Welcome
Can you believe we are halfway done with November already? It’s hard to believe Turkey Trot season is quickly approaching. (Side note: That also means that this newsletter is 40 weeks old. Thank you all for coming along on this journey with me!)
Every 10 newsletters, I like to reintroduce the newsletter incase you have subscribed in between. The best way to help the newsletter growing and coming to your inbox each week is sharing it. Obviously, the newsletter is free and the preference is to get brands to sponsor the newsletter versus making it a pay to read model. Brands want to see newsletters with more subscribers, which is why sharing is the best way to help the newsletter grow and sustain itself.
So Why a Newsletter? Don’t you Have Enough Social Media?
The newsletter is a different direction than blogging. My personal blog is my training, race recaps, shoes, and diners. The newsletter is running and running industry content that benefits the reader.
Over the last year, I’ve felt stale in the social media world. Maybe it’s because I’ve blogged for over eight years now, and sometimes it feels less interactive than I’d like it to be. I’ve blogged before dating my husband. I blogged when I entered the military world. And I’m still blogging in my current in run specialty (which I love!). Heck, I blogged before Instagram and Twitter were “cool.” To be honest, blogs probably hit its peak a few years ago. Many people have suggested starting a podcast but that isn’t my scene either.
I like the newsletter format because it’s delivered directly to your inbox. I can provide content I have come across in the running industry. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not giving up blogging and social media anytime soon! But I hope the newsletter has a more authentic tone that is easier to connect with than a lot of the other stuff you can find online.
How will the Newsletter Benefit Me (the subscriber)?
I enjoy writing about what I’m passionate about, and I enjoy writing about what you’re passionate about (spoiler alert: they’re often the same things!).
The goal of the newsletter is to share things I’m loving, offer tips to help you improve your performance or just have more fun, highlight exciting news in the running world, and touch upon whatever other miscellaneous items that will benefit you.
As someone who works in the running industry, I have a big knowledge base of current running shoe trends and just industry trends in general. I'm not trying to be an “influencer” by promoting products that I get for free. But will I tell you if I've fit dozens of runners in a particular shoe and seen successful outcomes time and time again? You bet!
While the goal is to find sponsors that share my values, I will always keep this newsletter free for my readers. One of the most significant ways to help keep the newsletter free is to share it. Sharing gets the word out to people that usually wouldn’t see the newsletter and helps it grow. I value and appreciate every single share, even if it’s to your parents.
So thank you!
As I ease back into running, I’m beginning to plan my workouts and training routine for next season. I’m well on the road to recovery following the New York City Marathon and I’m looking forward to shifting gears and getting back to shorter distances (like the 5k and the half marathon). Last week’s 5k in headwind was a rude awakening that I have lost most of my speed.
Many people know that I tend to do most of my workouts on the road. For the most part I race on the roads, and most tracks are usually locked during the school day. Rather than wake up at 5 am and work out in the dark, I prefer to enjoy my exercise in broad daylight. On the flip side, most schools have sports teams using the track until late.
The choice between training on the tracks or the roads might seem like a mere matter of personal preference but depending on personal goals (like increasing speed) and where one trains plays a huge factor.
Which is Best for You: Track Workouts or Road Workouts?
To improve times for any running event (from the 400m to a full marathon), workouts must match the demand of the race. Both track and road workouts have a spot in any runner’s routine, whether you are a seasoned runner or just getting into the sport. But how and when should you do which?
Why do a Track Workout?
Accurately Measured: It does not matter if your GPS watch says that you ran .27 miles around the track. Trust me, it’s .25. If you don’t own a GPS, you don’t need one.
Smooth Surfaces: You don’t have to worry about tripping over something.
Pacing: Since the terrain doesn’t change, track workouts can help with pacing.
No Worrying about Cars: Running on the track means you aren’t worried about getting hit by a motor vehicle or cyclist.
Builds Mental Toughness: Knowingly committing to running X number of laps around a track helps keep you present in your workout and builds mental stamina.
Why Work Out on the Roads?
You can do the same track workouts on the road as the track. Because there is no in-built measurement of distance on roads, most road runners use GPSes to program a workout into your watch. For instance, the Coros I use has the feature to program a workout like 12X400s with a 2-minute jog in between. The watch will beep at you when you’re done with the 400 and go straight into the easy portion. It will alternate until the workout is done. So you can do a workout on the roads.
Most Races are on the Road: Most Runners (including myself) race on the road. During a race, you must worry about potholes and debris. Doing a workout on the road allows you to become familiar and aware of similar stimuli.
Course variables: Most courses aren’t flat pancake loops like a track. Running on the road allows you to practice running fast uphill, downhill, or even making sharp turns
Either environment will help you get fit. Track workouts make more sense for those working on skills like pacing, whereas road workouts better simulate a real race environment. The takeaway here is to find a training environment that most closely resembles the environment you will be racing in.
Personally, even though I love the feeling of running on a track, I admit I prefer doing workouts on roads because I find it easier and more applicable to the races I do. By working out on roads, you are getting specific road stress. If you can handle doing a fast workout on the streets, you’ll be ready to run fast on race day.
What is Keeping Me Entertained:
Amid Cain allegations, Kara Goucher slams Nike investigating itself
Another of Alberto Salazar’s Runners Says He Ridiculed Her Body for Years
For the Long Run Pod: Kellyn Taylor: Chasing the Olympic Dream
Clean Sport Collective: Mary Cain Tells Us Her Story
Road to the Olympic Trials Podcast: Carrie Tollefson: NYC/CHI Recap
Giveaway Winner and Aftershokz Trex Air Giveaway:
Last week’s winner of Lea's Unique Designs is @Runnergirl_Dani, who shared on Instagram. Just reply here and we will get you all squared away. Thank you to everyone who continues to read and share the newsletter. Sharing is what helps the newsletter grow.
This week, I'm giving away a pair of Aftershokz Aeropex headphones, which I've also reviewed here.
Aftershokz Aeropex Air go over your ear and use bone conduction technology so you can hear your surroundings. Plus, they have 8-hour battery life.
To enter the Aftershokz giveaway, just share the newsletter and tag me (or let me know if you did so). You can share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by forwarding the newsletter. Make sure to tag me or email me at fueledbylolz@gmail.com.
As always, thank you for reading, and if you have any comments, you can email me at FueledbyLOLZ@gmail.com. All feedback is helpful, good, or bad.
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