Beat's Last Year's Weather! Patriot's Day Weekend!

Thursday night was a beautiful spring evening (Compared to last year's Patriots Day Storm!). We had a full house for our RTB training group. We have added another RRCA certified coach, Blaine Moore, to assist Michael Gaige, our head coach. With 140 folks signed up and an average of 80 runner's every Thursday night in the group, we need to make sure we have the coaching support in place. Michael has his RRCA coaching certificate pending.

The group is beginning to reap the benefits of the 1st 4 weeks of base work. The beginner's were given the challenge of running 6 min/2 min (run/walk) for 40 minutes and some decided they were ready to run the entire way. This is the time when you see the beginner's confidence level zoom. When they begin to realize that they can actually complete their workout with a full run. The next phase of strength training will send their confidence even higher.

Greg Knapton, Director of Riverview Physical Therapy, finished up the night with post run stretching and using the "Foam Roller" to help recover and work sore muscles, especially, the calves, hamstrings and IT band.

Marathon and racing season sees an increase in folks purchasing racing or lightweight trainer/racers. Most training shoes have a heel to toe centerline thickness of 24mm (Heel) to 12mm (forefoot). Lightweight trainers will usually have a 22mm to 11mm thickness to reduce weight and provide more of a road feel, such as the Asics DS Trainer and Speedster and Nike Zoom Skylon and Elite. Remember, keep in mind to purchase these lightweight trainers in the same category of stability and neutral as your everyday training shoes.

The Portland Press Herald, Boston Globe and Boston Herald all had great articles on Joan Benoit Samuelson, Emily LeVan and the rest of the Maine Women U.S. Marathon Trial Qualifiers. Sunday's race starts at 8am and NBC will be streaming it live. For more information go to www.bostontrials2008.com. Monday will mark the 112th running of the Boston Marathon (www.bostonmarathon.org). Good Luck to all the runner's.

Not going to Boston on Monday? Run a Portland Tradition, the 79th Annual Boy's & Girls Club Patriot's Day 5-Mile Road Race, begins at 12noon on Cumberland Avenue. Go to: www.bgcmaine.org/PatriotsRace08 for more information.

Have a great Patriot's Day weekend and remember....Run Happy!