Passing the RRCA Certified Running Coach Exam

During the weekend of August 14th, I took the RRCA Coaching course. It was held remotely during Saturday & Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m both days. It sounded like it would be a lot to be in a Zoom meeting all day both days, but honestly, it went by really fast and was very informative. We took breaks each hour or so and worked in groups several times both days. 

So what was the exam like? The exam is 100 questions. Most of the questions are multiple choice, but there are some true and false mixed in. The exam is open book, but don't let that lull you into thinking it's not challenging, because it definitely is! 

The nice thing, is that you can save your progress and leave the exam and come back to it later. I took the exam 2 weeks after the course to give myself time to learn the book and where different topics where located to save time and energy as the book is very thick. There's close to 400 slides in the powerpoint so there is A LOT of infomation to sift through. 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can become a RRCA Certified Running Coach, be sure to visit https://www.rrca.org/programs/coaching-certification/ 

Prime Day is Here! Great Deals on Garmins & More

Today is Prime Day at Amazon.com. If you're in need of any running gear, simply click on the links below and search for anything you need. Even if it's not for running! I do earn a small commission off your purchase and that helps keep this site and my ability to offer tips and tricks to help runners run faster and farther.

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Why Even Runners Struggle with Belly Fat (Part 3/3)

Welcome to part 3 of my 3 part series on Why Runners Struggle with Belly Fat. In this video, we'll look at what actually works to get rid of that stubborn belly fat. Things like nutrition, exercise frequency and lowering stress.

Why Even Runners Struggle With Belly Fat (Part 2/3)

Welcome to part 2 of my 3 part series on Why Runners Struggle with Belly Fat. In this video, we'll look at some of the strategies runners try to lose weight, only to have it backfire on them.

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.