Archive | Motivation

Indoor Marathons and Developing Mental Toughness

By Angie Spencer on January 31, 2015 in Motivation, Podcasts

Just another lap at the Hawk Indoor Marathon and 50k.

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This podcast episode was inspired by my first ever indoor marathon -the Hawk Indoor Marathon and 50k in Hagerstown, Maryland.

If I could emphasize any one of the points about running an indoor marathon it would be to focus on your mental attitude.

Thinking and vocalizing negativity is rarely helpful. Dealing with monotony, pain, and even loneliness can be a way to develop mental toughness. Why is mental toughness so important? Because the tough stuff in life can either make us or break us.

In this post I’ll share some tips for successfully running an indoor marathon and then finish by adding a few words about developing mental toughness. Continue Reading →

Just Go For It! Four Mantras for Attempting Great Things in Your Marathon Training and Life

By Angie Spencer on January 11, 2015 in Motivation, Podcasts

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When the New Year arrives many of us think about making changes and undertaking certain challenges.

Our theme for this podcast and year is “Just Go For It.” This is a reflection of what Trevor and I are aiming for in our business and running.

For most goals there will never be that “perfect” time. You have to make the perfect time.

Your goals and challenges for 2015 will be unique to you. But I want to make some suggestions on how to decide on goals and how to carry them through. Continue Reading →

Still Running after Parkinson’s and Brain Surgery – Interview with Rhonda Foulds

By Angie Spencer on December 13, 2014 in Health and Wellness, Motivation, Podcasts

Rhonda Lee Foulds

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I met Rhonda Foulds at the starting line of the A2A Marathon in Ardmore, Oklahoma, earlier this this year. We later became Facebook friends and she has become one of my biggest sources of inspiration.

In this podcast episode you will hear how Rhonda, a mother of three boys, witnessed her health and fitness deteriorate due to early onset Parkinson’s Disease and was forced to stop running and doing other things she loved.

In the years that followed she became very tired and depressed, gained weight, and needed wheelchair assistance.

In 2003 Rhonda underwent a procedure called “DBS” (Deep Brain Stimulation) which places electrodes in certain areas of the brain to block the signals of Parkinson’s.

The surgery was a success and she began to reclaim her health and fitness one mile at a time. She has lost close to 100 pounds, gone from thirty-three medications to zero and has now completed over eighty half marathons, eighteen full marathons and two ultras.

Rhonda is proof that you really do have what it takes to run a marathon and change your life!

Continue Reading →

Running to Beat Cancer (Again)

By Henry Howard on November 21, 2014 in Guest Perspective, Health and Wellness, Interview, Motivation

Editor’s note: On Dec. 11, 2016, Darrell Henry passed away. This ended a three-year struggle that was harder for the cancer than for Henry. “Cancer will have no victory here,” says his sister, Misty Henry.

Darrell Henry has no colon. But he has a heart, the heart of a champion.

Henry’s colon was removed in June 2013 “because of hundreds of polyps and a large cancerous tumor brought on because of familial adenomatous polyposis, a genetic disorder which causes polyps in basically any part of the body. With hundreds of colon polyps it’s inevitable some will become cancerous.”

The biggest drawback to being colon-less: Hydration. “Most of the body’s hydration occurs in the colon. I drink 150-200 ounces per day to stay properly hydrated,” he says. 

Doctors used a section of small intestine to build a replacement (called a j-pouch) for the colon and followed up by 12 rounds of chemo. Henry endured one round of chemo every other week for six months. 

Henry decided to enjoy the experience as much as possible and dedicate himself to running.

“My intention was to fight as hard as I could, take any treatment necessary and beat cancer but also to gain as much positive from the experience as I could,”

says Henry, who tries to run 50 to 70 miles a week, even during chemo. Continue Reading →

Musician Conquers Alcoholism, Then Ultras

By Henry Howard on November 13, 2014 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Motivation

Just running wasn’t enough for Ryan Deguzis to break his addiction. It did play a role, however, and now he is loving life and giving back.

By Henry Howard

MTA member Ryan Deguzis has a lot going for him: he’s a classical musician, teaches students, has a steady girlfriend and recently finished his first ultra marathon.

But it wasn’t always like this. Like millions of Americans from all walks of life — millionaires to soccer moms — Deguzis battled an addiction to alcohol. He’s been sober for 3 ½ years now.

“Running was one of the things that helped me escape alcoholism,” he says. Continue Reading →

Harnessing the Power of Habit in Your Marathon Training

By Angie Spencer on September 6, 2014 in Motivation, Podcasts

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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 →

I Should Not Be a Runner

By Eryn Lynum on June 18, 2014 in Guest Perspective, Health and Wellness, Motivation

Guest blogger Eryn Lynum shares her epic journey of finding life, health, and running after Addison’s disease and anorexia.

I should not be a runner.

In fact, there are a lot of things I should not be. I should not be a mother. I should not be a writer. I should not be healthy. I should not even be alive.

When I was fourteen years old my adrenal glands gave up on me. Or rather they put up one heck of a fight yet lost their arduous battle against my very confused immune system, which attacked them until they were completely destroyed.

Never again would I feel the heart throbbing thrill that rushes through your veins as you peak the top of a roller coaster, and then let gravity have its way as you race back to the bottom. Never again would I take a simple ride in an elevator without an inevitable and debilitating dizzy spell at the end. Never again could I trust my body to come to my rescue with its “fight or flight” response when I was in a bind and needed just that extra bit of super strength or endurance. Continue Reading →

The Advantages of Running with Music

By R.L Bynum on January 25, 2014 in Guest Perspective, Motivation

Of the many factors that can help runners perform better on race day, an MP3 player definitely rocks (no pun intended)!

I generally run while listening to podcasts of my favorite talk radio show, the Brad and Britt Show (which is on WBT-AM weekday evenings in Charlotte, N.C.).

I’ve also listened to a certain podcast from the Marathon Training Academy on an occasional run!

When Brad and Britt took a few days off last Fall, I was looking for something else to listen to during a Sunday long run.

My Accidental Discovery Continue Reading →

Increasing Productivity and Reaching Goals in Marathon Training and Life

By Angie Spencer on January 2, 2014 in Motivation, Podcasts

2014 *Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now

As we enter the New Year many of us have ideas about what we’d like to do and accomplish in 2014.

I think it’s healthy to have goals and dreams and work toward these things. However, I’ve read that only 8% of people’s resolutions actually get carried out.

I know I’ve been guilty of letting many good intentions go by the wayside. One common roadblock to accomplishing goals is the fact that we’re already so busy. Sometimes it seems overwhelming to add even another good thing to our schedule.

Here are my three tips for getting things done . . . (and loving it) Continue Reading →

How to Beat Training Burnout

By Amy Will on December 22, 2013 in Guest Perspective, Motivation

Guest blogger Amy Will shares how she avoided burn out while juggling marathon training and the responsibilities of being a new parent.

As I signed up to run my sixth marathon, the Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon, I couldn’t anticipate how very different this race would be. This would be my inaugural marathon as a wife and new parent.

My post-baby body felt near normal, but I found myself physically and mentally exhausted as I adjusted to being a mom. In the peak mileage of training, I found myself completely burnt out and questioning whether I wanted to even run the race anymore! My desire to run had somehow snuck away. What was I thinking when I signed up for another marathon? Basically, I was burnt out – big time.

The lack of sleep, pressure I put on myself to run a certain finish time, not listening to my body, and the stress of being a new mom eventually got to me. Just in time to run my last training 20-miler, I came down with a nasty sinus infection.

I did my best not to stress about running only one 20-miler, the less than ideal training, and the fact that I didn’t even want to run this race anymore. In the last couple weeks before the race, I did my best to find joy in running again and escape this running rut.

Here are a few ways I beat the training burnout: Continue Reading →

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

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

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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 →

Your Footprints in the Snow

By Trevor Spencer on January 15, 2013 in Motivation

The snow doesn’t stay around for long here in S.E. Missouri.

We usually only get a light dusting -enough to conceal a dangerous layer of ice.

On one such day I found myself on a 5 mile training run. The temperature must have been in the low 20s.

As I picked my way along the road trying to avoid the icy patches I suddenly saw footprints. Continue Reading →

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What Members are Saying

I enjoyed this special weekend accomplishing my goal of my first marathon. Angie’s encouragement and game plan worked wonders. The North Face Endurance Challenge was a fun and challenging race through the hilly wooded trails. -Scott A.

“MTA has helped me in both my running and my diet. I have lost 50 pounds and am now at a healthy weight for the first time in 10+ years. I also got 5th overall in my half-marathon over the weekend with a time of 1:31:24.” -Jeriod T.

Thanks to Angie’s guidance and support, I was able to complete 3 marathons in 3 months AND also get a PR on the last of the 3 races. Thank you Angie and MTA! -Jabus H.

VERY FIRST MARATHON! I think that big smile was due to my awesome MTA training that kept me strong until the end. THANK YOU, ANGIE! And thank you guys for all your support! I thought of you during the race! -Johanna M.

First and foremost, Angie’s plans work. I’m so proud and pleased to say that I finished in 4:59:50! This is a 55 minute PR for me. I can’t even explain the emotions I felt! -Ashley R.

I ran my first marathon this past Sunday and I am so proud of myself! I am so happy that I stumbled upon the MTA podcasts and am excited to be a part of this group! -Jayme N.

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