Running Writings

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

Weights, general strength circuits, plyometrics, and hip/core strength exercises all have their place in the training of a distance runner.  Today, I’d like to focus on general strength circuitsspecifically.  Each word in that phrase has a particular meaning.  General means not specific. i.e. not exercises that are very similar to running or that involve running.  … Read more

I try to avoid anecdotes and personal histories when dealing with running injuries.  They’re fraught with the dangers of recall and confirmation bias, and worse, people seem hardwired to give more credence to a personal story than reams of scientific data.  But in the case of loss of leg coordination, I don’t really have a … Read more