The Benefits of Training with a Training Program

As many of us are gearing up for fall marathon training, here are my two cents on why you should choose to train with a training program for your fall marathons.  

 I started running with the Potomac River Running Training Program (PR Training Programs) in the fall of 2014.  Since then, I have gone on to run multiple races (including a full marathon as well as countless other distances) and have continued to see improvement in my running and overall fitness. This post is focused on my experience with PR Training Programs but there are various options all around the country (I personally recommend the PR Training Programs if you are in the DC/NOVA area). I am not being paid for this blog post. 

The benefits of training with a training program are immense and the following are just a few examples:

• the camaraderie of group runs 
• having support out there on the longest long run days
• having a schedule to follow (and people to follow it with)  
• having people cheering for you during your race 
• having coaches who can relate to where you're coming from and help you through those tough runs
• having coaches that will push you just enough to be better 
• making new friends (because who doesn't want more friends)

I have been fortunate to have run with multiple different groups within the PR Training Program (101/201, the Distance Training Program (DTP) and Base Camp) and each of those groups has been made up of amazing individuals who all have their own goals and abilities but are all out there for the same reason: Their love and passion for running.  

In my OPINION the BEST part about training with a group is that there is ALWAYS someone there with similar goals and abilities.  From the slowest runners to the fastest runners, you will always find someone to run with.  If you are not a social runner (you like to run alone), youhave the piece of mind that there is someone on the trail with you if something were to happen... oh, and there's Gatorade too (that's pretty nice). 

Don't just take my word for it though, I have asked a few of my fellow PR trainees and coaches a couple of questions about what they think about training programs, below are their (unedited) responses. 

1.)  What has been the biggest benefit of training with a group?

Coach Emily - The camaraderie and accountability that a group provides.  Even if I wake up on a Saturday morning at 4:30 and just want to stay in bed, I know that there are people out there expecting me to show up to run with them. 

Coach Leesy - The friendships! It's such a supportive community and everyone has common goals and interests. 

Sallie G - The biggest benefit of training with a group is having people to encourage you and cheer you on.
Rachel K - Being able to meet other people who are also passionate about running who can give you advice.
Jamie S - Making friends and finding people to run with.  Running alone is always so much harder.  No matter what the mileage is, having buddies to chat with while running make it go so much faster!  And they can help motivate you to keep going if you’re having a tough run.
Deb B. - For me running with a group is one part social and one part educational.  I find that I learn a tremendous amount from hearing people's stories about how they started running and why, things they found that worked, and just the input they can provide by watching me run and making comments that make me better.  On the social side I've found that contrary to what I first thought, other runners are SOOO encouraging -- they really do cheer everyone on!  Plus since you run into them in a multitude of places -- favorite running spots, running stores, and other races it really does make it feel like family.

2.) What has been your biggest accomplishment that you can attribute to training with a training group?

E - I owe my biggest running accomplishment to date to the PR Training Programs.  Without the program training for and running the Marine Corps Marathon last year would have never happened.  I also attribute having the guts to even consider a marathon to the amazing coaches and trainees with the program.  

L - Racing!! I would have never raced before training with PR.

S - My biggest accomplishment that I can attribute to training with a training group is running not one but two full marathons in 2015.
R - Meeting people I can run and train with. Also having people on the same goal path as you is great
J - Finishing 2 marathons.  I never would have been able to finish the distance without a group of coaches and friends to support me.

D - Well this question is two-fold for me -- one is through actually training with a training group I was able to get to the point where I really liked the 5K distance.  I'd like to say that they helped with some of my bigger goals, but I ended up alone for most of those and that did make it tougher.  The second part of that question is that I'm part of a National Running team -- Illuminati Racing (www.weruneverything.org).  We are a non-profit team with folks all over the country and we do everything from small races to ultras -- and that's on-line component of encouraging people -- similar to the PR DTP FB group -- has been incredibly encouraging and motivating.

3.) Would you be where you are if you didn't train with a group?

E- I would definitely NOT be running, that's for sure.  I never thought that I liked running until I joined the group in 2014. Before joining PR Training Programs I was in the gym 4-6 days a week and I could feel myself getting burned out.  The group taught me how to run and how to love running. 

L - 25lbs heavier, pale and with less friends. (Editors note:  This is my favorite response out of all of them.)

S-  I definitely would never be where I am running-wise if it were not for Shannon Scalan and the PRR Running 101 training program as well as the PRR DTP program!
R - I would probably have never finished my first marathon. I signed up for one before but never was motivated to train.
J -  No.  Maybe I would have finished one marathon without a training group, there are lots of online training programs, but I doubt it. I don’t think I’m motivated enough to coach myself.   But I most definitely wouldn’t have run a second, since it was essentially peer pressure from the friends I made the first time around that made me sign up for the second one.
D - I don't know if I would have stuck with it as long as I have (started in 2012) or that I would keep coming back to it after setbacks.  The group and the people you meet there keep you accountable and they do check on  you -- like family!

4.) What would you say to a new runner that was scared to attempt longer distance races?

E- I was in your shoes not long ago.  The training is tough, there will be times that you don't want to put in the time and effort, but in the end when you cross that finish line and you collect your medal it is all worth it. 

L - Just stick with it. Running is hard, FOR EVERYONE. Even professionals have bad days but you'll be glad you stuck with it when your cross the finish line. 

S -  I would tell a new runner that was scared to attempt longer distance races not to stress about it. If you really want to do a longer race and just afraid you are not ready, then the DTP program will get you ready for the race you want to do; BUT you have to want to do that distance and be willing to train for it. Not everyone wants to be a distance runner or has the desire to run more than 3 or 6 miles; and that's okay. Don't run a race just because "everyone else is" or "all my friends are".
R - Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I never thought I would actually be able to finish a marathon but the training group helped me so much.
J - Just go for it.  The only way you’ll find out if you can do it is to try.  I still have trouble wrapping my head around running 26.2 miles, but I’ve done it twice now.  Doesn’t matter where you are in the pack, the back-of-the-packers run exactly the same number of miles as the fast runners at the front.  And they are ALL passing the people sitting at home on their butts watching TV and stuffing their faces.  If you want to do it, you can.  And finding the right group makes it that much easier.  

D - Live your dream!  If you want to do a longer race and are willing to put the work in don't let anything or anyone stand in your way -- including yourself (only wish I could follow my own advice :) ).

 5.) Any other thoughts or comments about why someone should consider a training program. 

E- I have met some of the most amazing people through training with a group.  People that are there to listen when I inevitably have bad runs and to cheer me on when after (during) the good runs.  I have people (who are just as crazy as I am) willing to head out for a 20 mile run in the pouring rain just because the schedule says we have to. People to run with when time constraints force one of us to run earlier than the group. 

L - The groups hold you accountable and help you develop a schedule and routine. For someone new to running, this is huge!!

S - As I said in question one, having a group of people who will encourage you and also hold you accountable is invaluable to accomplishing your running goals. Add to that the expertise of the running coaches and the fact that you know there are other people going through the same fears and accomplishments that you are makes training with a group the best way to train in my opinion. Also, especially the PRR training programs have something for every skill level of runner.
R - A training program can help you to achieve a goal and have people to help along the way. 
J - Training with a group gets you through the tough times.  While training for both marathons I hit a wall and got burned out.  But I was able to check in with my coaches and friends and realized it was totally normal and I wasn’t alone, I just needed to push past it to the other side.  If I had been training by myself I probably would have stopped and never made it all the way to the starting line.

D - It does push you and encourage you and it keeps you accountable.

6.) How long have you been training with a group?

E- I joined the PR Training Programs in September of 2014, since then I have run a full marathon, 4 half marathons, 5 10 mile races, and numerous 5k and 10k races. 

L - (Editors note: I forgot to ask Leesy how long she's been running with PR but I know it's been a few years consistently. She has been in every training program in the Arlington/DC area that I've taken part in since 2014.) 

S - I have been training with PRR since the beginning of 2012.
R - Near two years. 
J -  I’ve been training with groups off and on since the summer of 2012.  And if you told me back then, when I signed up for my first 10k training program, that I was going to training for my first marathon 2 years later, I would’ve laughed so hard!  Just goes to show you what a little training can do!  :)

D - I started training with Florida Running Company in May 2013...and have done it off and on since then...

There you have it! Do you have a fall goal race? Do you want to increase your weekly/daily mileage? Do you want to start running but don't know where to start? Do you want to increase your fitness and/or ability? Do you want to train with an amazing group of athletes? If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, YOU should be training with a training program. 

What do you think?  What are the benefits of training with a group?

Getting Lost in the Woods and Finding my Way Out

Whew, last week was a tough one for sure. It's gotten warm here in the DC area and it's really been taking it's toll on my not training (but sort of always training) running. Most of May so rainy and cold (it started raining the day Prince died and didn't stop for what felt like forever) that with the arrival of summer temperatures it was tough to get in any sort of quality runs last week.

After the Historic Half (see post here), I was kind of DONE with running.  I decided that I would take a week off and enjoy a week of doing absolutely nothing physical. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my week off of ADULTING, I missed running and jumped right back into it... kind of.  For the last two years I have been one of those people that feels GUILTY missing a workout and the last few weeks I have been making a concerted effort to not feel guilty.

I am generally an after work runner (I'm one of those people that will talk myself into sleeping more rather than run) so the heat and humidity are always at full force during my summer training.  Last week was no exception to that...

Monday morning, I packed my gym bag and made plans to go out for an easy 3 miles after work, However, mother nature had other plans for me.Normally I would totally run in the rain and love it (during training in the summer), but a huge storm rolled in and I just did not feel like running in a thunder storm and since I'm not officially training for the NYC Marathon yet. I decided that I do not HAVE to run in the rain at this point, so I didn't, I went home and opened a bottle of wine and watched the storm roll in and roll out from the comfort of my balcony.

Tuesday and Thursday I met up with a group that I usually run with at and took out to the trail.  I was super excited that the temperatures had FINALLY reached the 80 degree marks and it was time to pull out the tank tops and shorts for good.  In all of my excitement (BOTH DAYS) I totally forgot that the humidity SUCKS in DC in the summer, it's kinda like running through soup and it makes it hard to breathe and keep going.  I tried to press through on both days but for each day I broke down around mile 1.5 and by the end of my 3 miles on Thursday I was starting to feel defeated... which is NOT the way that I want to lead into Marathon Training.  My intervals (yes, I am an interval runner) went from (run/walk) 2/1 to 1:30/1:30 to 1/1 and I was GUZZLING water at every walk interval, which was not helping to not feel bloated and sloshy (yup, I made up a word). I decided that I was going to chalk it up to a bad running week and make a plan for everything to be better.

Saturday morning my friends ventured out to my neck of the woods (they all live 30 minutes away and we generally meet near them) to try out a different route to shake things up. The first couple of miles (we did 6) were fairly normal and being mostly downhill they felt easy.  I was do happy that running had FINALLY become enjoyable again.  We ran 2 miles to Roosevelt Island and started down the path.  About a quarter of a mile into the run we were suddenly on a small trail in the middle of the woods complete with tree roots, fallen trees, DEAD SNAKES and large rocks. As we adopted the "run when you can" mentality I couldn't help but think to myself "of course we get lost in the woods when I'm just starting to feel good running again".  After about a quarter of a mile, we found the large packed gravel path (the one that I thought we would be running on for all of our time on the island) and picked up the pace again (there was also a large section of dock that we ran on).  I was feeling great at this point and we were rocking and rolling off the island when BAM! I hit the freakin' wall at MILE 3.75. The next 2.25 miles were a nightmare of an uphill battle (both figuratively and literally) and I felt like I was losing bad! The last 1.75 miles were uphill through the Rosslyn Neighborhood of Arlington and the hill which I lovingly call HELL HILL (ok, maybe not so lovingly) was kicking my butt.  Jamie and Rachel were totally having a great run and bounding up the hill, while Natalie and I were walking more than running and complaining about the hill the entire time.  I think that at one point Jamie and Rachel were at least a quarter mile ahead of us and we couldn't help but curse them a little. **I am not usually a hater, I love it when my friends have a great run and/or PR a race, but my run was going that terribly at that moment that I couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous that they were feeling unstoppable.

FINALLY, we got back to the car, the run was over and I was so GRUMPY about what had transpired.  I was starting to feel like I would never have another good run and that I was probably going to fall apart during training (cue the balloons and music for a pity party for one).  We decided that we would hit up the diner for some well earned breakfast (there may have been some chanting the word "bacon" but I'll never confirm nor deny that). As I was eating my chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon.  I had an epiphany... what was different this year from last year? I was eating better last year and incorporating some cross training (until marathon training started taking off and I discovered that the cafe in my work building sold chocolate muffins and I started buying cartons of moose tracks ice cream). It was at that moment that I decided that I was going to eat healthier and try to get back to my "ideal running weight" (you probably wouldn't be surprised what 6 months of eating like you're training for a marathon while only training for half marathons will do to your weight).

So here I am, on the brink of marathon training to begin, embarking on a journey to lose a little weight and trying to get back into a cross training and strength training routine... I believe I can do it, so I WILL do it.  I am determined to knock a good chunk of time off of my marathon this year and I'm beginning to feel optimistic.

What do you do when you're having a bad running day/week/month?  What is your "reset" to get back to feeling amazing?