With the start of a new school year, there has been a lot of talk about clean slates and fresh starts.   Today, we talk about that concept and take two different angles: 

1. On one hand, we should look at everyday as a fresh start, a new chance to make choices that lead us closer to the person that we want to become, the goal we want to achieve or the milestone that we want to hit.  Why wait until some random day on the calendar when you can just start today?

2. On the other hand, do we ever actually get a clean start?  Our experiences shape us and our view of the world, so is there such a thing as a fresh start?  Can we just forget about the past and start again?  And if so, do you want to?

We talk about reality vs. perception, and how all events and people in our life can help to teach us things and help us to grow.  Yes, each day is a new day, and we should be conscious about the choices that we make, but changing our perceptions on past...

Show notes by Kevin :)

As summer wraps up, and we gear up for another school year, it is important to make sure that the level of daily, weekly, and monthly organization increases.  Now, to be very honest, I am not the best with organization, but I see it’s incredible value. On the other hand, Angie is the master of organization and planning and keeps all of our lives running smoothly.  

While I will rarely step up and lead the organization process, it is very important that the entire family does contribute to the overall weekly and monthly plans.  Parents must discuss their needs with each other or they risk simply giving everything they have to the rest of the family. Kids must contribute their needs so they can see how everyone is working together to create happiness and success for the entire family.

We have spent time with our kids discussing the difference between wants and needs, and this has transitioned nicely into their contribution to the...

How do I possibly fit it all in?  I feel like I am struggling to keep up right now with work and family...where am I going to find space for improved eating not to mention mental and physical personal health?  When trying to combine work and kids and fitness you can quickly feel overwhelmed. How do you make sure that every area is getting its attention?

This episode covers the steps to regularly check in and make sure you are clear on what you want to accomplish to be happy and satisfied and not simply busy but mentally fried.

First, you need to carefully and honestly set your priorities.  This bit of advice comes from basically every self help book you will ever read.  Take time to write out the categories in your life and then order them by importance.  Actually write this down. Decide on the major goals that fit the categories and understand the timeline involved in reaching these goals.  Again, actually write this down. Now check in on the list...

What good is a running coach?  When Kevin started running, his high school coach was a coaching legend with decades of success.  When Angie began running to be a faster runner, she relied on Kevin.

The coach creates the runner both physically and mentally.  They are like the artist carving the statue out of the rock. The mindset of a strong coach should be as Michealangelo stated: “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”  The coach needs to see the runner and find the best way the bring out the highest potential.

In this episode, we discuss several coaching styles and bring up the benefits and challenges of each.  While there are dozens of ways to categorize coaches from mileage to which coaching legend you follow, we came up with four to cover in this show

The "numbers" coach relies on a calculator to take an athlete from point a to point b.  They have a very solid...

The marathon is quite the beast of a race.  Many runners set the marathon as a long term goal or the peak of their running achievement.  

Others run a few every year while a rare few set out to run one in every state in the US or aim for global destinations.  Regardless of where you may fall on the spectrum from first race to hundredth, one thing is clear, the marathon is not easy.

 Running a marathon requires substantial physical preparation.  

• Runners must increase the time they are able to spend on their feet and the length of run they can complete.  
• They need to be able to learn how to fuel during a run.  
• Training for a marathon should include practicing different types of fuel to see which option works best with your body.  
• Runners also need to be able to deal with drinking while running.  
• The physical preparation slides into the mental challenge as the training requires the ability to handle whatever happens on race...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!

The internet in filled with training plans designed for all sorts of race distances with the allure of magic paces and workouts to help you reach your peak.  In this episode we break down where these plans come from, what some of the vocabulary means, and hopefully educate you about how different paces can help you.  

First, the plans come from well intentioned exercise physiologists trying to take research on elite athletes and adjust it to mortals.  The issue is when reducing the paces or distances, the benefits might not be the same. Also, given the background of an elite runner versus a more typical runner, even identical workouts will result in different physical adaptations.  

The paces in these plans often fall into one of these categories.

Marathon pace- This is what you can sustain for 2:30 to 3:00 regardless of how far that gets you.  If you finish a marathon around 4:22(10 minute miles) your "marathon pace" in...

What is a runner’s body?

In the world of running, there are a lot of stereotypes about what runners look like or should look like.  Running used to be more of an elitist sport, not a sport of the masses like it is today.

Today, running has become more accessible to so many more people and the “runner’s body” now takes on many more shapes and sizes.  

However, that runner’s body stereotype hasn’t gone away.  Many people judge themselves based on their size or shape, and some even think that that image has a role in determining their own self-identity as a runner.  

I’m not a runner because I’m not thin enough.

I’m not a runner because I’m not fast enough.  

The truth of the matter is that it does not require a certain look or race time to become a runner.  It does not take a specific weekly mileage. Runners do not have to race marathons, or even race at all.  To be a runner, you...

Journaling is an incredibly healthy habit that seems to be done in some form by basically every successful person.

In this episode we discuss journaling from two very different perspectives. Angie has always had her daily planner going back to at least high school.  It has helped to bring focus and structure with to-do lists. It has provided a source of reflection and a guideline to thanksgiving.

On the other hand, Kevin has tried to keep a journal since high school.  It has repeatedly proved unsuccessful although it does feel really good during the week or two that it lasts.

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of journaling for life and specifically for running.  We cover the sense of accomplishment, the organization, and the ability to look back and recognize patterns and causes of both high and low points.  

Angie lists numerous options for what to enter in a journal, while always starting with gratitude.

We cover what type of information you...

As much as we focus on training, goal setting, and lots of details to running improvement, sometimes it’s nice to step back and remember that all of this running is supposed to be fun.  

There are days that we do need the big goals to get us through a rough patch that tends to show up during the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter. However, at the end of the day, your running should provide you with some level of joy.

On this episode, we talk about:

• How running can provide happiness through stress relief and meditation
• The joy and other benefits of running with a group.
• How ignoring your goals may provide happiness for some people, yet focusing on goals and competition brings about happiness in others
• We wrap it up with a connection of how happiness matters in all areas of life from nutrition to family.

Ultimately, there are plenty of ways to enjoy running and when you finish you should remember to put a smile on your face.  

Go find your joy!

Hope you...

Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.  After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. 

This Buddhist statement about chopping wood and carrying water highlights the importance of fundamentals, no matter what stage you are at along your journey.  

It is important to understand that improvement in running, health, or really any worthwhile venture happen over a long period of time and through many small (and seemingly boring) steps.  

While the allure of the Instagram worthy workout or magic training secrets are attractive, the truth is that getting better simply requires consistency towards a goal.

In running, the recovery distance, stability exercises, and mobility work are the foundation of great achievements.  

Do not discount stability, as it is likely the reason you are not injured.

Do not ignore mobility; it is fixing that small ache before you are sidelined.  

Do not regard easy runs as “junk” mileage, because they...