ATP Running

Fall Marathon Training… starting now?



The Sydney Marathon (Abbott’s newest World Major Marathon) kicks off the fall racing season with their Aug 30th race – just 13 weeks away. Marathons in September (Air Force, Berlin, Boulderthon to name a few well known ones) are 14-18 weeks away, and October and November races (Chicago, New York, Indy, Richmond, MCM, just to get started) are coming up rapidly behind them. Summer miles and smart training now will have a huge impact on how you perform, not to mention how you feel, on race day.

Are you diving into full blown training? Holding a base for a few more weeks until it is time to start officially training? Doing your best to avoid thinking about fall races while those thermometers keep climbing on the outdoor temps?

ATP Running can help. From knowing what you should be doing right now to prepare for your race, to tips to help manage hot summer running, to accountability for your runs when every part of you would love to skip – we can give you what you need to be ready for race day.

What’s holding you back? Comment below to get started on arriving at YOUR start line.

Welcome to ATP Running. It is another year, another summer, and a chance to remember what ATP Running is.

ATP Running is science based coaching for real people.

Coaching is brought to you by two women who value the science of training... but who also understand what it is like to train with real life. We understand that some seasons are fantastic for chasing big goals; other seasons are for keeping a steady base. Both can use balance, accountability, and grace.

Emily and Zoe met online and bonded over their shared love of quiet morning runs with amazing sunrises, a preference for cold weather over hot weather miles, and sharing training with 4 legged partners.

Why the thumbs down?

This triathlete wasn't ecstatic that the weather canceled both the swim and bike portions of her race...

But she still got her running segment and won her age group.

We're officially taking that as an age group win in a triathlon and keeping the rest a secret... outside this post, of course.

Sometimes a race is for time.

Sometimes, a race is for setting an example.

Sarah took to the streets of her community in a local 5k this weekend. She's running for Mayor in her local election and some of her goals include improving shared community spaces like parks and making exercise and healthy living more accessible for everyone... which meant this weekend, she got out and showed them how it's done.

Congratulations on a 5k under the belt, Sarah! And even more than that, thank you for your willingness to serve in your community.

It's that time again!!!!

ATP Running is proud to sponsor a local, in person summer run club for kids.

This program is designed for middle schoolers who want to run cross country this fall. There is a Fun Run program for students who are already comfortable running 2-2.5 miles and a Learn to Run program for students who want to start running and build up overall endurance.

This program...

🏃‍♂️ Is fun and accessible. We all get it: summer schedules can get crazy. This run club isn't an added stressor to your commitment list: come as you can, and don't stress sessions you can't make.

🏃‍♀️ Focuses on sustainable running habits. These aren't workouts - and we aren't competing with summer programming if your team is doing workouts. This is about learning how to log easy miles and keep your fitness in the summer to hit August ready to train.

🏃‍♂️ Brings the running community together. This program isn't tied to any specific school, and building camaraderie here builds excellent sportsmanship during competition.

🏃‍♀️ Is free. While we might stop at the splash pad if it's open, or stop in at the dollar store after a hot run, there's no cost to participate in summer run club.



Full info for Fun Run: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irjd3utTFPmivAF1xQiZPKEp_dPLneLHlZCP7FZ-S-Y/edit?usp=drivesdk

Full info for Learn to Run:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZQKRuBLCZGQAQnR8MnTEMaaBno8R1TZvFYO1YD0aZH0/edit?usp=drivesdk

Sign up for either:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftaO3jHRBvVS-XE4Wuj0Ze96okq5yfT13_6WCQIy1ysMyWxA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108942599773656322934

Today's is about Andrea. She's coming back to running after having a baby. While she knows what her body has been capable of in the past, she wanted a coach to help her navigate both the physical return to running as well as the mental aspects.

Returning to running after any hiatus can be tricky. Whether it's injury, childbirth, or life circumstances, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. How far do you run? How fast? How soon will you get back to where you used to be? Will you ever get back to where you used to be?

Having a coach can make all of that easier. I can't answer all those questions for you - at least, not right away - but I can simplify the process, get you back on the run, and help you manage expectations and all the feelings that go with it while you do.

This post celebrates Heather at the Indy Mini - one of the largest half marathons in the country.

Heather has spent this winter focusing on her overall health both outside of running and adjacent to it. This holistic approach paid off, and she ran her second fastest time ever in Indy - out of 16 years of running it.

Her son also ran it, and in true teenage boy fashion he 1) ran it faster than Heather 2) without training, and 3) announced his retirement from running promptly thereafter. (How many of us HAVEN'T announced we are never running again at a finish line?).

Next up for this mother/don duo: a local triathlon. Stay tuned to see which one pulls ou the W there!

This post is for Jess, who laced up and raced a local 5k one of her friends puts on to raise money for gynecological cancer research.

Training for this race has been about a small bump in base miles, a little more hill work, and partnering with some friends who aren't afraid to help challenge her on race day.

When race day turned up cool and drizzly - weather you can barely dare to dream of for a May race in North Carolina - Jess went for it, and her confidence paid off with a strong race and an age group win.

Congratulations Jess!

Kicking off posts with Zoe.

Zoe laced up at the Boston Marathon with everything right. Her training had been flawless, her taper smooth, her mental focus clear, and her carb load strong.

For the first 6 miles of the race, everything stayed on point - staying relaxed, not letting the downhills carry her away beyond her pace, enjoying the crowds without losing energy to them.

But about 10km into the race, every distance runners' dread came barreling down on her: stomach issues. In retrospect, we've pinned down a couple of potential culprits for the upset stomach and frequent breaks, but in the moment - the race quickly turned from a victory lap to survival mode.

Inexperienced runners might have crumbled, but Zoe is both experienced and one of the smartest, and toughest, runners I know. She used all of her mental skills to get through: chunking the race up into smaller portions, using familiar landmarks and her family cheer squad to help her stay focused, and continuing with fueling - even if it was partial gels instead of whole ones.

Her consistency in training, her bigger miles, and smart fueling paid off, because even on a tough race day her last 10km felt the strongest she's ever felt at Boston.

Most importantly, Zoe dialed in on why she was out there: supporting cancer research and people impacted by cancer. In her lead up to the race, Zoe raised over $15,000 for Dana Farber. Knowing people who struggle with tougher things than gastric distress mid race meant reaching the finish line was never in doubt.