Hey Reader, My family and I just spent July at a cottage north of Toronto. It was such a great month and a reminder of how much I like being outdoors! Lots of fishing with my boys, swimming, playing board games and some running :) I hope you're having a great summer (or winter if you're south of the equator). On the blog: Why beginners should run for time, not distance Heather's mantra (see below) gets at something we come back to a lot: when you run for time instead of distance, your pace...
16 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Beginners ask me all the time what to eat before a run, and whether carbs are even allowed. So I got a nutritionist to answer it properly! Our new post is written by Juliet O'Sullivan, a certified nutritionist and the founder of Life & Fork Nutrition. Her short version: Carbs are your friend; a small snack like toast with honey or a banana 30 to 60 minutes beforehand is usually all you need, and you can skip gels and sports drinks until your runs pass an hour. It's a practical...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, "How slow should I run?" Going slow is the skill. The honest answer: don't chase a pace on your watch or decide that you need to be totally gassed for a workout to count. Run by effort. Pace doesn't know you slept poorly or that it's 100 degrees and humid out. Most new runners go too fast — slow down more than you think you need to. Easiest check — the talk test: if you can hold a conversation, you're in the right zone. Only getting a few words out? Back off to a walk. Walking...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, A belated Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there! 📖 New on the blog The First Month of Running is the Hardest. Here's How to Survive It. The first 30 days of running can be rough — sore muscles, achy joints, a hunger you can't explain, and a serious need for naps. It's normal. Your body is adjusting. Lisa Jhung put together 8 practical strategies to get you through the hardest stretch, from managing DOMS to why varying your routes matters more than you'd think. Read the...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Tips, inspiration, more on our research study....lots to talk about this week! Let's dive in. I Started Running at 82. I'd Never Run Before. Marian Leicester started running at 82! She tried Couch to 5K first and found it too aggressive. Then she found None to Run, completed all 12 weeks without repeating a single week, and never got injured. She kept the whole thing a secret for weeks and ran early mornings so nobody would see her. Her story is one of the most inspiring...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Welcome to Week 7. Just two more weeks to go! Congrats to Jess, who completed the None to Run plan last week. 🎉🎉 Way to GO! In case you missed it Week 6's email Julie Blackwood, Sports Psychologist This Week's Recommended Reading: Overcome Mental Hurdles: 9 Tips for New Runners Your brain might be the biggest barrier between you and running longer. With these 9 science-backed mental strategies from a sport psychologist, you'll learn exactly how to outsmart negative thoughts, stay...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, I want to share something I hear a lot from people who find None to Run: "I thought I was too old to start." And I get it. There's a lot of messaging out there that makes running feel like something you should have started in your 20s — or that it gets harder and harder the older you get. But here's what I actually believe: starting to run in your 50s might be the smartest athletic decision you've ever made. Not in spite of your age. Because of it. You know yourself better than...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, You are ⅔ of the way through the challenge - give yourself a big high five! In case you missed it Week 5's email This Week's Recommended Reading: It's Not Getting Easier....Help! If you're weeks into your running journey and it still feels brutally hard, this one's for you. Tip from Coach Mark: Never judge a run by the first five minutes. As your body and mind warm up, you’ll typically find your groove. Enjoy Week 6! Coach Mark “True freedom is impossible without a mind made free...
7 months ago • 1 min read
HeyReader, Welcome to Week 5 Runners! What you can expect in week 5 (if you're using the None to Run plan): Week 5 will move to a 1-minute recovery walk between runs. This means you will get 10 runs within your total run time. Focus on keeping your speed slow and steady as you ramp up to more time running. Link to beginner running plan Recommended Reading: GO SLOW TO GET FAST Last Week's Email Week 4 email in case you missed it Document Your Journey Every time you track a run, you're building...
7 months ago • 1 min read