Chill Track Friday

Part I: Tools of Training with John Honerkamp

John Honerkamp, Founder and President of Run Kamp, LLC is a rare blend of running talent, creativity, entrepreneurial vision, drive, and resources. The result is that John regularly helps hundreds of thousands of people incorporate running into their daily lives. Recognizing needs within the running community, John draws from his experience, and his ability to see where he can contribute, to collaboratively build systems, programs, and communities. John is a doer. He is innovative, supportive, positive, and oh so funny! The running community is bigger and more inclusive and fun with Honerkamp at the helm.

PART I:
In this fascinating discussion, John describes the technical side of his role in developing a training product geared towards the everyday runner. John’s flair is apparent, as well as his vision and priorities.

Building A Competitive Edge: A Conversation with Luis Porto

Luis Porto is a dynamic powerhouse. He is humble, dignified, courageous and a sportsman of the highest caliber. He is a tenacious and determined competitor who, through each race and every new goal, continues to build his competitive edge. An aspiring 200m sprinter at the age of 8, Luis eventually found his groove in the mile. Over the course of many years he has patiently tested the limits of his endurance, speed, and strength, finding ever more room to expand. Listen to Luis explain race strategy, what goes through his mind in the last throes of a track 5K, and how he runs with unwavering commitment to squeeze every last second out of himself. This is a story that will no doubt inspire hidden seconds in anyone who listens.

Passion Always Wins: A Conversation with Barbara Mann

Dr. Barbara Mann is an inspiration. She is a dedicated mother of twin girls, a doctor at a renowned hospital in New York City, and an athlete at the top of her game: Barbara regularly age places in New York Road Runner races; she is a pace leader at large city races, all the while pursuing her own aggressive running goals. Barbara began running at a young age. She was subsequently dissuaded from her passion, only to naturally return to it as a solace from the stresses of life. Barbara’s story illustrates how we cannot be kept from what we love, the importance of believing in ourselves, and that often, a seeming detour can set us on a path of self-discovery that is free from the confines of expectations, and which ultimately leads us right back to our own start.

Part II - It’s Good to Dream Big - A Conversation with Ken Rolston & Ernie Rivas

THE SCENE: The Bronx, 1970s

THE STORY: Two champion runners, one with the soul of a miler, the other with gold-medal Olympic marathon dreams. Ken Rolston and Ernie Rivas ran in the same circles but for many years their paths did not cross. Finally they met through a mutual friend who was also the captain of the Lehman College cross country team. Their mutual admiration and competitive natures ignited a friendly rivalry that pushed the other to greater achievements. This is the story of competitive racing during a bygone era. It is also the story of a lifelong friendship born from a mutual love of running and a drive to dream big!

Part II
This is a lovely, inspiring, entertaining, and incredibly funny recounting of Ken and Ernie both breaking 2:30 at the 1975 Boston Marathon… but not necessarily together!

Part I - It’s Good to Dream Big - A Conversation with Ken Rolston & Ernie Rivas

THE SCENE: The Bronx, 1970s

THE STORY: Two champion runners, one with the soul of a miler, the other with gold-medal Olympic marathon dreams. Ken Rolston and Ernie Rivas ran in the same circles but for many years their paths did not cross. Finally they met through a mutual friend who was also the captain of the Lehman College cross country team. Their mutual admiration and competitive natures ignited a friendly rivalry that pushed the other to greater achievements. This is the story of competitive racing during a bygone era. It is also the story of a lifelong friendship born from a mutual love of running and a drive to dream big!

PART I:
Ken Rolston was inducted into the Lehman College Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame in 1999. He holds the college record for the mile with a time of 4:21. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Ken’s first competitive race took place at the track in Van Cortlandt Park. Little did he know that he would return to Van Cortlandt to coach the Van Cortlandt Track Club for twenty years. Ken’s personal record in the marathon is 2:26:50. Ernie Rivas was inducted into the Lehman College Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2003. Ernie has run fifteen sub-2:30 marathons and 15 marathons between 2:30 and 2:37. His personal best in the marathon is 2:21:16. Ernie currently coaches competitive and elite runners.

This is a captivating story of two accomplished runners who have taken different training approaches to reach the pinnacle of their running careers. 

"Empowerment Through Running:" A Conversation with Cat Fitzgerald, PT, DPT, CSCS at Custom Performance

Athletes are naturally inclined to focus on performance goals. We balance training with recovery in pursuit of the best possible race performance, sometimes coming up against, or even crossing the fine line between peak fitness and over-training. Perhaps a more sustainable approach for long-term success lies in directing additional attention to injury prevention in the name of performance. After all, we cannot perform to our highest ability if we are injured. In this episode we speak with Cat Fitzgerald, PT, DPT, CSCS, Senior Physical Therapist and Running Consultant at Custom Performance in New York City about running, running-related injuries, physical therapy, injury prevention, and performance. Cat, along with the other therapists and the athletic trainer at Custom Performance, believes in achievement, and fostering others’ achievements. A therapeutic philosophy that all people have the opportunity to experience self-transformation through running informs the excellent care provided at Custom Performance. Patients arrive at Custom for various reasons and are welcomed by a team of professionals available to support them well beyond the lifespan of an injury. This is an informative and enlightening conversation about physical therapy and also the special approach taken at Custom Performance.  Cat is a skilled therapist, a delightful person, and a runner herself. Cat knows her stuff and she shares it with Chill Track Friday.

'Keep Yourself in Check'. A Conversation with Coach Mitchell Thornton

What is it like to coach the cross country / track and field program at an NCAA Division 1 college? How does a coach guide multiple high-level athletes, all with different training backgrounds, goals, and notions of what they would like to accomplish? Mitchell Thornton navigates this landscape with authority and pragmatism. Sifting through much experience, and employing the powers of observation and intellect, Mitchell is an insightful coach, mentor and role model for those he instructs. This is also a story of Mitchell’s journey and how helping others find their way is helping him home in on his own career trajectory. This is a practical episode filled with logical advice from someone who knows what works.

'Getting It Done' with George Mendes

George Mendes is a determined and compassionate individual. He is a humble perfectionist who does what it takes to “get it done!” George is not swayed by challenges and, in fact, he rises to meet them with creativity and quick thinking. George is the Chef and owner of Aldea Restaurant in New York City. George puts his heart and his soul into his craft and it is abundantly clear; Aldea has been awarded a Michelin Star every year since 2011! This "all-in" approach is also evident in George’s running practice. In the four years since George started racing marathons, he has sliced over 40 minutes off of his finish time, achieving a personal best at the 2018 New York City Marathon of 3:37:26. It cannot go without saying that before this personal best, George achieved a 12-minute personal best of 3:43:42 at the 2018 Boston Marathon during historically cold, windy, and torrential weather. George also negative-split this race! George’s story is one of determination, perseverance, commitment and an innate calling to help others. George uses all of his skills in the kitchen, and those on the road, to give back to the world. This is a beautiful, deep-dive into George’s chef experience and how he applies the same outlook and skills to road-racing. "Bom appetite!"

GOOD LUCK to everyone racing the Boston Marathon on Monday. Listen and allow George to help you ascend Heartbreak Hill.

Trust the Process to Unlock Your Potential. A Conversation with Ben Delaney

How does one craft the elements that will allow the greatest chance for success? In this episode Ben Delaney shares his experience answering the questions he asks himself as he continues to pursue his potential in running. For Ben, trusting the process, fixing what doesn’t work, perfecting a running “recipe,” and sharing his experience with others are the factors that have unlocked the door to a new and powerful performance level. Ben’s is an inspiring journey of working hard over many years to figure out how to get the most out of himself.  Ben is also a talented baker. Listen as he describes the similar approach he takes to a recipe in the kitchen as he does to a training plan. Ben is a creative thinker and runner. (And when he bakes we are all happy).

Part II - Putting the "Track" in Chill Track Friday. A Conversation with Stuart Calderwood

In this two-part episode we interview Stuart Calderwood about track racing and about coaching runners. Stuart has coached runners since his freshman year in high school. During his 11 years as a head cross-country coach in California, his Laguna Beach High School boys’ team won the 1989 State Championship and his Orange Coast College men’s team won the 1988 South Conference championship. In 2003 Stuart won the age 45-49 bronze medal at the World Masters Championship marathon. In 2009 he set the American age 50-54 track records at 25K and 30K. He is a 2:28:05 marathoner and a 1:10:07 half-marathoner.

PART II: In the second segment of our conversation, Stuart discusses typical training issues that a running coach may encounter and how he handles them. Through decades of experience, Stuart has developed a creative, collaborative, and highly individualistic coaching method. This episode is filled with valuable insight as well as some very entertaining stories about a few of his own impressive race experiences.

Part I - Putting the "Track" in Chill Track Friday. A Conversation with Stuart Calderwood

In this two-part episode we interview Stuart Calderwood about track racing and coaching runners. Stuart has been a coach for over forty years. During his 11 years as a head cross-country coach in California, his Laguna Beach High School boys’ team won the 1989 State Championship and his Orange Coast College men’s team won the 1988 South Conference championship. In 2003 Stuart won the age 45-49 bronze medal at the World Masters Championship marathon. In 2009 he set the American age 50-54 track records at 25K and 30K. He is a 2:28:05 marathoner and a 1:10:07 half-marathoner.

PART I: Stuart is a true connoisseur of track and field and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport is inspiring. Part I of this double-episode is a delightful conversation with Stuart about track and field today and the direction in which the sport may head. Stuart has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the discipline and a computer-like ability to remember race results, both those of professional runners, and those of the hundreds of athletes with whom he works today. Whether or not you are schooled in track racing, Stuart's appreciation for the technique and principles involved in every race distance, combined with his outside-the-box way of thinking, allows him to articulate the subtle nuances of racing to runners at every level. This episode is for everyone.

Setting Big Goals. A Conversation with Laura Rodriguez

Laura Rodriguez runs with a strength and a determination that is unstoppable, fiercely passionate, and incredibly inspiring. Laura is motivated by a love of the sport, yet this is just the beginning. Laura has a huge heart and she bravely allows it to lead the way in her training and her racing. Listen as she describes transforming from a smoker to a sub-elite marathoner. This is a marvelous and entertaining account of setting big goals and believing in yourself.

Part II: Engaging through Running. A Conversation with Gordon Bakoulis

In this two-part episode we interview Gordon Bakoulis. Gordon is an athletic force who has dominated the running world since she began racing competitively in the 1980s. To this day she races with purpose, fierce talent, and a pure love of the sport. This is an inspiring story of accountability, nurturing a talent, and courage to gracefully follow the road that it paves. From a 3:40:03 first-time marathoner to a five-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Gordon offers us an intimate and beautifully told narrative of her compelling journey - in running and in life.

In this second segment of our interview, Gordon Bakoulis articulates how she applies everything she learned as a champion road racer to now coaching other athletes. Gordon discusses what it’s like to mature in a field for which she retains the same amount of passion, dedication and talent. Though not aiming for the Olympic Trials, Gordon continues to dominate; she maintains age-graded times and age-graded percentiles that surpass the current Open champions. This is a thoughtful and humorous reflection on the continuity of a lifelong love of athletics, the pursuit of excellence, and the importance of balancing goals.

Part I: Engaging Through Running. A Conversation with Gordon Bakoulis

In this two-part episode we interview Gordon Bakoulis. Gordon is an athletic force who has dominated the running world since she began racing competitively in the 1980s. To this day she races with purpose, fierce talent, and a pure love of the sport. This is an inspiring story of accountability, nurturing a talent, and courage to gracefully follow the road that it paves. From a 3:40:03 first-time marathoner to a five-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Gordon offers us an intimate and beautifully told narrative of her compelling journey - in running and in life.

PART I: Gordon Bakoulis shares about her early childhood and how a winter of running around the neighborhood with a friend uncovered a talent and a passion for running. Gordon continues, sharing how she found ways to nurture her talent and how she stepped into the competitive running landscape.

In Running There Are No Quick Fixes. A Conversation with Rosemary Dooley

Somewhere in the mind of any athlete is the question, “did I just run my fastest race? Is this the top of the mountain for me?” Progress is not linear, nor is it guaranteed at the moment we want it, yet we are told to be steadfast, that consistency and patience will reap rewards we never thought possible. Though we hear this repeatedly, it is challenging to truly trust that we will not be the exception and that this promise will, in fact hold true for us, too. Rosemary’s story exemplifies the power of applying consistency and patience to a running practice over the long-term.

Injured: From Marathon Training Plan to Marathon Cross-Training Plan

A tibial stress fracture diagnoses at the outset of marathon training didn’t stop Ali from running a 3:15 at the Berlin Marathon, 2018. Listen as Ali explains his training cycle, from how he translated a marathon training plan into a marathon cross-training plan, to devising a race strategy that would fully honor his journey. This is an incredible story of persistence, patience, creativity, and determination in the face of an injury setback. 

Inspiration is Contagious. A Conversation with Jim Mutton

Jim knew something needed to change when he stood on the sidelines, a sedentary 41-year old, watching his 70-year old father run past him in the Vienna Marathon in 2009. Inspired by his father’s post-retirement lifestyle changes, Jim and his brother, Tom vowed right then and there to run a marathon with their father within a year. Listen as Jim describes his journey from Northampton, England to New York City at the age of 22 with nothing but a suitcase and a calling. Mentor, motivator, coach at heart, Jim spends his life helping at risk populations in New York while simultaneously and subtly inspiring his friends to share in the joys and health benefits found in the transformative power of running.

 

 

Training for and Running the Boston Marathon with Ann Restak

How do you train for a race that you’ve set your sights on, quite possibly for years and which is notoriously challenging due to its elevation variations? In this episode, Ann Restak discusses her training cycle for the 2018 Boston Marathon, offering tips and suggestions. Nothing, however, could have prepared her, or any runner, for the weather conditions in Boston on April 16, 2018. Listen as our co-host, Ann describes what it was like to race in historically cold, wet and windy weather, while setting a marathon personal best finish time at the 122^nd running of the Boston Marathon.

Part II: Pro Turned Recreational Athlete with Roberto Mandje

In Part II of this two-part episode, Roberto Mandje discusses the circumstances surrounding his decision to retire from professional running and the joys born from this decision. This segment contains countless training tips for athletes of all levels.

Part I: Pro Turned Recreational Athlete with Roberto Mandje

In Part I of this two-part episode, Roberto Mandje describes his journey from 4:58 miler in the 8th grade to representing Equatorial Guinea in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. This is a thoughtful reflection on lessons learned during more than a decade of professional running.