Training, injuries, coaching, and more
Do you have a sharp, aching pain on the top of your foot when you run? If so, it might be a metatarsal stress fracture. The metatarsals are perhaps the most elegant bones in your lower body. The five long, slender bones extend from your midfoot to your toe joints, and despite their small size, ... Read more
Hello to all readers! You’ve no doubt noticed an embarrassing lack of content on Running Writings in the last year or so, so I’m here to provide a brief update. I’ve been surprised and pleased by the fact that despite this, RunningWritings continues to be quite popular in search results, and I’m still contacted rather ... Read more
When I see a runner getting fatigued early on in workouts or struggling mightily in races for no good reason, there's one potential cause I always consider first: low iron. Iron deficiency is a significantly underdiagnosed problem in distance runners. Low levels of hemoglobin in the blood, or low levels of the iron storage protein ... Read more
I'm the featured guest on a new podcast episode from the Connect Run Club! We talk about the science of distance running, including VO2 max, more effective training strategies, and injury prevention. Check it out! Thanks to the folks at Connect Run Club for having me on—check out their website here. Hope you all enjoy ... Read more
Perhaps because of the popularity of David Epstein's talent-centric book The Sports Gene, much of the modern conversation about high-level distance running has turned to talent: where it comes from, how to spot it, and how to develop it. One piece often missing from the conversation is what it actually means to be talented. We ... Read more
Photo: Drew Geraets The 40th annual Grandma's Marathon was held this past weekend in Duluth, Minnesota. Grandma's is a staple of the Midwest marathon scene and is perennially praised as one of the best races in America. The point-to-point course is a beautiful route that starts in the north woods of Two Harbors and follows ... Read more
Are you looking for a shortcut? Are you not very talented? Maybe you should read this article instead! Five steps to success at high school distance running Writing the perfect training plan is easy. There are plenty of philosophical debates on the internet about the finer points of workouts, paces, etc., but most coaches can ... Read more
Do you understand why you go running? I don't mean on a philosophical or motivational level; I mean on an actual performance-related day-to-day level: do you know why and how going for a regular run (as opposed to an interval workout or a specifically-paced tempo session) helps you run faster? If you know your physiology— ... Read more
Welcome to our special coverage of the "World's Fastest Marathon" presented by Johnson & Johnson, I'm host Tim Hutchings here with co-commentator Stuart Storey, broadcasting live from beautiful Atlantic City, New Jersey. Conditions could hardly be better—as we approach our 8 p.m. start time, the temperature has sunk to a chilly 36° Fahrenheit, and there's ... Read more
Have you ever run on an AlterG? Once firmly in the realm of space-age gadgetry only available to professional athletes, AlterG anti-gravity treadmills seem to be cropping up everywhere nowadays. College athletic departments, physical therapy offices, and even the occasional high school are purchasing AlterGs for their widely lauded ability to allow runners and other ... Read more