Ask me a question about running.
I asked a simple question on Facebook and got a slew of responses.
Q: Mark Robert Sands Interesting thought, in your opinion, is this pandemic going to create a 2nd running boom out of necessity? Non runners can’t work out in gyms & people who are already runners now, have most likely, zero chance of racing in 2019? Both of this things make me think so.
A: Good question. I def saw a lot of folks who looked like they never ran before when I was driving next to the bike path on the Charles in Boston last week. Seemed like the whole world was out.
The question is whether all these new bored runners will sustain the habit or not. I suppose like everything else it will be a curve, with the one-and-done on one side and the newly-discovered-love-of-exercise on the other.
Knowing human nature I’d guess 99% of people will revert to the norm.
Q: Anthony Mavilia Bang for your buck, the best track workout for an over the hill, semi-competitive 10k racer?
A: 1600’s. Last workout 2 weeks before race 8 X 1 – back schedule from there. 2- or 3-week waves. Race pace -30-45 sec.
You could get away with 800’s for a 10K as well. Work up to 6-8 miles worth of speedwork, once or twice a week for 8-12 weeks and you will crush a 10k or half.
Q: Greg Boncimino Do you run with or without a phone? I have run 1800+ miles per year for last 8 years without a phone.
In fact, part of the reason I love running so much is being away from the phone. I’m not running in the mountains, just suburban streets. Yet, recently my running club is giving me grief.
As an old schooler, I’m hoping you can back me up – no phone is better!
A: Personal choice. I think if you always run with a phone you should try running without one for a week and vice versa. See how the other half lives. Lean in. You might learn something.
Q: Tim Cleary Which of you many marathons had the most difficult course?
A: That’s a good question. Modern marathon courses aren’t difficult by design. I have battled the most at Boston. I’ve battled a lot of courses. I seem to make them harder than they should be. I guess I’ll have to seek out some harder courses in retirement Tim. Maybe you and I can take it on as a project? 10 hardest marathons? Sounds like a great Netflix documentary.
Q: Eric Coffin Chris, is there life beyond plantar fasciitis?
A: Yes. Yes, there is. It’s a long journey but you can come out the other end of plantar fasciitis stronger and a better runner. This too shall pass
Q: Ginny Stasinski Chris, what will the weather be for MCM 2020?
A: Sunny with a NW wind of 5mph.
Q: James Harris If you were being chased by a animal would you rather it be… a brown bear 🐻 or a wolf pack 🐺 please give reasons. 😊
A: For safety reasons probably a brown bear because they are not that viscous. For intellectual curiosity the wolves. It’s the grizzlies that are carnivorous and will hunt you down.
Q: Brad Harper Why do you run?
A: Chris Russell Used to be a journey of discovery, now it’s mostly habit.
Q: Kerry Ann Munroe Madden Please share your 1. Best cross training strength exercises that help you to be a better runner and 2. Best mobility/flexibility strategies to keep your body moving
A: I do a total body core workout of some version 2X a week. and I do 30 min of some sort of yoga 2X per week. You can search my blog but the core workouts shift around from arms to core to legs depending on where I am in a cycle. The yoga is any beginner yoga for Runners. You can search on specific body parts in Youtube and find them easily. Yoga for hamstrigs, yoga for quads.
Q: John Rumore Does running in the cold weather increase your risk for respiratory viruses?
A: “Piecing the available evidence together, I draw a different conclusion than either traditional wisdom or current medical opinion — 1) It is clear that in order to catch a respiratory infection of any type, one must be exposed to the causative organism; 2) If exposed, however, it is more likely that an individual will become sick if he or she has been breathing cold air.”
Dr. Greene
https://www.drgreene.com/qa-articles/cold-air-colds
Q: Brad Harper Whats the best way to determine your max heart rate (only have wrist based device)?
A: 5K threshold test. Warm up for 20 minutes. Run for 30 minutes as hard as you can. Cool down. Regardless of your device you will see your max HR and threshold in that data.
Q: David Michaud Do you think you’ve run more than 100,000 miles in your lifetime yet?
A: No, let’s say 2,000 * 20 = 40K give or take. I didn’t start running seriously until I was in my 30’s.
Q: Daniel Why is running the marathon so hard and the half marathon feels easy ?
A: Because half marathons are shorter.
Q: Ken Weary Best recovery for a calf strain?
A: Basically take two weeks off and DON’T keep testing it. Do your yoga and stretching. Self massage with your fingers to loosen it up and judge how it’s healing. Might consider calf sleeves for those first couple weeks back training.
Q: Alfredo Garibay Soto: Después de esta cuarentena como debo regresar… Deje un fondo de 28k. Como debería ser mi plan para la primera semana de retorno. Como debo afrontar mentalmente este encierro?
A: Bueno, realmente no hay razón para dejar de entrenar. ¿Todavía no puedes salir a correr en solitario? Si no puede, entonces aumente su rutina interior con muchos ejercicios de piso y básicos. No perderá ningún estado físico significativo durante 3 semanas.
Cuando regreses, solo regresa el horario de tu carrera y entra en el plan. Sería fácil la primera semana para evitar una lesión por uso excesivo.
Q: Daniel Nowak Is running twice a day beneficial ? and should I do doubles on 60 miles per week or 70 ?
A: Depends what you’re training for, your age, your ability. I did doubles in ultra training cycles just to get the miles and the ‘running on tired legs’. Sounds like you’re talking more about road racing. Some of the pros do two workouts a day but they’re up over 100 miles a week. It’s ok, sometimes to split one workout into two to find the time. I’d defer to your plan and your coach.