Category: Running

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Thoughts from the Road: Running in 500 Words or Less. Vol. 6

Thoughts from the road.  Falling Down.

Falling Down…

It happens to all us now and again. Back in my more competitive days I once fell down while jumping a chain fence!! Silly as this sounds, it ended up being quite serious. This particular fall happened 2 weeks before our State Championship Cross Country Meet. To say it was a let down to myself, my teammates and my coach would be an understatement. I had caused injury to myself and let those around me down.

I remember the rehab from that injury…I’ve never pushed myself harder. I felt I had to “make up” for my mistake. Looking back, I can’t say if it was sweat or tears that poured off my body as I did HOURS of Treadmill and StairMaster work. There was no physical pain that could compare with letting down my coach and teammates.

Injuries Hurt the Mind & Body.

Well…I missed the State Meet, my team didn’t win, and I felt a disappointment deep with anger. Being a part of a group or team comes with risks as well as rewards. Although nothing will replace the letdown I gave my team, nothing will ever replace the support and encouragement my team gave me!!

The State Meet came and went, many more miles were logged and our lives continued. A few years back I met up with my former teammates for a run, and believe me, that chain jumping fall came back into conversation!! We shared laughs, we talked of my comeback runs and the harassment my teammates heaped upon me. We relived some Fun Days!! Funny thing is: The State Meet NEVER CAME UP!!

Teammates are Friends, and Falling Down is just part of Running…

That was over 25 years ago and I still remember all that came from Falling Down…

Thoughts from the road.

Leapfrog Athletics

Matthew A. Reedy

Coach/Owner

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Thoughts from the Road: Running in 500 Words or Less. Vol. 5

Thoughts from the road.  Friends.

I once saw a saying: “Friends are more important than money.”

I have to admit I DO believe friends are very valuable, much more so than dollar bills! I’d like to add: “Running Friends are worth far more than gold!”

I have heard that running is cheaper than therapy…and I have to agree!! Sure, the shoes are costly and the clothes occasionally need to be replaced (as well as their daily washings!) but running clears the mind & cleanses the soul!

Not much beats the therapy that running gives: the freedom to express pain with action; the bond of sharing stories on the road w/training partners…I’m not sure if I’ve gotten more from the solo miles spent pounding out emotion on the pavement OR from the free therapy of a friends ear on the open road???

How do YOU run?? Are you a SOLO runner? a GROUP runner? Do you find yourself the quiet running partner, lending your ear? Or are you out there sharing your life and letting other people realize that EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS & WE ALL STRUGGLE??? Are you the runner who encourages others?? Do you push the pace or provide a comfortable run?

We ALL ADD VALUE every time we take that first step!!

I hope you BECOME RICH WITH RUNNING!! Share the road with friends, or set your emotions free on a solo run.

I win the Lottery Every Day…I RUN!

Thoughts from the road.

Leapfrog Athletics

Matthew A. Reedy

Coach/Owner

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Thoughts from the Road: Running in 500 Words or Less. Vol. 4

Thoughts from the road.  ONLY?

ONLY… What is this word??

It’s something I consistantly find funny when I hear runners say “I ONLY ran…X number of miles!” What is it about runners that makes us discount distances as if there is always more that can be done?? At what point is it ONLY A MILE, ONLY A 5K, ONLY A 1/2, ONLY A MARATHON???

Is there always something more? I ask this today as I have been doing research on my 2015 GOAL of running the Leadville 100. How much will I need to run? How many times in my training will I be saying ONLY???

I am a firm believer of Quality over Quantity when it comes to miles.  The “Less is More” philosophy is one that I admire.  I practice with purpose and I’m a Form & Fundamentals Coach.  That said, even I occasionally succumb to the “I need more miles” fear when training!

So…after Leadville:  IF I FINISH…will I look for more? What may be next…If I ONLY DO 100???

 

UPDATE:

Success!!  I did Finish the Leadville 100 Trail Run!!  The course was completed in 28 Hours, 34 Minutes.  It was the absute most challenging thing that I have ever attempted and finished!  9 Months of Training… Now, I sit here many months past this accomplishment and can safely say:  100 miles is my Absolute Distance:)  There is no need for “ONLY” anymore…I fully appreciate EVERY MILE:)

What about YOU?? What is your ONLY???

Thoughts from the road.

Leapfrog Athletics

Matthew A. Reedy

Coach/Owner

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Thoughts from the Road: Running in 500 Words or Less. Vol. 3

Thoughts from the road.  Rest Day!

Rest day and the irony of Running…”why is it that my legs always wants to run on my prescribed rest day?”

My former run coach once said: “Your muscles know no pain, only your mind knows pain.” I’ve used these words many times to push my muscles long past their willingness to go. Mental Toughness is something I practice and preach all the time! You hear it at Leapfrog Athletics workouts all the time: “There is NOTHING you can’t do for”…30 seconds, for 1 minute, for whatever the interval is. We Prepare Ourselves both physically and mentally in every workout.

Rest Days are KEY to optimal to PEEK PERFORMANCE!  Your muscles need time to repair and recover from the daily stresses of Running.  Knowing when to plan your Rest Day is a great reason to hire a coach!  When training for your event it’s important to “Stack” your workouts appropriately to build Strength, Endurance and Speed.  There should be Rhyme and Reason to the Order of your Daily/Weekly/Monthly Workouts.  “A method to the madness!”  As important as hard workouts are for achieving your goals…Rest Days are even more so!!

Train Smart and Be Disciplined!

With that being said: My muscles obviously know Rest Day…because without failure, they are always feeling willing and anxious to perform.

Ironic.

Thoughts from the road.

Leapfrog Athletics

Matthew A. Reedy

Coach/Owner

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Thoughts from the Road: Running in 500 Words or Less. Vol. 2

Thoughts from the road.  Coach Martin.

“Mozart didn’t learn to play the piano by chopping wood.” My high school run coach used to tell us this all the time when we didn’t want to run or do the whole workout. It’s a lesson that I apply often to myself and the athletes who train at Leapfrog Athletics.

An athlete recently asked me: “How do you build endurance?” Well, I defaulted to my former coaches words!! I thought I was being witty and shared those words that I have used so many times in my running history.  My athlete wasn’t amused.  Sometimes we all wish there was some magic pill to build endurance/speed/strength.  The truth is:  we just have to focus on our desired outcome.  We have to play the piano:)

My Outcome:

Today was my karma run… My long run was tough. I struggled and wanted to cut it short, then those words came back to haunt me: I had to do it, I had to push through, there was no other way!!  It was painful…Physically and Mentally.  In the end, the discipline inspired by Coach Martin shined through and I played piano!  Not Easy…but 100% Satisfing!  I know today I made my former coach proud!!!

When it comes to running, building endurance, or becoming a stronger runner just remember the words of Coach Ron Martin: “Mozart didn’t learn to play the piano by chopping wood”

Thoughts from the road.

Leapfrog Athletics

Matthew A. Reedy

Coach/Owner