Running Room

If you’re preparing for a spring marathon or half marathon, the week leading up to the race can be an exciting yet confusing time. You’ve worked hard and done all the training, but as the big day approaches, you’re being instructed to barely run at all. This pre-race process is called tapering, and it’s intended to conserve your energy and set you up for a positive outcome on race day. Continue reading “How to Taper For a Race Without Losing Your Mind”

Some runners view hill training the same way kids view eating green vegetables: they know it’s good for them, but they can’t muster up any enthusiasm for it. Does every runner have to do hill training? Not necessarily. Your training plan should be personalized to your needs and goals. Some runners are perfectly satisfied with their running routine without tackling any hills. Running on flat terrain is still a wonderful way to build your fitness level and endurance. However, if you’re preparing for a race with a hilly course or you’re trying to achieve a personal best time in a given distance, hill training is a proven way to challenge yourself, strengthen your running muscles and rev up your cardiovascular system. Here is a re-cap of the ins and outs (or should I say, ups and downs) of hill training. Continue reading “Is Hill Training Really Necessary?”