Keep it Simple Stupid:

My high school basketball coach used to tell us to "Keep it simple stupid." Too often we try to over complicate things, which is all to easy to do in our everyday life and activities like basketball ect... One of the things that I like the most about running is its simplicity.

You only have to worry about running...right? Well, yes but there are a lot of other factors that play into it, especially when you are working towards a specific fitness or performance goal. It is easy to get caught up in

VO2 max
Heart rate training,
Strength training
Cross training
Long runs
Tempo runs Speed work
Should I be doing Yoga? Everyone else seems to be doing it.
I'm not even going to get into barefoot running.

Then there is nutrition, injury prevention the list goes on and on. Sometimes we need to focus just getting out there and running and covering the basics and try not to over complicate things.
Here is a good article from Ultrarunning magazine about sticking to the basics and keeping it simple.

UltraRunning Article: Enjoy!

Ultrarunner Scott Jurek's Story at Runner's World

Here is a great article that talks about Scott Jurek, perhaps that best ultra runner of all time. He has accomplished more in the ultra running community than anyone else. However, recently he has almost dropped off the map.

Career Highlights:

3-Time Spartathlon Winner

2-Time Winner-Course Record Holder Badwater Ultramarathon

7-time Winner-Course Record Holder Western States 100

And numerous other top finishes.

This article dives into what makes Scott tick and also show perhaps what has made him so successful is now causing him to question why he is even running. It's a long article, but well worth the read, a side note Scott is a fellow Minnesotan who grew up near the Duluth area.

Enjoy!

Ultrarunner Scott Jurek's Story at Runner's World

Work Hard, Run Hard with Help from Runner's World

Good article from Runner's World about how to make sure that you not only fit your running into your life but to it in an effective way.

Enjoy!

Work Hard, Run Hard with Help from Runner's World

Runner's World Article: Kara Goucher's Mind Gains

Another Great Article about arguably the top Female distance runner in the US. The article talks about Goucher's struggles with confidence and what she has gone through her entire running career to deal with it.

Despite finishing only 9 seconds from behind the winner in the Boston Marathon last year and having numerous world championships under her belt she still deals with the mind games and self doubt that every distance runner and every athlete goes through.

Enjoy!

Runner's World Article: Kara Goucher's Mind Gains

5 Breakthrough Findings in Nutrition Research

Here is a good article from Runner's World that talk about a some new research that has discovered how several everyday foods can help you

1. Stay more hydrated

2. Reduce muscle soreness

3. Keep the doctor away

4. Improve on your PR.

5. Speed up recovery

Enjoy!

Article: News You Can Use

Overcome Running Obstacles at Runner's World

As you can see I have been traveling a lot lately and generally when I travel my days are very long. I generally meet with clients or sales offices and can be out and about for 10-12 hours a day. I have also found that nutrition has been a bit tough as well. Not so much eating bad food, which I do do a bit of while traveling, but having a diet of more feast and famine. For example I always try and have a big breakfast but then often, especially in Europe I would eat until 1pm-2pm, then not have supper until after 9pm. For a few days in while in Spain I ate around 11pm each night, plus it has been difficult to get used to the time changes. Not so much the jet-lag but I am very used to running in the evening and now I run when I can and with the time changes that is rarely the same time as normal.

Well, enough complaining from me. Yes, last week I did slack quite a bit towards the end of the week, but I think now that I will be in one country for more than 3 days I'll be able to get a bit more of a routine going. Those of you who are not living out of a suite case for the next month, here is a good article about finding some motivation to get out there and get those miles in.

Enjoy!

Overcome Running Obstacles at Runner's World