And So It Begins… Posted by Ashley on April 9, 2013 No Responses » Apr 092013 Well, I never thought I would coach a track team. Never in a thousand years. Yet, here I am, up super late trying to put together a workout schedule for the month of April, trying to order spikes and singlets, and thinking what in the world am I doing?! Every year, Schlumberger competes against the top oil companies in Houston in a throw-down style track meet in early June. Success in this local meet can mean advancing to regionals and even nationals in the corporate track circuit. Unfortunately, the Schlumberger running list serve hasn’t been too organized in the past. And we have some serious competition. Think Edina in Mighty Ducks, or the rich boys in The Karate Kid. Instead we’re talking about the Exxon Mobil Tigers with matching uniforms and having won the past gazillion local meets, they are the enemy. And that is where I come in. Continue reading “And So It Begins…” » Technorati Tags: coaching, coaching tips, corporate running, running, running tips, running workout, team, track, track team
The Hoka Stinson Evo: A Trail Runner that Lives Up to Its Name Posted by Ashley on April 3, 2013 No Responses » Apr 032013 When I discovered I would be testing a pair of Hokas, I first wanted to figure out what “Hoka” actually meant. This is what I found: “hoka” (in Japanese) = the other “hoka” (in Hawaiian) = baffling “hoka” (in Swahili) = mania “hoka” (in Maori) = to fly (the actual meaning behind the shoes) You could say I was ready for anything after reading that. And true to words, the Hoka Stinsons I received were out of the ordinary. Continue reading “The Hoka Stinson Evo: A Trail Runner that Lives Up to Its Name” » Technorati Tags: Hoka, Hoka One One, Hoka Stinson Evo, maximalist, running, running shoes, shoes, trail running
Light up the Night – Gear to illuminate your runs Posted by Ashley on November 26, 2012 No Responses » Nov 262012 As the days get shorter and shorter it becomes inevitable that some runs will be started or completed in the dark. At night, or in early morning hours, running on sidewalks or on the street can become a major safety hazard. For many years, runners who wanted to be safe in the dark had to wear yellow or orange reflective vests, similar to construction workers. Times have changed; with the integration of the LED and with new reflective technology (such as 3M Scotchlite), standing out in the dark has become a lot more stylish and a lot more fun. I’ve assembled a list of some of the coolest visibility products on the market today; many of these would make great Christmas gifts! Continue reading “Light up the Night – Gear to illuminate your runs” » Technorati Tags: night running, running, running gear, running in the dark, running tips, winter running
Escaping Disappointment: Avoiding a “Bad Race” Posted by Ashley on October 8, 2012 No Responses » Oct 082012 Having run quite a large number of races at this point, I knew it was only a matter of time before one of them was going to be pretty awful. The last race I ran gave me a PR, but the instant I finished I felt as if it was a waste of time and I was ready to go home. So what was it? Why didn’t I have any fun? I realized it was the demeanor of the folks putting on the race; they really did not seem to care. There were only cookies and fruit at the end (for a dinnertime race), the guy supposed to be handing out waters at the halfway point was just sitting on top of the cooler (what?! we have to pour our own water while racing?!), and there were no awards, not even for the first place finishers (and it was chip-timed? Why?). To add to insult, the race cost $35 (for a 5K!) and that was the “no-tshirt” option! Personally, I feel as if a race is not only about pushing your body to its limits, but getting the chance to socialize and enjoy the company of other runners and running-minded people. So, after a little research, I’m going to share a few ways to not end up running in (and not wasting money on) a poorly put together race. Continue reading “Escaping Disappointment: Avoiding a “Bad Race”” » Technorati Tags: 5k, race, race tips, racing, running, running tips
The ON Cloudracer Review Posted by Ashley on September 24, 2012 No Responses » Sep 242012 Brand: ON Running Name: Cloudracer Color: Orange/Silver for both men and women Weight: 225 grams (about 0.5 lbs) Drop: 5mm Cool Extras: Patented CloudTec technology Price: $129 After finishing a 5k, my running partner asked me, “Ashley, why did we run a 6:40 first mile?” I told her that the shoes made me do it! The best word to describe the ON Cloudracers is explosive. If you have ever run in track spikes, you know the feeling. It was a joy to recapture that insane feeling of speed that I haven’t had since running track in school. It’s no surprise that many of ON Running’s athletes (Olympians too!) choose to race in the Cloudracers – these shoes are fast! Continue reading “The ON Cloudracer Review” » Technorati Tags: Cloudracer, Cloudtec, ON Cloudracer, ON Running, ON Shoes, racing, racing flats, running, shoe review
A Guide to Being King (or Queen) of the Hill Posted by Ashley on September 5, 2012 1 Response » Sep 052012 The “bacon strip”, also known as NW 16th Ave in Gainesville, FL. Yes, those are all hills into the distance. I despise running hills. Not all hills, the gently inclining ones don’t bother me, and of course, going down a hill is no problem, but I hate those steep, evil looking ones that you can see from a mile away that you know are going to suck all hope and happiness from your legs and mind. And, you may be thinking, Ashley, you live in Gainesville, FL; there aren’t any hills in the entire state! Wrong. I live at the top of a stretch of road lovingly called “the bacon strip” for its many unavoidable ridges and valleys. My arch-enemy is the hill that leads up to my apartment complex. It is steep, a good 20 degrees (ok, I may be exaggerating) and it is long, about .4 mile (this I have measured), and it kicks my butt every time. So, it’s time for me to fight back and let you in on how to do it. After a bit of research, I’ve assembled some tricks and tools to destroying the hills without losing your composure, and I’ve provided some training tips on using hills to make you a better and stronger runner. Continue reading “A Guide to Being King (or Queen) of the Hill” » Technorati Tags: gainesville, hill training, hill workouts, hills, running, running hills, running tips, training, training plan
Keep Your Training on Track! Posted by Ashley on August 8, 2012 No Responses » Aug 082012 You know the excuses: “I’m too tired”, “My stomach hurts”, “It’s too early”, “I just don’t want to run today”, and the one I use the most: “It’s too hot!”. Sticking to a training plan can be hard, it requires an equal balance of motivation, reward, sacrifice, and fun; your whole schedule changes, you don’t get to see your friends as much, and you don’t get to eat ice cream everyday. Often the pressure of sticking to a training plan alone causes doubts and excuses. As many runners (including me!) begin hitting the streets for fall race season, I want to share some of my tricks and tips to staying on track with training. Continue reading “Keep Your Training on Track!” » Technorati Tags: running tips, training
Unlikely Heros: Inspiring Stories from this Year’s Olympic Runners Posted by Ashley on July 26, 2012 No Responses » Jul 262012 We all expect Usain Bolt and Lolo Jones to draw huge numbers to the TV screen during this year’s Olympics. They are outstanding athletes and most likely will get a spot on the podium, but there are also some absolutely inspiring runners who are competing this year who may not even finish 4th, or 5th, or 20th. I’ve put together a short list of runners to watch out for at this year’s Olympics, not because of their chances of winning, but because they have faced unbelievable challenges just to get to compete. Continue reading “Unlikely Heros: Inspiring Stories from this Year’s Olympic Runners” » Technorati Tags: athletes, London 2012, London Olympics, Olympic running, olympics, runners, running, running inspiration, sports, Summer Olympics
The 4iiii Sportiiiis Review: Using Your Eyes to Train Posted by Ashley on July 12, 2012 No Responses » Jul 122012 Manufacturer: 4iiii Innovations Model: Sportiiiis Heads Up Display Base Price: $149.99 As much as I love my Garmin, I am constantly bothered that I can’t read off my pace and heart rate at the same time. Obviously, the two are intricately connected. The Sportiiiis easily solves this problem with a nifty LED indicator that sits below your eye and lets you know if your heart rate is in the correct zone, or if you’re pumping too hard. Furthermore, it will actually tell you exactly what your heart rate is, requiring no switching between screens on my Forerunner. The Sportiiiis is a great little device, but requires a bit of setup, equipment, and knowledge to use. In this review, I will be breaking down the positives and negatives of the Sportiiiis and letting you know how it works. Continue reading “The 4iiii Sportiiiis Review: Using Your Eyes to Train” » Technorati Tags: 4iiii, ANT+, heart rate, Heart Rate Monitor, HRM, running, running technology, Sportiiiis, Sportiiiis Heads Up Display, Sportiiiis HUD
Old Shoe Blues Posted by Ashley on June 25, 2012 No Responses » Jun 252012 Today, I got to go to the local running store, Fit2Run, here in Gainesville. My boyfriend, Dylan, has been complaining of sore feet and bad shin splints for a while now after running in his Brooks Pureflows, a minimalist shoe with a small foam cushion. Surprise, surprise, our helpful sales assistant, Scott, told him it was time for new pair of shoes. We left the store wondering if Dylan could have staved off the injuries if he would have gotten new shoes earlier. How old are your running shoes? “Old” doesn’t just mean a length of time, but the amount of mileage they’ve run. Furthermore, the wear and tear of your running shoes depends on their specific type and construction and the type of workout you are doing in them (long/mid distance vs tempo/sprints). There are several ways to spot that it’s time for a new pair of shoes. Continue reading “Old Shoe Blues” » Technorati Tags: injury, minimalist shoes, running, running tips, shoe replacement, shoe tips
