Category Archives: tips
Runner’s Are Wont to Worry: Make sure you’re stressing over the RIGHT paces
Runners seem to like to worry. Perhaps it’s a bit of the self masochism in us, on some level we must like to hurt, so it makes sense the same attraction is there for worrying. Our brains never seem to … Continue reading
Filed under goals, running, tips, training, Uncategorized
Brain Warp: Running mentally tough by changing how your brain interprets those pain messages
A runner’s brain is constantly being flooded by sensory input information. Feedback from the muscles, skin, lungs, eyes, ears, feet, nerves from everything. It’s a matter of taking all of these messages and warping them into what is in the … Continue reading
Filed under facing fears, goals, motivation, running, tips, training
Distance Runners Getting Their Speed Work On: The multi-level approach to getting faster
Getting a runner to be faster is an interesting undertaking. It’s actually a concept that coaches and athletes have been trying to perfect for centuries. As science has improved, training has evolved, we’ve created training phases and workouts that push … Continue reading
Filed under goals, motivation, plyometrics, races, running, tips, training
The Distance Runner’s Warm-up: Get your body and your mind prepared to run FAST
The runner’s warm-up is a unique time. Before a hard workout, and even more-so for a race, there’s a lot that needs to happen both physically AND mentally. A warm-up tells your legs to ‘wake up’ because they’re about to … Continue reading
Running is Repetitive, So Avoid Reinforcing Bad Habits
If I’m on an easy run I usually get something random stuck in my head. A phrase, a word, the same song lyric running a loop over and over until the run is over. It can sure drive a person … Continue reading
Filed under exercises, motivation, running, stretching, tips, training
Running Patient Keeps You In the Sport and WILL Reward You…In Time ;)
Running is wrought with the ‘two steps forward, one step backward’ tests and trials. I’d call it logic, but let’s be honest, most runners lost all logic about 5,000 miles ago. Progress forward is HARD fought, once you’ve been running … Continue reading
Filed under exercises, goals, motivation, running, strength training, stretching, tips, training, Uncategorized
Runners and Fatigue: There’s a difference between hard training and digging into a hole
After my last post I think we can all agree that distance runners have a warped perception of tired. Muting out the body constantly telling us, “I’m tired, can we stop please?” is all part of our sport. However, that … Continue reading
Filed under injuries, motivation, running, tips
Running the Paces: Fitting the effort level to the numbers
I’m a runner who hates excuses. If it’s windy I’d rather run into the wind instead of having it ‘help’ me to a faster time. Sort of like if there is going to be a kind of handicap I’d rather … Continue reading
The Greatest Test of a Runner’s Mental Toughness is an Injury
For an injured runner, the HARDEST part of recovery is all mental. Okay, yes, there will be the cross-training, the physical therapy, any necessary strengthening exercises, stretches, icing, massage, etc…that stuff is never easy but the TORTURE is all mental. … Continue reading
Filed under injuries, motivation, running, tips
Fix Your Form, Drop Your Shoulder: The ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ runners should clean-up their form (ie: get faster)
“Drop your flipping shoulders!” is pretty much what I had to yell to myself as I was running for years. Add to that list, “Stand up tall,” “Right elbow, tuck in that right elbow, idiot!” Oh the beautiful language of … Continue reading
Hello! My name is Cait, I'm a freelance writer and artist who is more than a little obsessed with running. The Arty Runnerchick is dedicated to connecting with other runners and those sweat obsessed through words and art!