“I Appreciate Run SMART Is For Runners Of All Levels”

Run SMART client Casey Kovacic is on a mission to break 30 minutes for 5k. She works with coach Alicia Shay. Recently she wrote us about her progress…

I appreciate that The Run SMART Project is for runners at all levels and even we slower runners can show great improvement. I so enjoy working with Alicia and the hard work is paying off! It’s such a fun journey – I am trying to get under 30 minutes in a 5K. Before I started working with Alicia, I wasn’t sure it was possible, but I feel like it’s going to happen this summer!

Her hard work is paying off indeed. Last month she dropped over 2 minutes off her 2-mile time finishing the Bunker Hills 2 Mile Run in 19:43. [Full results] And at the Trail Mixx 50K Team competition in Bloomington, MN she ran 9 minutes faster for her 12.5K split than two years earlier, finishing in 1:41:04.

May 21, 2012 /  

Alyssa Vogt Places Third At Illinois Elementary State Champs

Run SMART client Alyssa Vogt, an 8th grade student at Frankfort Hickory Creek, placed third in the 800M at the IESA Track and Field Championships this past weekend. Her official time was 2:28.72. [Full results]

We should also note the week prior Alyssa set a new school record in the 1600M. She broke the current record of 5:43 with a time of 5:34.8! Congratulations Alyssa and good luck in high school next year!

Alyssa works with Run SMART coach Alicia Shay.

May 21, 2012 /  

New PRs At Brooklyn Half Marathon

Run SMART clients Charlie Hartel and Rob DeLong set new PRs at the Brooklyn Half Marathon yesterday morning.

Hartel cruised to a new 4-minute PR marking the first time he’s ever dipped under 1:30. His official time was 1:29:13 (6:49 per mile). [Charlie’s Results] When Charlie signed up for coaching about 2.5 years ago his PR for a half was 1:44. In his best 10k at that point he averaged 7:36 per mile to give you an idea of what a huge transformation he’s made while working with Run SMART coach Vince Sherry.

This was Rob DeLong’s second half marathon ever. He finished in 1:50:43 just reaching his goal of 1:50:59 which gets him into one of the seeded corrals at the Chicago Marathon later this fall. [Rob’s Results] This was just over a six minute PR for Rob in less than two months since his last half and his 6th personal best since signing up for coaching in February. Rob works with Run SMART coach Brian Rosetti.

May 20, 2012 /  

Lisa Menninger Drops Over 5 Minutes Off Broad St Best

Run SMART client Lisa Menninger finished this year’s Broad Street Run in 1:25:17. [Results] While bobbing and weaving her way through 30,000 plus runners Lisa still managed to take 5 minutes and 30 seconds off her time from last year! This puts her right on track to reach her goals at the Twin Cities Marathon in the fall.

Lisa works with Run SMART coach Vince Sherry.

May 18, 2012 /  

Peter Kosgei Runs 1:07 In First Half Marathon

Jack Daniels Training Plan customer Peter Kosgei won the Bridge Run Half Marathon in Binghamton, NY last weekend. Peter finished in 1:07:52, almost 3 minutes ahead of the second place competitor! [Full Results] After the race Peter said, “It was my first half-marathon, so I had never done anything more than 9.3 miles. It was good.” Full story at pressconnects.

Not only was it impressive that he ran this fast by himself in his first half marathon ever, Peter did this while following one of Jack’s 5k plans. Who knows what he could have run with a little half marathon specific work and some competition?

May 17, 2012 /  1

High School Summer XC Training

High School Cross Country Season Of A Lifetime

Take your running to a new level this fall and shock your high school team. Follow a summer XC training program from the “World’s Greatest Coach,” Dr. Jack Daniels.

The Run SMART Project offers Summer Cross Country Training Plans for high school athletes of all levels, designed by legendary coach Dr. Jack Daniels. Plans are 8-weeks long and cost $45. All plans are customizable and personalized based on the athlete’s running background and goals.

May 17, 2012 /  

Ann Alyanak On How She Coaches First-Time Marathon Runners

Another Run SMART coach comes out against the “magic 20 and 22 milers” for beginner marathoners. We all know Jack is very adamant about his 2:30 hour cap on long runs for beginners and we pretty much rest our case there but in an interview with Run SMART Media, Ann Alyanak says “20 and 22 mile long runs are not necessary” for a first-time marathon runner looking to finish the race.

RS:  When you get a client who wants to run a marathon but has never run a race before what do you tell them?

ANN:  I would not discourage a client from running a marathon even if they have not raced before but I would encourage them to run some shorter races first like a 5k and 10k and maybe even a half marathon. I would want them just to experience a race environment before jumping right into a marathon.

May 16, 2012 /  

Hayley Long Sets New 5k PR

Jack Daniels Training Plan customer Hayley Long set another PR at the Physicians Who Care 5K in Gadsden, AL. Hayley finished 8th overall in 20:34. [Results] This is Hayley’s third training plan and third PR since signing up for Run SMART coaching!

After the race Hayley said, “This was the first race in a while that a female elite runner participated, along with another woman that has been running in the 19’s…they pushed me and I got a PR – 20:34 – shock. Getting 3rd overall is the best win with a PR!  19’s seem so possible!”

May 16, 2012 /  

Heidi Peoples Wins St. Luke’s Half Marathon

Run SMART coach Heidi Peoples won the St. Luke’s Half Marathon in Allentown, PA! Heidi finished almost 3 minutes ahead of the next female runner and was 15th overall out of a record 3,217 runners. Her official time was in 1:17:47. [Results] Not bad considering she gave birth about 6-months ago!!!

Lehigh Valley Running Scene was reporting from the race…

Peoples, coming off the birth of a daughter sixth months ago, had a 30-second lead over Jobes after three miles and kept building it throughout the race.

May 15, 2012 /  

Tish Pace Sets New 5k And Half Marathon PRs

Jack Daniels Training Plan customer Tish Pace (pictured above, right) signed up for an 18-week marathon schedule geared towards the Grandma’s Marathon in June. Since then she has set new PRs for 5k and the half marathon. In the 5k she set a 38-second PR finishing in 20:42. And at the St. Jude Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville she set a 2-minute PR and finished in 1:38:17. [Results]

May 14, 2012 /