“Stop fighting it!”
That’s what a fellow marathoner yelled at me years ago in the middle of a very windy out-and-back marathon run.
“Don’t fight the wind, man,” he said. “Wait until the turnaround, then pick up the pace when the wind is at your back.”
The sheer simplicity of that advice! Until he mentioned it, I was dug in. Wind be damned, I was going to keep my pace or die trying. Thanks to that veteran marathoner’s advice, I did neither. I ended up running a great race.
I’ve remembered his expert tip in every windy race and run since. That’s the thing about a great piece of advice: Like a trusted friend, it’ll always be there when you need it. Here are 100 more memorable running tips, gleaned from experts past and present.
(Article originally published in Runner’s World)
1. Accept the challenge
“Everyone is an athlete. But some of us are training, and some of us are not.” –Dr. George Sheehan, runner/writer/philosopher
2. Shoot for this (at least)
“Running 8 to 15 miles per week significantly increases your aerobic capacity, and positively effects many of the coronary risk factors.” –Dr. Kenneth Cooper, aerobics pioneer
“The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments–1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles.” –Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach
4. Wear good running shoes
“Spend at least $60. A good pair of running shoes should last you 400 to 500 miles and is one of the most critical purchases you will make.” –John Hanc, author of The Essential Runner
Buy all shoes, both street and running, slightly longer and wider than your bigger foot. Also, avoid pointed shoes. You’ll save yourself needless foot pain.” –Ted Corbitt, ultrarunner and 1952 Olympic marathoner
“The ‘talk test’ means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner–but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera.” –Runner’s World editors
7. Listen to the rumbling
“If you feel like eating, eat. Let your body tell you what it wants.” –Joan Samuelson, 1984 Olympic marathon champion
“When running, let your jaw hang loose, don’t bunch up your shoulders close to your ears, and occasionally shake out your hands and arms to stay relaxed.” –Dave Martin, Ph.D., exercise physiologist
