Yours truly talks ultras on RunIowa podcast

I could talk your leg off about running, but I try not to bore my friends by talking solely about the hobby that I love. I realize that not everyone is as interested in intervals and vertical and fartleks and long runs and the like.

So it was a pleasure to get to share without restraint my thoughts on ultras and running on the most recent episode of the RunIowa podcast.

Most of my training time is spent listening to podcasts, which are pre-recorded shows that you can listen to on your computer or download to your phone or MP3 player. I listen to a lot of running podcasts, a lot from NPR and a lot from ESPN. This link details some of my favorites.

As the name implies, the RunIowa podcast focuses on things around our state. The show is hosted by Rob Lindquist and David Kaeding, a pair of teachers from Council Bluffs. They’ll talk about gadgets, training, races and more. I stumbled across the very first episode that was released in late 2014, and it’s been at the top of my playlist ever since. I was honored to appear in the episode released yesterday (July 2, 2015). And I certainly enjoyed sharing my adventures in ultrarunning with fellow running enthusiasts.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the photo at the top of the post or here’s a link to the podcast on iTunes. RunIowa can also be found on Twitter at @RunIowa or here on Facebook.

Let me know what you think of the podcast by commenting below, and I’m sure Rob and Dave would love to have you as subscribers to the podcast.

 

Useful links for runners

Over the years, I’ve found a number of resources to help with my training and racing.

And when you spend a number of hours on the road, you also need some way to pass the time; I spend a great deal of my training hours listening to podcasts.

Following are recommendations to web sites that I think many runners would enjoy. Today, I’ve entered these as a post. But the links can always be found at this page on my blog. 

Favorite running podcasts

Looking for something to listen to while you log all those miles? I listen to a number of podcasts from NPR, ESPN and others. But these are some of my favorite running-related podcasts:

Ultrarunnerpodcast.com is produced by Eric Schranz and Scotty Sandow, two California ultrarunners. They interview the stars and studs of ultrarunning — plus they offer their thoughts on the best craft beers. On their website, you’ll find a daily update of ultrarunning news and lots of other useful information. If you need something to keep you entertained while logging your training miles, give this fun podcast a try. It can be found here: http://ultrarunnerpodcast.com/

Marathon Training Academy is produced by a southern Missouri couple, Angie and Trevor Spencer. It offers useful training advice, race reports and more. It’s very well done and a good listen. The link is: http://marathontrainingacademy.com/

Endurance Planet actually offers several different podcasts on nutrition, fitness, medical advice and ultrarunning. My favorite is the ultrarunning podcast, which is hosted by Tawnee Prazak and features ultrarunner Tim Waggoneer, aka Lucho. The pair also team up for a podcast called Ask the Coaches, which focuses on triathlon coaching but also touches on many running subjects. And I like the podcasts that feature questions that are answered by two different doctors. All of these podcasts can be found at: http://www.enduranceplanet.com/

Englishman Ian Corless hosts the bi-weekly Talk Ultra. The show has a distinctly European or global perspective, but there are plenty of Americans featured, too. The show manages to nail interviews with all of the top ultrarunners from around the world. It runs a bit on the long side — about 3 hours — but if you want to hear from the world’s best, this is the place to go. The podcast can be found as part of his web site at: http://iancorless.org/podcast/

McMillan Running Calculator

What pace should you use for your workouts? What is a good goal time for your race? The McMillan Running Calculator is a useful tool to determine these paces and finish times. Find it at this link: http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/index.php/calcUsage/calculate

Athlinks — Compiling Race Results

This website compiles race results from around the country into one place, allowing you to track all your results at once. It also displays your results in several different ways, making it easier to analyze them. It’s amazing the race results that this site has compiled. Any big race — and many of the smaller races — that you’ve run is likely in their database. All that said, the site has undergone a major redesign, and in my opinion, it isn’t for the better. The new design makes it more difficult to see all your results at a glance and to resort the results. Even so, it’s a site worth looking up.

Find the site at this link: http://athlinks.com/

Run My Route — How Far Was That?

There are a number of web sites that can help you plan a running route — Map My Run, Endomondo, USATF and many others. But RunMyRoute.com has some of the better features for planning a run, and you don’t have to become a member of the site to use the program.

Find it at this link: http://runmyroute.com/

Pace calculator

Three different calculators to help you determine time, distance and pace.

Find it at this link: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/4/4_1/96.shtml

Marathon Guide — Choose a Race

This website lists most marathons across the country and features a number of helpful runner reviews of the races. It also posts news on many of the races.

Find it at this link: http://www.marathonguide.com/

Online Running Retailers

These are two of the largest online running retailers:

http://www.roadrunnersports.com/

http://runningwarehouse.com/

This is one of the few places I have found that keeps a good insole with a metatarsal pad (good for those with Morton’s neuroma): http://jimmytheshoedoctor.com/

The specific insole I recommend if you have Morton’s neuroma is the Lynco Orthotics L-405. I have tried nearly every type of insole with a metatarsal pad, and this is by far the best. I’ve had a podiatrist look at the insole, and he said it looked like a good one. The insole has been updated since I purchased it last, but I hope they kept the best qualities. The specific link to this insole at the time of this writing is:

http://www.jimmytheshoedoctor.com/lynco-orthotics-l-405-sports-series/

Excellent article on blister care

Ultrarunners are notorious for suffering from blisters. As a frequent road runner, I very seldom get blisters. On my first trail ultra, I got blisters in the opening miles and battled them for all 50 miles. The uneven terrain and the extra moisture — either from running through creeks or simply sweating — makes you more susceptible.

This is a great article on how to manage your blisters: http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Taping

Ultrarunnerpodcast.com

Ultrarunnerpodcast.com

In the podcast, two California ultrarunners, Eric Schranz and Scotty Sandow, interview the stars and studs of ultrarunning — plus they offer their thoughts on the best craft beers. On their website, you’ll find a daily update of ultrarunning news and lots of other useful information. If you need something to keep you entertained while logging your training miles, give this fun podcast a try.