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!
Run SMART client Anthony DiAngelus of Odessa, FL was kind enough to let us share his feedback as he gears up for his big debut at Boston:
I wanted to drop you and the Run SMART Project a line to let you know that my quality training workouts are now complete and I am ready to take on my first Boston Marathon in a few short weeks.
As you may recall, I qualified for Boston during my first marathon using your custom plan (Chicago 2015 – 3:21:23 VDOT 47.7). Since then, I have used the plan with adjusted paces and Dr. Daniels’ training philosophy to continuously improve while staying injury free.
Tomica Čudina set an 8-minute PR at the Frankfurt Mainova Half Marathon. His official time was 1:37:00. [Full Results] Afterwards, he thanked his coach Malindi Elmore:
I would like to thank you Malindi for all the support you have given me through out my preparations, with the training program but also with all the advices which were all very useful to me. I look very positively in the future working together with you in making the most form my running, which is my hobby but also much more than that. I love it and I am very grateful that I have the chance to practice such a beautiful sport.
Sara Hofeldt of Suwanee, GA set a 29-second PR at the Chattahoochee 10k this past weekend. She was first masters and 3rd overall female finisher. Her official time was 42:28. [Results]
Sara started working with Run SMART coach Leah Rosenfeld just over two months ago and she’s already making great progress…
“I absolutely love training with Leah! She has really taken the time to get to know me and is extremely motivating, insightful, accessible, friendly, and down to earth. She gets me. Leah is an excellent coach, and I have complete confidence in her ability to bring out my absolute best. I am so excited to see what I can achieve under her expert guidance!” – Sara
Last month Patrick George dropped over 10-minutes off his previous best (3:00:17) at the Richmond Marathon. His official time of 2:49:58 earned him a BQ and 42nd place overall. [Full Results]
Patrick shares how reading Daniels’ Running Formula has transformed his running…
Iris Saar of Siyo Fitness reached her goal of sub-4 hours at the New York City Marathon earlier this month. As you can see Iris hit the books on VDOT so she could truly understand the method to the madness before customizing one of Dr. Daniels’ online training plans. All her diligence and new smarts paid off with a 16-minute new PR! Her official time was 3:52:19. [Full Results]
“Reading the Bible. I’m a Jack Daniels’ girl and my coaching relies a LOT
on his perception of training and exercise physiology. I have PR’d this year myself like a crazy person using the VDOT method.”
