After months of training, race week is finally here. At this point all the work is done and it’s time to reap the rewards of months of training. Below are eight final tips to increase your chances of race day success. Should I warm up? This depends on your ability level. If you’re a beginner with a goal of finishing the race, then some light dynamic stretching should be enough. If you’re a more experienced runner chasing a personal best, then jogging for five to ten minut

So you’re really doing this — your first marathon. You’re signed up, committed and, hopefully at this point, deep into your training plan. Completing your first (or second, or third) marathon can be one of the most rewarding and intimidating experiences of your life. Conquering 26.2 miles is a task that requires months of preparation, hard work and lots of running. Running 26.2 miles can seem even more intimating and perhaps down right terrifying if this is your first maratho

Typically 8 weeks separate the Rock’n’Roll Philly ½ Marathon and Philly Marathon weekend but with the Pope in town this year Competitor Group was forced to find a new date to host the Rock’n’Roll ½ Marathon and now only 20 days separate two of Philly’s best fall road races, the Philadelphia Rock’n’Roll ½ Marathon and the Philadelphia Marathon and Philadelphia ½ Marathon. Historically the 8 weeks that separated the two races made the Rock’n’Roll ½ Marathon a perfect tune-up ra

No matter how many miles you log preparing, there’s no escaping that point in the race where your breathing becomes more difficult, your legs feel heavier, and your ability to keep pace feels, well, completely out of reach. Slowing down seems inevitable — but it doesn’t have to be. What you choose to do in this moment completely within your control. For most, the goal of training is to develop the cardiovascular and muscular systems in preparation for the physical demands of

So, you got into the Broad Street Run — congrats! Now only 10 weeks of training stand between you and the finish line in Navy Yard. The average runner will invest over 72 hours pounding the pavement training for Broad Street. While those 72 hours will greatly determine what the finish-line clock will read, there is perhaps one determinant of your success that most people ignore. It doesn’t include running, lifting weights or even getting off the couch, but rather a pen and pa

My high school coach, Jim McCoach (Yes that was his name, Coach McCoach. No doubt he was born to be a coach) would always say right before a big race, “the work is in the bank guys. You can only hurt your chances now so don’t do anything stupid.” Coach McCoach was spot on. There’s no last minute cramming in running. Either you’ve put in the work or you haven’t. It’s time to assess your fitness level and set a realistic goal. If training has gone accordingly, its time to enjoy