Running In Harmony
Melody will be writing twice a month for Podium Runner. Check here for the latest and a list of all her articles.
Every year, girls bring questions to my running camp. Unfortunately, we can’t hold camp in Oregon this summer. But I can share answers to the most frequently asked questions with you, especially because I hear similar requests at every practice and meet. Athletes and their parents have been picking my brain for decades. Year after year, I hear variations on similar themes: How should I train throughout the years, with physical growth and puberty, and race faster? What are good mental approaches (including stress management and goal-setting)? What about nutrition and weight?! Read the full article in PodiumRunner.com, July 8, 2020,…
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I stepped to the starting line of the 1991 Junior World Cross Country Championships in Antwerp, Belgium knowing I was a favorite to win. I had a plan based on whether scenario “A” or “B” transpired among my competitors. Neither did. As I rounded the final hairpin turn of the tight, ribbon-like 4K course I thought, “I am going for the win!” As my eyes drew in the finish line down the long straightaway, I saw two women, who’d broken from the pack early in the race. I ran that last 250 meters in bewilderment and grief, wondering how I’d…
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The best running coaches understand the demands of running. They intuit what each athlete can handle physically, mentally, and emotionally. They hold us accountable but also support us. All this makes the work of training and racing easier and helps us discover the best version of ourselves. I’ve been lucky to work with top-notch coaches throughout my running journey. Each one has offered essential insights for different phases of my career—and life! Here are four that are helpful reminders for every runner, young or experienced alike. Read the full article in PodiumRunner.com, May 7, 2020, by Melody Fairchild with Elizabeth Carey
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At one point during my pro running career, I was in between coaches and training locations. The uncertainty left me wondering what was next. How could I stay motivated and moving in the direction of my dreams? I needed guidance. Gold medalist Billy Mills’ book Wokini (the new edition is titled Lessons of a Lakota) inspired me. Mills, who won the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, invited readers to use their imaginations to create “wokini,” which in the Lakota language means “new beginning.” I did just that by focusing on happiness, as Mills recommends. Read the full…
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Running camps are a boon for high schoolers. Here’s why, and how to choose the best one for you. In the ever-distracted world we live in, a running camp is a joyful and even healing experience for runners, because it’s immersive. Ideally, a running camp provides training, community, learning, and fun all wrapped into one quality week. Athletes get to spend time running with those who share the same passion. They can learn from counselors, guest speakers, and other role models who inspire and inform the running journeys of campers. At the very least, it’s a chance to log miles…
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Runners face undue, and unhelpful, expectations around weight and eating. Here are tips to combat dangerous disorders and behaviors. I first experienced food and body issues in middle school. My home life was stressful—my mom had cancer and my dad had lost his job—and I felt an urge to control something, anything. I experimented with self-denial. I ate less and less. And then I bonked, hard, at my favorite race, the Bolder Boulder 10k. I’m lucky that race was my disordered eating rock bottom. After that disappointment, I started eating to win. As with many female athletes, I faced additional…
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Here’s what to pay attention to, especially for young runners. Splits, cadence, power—oh my! With a proliferation of running data available at our fingertips, it’s easy to dive in deep. How fast was my first mile and my last? How does my stride length stack up to last week? How do I rank on that hilly segment? This data may come from a GPS watch, a smartphone tracking app, or other wearable tech—heart rate monitors, shoe pods (or shoes with built-in chips), posture prompts, and power meters. The data is fascinating, really, especially when displayed in colorful graphs or promising…
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Why runners—starting in youth—should schedule peaks, breaks and variety into their running year. Have a new year’s resolution to get faster? Periodization can unlock improvement, and lead to long-term success. Periodization is a fancy way of saying plan your training season and year in phases with different stimuli. It’s based on a loose formula that’s proven successful for many a runner: Stress + Rest = Adaptation. Periodization allows runners to break down, recover, and progress. Read the full article in PodiumRunner.com, January 9, 2020, by Melody Fairchild with Elizabeth Carey
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