Last summer in Episode 56 of the podcast we had on Jonathan Beverly who is a writer at Runner’s World and an author of a few running books. He has a new book out called Run Strong, Stay Hungry. This book is a great resource for any runner who is interesting in making running a lifetime habit. Most runners end up quitting the sport, but there are several who make it a lifetime habit. Jonathan found 9 keys to focus on to make running a part of your life forever. We talk to Jonathan about those keys and what you can do to stay running.
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We had you on in Episode 56 to talk about your book Your Best Stride, and now you have a new book out called Run Strong, Stay Hungry, can you tell the listeners what this book is about?
- Keep running for life
- Care about your running and performance
How did you collect the data for this book?
- Started with people knew who had been running for a lifetime
- Started young and running as masters
Why do people stop running?
- Injuries
- Life changes
- No longer competitive or PR’s
I personally stopped a few times either for injuries or life changes but kept coming back. How many stories do you run into like mine where people fall away from it in different seasons of their life and then come back to it?
- Several stories, but several wish they could, but don’t for several reasons
When looking at why people quit running, Do you find it different between mid-pack runners vs. elite runners?
- Mid-packers have an advantage over elites
- Non-elites our competition is relative vs. elites ran to win
When you started thinking about the idea for this book and researching, was there anything that you discovered that really shocked you?
- Most of the people who continue running tend to run by feel expected they would be more discipline
You mentioned key #3. In the book, you list the 9 keys to stay in the race. Do you find one of these 9 to be a key component that everything points back to?
- Most who ran for life fell into most of the key areas
- Those who do have a plan are willing to use it as a rough guide
- Run by feel helps make you a student of the sport
One of the keys you have is making it a habit, with the New Year there are people who start the year with a run streaks, do you find streaks helpful or not?
- Both
- Most are anti-streaks
- Habits are built when it becomes regular
- Not am I going to run today, when am I going to run
What advice do you have for making it a habit?
- Learn to enjoy a run alone
- Getting anything in is better than nothing
- Never a bad idea to go for a 30-minute run
Do these lifetime runners work a social aspect into their routine?
- Yes, most occasionally enjoyed a run with other people
- Connections to sport with other runners
When I was younger racing and the competition kept me interested. Now it is running with friends and helping others with coaching that keeps me interested. The big difference now is I am very much a student of the sport. I go to clinics, I read constantly and I am always trying to learn more. Can you talk about how being a student of the sport can have an impact?
- Learn about the sport and training
- To run by feel you need to be a student of the sport
- Being a student adds to the interest
Let’s look at technology. There are things like GPS watches and Strava. I could imagine in some ways this may hurt long-term participation but it could also help it by connecting you with others in your community and creating introductions. How do these new technologies have an impact?
- Community aspect is great
- Comparing yourself can hurt
You are a high school coach yourself. How did writing this book change you, do you do anything different in your coaching now?
- Can work to become better
- Reward and praise progress over results
There are some aspects of this book that can help you stay healthy, what are some of the keys you learned?
- Trust your body, trust yourself
- In tune with their bodies
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