had ballooned up to nearly 400 pounds. “Without realizing it, my life began to revolve around food,” he says, rattling off a what-not-to-eat list of pizza, fried foods and more that were his dietary staples. “That was pretty much my downfall.”

Wadhams, however, made major changes to improve his health, get into running and eventually finish half marathons, a marathon and a triathlon. His story continues today as he recovers from two surgeries and has his eyes set on even more daunting challenges. Continue Reading →

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Review: Coolibar Clothing

By on August 26, 2015 in Gear, Guest Perspective, Review

coolibarBy Henry Howard

It’s no secret that the sun’s powerful rays are not only challenging to outdoor athletes during the summer but can also lead to skin cancer.

Outdoor athletes’ substantial exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation increases their risk of developing basal and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common skin cancers, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Many marathoners also tend to have more small moles and large atypical moles, which are increased risk factors for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, the foundation reports.

The American Cancer Society estimates that many of the 2 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed annually could be eliminated by properly protecting one’s skin and avoiding indoor tanning. Continue Reading →

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Jordan McDougal’s Tips on Nutrition, Training

By on August 12, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Ultramarathon

5108ks_07181
Jordan McDougal grew up in the Adirondack Mountains region of New York state. Before he was 10 years old, McDougal was running track and cross-country. He advanced to running on a scholarship at Liberty University. He has now advanced to ultra marathons, Spartan events and mountain racing.

“Growing up in the Adirondacks I played just about any sport available, and skied and raced snowshoes in the winter, which was really my introduction to mountain racing I guess,” he says.

McDougal, who is North Face sponsored athlete, has won several of the North Face Endurance Challenge events including one earlier this year in Washington, D.C. McDougal finished the 50-mile event in 6:44:55, beating the runner-up by nearly 45 minutes. Continue Reading →

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Gunhild Swanson’s amazing finish at Western States

By on July 30, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Ultramarathon

Sun Mountain 50 miler 5-16-15 3The 70-year-old woman’s record almost never came to be. Here’s how she beat the odds to get into the 100-mile race and then overcame a serious error to complete her historic run.

By Henry Howard

Gunhild Swanson’s dramatic finish at this year’s 100-mile Western States Endurance Run almost never happened.

The jubilation that erupted in the final stretch of the race — as Swanson closed in on the finish line, then crossed it 6 seconds before the 30-hour cutoff —almost never happened.

But the 70-year-old Swanson did cross the Western States finish in time, becoming the oldest woman to ever do so. Her remarkable run set off a boisterous celebration at the finish line and a video that went viral. Continue Reading →

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Olympic Trials Hopeful Balances Family, Training and More

By on July 23, 2015 in Elite Runner, Guest Perspective, Interview

riley_cookRiley Cook’s running journey started at the urging of his mother. Now, he and his spouse work hard to make it all work while never forgetting to enjoy the journey.

By Henry Howard

The parents of Riley Cook were both runners, each completing multiple marathons. In fact, his mother once ran a 2:59 marathon.

When Cook was 13, his mother saw some running talent in him and took him to his first race, a 5K. At that race, Riley finished in 20 minutes without any training.

“She saw in me some natural talent in my youth and encouraged me to run,” Cook said. “From that race day forward she was convinced I could earn a scholarship to run if I trained and ran in high school, and encouraged me to strive for that goal.” Continue Reading →

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A New Challenge: Trail Marathon

By on July 13, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Trail Running

nfecswi2014110[1][1][1][1]North Face Endurance Series tests runners on tough terrain in picturesque settings. MTA members and blog readers can receive 15 percent off entries into any race distance by using the code below.

By Henry Howard

The North Face Endurance Challenge Series presents six challenging courses to runners of all experience levels. In fact, runners can do any regular race distance from a 5K to a 50-miler. Continue Reading →

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13.1 Tips for Running Your First Half Marathon

By on July 6, 2015 in Beginner, Half Marathon

16131867964_4053e65f49_oThe half marathon is the fastest growing race distance. If 13.1 miles is on your to-do list, prepare yourself with these suggestions to have a rewarding race day.

By Henry Howard

2,046,600.

That’s how many half marathoner finishers there were in 2014, according to Running USA’s annual half marathon report. About three in five of the finishes were attributed to women.

Those 2 million crossings of the finish line make the half marathon the fastest growing race distance. It’s no wonder that the distance is so popular — it’s often the gateway run of choice for those looking to bridge the gap between a 5K and a full marathon.

While the popularity of the marathon is also increasing, not everyone wants to complete 26.2 miles. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Half marathons present their own challenges. The average race time — 2:03 for males and 2:21 for females — means that runners will need to take their preparation, training and nutrition seriously. Continue Reading →

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Review: Summer Breeze Half Marathon

By on June 28, 2015 in Guest Perspective, Race Recap, Review

SummerBreeze_finishWhen I discovered that I had an off day on a Saturday when planning a recent business trip, I did what any runner would do: Scour race calendars for a suitable event.

Since the trip took me to Denver it was easy to find races. 5Ks, 10Ks, trails, half marathons, marathons, etc. After some research, I settled on the Summer Breeze Half Marathon in Arvada, Colorado, a suburb to the west of Denver. The race was put on by All-Out Multicourse Productions, which organized and directed a terrific event. Continue Reading →

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