Category: running
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From Shutdown to Showdown: Did COVID Spark a U.S. Men’s Distance Running Renaissance?
On the eve of the World Championships, the story of American men’s distance running feels like one of the most remarkable turnarounds in global sport. Just a few years ago, the idea of U.S. athletes consistently battling the East Africans on equal footing seemed ambitious at best. Yet by 2024 and into 2025, names like…
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Two Sports, One Season: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Cross country + soccer is the most common in-season double for Pennsylvania high schoolers. It’s tempting: more playing time, more fitness, more fun. But does the endurance engine of cross country really pair with the speed-and-sprint metabolism of soccer—and at what cost? Because this is a very sensitive topic, I included many sources in this…
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Running with the “Ducklings”
Copenhagen, Spring of 1989 Once upon a very real time—spring of 1989, to be exact—I found myself living in Copenhagen. I was a runner then (still am, though the body lodges a formal protest from time to time), and I’d run in all sorts of places—Taiwan, Brazil, Paris, Rome. But Copenhagen… Copenhagen was different. It…
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Rest, Recharge, and Refocus: Handing off Track Season to Cross Country Summer Training
By Coach Joe Carei (a guy who still carb-loads for 5Ks like they’re marathons) Now that States(for most track athletes) is over and the final baton has been passed, the last spike has been unlaced, and the echoes of the starter’s pistol fade into memory, high school track athletes find themselves in a strange land…
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Understanding Carbo-Loading for Race Day Success
When you think about preparing for a big race, you probably picture clocking miles, fine-tuning your running form, and maybe obsessing over which shoes will make you feel most like a cheetah. But there’s one critical part of race prep that doesn’t involve hitting the pavement: carbo-loading. That’s right, strategically consuming carbohydrates is like…
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Mastering Marathon Nutrition: Gels, Waffles, Beans, Chews, and Real Food-A Culinary Journey
Fuel training for a long runs like marathon, ultra marathon or Ironman is not just walking up and getting the feed bag on, you have to experiment or you will not like the end result of the meal. Nothing worse than abdominal distress at mile 20, when all you were worried about ‘the wall’. The…
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5 Ways High School(and all) Runners Can Get Injured While Training in the Summer (And How to Avoid Them)
Summer is the perfect time for high school runners to build their base for the fall cross country season. With school out and the days long, it is an excellent opportunity to log some serious miles. However, with this training come certain risks. Injuries can derail even the most promising seasons if runners aren’t careful.…
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Hot Weather Running Pace Guide
As winter fades away and the vibrant hues of spring emerge, runners eagerly embrace the warmer temperatures and longer days. However, with the rising mercury comes a new set of challenges for those hitting the pavement or trails. As temperature increases, effort increases and paces slow down. Running in hot weather demands careful consideration…
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Scratch Cooking: A Simple way to Holistic Health for Families and Children
Let me say before you read this article, that I understand that preparing meals takes time from your busy day. Especially if you have children involved in activities and take up time with transportation, spectating and coaching. This is not an attempt to nutrition shame or lecture the reader. It is to help open your…
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Youth Running: How much is too much?
Running is often hailed as a beneficial activity for people of all ages, promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and social interaction. However, when it comes to children, questions arise regarding the appropriateness of training, the ideal mileage, and the potential psychological impacts of competitive running. I hope to introduce the benefit of health, mileage recommendations,…
The Trophy Husband 