Hey there readers. You are all fabulous, beautiful people. I'd like to take a moment to thank those of you who are frequent readers and commentators. I also really appreciate all of you who have been getting in touch with me with your questions and thoughts about this blog and about running. Since I've been getting several questions recently regarding my training recently, I've decided to throw together a post answering the ones I hear most commonly.
What is your average weekly mileage?
I typically run about 45-50 miles a week once I've had an opportunity to build a base and get back in shape. On weeks that I have a serious race, I taper down to 35-40 miles. I'm not sure how much that will change once I am running in Bozeman, but so far training has been similar to what I have been doing with Jim in high school.
What kind of workouts work best for you?
I personally find that longer intervals, tempos and fartleks work better for me than shorter speedwork. In the past, I found that doing a lot of bulk short work just left me overtrained and unable to race well at the end of my season.
What kind of strength training do you do?
I'm sure this will change once I have access to a real weight room up at school, but for right now and for the last year or so, I have been doing a pretty basic core workout. Most of my strength training consists of body weight exercises like planks, sit-ups, lunges, box step-ups and supermans.
What are some other details you focus on to improve your running?
Well, sleep is pretty cool I guess. And eating healthy. Just the basics that Runner's World tells you about, mostly. I cut sugar completely out of my diet this last track season, and to be honest, it made me very sad. But it did help, so I guess that choice is up to you guys.
What kind of sport watch, if any, do you use?
I'm pretty much a Garmin snob. I ran with a Nike watch for about a year because they gave them to the NXN athletes in 2013, but I found that it wasn't as accurate as the Garmins usually are, so this summer I've been saving up to switch back to either the Forerunner 220 or 620. The 620 is pretty expensive for a sports watch, but it has all sorts of neat new features that I think would be useful.
What shoes do you train in?
I ran in Nikes all through high school. I preferred neutral shoes because their Frees are terrible on trail runs and their stability shoes just don't get along with my feet. Their Flyknit Lunars have been my favorite so far. I'm switching up a little for college, and will probably train in the Saucony Kinvaras for the rest of college. Since I race in the Saucony Kilkenny and the Saucony Endorphin LD4, I'm sure their training shoes will suit me just as well.
What did you look for when you chose a college?
I wanted to stay in the mountain region for altitude training, and I wanted a coach who would have the same type of training plan I used in high school. The team dynamic was also very important to me. I didn't want to compete for a school where I would have to fight my teammates for everything, and where the girls didn't like each other because it was too competitive. I was looking for somewhere where they were working together for a common goal. The dynamic of the town itself was equally important. I have never really been a fan of big cities or small towns. Bozeman is very similar to Park City in its size and scenery, so it just made sense to me.
If any of you have questions other than those I've posted here, feel free to ask me via the comments, instagram, or other social media platforms.
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