I am a
cafeteria runner. No, that doesn’t mean that I plan my routes around my
favorite eateries, though, now that you mention it that’s not a bad idea.
As runners,
we’re inundated by information and advice from books, magazines, websites,
coaches and fellow runners. Topics covered range from running form, nutrition
and hydration to which shoes to buy, how to lace them and which anti-chafing
product to use (Aquaphor!). And that’s just a start. Don’t forget about
stretching, strengthening, cross-training, watches, socks, shotblocks, apps,
maps, trails, sales, races, paces – I feel a song coming on. This can be
overwhelming whether you’re a seasoned distance runner or tackling your first
couch-to-5k. If I’m being completely honest, and why shouldn’t I be, I love
this stuff. I’m a total information junkie when it comes to running. Sometimes
I think I enjoy reading about running more than actually getting out and doing
it.
I’ve had a
lot of gurus over the years. I started out with Jeff Galloway, moved on to Dean
Karnazes, jumped on the barefoot craze, or rather, the concepts behind it. Then
it was Matt Fitzgerald, Keith and Kevin Hanson, and Danny Dreyer of Chi Running fame. With the
exception of the last one, I’ve fallen in and out of love with all of them. I’m
still in love with Chi Running. But here’s the thing - while I don’t worship at
the feet of any of these coaches, I’ve learned something important from all of
them. I don’t agree with everything they say (Galloway says runners shouldn’t
do yoga – what?!?!), but that doesn’t mean that I can’t hold onto the things
that work.
Are you
seeing the cafeteria analogy here? Here’s a selection of what’s on my running
plate:
Galloway – run/walk is a fabulous plan.
It really helped me get my brain around the idea of doing my first half marathon
back in 2009. You can break your run into little bite-sized nuggets of 4-minute
intervals rather than thinking about how many miles you have left. Galloway has
many anecdotes about seasoned runners who have improved their marathon times by
switching to a form of run/walk.
Karnazes – okay, I don’t really think
of him as a coach, but reading his book 50/50
inspired me to finally run my first full marathon. I mean if he can run a
marathon a day for 50 days, I can run one (or two or three) in my lifetime,
right? What really moved me, though, were his stories of the people who came
out and ran with him during his adventure. Imagine choosing to run your first
ever marathon along side this guy!
Christopher McDougall – again, not a
coach, but his book Born to Run
introduced barefoot running to the masses for better or worse. Yes, Vibram got
themselves into big trouble by promising people the moon and delivering
injuries instead, but the wisdom behind barefoot running is still there. We
need to make our feet stronger, and many runners will find themselves in better
condition with fewer injuries by transitioning to a more minimal shoe. Just
don’t go out and run 5 miles in your 5 Fingers when you’ve done all of your
previous running in nice cushioned shoes.
Fitzgerald – Matt is all about strength
training and fuel. His books finally got me to the gym and onto the bike. I can
do pull-ups now, and that can’t be a bad thing. I still turn to him when I’m
looking to change up my weight-lifting routine. I find his heart rate method of
training a little too complicated – or maybe I just don’t want to invest in yet
another watch.
Hanson brothers – the jury’s still out
for me on these guys. Their radical approach to marathon training requires way
more mileage than other plans, with lots of tempo runs and speedwork and only
one rest day per week. I felt like I was in the best shape of my life while I
was doing a somewhat modified version of their plan (I replaced one easy run
day with cross-training on the bike). I also got my first, and hopefully last,
stress fracture on their plan, so maybe it was too much for me. The upside is
that the injury put a spotlight on my form issues.
Chi Running – I’ll confess that I
didn’t love the book. However, after trying and failing to read it, I had the
opportunity to attend a one-day workshop with local instructor, Laura Houston,
and I was hooked. I use some of Danny’s body loosening exercises before every
run, I visualize weird things like running with my arms wrapped around an
exercise ball and riding an itsy-bitsy unicycle. Of course one of the most
important concepts, running with a metronome to fix your cadence at 180bpm, is
something I haven’t embraced. It’s not that I don’t believe in it, it’s just
that the metronome really starts to irritate me after a while. I’ll keep
trying, Laura & Danny, I promise!
This is
certainly not an exhaustive list, either of what I’ve explored or of what’s out
there. The message here is to take your running coaching in stride – pun
intended. You don’t have to subscribe to any one method hook, line and sinker.
Running is not a one-size-fits-all activity, so keep both your mind and body
open to new ideas and find what works best for you, while keeping in mind that can
change from year to year. Now stop
reading and go for a run!
