Why I Coach

Running gives a real-life experience of the scientific method applied to our personal lives. While meticulous planning, scientific testing, and monitoring all have their place, they can’t give us a complete picture of our true, innate running ability. By over-focusing on tangible physiological benchmarks, we often overlook the intangibles: the psychological, spiritual, and even mystical factors (all very much at play in a breakthrough performance or a record-setting run) that allow us to tap into our energies and unlock our hidden potential.

Where I’m Coming From

I came into ultra running from a marathon background so I have a strong concept of structure. I’m at my best when drawing from the global history, philosophy, and spirituality of the sport, and putting that wisdom directly into practice. I like to suggest the principles to follow rather than tell someone what they should be doing all the time:

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

Peter Coe was ahead of the curve. He once said, “If speed is the name of the game, then never get too far away from it.” In other words, the quality of what you do is much more important than the quantity. Too much long, slow distance running creates long, slow runners. Why pound the life out of your legs when you can develop them with quality? This does not mean neglecting your easy days or aerobic development. That can easily be achieved through extensive cross country and trail running. The key sessions work around the lactate turning-point which trains the body’s transporters to utilize lactate as a productive energy source while removing lactic acid from the muscles.

A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO PACING

Every run does not have to be a programmed workout as long as we make every session that you do count – even your recovery runs. A sophisticated training schedule might include 1-mile, 5K, 10K, half and full marathon paced training sessions, all designed to prevent the runner from settling into just one modicum pace. Varying the speeds at which you train not only helps you become more efficient, it reduces your chances of injury by breaking up repetitive-motion patterns. The precise coordination required to sustain even a slightly faster pace, combined with the corresponding changes in cadence and habitual stride patterns, alleviates the stress of running at the same pace mile after mile.

Our latest posts:

The Role of Super Efforts

June 20, 2020

The Way of Running delves into a world unknown to most runners: we have much more strength than we think. Most of us believe we have reached our limits when we are no more than 70% exhausted. We rarely make full use of our strength due to chronic tension, anxious thoughts, and unskilled movement.

Keeping Mindfulness Real

June 18, 2020

One slight problem with today’s so-called “mindfulness movement” is due to vague, lofty claims and generalizations about what it is and what it can do, especially in the area of human performance. Thankfully, I now see how my enthusiasm for the topic can work against me: even though I have a meditation background (or perhaps because of it?), I can feel the powerful allure of such claims.

The Beat of an Athlete’s Heart

June 18, 2020

Understanding the physiological effects of positive emotions such as caring, compassion or appreciation for someone or something can actually go a long way in helping people reduce their risky training behaviors.