The natural running craze

What is with all the hype about natural running? Over the past year or so I have continually heard more people talking about how they are converting over to natural running. While I do give them props for trying something new, I am not persuaded enough to switch over. Many have tried to convince me that it is better for me than my Asics. They act like it’s the cool new thing and everyone is doing it. That mentality didn’t work for me as a kid and is not working for me now. I need a stronger argument.  

I do understand that for some people this can be a good change because they may not have practiced the best running form before and it was affecting their body in negative ways. Many times poor running form is the leading cause of injury in runners. In my case, I have an efficient and strong form that allows me to avoid putting excess stress on my body when running. 

Next is the issue of support with the natural running shoes. Usually they provide very little or no support. Many of the articles that I have read noted that most injuries are caused by shoes that provide the runner too much support. What is happening is people are running with bad form and the extra support is absorbing the excess force that is exerted due to poor form. As a distance runner, that extra support is what allows me to continue running marathons. There is no way I would ever be able to complete 26.2 miles wearing a pair of natural shoes.

So for all those natural runners out there; I respect your desire to change but you can keep your minimalist shoes. I’ll stick to my trusty old Asics to get me through another successful marathon. Below I attached a funny little clip on natural running. 

Until next time, keep enjoying that mild late summer weather because winter will be here before you know it.

The Mile Challenge!

Last night I competed in the first track meet of my life. I ran in the “Wisco Mile,” held at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, WI. I was one of 24 runners who competed in the Co-Ed Community Mile and finished 9th overall with a time of 5:45:46. 

My first time performance made me very happy and I definitely look forward to running the mile again next year.

It’s not so much the heat as it is the gosh darn humidity!

Saturday morning was my first real encounter with the dreaded humidity. I awoke early to get a good breakfast in before I headed out for my regular Saturday morning long run. I knew it was going to be a warm day so I figured 8am would be early enough to squeeze in a long run. However to my dismay, the humidity was already pretty bad when I woke up at 6am. I ate my normal breakfast and drank 32 oz of water before I left for my run. That is a lot for me to drink before a run but I knew that I would need every extra ounce of water.

Before I headed out the door, I made sure to grab my water belt and a bottle filled with ice and water. I also mapped out a 10.5-mile route that I knew would provide me with decent shade along the way. The route also gave me options to shorten the run if I was struggling too much due to the heat. I learned my lesson running on hot days with little shade last June. On that particular day, I left the house around 9:30am, which was my first mistake. Then of course the route I ran had minimal shade and little options to shorten the run if the heat was getting to be too much. Needless to say on that day, I ended up fainting in my house after the run due to a mild case of heat stroke.

Since the heat stroke incident, I always make a point to get up early on mornings that I plan to take a long run. I also try my best to hydrate well the night before and the morning prior to running. A bottle of water or my Camelbak always accompanies me on a warmer long run. It is also important to wear a good sunscreen made for outdoor exercise.

My run started out pretty rough. I struggled to get a good rhythm going because I was so focused on how tough of a time I had breathing. Finally about three miles into the run, I found my rhythm. My pace picked up but then I hit a stretch that was in the wide open with little shade from the sun. The next two miles in the open really took it out of me and I knew I was going to have trouble making it the entire 10.5 miles. I continued pushing myself until I hit mile eight and realized that if I didn’t cut my run short, I was going to end up passing out again like last year due to heat stroke. Ten minutes later after completing a total of 9.2 miles, I arrived home feeling pretty exhausted but not anywhere near as bad as last year.

Now I have my first real hot and humid run out of the way. It’s time to prepare for tomorrow and my next humid morning run. Until next time, keep running and stay safe in this humid weather that is upon us. Water and electrolytes are your friends.

IT Band Stretches and Strengthening Exercises

Here are a few good exercises to add to your workout routine. Click the link above.

2011 Eau Claire Marathon

On Sunday I ran the 3^rd annual Eau Claire Marathon in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This was my third marathon and I again set a new PR by one minute and 26 seconds. My official chip time was 3:22:29 (25/316 runners).

The race started promptly at 8am with a starting temperature of 34 degrees and steady wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph. There were also a few flurries flying around just to make matters worse.

Just before the race started, I looked to my left and noticed that the 3:15 pacer was right next to me. I decided that it would be good for me to stick with him to keep myself on pace to avoid a huge crash towards the end of the race from starting out too fast. Early on I struggled to contain my urge to pull away from the pacer but eventually my mind won out over my adrenaline and I slowed my pace.

The race went pretty smooth for the first 11 miles. There was decent coverage so the wind didn’t affect me too bad. Then somewhere between mile 11 and 12, things started to open up and the wind really played a negative factor. For the next six miles, I ran into a steady wind between 20 and 30mph. I did get a little break because I was running in a group of five runners. We formed a line behind the 3:15 pacer and did our best to fight the wind.

After six miles of torture, we hit the 18-mile marker and got a break from the wind. It was a nice relief but the damage had been done. I was able to stick with the group for another 3 miles but around mile 22, I drifted away from the 3:15 group. That was the last I saw of them but I was still on pace to set a new PR. I kept pushing myself as much as I could even though my body wanted to stop.

There now was only one obstacle between me and the finish line and that was the dreaded 1/3 mile hill. All of a sudden, one last shot of adrenaline kicked in and I attacked the hill with all that I had left. Somehow I was able to break into what felt like a sprint and finish strong with a new personal record.

Overall, this was one of the better races I have run and I look forward to returning in the future. I also want to send out a big thank you to the police officers and volunteers who did a great job of taking care of the runners to make sure everyone had a safe race day.

Later this week I’ll be posting a video podcast on ways to help eliminate IT band issues. Until then, keep running!

The Jitters

Well, it is only five days until the Eau Claire Marathon and I think a little bit of nerves are starting to kick in. I’m being extra careful with my workouts this week and saving my energy for the big weekend. Keeping the negative thoughts at bay is difficult but I need to remember my successful training and stick to my regular routine.

A common fear is getting sick during marathon week. This morning I woke up with a bit of congestion and right away I panicked that I was getting a cold. Instead of letting it consume my day, I went to the gym and worked out. Since that scare this morning, I have felt much better. Again, it was a classic case of letting my mind/body play tricks on me. The best way for me to fight off any type of cold is to drink plenty of water and take vitamin C.

The final thing I need to is relax and get plenty of sleep the next few nights so I’m well rested and ready to run my best marathon ever. Next week I plan to give a complete review of the race and maybe even share some photos. Until then, have a great week and keep running!

Oh the options…

Saturday was my last long run before the marathon. It is official; I prefer to train with a group rather than alone. It is just too boring to run 22 miles with no one to talk to (except my wife as we pass on the trail) the entire run. During my two prior marathon-training sessions, I ran with the Badgerland Striders. Every year they organize weekly runs along the Milwaukee Lakefront from late July until the week before the Lakefront Marathon. There are two huge factors that make training with the Striders ideal: running with a group of people who run at my pace and they set up several water stations throughout the training course. Okay, that is enough for now on my new appreciation for fall marathon training.

Saturday was a typical spring day; dreary and overcast with a light drizzle to start the morning. I started out a little disappointed due to the poor weather but as my run progressed, my mood improved because I realized that this was my last long run before the marathon and I needed to make it my best run. I turned my music up another notch and fell into a good running groove. Next thing I knew, I was hitting the turnaround point of my run and still feeling good. Eleven miles was a good time to have a couple of energy shot blocks so I tore open a pack and munched on them for an extra boost of electrolytes. Three miles later (mile 14), I approached my wife and we chatted for a few seconds as we passed on the trail. Every time I pass her on my runs, it always gives me a little boost because I finally have someone to talk to for a few seconds to take my mind off of the mileage I have left. About an hour later, I crossed the finish line (my driveway) and the exhaustion hit me. Relief soon followed; I made it through long distance training without any major injuries!

Well, we’re down to 17 days until the marathon and the next big question to tackle after finding a motel is were should I eat the night before the marathon? I know the area fairly well being that UW – Eau Claire is my alma mater. However, I’m sure some things have changed over the last six years since I moved to Waukesha. When I lived in Eau Claire some of my favorite dining spots were:

1 Mona Lisa’s (Place where I proposed to my wife)

2 Grand Avenue Café (Great quiche)

3 Mogie’s (The best burgers in town and Spuds o’ Plenty)

4 Stella Blue’s

5 Mancino’s Grinders and Pizza

6 Draganetti’s Ristorante

7 Cicione’s

8 Mike’s Smokehouse

9 Northwoods Brewpub and Grill

Do you have any suggestions of other places to consider while visiting Eau Claire? Feel free to reply. Until next time, have a great week and keep running!

The challenges of training for a spring marathon

This year is my first time training for a spring marathon. I’m used to getting up early to avoid the hot days of late summer and early fall. Training for a spring marathon in Wisconsin is a totally different adventure because weather conditions vary greatly during this time of year. So far I have encountered cold, wind, snow and this morning, I woke up to a steady rain for my Wednesday morning 10-mile run.

Winter in Wisconsin forced me to start my training indoors at the Downtown Milwaukee YMCA on their 1/6^th mile indoor track. My early runs were very strong because I didn’t have any weather issues to slow my pace. As March rolled around, the conditions improved and I was able to run outdoors and increase my mileage. Even though the weather is not always ideal, each week I can see my fitness level improving. During one of my recent runs, I was reminded that my competitive nature was not the only reason I got into marathon running; it is a great way to relieve stress and enjoy the outdoors.

Today is April 6^th and there are only 25 days until the Eau Claire Marathon. I can’t believe how fast time has gone; it seems like I just started training. Saturday is my last long run (22miles) and then 2 weeks of tapering (decreasing my mileage) before the big day. I have been very lucky so far in my training. The only real issue I’ve had was two weeks ago after a 20 mile run; my knees were more sore than usual. I resolved that issue quickly with a trip to my favorite running store, Performance Running Outfitters, to pick up a new pair of Asics Gel Nimbus 12. Now that the knee pain is resolved, I look forward to finishing out my training strong.

Next week I’ll provide an update on my final long training run and share some of my favorite restaurants in Eau Claire, WI. Hopefully readers will help me decide were to eat while spending the weekend in the big EC. 

Until next week, keep running.

Journey of a Marathon Runner





Welcome to The Clydesdale Challenge! I created this blog to share my journey as a Clydesdale runner (a runner over 200 lbs) aspiring to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I’ll take you through some on my past adventures and continue to share personal experiences throughout my journey. This blog is dedicated to my family, friends and running enthusiasts.

First I’ll start with a little background on me. Throughout my entire life, I’ve always been an athletic person. My main focus during adolescent and college life was football. I played offensive and defensive line at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from 2000 to 2003. After college, I stayed active in sports and worked out regularly but I couldn’t seem to keep my weight under control.

My breaking point occurred in January 2007 when I went to my doctor for a routine physical and saw that my weight rose to 325 lbs and my blood pressure was 140/80. The doctor informed me that I was borderline high blood pressure and that if I didn’t change my eating habits soon, he was going to have to prescribe blood pressure medication. Wow! Talk about a shock. The last thing I wanted to do at 25 years old was start taking blood pressure medication.

A few days later, my wife and I joined Weight Watchers. After that first meeting, I realized I could do the program and away I went on my journey to better health. I had been eating healthier for few weeks and added cardio training to my workout but I didn’t feel challenged enough so I started running. I liked running and next thing I knew, my wife and I were signing up for a 5k. The Bastille Days 5k in downtown Milwaukee was my first race. The race went okay but my time wasn’t great and I knew I could do better. A few weeks later, I ran another race and my time improved. From then on, I was hooked. All of the sudden I was doing 10 & 15km races but said I wouldn’t do any further distances.

Running and Weight Watchers was working well so I went back to my doctor in order to get approval for my weight to become a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. In this visit, I learned that I lowered my weight from a robust 325 lbs down to a much healthier and more fit 245 lbs. He was shocked with my transformation and had no problem signing documentation to okay my weight as healthy for my height and build. I lowered my blood pressure to 118/60 and drastically decreased my bad cholesterol levels.

The next summer, after doing a race a month for over a year, my wife and I decided to train for our first half marathon; the Tyranena Beer Run in Lake Mills, WI. The run went well but after the race I vowed that I wouldn’t run any further than 13.1 miles.

Call me a liar because in early Spring 2009, my wife and I signed up for our first marathon; The Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon.

For three months I prepared for the race and when the big day came, I was ready. I started out strong but by mile 21 started to slow due to cramping issues. I was still able to finish in a modest 3 hours 24 minutes and 32 seconds. My time was good enough to finish 4^th out of 95 competitors in the Clydesdale division. 



Little did I know that this would be the beginning of my on-going obsession to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The following spring, my wife and I waited too long to sign up for the Lakefront Marathon. My wife and I wanted to do another marathon so we found a different fall 26.2; The Fox Cities Marathon in Menasha, WI. Again I trained hard prior to the race and felt prepared to make a serious push to qualify for Boston. I knew I would have to run a great race to shave off 15 minutes from last year’s time.

Again I started out strong but I as approached the 20-mile marker, I began to realize that I wasn’t prepared to seriously challenge the qualifying time for Boston. Despite not qualifying, I was still able to set a new personal record of 3 hours 23 minutes and 55 seconds. 

Sometime in mid-December, my wife and I made the commitment to run two marathons in 2011. Our first race of the year will be the Eau Claire Marathon on May 1^st and then we plan to wrap up the marathon season with our second attempt at the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon. I look forward to continuing with my blogs as the upcoming marathon season approaches. Join me again next week for an update as I continue my training for the Eau Claire Marathon.