Category Archives: Spring Fever Checklist

Spring Fever Checklist: “Here Comes Summer” Edition

Posted on May 11, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Our Spring Fever Checklist series was all about getting the gear you need to kick off running season right. Well with the season now in full swing, most of us have the basics covered. Hopefully you’ve been getting out there and having some great runs, but as we all know, the real challenge is staying consistent and sticking with it.

Do you have a training plan? Nicer weather and cabin fever can make getting out for a run the easiest thing in the world. A month or so down the road, though, when breezy spring might turn into a hot and hazy summer, motivation can once again become more of an issue. Laying out a training plan now, when you’re feeling energized and excited, can help you ride that high through the summer months.

If you are a brand new runner but aren’t yet working towards a 5k or similar event, our Ease into 5k program can be the perfect thing to keep you on track. If you are already comfortable with a 5k (some of you cover that much ground every day), setting your sights on a longer distance can help you build fitness
and stay out of a training rut. Check out Bridge to 10K, for example, or an even longer distance with our full or half marathon programs.

Whatever program you choose, the idea is simply to lay out a plan now and let it carry you through the summer months. It’s amazing what having your workouts laid out ahead of you like that can do.

Leave a comment

Posted in Spring Fever Checklist

Spring Fever Checklist: Shopping for Shades

Posted on April 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

When it comes to sunglasses, passions can run deep…especially for runners. Some of us swear by the pair we bought at a gas station in 2007 and others insist that they can’t properly protect their eyes for anything that doesn’t cost $100+ and come in a little black pouch.

We aren’t here to pass judgement on one camp or the other. But there are a few general principles of sunglasses selection that we can all agree on, which hold true no matter what your favorite style or price point. If you’re in the market for a new set of shades, keep a few things in mind as you shop. Continue Reading

Leave a comment

Posted in Spring Fever Checklist

Spring Fever Checklist: Grab an app?

Posted on March 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

If you’re reading this, chances are that you already realize what a difference your phone or iPod can make when it comes to getting fit.  Our approach is designed not just to get you from one fitness level to another, but to do it from the palm of your hand, keeping you on track and motivating you along the way.

As Spring approaches, consider making a small purchase or two to up your game for the coming running season.  Here are three ideas. Continue Reading

Leave a comment

Posted in BootCamp, iPhone, iPhone App, Motivation, Running, Spring Fever Checklist

Spring Fever Checklist: Your Runner’s Tacklebox

Posted on March 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Before we know it, the Spring running season will be here and those of us who have been chased inside by the cold will venture back into real world training, all squinty and happy.  Our forward-looking Spring Fever Checklist series will give you some things to think about between now and then.  

As we start to get outside more and more, now is as good a time as any to make sure you have a few essentials on hand for the inevitable small annoyances and minor emergencies that come up during training.  Unless you’re a serious distance runner or are trekking through the wilderness someplace, these aren’t things you’ll need to have on your body while you run.

Sometimes the difference between a good run and a lousy one (or no run at all) is something simple like a band-aid or a pair of tweezers.  Make sure you have whatever you need on hand by tossing some good-to-haves into a small bag and putting it someplace that you’ll know where it is.

With any luck, you’ll never need them.  But if you do, you’ll be glad they’re close at hand.  Here’s the list:  Continue Reading

Leave a comment

Posted in Running, Spring Fever Checklist

Spring Fever Checklist: Upper Body Tuning

Posted on March 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Before we know it, the Spring running season will be here and those of us who have been chased inside by the cold will venture back into real world training, all squinty and happy.  Our forward-looking Spring Fever Checklist series will give you some things to think about between now and then.  

We’re kicking off the Checklist with a post about Upper Body Training for two reasons: (1) the upper body is both important and often neglected as part of a runner’s form and (2) now is a great time to do something about it.

We’ve talked about it before.  Running with poor form makes you feel less comfortable, fatigue more quickly, and cover less ground.  Now obviously, your lower body is the business end of running, but there are also plenty of upper body pitfalls that can rob you of your speed for no good reason. Continue Reading

Leave a comment

Posted in blog, Motivation, Running, Spring Fever Checklist