Happy News!!

I have been chosen as a Jeff Galloway blogger! I will be sharing running tips from Olympic runner Jeff Galloway with you.

In case you don’t know who Jeff Galloway is, he’s a former US Olympian and founder of the Run Walk Run method that has allowed thousands to achieve their running goals. He is also the official training consultant for runDisney races.

This week’s tips are on motivation and training, two huge factors when it comes to running.

My first encounter with Jeff was in 2013 at the Disneyland Half Marathon. I had been chosen to attend the Disneyland Half Meetup, a wonderful opportunity to meet with Jeff Galloway and other celebrities (Sean Astin, Joey Fatone, to name a few!) and run across Magic Kingdom, followed by breakfast and a Q&A session. I was surprised at how approachable Jeff was – he gave me a hug, we posed for a pic and I told him that my goal was to complete a marathon. The problem? I was lacking motivation.

Jeff asked me what my last race finish time was and gave me pointers on how to train for my marathon.

Here are this week’s Galloway tips on motivation and training:

• When paced correctly, running delivers the best attitude boost you can get. Sustain this by pacing yourself gently during the first mile or three.

• A well-paced run enhances vitality for the rest of the day.  Start each run at least 30 seconds a mile slower than you will run at the end.

• If you have a Run Walk Run strategy that is right for you on that day, it’s possible to feel good after every run-even the marathon.

• Running is the best stress reliever I’ve found. Research shows that running tends to activate the conscious brain which over-rides the emotional subconscious brain and manages the negative and anxiety hormones during and after the run.

• Research shows that as runners get faster, their stride length shortens.  A quicker cadence is the mechanical key to faster running.

• The finishing of a run that is longer than you’ve run in the last 3 weeks can bestow a sense of achievement that is unique and empowering-due to positive brain circuits that are turned on.

• You can’t run a long run too slowly or take too many walk breaks.  You’ll get the same endurance based upon the distance covered.

Using the Jeff Galloway run-walk method, I have been able to complete 8 half marathons and a full marathon.

QOTD: Have you used the Galloway run walk run method to train and/or on your races?

Lindy x