Following the the turn of the new year and a few miles out on the trails I've had a chance to think of all the awesome things I most enjoyed in 2016. In no specific order and with no attention to category, here are a few items that highlighted the last 12 months.
Ragnar Relay: Great River
Team Runnin' with The Wolves made my Ragnar Relay dream come true
In August I had the privilege of participating in the Ragnar Relay: Great River event. Myself and 11 of my friends or former runners loaded up 2 SUV'S and pounded out the epic adventure that is Ragnar Relay.
It was the rookie debut for all of us and since all but two runners came from a competitive running background, we all had some level of expectation. Those expectations were quickly altered as we realized the awesome challenge ahead.
We did a lot right and left a lot to do better should we team up to do it again. But rest assured we were all so thankful for the experience. My personal highlight was a 10-mile segment run between 1-2:30 am with only my headlamp and the tail light of a runner about 20 meters ahead to guide me. The runner ahead was far beyond the halo of my lamp and her taillight was constantly disappearing and reappearing as we rounded bends, corners or climbed forest lined hills. I managed my half marathon pace for the segment rated as strenuous but that was a rookie mistake. I was completely toast for my final run that was one of the toughest on the course and one of my teammates ended up run-walking with me through mid day heat and humidity.
Overall it was an incredible experience and I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever considered taking on the challenge.
BOOK: The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage
Thank you, Paul Elie. (photo: Amazon.com)
This tome follows the life and career of Dorothy Day, Walker Percy, Thomas Merton and Flannery O'Connor. The text is woven together by the times and places these authors/thinkers/activists lives overlapped. Much of the book covers the ways each struggled to make their life and work unite with their Catholic faith.
I simply loved getting inside the minds of these influential writers and how they struggled with the social injustices of their day and also with the writing process. I think every Christian social justice advocate of today would do well to understand the experience of Dorothy Day.
It took some time to work my way through this beast but it was a great read and my favorite non-running related book I read in 2016.
RUNNING RELATED BOOK: 80/20 Running, Matt Fitzgerald
Not a new book but still worth the quick read. (photo: Amazon.com)
I've always enjoyed Matt Fitzgerald and this simple but insightful book was a good reminder for me. For myself and most of the runners I coach, keeping easy days easy so hard days can run well is the best recipe for success.
In short and maybe slightly incomplete summary, tracking your RPE in a good journaling process and balancing training with an 80% lower to 20% higher intensity ratio is the way to go. It's worked for beginners, youth, masters, national and international level runners and it's likely to work for you. The key to racing success is consistent long-term training and Fitzgerald and his sources present a great way to achieve that end.
OTHER DISCOVERIES:
EMAIL NEWSLETTERS (Running & Sport Performance related)
- The Morning Shakeout- Mario Fraioli @mariofraioli
- Peak Performance- Steve Magness & Brad Stulberg
PODCASTS
- HMMR Media- Strength & conditioning info, track & field bend with special connection to throwing events but very worth any S&C professionals time.
- Runner's Connect- a wide variety of interviews by Tina Muir with the many awesome folks in the running community.
Thanks for reading! See ya again soon.