Why Even Runners Struggle With Belly Fat (Part 1/3)

Welcome to part 1 of my 3 part series on Why Runners Struggle with Belly Fat. In this video, we'll look at what type of fat you're dealing with.

2022 Asheville Hot Chocolate Races

The Asheville Hot Chocolate races are back on for 2022! This is great news for me as it is probably my favorite race series in Asheville. It started with just a 10K, but then in the last few years, they added a 5K option. Now, for 2022, they have added a half-marathon option! 

For those of you that follow me, you know I've been doing self challenges since getting back into running. I broke 30 minutes for the 5K. I've broken 8 minutes for the mile, and now my new challenge, will be getting myself into better shape so I can run the half-marathon. 

All the races will mainly follow the new and former greenways that follow the French Broad River. It's a beautiful run that starts at the Isaac Dickson Elementary school, goes down Hill Street and then mainly along Riverside Drive & Lyman Street. 

The 5K will go down Riverside, onto Craven Street and back along the greenway back to the school. 

The 10K will go down Riverside, along the greenway next to Lyman and into the French Broad River Park before heading back. 

The Half Marathon will continue from the French Broad River Park into the greenway along Amboy Rd down through Carrier Park and turn around at the end of the Hominy Creek River Greenway trail before heading back. 

Just so you know, there are also options for the younger kids. There's a Marshmallow Dash (1,269 ft,) and a 1K Hill Climb.

Being in January, it could be cold (obviously) but I have also ran it with rain too. That was a very cold year and the hot chocolate at the end was much appreciated. 

If you haven't run any of the Hot Chocolate races, I highly encourage you to do so. They are so fun, the courses are nice and flat, which is hard to come by in Asheville, and the participants are the best!

If you would like to run either the 5K, 10K or Half, please use the sign-up link below:

https://raceroster.com/events/99b55236-2784-4e72-9756-afe8fa693417/details?aff=5K4PX

2021 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games & Results

 

Well, I almost didn't run in this year's 2021 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games. In fact, the night before I posted a question to my Instagram followers asking if I should run or not. It was an overwhelming 193-3 vote in favor of me waking up the next day and running. 

Not wanting to let by followers down, even though I felt unprepared, I threw on my running clothes and headed out to the meet. When I got there, there didn't seem to be too many people. In fact, I was once again, the only one in my 50-54 age group. There were two in the 55-59 group and I knew the one guy from 2019. He's fast! I wasn't 100% sure about the new guy that showed up this year, but considering he brought his own starting blocks and had at least two pair of track spikes, I knew I was in trouble.

I signed up for the 50m Dash, 100m and 200m because I do like the sprints. I always wanted to be a sprinter but I was just better at distance. Here's how I did: 

In the 50 meter dash, I ran a 7.04. In 2019 I had run a 7.49 so I was very happy with my time this year. I was third overall, being beaten by the two in the next age group up. I was however first in my age group...pretty easy when you're the only one. 

In the 100 meter, I had a lousy start. I mean really bad. I felt like I couldn't get any speed until about 30 meters in. I just felt tight or something. I guess it wasn't that bad compared my 2019 time of 16.06. I ran a 16.31. I was third for the men and, again, #1 in my age group...lol. I was actually 4th overall as there was a really fast woman running who is the wife of one of the men I was up against. 

For the 200 meter, I felt good. In 2019 I ran 37 seconds. This time around I ran 34.87. Again, I was first in my age group and 3rd for men, but 4th overall as the same woman from before was in my heat. She smoked me on the straightaway.

This year, I decided to run the 1500m just to see how I'd do. I had recently broke 8 minutes for the mile so I was hoping to run a 7:30. I ended up running a 7:36 but I crossed the line in 1st place against two other runners, the husband and wife duo who kicked my butt in the 100m and 200m. 

All in all, I earned 4 Gold medals, qualified for the State games in September and made some really good friends. I also got a really weird tank-top tan that I have to now try to fix...lol.

If you're looking for results for this year's games, click here.

I Broke 8 Minutes for the Mile!

Well, I did it! On April 3rd, 2021, I made my 4th attempt at breaking the 8 minute mile since I started this "quest" in October 2020 . The weather was perfect, I had the track to myself, and just felt good! Here is the video I made for my YouTube channel.

Just to recap what's in (and not in) the video, I did a 400m jog, followed by some stretching. My ankle was feeling really weird at first during the warmup but it worked itself out quickly with the jog and stretching. 

I debated listening to music. I had two songs from the Rocky Anthology that combined were 7:55, but I decided that since it didn't go well the last time I tried running with my phone and music, I would just focus on the run.

My splits were as follows. Not as even as I'd like them to be, but definitely better than they had been.

• Lap 1: 1:54.98 
• Lap 2: 2:06:.31 / 4:01.29
• Lap 3: 2:04.47 / 6:05.76
• Lap 4: 1:48.29 / 7:54.05

Having made 3 prior attempts at the mile since October, I knew I had the speed to run 2 minutes per lap, but I lacked the endurance to repeat them. So Since October, I've been focused on building my mileage. I've had to go slowly because I'm trying to avoid getting injured again with the Plantar Fasciitis I had early on in my journey to start running again. In October and November and half of December, work was crazy and so I lost some progress and like a dork, I tried to jump back into running from where I had left off. As a result, I felt the Plantar coming on again, so I backed off and took it slow.

Which brings me to a good point. Do NOT underestimate stretching. I have always did it as a chore. Even as a running coach, I would preach to my clients the importance of stretching and really get on them for not doing it, and yet not do it properly for myself. 

So I stopped trying to run "on my own" and instead, treated myself as a client. I actually wrote out a plan for a 50-something (cough-cough) male, overweight, former runner with plantar fasciitis. Once I did that, I knew exactly what I had to do and stopped "Winging it".

Breaking that goal of 8 minutes was huge for me. And now that I've done it, I feel inspired and excited to take on the next challenge!

 

Book Review: Fire on the Track

 

If you are looking for a great book on women in running, or women in sports in general, Fire on the Track: Betty Robinson and the Triumph of the Early Olympic Women is a must read! I loved this book. It's the story of 3 women athletes that competed in the 1938, 1932 & 1936 Olympics. 

Written by Roseanne Montillo, this book follows the amazing story of Betty Robinson as she is discovered, trained, and sent to the 1928 Olympic games to compete in the 100 yard Dash. This was the frst olympics that allowed for women track athletes and it was almost the last. 

In addition to Betty Robinson's career, which I won't spoil, the book also tells the tales of Mildred Didrikson, Stella Walsh and Helen Stephens. 

What was so shocking to me, was the mentality of the people at the time. There was actually concern that not only would sports make women "manly" but that participation may even turn them into men! What the heck? I was mortified. 

Another not-so shocking part of the book talked about how the women's 800 yard run was incredibly hot and the women gave their all and some collapsed at the finish line. People that were against women in sports used this as fuel and "proof" that women didn't belong in sports. However, nobody said a word when in the Men's 800 yard, the same thing happened to the men. Many collapsing at the finish due to the heat. 

If you love running and want a good way celebrate women's history month, you should definitely pick up a copy of Fire on the Track: Betty Robinson and the Triumph of the Early Olympic Women. 

By using the links in this blog, I do want to give full disclosure and inform you that I will earn a small commission from your purchase

Happy trails! 

Book Review: The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb

 

I recently finished The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It by Neal Bascomb. It's the story of three runners, each trying to be the first one to break the 4 minute mile. The book follows England's Roger Bannister, Australia's John Landy and the USA's Wes Santee as they each train, compete and believe that will be the one to do the impossible.

As a runner, you will love this book! However, I think any sports enthusiast would appreciate the detailed descriptions of the races. Neal Bascomb did such a great job, that it actually feels like you are there watching these runners compete. 

There's so much I want to say about this book and the runners but I don't want to spoil it for you. I think we all know which one was successful if you know your running history, but still...the book is so well written that at times I found myself ever so briefly wondering if the others would do it first. 

If you would like to read this book, please support this blog and use the affiliate link above. I do receive a small commission just so you know. 

Review of Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

In January, I finished reading David Goggins' book "Can't Hurt Me". It's his personal story of perserverance as he struggled with a rough childhood, as well as an adult life that felt like he was going nowhere fast. In this book, he goes into detail on what it was like growing up with an abusive father, then with a single mother and his battle with being overweight but wanting to join the military. 

His story is absolutely fascinating! The best part for me, is that rather than being just another self-help book, this was actually (in my opinion) a running book. I had no idea that this man was a god when it came to pushing himself to the limits. Running ultras, triathlons, etc. and all of it basically because he wanted to show he could. That he could take the pain and keep going.

If you want a book that will get you off the couch and strive to be more than you currently are, this is THE book for you. It has really put things into a whole new perspective for me. In this book, I not only was reminded of why I started running, but felt a sort of kindred spirit in David. No, I'm not a Navy SEAL or an Army Ranger, but I had a rough childhood with an abusive father and I used that pain and channeled it into my running. I felt like I came to terms with it long ago, but after reading this book, it brought a lot back and gave me some new reflections and a sense of forgiveness where before I just preferred to forget.

If you only read one book this year, read "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins. Please use the link below. I do receive a small commission from Amazon which helps support this site. I could not put it down. I usually read a couple of books per year and I've already finished two books this year and it's not even the middle of February. 

The next book I'll be reviewing is The Perfect Mile: Three Athletes, One Goal, and Less Than Four Minutes to Achieve It. It's the story of Roger Bannister, Wes Santee and John Landy, each trying to be the first person to break the 4 minute mile.