Training, injuries, coaching, and more
In my previous post, I mentioned how caffeine can boost athletic performance by stimulating the central nervous system, which in turn makes a given effort seem easier–the rated perceived exertion (RPE) drops. I was leading you on a bit: the drop in RPE isn't the whole story with caffeine. In fact, it only accounts for ... Read more
In my last post, I discussed how a preponderance of studies show that your running mechanics change when you are fatigued. The specifics of what changes occur are difficult to discern, as they likely vary from person to person. Before moving on, I noted a problem with conflating all of these studies, a problem that ... Read more
I've had injuries on the brain lately. Why do they happen? My high school's training room had a sign outside that said "Running injury? TOO MUCH, TOO FAR, TOO SOON." Needless to say, the trainer wasn't very helpful. But the medical/scientific consensus isn't much more helpful than that. Overuse injuries are "tissue damage that results ... Read more
One of the first things we blame whenever we get injured is our shoes. Most runners are keenly aware of all the minute details of their footwear, and they are easy to pin the blame on. Whether it's the shoddy upper of the updated model, a too-stiff midsole, shoes that are too run-down, or an ... Read more
The New York Times has a nasty habit of writing poorly-researched exercise science articles. They go something like this: A new study by professor so-and-so at such-and-such university upends some widely-accepted fact about exercise, and we're darn luck to have these scientists (and the clever journalist) telling us that common sense is wrong. You have ... Read more
Renato Canova is a world-famous coach who instructs many of the best athletes in the world. He has worked with the Italian national team in the past, but today, he works mainly with athletes in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. His athletes have won Olympic and World Championship medals, as well as setting national and world ... Read more
Glad you're reading my blog. I'm a recent Carleton College graduate with a penchant for running and an inclination towards writing. My high school coach encouraged his athletes to become "students of the sport," and I quickly took to it. I've spent a lot of time reading and studying running-related topics in the past six ... Read more