Running tid bits!

Sunday, November 25, 2012 · Mike Davis

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Like always I ate way too much, but I have long given up trying to show restraint. I was able to get a pre-dinner 8 mile run and it was a beautiful morning to run the back roads of Dover and thru downtown. I was a bit disappointed to see so many businesses open on Thanksgiving, but I guess that’s the sign of the times. One of my favorite things to do on a Thanksgiving morning run is to wish every person I encounter a “Happy Thanksgiving!” Some people respond in kind, some are caught off guard, but recover to say: ‘you too” and some have no response. I don’t do it because I want them to reciprocate, though it’s nice when they do, I do it because I enjoy spreading the warmth of this meaningful day. Thanksgiving is certainly one of my favorite days of the year as it represents the goodness that we need to have every day.

Yesterday (Saturday), I wanted to finish off my week of with a good run that would give me a decent week of running and I also needed to burn off some the gravy and the multiple pieces of pie I had devoured over the past 2 days! So I once again hit the streets of Dover getting in some good hills along with a pretty strong headwind. I also did something I don’t do very often which was to wear headphones as I really enjoy listening to Christmas music as I trek through the streets of Dover. I always feel a great sense of Christmas spirit as I run listening to Burl Ives and passing people on the sidewalks. Even with a strong headwind, I really enjoyed the run, setting out to run 6 miles but ended up running 7. After the run I wanted to get some strength training in so I headed to my basement for some pull-ups, bicycle crunches and stretching. As I wrote about a few weeks ago, I am trying to make stretching part of my workout, so that has improved quite a bite lately.

For the week I ran around 26 miles which was one of my better weeks in a while. I have been all over the place with my running and strength training so I was happy to have gotten in a solid week of running. I don’t beat myself up over a bad few weeks as I understand the ups and downs that go with being a runner. For me, I have a base that I want to maintain which keeps me focused on the big picture and helps me to structure my running on a monthly basis. My personal training plan isn’t necessarily structured to get me a certain distance but instead to help me maintain an ability to run a certain distance comfortably (base). Each week may be sporadic but right now if I can comfortably run a long run of 7 miles, that means I’m getting in enough running. When people want a personal training plan they are often designed for a certain distance or race and that’s great, but having a personal training plan that helps to maintain a base makes a huge difference. Of course I can help you with that!

This week I have also been working on an interactive form for the new website that I am hopeful will benefit my clients. In working with runners of all levels I find two things important; one; a good custom training plan that “makes sense” to the individual runner and two; a way for me to keep up with the progress of the runner. This interactive spreadsheet I have been working on will allow the client to sign on to the website, go to their own page and give me some simple information on their particular workout. Having this information makes it possible to address their personal training plan as needed instead of just having the runner keep pressing on despite needed changes in their training. Trying to stay with a training plan that doesn’t take into account injuries, conditioning, life or other factors, often results in either injury or failure. Having an interactive training plan helps me provide the best possible training and the runner a plan that works for them. I’m pretty excited about this concept as it will allow for me to keep up with my runners and provide an even more personalized training plan. When I roll it out, I will be offering some great introduction plans so stay tuned!

Have a great week and get running!