Dave Poggi of Toronto, Ontario set a new PR at the Berlin Marathon. His official time of 2:53:54 was just over a 2-minute improvement and only 1-minute off his plan projected time. According to his Garmin data on VDOT O2 Dave’s final 5k was his fastest with most of his fastest splits all coming in the last 5km! [Full Results]
Lillian Park just picked up a big confidence boost while she prepares for the Cal International Marathon in December. This past weekend she set a new personal best at the Wineglass Half Marathon and achieved a goal she’s been shooting for the past two years. Not only was Lillian all smiles after the race her coach, Leah Rosenfeld, was stoked too, “Lillian just ran a 3-minute PR in the half marathon! Her PR when she started with me 5-months ago was 1:46:36 and her short-term goal was to break 1:45:xx… today she ran 1:43:31!!!!”
Kris Frederick of Madison, WI has been training hard under the guidance of Run SMART coach Janet Bawcom since this past June. We’re excited to report big progress and a new PR at the Wineglass Marathon. Kris also achieved a BQ and improved his personal best by 13-minutes with an official time of 3:18:33. [Full Results]
Thomas Hampton has been on a roll customizing our 5k plans from Dr. Jack Daniels. He shares a testimonial:
Karen Tennant ran her fastest 5k ever working with Run SMART coach Nikki Reiter. Her official time was 27:08, 2.5 minutes faster than her previous best set almost 4-years ago!
I am SO happy I reached out to The Run SMART Project for training! I am enjoying the training very much – even the tough runs! I feel stronger and fitter and healthier – and it such a positive lifestyle change for me.
You are changing lives young lady!!
Travis Watts got the win, a new PR and another BQ at the Spring Chance BQ.2 this past spring. This was also his first time under 3-hours. Not a bad day! His official time was 2:57:27. [Full Results]
We’re thankful for his positive feedback and want to note that his shorter recovery is not just due to a solid training plan, but also smart race day execution (pacing and fueling).
We always say getting to run Boston is about celebrating being there first, and if you PR that’s an added bonus since conditions can be challenging. This year was no exception with warmer temps and lots of sun exposure so it’s a pleasure to read about Steve Orellana’s experience. Not only did he PR by almost 9-minutes he ran a negative split (1:25:24 at the half)!
I would like to say a HUGE thank you to Coach Daniels and the Run SMART Project team for providing such an effective Boston Marathon training program for me. I was able to run a 2:49:57 in my Boston debut, which was very close to the prediction you guys had for me. – Steve
Thomas Hampton has an all-time PR of 14:22 (73.16 VDOT) set back in 1985. 32 years later he reports a new milestone after following one of our custom training plans:
“Well, I reached another milestone using your training program – breaking my “over 50″ PR by running under 20 min for a 5k for the first time since college!”
On April 22nd at the Shade Tree Tot 5k he ran 19:23, closing in 6:19 for his last mile. What’s next for this 52-year-old from Franklin, TN:
“My goal is to break the 19 min barrier this summer over the next 3 months.”
One of the big reasons we started The Run SMART Project was to develop a coaching staff that could provide a unique perspective and guidance to young distance athletes. Many of our coaches are former high school standouts who went on to compete at a high level in college and then professionally. In hindsight, we can offer young athletes so much and help them get to the next level.
Neil Braganza of San Ramon, CA, pictured here kicking to a new 3200m PR in 9:15.72 at the Arcadia Invite, has been working with Run SMART coach Malindi Elmore since the fall of 2014. When he signed up for coaching he had run 4:22 for 1600m and 9:48 for 3200m. Since then he’s made significant progress and is now headed to Yale in the fall!
Joe Swift of Fairfield, CT turns 40 in a few months but he’s refusing to accept the idea that you need to create new “Masters PRs” due to the impending slowdown as his body ages. This winter we customized a 15-week training plan to help him run as fast as possible and he refused to miss a beat, even doing Threshold miles by himself at 5 a.m. in the dark before work!
