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Author Archive | Trevor Spencer

How to Run a Sub-Four Hour Marathon (Fat Adapted Version)

By on March 7, 2014 in Low Carb, PR

Awkward photo alert: Trev at the Myrtle Beach Marathon photo credit: myrltebeachonline.com

Awkward photo alert: Trev at the Myrtle Beach Marathon
photo credit: myrltebeachonline.com

Last year I wrote a post called “How I Ran a Sub-Four Hour Marathon”.

You can see it here. Amazingly, this little post has continued to generate high numbers of visitors every month.

Well ladies and gentleman, I have broken the 4:00 barrier again! (spontaneous cheering ignites all over the world wide web).

I ran 3:56:35 in Myrtle Beach.

I’m not setting any speed records to be sure. I’m just a middle of the pack runner. At my age I would need to clock a 3:05 to qualify for Boston! Ha, ha, ha . . .

Nevertheless, breaking 4 hours for the second time feels really good. Especially after running a miserable 4:53:23 at the Rocket City Marathon in December. (Let’s not talk about that race).

The cool part about running sub-four this time is that I did not carry a boat load of fuel. What did I carry? Nothing but my fat baby! (sort of).

Continue Reading →

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Going Beyond Training to Master Your Fitness – Interview with Ben Greenfield

By on February 21, 2014 in Interview, Low Carb, Nutrition, Podcasts

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Ben Greenfield participating in a high fat low carb performance study

Ben Greenfield participating in a high fat low carb performance study

In this episode we talk with nutrition expert and triathlete Ben Greenfield about going beyond training to master your endurance.

Ben talks with us about being a fat adapted runner and answers nutrition questions from the listening audience.

You will hear questions and answers about his new book Beyond Training, the benefit of fat adaption for endurance athletes, the best way to become fat-adapted, what to do about an under active thyroid, snacks that fill you up without causing weight gain, what type of diet his kids eat, preventing heart & coronary disease, and the question of whether supplements provide a clear benefit.

But Wait There’s More!
We got exclusive permission to post content from chapter 13 of Beyond Training -the chapter entitled “How Much Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat You Need to Stay Lean, Stay Sexy, and Perform Like a Beast”.

I asked him for this chapter because it deals specifically with high fat low-carb diets. As far as I know, we are the only website on the internet where you can read this content for free! (yes, we feel special) Continue Reading →

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I Biffed It – Taking a Tumble While Running!

By on January 28, 2014 in Safety, Trail Running

Not to happy about tripping over this!

Not to happy about tripping over this!

Face it, if you run enough you are going to take a tumble.

If you run on trails the probability of falling goes up exponentially.

It happened to me for the first time about 4 days ago. I was speeding through a 5 mile trail run on a nice leafy path. During the final downhill section a root stub sticking out of ground about 2 inches caught my left foot. I immediately went horizontal.

If you could rewind the tape and play it in slow motion you would see the following: Continue Reading →

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High Fat, Low-Carbohydrate Diets | Interview with Dr. Tim Noakes [part 2]

By on January 23, 2014 in Low Carb, Nutrition, Podcasts

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

Many runners have experienced this frustration . . . no matter how much you run it doesn’t seem to have a dramatic effect on your weight loss.

Speaking from his personal experience of having completed over 70 marathons and ultra marathons Dr. Noakes writes,

“In forty-one years of running I have learnt that the numerous benefits of exercise do not include any sustained effects on weight loss.” -Challenging Beliefs, Kindle version

We have all heard the conventional formula for losing weight: (1) eat less (2) exercise more.

But when you step back and think about this model a cruel irony settles in . . . Continue Reading →

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Giving Thanks for Running – Stories from Real People Who Have Transformed Their Lives Through Running

By on November 28, 2013 in Motivation, Podcasts, Weight Loss

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

Hi Folks, Angie came up with a great idea while out on a run one morning, “Let’s do a special Thanksgiving episode that’s all about why we are thankful for running”.

So we solicited running stories from our audience and the response was great. You are going to hear from people who have lost 100+ pounds, busted through depression, took control of their health and positively redefined themselves.

  • Special thanks to: Lea, Melissa, Jim, Omar, Kate, Corinne, Glynda, Ed, Foti, Nicole, and Anna for sending in their inspiring running stories!

My Transformation
I also talk about my own running journey which roughly began in 2010. Thanks to Angie’s guidance I went from desk potato to marathoner.

I hated running. Building up to my first 5k was slow and torturous. But my body adapted!

Below you will find a side by side comparison of what I looked like before and after becoming a runner. I didn’t start running in order to lose weight but, as you can see, running has taken off 20 pounds of fat. Continue Reading →

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Guest Post on the MTA Blog!

By on November 20, 2013 in Uncategorized

Hi folks, here’s something for you creative runners interested in sharing your knowledge and experience with our community. We are putting a call out for new content contributors to our blog. The content should be relevant to marathon training and be helpful to our readers.

Click here to see how to apply

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Race Recap: The Tupelo Marathon –Trample the Weak Hurdle the Dead!

By on September 12, 2013 in Podcasts, Race Recap

tupelo1*Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

Angie and I recently ran the Tupelo Marathon in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Although Elvis was born in Tupelo, this is not a race for pretty boys.

First of all, it’s hot. I’m talking about seventy-six degrees at the starting line at 5:00 in the morning. Humidity was probably 90%. A couple years ago a tropical storm hit during the race. They kept it running.

Second, it’s ugly. I just say that because it looks too much like S.E. Missouri –bugs, brush, and bungalows. I wouldn’t go down there for the scenery but I would for the BBQ.

Third, it’s small. The race draws about three hundred marathoners and does away with race expos, pacing groups, music, the national anthem, spectators, porta-potties (not entirely), and course photographers except at the very end. But it was easy to find parking.

Fourth, you run in the dark for the first hour. I enjoyed it even though I didn’t have a headlamp. As far as I know . . . only the weak got trampled. Continue Reading →

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Interview with Vinnie Tortorich – How Your Good Intentions Have Been Stolen

By on August 28, 2013 in Fueling, Interview, Low Carb, Nutrition, Podcasts

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

Vinnie Tortorich is the author of the book Fitness Confidential – adventures in the weight loss game. *Quick heads up, the book does contain adult language and content.

He is the go to guy for celebrities and athletes who need to get fit fast. He hosts the Angriest Trainer Podcast and is an ultra-endurance cyclist. He has also battled Leukemia, a struggle he chronicles in the book.

Vinnie calls himself America’s angriest trainer but he’s actually a really nice guy. As a personal trainer he doesn’t scream “feel the burn!” when making his clients do push ups. He says that’s only what made-for-T.V. trainers do.

He is angry because of the misinformation that exists in the fitness industry -an industry he’s been working in since the 80s. Vinnie’s contention is that the calorie in calorie out weight loss model is a bunch of bull.

“Your good intentions have been stolen, and I’m here to help you get ’em back!”

The book opens with a situation where movie execs from Disney need him to take 35 pounds off an actress in six weeks.

When you see an actress on the red carpet and you know she just had a baby three weeks ago but she looks fabulous; she either has me or someone like me working with her. -Vinnie Tortorich

He will be the first to tell you that these celebrities types are not genetically perfect. What works for them will work for us. The secret sauce of Fitness Confidential is called NSNG (no sugars no grains). Continue Reading →

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Race Recap: The Missoula Marathon

By on July 21, 2013 in Podcasts, Race Recap

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

Angie and I recently finished the Missoula Marathon in beautiful Missoula, Montana (Angie’s home state).

This marathon is abundantly picturesque -think mountains, valleys and rivers. Not only that, I found it to be well organized. I heard that this race fills up every year and I can see why. The race caps off at 1,500 full marathoners and 3,500 half marathoners. I would definitely run it again. Continue Reading →

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Running with a Hydration Vest

By on May 23, 2013 in Gear

hydration_vestTo celebrate my birthday on May 20th, Angie and I stole away to Hawn State Park (1 hours south of St. Louis) to run the 10 mile loop.

We meant to get an early start but by 7:30 I was still gathering my running gear. As I clumsily pawed through the cupboard for my handheld water bottle Angie said, “Here, you might want to open this birthday gift now.”

“Ok” I said, never objecting to birthday gifts when they present themselves. When I tore away the tissue paper what did my eyes behold? A Nathan HPL #020 Hydration Vest. Hot diggity! Continue Reading →

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Boston Marathon Tribute

By on April 27, 2013 in Podcasts

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

This is a special tribute to the 2013 Boston Marathon. In this episode we read emails from people within the MTA community who were at the Boston Marathon, and speak to our friend Angela Coloumbe who was volunteering near the finish line.

Glued to our laptops, Angie and I watched the live streaming of this year’s Boston Marathon until the elite runners crossed the finish line. We have truly grown to love these running icons (especially Kara Goucher and Shalane Flanagan) and every year we cross our fingers hoping an American will win. No offense to my non-American friends . . . it’s a rooting for the home team sort of thing. The last American to win Boston was Greg Meyer in 1983.

You gotta take your hat off to both Lelisa Desisa Benti, who has only ran one other marathon before winning Boston, and Rita Jeptoo who won in 2006, took 7 years off to become a mother, then returned to win it this year!

In case you didn’t see this yet: Continue Reading →

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