Ordinary Marathoner

January is in the rearview and we’re moving to February. Lots going on. My January promises were kept! The tattoo is done, and the YouTube Zwift Livestream is now working!

Team Ordinary athletes continue to impress as the team grows larger and larger! The shipping department has been very busy. The Super Bowl Box pool was a lot of fun, and now I have to start thinking of how we’re going to do an NCAA Bracket Pool. Hmm…

Lastly, I wanted to touch on the death of Kobe Bryant. As a coach, I sometimes search YouTube for motivational videos to send to my athletes. During one of those searches, just before the accident, this video came up of Jay Williams talking about Kobe. (Almost serendipitous, I know.) Love him or hate him… or somewhere in between… you have to admire people who work that much harder than the competition in their drive to success. It’s something I’ll keep in mind in my own training in the months to come.

Does all that Whole-30 Diet Mumbo-Jumbo really work? Well, maybe. I have a bit of a different theory. It’s actually more common sense. It’s the combination of consistent training and diet discipline actually works!

I’ve been crushing it so far this year. We are loosely following the Whole-3o dietary framework, but have taken a few small liberties here and there. And no, I’m not starting over because I like to weigh myself daily or because I had a few glasses of red wine with the steaks we grilled the other night. But there is something to be said for daily training, early morning wake-ups, and grabbing the fruit instead of the Oreos.

In recent weeks, I’ve been more focused than ever. Typically I find that might happen if I have a big goal-race coming up later in the year, but I don’t have that in 2020. There’s nothing I’m doing that I haven’t done before. So what is the difference in this year?

I think it’s the support of the community and the athletes I am coaching. I told myself I’d try to be more social with my training this year, and I certainly have been doing just that. Group rides, more discussions with athletes who have high aspirations – it all helps keep me going.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

Tamra Johnson is an inspiration. Full of positive energy and possessing a kind spirit, she sets lofty goals and goes after them. It’s hard to believe that in 2016 she started her running career by “Running to the mailbox.” Look at her now – finishing 100k races!

Today we sit down and discuss ultrarunning with Tamra Johnson. How she started, why she started, and what gives her the drive to keep going. Even after missing the distance twice in the past, she never gave up. She continues to amaze, and what’s next in her future? A 100-miler did she say? This crazy lady actually has me wondering if maybe there’s an ultra in my future, too.

Note the word “maybe.”

I SAID MAYBE!

There… check out the podcast.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

Ok, so you’ve been hammering away at those New Year’s Resolutions. Desperately grabbing onto those positive changes to your old routine. Old, bad habits out! New, good habits in! Well, it’s time to at least acknowledge that you’re doing a great job.

By now, most resolutions have either died an early death or have started to develop into something of a routine. It’s becoming less difficult to fit things in, to make the right choices. You’re just doing it. So, congratulations!

And if thing aren’t going your way? Well, don’t give up! Even though this is the last time I talk about resolutions until next year. From now on, it’s just a promise you made to yourself. And if it hasn’t gone well, or if you wish you had made different promises – well, then make them now! It’s never too late.

I’ve been doing a lot of work on Zwift lately – 6 AM daily rides and Thursday night group rides at 6:30PM EST. Let me know if you’re on the platform and wish to join us.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

First, we want to thank GreecieGirl Headbands for becoming the first sponsor for this year’s Ordinary Marathon! Contact us if you are interested in sponsoring our great race!

This morning was tough. It’s not easy to get up early every day when you’re not used to doing it. Some days are easier than others, but the best thing you can do is set yourself up to succeed. Getting good sleep, being prepared for the morning, being held accountable to yourself and, if necessary, to others.

14 days into 2020 and so-far, so-good.

This morning was a tough one for me. Technology breakdowns and other distractions can get in the way and make you want to quit. Always have an alternative plan – don’t shut down. Just do something else and stay productive.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

I’m fairly certain Brian Burk owns a Time Machine. How else can he possibly do all that he does? He writes books, he carves medal racks from wood, and he finishes Ultramarathons. How does he find the time?

Well for one, he’s a Cleveland Browns fan. Typically the month of January is free.

Alright, alright… I’m joking. (But I’m not.) Brian has always been a generous sponsor to the Ordinary Marathon. He sits down with us this week to talk about how he does all that he does and fits in in his schedule. Check out his new book, Unfinished: Finding Yourself Among A Lifetime of Miles and the JFK-50 Ultramarathon.

Check out Brian’s Blog by clicking here.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

Alright Resolution people! There’s a reason why the gym rats hate the first two weeks of a new year. It’s because you’re hogging up all the good parking spots and using the machines they use! But see… they’re not worried. Because history tells us that in four days, you won’t be going to the gym anymore. Why is that? It’s the Rule of Two Weeks. Your job? Make sure it does not apply to you!

Did you know that 75% of people prefer to train alone than in groups?

Yeah, I was shocked too!

Sometimes things like motivation, inspiration, and discipline are enough. As an athlete in an individual sport, you may not need more that that. You might even think that training in a group could hold you back. And you know what? You might be right.

But during the times when it isn’t enough. When you keep hitting snooze. When that bottle of wine at night is worth more than that workout in the morning. Maybe you need that additional accountability. When you played on that high school team, did you miss practice often? Did you leave practice early?

I think this is what we have been developing lately. This close-knit athletic community in an individualistic sport needs a place to come together. As Dave Chappelle (and Miles Davis) said here (caution: language, of course): “It took me years to learn how to play like myself.”

I think we’re finally learning.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

We’ve been talking a lot about cycling lately. With my entry into the triathlon-world, cycling has become more a passion of mine. I often get questions about how to start – especially from runners. After all, cycling is a great form of cross-training.

What better way to answer some of those questions than by having a guy who owns a Bike Shop come on the program! Today we are speaking with Jason Remington, owner of the Trek Shop of New Hartford in New Hartford, NY. Jason is an avid cyclist and bike expert. Today he shares some of his cycling stories with us and tells us how they answer beginner’s questions at his store.

Jason also tries to get involved with, and expand, his own cycling community. Group rides, virtual rides, free beers, and his latest Speed4Spring program help to expand the growing community of riders.

Check out Trek Sport New Hartford’s Facebook Page.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

The New Year is off to a raging success. Training early in the morning? Check. Not training alone all the time? Check. Coming out of my comfort zone? Certainly.

We’re 6 days into 2020, and so-far, so-good. In fact, it’s more than good. It seems like every day there is more and more reason to get excited about the future of Team Ordinary. The foundations are being laid to increase our interactions, participation and success.

Training has been a bit of a struggle for me in the later portions of 2019. But things are turning around and 2020 is already looking up. Reach out to me if you’re interested in joining out group Zwift rides – now Thursday nights at 6:30 PM and every morning at 6am.

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.

It’s that time of year again! Happy New Year to all of the Ordinary Marathoner family! 2019 was a banner year for the podcast and Team Ordinary. Stefany and I discuss our Resolutions. First, we recap 2019’s successes (and failures). Then we’ll look ahead toward 2020, wipe the slate clean and start working on some new goals.

Thank you for coming along for the ride with us in 2019. We are looking forward to crushing 2020 together!

Join the Official Ordinary Marathoner team at TEAM ORDINARY!

Check out our homepage at www.ordinarymarathoner.com.

Or join the conversation at our Ordinary Marathoners Facebook Discussion Group.

I’ll also follow you back on Twitter if you follow me @OrdMarathoner.

Check out our annual virtual charity race, The Ordinary Marathon. Register early and be eligible for giveaways between now and race day.