Do You Want To Be A Better Runner?

Sometimes I take for granted my ability to run.  I just assume that everyone will enjoy it and have the freedom to do what I do.  Running is a gift and I am incredibly humbled and aware that it's not something I should take lightly. 

When I started running, it was a huge accomplishment to run for 30 continuous minutes.  It was a gradual process of adding minutes daily and having the mental wherewithal to realize my ability was far greater than I had given myself credit.

Today, I can happily pronounce that I've logged many, many miles over the past 10 years, but what I'm most proud about is that my journey never ends with a race.  I'm always planning the next, before I finish the last.  I envision my future races to be better, faster and more memorable.

Crossing the finish line is an awesome accomplishment and it's often THE goal when I talk to other runners.  "I just want to finish." It doesn't matter if it's pretty or fast.  What matters is what happens in the end.  Two arms raised at the finish line.

But what about those of us that have that burning drive to be better?  Those of us who don't just want to finish but rather want to finish strong and fast and dare I say....competitively.  I would have never considered myself a fast runner.  Average at best.  But something inside of me kept whispering that I was better.  I was fast.  I was a Boston Qualifier. 

Are you that person?  Do you long to qualify for Boston, but you just haven't been able to get faster?  Do you just want to be in the higher and faster echelon of runners?  Do you secretly want to not just finish a race, but actually race it.  I'm not talking elite here.  I'm talking top 20 - 25 percent.

My life and running career changed when I was introduced to high intensity cross-training and optimal nutrition.  I went from average to speedy (for me) in a matter of months.  I dropped unnecessary weight, leaned out my body fat ratio and accomplished some pretty cool race feats, including qualifying for Boston, which I never thought possible.

That's me over the course of 60 and 120 days.  I've been a runner and I will continue to be a runner.  It just took stepping up my game and focusing on nutrition that I became a better runner. 

I'm looking for five people who have that same desire as I did to join a 60-day Insanity / Shakeology challenge with me.  If you believe it, you can achieve it.  Let me help you go get it.  You'll get my daily support, motivation and advice!

Who is ready to be better, stronger, faster?  I can show you how.

The day I accomplished what I had only dreamed about in the past.  Getting ready to cross the finish line in qualifying fashion.  I believed in me and I worked really hard.  I believe in you and you CAN do this too.  Ask me how!

How Insanity Made Me a Better Runner!

One of the questions I'm most often asked is, "How do you incorporate your Beachbody programs into your running schedule?"

My answer is based on your fitness goals.  Are you training for a marathon or are you more interested in shorter training runs?  Are you running to become fit or are you trying to become a more fit runner? 

When I'm training for a marathon, my focus is running four to five days a week with one or days focused solely on cross-training.  When my goal is geared more toward fitness, I flip this schedule.  I have six days of cross-training fitness with one or two days a week devoted to shorter runs to maintain my base of running.

In simplest terms, a weekly schedule would look like this.

This schedule works for me.  It allows me to focus on my main objective (i.e. a marathon) without completely losing the fitness I've developed from Insanity, The Asylum or any other Beachbody program.

I believe that it is so important to always incorporate some level of cross-training into your weekly schedule for injury prevention, to develop strength and a strong core and to keep your routine fresh.

Since I have really made this a part of my overall fitness, whether the majority of my time is spent running or cross-training, I have become a much more efficient athlete.  In May of 2010, I ran a lot and spent time in a gym, but I wasn't efficiently working the way my body needed to be.

By incorporating Beachbody programs into my routine, I've learned how to work more efficiently and eat more effectively.  The programs allowed me to lose 4 percent body fat and by becoming leaner, I've become a better runner.  Last year, I took 16 minutes off of my previous marathon time and qualified for the Boston Marathon.

If I can do this. Anyone can! Trust me!