Runners are bombarded with advice. Companies, websites and magazines fill our inboxes and ears with pro tips and tricks. We most often hear what works for elite athletes who not only have coaches, physical therapists and team nutritionists at their disposal, but also the ability to run more than 100 miles in one week and the time to rest (which means multiple naps!) when they're not running.
What works for them might not work for us. So what do regular folks think? What guidance has helped everyday runners have their own breakthrough moments?
We polled a variety of people and asked what advice helped them the most. The results? It's not all running--and it's certainly not about dieting. Most people found that the key to their success came from finding balance and making running a bit more social.
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Everyday Runners Share Their Real Secrets for Improving
Written by
Beth Shaw
Get the Right Gear
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"Getting professionally fitted for shoes at a real running store (not chain places) was a game-changer for me." --Michelle Dragoo, 45, retired MSgt Air Force and current VA Supervisory Health Science Specialist Supervisor
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Your Next RaceGet a Fast Friend
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"I feel I can run faster with a pal and enjoy the run more than just going out by myself. I guess I like to be pushed." --Zainab Savard, 41, Registered Nurse
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Your Next RaceFind a Group for Accountability
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"Finding a running group really helped. Having like-minded people with set run times helped me show up. While running, it's harder to slow down or take a break when you have people with you. When I first started we called it 'Team Guilt Trip.' But it worked." --PJ Sapienza, 42, Purchasing Manager
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Your Next RaceNever Underestimate Side Work
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"Strength training and stretching. I used to hate running but I loved working out and I always took about 5 to 10 minutes to stretch afterward. When I started to get more into running, I never had any issues because everything was already balanced and stretchy. Over the last couple of years, I put strength and stretching to the wayside. Well, in those last couple of years, I've been way stiffer all over, had more injuries and consequently gotten slower. I've started putting more focus into strength and stretching over the last three months and I'm already seeing improvements." --Maria Vijayanagar, 34, Infrastructure Services Engineer
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Your Next RaceCore Work Works
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"Focusing on core strength for the first time in my last marathon training cycle absolutely changed my running. Until then, I had been pretty lazy about it. It really is funny though, until you actually "feel" the significance of powering from the core, it's hard to explain!" --Krissy Murphy, 31, Stay-at-Home Mom
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Your Next RaceGet to a Track
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"Linking up with a track group that led to other group runs was a huge catalyst for me. It certainly made me aware of how much more there was to running outside of just volume," --Angelo Santos, 41, IT Consultant
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Your Next RaceCreate Mental Obstacles
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"I position some very mentally demanding workouts in the 5 to 14 days before the race I'm trying to peak for. The key is getting myself "primed" for upcoming tough mental effort." --Tina Brinkerhoff, 47, Finance
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Your Next RaceDon't Just Run
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"I started doing OrangeTheory about eight months ago. The last time I ran with my run club, I was able to keep up with the fast girls for the first mile. They were so impressed! We do a lot of strength, core and hill workouts, so all of that put together, I felt so much stronger and had more endurance." --Martha Brown, 34, Health Care Marketer
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Your Next RaceDo Yoga
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"I do a class called happy hips and hamstrings on Mondays, usually following a tough training weekend. It's more mellow and a good stretch. I also do a hot power yoga class once a week, which I think helps with my overall flexibility, overall strength and core." --Hope Robinson, 35, National Sales Manager
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Your Next RaceRun Naked
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"Don't always wear a watch. Run off feel. I credit that to Kara Goucher." --John Glassock, 53, Engineer
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Your Next RaceAccept Yourself
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"Understanding and embracing the fact that I was naturally better at distance than speed; not comparing myself to others who had their own innate talents." --Lee Davidson, 37, Editor