What's the best piece of running advice you've ever received?
www.thehalfmarathoner.com
Whether it was advice from a coach, something from a friend or in a running group, what is something you’ve heard and put into practice that has left the biggest impression on you?
Keep your hands loose - should be able to carry a potato chip in your hand without crushing it. (When my hands are loose, so are my arms, shoulders...you get the point)
I was that if I’m running a race as a novice runner, my goal should only be about finishing. If I set a goal to run a marathon in a certain number of minutes and then don’t achieve that - I will feel like a failure EVEN THOUGH I FINISHED THE THING. That has stuck with me.
I was at work talking about my bucket wish list “ someday I’d like to run a marathon “ and someone said go do it we don’t know what tomorrow holds I entered NY lottery and got in When I crossed the finish I knew it wasn’t the finish but the start of something great Know each step forward leads to something great
I've run since high school which was a very long time ago. The two things I'll never forget are, set a goal and don't go crazy and over-train for it. And secondly, enjoy it! My days of breaking my PR's are long gone. I run because I love the way it makes me feel when I cross the finish line or do a long run on a Sunday morning. If you don't truly enjoy it, what's the sense of doing it.
Using a realistic pace group (when available) - by staying with a lower pace group, I easily know if I'm feeling up to the challenge of moving ahead of the group. More often than not, this pushes me to improve goals and as a result my PR as well.
"when you feel it, go for it!" a girl told me this a long time ago. sometimes controlling your pace and monitoring your breathing just doesn't matter. i'll kick it into high gear if i'm feeling strong while going up a hill, or if i just get some strong internal energy.
Biggest impression on me was doing the virtual racing and doing my own time and doing my own program with the group through I love to run and doing challenges for a month and this is really improved my time and taking time for myself because I wasn't working and communicating with people and helping them with their goals as well I've gotten a lot faster I think this time of crisis you need to find something to focus you yourself on and prepare for your future racing with other people and it makes you appreciate racing more with other people's
Have a strategy for the entire half marathon. Begin planning with a thorough study of the conditions expected for the day. Check out the route map and especially the elevation chart. Know the weather forecast. If you can, travel the route a day or two before the race. The course isn’t always what it appears to be in pictures or charts. Then divide the race into segments that are developed around stretches that will require a pace or technique change. Plan an appropriate pace for each segment. Depending on the conditions, I usually use about three-mile segments, resting a bit in miles 10-13 to prep for a big push in mile 13 and a “Hollywood finish” in the last 0.1
‘Heart on fire- brain on ice’ and ‘I am an Athlete’ - words of wisdom from Ellie, my Women Walk the Marathon coach for my first marathon in 2001. 4 marathons and 80+ half marathons and lots of 10k races, I am still out there walking at age 73. Her words still motivate and inspire me daily!
From Laz Lake- always take care of your feet. Blisters are not normal- if you get one, take care of the cause. I changed shoes twice during the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee to find a pair that fit right!
Liking all the comments ahead of me , the getting older I hear ya ....I switched / changed to the 80/20 Running ( book by the same name ) it works for me , each person just needs to find what works best for them , I walk some on every run and take days off , that alone has reduced knee and leg recovery 99% . not worry about my time , just enjoy the road and trail runs even more . 1 quote I saw on here that really says alot " I'm a recreational runner and nothing depends on my running performance....But I'm adding unless I'm racing with family members LOL..and when I'm running trails ...To finish standing upright is my goal HA....Happy Holidays an Blessings to everyone ,
Rested legs are key and I may have read this here, or maybe a recent article somewhere, but that the best runners in the world train at about 80% of their actual potential which makes me feel less guilty about only doing 2 short runs &then maybe a long run, or mountain climb depending on my mood &what I'm training for per week. I always feel guilty when my friends ask how much I have to run per day to train for a marathon and I tell them how much I really run, but it works great for me to rest and then maybe go for a long run on the weekends.
Vary the workouts and don’t feel like you have to run every day. I kept getting injured with daily running as I got older. I cut back to every other day running and daily walks. It works much better for me now. And not every run is a race as has been said by many.
I mentioned this article before, but an quote by Christina Chung stated: “At the end of the day, I’m a recreational runner and nothing depends on my running performance. There’s no point in focusing on the fact that I’m slowing and feeling down about it.”
I can't run as fast as before, but I'm still moving forward.
Not every run is a race. If I didn't match or beat my time regularly I would feel like I wasn't progressing. There will be natural dips and accelerations in performance progress. Also, RELAX. Drop the shoulders and breathe how you need to rather than worrying about a specific breathing technique. That did alot for recovery and stamina. And good shoes...
An 80 year old friend of mine (Bill Welsh) told me that when you're injured, don't take a few weeks off to recover. He had seen too many people take a few weeks off, and then he never saw them again.
I also knew Ted Corbitt when he was in his 80's. When Ted was younger, he was a better runner than almost everybody. AS Ted got older, he had to walk his races and he was often the slowest one there. I learned from Ted to just keep moving, no matter how slowly, and to not let it bother you when you're not as good as you once were.
I think probably the piece of advice that most impacted my running was to go to a running specialty store to get fitted for shoes. When I started running I just picked up a pair of inexpensive Nike running shoes at Dicks Sporting Goods. I had a lot of shin and knee pain and figured that it just kind of came with the territory. In my research I came across an article on getting fitted for running shoes and it changed everything. Armed with my new shoes I was able to run with reduced pain and once the inflammation subsided, pretty much pain free! I don't know if I would have kept at it if I hadn't gotten the right shoes.
When I had the appetite to race, with a purpose (my “why”)
1. Regarding training: Trust the process. Listen to you body.
2. Regarding a race: Take the race in 3 sections: Section #1: run with your brain (steady, not too fast); Section #2: run with your body (for the bulk of the race mileage run with body feel for sustainable pace), Section #3: run with heart. (Use your “why” and go!)
Ongoing: Enjoy!
Learned so much in my 3 years running but these basics I foremost hold.
“Make your hard days HARD and your easy days EASY.” I used to* run too hard on ‘easy’ days, which left me too whupped to fully achieve my goals on the hard days.
[*full confession: the weather was so amazing yesterday that I “overdid” an easy run that may affect the comfort of my long run tomorrow. 🙄 This is clearly a work in progress 😎]
Its not reasonable to expect every run to be awesome. Not every day of your life is awesome, so don't get down if you have a couple bad runs in a row. Keep pushing, find the joy in what you do, and eventually you'll hit that runner high again - probably sooner than later.
"If you want to run fast, run fast." Just seemed to sum up every last thing about running for me. Deceptively simple and maddningly elusive!!! But. I shaved TWO MINUTES off my mile after that!!!
Best advice I received from a running coach in Cbus OH - Have Fun Running Out There! Trying to hit a PR can be stressful and people handle stress differently. I run for fun now and haven’t had runner’s fatigue or injuries in almost 2 years. I cross the finish line just like everyone else 😊.
“I’m not running to get faster, I’m running to get to know myself” - probably poorly paraphrased but credit to Edith’s Drawing Links newsletter. When I first read that it really struck a chord and has changed my perspective on the purpose of my runs. It’s a time that I get to spend just enjoying myself and appreciating the process.
Very recently..."The first 10 is the pace, last 3, the race". I had never heard that and it literally is a game changer for racing a half for me. My training plan (aggressive) had 2 long runs with that exact approach. Since I am newer to running, never knew that! Let's see if it pays off this Sunday in my half.
As an amateur (non pro) runner I have red one advice that changed my attitude to ruining and to my results: always compete and compare your results NOT to others but to earlier results of yours. This made the biggest impact to my scope. There are always faster runners unless you are champion, there are always someone who runs further, attends more challenges, participate more events. Measure yourself against yourself.
Honestly, it was that runners don't breathe exclusively through their noses! I thought the fact that I had to breathe through my mouth after 30 seconds meant I had to stop and wasn't strong enough to be a runner. Learning that runners breathe through both nose & mouth opened the door for the whole thing to me!
A long time friend who was a runner for most of her life introduced me to the concept of “negative splits” as something to strive for. I’ve made this a goal since I started running a few years ago. It has helped me make a habit of starting off long runs at a reasonable pace, leaving something in the tank for later, reaching for extra effort when it gets hard, and finishing strong.
STAND TALL, CHEST OUT, AND INCREASE CADENCE OR another step, another step,etc
As an older runner (60+), it was to run on "turf, trail, track or treadmill" to avoid wear and tear on my joints.
If you're not sure if you should run or not, at least go one mile and if you still are feeling quite right, stop.
Keep your hands loose - should be able to carry a potato chip in your hand without crushing it. (When my hands are loose, so are my arms, shoulders...you get the point)
When going up hills, shorten your stride and use your arms more. (Bob Glover)
Good idea! I have this little waist/hip carrier that holds 2 small water bottles..it comes in handy!
I was that if I’m running a race as a novice runner, my goal should only be about finishing. If I set a goal to run a marathon in a certain number of minutes and then don’t achieve that - I will feel like a failure EVEN THOUGH I FINISHED THE THING. That has stuck with me.
I was at work talking about my bucket wish list “ someday I’d like to run a marathon “ and someone said go do it we don’t know what tomorrow holds I entered NY lottery and got in When I crossed the finish I knew it wasn’t the finish but the start of something great Know each step forward leads to something great
There will be days when you want to run but can’t, don’t waste the days where you can run but won’t.
that i don't need to always "run hard, train hard". Enjoy more easy runs
If one is properly hydrated, running for 2 hours without wasting valuable time thinking about or taking on water is not necessary.
Just do it!🏃♀️and bring your water if you're going more than 5 miles!!!!🥤
I've run since high school which was a very long time ago. The two things I'll never forget are, set a goal and don't go crazy and over-train for it. And secondly, enjoy it! My days of breaking my PR's are long gone. I run because I love the way it makes me feel when I cross the finish line or do a long run on a Sunday morning. If you don't truly enjoy it, what's the sense of doing it.
Using a realistic pace group (when available) - by staying with a lower pace group, I easily know if I'm feeling up to the challenge of moving ahead of the group. More often than not, this pushes me to improve goals and as a result my PR as well.
"when you feel it, go for it!" a girl told me this a long time ago. sometimes controlling your pace and monitoring your breathing just doesn't matter. i'll kick it into high gear if i'm feeling strong while going up a hill, or if i just get some strong internal energy.
Biggest impression on me was doing the virtual racing and doing my own time and doing my own program with the group through I love to run and doing challenges for a month and this is really improved my time and taking time for myself because I wasn't working and communicating with people and helping them with their goals as well I've gotten a lot faster I think this time of crisis you need to find something to focus you yourself on and prepare for your future racing with other people and it makes you appreciate racing more with other people's
"Rest days"
One of the most difficult things in a marathon is getting to the starting line healthy, and when you cross the finish line you will be changed forever
Have a strategy for the entire half marathon. Begin planning with a thorough study of the conditions expected for the day. Check out the route map and especially the elevation chart. Know the weather forecast. If you can, travel the route a day or two before the race. The course isn’t always what it appears to be in pictures or charts. Then divide the race into segments that are developed around stretches that will require a pace or technique change. Plan an appropriate pace for each segment. Depending on the conditions, I usually use about three-mile segments, resting a bit in miles 10-13 to prep for a big push in mile 13 and a “Hollywood finish” in the last 0.1
"You will start and you will finish" when I was having a fit of nerves before my first marathon. Now its our mantra when we are starting a race.
‘Heart on fire- brain on ice’ and ‘I am an Athlete’ - words of wisdom from Ellie, my Women Walk the Marathon coach for my first marathon in 2001. 4 marathons and 80+ half marathons and lots of 10k races, I am still out there walking at age 73. Her words still motivate and inspire me daily!
From Laz Lake- always take care of your feet. Blisters are not normal- if you get one, take care of the cause. I changed shoes twice during the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee to find a pair that fit right!
Liking all the comments ahead of me , the getting older I hear ya ....I switched / changed to the 80/20 Running ( book by the same name ) it works for me , each person just needs to find what works best for them , I walk some on every run and take days off , that alone has reduced knee and leg recovery 99% . not worry about my time , just enjoy the road and trail runs even more . 1 quote I saw on here that really says alot " I'm a recreational runner and nothing depends on my running performance....But I'm adding unless I'm racing with family members LOL..and when I'm running trails ...To finish standing upright is my goal HA....Happy Holidays an Blessings to everyone ,
Rested legs are key and I may have read this here, or maybe a recent article somewhere, but that the best runners in the world train at about 80% of their actual potential which makes me feel less guilty about only doing 2 short runs &then maybe a long run, or mountain climb depending on my mood &what I'm training for per week. I always feel guilty when my friends ask how much I have to run per day to train for a marathon and I tell them how much I really run, but it works great for me to rest and then maybe go for a long run on the weekends.
Relax.
show up for the race uninjured!!
Consistency, long runs & variety of pace
Vary the workouts and don’t feel like you have to run every day. I kept getting injured with daily running as I got older. I cut back to every other day running and daily walks. It works much better for me now. And not every run is a race as has been said by many.
I mentioned this article before, but an quote by Christina Chung stated: “At the end of the day, I’m a recreational runner and nothing depends on my running performance. There’s no point in focusing on the fact that I’m slowing and feeling down about it.”
I can't run as fast as before, but I'm still moving forward.
Just put one foot in front of the other.
"Respect Rest Days", they are an important part of the training process.
Reduce the length of your stride when going up a hill.
To vary my training with easy runs, hard runs, short runs, and long runs.
Don't let ego overrule good judgment.
(My first running coach used to say that whenever I was trying to push through potential injury or not feeling well.)
Not every run is a race. If I didn't match or beat my time regularly I would feel like I wasn't progressing. There will be natural dips and accelerations in performance progress. Also, RELAX. Drop the shoulders and breathe how you need to rather than worrying about a specific breathing technique. That did alot for recovery and stamina. And good shoes...
An 80 year old friend of mine (Bill Welsh) told me that when you're injured, don't take a few weeks off to recover. He had seen too many people take a few weeks off, and then he never saw them again.
I also knew Ted Corbitt when he was in his 80's. When Ted was younger, he was a better runner than almost everybody. AS Ted got older, he had to walk his races and he was often the slowest one there. I learned from Ted to just keep moving, no matter how slowly, and to not let it bother you when you're not as good as you once were.
I think probably the piece of advice that most impacted my running was to go to a running specialty store to get fitted for shoes. When I started running I just picked up a pair of inexpensive Nike running shoes at Dicks Sporting Goods. I had a lot of shin and knee pain and figured that it just kind of came with the territory. In my research I came across an article on getting fitted for running shoes and it changed everything. Armed with my new shoes I was able to run with reduced pain and once the inflammation subsided, pretty much pain free! I don't know if I would have kept at it if I hadn't gotten the right shoes.
Early on: Enjoy.
When I had the appetite to race, with a purpose (my “why”)
1. Regarding training: Trust the process. Listen to you body.
2. Regarding a race: Take the race in 3 sections: Section #1: run with your brain (steady, not too fast); Section #2: run with your body (for the bulk of the race mileage run with body feel for sustainable pace), Section #3: run with heart. (Use your “why” and go!)
Ongoing: Enjoy!
Learned so much in my 3 years running but these basics I foremost hold.
“Make your hard days HARD and your easy days EASY.” I used to* run too hard on ‘easy’ days, which left me too whupped to fully achieve my goals on the hard days.
[*full confession: the weather was so amazing yesterday that I “overdid” an easy run that may affect the comfort of my long run tomorrow. 🙄 This is clearly a work in progress 😎]
Its not reasonable to expect every run to be awesome. Not every day of your life is awesome, so don't get down if you have a couple bad runs in a row. Keep pushing, find the joy in what you do, and eventually you'll hit that runner high again - probably sooner than later.
"If you want to run fast, run fast." Just seemed to sum up every last thing about running for me. Deceptively simple and maddningly elusive!!! But. I shaved TWO MINUTES off my mile after that!!!
Best advice I received from a running coach in Cbus OH - Have Fun Running Out There! Trying to hit a PR can be stressful and people handle stress differently. I run for fun now and haven’t had runner’s fatigue or injuries in almost 2 years. I cross the finish line just like everyone else 😊.
“I’m not running to get faster, I’m running to get to know myself” - probably poorly paraphrased but credit to Edith’s Drawing Links newsletter. When I first read that it really struck a chord and has changed my perspective on the purpose of my runs. It’s a time that I get to spend just enjoying myself and appreciating the process.
Rest days are as important as work outs
Don’t worry about how fast you run! If you’re out there, you’re already far ahead of the couch potatoes😉
Very recently..."The first 10 is the pace, last 3, the race". I had never heard that and it literally is a game changer for racing a half for me. My training plan (aggressive) had 2 long runs with that exact approach. Since I am newer to running, never knew that! Let's see if it pays off this Sunday in my half.
As an amateur (non pro) runner I have red one advice that changed my attitude to ruining and to my results: always compete and compare your results NOT to others but to earlier results of yours. This made the biggest impact to my scope. There are always faster runners unless you are champion, there are always someone who runs further, attends more challenges, participate more events. Measure yourself against yourself.
Honestly, it was that runners don't breathe exclusively through their noses! I thought the fact that I had to breathe through my mouth after 30 seconds meant I had to stop and wasn't strong enough to be a runner. Learning that runners breathe through both nose & mouth opened the door for the whole thing to me!
A long time friend who was a runner for most of her life introduced me to the concept of “negative splits” as something to strive for. I’ve made this a goal since I started running a few years ago. It has helped me make a habit of starting off long runs at a reasonable pace, leaving something in the tank for later, reaching for extra effort when it gets hard, and finishing strong.
Find running shoes that work for you. Keep trying until you do.