The almighty taper is a thing of beauty. Most experienced runners, and certainly any runner who's trained with a coach, knows about this masterpiece of training theory. No amount or type of training, no training regimen, however well executed, will fulfill its potential unless it ends with the appropriate taper period. If you're not familiar with the idea of tapering for a goal race, this episode will convince you never to omit this from another training cycle. If you are familiar with tapering, it will be a reminder and refresher of all that is required for the optimal taper.

MFR 152:  How to Taper for Goal Races, and What it Can Do for Race Performance

Mojo for Running Coach Debbie Voiles presents training principles and running news. From beginners to marathoners, all runners will learn how to make wise training decisions. Topics include training schedule, base building, tapering, cross training, speed work, stretching, nutrition, drills, and much more. Learn how to train smart to achieve your goals.

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Health & Fitness

Running

To get faster or stronger or even to build endurance, every experienced runner needs speedwork. This is the first of a series of episodes on speedwork for runners, what is a speedworkout, who should do it, how to add it to your running schedule, how often, types of speed training, how to maximize benefits, and what not to do.

MFR 157: Speedwork, how and when to incorporate speedwork into your running training

The month of December tests our running training more than any other as holiday events too often steal running hours. Our already hectic schedules get still busier, increasing stress levels, meaning we need run therapy more than ever, but ironically, that's the last thing on many people's mind. The Mojo for Running December Challenge will provide accountability and motivation to help you maintain running fitness during this month, setting you for success in 2022.

MFR 156: The Challenge of Holiday Running and the Mojo for Running December Challenge

Let's go back to the basics of how to move when you run, head to toe, from where to look, to the nuances of effective arm technique, what not to do and physical cues to help with practicing good running form. While everyone's form will be unique, based on their body, minor adjustments will still pay off with greater comfort, improved endurance, greater speed, and fewer running injuries, all good reasons to focus on running form during every mile of every run. The goal is to practice the running form that's easiest on the body, the most efficient form, a movement that is light and fluid. Since practice makes permanent, it's not enough to do form drills and then let it go or to practice form, occasionally. Every runner needs to think about form and make practicing the elements of good running form a daily ritual.  Two prior episodes referred to: MFR 77:  How to Run Hills, Part 1, Uphill MFR 78:  How to Run Hills, Part 2, Downhill This episode includes a reminder for listeners to enter the Gasparilla Distance Classic's Name the Parrot contest. Enter here. Mojo for Running shirts here. Register for Deb's race, the gnome-themed Run Tampa Tinsel Run, December 11th, here. Check out the medal and shirt art.    

MFR 155:  Head to Toe, a Close Look at How to Move and Where to Look When You Run

Any runner or group of runners, of any level, can make up a fartlek workout on the fly, or pull out one of the traditional, time-tested fartlek workouts. Fartleks are especially good for injecting a bit of speed work into an easy or long-ish run during the basebuilding phase when it's best to avoid more structured, specific track workouts, saving them for later in the cycle when the speedwork needs to be more specific, more race oriented. This matters because from a psychological perspective, runners will benefit from more carefree, less structured running, fun running, but they still don't want to lose their edge by foregoing all speed work. Enter, fartleks, the perfect means of holding onto speed without going to a track. RunGasparilla.com/name-the-parrot-contest Run Tampa Tinsel Run Gear/equipment mentioned:  Gymboss (wearable interval timer) Simple Interval Timer (iphone app)

MFR 154:  Fun With Fartlek Training

Running success hinges on preparation. Crossing the finish line is the easy part, a celebration, the apex of all the training that prepared you to be there, the celebration of a well executed running training plan. The longer you run, the more races you train for, the more you'll appreciate the importance of a good training schedule, one that keeps you healthy while preparing you for your goal race. This episode explains the variables you'll see as you study your options along with guidance to help you evaluate their quality and assess whether they're right for you.

MFR 152: How to Taper for Goal Races, and What it Can Do for Race Performance

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