The "Inner" Side of Running

As the owner of a running specialty store, I've met literally thousands of runner's during Fleet Feet Mahwah's seven plus years that we've been in business! Each runner has a special reason for running and each of those reasons are as unique as the runners themselves. Once we get talking, the topic of "personal best" often comes up, and that usually ends up with me and the customer trading stories about our running experiences.

For most, a "personal best" revolves around speed or a time goal for a specific distance. But, can a personal best be measured by other factors than speed?

Cold Weather Running Myths Debunked

Well, Mother Nature must've been reading the deleted e-mails out of East Anglie because this week she's sure put global warming on HOLD!  BRRRRR!

When the weather gets cold, some folks resort to the "dreadmill" to get their miles in but, there's really no need, especially with the technology behind today's modern running apparel.

None the less, when it get cold out, we here at Fleet Feet Mahwah get many questions about cold weather running--we also hear quite a few "whoopers" about outdoor running in the winter.

Let's examine the most popular to separate "Myth" from "Truth!"

Slow Marathoners Re-visited

Not too long ago in this blog, I responded to a NY Times Op-Ed that felt slower marathoners should be banned from racing. You can scroll down to read that post so I won't bore you and repeat that here.


Fleet Feet Mahwah, over the last seven years, for our marathon training program, worked in conjunction with Jeff Galloway, who I've called the "Mick Jagger of road running!"

A Fantastic Fall Run!

I've lived here in Mahwah, "Bergen County's Parkland" for over 15 years. Not only is this area beautiful but it's a stones throw from the Hudson River Valley and Tarrytown, NY, the town of my youth and the place I still call home today. Being so close to "home" certainly has it's benefits for me as a runner because Tarrytown, (Sleepy Hollow to be exact--North Tarrytown to us natives) is home to Rockefeller State Park.

What's The Buzz?

It seems that every publication that writes about running these days publishes a piece on barefoot running. It's a topic that is gaining "traction" as running enthusiasts, on their never ending quest for faster times, push the envelope.

The barefoot craze is fueled by Ken Bob Saxton of California. He maintains that running in shoes, is the antithesis of the way humans were "meant" to run, through the evolutionary process. As such, he maintains that by running in the traditional running shoe, we become less efficient and more prone to injury, which is caused by wearing the running shoe. Studies have been done that do show that barefoot running improves efficiency by about 5%. So, does that mean it's time to toss away your trusty pair of running shoes?

Is Bigger Better?

Last week at this time, many of us were going through our pre-race preparations to run the NYC Marathon. This years race celebrated the 40th running of what is arguably the worlds best marathon. The 2009 edition also boasted the largest field since it's inception with about 43,000 runner's stepping to the starting line. Fleet Feet Mahwah had several of our marathoners at Sundays race as well!

Marathons ARE for Slower Runner's too!

There was an article recently in the New York Times that in essence criticized the New York Road Runner's Club for not having more stringent requirements as to who they let participate in the NYC Marathon. The gist of the article was that the marathon "mystique" is being diluted by slower runners & walkers. To be fair, the article seemed to target folks who were crossing the finish line in 6 hours or more.

NYC Marathon Memories!

"The New York Marathon: a fantastic event."  Pope John Paul II, 1982

We are less than a week away from the 2009 NYC Marathon, the showcase of the sport of road running. This Sunday I'll be lining up for my 8th NYC Marathon and my 15th overall.  

At age 56, running IS my sport at this stage in my life. Running has become the "icing on the cake" as I've participated in other sports during my lifetime. I played ice hockey in college and played other sports as well but, running has left an indelible mark on my soul that no other sport can match. Running has given me many memories to be cherished. It's also given me some that are not so cherished but those experiences have presented me with opportunities to learn!

Marathons & Half Marathons are Serious Business!

Sadly, Sunday's running of the Detroit Marathon and Half Marathon saw the deaths of three runners. Autopsies listed the the cause of each of the deaths as being due to cardiac failure and also stated that each of the runners were in good physical condition. The ages of the runners were 65, 35 and 26.

Deaths from running in distance races are rare indeed - 1 out of every 50, 000 runners - yet that still doesn't quell the alarm that each of us feels personally when we hear such stories.

Brrrrrrr! It's COLD out!

It IS October out isn't it? The last several days have presented us with temps and weather conditions that we're used to seeing in December. So much for global warming eh?

While the rain, unseasonal temperatures in the high 30's, cold wind driven rain, and, dare I say it, SNOW, are hopefully short lived, it doesn't make it any less difficult to have to endure as a runner. Many of us are presently in the taper period of marathon training and, we just can't turn off the alarm and go back to sleep like we can, and oftentimes Do when we're not in training.

As a running store in New Jersey, Fleet Feet Mahwah has gotten many customer coming in as of late desperate for help in selecting running apparel to keep them warm and dry.

A "Super Run" - The Cape Cod Rail Trail

As the owner of a running specialty store, one of the many blessings I get is the opportunity to talk to runners of all sorts. Regardless of their ability, we often talk about our favorite running routes, and oftentimes those runs are on routes away from "home."

The other day, John G, a good customer of mine came in wearing  a Cape Cod t-shirt. I asked him what town on the Cape he stayed at, and as he was telling me, he added, "I just wish there were some good running routes there!"

Trail Running Shoes

Not long ago, I wrote about how autumn is a great season to add trail running to your workouts. Trail running provides a great opportunity to add scenery, and break the monotony our running can sometimes fall into. Trails also provide our bodies a respite from the hard pavement, by offering us a softer and more forgiving surface.

As a runner adds trails to his or her routine, we find them coming in to Fleet Feet Mahwah to ask about trail running shoes. Some running stores, especially those located in Colorado, or the Pacific northwest, where trail running is the norm, have as many trail shoes on their shoe wall as they do road running shoes.

Marathon Madness Begins This Sunday!

Sunday marks the running of the Chicago Marathon where approximately 45, 000 runners will line-up at the starting line to "tackle" a fast, flat 26.2 mile course. The Chicago Marathon is the first of the "big 3" fall marathons that road runners from all over the world flock to. The Marine Corps Marathon will follow on October 25th in Washington DC and the "grand-daddy of them all," the NYC Marathon, will follow on November 1st.

The marathon distance still remains a popular goal of many road runner's despite the months of grueling training, most of which is during the summer months. The summer heat and humidity can take it's toll on your body and, at times, your spirit, but it's those summer miles that toughen us for race day. For most, crossing that finish line will provide an exhilaration and sense of satisfaction that will remain with the runner a life time.

What's A "Runner"?

This spring, Olympic runner and renowned author, Jeff Galloway, made his annual visit to Fleet Feet Mahwah to help us kick-off our 2009 marathon training program. If you've seen or met Jeff in person, you know that he is one of running's biggest advocates. Years ago, Jim Fixx, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter and Joan Benoit-Samuelson helped make running popular as an athletic event to us here in America. Jeff Galloway helped make running popular to the MASSES worldwide. As you'd expect, his books are best sellers and he is a very positive minded person in his approach to life, not just athletics.

Prior to Jeffs' appearance at Fleet Feet Mahwah, an acquaintance of mine and an ex-college runner, was struggling in their training for an upcoming marathon to the point that it was very likely they would miss their race. I've never been one to give up easily so I naturally suggested to this person that they come to meet Jeff to get his take on what to do to try and "rescue" their race.

Jeff provided a host of strategies that this person could employ to remedy their situation and offered strong hope that reaching the starting line was a definite possibility. Jeff's method, which includes mixing walk breaks into running, is controversial to some, but if his advice is followed, it is ALWAYS successful.

Have Heart!

It was a beautiful day that first Sunday of November of 2005! I was lined up on the Verazzano Bridge for the running of the NYC Marathon. A few of my friends who were part our Fleet Feet marathon training program were at the line with me. After the National Anthem and the canon blast, we were literally off and running. We were heading down the bridge, and the sight of Brooklyn, the Statue of Liberty, and the NYC skyline that we saw was awe inspiring. One of my buddies, Bobby remarked, "Wow, this is great, I can't believe we're finally here after all the training! Look at the people and the sights!" It was his first NYC Marathon and my 6th. The NYC Marathon is THE event in road racing and, it's the Big Apple to boot! As anyone who's run this race more than once knows, EVERY NYC Marathon is as special as your first, so, I shared in Bobby's excitement and was privileged to be sharing it with him.

We were running through Brooklyn, almost at the 10K mark when out of the blue, Bobby exclaimed, "I'm going to quit, I don't think I can finish!" Well, to say I was shocked is putting it mildly. During training, Bobby was a runner who I had to hold back. He was energetic and never complained about a run. To hear him say he wanted to drop out so soon in the race had me dumbfounded!

Schools Open-Run Carefully!

Autumn's in full swing and that means Halloween, Yankee post season baseball, and shorter days and longer nights. For runners, it also means RISK! The roads we usually run on are now more heavily traveled, as summer vacations are over, schools in session, and cars have reclaimed the roads. Daylight is becoming rarer as well, and in a few short weeks, daylight saving time will end. All this adds up to the fact that when we run, we have to take more precautions than ever to be safe. There's a few things we can do. Always run against (facing) traffic, if you listen to music, turn down the volume, and wear bright colored and reflective technical apparel. The "Nightlife" series of apparel by Brooks is specially designed for runner safety. It provides outstanding reflectivity, and it's bright colors literally light up the night when headlamps hit them. They also provide excellent visibility in daylight on cloudy/foggy/misty days that are all too common this time of year. This is a super season for running but we MUST take precautions to keep safety at the top of our list!

Success is Spelled R-E-S-T!

As I've said in previous blogs, the fall races we've been training for are weeks or less away. At Fleet Feet, we are besieged with folks stopping in asking for advice on what to do to nurse the myriad of aches and pains that they are experiencing. Sadly, most of these folks are new to distance running and are looking forward to running their first marathon or half marathon. Most if not all their issues stem from over training. In an effort to put their best feet forward (pardon the pun) they run day after day, mile after mile, despite their aches and pains. The one factor they left out of their training, and the reason why their sore and tired, is that they neglected to REST! The symptoms of over training are many and range from muscle soreness to, in extreme cases, erectile dysfunction! YIKES! Rest comes in many forms. Try reading this article by our buddy Jeff Galloway for some great rest strategies. AND.....take a day OFF now and then!

Meal #1

Mom always told us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true if you're running or training for a fall marathon of half marathon. Breakfast is key. Most of us, for a variety of reasons, have gotten into bad habits when it comes to breakfast or, worse yet,we skip it altogether. This article will give you some great tips to maximize your nutrition as well as your TIME when it comes to this most important meal!

Hit The Trails

This morning was a crisp fall day-PERFECT for running. With the shorter days, and cooler temps, it won't be long before the trees start to show off their plumage when the leaves turn color. This is the perfect time of the year for a trail run. I grew up in Tarrytown, NY which aside from being one of many small hamlets along the Hudson River, gave me easy access to Rockefeller State Park. It is in that park that I was introduced to trail running. Trail running provides many benefits aside from the scenery and diversion from the roads. In fact, autumn is the perfect time of the year to introduce yourself to trail running if you've never run trails before. Follow these simple tips and before long, you'll be a trail running aficionado!

Blisters

It's autumn and as far as running is concerned, we're in the dog days! High school and college cross country meets are being held, and many of us are nearing fall marathons and half marathons. Our training is and has been intense and for some that can mean a blister now and then. Good fitting shoes, and non cotton socks are a runners most critical pieces of equipment in avoiding blisters. When they do pop up, follow these instructions here so that you'll heal quickly and effectively.

Knees (and other joints) & Running

We often hear at Fleet Feet, when fitting a customer, that they can't run "as much" because of their knees. Other's still worry about the negative effects running WILL place on their knees. Well, as a 3 time knee surgery patient, I can vouch for the current research that points out that not only does running NOT negatively impact your knees but, it actually can HELP them! I know myself that when I have to stop running for a few days, for one reason or another, my knees begin to ache a bit. Once I start running again, the pain begins to fade. Check out this article for more info and see for yourself how running won't hurt your joints!

National Run at Work Day

Tomorrow, September 18, is "National Run at Work Day." Naturally, as runner's we're going to run whether it's a "holiday" or not. But being that running is being recognized with "a day" it's a great opportunity to share our running passion with others. Tomorrow's a great day to take a co-worker for a run, and introduce them to a lifestyle we enjoy! To celebrate, why not treat yourselves to something fun after your run. Could be an ice cream cone, or some other treat. Hopefully, other's will hop on board and come to love the feeling of health and well being that runner's know too well!

Make Your Raceday a Success!

We're in prime racing season. All the training, discipline and hard work you've endured this summer is ready to be put to the test. It doesn't matter if you're running a marathon, half marathon 5K or 10K, we ALL want to do our best on race day. After all, the humidity this summer's been as oppressive as it has been in years! We want to see great results from all those training miles and sweat!

I asked my brother once, before I ran my first marathon, what I could do in the last days leading up to my race. His response was blunt, but overflowing with wisdom! It was "don't do anything dumb!"

Those of us who are older will remember Jim Mc Kay's intro before ABC's Wide World of Sports. In it he described that we'd experience "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" as we watched his show. Well, despite all our training, sometimes we are our own worst enemy and "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" by "doing something dumb!'

Check out the article by following this link. It'll show you the simple things to AVOID in order to make YOUR race day a memorable one!

Welcome To Fleet Feet Mahwah's Running Blog

Hello all runners, I'd like to share with you my new and exciting blog that will highlight all things running, brought to you by the folks of Fleet Feet Mahwah http://www.fleetfeetmahwah.com/ From running tips, to running shoes, to marathon training, fleetfeetmahwah.blogspot.com will be the place for you to find out about the newest and coolest things in running. I look forward to sharing stories with you as well as your comments and feedback. Our intention is to build our running community with like-minded individuals all striving for running success!It's super easy to become a member of our site. Click the "Follow" icon and in 30 seconds you'll be ready to post your feedback! If you have any questions or suggestions, send us an email to ffstaff@fleetfeetmahwah.com