Failing Up »
In my short running career I have had more than my share of memorable races, both good and bad. There was my first road race, a 5k in 90°F heat, for which I carbo-loaded the night before like I was running an ultra. That fettuccine Alfredo did me no favors on race day, but I [...]
Beat the Doldrums »
In the closing scene of “Finding Nemo,” the “tank gang” from P. Sherman’s dental office finally pull off the escape they’ve dreamt about for years. After Dr. Sherman places them in plastic bags to change the tank water, they roll their bags across the counter to an open window, freefall into the bushes below, then [...]
Running Through Adversity »
We runners are a hardy bunch. We push ourselves to exhaustion. We sometimes break bones and scrape skin seeking out stressful situations to see just how far we can push ourselves. Sometimes we do all this while overcoming some immense obstacles. If you’re San Luis Obispo, Calif., pulmonologist Tom Vendegna, 43, you run to reverse [...]
Money-Saving Tips for Runners »
It has been said more than once that running is a cheap sport. However, when adding up the money I spend on it over a year, I’m not sure I agree. As with everything you do, there are plenty of ways to spend your money. If you want to run along at a budget, try [...]
Can Running Ruin Your Teeth? »
Recently, I had a disappointing visit to my dentist. “Why so glum” you ask? Well, he found three cavities (tiny ones but still). Honestly, I’ve never had the toughest chompers—even as a kid I struggled with cavities whereas, my brother could chew on stones, never brush his teeth, and still never get a single cavity. [...]
12 Tips to a Terrific Taper »
Springtime is here, and with it come a multitude of spring marathons. If you’re closing in on an upcoming marathon, your actions during the final two weeks before the race are crucial to your performance. From that point on, it’s all about the taper. Tapering is a period of “active rest” when your body recovers [...]
5 Secrets to Balancing Running and Family »
I strongly believe in the value of high mileage, and as such spend a lot of time on the road. Running 80 miles or more per week at my usual training pace of roughly 8 minutes per mile sees me racking up somewhere between 11 and 12 hours each and every week during peak training. [...]
Video of the Week: A Friendly Reminder »
When we train we have good days and bad days. We have runs that work for us and give us confidence and then we have runs that go not so well and make us feel like poseurs who have no business running at all. Aren’t we funny? Well yes. Some of us are funny. Some [...]
An Insider’s Guide to the Boston Marathon »
For most marathoners, making it to the starting line in Hopkinton, Mass., is the completion of a long journey filled with endless miles of training and months of anticipation. But once you make it there, you still have a race to run, and a very difficult and entirely unique one at that. The Boston course [...]
Ethical Running »
It’s not often that ethical dilemmas occur during road races (at least those that don’t involve Rosie Ruiz), but two recent incidents got me thinking about how much responsibility each of us has to watch out for our fellow runners. In a 10K race recently, one of my teammates was up front the entire race, [...]
Featured Web Site: MapMyRun.com »
There is a new—or at least a totally redesigned—player in the route mapping Web space. MapMyRun.com has been online for quite sometime but has just recently released a new and improved beta site. Route mapping sites have become an essential part of my training plan and I think—after a brief review—that this is my new [...]
Don’t Be Nobody »
(Today we introduce Coach Peter, a Washington, D.C.-based runner, avid marathoner and coach with the D.C. Road Runners Club.) I ran a race in the country last summer where a deer came charging out of the underbrush lining the road, bowled a runner over and disappeared into the bushes on the other side. The runner [...]
Featured Web Site: Runners Rescue »
By now many of you are well into your training for upcoming races. Unfortunately injuries are often a part of training. Not sure what to do and looking for information? Runners Rescue offers just that. This sports podiatrist has pooled together information from many of his colleagues and physiotherapists to offer you essential information on [...]
Thoughts on a Month of Slack »
So, I’ve essentially taken a little bit more than a month “off,” thanks to a little bout of “plantar fascitis,” about which you can read much more on the site. And I’m having kind of a hard time getting back on track. I don’t think it’s lack of desire, or lack of willpower—there’s nothing so [...]
Sleep on This »
While listening last year to an archived episode of the Phedippidations podcast, host “Steve Runner” mentions that he got a great night’s sleep on the eve of the Cape Cod Marathon thanks to taking the sleep aid Ambien. It was the first time I’d heard of a runner taking a prescription drug to get some [...]
Diet: More Than Just a Four-Letter Word »
Never underestimate the effects of diet on your running performance. I presume by now we all know that plenty of carbohydrates are a runner’s best friend, and that the steak on the evening of your race won’t actually build your strength just in time for your new personal best. According to the experts, your training [...]
Retail Therapy: Performance Bondi Bands »
Last month I had the pleasure of working on a project with fellow RBF member Runningmomma Michelle. She shared with me that she was distributing these very cool Bondi Performance Headbands. Hmmm, a product I hadn’t heard of? This, of course, peaked the fashion maven’s curiosity. I ordered several, I tried them and it’s all [...]
Featured Web Site: Road Runners Club of America »
I discovered the Road Runners Club of America by accident when Googling “race etiquette” They had a pdf file on the topic and so much more.” The Road Runners Club of America is the national association of running clubs, running events, and runners dedicated to promoting long distance running as a competitive sport and as [...]
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance »
I’m a great believer in high mileage. While we all are, as they say, an experiment of one, and no two runners react the same to a certain type of training, a few principles do apply to all of us, and we can always learn from other’s experience. I’ve been a runner for nearly three [...]
QuickLink: Looking for Running Motivation? »
Head on over to Susan’s for some great tips and links to keep you motivated during these cold winter months. Link: Running Motivation
Doggone It! »
Imagine if you will an idyllic trail run. There you are, no one else around, the sounds of nature surrounding you, when suddenly you hear a crashing through the underbrush, and you come face to face with a dog the size of a small car. This is not an uncommon scenario. Here in Edmonton, we have approximately 40 off-leash sites. Many of these areas run through our river
Retail Therapy: Blister Beater Socks »
I don’t know about you, but nothing irks me more than having to pay $8 – $16 for a good pair of running socks. They’re socks! There’s not that much fabric to them. I have the same issue with underwear, but we won’t go there. I don’t have the answers to sock technology but according to Wikipedia, the average foot has 250,000 sweat glands, and the average pair of feet gives
A Different Kind of Runner »
About a month ago I was at a local running store helping register people for a local marathon training program when I overheard an interesting exchange between a newcomer and a coach trying to decide where to place her. “What’s your pace?” he asked. “I have no idea.” she responded.
Retail Therapy: Brooks Vapor-Dry 2 Hoodie »
Review of the Brooks Vapor Dry 2 Hoodie – a very versatile and functional cold weather running jacket.
Expert Fitness Advice for Free »
Our local newspaper runs articles every Friday on endurance sports and athletes. A couple of weeks ago sportswriter Don Norcross asked coaches, trainers and some pretty successful local athletes for fitness tips. Subjects ran the gamut from running, and triathlons to diet and general fitness. You can find them all on the San Diego Union-Tribune web site. I was struck by the numerous mentions on the importance of rest in training
Getting Fit with FitLink »
I recently wrote a review of FitLink.com. The site impressed me and the review I wrote caught the attention of Chris Charlier, one of the founders of FitLink.com. With this, I took the opportunity to ask Chris a few questions about him, the site, and his team’s vision for the future.
Reaching Painful Conclusions »
One of the most popular articles in last week’s online version of the New York Times was a story about whether it’s a good idea to run through pain. The high reader ranking wasn’t a surprise, even if the article’s placement in the fashion section was. The timing was perfect since newfound gym rats and overly enthusiastic runners are probably feelin’ it about now. A twinge to the outside of
Weight Loss and Measuring Up (Or Down) »
Losing weight is one of those perennial goals that people start in earnest this time of year. That includes runners vowing to shave their race times by paring down a few (or more) pounds. And thatís why many of us in the past week have headed to a calorie-counter or weight-loss site to first determine how much we can eat and still lose weight. The Body Mass Index is a popular
Running Away From Home »
On a recent trip to North Carolina, I was reminded how easily travel can affect my running routine—my hydration, nutrition and sleep were all affected simply by being in a new place. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, I also had to think more carefully about when, where and how I would run. Foolishly, I did little to plan ahead, and wound up running alone
Strength Training for Endurance Running »
Resistance training can aid in the prevention of injuries by building strength in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Resistance training can also balance the muscles, thereby leading to improvements in the mechanics of movement. PERIODIZATION: Use different training programs for different periods of the year and a series of progressions, or steps, in which athletes move [...]
Nike + iPod: What if You Don’t Run in Nike? »
When the Nike + iPod kit came out, I thought it was really a cool idea. The thought of integrating your music and a time/distance tool in to one neat little kit was really intriguing. The downside for me was the fact that I don’t really care for Nike shoes. Never have. Even when I [...]
Book Review: Guide to Road Racing »
I first picked up Alberto Salazar’s Guide to Road Racing while I was in the beginning stages of training for a marathon, I have gone back to it numerous times for various information. This is a solid reference for any runner as well as a good cover to cover read for anyone interested in starting [...]
Staying on the Safe Side »
Where I live, there’s little reason to use a treadmill during the winter. Mornings, afternoons and evenings are usually dry and cool but never bitter cold. You have numerous choices, all within an easy walk or drive: trails, tracks, urban parks, foothills and desert, bay and ocean fronts. You can even hike up a snow-capped [...]
Making It All Work: Integrating a Fitness Plan Into Life »
I’m a busy guy. In fact, I’m really, really busy. During the course of a typical day, I’m many things. I’m a full time student, a father of three young boys, a husband to one loving and patient wife, a dedicated employee, a paid on-call firefighter, a moderately consistent writer both here at CompleteRunning.com and [...]
Running with the Dogs »
It doesn’t take too much poking around my blog before you notice that I love my dogs, especially the newest edition to our family, an eight-month old Australian Shepherd named “Donkey.” While frequently too smart for his own good, he’s an excellent watchdog. His drive for running is never-ending. And being this woman’s best friend, [...]
Glycerol Loading for Improved Endurance »
While December is not normally the time of year one is trying to come up with strategies to “beat the heat,” it is something that may be on our minds come next summer, so now is a good time to start researching and considering your options. Much focus is placed on hydration for athletes, especially [...]
The 3 R’s of Running: Recovery, Rest, Recharge »
If you wind up on the injured list, a health care practitioner will usually tell you to follow the RICE acronym—rest, ice, compression and elevation. Take note that the very first letter— “R”—stands for “rest.” When you have a cold, the doctor tells you to “get some rest.” As you prepare for a big race, [...]
To Stretch, or Not to Stretch … That Is the Question »
We all know to do our stretches, right? I mean, we struggle to find time to do them, we don’t really want to do them, but we know we should do them … right? Well, maybe not. At least that’s what the recent research is pointing to for the sports included in triathlon. Before we [...]
Dress for Winter Running Success »
We’re pleased today to bring you an article from guest writer Joe Ely from Run With Perserverance. Thank you Joe! ——— I hate being uncomfortable. I am a cheapskate. I love to run year round. I live in Indiana. I am an engineer. Put these five facts together and, over the years, I’ve developed a [...]
Racing: Solo or Shared? »
A few months ago, while discussing my race strategy with my coach, he asked me if I intended to have a friend run the last six miles of the marathon with me. Without hesitating, I responded, “Yes, of course!” He went on to ask me if I was sure I didn’t want to reach the [...]
Speed Training: What to Do and What Not to Do »
Here are some thoughts on speed training adapted from a talk I gave recently to a general audience. [ad#inPost-Big] Do not run intervals too fast. Running intervals too fast is not only possible, but is by far the most common mistake made in doing speedwork. My training logs show that I was running 400-metre repeats [...]
The Hierarchy of Horsepower: Five Rules of the Road »
One of my track club’s most beloved female runners was killed by a motorist last year. She was cooling down from a workout and went to cross a street when the driver of a VW Beetle approached; she crashed into its windshield. The year before, another elite runner suffered broken bones after being mowed down [...]
Ignore the New Rules of Stretching at Your Own Peril »
Most experts agree on why you should stretch: 1. Stretching enhances muscle flexibility, 2. increase’s the body’s range of motion, 3. and can alleviate muscle stiffness. But, as far as most athletes are concerned (that’s you!), the most important thing about stretching is that the three reasons listed above combine to help you a) perform [...]
Gettin’ In Gear »
Runners often cite “affordability” as one of the reasons they are initially attracted to the sport. For the most part, the lack of equipment necessary to run translates to a minimum financial investment. A pair of running shoes usually does the trick. Of course, it’s probably more comfortable to run in shorts and a t-shirt [...]
8 Things Not to Do »
What follows is a compendium of what not to do when you are racing or training. There are generally two categories of bone headedness: too much testosterone and using myself as a human Guinea pig. Whatever you do, try not to do these things to yourself! 1. Wearing new or different shoes in a race. [...]
5 Signs You’re Overdoing It »
You might not have heard of two-time Comrades Marathon winner Lindsay Weight, nor are you probably aware that the South African sports scientist this month mysteriously died at the age of 44. An investigation has been launched to determine what happened before she collapsed in front of her home computer. She reportedly was training for [...]
It’s Not Supposed to Be Easy »
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got came from Olympian Steve Scott. He was talking to a group of us warming up before a long run and asked about our time goals for an upcoming marathon. “How many of you just want to finish?” he asked. About 50 hands shot up. Then [...]
100 Beginner Running Tips »
Welcome to the Complete Running Network 100 Beginner Running Tips where you will find beginner running, racing, training, apparel and shoe selection, motivation and inspiration and runner safety tips.
The Top 5 Tips for Buying Running Shoes »
I often encounter patients who have difficulty in finding the right shoes. Here are some suggestions to help you find the proper pair. 1. Try on shoes later in the day, not in the morning. As the day progresses our feet enlarge due to gravity pulling fluid from our body to its lowest point, our [...]
Five Things We Can Learn From the Elites »
If you’re like most recreational runners, you probably don’t have regular access to a coach. Some of the larger big-city running clubs have coaches on retainer and there a number of very good coaches who make a nice living working with runners remotely via the telephone and e-mail. But for the vast majority of amateurs, [...]
Subscribe by Email
Follow us on Twitter
Stumble This!
Tweet This!
