Heat and humidity are performance killers when it comes to long distance running. This holds especially true with an event like a marathon. So what do you do when race day gets close and the weather looks terrible? Do you cry and just stay in bed? No. Do you defer to another race? Possibly, if … Read more
Fall marathons are great. When it’s time to race, the temperatures are cooling off. There’s only one problem. You need to train through the summer – when heat and humidity can make your life miserable. As much as you might not always like running in the summer – or the winter – weather, you will … Read more
I saw a post on r/AdvancedRunning recently, in which the OP asked, essentially, “When can I run after a marathon?” It’s a common question. Any race requires some recovery – and a marathon is a race unlike any other (except of course the even more demanding ultra-marathons). Perhaps because of the daunting nature of the … Read more
In r/AdvancedRunning this week, I saw a question related to Jack Daniels’ Running Formula. I’m a fan of JD, and so I often answer these types of questions to help other runners better understand his training philosophy. It’s a good question to use to more fully explain how Jack Daniels’ training philosophy works, so I … Read more
Treadmill running is usually not at the top of anyone’s list of “favorite” activities. It can be mundane and boring. Without a change in scenery, it may seem like the activity never ends. There is a reason some people call them dreadmills, after all. But there are some really good reasons to incorporate treadmill running … Read more
If you’ve been running for any length of time, you’ve probably wondered – how often should I replace my running shoes? How many miles should they last? Some general and oft repeated advice is that you should replace your shoes every 300 miles. I’ve heard that suggestion many times. And when I was first starting … Read more
Your Garmin running watch can provide you with a lot of advanced data. One of these data points is Garmin training effect. What is it? How it is calculated? What does it mean? Keep on reading to find out. What Is Garmin Training Effect? Every time you complete an activity, Garmin assigns it a training … Read more
There are a number of advanced metrics available on your Garmin watch. One of these is Garmin training load. Ever wonder what it is and how it’s calculated? Keep reading, and I’ll give you a quick rundown on what the training load metric is, how its calculated, some potential problems with the data, and how … Read more
Your Garmin watch uses several basic data points to calculate a bunch of different fitness stats. Today, let’s talk about Garmin performance condition. What is it? How does it work? Why should you care? In short, the performance condition metric on your Garmin is an estimate of how well you are running on a particular … Read more
Have you ever wondered how the Garmin VO2 max estimate on your watch works? VO2 max is one measurement of how fit you are and of your potential as an endurance athlete. Unfortunately, actually measuring your VO2 max is a complicated endeavor that includes a potentially costly trip to a sports clinic. But if you … Read more