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Return to Running

It can be very challenging to gain confidence after a running setback. If you have had an injury, pregnancy, childbirth, or time off for any other reason, returning to running can leave you feeling frustrated if your progress is slow. These 8 ways to gain confidence from Mile by Mile Running will help you prepare for your return to running and work towards gaining the confidence to run hard again. It’s important to remember that progress takes time and setbacks are really a setup for a comeback. By taking things slow, staying positive, and tracking your progress, you will be able to gain confidence to return to running after your running setback.

8 Ways to Gain Confidence After a Running Setback

May 28, 2025view the post

During a training cycle our bodies go through a lot to prepare us for a race. Once you have completed your goal race and are entering your off-season, its important to avoid injury even though you may be running less.

How To Avoid Injuries After Completing a Goal Race

November 6, 2024view the post

It can be very challenging for new moms to start running again while breastfeeding. There are many things to consider like timing your runs around feeding and keeping up your supply. Here are my best tips for running and breastfeeding that will help you navigate this tricky time.

How to Keep Breastfeeding Successfully While Running and Training for Races

February 7, 2024view the post

This year I want to focus on some things that I would like to eventually accomplish, even if they don't happen right away. By setting some postpartum running intentions I hope to keep my long term goals in mind and focus on the little things that are within my control each day.

Postpartum Running Intentions for the New Year as a Mom of Two

January 3, 2024view the post

Returning to running after an injury can be challenging. Avoid any setbacks with these 7 tips plus a sample training plan!

7 Tips for Returning to Running After an Injury

August 10, 2022view the post

Looking to improve your running? Have you thought about including mobility work in your routine? Things like dynamic stretching, yoga, and foam rolling can help ensure that your muscles and joints can reach their full range on motion, which is important for athletes.

8 Ways for Runners to Improve Mobility

December 22, 2021view the post

Navigating the world of postpartum running can be tricky, but also exciting to reach new milestones. One of those milestones may be returning to racing. For many postpartum runners a goal during their first year after giving birth may be to run a half-marathon. What do you need to know in order to successfully train for and run your first postpartum half-marathon?

15 Tips for Successfully Running Your First Postpartum Half-Marathon

July 28, 2021view the post

Workouts to safely transition from a recovery period back into training.

Base Building for Runners: How To Go From Recovery to Training

July 21, 2021view the post

Now that races are starting to come back, many runners are considering how they want to train for their next race. If you are on the fence about if you should work with a running coach, here are a few reasons why a coach can help you get that PR and reach your running goals.

5 Reasons To Work With a Running Coach

April 23, 2021view the post

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Life Is What Happens When You're Busy Running Marathons

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Alright, my last post about the Richmond Marathon Alright, my last post about the Richmond Marathon (maybe). This one is about lessons learned/areas for improvement.

1) Starting in the right corral- I knew I wanted to start a little slow but I think I started too far back and I ended up boxed in later in the race. 

2) Increasing fueling- I think I did the best I could on this day but now that I know more about what works/doesn’t work for me I think I can try to get my carbs/hr a little higher for next time

3) Self-doubt- On paper I knew my training showed I could run a certain time. My coach knew I could run a certain time. But deep down did I believe I could run that time? I’m not really sure.

4) My right piriformis- This little muscle has been giving me trouble FOREVER and it likes to rear its ugly head the most during races. I’m working with a PT but it’s hard to address the issue when I can go months without any problems and then at mile 15 of a marathon it starts acting up. So while this is certainly an area for improvement I am not really sure what I’ll be able to do to keep it from happening next time.

5) Ignore the data leading up to the race- During race week my sleep scores were horrible, my HRV tanked, and my watch told me I was “strained”. I might just stop wearing it during the taper next time.

What lessons have you learned during a marathon or big race?

@richmondmarathon #racerecap
It’s been 5 days since the Richmond Marathon and i It’s been 5 days since the Richmond Marathon and it feels like a lifetime ago! I am working on my full race recap which I will post on my website but I wanted to share some reflections on here. Today I want to focus on what went well. Every finish line is an accomplishment, and while every race can teach us something I think it’s always important to focus on the positive.

First off, Richmond was a great race with amazing crowd support! There were some hills (a few steeper than I expected) but nothing crazy.

Fueling went well- after my train wreck of a run a few weeks ago I had to adjust my fueling plan and took out the Tailwind High Carb and went back to regular Skratch instead. I tried to make up for the difference with gels but my overall carbs per hour was a little less than it had been when using the Tailwind. I think I got about 65 g/hour so I’d like to get that up a bit next time but I didn’t get nauseous and took gels up until the end of the race.

Shoes felt good- during that same training run I had some top of foot soreness from my laces. I changed my lacing technique and had no issues on race day. 

Mindset- I did a lot of work preparing for the race mentally and was able to use those strategies during the race. I focused on one mile at a time and shifted my goals when I knew my original goal was not going to happen. 

Pacing- Even though I didn’t run my goal pace I was able to run fairly consistently without drastically slowing down at the end. 

Recovery- I felt pretty good following the race and wasn’t even sore anymore by Tuesday. This was probably the least sore I’ve been after a marathon.

Strong training cycle- this year I feel like I’ve been clawing my way back to where I was a year ago after several illnesses last winter and spring. I had a great training cycle with @lauranorrisrunning and I know I’ve made more progress than my race time shows.

Marathons are a huge investment so I really tried to make the most of the experience!

@richmondmarathon #racerecap
Happy Medal Monday! I can’t believe the Richmond M Happy Medal Monday! I can’t believe the Richmond Marathon was only 2 days ago. I’m barely sore (probably because I was trained for a faster time than I ran) and am feeling good.

I included a list of my marathon times on the last slide here, which I posted in my stories yesterday. I got some messages about how others can relate to feeling like their times “reset” at a certain point- whether it was after an injury, having kids, or just time off from running.

I think we can get so caught up in PRs that it may take away from the overall progress made in the process of training. Sure, there are runners who come back from having kids and immediately set a new lifetime PR. But many of us will need to chip away at our times to get to where we want to be.

Focusing on progress and the gains made in a training cycle vs a specific race time can help to keep things in perspective!

Now, I’m trying to figure out spring racing plans. What’s everyone running this spring?

#medalmonday
What a day! This race (and really, this week) was What a day! This race (and really, this week) was a rollercoaster. I knew pretty early on that my legs and my lungs were not feeling my goal pace. Each time I sped up it felt really hard- way too hard to not even be at 10 miles yet. So I just focused on running the effort that my body would allow. I used all the mental strategies I had to get through each mile. Ultimately, I wanted to run faster than my marathon last November, which I did by almost 2 minutes, making this a postpartum PR. More importantly, I smiled almost the whole time.

After finishing we had to rush to get out of our hotel room and spent the whole afternoon driving home. Over the past 2 days I’ve spent almost 10 hours in the car.

More to come soon…just hoping to get home and get some rest soon!

#richmondmarathon
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