"your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality." ~Ralph Marston

Why is it so much easier to question myself than it is to be encouraged? I am finding that almost every time I push myself hard for a race or a long run I am constantly questioning myself. Lately the voices ask; “why have I decided to sign up for this 50K and more importantly why did I tell anyone I was going to do it?” and “It would be so much easier if I kept my big mouth shut to change my plans.” Maybe I…

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I got up at 6am...nice to be able to sleep in for a 9am race start! Got my coffee and breakfast down feeling very anxious. Road races are not what I'm used to, especially recently. I haven't been on anything but trail since last winter. The bigger source of anxiety for me is the fact that road races = speed tests... for coach to see where I am at and what we need to work on.  It's a test of my raw speed and endurance. I tend to feel very exposed and vulnerable. I was anxious for sure, but…

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I was recently asked by the NY Daily News whether it was healthy for a six year old girl to run a half marathon.

Here is her story and my response.  What's your opinion?

6 Year Old Runs Half Marathon

EO's response:

I think we get into trouble when we try and make general…

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New member here.  Two years ago I started running.  I was one of those who thought it was a waste of time and body use.  I am almost 50 and for years I was a league volleyball and softball player.  For the past 15years my job (evening/night shift) pretty much canceled those two activities out so I have not been all that physically active.  As a result I weighed more than ever.  I felt lethargic.  I began to have the urgency that I need to do something to get myself in shape so I started…

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"The more you do it, the more you want to do it, and thus the more motivated and capable you are to do it. It’s not always easy if you are somewhere that you’ve been dozens of times previously, but you can always slow things down, look around, look for something new, and go explore it. As soon as you do this, you will find yourself wanting more. The satisfaction of doing this will make you want to look for more, and no matter how many times you have been down the same trail, you will begin…

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Tulsa Run 15k Saturday. Coach has set some pacing goals to "challenge" me. He also wants me to come up with mantra to help me focus amd challenge the pace. Any suggestions? "Don't puke" was my first thought ;)

Hi

I loved the book The Cool Impossible. This year I completed  the Lakeland 50mile  Ultra in the UK  with a injured knee - I so want to try and run this well without injury next year so I am taking on Eric's training. 

It is the first time I have used the Fit ball  and I'm not finding it easy to balance on but will persevere -any tips will be gratefully received.

Patricia

the 25k was a small piece of my Pumpkin Holler experience. I am now beginning to realize how incredibly enriching an “event” can be. I’ve missed out on “the event” for much of the last 3 years of my racing. Showing up just before the race and leaving soon after.

This event is right in my backyard. It’s on the Illinois river and takes  the backroads around  the hollers in NE Oklahoma. Undulating dirt roads…

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Sorry, but 24 hours later I'm still very excited about this workout...so I just have to share.  But, first I love Eric's system.  The strengthening exercises, the tests, the variety of the running workouts...I'm excited just thinking about impact this system has had on my athletic performance.  (I actually think it has helped with my golf swing, but that's another story.)  The workout yesterday was phase 1 week 10 day 4.  I simply love this workout.  I know this word is overused these days,…

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Here is a great podcast conducted by Bob Babbitt of The Competitor's Radio Show

“The Cool Impossible is by far one of the best training books of the past decade.” - Competitor Magazine…

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I should start with targets, because they matter much more than the history. 

First, my current goal: run Boston Marathon in 3h25'. Then I want to run some trail 50 miles or longer ultras with a good pace. Recently, on October 12-th 2013, I ran the Baltimore Marathon in 3h34'44". It's approximately 5 minutes better than my a year-old results of the same marathon. But I was trying to get it in 3h25', and until mile 16 it looked very achievable. On mile 16 my hamstrings started…

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Our Canyon de Chelly adventure began Thursday morning. I received an email from race director that there had been cancelations and we got in if we wanted to come. The opportunity to spend time with the Navajo and be welcomed on their land and introduced to their culture was irresistible. Everything seemed to work out just right and we headed out that evening. As we entered the Navajo reservation, memories of my young childhood flooded in. The years we lived in Arizona, and specifically, the few… Continue

I am sitting in Mc Donalds...By myself for the first time in over 40 hours. Knowing I must be tired and hungry and a little delirious to be at McDonalds finding 2 double cheeseburgers, fries and a coke the most fabulous meal....the other options were less appealing and involved chicken nuggets at a gas station served by a Chicken wearing boxing gloves. I had the opportunity to crew, pace, and work medical for this race over the course of 30 hours. 

The day began with hotter than…

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The old saying "Everything in Moderation" is a classic, but in my opinion it leads only to being average.  Being your best is a choice, and consistently making good nutrition choices leads to peak performance.

We all have a choice of how we want to eat.  We know what is best for us: simple, natural, nutrient-dence foods.  The challenge is choosing to eat that…

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Just read book! I have a marathon May 2014. Looking for advice, do I have enough time to switch my running style to correct form?  Waiting to source equipment, meanwhile improvised on power plate/rolled towel, very first lot of foot exercises.   Big revelation, I am a bent leg runner, no wonder no matter how hard I tried to run I did not get anywhere fast, also explains my well developed quads! Went out and tried two 1 mile runs (wearing normal brooks mid stability shoes) managed to keep on…

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Things are going well, not much new to report from these two week, Phase 1 is almost done. I've been doing some night running and it turns out that Las Vegas is not a barren lifeless desert.

Glad I wasn't doing a barefoot run with this guy.…

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... So I had some time and was on the irunfar website and reading race reports of UROC and interviews and wishing I were younger and faster and able to compete and starting to feel a little sorry for myself...then a friend downloaded that You tube video and I got to thinking about what all i’ve done this past year and what I’m hoping to accomplish next year.  I realized, although the ponds around here are small....I’ve won races in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and now Kansas too. All in 1… Continue

The G2G is a 6 day self supported stage race (they supply tent and water).  I could write a book on this experience, instead I want to focus on the last advice that Eric gave me before I headed into the desert.  My velcro on my shoe that was to secure my gaiters was coming off and I started to panic.  People were talking about how important it is to have the right gaiters and how you should attach them to save your feet from blisters.  I had done it completely wrong according to some people…

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