In a new blog feature for 2016, we introduce you to Stacey Boldt – a brand new runner who will be tracking her training adventures as she prepares for her first half marathon.
Stacey Boldt is a social media enthusiast, amateur photographer and local ‘beginner runner’ who loves running road and trail alike. She is the Southwestern Ontario Technical Representative for Saucony Canada and you can find her working the Saucony booth during the Run Waterloo Race Series. She is currently training to run again this year in Vancouver at the Vancouver Marathon. This is her first blog post for RunWaterloo.
Hi everyone! My name is Stacey Boldt and I am a self-professed ‘running beginner’! I have been running as a part of my regular fitness regime for years, but within the last year and a half I have embraced running as a part of my everyday life. It certainly doesn’t hurt that I am the Technical Representative for Saucony in Southwestern Ontario!
I say I’m a ‘beginner runner’ because I feel I’ve just scratched the surface of the potential that running has to become a more central part of my life. Sure, I speak to marathoners, half-marathoners and all-around running enthusiasts on a daily basis, but with my busy schedule, it can be tough to really find time to dedicate to the sport. This spring training season I’ve decided that enough is enough- I have laid out a running plan and have decided to make it a priority to get out there and run!
I plan on using this space as a place to come and share my wins and losses alike. What works for me, what doesn’t and how I plan on overcoming any challenges that arise along the way. For those of you who are new to running, or aren’t sure where to begin, I have a few pointers to help get you going and have the strongest spring ever!
1. Plan, Plan, Plan
I think the biggest hurdle in my personal and professional life is timing. I am constantly on the road, working early mornings and late nights alike, so I am often left feeling ‘Where did that day (week, month…) go!?” To help me get around this issue, I have embraced a planning strategy. If I have a particularly busy and long day, I will consider not planning a run that day. Why set myself up for failure? If I can properly plan out my week, I can schedule running in a manner that will help me succeed, and not feel bad when I know I’ll be tired!
2. Find a training program that works for you
For those of us who don’t have a running coach, it can be tricky to know what type of workload you need to achieve a particular race distance or finish time. I discovered the ideal app that I use to generate my training plan- Run Keeper. Run Keeper allows you to select your race length, how many weeks you want to train for and in some cases what finish time you would like to achieve. It allows you to shift your training schedule (yay!) and will track your route, pace and other super helpful statistics.
3. Get some great shoes
One of the great things about running is that you need very little equipment to do it. The essential piece? A great pair of shoes. If you have the means, I suggest heading to your local run specialty stores. The expert staff will assess your gait and recommend the perfect pair to get you running. If you are in the Waterloo area, head to Runner’s Choice near Uptown and be sure to tell them I said hello!
That’s all for now. In the next few weeks I’ll be hitting the road to rack up those miles- and I hope you will too!
1 Comment
Just out of curiosity, what exactly is a Technical Representative? I am very much your opposite – I am an old guy who has been running for ever and a day. My approach to your pointers is also quite different. I have a general seasonal plan (ie goal race) to prepare for, one or two key runs each week and a couple or three other days where I will run easier mileage. I almost always run right after work before anything else can interrupt me. Now that I’m older however, I will allow myself to tweak any run due to fatigue or a twinge that might suggest an injury – better to run pain free tomorrow than hobble today. I agree with finding a training program that works, but I am old-school and use no apps. Pen and paper all the way. As for shoes, I agree completely – find what works and stick with the brand that fits and feels best. Good luck with training, hope to see you out on the roads some day.
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