Oklahoma City Gym Just for Runners

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*Courtesy of OKGazette.com Photo courtesy of Higher Ground

The Zach Morton logged hundreds of miles of runs while deployed more than 7,000 miles away from home when the idea for a business based on his love for running began.

“I wasn’t going to be good enough to compete, and I didn’t want to sell shoes,” he said. “So me and my buddy just kept saying, ‘What could we do?’”

While in Iraq with the U.S. Navy SEAL team, Morton ran 660 miles over a six-month period and he and his friend developed the concept of a gym just for runners.

For Runners, By Runners

Higher Ground Running, Oklahoma City’s first running gym that caters to beginner runners and serious athletes focused on shaving seconds off their best times, is the fruition of more than a decade of dreaming.

The gym opened in October at 9644 N. May Ave. Morton and his team of fellow running enthusiasts, which includes past winners of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, NCAA athletes and coaches, spent more than a year preparing to open the business. Morton and his family moved here after more than 15 years away specifically to focus on the gym. Morton and his team visited similar running facilities in New York and California. They networked via friends and through social media, offering free introductory classes to get their name and concept out into the running community.

Unlike all-purpose gyms, Higher Ground is built for runners. The facility features an outdoor track, a weight room and Woodway 4Front treadmills, which Morton described as “the Bentley of treadmills.”

“If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right,” Morton said, explaining that the high-end treadmills have flat surfaces that minimize accidents caused by fast-moving belts and closely mimic outdoor trail running.

Much like a spin class helps cyclists train and stay engaged with upbeat music, varying intensities and intervals, Higher Ground’s running group exercise classes are more intense and entertaining than a row of runners robotically jogging on treadmills. Some classes, such as The Hills, offer extreme resistance variations much like a run up and down hills while The Flatlands is less intense. Each participant runs at a pace set by the coaches and based on their level and goals.

Making Goals Happen

“The classes are a lot of fun, but they put the hurt on you,” said Shar El-Assi, who joined the gym when it opened after attending introductory running classes with the group at Bishop McGuinness High School’s track.

“The reason why I chose them is that they show they really care about you and your results. They individualized a plan for me. They motivate you. They actually want you to get better.”

El-Assi, a 45-year-old mental health care worker, ran track at his small high school in western Oklahoma and was part of the cross-country team at Oklahoma State University. In the last two years, he started running again to lose weight.

When he trained on his own, he lost 42 pounds and finished the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in 4 hours and 38 minutes. After taking speed classes at Higher Ground, he shaved 44 minutes off his time. At this year’s marathon in April, he hopes to finish in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

“I think I’ll get there with them,” he said. “I think that anybody who tells you that they love running — they’re lying to you. I don’t like running; I like how I feel when I’m done.”

Other runners at Higher Ground are also improving — two have cut their times down to qualify for The Boston Marathon. Morton said he’s also reaching his goal and helping other runners get better.

The gym offers monthly memberships starting at $100, drop-in classes, personal coaching and marathon and half-marathon training.

7 Training Fixes to Help You Get Faster

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*Courtesy of Competitor.com Photo courtesy of Pexels

It’s one thing to have big plans for the coming year. It’s another to put those into immediate action and give yourself a leg up on your spring fitness during the fall and winter. You know you need to follow a training schedule, set goals and assess at the end of the year. But those things all take time before you’ll see improvements. So what can you do right now to get faster? “There are probably 30 things I could tell you that are actionable right now,” says Jason Fitzgerald, a Denver-based USATF-certified coach and author of 101 Simple Ways to Be a Better Runner. Thirty is a lot. Let’s start with just seven, with cues from Fitzgerald and longtime Chicago-based running coach Jenny Hadfield.

1. Mix up the effort.

One of the easiest ways for most runners to get faster is to simply “get away from the plain Jane training plan,” Hadfield says. Instead of just running the same pace all the time, vary the intensity and distances. Do one workout per week that’s high-intensity—whether that’s on the track, treadmill or hills—and do one workout each week that’s more of a tempo effort. “It’s amazing how much people improve in just two to four weeks,” says Hadfield, by just adding pace variety into their routine.

2. Mix up everything else too.

It’s not just your pace that needs a little more pizzazz. Variety is the spice of running. Regularly run in different types of shoes, rotating through two to three pairs, Fitzgerald says. This subtly changes the stress on muscles and tendons in your lower leg, which reduces the risk of injury. That’s also true for running on different surfaces: dirt, grass, bike path, asphalt. By varying the type of work you’re doing—and, yes, also different kinds of cross-training—you’ll improve your functional strength and overall biomechanics.

3. Add 10–15 minutes of core.

You know you should be doing strength work. But it can be hard to make it to a gym. Instead, just add 10–15 minutes of an assortment of plank exercises after your run a few times each week. Fitzgerald has his runners do a routine that includes planks, side planks, planks where you pick up one arm then the other, then planks where you pick up one leg then the other, pushups, and a plank position where you bring your knee up to your opposite elbow. Add simple core exercises after your run and it’ll actually get done. The winter is also an ideal time to try different kinds of workouts, Hadfield says, like yoga, strength classes or cross-country skiing.

4. Run more.

Sometimes getting faster at running is as simple as just running more. Fitzgerald says he’s often surprised how many runners aren’t doing a proper long run. Either they’re cutting it short to be social or they’re just running a couple miles longer than their other runs. He’s also found that a lot of runners are only running 15–20 miles a week. That’s fine, but “if you’re stuck in a rut and your volume’s been the same for a long time, then gradually increasing your mileage can see big improvements,” Fitzgerald says. The key is to increase the mileage gradually and then level off once you hit your new appropriate amount—say 30–40 miles per week, depending on what other training you do and your injury history.

5. Stop the static before a run.

Fitzgerald also gets rid of any static stretching his runners are doing before their runs. Plenty of studies have now shown pre-workout static stretching—i.e., touching your toes or sitting on the ground with your legs in front of you—is not helping and might be actually hurting you, as it increases the chance of injury. Instead, do a dynamic warm-up routine. This is especially helpful when it’s cold outside. That could mean some easy movement or jogging, followed by dynamic stretches like leg swings or lunges or air squats. In the winter, Fitzgerald will even have his runners do all this inside before heading out.

6. Do strides.

Add to the list of ways to mix it up: running strides at the end of your workouts. “Too many runners are not doing strides,” Fitzgerald says. Running four to six strides of about 75–100 meters each helps develop proper form, and improves leg speed and turnover, he says. Aim to do this at least once per week, though Fitzgerald prefers his runners do strides two or three times each week. Over approximately 75–100 meters, gradually build up to 90–95 percent of your max speed, hold that effort for 10–15 meters, and then coast to a stop. Rest or jog for about one minute, and then repeat.

7. Forget about pace.

It sounds like wisdom from Mr. Miyagi: To go faster, stop trying to go faster. But sometimes that’s exactly what runners need, Hadfield says. “We’re all addicted to our apps and GPS.” When we become slaves to our devices, we forget to run according to how we feel. On a hot and humid day, your pace might be significantly slower for the same effort, she says. By forcing her runners to run based on heart rate, perceived effort and feel, they learn how that relates to pace. Leaving the GPS device behind sometimes allows you to go as easy as you should on easy days—which keeps you ready to go as hard as you should on hard days.

Join an Oklahoma Running Group

Running with a club, group, or just your best friend can have immeasurable benefits like keeping you motivated, providing accountability, help improve speed and keep you safe. Or if you’re just looking for a way to get started a club can be a great way to demystify running, training, and racing. Whatever your reason, check out a local running club near you.

Clubs:

Alva Running Club
Enid Running Club
OKC Landrunners
RunHers
RunLawton
Tonkawa Running Club
Tulsa Running Club

Often times running stores will host training groups or just weekly fun runs and those can be a great way to meet new running friends. Check out the websites for these Oklahoma running stores to more information about specific training groups.

Running Stores:

Ada

The Runner
100 S. Mississippi Ave.
Ada, OK 74820 Map
580-436-2828

Edmond

OK Runner
3209 S. Broadway
Edmond, OK 73013 Map
405-285-1455

Norman

OK Runner
3720 W. Robinson St.
Norman, OK 73072 Map
405-447-8445

Oklahoma City

Red Coyote Running and Fitness
5720 N. Classen Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Map
405-840-0033

 

Tulsa

Fleet Feet Sports
6022 S. Yale Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74135 Map
918-492-3338

Tulsa Runner
9708 S. Riverside Pkwy
Tulsa, OK 74137 Map
918-494-8800

Runner’s World Tulsa
4329 S. Peoria St.
Tulsa, OK 74103 Map
918-749-7557

Runner Like You – Clint Owens

The Runner Like You series is back! It’s been a while since the last spotlight (the struggle bus has been making frequent stops to my house lately). Is there any better way to bring the series back than with a person who has been on top of their running game lately? I think not.

Late in 2015, the Runner Like You series was created as a way to spotlight everyday Oklahomans who are doing amazing things like running in numerous races or simply remaining dedicated and showing up to daily workouts. The purpose of the Runner Like You series, as well as this blog, is always to encourage each level of fitness and running and to remove some of the intimidation out of the sport by showing that runners are every day people finding a way to fit running into their lives. This month’s Runner Like You, Clint Owens, is no different.

 

I first “met” Clint through his Instagram feed. The man is ALWAYS racing. Seriously, he is at pretty much every single race in Oklahoma City.

Every.

Single.

One.

So if you see him at a race (and you likely will), say “hi”. Clint and I were often at some of the same races so I liked to read what he had to say about each race. Beyond the races though, I was inspired by his dedication to training captured in his Instagram feed.  The interesting thing that really caught my eye was when Clint began wearing a Training Mask. If someone is willing to wear an odd looking mask  in an effort to intensify training, that definitely deserves a spotlight and I desperately wanted to ask questions about the mask.

Without further ado, take a minute to learn more about Clint, a Runner Like You.
Q: When did you start running?

A: I always loved to run ever since I was a kid. My favorite event in grade school was the 600 yard dash (Not sure if they even do that anymore, I am old!). From there, probably my college years I was the most consistent, running 6 miles per day during the week. I didn’t actually participate in my first race until the 2009 Redbud Classic and decided to run the OKCMM half marathon that same year.

Q: Do you remember the first moment you “felt like a runner”?

A: Probably the first time I felt like a runner was after joining the Landrunners. The marathon training plans along with participating in the series races really helped keep me accountable and improved my running tremendously. It is a great group of people. Very inspiring to get up early on a Saturday morning to attend a training run and there be 300+ other crazy people ready to go.

Q: Which is your favorite race distance and why?

A: I enjoy the half marathon the best. My legs and lungs usually don’t get to cooking until mile 6 or 7 and I am able to push a lower pace toward the end and finish strong, provided that I am running injury free.

Q: Do you have a dream race?

A: I have yet to do a true trail race. I would like to someday do a 50K destination trail run, preferably in the mountains of Colorado.

Q: You’ve started to train with a Training Mask. How is your performance benefiting from wearing the Training Mask?

A: The training mask is awesome. After battling plantar fasciitis for over a year, I changed my training up in order to reduce injury. This included reducing quantity of miles with more quality miles and increasing my cross-training. Using the mask has enabled me to shorten my workouts and strengthen my lungs at the same time. I am already running at pre-injury pace and getting faster each week.

Now time for the Lightening Round:

  • Galen Rupp or Meb?   Meb
  • Recovery drink of choice?   Water and 1st Phorm Phormula 1 and Ignition
  • Boston or NYC?   NYC

When Training Doesn’t Go as Planned – 2016 Spring Race Training

Spring Race Training – Week Four

So, yeah my spring race training isn’t going so well. I’ve registered for two half marathons this spring and  I’m four weeks into my training but it hasn’t been going well.

longrunsaturday2

 

  1. Injury – After incorporating body weight exercises (yoga and pilates) into my training plan and trying a new brand of running shoes, a nagging pain in the ball of my foot and arch has develop. I’ve been having trouble running. and even walking without pain. It feels like my foot is splitting in two. These nagging, soft tissue injuries can be difficult because it’s not always easy to know what caused it, what the exact issue is, or how to treat it. But I’m sticking to the normal routine of icing, massaging, taping, and repeating it daily. But ultimately my mileage has suffered from not being able to run as many miles as I normally would due to pain and just trying to rest and heal my foot.
  2. Poor nutrition – I’ve allowed myself to get off track with my nutrition. I began to slip off the wagon back around the holidays, and New Years. I would indulge and tell myself that once the New Year started I would cut out the junk food I’d been eating. But then it was my anniversary and we had to celebrate with an indulgent dinner and dessert. Then it was a long run and I deserved a big breakfast, then it became a convenient option to just grab a quick bite for dinner. Because I’ve been eating a lot of junk food lately, I’ve noticed a lack of energy during my runs. I feel sluggish and my joints feel stiff and swollen.
  3. Schedule – I’m not sure if it’s the cross training that I’ve chosen for this round of training, if it’s the cold weather, or that my running routes are routine and boring but I haven’t been able to stick to my training plan very well. Probably another part of the issue is that there has been a major change to my work schedule and I’m just trying to find the rhythm of my new routine and just haven’t gotten there yet.

Things aren’t really working out the way I had planned. But that doesn’t mean my spring race season is going to be a wash. I’m really not yet ready to give up on the pace goals I have for the spring. So instead of giving up I’m going to give a plan/schedule mix up a try.  My goals are important to me and I’ve come a long way over the past two years. The song on repeat in my head is Otis Redding’s “Dreams to Remember”.  I know it’s about something completely different than achieving running goals but I love Otis Redding and that line “I’ve got dreams, dreams to remember” is the one that helps me block out all the static and refocus on the goals I’ve set for myself and how important they are to me.

Even though I do have these dreams and goals for my running, I often have to remind myself of the fact that I run for FUN. I don’t get paid to do this. It’s not my full time job. I do it because I love it. Yes, I have goals to that will take a lot of hard work to accomplish but none of them mean a damn if I’m miserable the whole time.

  1. Have Fun – Keeping true to the fact that I run for fun, for fitness, and for a stress reliever. It does more harm than good to be hard on myself after I flop a workout, miss a workout, or don’t hit my mileage goal for the week. I’m doing the best I can and so I need to just have fun with it. Running in different locations to get some different scenery and mixing up my workouts a bit more will help with this.
  2. Sub 2:00 Half Marathon – I have 12 minutes to shave off of my total time but I’ll keep chipping away at it with each race I run.
  3. Strength Train – Based on the past four weeks I have found myself really missing weight training. So I”m going to incorporate that back into my training schedule. Plus, strength training can help me get faster and build other muscle groups so to prevent future injuries.
  4. Improve Nutrition – Meal planning and prep starts back up again this weekend. I may post more about my food here on the blog to help keep me accountable.
  5. Run more with others – I think participating more in group runs will really help me a lot with many of my goals. It will definitely be more fun, it will help me with my speed to run with faster runners and keep me motivated during the winter months that I’m training for the spring half marathons. So it’s basically just an all-around good decision.

In another four weeks I hope to have much better news to report on my training after making these changes.

I’mmmmm Baaaaack – Summer 2015 Recap

Wow! What a summer it has been. Posts to Run Oklahoma have been few and far between lately because I have a job that has some seasonal aspects to it. The summer months tend to be the busiest where workloads increase by almost double. So I’m so excited that my job is starting to slow down and come to a much more normal pace, meaning that I can use my spare time to work on things I love, like Run Oklahoma! Yay!

Even though I wasn’t posting much to Run Oklahoma, that didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about running. If you follow my Instagram account I’ve been diligently training for the Tulsa Half Marathon. Training has been going well. I’ve been able to remain injury free and even though I have to make adjustments to my training schedule due to LIFE I’m getting my miles in.

running 10 miles

Other exciting news is that I joined Oiselle Voilee.  Oiselle is all about helping women run free and fast! Currently Voilee has 750+ women from across the country who represent the Oiselle brand as they train and race toward their running goals. I’m lucky enough to be one of them!  Above all, the team is about  seeing running not just as a sport, but as a life philosophy. I’m so excited to be connected to such an amazing group of women (and some “bro birds” too) and encourage and support each other in our running endeavors. I’ve recently received my racing singlet and am sooooo excited to wear it to my fall races!

IMG_3926

Last, but certainly not least, this summer was a moment of reckoning for me in terms  of my nutrition. As my running goals get a bit more aggressive I was continuing to take short cuts with my nutrition. I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted to.  Obviously, I’m not 21 anymore and I can’t continue to put junk in my body and hit my fitness goals. So I decided to take the plunge and give the 21 Day Fix a try. One of the reasons I decided to give it a try is because it is NOT A DIET. But rather a simple, no-fuss eating program that uses a portion control system to help determine how much of each food group you should consume daily. Besides, who doesn’t like the brightly colored tupperware that comes along with it! I’ve seen great results and have actually enjoyed the way I feel and energy I’ve received from using the program. I don’t want to give too much away cause I’ll have separate post on my 21 Day trial coming soon.

21-day-fix-560

Pheeeewww! A lot’s been going on this summer. What have you been up to? Training for upcoming races? Taking a break with pool parties and cookouts? Just starting out as a new runner? Whatever you’ve been up to I’d love to hear from you!

oklahoma running groups

Running Groups in Oklahoma

Yesterday morning the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon was being broadcast on local news station KFOR as many folks woke for their Sunday morning paper and coffee. The Memorial Marathon has taken a tragic incident that took the lives of 168 people and created a beautiful event that celebrates the lives of those lost and the vibrant, resilient community of Oklahoma City.  Seeing on the screen thousands of determined runners and walkers taking part in the what is truly a run to remember,  mostly likely inspired many others to participate in the event next year. If you are feeling motivated to run or walk in the Memorial Marathon next year, a running group may be the best way to help you maintain that momentum and help keep you accountable to your goal. There are various running groups that meet up around the state and a few are listed below. It’s never to early to begin training.

Edmond Running  Club (Edmond) -The Edmond Running Club (ERC) is a non-profit organization promoting healthy lifestyles, social interaction, structured training, and races. Walkers, joggers, runners and their families are all welcome. ERC post group run information and locations on their Facebook page.

Red Coyote (OKC) – Red Coyote is a running store located in Oklahoma City. They currently are hosting a Newbie Running program that provides a structured introduction for folks new to running.

OK Landrunners (OKC) -Landrunners is a running club located in Oklahoma City. They currently have an 8 week 5K training program for folks just starting to run, Walker to Landrunner. This group meets every Saturday at Lake Hefner East Warf.

OK Runner (Norman) – OK Runner is a speciality running, walking, and lifestyle store located in Norman.  OK Runner hosts a morning group run Saturdays at 7:30am. It’s a 10 mile run with two water stops throughout the course. You are welcome to run as long or short as you’d like. Even better, you can join the group after the run for breakfast at Cool Greens just a few doors down from OK Runner’s brick and mortar store.  

RunHers (OKC & Norman) – RunHers is a women’s running community that offers running and walking training groups. Groups meet on various days in a few different locations in OKC and Norman.

Fleet Feet (Tulsa) – Fleet Feet is a running store with two locations in Tulsa. Fleet Feet organizes various group training programs  that range from fist time 5K to more experienced runners. Check out their training page for more information.

 

Do You Need Another Reason to Complete a Triathlon?

The word ‘Ironman’ is intimidating all on it’s own. It conjures visuals of incredibly fit individuals with an insane dedication to fitness that many don’t understand. An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance races consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile run, raced in that order and without a break. Typically, these events are held to a strict deadline of 17 hours to complete.

What if you weren’t restricted by the 17 hour time limit but rather a 30 day limit, would you consider an Ironman Triathlon? Whether you are looking to lose weight this year or need a boost to your current fitness routine, starting Saturday, March 7th your local Oklahoma YMCA is providing an opportunity to compete in an Idle Ironman Triathlon. The distances are all the same as a typical Ironman you just get more time to complete the challenge.

There are some hardcore runners thinking this will take you away from you first love, running. But really, cycling and swimming are great cross training exercises that will help you grow into a stronger, well balanced runner.

YMCA Idle Ironman 2015
YMCA Idle Ironman 2015