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Dogs Per Mile
Dogs Per Mile is all about rediscovering the joy in running. Hosted by Coach Bridget, a run coach with over 10 years of running behind her. This weekly podcast brings you stories, tips, and interviews to help you find fun in every mile. Whether you're tracking dogs per mile, using mental tricks to power through tough runs, or just looking for a good laugh, this podcast has something for you. Perfect for new runners overcoming that first step or experienced runners wanting fresh motivation, we’re here to remind you that there can always be something fun about running.
Dogs Per Mile
Breaking the Mold: My Husband's Non-Traditional Approach to Running & Training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon
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In this episode of the Dogs Per Mile podcast, I interview my husband, Ed, about his journey into running, his experiences with training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon, and the dynamics of being married to a runner. We discuss Ed's athletic background, the challenges and joys of running, the importance of support systems, and how they balance their individual goals with their shared love for running. Ed shares his thoughts on what it means to be a runner, the significance of community, and his personal goals for the upcoming race.
As running partners in life, Ed and I explore the unique impact of running on our relationship, where the track becomes a mental escape and a source of personal fulfillment. We dive into the dynamics of supporting each other's aspirations in the running community, from logistics on race day to combining our love for travel with exciting races. These shared experiences highlight the importance of aligning personal interests and how running has played a pivotal role in enriching our lives.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of running identity and community inclusivity. We celebrate the diversity in the running community and challenge misconceptions about who qualifies as a "runner." From personalized training plans to eclectic music and quirky running fuel, we share our journey toward the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Stay connected with our running adventures and find joy in every step alongside our furry running companions, Yogi and Maple, on Instagram.
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Rediscovering the Joy of Running
Speaker 1I want to fall back in love with running . I hope that over the course of the next 16 weeks I find all the things I used to love about running and be able to recapture that .
Speaker 2Hey , runners , you're listening to Dogs Per Mile , where we're making running work for your life , not the other way around . I'm Bridget , with over 13 years of running experience and approximately 4,892 dogs seen on my run . I'm now here to help you find your own path to running happiness . Ready to run on your own terms . Let's get going . Hey runners , welcome back to the Dogs Per Mile podcast . We have a very special episode today .
Speaker 2I have a guest here who has been on this running journey with me since I decided to start running over 13 years ago , when I made a dumb decision to go from a 5k to a half marathon , who has heard every story , seen every tear , almost gone to almost every single brunch and has never missed a race that I have done Not one . You've never missed a race . That would be my wonderful husband , ed . I asked my personal Instagram followers if they wanted to hear about Ed's story about signing up for the Brooklyn Half Marathon , and they wanted Ed . It was a resounding yes of more Ed . More Ed in their lives , which I can agree . More Ed in your life .
Speaker 2So today I'm going to introduce you to Ed , my husband , and we're going to learn a little bit about his running history , his athletic history , a little bit . What it's like to be married to somebody who is a crazy runner and kind of his plan to train for the Brooklyn Half Marathon , someone who's not a typical runner and doesn't plan to become a typical runner ever . So we're going to kind of go into that . But I hope you guys enjoy , I hope you take something away from this and we are going to get started . So for listeners , meeting Ed for the first time , this guy over here normally has a beard If you're seeing a video of this , this guy over here , what is your athletic background ? What did you play growing up ? What sports were your interests ?
Speaker 1Sure , none of them were running based , that's for sure . I grew up predominantly playing baseball and positions that don't involve running . So pitcher , catcher , first base Played football , basketball , hockey to different extents . Got into track in high school , but only in the field section . So javelin , discus , hammer , chopput , and then sometime in my mid-20s I decided to start playing soccer , which was a bizarre experience but ended up being one of the best things I've ever done . So at the moment now I play no sports , which is crazy to think about , but , as of yesterday , restarting my running journey for maybe the fourth or fifth time .
Speaker 2So you said , restarting your running journey , maybe the fourth or fifth time . So you said restarting your running journey . Whatever brought you into starting a running journey , seeing as all of your sports never had a running aspect to them or um , I think it was right before our wedding , so this would have been 13 years ago .
Speaker 1I think we're both on a journey to be better physical versions of ourself , and you had really gotten into running at that point and I realized that this is a great way to a spend more time with you . But b was something that , uh , we could connect on and we did a . God , this is the most 2012 thing I think we could have done . We did a color run 5k in East Hartford , connecticut . I remember in what I thought were running sneakers . In hindsight they weren't .
Speaker 1I think , they were like a pair of Adidas that I got at the outlets that resembled running shoes outlets that resembled running shoes but no , that was like my first foray into running outside of the gym class mile every year .
Speaker 2Your first one was the color run , 5k . What was your next run ?
Speaker 1did I jump right to the half marathon ? I think I might have you pull a bridget . I did so the hogsback half marathon right after we got married . Um , yeah , I was . Yeah , I was training in between retail shifts working at apple , so either going out in the morning before my 1 pm shift or running at night after my 6 am shift , running the West Hartford Reservoir , the same 2.2 mile loop Dozens , if not hundreds of times . But yeah , this was the days of and this is something you've touched on in past episodes using the Nike Run Club training plans . I had a Nike running watch back when those existed . That thing actually ruled , I love . I wore it like 24 seven . That was just my normal watch before smartwatches . But yeah , so yeah , I think the second race was a half marathon and then now that has kickstarted this weird four year cycle where I I will run a half marathon , say I'll never do that again , take three to four years off and then be right in the same spot .
Speaker 2So we're right in the same spot . Looked at your watch , noticed that your credit card was charged for the Brooklyn Half Marathon lottery and , not knowing if it was a charge for me getting into the lottery you getting into the lottery or us both getting into the lottery . Because , if you don't know , the Brooklyn Half Marathon lottery is much like a London Marathon , chicago Marathon , new York City Marathon lottery , where you put your name in and you don't know if you're actually going to get to run it . They pick a certain number of people , so you don't know if you're going to run it or not .
Speaker 1Yeah , I think the initial reaction when I saw them on my watch as we're getting ready for our weekly 530 workout class was actually very excited , I think . I think the thing that was keeping me from getting into a race was the thought that if I'm gonna put in 16 weeks of training , I'm gonna do a race . That is kind of cool . I and don't get me wrong like I love running rock the parkway . It is still my favorite race , it's your favorite race . But it's not worth training for 16 weeks for me . But getting into the brooklyn half marathon , a race that neither of us have done obviously you've done a different brooklyn half marathon , um , and having that experience at one of my favorite cities was very exciting .
Speaker 1Honestly , there's still like this , like underlying feel , feeling of like terror , not because I don't think I can do this , but it's because it is a lot of hard work and because it's not something I do all the time , like you do , I can't anticipate what the results are and that for my brain that's a very large , you know , gap to fill . So , uh , currently day two of my training plan of 16 weeks I'm excited . I think it's the thing I need to push me . I need some sort of carrot in my life to kind of train . I can't train for nothing and I don't really have anything big coming up . So I think this was what I needed and if the next 16 weeks go well , we'd have like three other races that are potentially on our calendars for this year .
Speaker 1And maybe this is the thing that makes running stick and not be in every four year journey like the Olympics .
Speaker 2You'd like to be better than the Olympics .
Speaker 1I'd like to be more consistent than the Olympics . I don't think I can be better than the Olympics .
Speaker 2Your running journey sounds like you want to be more consistent than the Olympics . So how would you describe your relationship with running over the years ? It sounds like it kind of comes and goes in seasons and , as I know because I you know , we're married and I live with you and I see you a lot it's kind of strange You're always here . It's weird . I don't know how that happened . So I want to know more about how those seasons of running have happened and what some of the catalysts that have made you excited to run , and then some of the things that have kind of maybe made you less excited to want to get out the door , because I know there are seasons of me , for me , that maybe not want to run , and I think a lot of people can relate to why it's harder to get out the door , even if running is fun for them . So I'd love to hear more about that .
Speaker 1Sure , so I think my relationship with running is strenuous . It's because I am not a . I don't have the body of a runner , even when I'm fairly deep into a training plan . I don't think that's ever going to be me . The seasons part really comes to what I think is going to be best for my overall health . Sometimes that's strength training and that's where I really put months in focusing in just the gym and not doing an ounce of cardio . As I get closer to 40 , I think , uh , hybrid training is going to be my future . Um , so , and honestly , this is the longest period of time since 2020 , where I stayed healthy long enough . So , no back injuries , knee injuries , hip injuries , um , so that's helping me start running again , because the thing that shuts the door for me is enough upside for me . In those seasons where I'm going to like get out the door and I push through , where you because you are a runner and this is the thing that you enjoy most you'll do that Me , I will say nope , not today . I'll see how I feel next week .
Speaker 2Try again .
Speaker 1Yeah , but that being said , when I am in a running season it's very easy and one of my favorite things to do is to go out and go for a run . I will say that there are different issues living in Kansas City in season compared to the last time I was fairly into running , which is living in Portland . I think that is going to be the hardest hurdle for this training cycle and kind of getting back into running but having support from both you as a , as a partner , but also kind of a community that we've built with our friends who are also restarting their learning journeys or finding what running means to them has been helpful and that type of support , even if it's very much in the background , is helping .
Speaker 2Oh , good , good . Yeah , I think defining your support levels from a variety of different people , whether it be partners or friends , is really , really important in making sure that you have the right language from different people and you're hearing it from all angles , because I know it's easy to drown out a spouse because it's who you live with . But if you hear it from a friend , you're like that's a great idea . And you're like the spouse is like what the fuck ? I just said that . And they're like but yeah , but they said it better than you . It's like all right , well , okay , cool
The Impact of Running on Relationships
Speaker 2. So what keeps bringing you back to running ? Each time you keep coming back to it . So what are some of the things you love about running ?
Speaker 1When you get back to it , when you're in the season where it is enjoyable , it's an opportunity to get out of the house , not spend money which is very hard to do and actually not have to think or not be able to think about anything when it comes to work , when it comes to what's going on at home , the dogs , anything like that .
Speaker 1It's the 35 minutes to two hours where , outside of like trying not to get hit by cars , pretty much I can zone out and my brain doesn't do that very often , so I think that's a big thing for me . The other thing is , honestly , I I like how I feel after I run . I think there's this , it's the concept of runners high I I do definitely see a difference in my own mental health , my personality , things like that . When I am running it's a very , it feels like a very big accomplishment that you don't get necessarily from , say , like weightlifting or playing pickup sports things like that . There there's definitely a larger sense of accomplishment . I think that once I start to hit new paces or distances or just ending a run feeling good , it's the fuel I need for the next set of runs .
Speaker 2Yeah , and .
Speaker 1I think it really builds a habit and a routine easier than anything else . So a couple good runs will fuel me for my next few runs . So I think that's that's kind of what keeps me interested in my seasons of running , and why I keep coming back is , over the course of a couple years of not running , I'll miss that feeling and it's just like a reminder , just like anything else , that this is something that I actually enjoy when I'm in it .
Speaker 2Got it .
Speaker 1I like that .
Speaker 2Well , obviously , in case you didn't know , we're married , we are .
Speaker 1I have a piece of paper that says so . I haven't lost it yet , and we are sitting on the same couch . Obviously , if you do see a clip of this , we're not in the same video . We're at different videos on the same couch , three feet from each other gets deeper , deeper involved or into the running community .
Speaker 2what has that been like for you as somebody who never expected to be on the field portion of the track and field community ?
Speaker 1yeah , um , for someone who and you might tell this if you don't know me personally uh , someone who's built like an nfl lineman . I know so much about running . I know every training , coaching distances , the types of runs . This has become just a a point of knowledge in my life you mean , everyone doesn't know that ?
Speaker 1no , and we've had this conversation a ton that there's a lot that goes into running for a sport that , on its basis , is literally a single thing . But yeah , being married to a runner and someone whose life has , for a substantial amount of time , like revolved around running , it's been interesting because sometimes I have been a runner with you . Sometimes I will see you go off at six in the morning for a run and go right back to sleep , and that's fine . Um , I think for me . I've had to learn what you , what runners , need in terms of support , both physically and mentally . I get to be your functioning brain when you get to turn yours off on a run , so I'll know where you are at any given time .
Speaker 1I'll , you know , get things ready for you when I know you're coming home , that's true , and when it comes to race day , I am the logistics person . My job is to get you to the start line in a good as mood as possible , and then I take care of everything else . I have your bag with your sweats and your sandals for after the race . I know where the parking is , I know where the porta potties are , I know how early we have to get there , and it's never as early as you say it is .
Speaker 2It's just like every airport , correct ?
Speaker 1But also understanding that running is hard . It's a very mentally tasking thing , and being able to know where your head's at after a run because I've been there occasionally has also helped .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1So that's been the biggest thing . I think the nice takeaway from this race training we're talking about the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May is I love traveling . Yes , you don't love traveling , Not really . What's the idea ?
Speaker 2I like the concept of traveling . I would like some house for someone just to like . Like the sims , pick me up and just put me right in the location . I don't like the process of everything else , hotels , airports I don't want to do any of that .
Speaker 1No , thank you so I think running has allowed us to do two things that we both enjoy , while having a small sacrifice for the other . So I like to travel , you like to run . Let's meet in the middle of this Venn Diagon .
Speaker 2I'm forced to travel , you're forced to run . Yeah , we're each forced to do one thing we're not enjoying . Yeah , 100% .
Speaker 1And A . It's helped us see a lot of the country , which is very cool .
Speaker 2Yep 100% and a .
Speaker 1it's helped us see a lot of the country , which is very cool , yeah , but also it's something that I think both of us need in terms of motivation which is we have this big like shiny thing on our calendar . Yeah , and that's what . That's what gets us out the door in the morning and you've talked about this on other episodes it's if you're not training for a race .
Speaker 2It's much harder to go out consistently three , four days a week for your runs , especially if you're training for a race that's exciting , you're excited for . That's going to get you out the door much faster than if it's a race that you , it's your local 5K , it's much harder .
Speaker 1I think , and so for we kind of touched on it like what my version of running ?
Speaker 2is .
Speaker 1I'm very much a destination race person yeah , your adventure you need I , yeah I . If I'm going to sign up for a race or sign up for a lottery , I want to have something else to go along with that , and that's either a new city a city I love , like new New York , chicago , boston , something that could be very outdoorsy . We live in the Midwest , we live in Kansas City . There's not a ton of tremendous nature around , so races that are in national parks and the Northwest and Northeast , those are very cool to me and I think that's the type of thing that I need to go out and run .
Speaker 2So how has my running influenced your own journey with running ? I know you've touched on a little bit .
Speaker 1That's a really interesting question because it's done both the two opposites . It's caused me not to ever want to run , because I know how hard it is and how much effort you put into it , but at the same time , I'll see you come back from a run and be very proud . I want that feeling . There's definitely times where there's a FOMO about running . When it comes to you , so you've impacted me in that way of this is something that I could be doing and feeling the same way , and I really don't have a similar output to do that . But yeah , so that's kind of how your journey has influenced mine .
Speaker 2I like that . I like to be impactful in anything I do . Could you give other partners who get by some chance pulled into their significant other's running adventures whether or not they get pulled into actually running , because sometimes they do not want to run or they just get pulled into a vacation that turns into a race or a run Sure what advice do you have for them ?
Speaker 1This is going to be weird . Give a shit . Going to be weird . Give a shit , like if your partner is a runner and they want to involve you in their journey , whether that is training , racing , going to different races expos things like that . Just be there for them , give a shit .
Running Identity and Community Inclusivity
Speaker 1I very , very much enjoy taking on the role of like like race husband . I hold the backpack . I like track you throughout the course , try to find you like as much as I can .
Speaker 2Some races are feasible , some aren't you like to find every spot you like to .
Speaker 1If my parents are there , you will get them breakfast yeah , yeah , I want to make sure that if I'm not running , I'm making the race as easy as possible for you . So all you have to do is get there and run . But , yeah , just be invested . I think that's a bigger takeaway , for anything that our partners do is some level of investment . Care about it .
Speaker 1But if running is not your thing and you are , and you are living with a runner have an interest in it , be open to learning about it , be that like year , because the one thing , like I said earlier , it's like those are anywhere from a half hour to two hours where I'm just with my own , I'm with my own head , which , for better or worse , but having having the ability to talk to you after a run of all the things that went through . And we do this , we , we do like a debrief after every run , because sometimes , if we're running together , we're talking , but if I'm going for a run or if you're going for a run , we , we have a bunch of stuff that we want to talk about afterwards .
Speaker 2Things I've seen and done or need to tell you that happened right and I so .
Speaker 1I think that's the like , just like , be active , be interested , give a shit I mean , give a shit just works in general for partners .
Speaker 2Just give a shit , that's it . So you had talked about you're built like a linebacker and I have mentioned that I in no way look like I should be a runner or have the height and finesse of the average runner . What is your take on the quote unquote runner identity and do you consider yourself a runner ?
Speaker 1I do consider myself a runner . I think I . I think there are points in my seasons and in my journeys of running where I feel more like a runner . I do consider myself a runner . I think there are points in my seasons and in my journeys of running where I feel more like a runner than others . But if I'm putting on my running sneakers and I'm starting my watch , I'm a runner . I think that's the thing that the running community has gotten a lot better at , but it still has a long way to go . I think there's a lot of good influencers out there that are making running more accessible for people who aren't the typical runner ?
Speaker 2Are you seeing that more in certain genders or like ? Are you seeing that more male or female or non-binary genders in particular ?
Speaker 1Sure , I think for men it's catching up . I think for women it got there a little bit sooner .
Speaker 2I agree .
Speaker 1I think it's was it Kelly Roberts ?
Speaker 2Kelly Roberts was one of the earlier ones that I noticed .
Speaker 1Yeah . So I think back in 2018 , 2019 , there was definitely like a bigger push for inclusion for women , and that came from running brands as well . You're starting to see it on Instagram . There were communities being built , things like that . There were definitely less , there were less men in that space , which is fine . I don't think we need to take up more space , but I think more recently , there have been a couple influential , influential runners who have taken the , the lead , the torch , the baton and said running for everyone I'm gonna like kind of showcase my journey with it and that's been helpful .
Speaker 1But I think the thing about running that comes to us not being the typical runner physically is the community is harder to embrace and this might be a local thing to us . But I think there's always this like notoriety around run clubs that they aren't necessarily inclusive from both a cultural standpoint but also from a pace , openness perspective . So I think there's definitely space there and I applaud those who are able to go to run clubs and be the back of the pack runner and still find their , their community there . But I think there's definitely still a need to grow that . But yeah , I think if you're putting on your sneakers , you're starting your watch . You are a runner .
Speaker 2I absolutely agree . What has been your experience at races or in the running space in general ?
Speaker 1It's actually one of the few places where I don't feel perceived in any sort of way Like I stand out in a crowd , like I'm six foot three , 315 pounds . At the moment I stand out , I never feel particularly like singled out or anything in the running community . Um , if anything , I might get more positive feedback from people whether or not it comes from a great place . That's up to them . Um doing great buddy yeah , those words of encouragement , like they feel like it feels more of an obligation , like good for you , man .
Speaker 1You're putting your body on the line to do this , but no , it's weird . I think that maybe it's because I I at least look quasi athletic ? That it's not like I don't think it . I make it look like a big deal , but then , as we said , I haven't run a race in four years , so who knows ? But yeah , it's an interesting idea , but I personally and maybe this is just my own blindness I haven't really noticed anything for myself .
Speaker 2That's good
Promoting Inclusivity in Running Communities
Speaker 2. What do you think of the running community , both in person and online Because I think those are two important spaces to mention could do better to welcome people who don't fit both the physical but also the pace runner mold , because I think those are two things , because I think a lot of people do assume if you look a certain way , you must be running a certain pace , and I think it's very interesting that you'll see people who are very have the typical runner's body and then they run a quote-unquote slow pace at 13-minute miles and I'm going to use quotes because it's still a good pace , whatever you say and then there are people who look larger and are able to bust out 7-minute miles . So how do you think that we can be better at both of those physical and social media places , at embracing both physical and pace ?
Speaker 1Yeah , I think the one thing that's helped me is the online space , the virtual space , knowing that you can't judge a book by its cover . You can't judge a person . Their physical aspects conclude their pace . There are a lot of very athletic people who are not fast quote unquote and there are people who are larger and will have a very surprising pace . I think that that mindset and openness is definitely something that a lot of communities could benefit from focusing on , and it's a . It's very easy to say that a run club is inclusive or time inclusive or pace inclusive , it's different in practice .
Speaker 1Is it always the same people finishing the group run , or are there leaders acting as pacers and kind of leading the pack from the front and the back ? So I think , as more people showcase their experiences online , giving us the different dynamics of runners , I do think that will infiltrate physical spaces and I think that that will make a difference . Also , I think it takes people to be proactive and say , hey , I want to be a part of this community . I've joined these Monday night run clubs , things like that , and I'm having the same experience over and over , and I think for a lot of us myself included would be to just acknowledge that this isn't for me and disappear . But I think there are people who are making a difference by calling it out , and I think that's definitely something a lot of us could do better at is not necessarily rocking the boat , but nothing changes through silence .
Speaker 2Not just disappearing into the night , but letting them know that , hey , I was alone by myself , no one noticed , or anything like that .
Speaker 1Right , and not only does it not create a welcoming , welcoming community , which is what a lot of us are looking for when it comes to running , it's just unsafe . Like we see , there are multiple run groups in Kansas City and they will range anywhere from what 15 , 20 people to hundreds of people on a Saturday , and it's very easy to get off path if you're maybe a tenth of a mile , like a tenth of a mile behind the rest of the pack , and that makes for a lot of issues , and I think that's something that other groups do well and that's something that a lot of us learn in team sports is that your captains lead from the front and the back , and I think run clubs could take a note from that yeah , exactly , just like pacers doing races , you have a front and back pacer that keeps you in line .
Speaker 2So we're gonna move into talking about may , the brooklyn marathon , what you're planning on doing , what your goal is , how you're feeling , as you are day two , and by day we mean you have ran once , which was yesterday . So what are you hoping to get out of your training for the Brooklyn Half Marathon ?
Speaker 1This is a big , this is like a big goal of mine , and more so than obviously I want to finish the race . I want to finish the race not in pain . I want to fall back in what would running . I think that's what I'm hoping that this training plan is going to do have a race that I love in a place that I love . I hope that in over the course of the next 16 weeks , I find all the things I used to love about running and be able to recapture that . So that's , that's the not number goal for me is , I just want to be back in a place where I enjoy running and make it a more active part of my my life .
Speaker 1So , okay , on weekends we're going to go for a long run , like that's something that we did for years has fallen off and now I'm like it'd be great to redo that .
Speaker 1Often now I'm like it'd be great to redo that . The other thing is to not necessarily get back to any sort of like pace or time goal , but the feeling I think that's something that a lot of runners know what I'm talking about it's there's that feeling when you're running , where it feels effortless , and not the whole run , definitely not the first two miles , not the first five miles , yeah , but that time like for me personally , it's typically like mile three or four into a run where you don't , where you don't have to think about the running part anymore , like your body's going along , it's doing what it's doing , uh , like checking in on all your joints , on your breathing , like all that stuff disappears . But that takes time , it takes training , it takes a lot of practice . So my other goal is to get back to where I can go for a run whether it's four or five , six miles and hit that point where I'm like , ok , I'm just running .
Speaker 2Yeah , so that's your goal for Brooklyn . What's your strategy around your training this time around , like , what are you planning on doing ? What are you using Sure ?
Speaker 1So the race itself , the Brooklyn Half , is partnered with an app called RUNNA , which R-U-N-N-A RUNNAna based in boston , so it should have an h at the end , but that's fine . It's still awkward , right , runna , but it actually creates specific plans for the race , so it knows the course , it knows all the elevation gains , things like that , and it does a nice little quiz thing where it's like hey , where are you ? Are you right now ? What are your goals ? How much time can you allocate to running ? And this is a big part of your last series in picking your race is like what's your personal
Training Approach for Brooklyn Half Marathon
Speaker 1life like ? For me , there are a couple different things that play into this . One is I have two group fitness classes that I like to go to every week . It's my social time , so people I enjoy . I get to see them twice a week , so those are kind of non-negotiables . I need recovery .
Speaker 2You're almost 40 .
Speaker 1I'm almost 40 .
Speaker 2I'm almost 42 .
Speaker 1I have a lot of weight I'm putting on my knees and ankles running , so I need at least two rest days . Okay , so that's four out of the seven days kind of allocated . So I'm like , okay , give me two days where I'm going to run those two days every week . One of them should be a weekend , so I can do a long run , and one of them should be a weekday where I can either go to the run club you're leading Me . You .
Speaker 2Me , you Me , this Love . That's amazing . He hates me . I love it .
Speaker 1I don't , or my big problem in this time of year is I'm on the road a lot for work . I travel three , four days at a time every couple of weeks . There are some Mondays where I'm at the airport at 5 am . I can't go for a run .
Speaker 2Nope Be weird .
Speaker 1Right , but there are definitely mornings where my work meetings don't circle 10 . I can go find a run on a Tuesday or Wednesday . You need to be flexible 100% needs to be flexible and I think that's what's going to allow me to be successful is kind of baby steps . I'm not going to go straight in four days a week of running .
Speaker 2So you're going to train for the Brooklyn Half Marathon running two days a week ?
Speaker 1Yes , I hate to say it , I've done it before it worked out . I wouldn't recommend it for everyone .
Speaker 2But runner didn't yell at you , it gave you that as an option .
Speaker 1Yeah , 100% . So my training plan is going to look a little bit different because it's only two days a week , my mileage will probably sit between 15 and 20 miles a week , which is fairly low . 15 and 20 miles a week , which is fairly low . But I also told it , I'm not trying to PR this race . My goal is to feel good , and whether that is a two-hour half marathon , which would be a PR , or a 220 half marathon , that's fine , no-transcript . So yeah , I , I . My training plan is solely to just add running back into my life in a more digestible amount so how do you think your approach to your training is going to differ from mine ?
Speaker 1well , definitely like your training for the next 16 weeks is running . You'll run more than anything else . Your distances are already , I think , three times what my distances are , which is fine . You're much further along your training plan than I am . You've always kept a much higher baseline of running .
Speaker 2Yep .
Speaker 1So you're going to have more of your training will be on the road running .
Speaker 2Yep .
Speaker 1Or my training is going to be cross training . I'm going to be doing some HIIT workouts , some different kinds of cardio , weightlifting , focusing on leg strength , stuff like that . So , yeah , our trainings are going to look incredibly different , considering we are running the same race on the same day with roughly the same goals , and I think that's one thing I think more runners should understand is not every training plan is the same for everyone . Make it work for you . I'm doing this with the understanding that it's going to take me longer to get faster .
Speaker 1I need to prioritize my mental health alongside my physical health , and running four days a week I'm not allowed to do that . I can't do that . So I found that for me , two days a week of running , two days a week of group fitness and then two days a week of rest , and that allows me one day to flex , whether it's a focus strength , a different class , it's riding the bike , it's going for a run , maybe it's a really nice that we get a 60-degree day in February . That's what I want to go do . Having that day open where I can choose my own adventure is exactly what I need to , you know .
Speaker 1A little bit of autonomy in your training plan yeah , because I don't have autonomy . Everywhere else in my life yeah . Else in my life yeah . So I try to give myself as much as many options as possible and the things I do control , Understanding that where I am at any given day for the next like four months is not necessarily up to me .
Speaker 2Yeah , that makes a lot of sense . Do you have any concerns about your training plan or your training for Brooklyn ?
Speaker 1My concerns are always the same , and it's training plan or your training for Brooklyn , my concerns are always the same and it's .
Speaker 2I'm nearly 40 . I'm overweight . I have a lot I've cut down my caffeine .
Speaker 1Low average heart health . Low average heart health . No , I think my concerns with a training plan are just staying healthy and not getting injured . Two years ago I was very close to being at a good place to start running and I think we hit 10 miles . So we were like one or two weeks off of our peak and before we started to taper for a race and I completely like screwed up my knee like four months of physical therapy . Completely like screwed up my knee like four months of physical therapy , and that , honestly , probably did more to deteriorate my relationship with running than anything else , because I was making progress and then it went from 100 to zero instantly . So my concern is always going to be Injury , injury , staying healthy . I'm not necessarily concerned on abandoning a plan . I don't think you'd let me and I've always given you the permission to Bitch slap you . No , are we just admitting to physical violence on the pod ? No , okay , just admitting to physical violence on the pod .
Speaker 2No .
Speaker 1Okay , we'll edit that . No , you're going to give me tough love , and that's what I need , and you're very good about asking in any given moment what do you need ? Do you need a coach or do you need a wife ? And those are different things .
Speaker 2Yeah , which version do you need ? Do you need support ? Do you need me to tell you to get up ?
Speaker 1yeah , so , yeah , uh , yeah . So I just need to not do anything stupid , not get hurt , and we'll be good so how do you plan on measuring some of the success during this training cycle ? Ooh , so some of it is going to be data . Obviously , we we run with smartwatches . We know every like , every pace , we've run our distances , things like that . I'm currently sitting , as of yesterday , at a 1045 mile average , which is it's better than the number I had in my head . Thank you .
Speaker 1Well it is significantly off a pace I had five years ago . So progress I'm not looking to . I'm never going to try to get back to where I was then . I'm a different person as I was then Different life , different career , different circumstances but making progress . Every long run should get a little bit easier , Ideally , just a little bit faster and a little bit more comfortable .
Speaker 2Honestly , the heart rate going down is really .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 2If the pace stays the same and the heart rate goes down , that shows you more than anything else .
Speaker 1Totally , really . Yeah , if the pace stays the same and the heart rate goes down , that shows you more than anything else , totally . And then on top of that and I I can't say this enough I just want to enjoy running , and that is worth more than any other progress I'll make from a actual , like analytical standpoint yeah , we'll have a little teehees and giggles .
Speaker 2Yeah , little sweet treats after yeah there's .
Speaker 1I'm only looking forward to the long runs because we have this built promise in our home that anything double digits gets us , gets us pizza for dinner . Not because we have a weird like , it's just like oh , this is a nice thing to do yeah , you just ten anything ten miles or up , you get pizza for dinner .
Speaker 2Oh , there's no reason . No , um , so like having that like little like thing back in our lives would be fun now we're gonna move into a quick , rapid fire question which you already read my questions because you're sneaky yes , but also sneaky and you're naughty I mean , if that's your takeaway from this , sure , fine , I'll own that do you not ?
Speaker 2do you not know what I'm quoting ? No baby why you're sneaky and you're naughty . Travis has the wig on . Oh , you're not fun all right , we're gonna move into rapid fire questions because , you're not fun that's fine what is your favorite pump up song on a run , on a workout ?
Running Stories and Insights on Fuel
Speaker 2Either , or your choice .
Speaker 1Sure , it's a song called Mutiny by a band called Set your Goals . I'm going to have you clip it in . We have different music tastes 100% . Your entire thing right now is how unhinged your music is .
Speaker 2Music tastes is unhinged on a run playlist .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 2It's far too much Lonely Island than anyone should ever listen to . Just in general .
Speaker 1Yes , for me A . I don't typically run with headphones , so I run completely , make it . No . No , that is different . No one eats that and I'm pretty sure it's against a couple different laws . No , I , I , you are cracking yourself up right now . No , uh , I get frustrated by technology . You know that better than anyone . So the last night , like my headphones cutting out , dying , losing connection on my phone , I'll stop a run and just walk home , so I'd rather just not have it .
Speaker 2All right , your go-to during a run fuel . Ooh , what is your before you run , because I know what your new answer is going to be . What is your before times one , and what is your what you're going to use now , because I know what that answer is .
Speaker 1So during the run fuel it used to be goos or like cliff blocks . That was the one that I think I used the most Little gummies , they're fine . I don't I've done goos in the past , they suck . Sorry , I won't get sponsored . That's fine . But moving into this training plan , as we get to a point where I need to start fueling , which will be in a couple of weeks , it will be nerds , gummy clusters .
Speaker 2So gummy clusters wants to sponsor a big guy .
Speaker 1That's me .
Speaker 2It is the only candy I eat for the most part .
Speaker 1In general Like a lot yeah .
Speaker 2My ADHD kibble .
Speaker 1It is what is your post run meal , meal of choice , especially a long run , because we've talked about a lot of food on a long run yes , the one that we choose the most often is pizza , I think the other option this is my forever inability to choose one is tacos , especially if we in kansas city we're lucky we have a lot of really good taco places , but it is like one of the easier foods to find if we're on the road and have it be particularly good .
Speaker 2Favorite running memory . It's not a good memory , that's fine .
Speaker 1The Garmin half marathon ends with an uphill , turned into an uphill and I did it . I'm 100 feet away from the finish line and at that point my quad and hamstring decided they were done . I can only describe the sound that I let out as fairly . And there's a photo and I don't know who captured it . Hillary , my sister-in-law , captured it . There's a photo and I don't know who captured it ? Hillary , my sister-in-law , captured it there's a photo of me mid-scream .
Speaker 2That might be my favorite photo of me it's either that or the photo of you in maine screaming oh yeah , this one , this one was .
Speaker 1It was a lot . That photo has sound um , that is my favorite running memory but for better or worse , what is your dream running location ? Cute . That's a really good one . We've run in some amazing places . Honestly I think it's running , uh , the seawall in Vancouver , running through the park , being run by legitimate totem poles a bunch of really cool history . That might be like my favorite run we've ever done and maybe like a run I would love to do again .
Speaker 2Would you like to get lost again and accidentally run almost nine miles ?
Speaker 1Do we need to tell that story ? Yeah , we'll tell it . We'll tell it later .
Speaker 2Okay , best running advice that you've ignored Stretch .
Speaker 1I ignored that for years .
Speaker 2Did it work out for you ?
Speaker 1I was fine for the first five or six years of ignoring it until I wasn't Great . And now I stretch 15 , 20 minutes every day .
Speaker 2And then what is the strangest thing you've seen ? On a run , ooh , which is hard , because you've lived in Portland Oregon .
Speaker 1Have . I don't know if he's been mentioned before , but whip guy is high up . So in Portland there's an unhoused person in our neighborhood that had a very long whip , like a legit whip . It was never directed at people , it was directed at stop signs , street signs . It made a hell of a noise . You could hear where he was in our neighborhood so that was always interesting to see .
Speaker 2I'm familiar with his work .
Speaker 1But I would say beyond that , living in Maine just having deer on the running path and have to figure out how to navigate that , Did you ever see the tiny pony at the West Hartford Reservoir ? Yes , I forgot about that . Yeah , there were mini horses .
Speaker 2Yeah , and the one would walk the mini horses .
Speaker 1On the trail , yeah .
Speaker 2Well , ed , yes , thank you so much .
Speaker 1Thanks for coming . Thanks for letting me join the podcast . It's fun being the person who gets to listen to it first and make sure everything makes sense . But it never does . It does , it does . But I'm glad that I was able to give my perspective on running . As a non-runner , slash race husband For someone who is very deeply into running without running , it's fun to experience the entire environment from different perspectives .
Speaker 2Do you want people to follow you on anything ? Are you going to post your journey at all ? Have you decided ?
Speaker 1I haven't decided . I'll post to my Instagram , which is very unexciting , so I wouldn't recommend that , but I might start making TikTok content . I don't know . I have up and down feelings about myself in terms of recording .
Speaker 2Very good , that's a lot , so I'm going to leave his socials anyway in the show notes .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 2So that way you can follow him if he does decide he wants to post anything . That way you can follow his journey to Brooklyn Half Marathon . Yes , but again , thank you so much . I really appreciate hearing your thoughts on running . I'm sure I'm going to have you again on as we get closer to the race just to see how more than the first day has gone . Yeah , because I think once you get past the first long run and to see how maybe nerds clusters are treating you as fuel during your long runs is going it's like an ultra marathon just runs is going .
Speaker 1I'm going to treat this like an ultra marathon , Just soda and candy . I'm not going to do that .
Speaker 2Don't do soda . The bubbles won't feel good . I can promise you that .
Speaker 1But yeah , I'd love to kind of check in , maybe halfway through training , and then maybe we'll record an episode from whatever restaurant or brewery we end up at after the race .
Speaker 2It'll be very unhinged .
Speaker 1But I'm sure we'll see hundreds of dogs , god willing . I think I wish you I don't know if it's anywhere , but we should figure out what the number of dogs was for your last Brooklyn Half Marathon . It was well into the hundreds .
Speaker 2Yeah , absolutely . Thank you again and thank you everyone . I hope this was helpful . I hope you took away something from Ed's conversation and I look forward to the next one with you . And keep counting those dogs and keep running and we will see you in the next one . Bye , thanks for sharing another mile with me today
Staying Connected in Running Community
Speaker 2.
Speaker 2Before you cool down , here are three quick ways to stay connected with our running community . First , hit subscribe . Wherever you're listening to this right now , it's the best way to make sure you never miss an episode . Second , if today's show helped you or inspired you , please leave a review . Your words help other runners find their way to our community . Lastly , want more running adventures ? Follow at Dogs Per Mile pod on Instagram , where I share daily motivation , behind the scenes moments and plenty of pictures of my two running coaches , yogi and Maple . Be sure to tag me in your run photos and use hashtag dogs per mile to share your own dog spotting stats . I love celebrating your victories , big and small , and thank you for being a part of this journey . Until our next run together , remember , every step forward is progress and every dog you see is bonus motivation . Keep running , keep smiling and keep counting those dogs .
