Hey there, Strides for Strength fam! In this episode, Michaela and Erin, dive into all things New York City Marathon. We share our personal experiences and insights from running this iconic race in 2022!

We start off by discussing our mixed feelings about the race. While we absolutely loved New York City and the marathon, 2022 was a challenge for us both. We talk about the overwhelming nature of big cities, running world marathon majors and the challenges of navigating public transportation.

We chat about everything from the expo,  getting to the start line, what to expect in the start village, the course itself, finish line and everything in between!

Overall, we share our love for the New York City Marathon and the amazing experience it offers. We understand the challenges and offer tips for navigating the race successfully so YOU can have your best race day, possible!

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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Today is an exciting episode! We have Claus-Henning Schulke, aka Bottle Claus, on the podcast. For those of you who don't know, Claus is an all-around amazing athlete and has been volunteering at the Berlin Marathon for 30 years!

He shares about his many adventures from multiple Ironman races in Hawaii, Race Across Europe, to just recently completing Race Across America.

It's no wonder Eliud Kipchoge asked him to come back again to be his support during the Berlin Marathon! As a volunteer, supporting these athletes is much more intense than you might think - it takes being in phenomenal shape yourself and Claus goes into all the ins and outs of what it's like.

He shares his journey with supporting Kipchoge as he set the world record - what an amazing experience to be part of that! Be sure to follow Claus as he is taking on Race Across America 2024!

Instagram: @bottle_claus

00:07:15 Dream your dreams, take action.
00:08:22 Cycling race across America.
00:23:32 Importance of support in athletics.
00:25:28 Pressure resistance is key.
00:33:39 The importance of teamwork.

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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Welcome back to Hope and Brittani! Both of these ladies ran in the Chicago Marathon and today we have them on to unpack it all. I think we all agree there is nothing quite like the Chi Marathon - from the course to the crowd, it's one of our favs!

The two of them connected virtually before the race and they share about their experience getting to meet in real life and accomplish this together. This community is something we are so proud of and getting to be part of these athlete's journeys is something pretty magical.

This episode was so much fun to record because we love recapping what happened and getting to hear from their perspective. From the pre-race prep, all the way through those big finish line feels. Be ready because this might just have you wanting to sign up for your next race! 

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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Come along as we unpack all things Chicago!

From our adventures traveling to get there, cheering on our athletes, and running a 5k (with a PR!), this trip was jam-packed. We also found our very own Strides For Strength Mascot...

Chicago is known for some of its food and boy were we on top of it with experiencing all it had to offer! Ultimately we came to Chicago to cheer on all our athletes and all of YOU running and that's exactly what we did.

One of our fav quotes is "The person that starts the marathon is not the same person that finishes the marathon" and that couldn't be more accurate. If you ran just know we are SO proud of you, we cheered our hearts out for you, and we hope you feel accomplished because no matter what, you FREAKING did it!

Be sure to stay tuned because next up we're taking on New York!! You can follow along @stridesforstrength and join our newsletter for details on what we'll be up to there.

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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Let's chat ALL THINGS CHICAGO!!

From traveling with snacks, to not letting your race day kit out of your sight (seriously, keep it all in your carryon!). We've both run this race before so we're using this episode to share all our helpful tips and tricks we've learned.

For future reference, be sure to download the free guide we put together (link below) so that you have a written version of what we're sharing today. We are bringing you everything we know in hopes that you can learn from some of our mistakes and have the very best race weekend!

And if you'll be there be sure to say hi -we'll be the two people screaming our heads off as you run by! Follow along on our IG @stridesforstrength where we'll be sharing updates throughout the weekend. We'll see you there!

Chicago Marathon Guide!

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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How much sleep do you really need?

We're chatting with Shantha about all things sleep - Shantha is a board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist, and she shares her passion for helping people get the healthy sleep they need.

Today we're focusing on sleep and its impact on athletic performance, emphasizing the dangers of striving for a specific number of hours that may not be the same for each person. We also dive into the topic of being a "morning person" and why some people seem to be roaring to go first thing in the morning and others need a bit more time.

This is part two of our recovery series and we're excited for you to learn more about the often undervalued role of sleep in an athlete's training regimen!

Connect w/ Shantha:
Instagram: @think.sleep

[00:01:56] Sleep impacts every aspect.
[00:03:24] Sleep duration and individual needs.
[00:07:12] The usefulness of sleep trackers.
[00:12:04] Sleep inertia and waking up.
[00:15:14] The impact of snooze alarms.
[00:18:03] Unique alarm clocks.
[00:21:16] The value of quality sleep.
[00:24:12] Sleep as critical recovery aspect.
[00:28:20] Cognitive functioning and sleep.
[00:32:07] Traveling and prioritizing sleep.
[00:35:22] Sleep is intricate and interesting.

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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"We exist so that people can feel good, be active, and stay vibrant in their bodies over the long term."

Kat Sand is a member of the Upswell team at Upswell Studio in Denver and we are so excited to have her kick off our 3 part Recovery Series! Upswell is an active recovery and wellness space for athletes of all levels.

We absolutely loved chatting with Kat about the importance of longevity and movement and why we shouldn't wait until we experience aches and pains.

From cold plunges to Normatec air compression sleeves, Kat shares all the ways we can preemptively take care of our bodies.

And if you happen to be in the Denver area, definitely stop by and see Kat at Upswell!

Connect w/Kat:
Upswell: https://www.upswellstudio.com/
Denver Location: 1842 South Broadway (in the Platt Park neighborhood)
IG: @upswell_studio

00:05:41 Prioritize longevity in movement.
00:06:09 Cold plunge for recovery and performance.
00:17:19 Importance of recovery for athletes.
00:18:07 Work wellness integration for recovery.
00:23:59 Compression socks are a game changer.
00:29:25 Infrared sauna benefits vary by temperature and frequency.
00:37:48 Prioritize recovery and mobility.
00:40:25 Connect with Upswell for recovery. 

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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"You have to be able to give yourself grace, whether it's hitting certain paces or having to adjust runs or adjust your schedule..." - Hope  

Hope is one of our very own athletes and we are pumped to chat with her today! 

Each individual faces their own unique stressors and it's important to find positive ways to manage and channel that stress. Effectively managing stress is key to maintaining optimal running performance. Hope talks about how stress can either create a "beautiful thing" or a "big disaster" depending on how well it is handled.

At the end of our chat Hope highlights the value of giving yourself grace and flexibility in your running journey. The ultimate goal is to achieve specific runs and mileage, regardless of the specific day they are completed. This has been especially important as Hope trains for the Chicago Marathon!

She reminds us that everyone's body is unique and you should take pride in your own progress and accomplishments. We can't wait to be there cheering Hope on as she conquers the Chicago Marathon!

00:02:23 Challenging training season with heat.
00:07:13 Training in summer conditions is challenging but worth it.
00:11:07 Stress impacts training and performance.
00:14:07 Excitement for Chicago Marathon.
00:19:23 Grace and avoid comparison.
00:23:13 Challenges with allergies and fueling.
00:28:24 Accountability and community are crucial.

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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We are so excited to welcome Lauren to the podcast! Lauren is a fellow nurse and describes herself as an everyday athlete. She recently started her own coaching business, Off The Trail Coaching and today she's reminding us that running and training can serve as tools for enhancing mental health and overall well-being.

Lauren actually took a step back from running and training because she realized she was starting to lose the joy that running brought into her life. Then she found trail running and she said "Trail running was freedom again. I wasn't focused on my pace. I wasn't focused on where I should be or how it should look or how it should feel. It was just the pure joy of doing it."

This is such an important reminder that we need to be aware of pushing ourselves to the point of burnout in pursuit of PRs and really advocate for a balanced approach that includes recovery, mindfulness, and consideration of the impact of training on the body and the mind. If it's not bringing you joy, it might be time to reevaluate. 

Running provides value to our lives in various ways. Lauren reminds us that our training should add value to our lives rather than consume us entirely. She plans to continue running and training for as long as it serves her, taking into account the physical and mental resilience needed to fully experience life.

Connect with Lauren:
Off The Trail Guide
IG: @offthetrailrn

[00:03:10] Pursuing athleticism as a tool.
[00:06:19] Starting in team sports.
[00:10:58] Finding joy in running.
[00:15:09] The joy of running.
[00:17:51] Transitioning to trail running.
[00:24:03] Training for a 100K.
[00:26:06] Power hiking in trail running.
[00:31:28] Learning the distance.
[00:37:20] Training for life, not performance.
[00:39:32] Longevity mindset and burnout.

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

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As we sat here and prepared for this podcast we couldn't really decide on just one topic... So we decided we'd do a 'catch up' episode and share all the things and where we are at in this season! 

One big topic of discussion is the importance of setting race day goals beyond just numerical or accolade-related goals. This can include goals like having fun, crossing the finish line, or simply showing up to the start line with a smile - those goals all count and should be celebrated!

By focusing on these non-time goals, you can also improve your time goals as a byproduct. Ultimately you should choose goals that align with your personal desires and preferences, rather than solely focusing on achieving specific numerical outcomes.

And... we're announcing something exciting on the podcast today! We're putting together a rad doc of all the things you need to know about Chicago marathon weekend. If you're planning to be there be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here so you can get all the deets and our helpful tips leading up to race weekend!

[00:01:29] The marathon training grind.
[00:03:12] Long run mental bandwidth.
[00:06:19] How do you jump over those hurdles?
[00:09:57] Mick and the marathon.
[00:12:15] Long run scheduling preferences.
[00:16:41] Technology dependency in running.
[00:20:41] Carbon plated shoes in racing.
[00:22:27] Running shoes make a difference.
[00:26:05] A day in the life.
[00:29:43] Betting on the race winner.
[00:31:55] Keep working towards a stronger you.

CONNECT WITH US:
IG: @sfsrunners
Coach Erin: @therunningrosen
Coach Michaela: @michaela_robertson_
WEBSITE: https://www.stridesforstrength.com/

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST