Saucony Blog » Find Your Strong

The Well Inside Of Me

Dorothy Beal — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:05:11 +0000

There is a well inside of me. When it is getting low I run. Glorious runs through picturesque places – the runs where I feel as if I am floating on air and could run for forever - those runs fill the well. They fill it with happiness and love. They remind me that I can find the key to my own destiny within myself. They make everything in life seem clearer and leave my heart smiling. They make me more aware of little things – birds chirping in the distance – the smell of spring buds on the trees. The sound of my breath and my footsteps makes me appreciate my body’s ability to run, and run far. All of this adds to the well. Fast runs - long runs – they deposit and withdraw from the well at the same time. I feel tired and strong all at once. I pull from the well to find the courage to push on through the entire run. Once finished, what was taken is immediately filled back up with thoughts of strength and self-confidence. Running isn’t the only thing that adds and takes from the well but it is the most consistent. In a world where things seem ever changing running is always there. There is a continual ebb and flow to the well but running assures that it is never completely empty. When I feel a moment of weakness I draw from the well. I remind myself of particularly hard runs, long races or moments when I thought I couldn’t move another step, but did. It’s been said that running is the greatest metaphor for life – you get out of it what you put in to it. Fill your well with running and I assure you that you will get more out of it than you put into it.

Marathon Life Lessons

Dorothy Beal — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:48:44 +0000

It was mile 11 of my 22^nd marathon and the sign ahead would get me through the next 15.2 miles. Everything you ever wanted to know about yourself you can learn during a marathon.Marathon 21 had been 13 days before. My heart was ready to run another 26.2 but my legs had another idea. The pain, much like my determination to finish, was more immense than the previous race. I needed to prove to myself that even though I have conquered the distance many times before, that I could do it again. It wasn’t a race for chasing PR’s – it was a race to emotionally prove to myself that I have the strength to live the life I dream of. Here are some of the things I learned over those remaining 15.2 miles:

Starting and finishing something is important in life. If you quit when the going gets tough it only gets easier to keep quitting.
It’s going to hurt - life hurts. There are lows and highs and the highs feel higher when you know what the lowest of lows feel like.
You will feel good for a period but no matter how much you want to bottle up that feeling, you can’t. Enjoy it while it lasts.
The marathon does not care what you look like. It does not judge you. Make friends in life who are like the marathon. Ones that accept you for who you are.
Find something that makes you happy-really, really happy. Running makes me happy.
The mind is a powerful tool. When your body hurts make your mind run your body–this is true in life and in running.
You have a choice whether or not to have a smile on your face–even when you are in pain. Happiness is a state of mind you choose, not a destination you are looking for.
I can do anything I put my mind to. Anything.
Do not fear the inevitable pain that may come. The only thing to truly fear is fear itself. Pain is something that one must go through at times, in order to grow, it isn’t always bad.
The simple things in life are some of the most enjoyable: wind blowing through your hair; the warm sun on your skin on a fall day; the beautiful colors of the leaves falling by the riverside; a stranger cheering you on.
The things that mean the most in life are often the hardest.
I am strong. VERY STRONG.

What has a marathon taught you about yourself?

What To Know When Running In The Snow

Run Smart Project — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:16:26 +0000

Slow Down!

Running in the snow will present a totally different challenge than running on a dry surface. The type of snow, depth of snow, temperature and time of day can all affect how difficult it is to trudge through the elements. Your average pace could be affected by several seconds per mile to a few minutes per mile! This is a great time to ditch the GPS watch and just run by feel. Just enjoy getting outside and don't stress about specific mileage and paces. We highly recommend tracking your run by minutes instead of miles. It’s also important to be open to running shorter than planned since snowy conditions can be harder on the body. For example, if it typically takes you 80 minutes to run 10 miles in ideal conditions, it may take you significantly longer to complete the distance while trekking in the snow. As a result, you’ll put more stress on your body and it will take longer to recover.

Gear Up!

Start with a warm pair of socks and shoes that are appropriate for the type of surface and conditions you will be running in. Trail shoes are often a good fit for snowy or icy roads. Next, layer clothing relative to the temperature, moisture and wind. Never wear cotton under technical running apparel because it will soak up the sweat. Here is a great selection of winter running apparel from Saucony. A good base layer should be somewhat light and close to the skin. A middle or top layer should be thicker and insulating while still allowing moisture to escape. If conditions are really extreme, throw on third layer that is lightweight and wind resistant. Top this all off with a warm pair of gloves or mittens and a hat or headband.

Don't Fear the Treadmill.

As refreshing as it is to get out the door for a run, even when the conditions aren't ideal, sometimes it is simply safer to run inside on the treadmill. Occasionally jumping on the treadmill when the roads are icy or temperatures are well below freezing can save you from a serious injury or fall. Additionally, treadmills are great options for getting in speed work or intense interval sessions when it would otherwise be impossible outside. The key is to be flexible and creative to ensure that you get the most out of training in the winter months. What have you learned from running in the snow? Share your tips in the comments below!

Welcome to the Saucony Blog

Sharon Barbano — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:48:51 +0000

On an evening run, a centipede stopped to stretch under a tree where a skunk was resting. The skunk asked the centipede, “Dude, with all those legs, how do you know which one to move next?” The centipede froze in his tracks. He started thinking. He didn’t know which leg to move so he couldn’t move any. He cried to the skunk, “Help! I’m stuck!” The skunk sniffed, “You’re stuck because you’re thinking too much. Focus on something else, and you’ll run again.” Just then, the centipede looked out to the horizon and saw the moon rising. “How beautiful!” he thought as he continued running through the cool evening grass. “Don’t overthink it.” Without a doubt, that’s the best running advice I’ve ever heard. And ironically, it was told to me by one of the deepest thinkers in the sport, Dr. Jack Daniels, named the world’s greatest coach by Runner’s World magazine. If you think about it (but not too much), thinking is a good thing, yet an excess can lead anyone to a grinding halt− including runners. After all, the beauty of running is in its simplicity. Let’s not complicate it. That brings me to the second best running advice I’ve ever heard. It comes from the late, great Dr. George Sheehan, physician and running author who once said, “running is an experiment of one,” reflecting on the need for runners to learn from their own personal experience. What works for you may not work at all for me. Ultimately, all the advice in the world won’t change the fact that in the end, only you know what’s right for you. Sticking with the “rule of three,” there’s one more bit of advice I’d like to share: Find Your Strong. With the thousands of messages we’ve received from runners everywhere, that thought seems to especially resonate with the running community. You see, even though we may each have our individual motivations to run, one thing’s for sure: Together, we’re passionately united over our love for running. That shared inspiration is where strong is definitely discovered. With the launch of the Saucony Blog, our goal is to share the best advice from runners everywhere in a simple, personal and inspirational voice. In this first edition, guest blogger Dorothy Beal of Mileposts echoes Dr. Daniels advice−“don’t overthink it”−encouraging us instead to focus on the moment, one mile at a time. Triathlete Hall of Famer Karen Smyers shares her “experiment of one” to help you decide on the pool, lake or ocean for your next swim session. In Flip My Workout, Saucony athlete and 2012 Olympian Molly Huddle inspires us to “find our strong” by taking on her favorite 5K workout. And there’s more: Our team of bloggers is second to none, including Dr. Jack Daniels and the RunSmart Project; Mike Silva of Foundation Performance; Spencer White, Head of the Saucony Human Performance and Innovation Lab; and Dr. Randy Accetta, Director of Coaching for the Road Runner’s Club of America, among others. And while we may have some of the most awesome contributors in the sport, none are as experienced in you … than you. We invite you to join us in this journey. We’re here to start the conversation; you take it from here to anywhere. Together, we hope to build a training table of community thought, a never-ending journey where “strong” is found personally and collectively, on every run, through every mile, on every day. Welcome to the Saucony Blog!

Run The One You’re With

Dorothy Beal — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:53:25 +0000

It is not uncommon for new runners as well as veterans to fear the long run. Anxiety of whether or not one can finish the distance can remain whether it is the first time you are running long or the 100^th time. Long, being relative to the individual, may mean you worry about an 8 mile run or it may mean the mental stress is coming from those important 20 milers leading up to a marathon. In order to keep fear at bay and enjoy distances up to 20 miles and beyond I’ve started to run the one I’m with. What I mean by this is that I run the mile I am in and focus only on that mile. It scares my mind if I am on mile 2 of a 20 mile run and think about the 18 more I have to go. If I focus on finishing mile 2 strong and getting to mile 3 then I am working on manageable distances that my mind can wrap itself around. Often during long runs one can experience a multitude of emotions as well as a range of how the body feels. One mile you are cruising along thinking about how fit you are and 10 minutes later your legs feel like they are filled with lead weights and you question if finishing this run is going to be realistic. Focusing on the mile you are in, whether you are feeling good or feeling bad, allows you to get through it and on to the next one. One hard mile doesn’t mean that they will all be hard. One good mile doesn’t mean they will all be good. For some, a mile might even seem like an impossible distance to push through. I break down the mile into quarters. When you are at .25 of a mile you are only .25 away from being half way finished. At the half way mark you are only .25 away from being 75 percent finished. Once 75 percent of the way through a mile you can certainly push through another .25. When that mile is over ask yourself if you have a little bit more. The answer will most likely be yes. Begin the mile process over again if need be. Tell yourself I only have to do this for .25 more and then asses how you feel. As a veteran of 20 marathons I can not tell you how many times I have had to break down long runs of 20 miles into quarters of a mile just to finish. Focus on the moment, mile by mile, and you will find that the long run isn’t as hard mentally as you once thought. Long runs are part fitness, part heart. Make your mind run your body; you are in control of your running destiny.