Archive for the ‘Lauren Dieterich’ Category

Intervals and other types of speed work are essential to improve running speed.
…Frank Shorter

We are six and a half weeks out from race day, which means it’s time to push ourselves to the next level in our training. In other words, in order to run fast we have to train fast.

Lately I’ve been adding speed work back into my routine one day a week. Whether you are working hard for a PR, or just want a quick-paced enjoyable race day, speed work can benefit you. It’s also a great way to maximize your workout time – you can exercise for a shorter amount of time, but reap more benefits… a very high ROI if you will.

However it does take a bigger toll on the body so before beginning speed work, it is best to have at least a year of consistent running under your belt, and be clocking at least 20 miles a week.

Adding a variety of runs into your routine teaches your body different lessons:
• Easy mileage runs condition you for the long-haul.
• Tempo runs teach you proper pace, keeping …

Continue reading Kickin It Up a Notch »

In addition to my annoying running obsession, I also suffer from a severe reading addiction.

Though I normally spend my bookworm time in fiction novels, there are some incredible books on running that have educated and truly inspired my athletic pursuits. I’m a little too impatient to dive into training theory and coaching books. Instead I prefer good old fasioned stories that detail historical feats, share wisdom and inspire me to continue to get my butt out the door. I highly recommend you check these out if you can!

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
I have mentioned this book in an earlier post, but can’t say enough good things about it. In his quest to learn why he is always suffering running injuries, McDougall visits an ancient tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners living in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. Alongside sound research, unwieldy terrain, a barefoot runner and lots of inspiration, a brilliant story unfolds telling us that as humans, we are truly …

Continue reading Good Reads for Runners »

“Dwell on the positive, but have controlled, passionate anger.”
…Pat Tyson, running coach

I am a very competitive person. Though I have never won a race or been a contender in the big picture, I am constantly pushing myself to improve, comparing myself against others of similar physique and my own past performances.

A little competition can be a good thing. It moves us forward and keeps us from being complacent. It allows us to seek higher goals, pushing ourselves and continuing to reap new mental and physical benefits.

But too much competition can be detrimental. Constantly judging our self worth by others’ results can tear us down emotionally and mentally.

I recently found out that a rival of mine – an old acquaintance that I have since found myself competing against in various races – has recently run a pretty terrific race, setting a new PR for herself and beating my best performance by a decent margin. While I would love to say I had positive thoughts – being happy for …

Continue reading Chasing the Competition »

As a self-professed music junkie, I live my life according to an imaginary soundtrack.

I find music indelibly linked to specific moments in my life, so it may come as no surprise that I love a good sweat session with great tunes to keep me motivated during my training. 

(Side note: I must admit I am adamantly against headphones on race day! Partially because I’m a geeky rule follower – most races don’t allow headphones. But mostly because I’m a racing purist who wants to soak up the full race experience.) But I digress…

A soundtrack can have an amazing effect on your running. Good music courses through your veins and powers your muscles. It saves you from boredom and drowns out the pain. It makes you feel alive and inspires great performances.

I find that music pushes me through track workouts with more oomph, and keeps my leg turnover quick and in strong cadence during tempo runs. When I am heading out for longer distances, music helps me hit my stride giving me a solid …

Continue reading Music That Moves You »

Last Friday brought an unexpected treat to my training routine.

Lisa and Sister Mary-Beth Lloyd

Elite ultramarathoner and endurance coach Lisa Smith-Batchen along with her running partner Sister Mary-Beth Lloyd were running 50 miles in Atlanta as part of their Running Hope Through America project.

From April 19th to June 19th, 2010, Lisa is attempting to run 50 miles in each of the 50 states to raise money for orphans in the United States and abroad (the “Running Nun” Sister Mary-Beth completes 20 miles each day). Though others have previously run a marathon distance back-to-back in each state, no one has ever taken on the challenge of completing an ultra in the same period of time.

For the Georgia leg of her 50-state tour, Big Peach Running Co in Brookhaven served as base of operations for ten 5-mile loops that Lisa would complete throughout the day. Big Peach invited folks to come out and support Lisa, running loops with her and her support staff. I was able to make it out …

Continue reading Running Hope Through America »

There are days when I hate it. Days when it hurts. Days when I can’t stand the thought of putting my feet in incessant motion. I’m tired. I’m burned out.

Then I remember those who can’t run.

I remember the first time I paid attention to the Shepherd Spinal Center while running the Peachtree. I was slowly “making my way” (i.e. struggling) up that not-so-fun cardiac hill, when I noticed three men on the right-hand sidewalk cheering from wheelchairs. One was wearing a previous PRR race shirt. I was overcome by their presence - joy on their faces as they watched us pass – living life despite horrible accidents or illness.

I remember especially the one man in the race shirt – who has known life as a runner, but whose running shoes now can only serve as a reminder of what he wishes and dreams to one day be able to do again. He once was just like me, and now longs to have the opportunity to run down the street, the opportunity I take for granted. Here I am with a capable body… don’t …

Continue reading Running with Gratitude »

Through many years of running, I’ve spent my fair share of miles pounding the pavement. And when training for a road race, it’s necessary to acclimatize your joints and connective tissues to running on harder surfaces.

Taking a stroll through Sweetwater Creek State Park.

But as my internal odometer ticks off more mileage each year, I know I need to focus on taking care of my body. Cross-training is one way I do that, but my favorite way to take it easy on my knees and hips is trail-running.

Smooth, peaceful, lush single-track for miles… it’s a tiny piece of heaven on earth!

Although the technical terrain and pervasive hills of backwoods trails may seem like it is tougher on your body, trail-running is much gentler than running on asphalt and concrete. The trail is softer and absorbs more of the impact of your footstrike.

Don’t get me wrong – off-road mileage is a tough workout. It uses different muscles and connective tissues than road running because your body undergoes more …

Continue reading Happy Trails to You »

It has been a rough few days in the life of Lauren. With a weekend full of fun workout plans, I found myself at 12:30am Saturday in the midst of a full-on stomach virus.

Talk about a killer sneak attack. After six hours of sickness, another 24 hours of not eating solid foods or getting out of bed, I can firmly attest I haven’t felt that sick in a long time. Thanks to ginger ale, saltine crackers, Gatorade and many bad movies on TBS I am on the mend… but certainly to the detriment of any sort of physical activity that I may have wanted to do over the weekend.

Sunday evening – with solid food in my stomach, a body rested and re-hydrated, and looking back at 3 days of inactivity – I was really looking forward to my Monday afternoon meeting with my running partner.

Braving a rainy race day with my running partner at the 2008 ING Ga Marathon.

And then… apparently the weather forgot to ask my permission to explode on us today. So I have a choice – continue being a slug or run in the …

Continue reading Explore the Great (Wet) Outdoors »

Five finalists in the 2010 race shirt design contest.

Today is the last day to vote for this year’s AJC Peachtree Road Race official race shirt!

Here are this year’s five finalists in the design contest. Click on the above link and pick us out a winner… or make 55,000 people very upset.

Ahhh… the storied history of the Peachtree race t-shirt: causing people to suffer through Georgia heat, humidity and hills since 1971.

It amazes me that a piece of cotton continues to own such a place of honor in our city. Many people complete the event, or sneak into the event (horrible) just to proudly don their Peachtree t-shirt each year. Whether patriotic, abstract, or downright pastel, the shirt takes a place of the utmost importance in THOUSANDS of closets. It’s a conversation starter, a badge of tradition, and good fodder for t-shirt quilts.

Throughout the years I’ve developed quite a love-hate relationship with my Peachtree shirts. No offense to our current designers, but I prefer the …

Continue reading The Coveted T-Shirt »

In an effort to enjoy my joints for many years to come, I’m trying to incorporate more cross-training into my routine.

Seems like a great idea. Less injuries. Avoid the rut of muscle memory. More potential to increase my metabolism and core strength. Less boredom and more variety.

For the past couple weeks I’ve made a concerted effort to bike, swim, row on the indoor rower (or ergometer/”erg” in rowing speak), and incorporate some resistance training a couple times a week in addition to running. But believe it or not, it’s been more challenging than I imagined to get out of my comfort zone and not run.

Running is easy – you put on your running shoes and open your front door whenever you feel like it. There are no chains to clean and lubricate and no gym crowds to fend off. As much I believe in and preach the idea of cross-training, I have to admit – I’ve experienced some challenges with my new cross-training goals. At the risk of embarrassing myself, I share with …

Continue reading Adventures in Cross-Training »