The Year in review!

Sunday, December 28, 2014 · Mike Davis

Good morning! With today being the last Sunday of 2014 I only thought it appropriate to look back over this year and reminisce. The year was as crazy as ever at No Finish Line Running as well as me personally. NFLR continued to evolve as the ultimate running resource on the Seacoast as well as helping runners from afar. So fill your coffee mug up and let’s look back over 2014! In 2013 we introduced Portsmouth and the entire seacoast of New Hampshire to the Medical Motion Gait Analysis system and as we flipped the calendar to 2014 we were able to make a sizable donation to the Krempels Center through our by donation running form analysis event. The introduction of the only professional running analysis system in New Hampshire was huge for NFLR and the fact that we were able to benefit the wonderful work at Krempels was awesome! The Medical Motion running form analysis system along with our knowledge and experience enabled us to help many runners improve their running form, determine weaknesses, become more efficient and ultimately run healthier and better. Being able to analyze even the minutest movement while running is helpful in improving running form and throughout 2014 we provided New Hampshire, Maine and northern Massachusetts the ultimate tool for their running. Another goal was realized this year in that NFLR was contacted by “Stonewall Kitchen” out of Maine asking if we could set up a group training for their employees. Because of the late timing the group was not large, but thanks to Lew this first corporate effort was a tremendous success! Every Monday and Wednesday evening this group met at York high school and either ran a track workout or along Long Sands beach and ultimately ran the North Hampton Tiger Trot 5K. The group was a huge success and Stonewall is already looking forward to a much larger and diverse group this spring. Lew did much of the heavy lifting and I was really pleased with the results. A need that had become quite obvious throughout the past few years has been the need for a winter running group that would help runners stay running after the fall running season winded down. Inevitably I am asked every year toward the end of the Runners Alley half marathon training group how can they keep running? Runners Alley is awesome and provide some motivation through their “Winter Warriors” program, but for those that are looking for more structure, accountability or live on the other side of the bridge, that program might not be ideal. This year NFLR introduced the “No Finish Line Running Winter Running” training group and the response was fantastic! Tuesday nights at 6pm we meet at 7th Settlement Brewery” and Saturday mornings (8:30) we set out from Juicy Roots in Dover. This group has been another success story for NFLR and for a great opportunity for runners on the Seacoast. Both establishments have been great and are providing great post-run amenities. This group will run throughout the winter and finish with the running of “Reds Race For A Better Community” or better known as “Reds Shoe Barn 5 miler”. Definitely not too late to join this group no matter where you are at with your running! Throughout 2014 I was once again busy alongside my wife working with runners that participated in one of the many training groups put on through the Portsmouth Runners Alley. This year we helped multiple 10K training groups and finished out the 2014 season with the half marathon training group. We literally started in April and went right through the middle of November with the Runners Alley groups. Was once again lucky to help so many wonderful people and made numerous friends for life! Soon I will have to sit down with Mrs. Sylvester (Jeanine) and discuss the plans for 2015 training groups. While I hit on some of the bigger happenings at NFLR in 2014, throughout the year we continued to work with individuals, helping them to become stronger runners through our personal training approach. While we have maintained some regulars, we also added some great clients that are fun to work with and bring refreshing challenges to us. Part of my goals for NFLR is to continuously educate myself and the staff so that we can provide the most knowledgeable and professional personal running coach services throughout the Seacoast of New Hampshire and beyond. This year I took on another big challenge enrolling in the “North America Academy for Sports Fitness Professionals” Marathon Coach certification. This particular course is tremendously in depth and will take me into a good part of 2015 to complete. Lew (Ricker) is also working on the general coaching certification through the same organization so he will have a lot of studying ahead as well. While these particular certifications are challenging to accomplish, my goal is to help every level of runner and to do that we must continuously educate ourselves. I would also be remise if I didn’t mention that NFLR is not limited to the boundaries of the local area, because in 2014 we hit another of my goals as well. In the late fall we took on another client, but this one does not even fall between the boundaries of the US! A former Runners Alley training group member reached out to us from Istanbul Turkey and asked if we could coach her long distance? Thanks to the great work of Doug (Mackinnon) our website guru, we indeed have the infrastructure to provide personal coaching for those thousands of miles away! So as you can see we continued to stay busy in 2014 at NFLR and all the while we are developing a model that continuously improves in providing the best coaching resources in New Hampshire, Maine, northern Massachusetts and beyond! The year was challenging, busy and a heck of a lot of fun! We are truly thankful for all the runners we have been blessed to work with throughout this year. 2015 will be an exciting one and later this week I will give you a sneak peek into what you can expect from No Finish Line Running. Till then have a great Sunday and thanks for being a part of a great 2014! God Bless! Mike