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Questions New Runners Ask

By on August 31, 2012 in Beginner, Podcasts

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I recently did a guest interview on two different podcasts – Runner Girls and The Dr. Rob Show.

I had a chance to answer questions from new runners taking on the half marathon distance for the first time.

We talked about how to determine if you’re ready for the marathon, preventing injuries, carbohydrate loading, running surfaces, shoes, pedometers, nutrition, motivation, tapering, training plans, and overcoming doubts and fears.

Here is a sample of some of the questions these new runners asked me. Continue Reading →

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Running Etiquette – How Not To Be a Rude Runner!

By on February 22, 2012 in Beginner, Podcasts

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This is funny . . .

One of my aunts sent me an article recently about the negative effects of long distance running.

I started reading some of the comments afterward to see if anyone would voice an alternative opinion in support of running. Instead I ran across this woman’s comment.

Here is Barbara’s two cents on runners:

“I think too much exercise is when you are in pain or uncomfortable for an extended period of time. Many runners look like they are in pain the whole time. They don’t look happy or meditative. They are usually angry and aggressive and refuse to run on sidewalks but instead run in the road and make you almost hit oncoming traffic trying to drive around them. I think they are a menace to society and a pain to deal with. There is usually room on the side of the road or sidewalk for them, but they charge at your car like enraged bulls. I think they are bullies and egomaniacs. If cyclists and joggers have any look on their face, it is like of smug superiority or bent determination.” Posted On Jan 25, 2012

I was pretty surprised by the animosity she expressed and it got me thinking that she can’t be the only person out there that feels that way about runners.

Here are the rules of running etiquette: Continue Reading →

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Race Recap – Trevor Runs His First Marathon

By on November 7, 2011 in Beginner, Podcasts, Race Recap

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After almost two years of hard work my husband Trevor has been transformed from a desk potato to a successful marathon finisher.

He ran his first full marathon on October 23rd in St. Louis, Missouri. His official time was 4:31:40.

In this episode I talk with Trevor about the agony and joy of running his first marathon. What you are about to read is the brutally honest battlefield report of a first time marathoner and former “non-runner”. Continue Reading →

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Six More Miles!

By on October 31, 2011 in Beginner, Guest Perspective

Andy Richardson is a blogger at Start Running for Beginners. He is training for his first marathon using Angie’s Official Guide Ebook.

With just a few days to go until my first marathon, I have a few thoughts I wanted to share with the MTA community. I think this title “6 More Miles” summarizes where I am right now in more than one way.

Six More Miles is Not So Hard . . . (I Think)
Just a few weeks ago, for the first time I was able to reach the 20 mile mark in my long run. It was actually the first time of running one of these really long runs that I thought I might actually be able to finish a 26.2 mile marathon. Usually when I would get back from the long run, I was absolutely spent, but the last two long runs were a little different. I know that I will have to run 6 more miles than I ever did during my training, but I really feel like I can run those 6 miles, and finish my first marathon. Continue Reading →

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Love and Hate of the Long Run

By on August 24, 2011 in Beginner, Guest Perspective

Andy Richardson is a blogger at Start Running for Beginners. He is training for his first marathon using Angie’s Official Guide Ebook.

In training for my first marathon, I understand the importance of the long run. Some days my long run is great, and some days the long run is not so great. You could say that I have a love hate relationship with the long run.

Let me share with you some ways that I love (or hate) the long run.

I Love Long Runs Because…. Continue Reading →

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What Your Friends Say About Running a Marathon. . .

By on July 22, 2011 in Beginner, Guest Perspective

Guest post from Andy Richardson author of Start Running For Beginners

One of the cool things about running a marathon is that it gives you something to talk about with other people. There is just something about the ‘M’ word that gets people’s attention. Even non-runners typically respect the idea of running a marathon whether or not they encourage you.

But I especially enjoy meeting and talking with other marathoners, new or experienced. The topic can often give you something to build a friendship on.

Not too long ago, I was talking with a neighbor of mine about my upcoming marathon (Rock and Roll Savanah Marathon), and it turns out that he is running the same race. We spoke for some time in my front yard about marathon training, and being an experienced marathoner, he gave me some thoughts on what to expect.

Here are a few pointers I thought I would share with you. Continue Reading →

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My Biggest Mistake Yet

By on June 20, 2011 in Beginner, Guest Perspective

From Guest Blogger, Andy Richardson – This is the third post in a series where Andy discusses his personal journey of training for his first marathon.

Juggling a Busy Life with Marathon Training
As a slightly off-topic point, I wanted to share that my wife and I will be having a baby this December! This will be our fifth child, but we do not know whether it is a boy or girl.

I have a busy life to juggle while training for this marathon. The MTA Official Guide talks about making choices in life, and deciding what I need to cut out and what I cannot cut out in order to make time to train.

I personally decided that I am not going to miss out on family time in order to train. That means getting up a little earlier, adjusting my work schedule, and cutting out things like television and the computer. I am also going to start turning off the iPhone when I get home at night because I look at that thing way too much!

The biggest challenge, of course, is working long runs into my schedule. Continue Reading →

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Accidentally Setting a Personal Record

By on June 10, 2011 in Beginner

This picture was taken at about mile 12 of my recent half marathon in Port Angeles, Washington. Angie is turning me into a lean mean running machine.

I was planning on just taking it easy and running alongside my Dad (2:18:01) the whole way. But suddenly I felt a competitive streak and decided to push hard, throttle on, and surge ahead. My Dad said, “Go for it”. Or maybe he said, “Run Forest!” I can’t remember.

I felt like a gazelle. The weather was hospitable. The scenery was spectacular. I wanted to RUN FAST!!! But I could hear Angie’s voice in my head telling me to save some gas in the tank for my later miles. She was right.

Continue Reading →

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My Calf Muscles are Ripping Apart – And Other Strange Fixations

By on May 24, 2011 in Beginner

Lately I have been haunted by a strange sensation in my calves. It feels like a small electrical spark under my skin. I can’t say that it is a sharp or deep pain . . . just a mild twinge now and again.

My brain had me convinced that my calf muscles were ripping apart. Maybe these strange twinges were microscopic tears? Maybe my muscle fibers were cleaving with each awkward foot strike?

Soon I was running on my tip-toes in order to save my calves from utter ruin.

I’ve heard of runners who rupture a ligament and hit the pavement face first. Everything is fine then all of a sudden “snap”! Perhaps it was about to happen to me!

Plausible explanation don’t you think? Continue Reading →

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No Turning Back

By on May 20, 2011 in Beginner, Guest Perspective

From Guest Blogger, Andy Richardson – This is the second post in an ongoing series with the Marathon Training Academy where Andy discusses his personal journey of training for his first marathon.

Ready to Rock!
Well, it is official! I just signed up for my first marathon. I am going to be doing the Rock and Roll marathon in Savannah, Georgia – which happens to be close to my home in Beaufort, SC.

So, now that I have signed up there is no turning back! And, I am certainly not going to let the readers here or my family down either! I will be running the marathon on November 5, 2011. They will have bands set up throughout the 26.2 mile journey, which will be pretty cool. Who knows, maybe a power song at mile 18 will be just the thing I need to keep going. Continue Reading →

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How I Went From Boring Runner to Hopeful Marathoner

By on May 6, 2011 in Beginner, Guest Perspective

The first thing you are probably wondering is ‘who is this guy, and why should I read what he has to say about running a marathon’?

Well, I am a friend of Trevor’s (hopefully that counts for something!) as well as a blogger. Recently, he and I were talking about running.

I mentioned to him that I am planning to run my first marathon in November of this year, and we thought it might be cool to track my progress using the MTA Official Guide and provide regular updates of my progress while using their system. Continue Reading →

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Confessions of a Lazy Runner

By on January 17, 2011 in Beginner, Podcasts

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In this podcast episode Angie interrogates me about my training for the Little Rock Half Marathon.

Many of you know that I am a new runner. The furthest I have ever run is 10 miles, reluctantly.

I am taking on the half marathon challenge to prove to myself that I have what it takes. And because I think it will be a cool thing to brag about to my co-workers.

Here are my startling revelations from the first six weeks of my training Continue Reading →

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