ATP Running

Summer racing.

It's might be hot. It might be humid. You might be slower than normal. Why on earth would you do it?

Because in reality, summer racing can offer huge advantages to your overall running performance. Yes, it's hot and hard and your times might not be the same as they are in cooler weather.

All of these are great reasons to ignore your times and dial in on how it FEELS to race. You can develop so many skills when you throw time out the window: how to stay engaged when it gets hard. How to recognize what mile 2 of a 5k ought to feel like. How to use mental skills to break a race into sections. How to stay in touch with your running form as fatigue sets in.

With all the positives to be gained from summer racing, let's not forget that there can be some considerations to take too. Here is a quick list of Do's and Don'ts for summer racing. Which ones are easiest or hardest for you?

Mid June: it is officially summer next week, and for most parents, kids are well out of school for another six to ten weeks.

For some runners, there is more unstructured time that allows more freedom in our schedules and the chance to relax a little bit more. For others, summer is packed full of day to day activities that don’t come up between September and May, making training more challenging. For all of us, the heat starts to ramp up and we have to decide what we are going to do with our summer running.

Do we…

👟 Lace up for easy miles?

👟 Keep up heavy workouts?

👟 Cross train our hearts out?

👟 Toe the start lines of a few races?

👟 Resign ourselves to treadmill miles or an indoor track until temperatures start to drop?

👟 Hang up our shoes until cooler weather comes around? (Don’t do this!)

I will answer these questions over the next few weeks, but I want to know: what are your biggest questions about summer running?

ATP Runners enjoy a discount at a local specialty running store.

Why?

💲 because running shoes can get expensive and I can help.

🩹 because good running shoes that meet your needs help you stay injury free.

But mostly?
💎 because runners like shiny things like shoes and hats and water bottles and sun glasses and another pair of shoes and ouhhhhh did you see that tshirt???

When motivation wanes.. new toys help.
Want to find out how you can enjoy a discount? Drop a comment or send a message so you can get started!

Let's talk about fall races.

Are you signed up for one? (Or two or three or four?) Great - let's get started!

Have one in mind but haven't fully committed? Fine - just double check when you need to register by so you don't miss out!

Like the idea of one but don't know where to start?
Let's talk!

How far you want to run, what kind of experience you want to have, how far you are willing to travel for a race - all of these factors can start stacking up.

A technical, mountain trail 10k is an entirely different experience than a flat road marathon. A weekend with friends that involves a race at party pace is entirely different than an all out race chasing a big goal. A 5k is very different than a 50k. A September race might be facing down serious heat and humidity, but it might work best for your schedule; a race in the midwest in November may still be hot, or it may have snow in the forecast. Some races have 10 or 20 or 50 thousands of participants and spectators lining the course. Others have 10 or 20 or 50... including the spectators.

Sometimes we pick races based on what is closest and easiest for us. Other times, we think about what we want from our race day experience and find the race that has the best chance of delivering. Occasionally, we have bucket list races that we simply want to soak in the experience of... or we really like the swag bag.

What's most important to you for your next race?

Need help finding something that makes you light up inside? Drop a comment and let's find you one!

Fall Marathon Training… starting now?



The Sydney Marathon (Abbott’s newest World Major Marathon) kicks off the fall racing season with their Aug 30th race – just 13 weeks away. Marathons in September (Air Force, Berlin, Boulderthon to name a few well known ones) are 14-18 weeks away, and October and November races (Chicago, New York, Indy, Richmond, MCM, just to get started) are coming up rapidly behind them. Summer miles and smart training now will have a huge impact on how you perform, not to mention how you feel, on race day.

Are you diving into full blown training? Holding a base for a few more weeks until it is time to start officially training? Doing your best to avoid thinking about fall races while those thermometers keep climbing on the outdoor temps?

ATP Running can help. From knowing what you should be doing right now to prepare for your race, to tips to help manage hot summer running, to accountability for your runs when every part of you would love to skip – we can give you what you need to be ready for race day.

What’s holding you back? Comment below to get started on arriving at YOUR start line.

Welcome to ATP Running. It is another year, another summer, and a chance to remember what ATP Running is.

ATP Running is science based coaching for real people.

Coaching is brought to you by two women who value the science of training... but who also understand what it is like to train with real life. We understand that some seasons are fantastic for chasing big goals; other seasons are for keeping a steady base. Both can use balance, accountability, and grace.

Emily and Zoe met online and bonded over their shared love of quiet morning runs with amazing sunrises, a preference for cold weather over hot weather miles, and sharing training with 4 legged partners.

Why the thumbs down?

This triathlete wasn't ecstatic that the weather canceled both the swim and bike portions of her race...

But she still got her running segment and won her age group.

We're officially taking that as an age group win in a triathlon and keeping the rest a secret... outside this post, of course.

Sometimes a race is for time.

Sometimes, a race is for setting an example.

Sarah took to the streets of her community in a local 5k this weekend. She's running for Mayor in her local election and some of her goals include improving shared community spaces like parks and making exercise and healthy living more accessible for everyone... which meant this weekend, she got out and showed them how it's done.

Congratulations on a 5k under the belt, Sarah! And even more than that, thank you for your willingness to serve in your community.

It's that time again!!!!

ATP Running is proud to sponsor a local, in person summer run club for kids.

This program is designed for middle schoolers who want to run cross country this fall. There is a Fun Run program for students who are already comfortable running 2-2.5 miles and a Learn to Run program for students who want to start running and build up overall endurance.

This program...

🏃‍♂️ Is fun and accessible. We all get it: summer schedules can get crazy. This run club isn't an added stressor to your commitment list: come as you can, and don't stress sessions you can't make.

🏃‍♀️ Focuses on sustainable running habits. These aren't workouts - and we aren't competing with summer programming if your team is doing workouts. This is about learning how to log easy miles and keep your fitness in the summer to hit August ready to train.

🏃‍♂️ Brings the running community together. This program isn't tied to any specific school, and building camaraderie here builds excellent sportsmanship during competition.

🏃‍♀️ Is free. While we might stop at the splash pad if it's open, or stop in at the dollar store after a hot run, there's no cost to participate in summer run club.



Full info for Fun Run: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irjd3utTFPmivAF1xQiZPKEp_dPLneLHlZCP7FZ-S-Y/edit?usp=drivesdk

Full info for Learn to Run:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZQKRuBLCZGQAQnR8MnTEMaaBno8R1TZvFYO1YD0aZH0/edit?usp=drivesdk

Sign up for either:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftaO3jHRBvVS-XE4Wuj0Ze96okq5yfT13_6WCQIy1ysMyWxA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108942599773656322934

Today's is about Andrea. She's coming back to running after having a baby. While she knows what her body has been capable of in the past, she wanted a coach to help her navigate both the physical return to running as well as the mental aspects.

Returning to running after any hiatus can be tricky. Whether it's injury, childbirth, or life circumstances, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. How far do you run? How fast? How soon will you get back to where you used to be? Will you ever get back to where you used to be?

Having a coach can make all of that easier. I can't answer all those questions for you - at least, not right away - but I can simplify the process, get you back on the run, and help you manage expectations and all the feelings that go with it while you do.