To Excel In Life...Run!

Stan Brouillard, Brian Siddons nearing the 5 mile point at Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon. CK Photograpy, Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon An Unexpected Running Experience: The 2017 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon By Brian James Siddons Having just finished Matt Fitzgerald’s book, “How Bad Do You Want It? The Psychology Of Mind Over Muscle,” I was intrigued by the mental toughness tools used by the world-class athletes Fitzgerald cited, specifically race day focus, as aids to improve my own running performances. Looking back at my BQ (Boston Qualifier) in the fall of 2012, for a spot at the Boston Marathon in 2014, and then missing the revised cut by six seconds, I wondered if my focus had been better, wouldn’t I have run at least seven seconds faster?   While the stories Fitzgerald recounted were truly inspirational, I realized my quest for sharper mental performances might best be served through the experiences of runners fighting battles for improvements much less daunting t

Optimistic About The Long Road Ahead I’m forever an optimist. It’s how I choose to fuel each day with the passion that drives me toward discovery, fills my heart with joy, and in countless other ways turns a world of incredible potential into a daily endeavor to maximize a life that includes blessings of all kinds, thanks for so much and fulfillment in many small and big ways. Certainly, not every day is perfect, but every day has that potential.    I’m also a recreational long distance runner, and I feed off the same optimistic outlook to get me through my yearly marathon training seasons. Like life, not every run is a joy filled experience, some can be an outright grind to get through. More often than not, I still find things sunny side up. Sometimes it’s as simple as enjoying the beauty of an early morning run through Bunker Hills Park, or training with my running partners as we banter away during a Saturday morning long run. I can’t pinpoint if the distance running brought

1.      The Long Run, which is your longest run on the week, normally on a Saturday or Sunday, is, pace wise, classified as a recovery run.          In and of itself, a long run of 12 miles or more should also be considered one of your three weekly effort runs due to the distance, and due to the time on your legs. Don’t overlook the fact a long run, at any pace, is affected by your workouts earlier in the week, and will have a direct effect on your runs of the following week. A long run can be the building block of a great foundation for your training, or, if not monitored with diligence, it can become the straw that will break the camels’ back. Long runs build your foundation when you train at a pace that won’t leave you feeling like you couldn’t run another step. Enjoy what you have worked up to during the week by making your long run more pleasant than painful, and leave the heavy breathing for your two other effort days. 2.       Earn your training paces.