Mojo For Running

With the right hill racing strategy and the finesse learned in the last episode, you'll be ready to crush any hill in any race, knowing that you have an edge over the other runners, knowing that your performance will be better because of your knowledge of hill strategy and your execution. It's not hard, but it's something most runners give little attention. Most runners hope to manage any hills in a race, but that's a mistake. You must own hills, and you can. Then, you'll be looking for races with hills because you'll know you have an advantage, and you'll be confident that you know exactly what to do. Mojo for Running Coaching

For most people, running hills is an element of running to tolerate, but to the wise, properly trained and knowledgeable runner, hills provide an avenue to faster running and faster races. Between improved conditioning from using hill training as speedwork and improved hill-running technique, any runner's mindset should change from dreading hills to embracing hills.

High intensity interval training has been a recognized training modality for a dozen years, now, and over that time its effectiveness and versatility have proven it to be worthy of inclusion in the training regimen of any serious runner, but more than that, we now know that high intensity interval training has many health benefits, including benefits for heart health. Resources mentioned in the episode: Mayo Clinic Podcast, Nutrition & Fitness, The Role of High Intensity Interval Training and Stregnth Training in Cardiovascular Health. NIH: High-intensity interval training for health benefits and care of cardiac diseases - The key to an efficient exercise protocol    

Progression runs do wonders for speed, endurance, and fitness, preparing the runner to run faster farther into their race, hopefully, ideally throughout their race, but also offering a wide range of fitness benefits. Simply put, a progression run starts slower and gets continually faster; however, as with all forms of speed work for running, the many variations make it possible to tweak the workout, optimizing it for the desired race goal or training goal, keeping it interesting while still challenging. Progression runs are an excellent means of improving running fitness.

The traditional tempo run is entirely different from the typical track type of speedwork, a workout that consists of continuous running at a given pace. Tempo runs are longer and less intense becauase of the longer distance, but they have their own valuable benefits that provide critical conditioning as well as mental training needed for longer race distances. In this episode, you'll learn how to do a tempo workout, and how to schedule it into the scope of your speedwork within your training cycle. Plus, Deb provides several examples of variations of tempo training. ImageLift

While a good track workout is always effective, adding other activities between sets will magnify the impact and make the workout more fun. As a result, you're likely to be more consistent with speed training and benefit more from it. Mojo for Running Coaching

Learn all about classic track workouts and the variety of ways they can be structured to meet any runner's training goals.

To get faster or stronger or even to build endurance, every experienced runner needs speedwork. This is the first of a series of episodes on speedwork for runners, what is a speedworkout, who should do it, how to add it to your running schedule, how often, types of speed training, how to maximize benefits, and what not to do.

The month of December tests our running training more than any other as holiday events too often steal running hours. Our already hectic schedules get still busier, increasing stress levels, meaning we need run therapy more than ever, but ironically, that's the last thing on many people's mind. The Mojo for Running December Challenge will provide accountability and motivation to help you maintain running fitness during this month, setting you for success in 2022.

Let's go back to the basics of how to move when you run, head to toe, from where to look, to the nuances of effective arm technique, what not to do and physical cues to help with practicing good running form. While everyone's form will be unique, based on their body, minor adjustments will still pay off with greater comfort, improved endurance, greater speed, and fewer running injuries, all good reasons to focus on running form during every mile of every run. The goal is to practice the running form that's easiest on the body, the most efficient form, a movement that is light and fluid. Since practice makes permanent, it's not enough to do form drills and then let it go or to practice form, occasionally. Every runner needs to think about form and make practicing the elements of good running form a daily ritual.  Two prior episodes referred to: MFR 77:  How to Run Hills, Part 1, Uphill MFR 78:  How to Run Hills, Part 2, Downhill This episode includes a reminder for listeners to enter the Gasparilla Distance Cl

Any runner or group of runners, of any level, can make up a fartlek workout on the fly, or pull out one of the traditional, time-tested fartlek workouts. Fartleks are especially good for injecting a bit of speed work into an easy or long-ish run during the basebuilding phase when it's best to avoid more structured, specific track workouts, saving them for later in the cycle when the speedwork needs to be more specific, more race oriented. This matters because from a psychological perspective, runners will benefit from more carefree, less structured running, fun running, but they still don't want to lose their edge by foregoing all speed work. Enter, fartleks, the perfect means of holding onto speed without going to a track. RunGasparilla.com/name-the-parrot-contest Run Tampa Tinsel Run Gear/equipment mentioned: Gymboss (wearable interval timer) Simple Interval Timer (iphone app)

Running success hinges on preparation. Crossing the finish line is the easy part, a celebration, the apex of all the training that prepared you to be there, the celebration of a well executed running training plan. The longer you run, the more races you train for, the more you'll appreciate the importance of a good training schedule, one that keeps you healthy while preparing you for your goal race. This episode explains the variables you'll see as you study your options along with guidance to help you evaluate their quality and assess whether they're right for you.

The almighty taper is a thing of beauty. Most experienced runners, and certainly any runner who's trained with a coach, knows about this masterpiece of training theory. No amount or type of training, no training regimen, however well executed, will fulfill its potential unless it ends with the appropriate taper period. If you're not familiar with the idea of tapering for a goal race, this episode will convince you never to omit this from another training cycle. If you are familiar with tapering, it will be a reminder and refresher of all that is required for the optimal taper.

One of the main attractions of running is the sheer simplicity of it. Running requires one thing, a pair of shoes - well, two things.  That simplicity is a thing of beauty, but to take it to any level beyond basic fitness, or just to make it more interesting, knowing and applying some basic training guidelines will be of great benefit. Many people, at least early on in their running career, run the same number of miles every day. Nothing wrong with that if extremely gradual improvement is the goal, and if it doesn't get too boring, but learning a few simple time-proven running training principles will make running a fascinating hobby as the runner has the ability and knowledge to plan weeks and months of training, evaluate how that training impacted their performance, and make adjustments. All this, and the variety in type and duration of workouts always adds to enjoyment of the sport. For a deeper dive into periodization, specifically, micro and macro cycles, check out Episodes 134 and 135 of this podcast. G

What a treadmill lacks in the way of the scenery and fresh air of an outdoor run, it makes up for in convenience and other benefits. Yes, there are reasons why anyone might do well to train on a treadmill at times.  From offering a softer surface than any street to providing a safe option when traveling, treadmills are a great option for any runner of any level, and while some describe them as dreadfully boring, calling them 'dreadmills,' an attitude check and a bit of creativity can banish that problem. Discover the benefits of treadmill running, treadmill workouts and a variety of tricks to make running inside entertaining.

I'm always looking for new ways to improve my fitness and enhance my running training, and one of my favorite is the mini trampoline, also known as a rebounder, which I use for 'rebounder running,' running in place on the rebounder. It is an affordable, relatively small piece of equipment, making it a great alternative to a treadmill and a good way to add miles while at home by running in place on it. Because it maximizes the plyometric element of running, a mile on a rebounder probably has greater impact on running conditioning while being, in fact, a much lower impact exercise, and so, easier on the joints. While running, when done correctly, doesn't ruin one's knees, for most runners, there is a point at which adding more miles would likely cause trouble, but like pool running, this is a gentler movement, from that standpoint.

Coach Deb Voiles announces topics for many upcoming episodes and shares the topics for the next dozen, expanding on an episode that will highlight the national problem of runners being locked out of 'public' school tracks. She asks listeners to weigh in about the situation where they live. Deb then provides an overview of other topics, such as running form, running cadence, the Alter G treadmill, electrolytes, and more, asking that you use the new record button on the Mojo for Running website to send your questions, and last, she promises to be consistent. As you work to get back to consistent running training, she commits to consistent podcast episode production to support you in returning to running at pre pandemic levels, or better yet, taking your running to new levels beyond past achievements.

Running trails requires different technical running skills, a different outlook, and different equipment, but it is so beyond worth it, and if that's not enough, your on-road running will greatly improve. Why? Because running on off road trails demands more work and more finesse. Your muscles work more and differently. You'll feel it the next day, that good feeling that you are getting fitter in a new way. You won't question whether it will pay off. You'll be confident that it will. In this episode, I break down everything you need to know, from running technique to gear and how to not get lost.

On and off-road miles are not equal. Off-road miles make you a better runner, make you more fit, and make you more sane. A mile in the woods holds greater value than any on-road mile. Running in the wild, produces startling results. It improves strength by engaging more muscles, especially the small muscles in the feet. It increases agility as each step is placed, avoiding roots or water or slippery spots, and it enhances proprioception as each step varies from the last, forcing constant split second communication between brain and muscles. All this makes better runners. All this will translate into faster running and better form when running and racing on roads, but there is so much more. At least as important as all the above is the mental pleasure of being out in the woods; it's truly run therapy, and there was never a time when it was more needed than right now. Today, I launched the Gnome Fest 250 Challenge.   

Optimize your running training by properly applying the hard easy principle.  You must keep your easy runs easy and your hard runs hard to get the desired training effect. Most runners are driven to check their watch, worried about their pace being too slow, even when it's an 'easy' run day, and this prevents much-needed, injury-preventing recovery.  In this episode, I explain the appropriate time differential between hard and easy runs and provide suggestions for how to avoid running too fast at the wrong time. Don't forget to subscribe.