Blue Ox Running Podcast | Eau Claire, WI

It's race week!!! We have a few tips for the taper, training during race week, and also getting the mind right. There is something about taper time that's easier AND harder at the same time. It's getting down to go time and we want to dot the I's and cross the T's ... physically and mentally!

What are the essential NON-running elements to the marathon? Today we'll tackle a handful of tips that are a bit more personal, but can have guidelines that are helpful. Everyday nutrtion, race day nutrition, and gear / shoes are the topics at hand before we race NEXT WEEK! The bottom line ... see what works for you and practice!

What is the long run and how do we use it as the most important day of the week (usually)? The long run sounds simple and it is, but it can be used differently through different phases of training. It's also the best way to simulate long fatiguing efforts and a good day to practice with your nutrition and equipment. Adam gives his top five tips and benefits to have a successful long run feed your training well!

Today's episode is getting into the real heart of marathong training - we're exploring what specific workouts and pacing wil be used as we trudge through the most difficult and taxing 5 weeks of our entire buildup - THE MARATHON PHASE! Personally, life continues to move forward with some small setbacks (bike crash!) and the weather is getting warmer (and more humid!) ... we must take it all into consideration as we push the ball forward with only 5-6 weeks remaining in training! Running Calculator Link - http://vdoto2.com/

Running a tune up / B-race is a great way to build fitness, confidence, and know exactly where you're at in your training cycle, but there are some draw backs and things to consider. We talk about the pros, cons, and tips to have a successful tune up race mid-cycle and why you shouldn't get TOO excited or TOO discouraged when you decide to do one. It's not really a race, it's not really a workout, it's a tune-up!!

We're diving into HOW do we put the mileage, rest, and workouts into our schedule? Macro cycles are large cycles of stress & rest (base, speed, marathon, taper phases) whereas micro cycles are the smaller daily and weekly rhythms we put the stress & rest. Adam talks through "what is a cycle?" and how we protect and schedule our priority workouts in each phase. Speed phase is ramping up and he shares how he layers in "fartlek workout" on feel & time which will soon become more rigid timed workouts. We're about 14.5 weeks down, 9.5 to go! Is a half marathon tune-up race smart this time of year? Stay tuned as Adam explores the options.

A big personal update which adds even more purpose and drive to this marathon block! Adam talks through resetting his mindset, being flexible with training especially when non-running life gets crazy, and a few key "unofficial" / mini / half / non-workouts during base phase. We're 12 weeks down (BASE!) and 12 weeks to go!!!

We're kicking off a new mini-series leading up to Grandma's Marathon! This ten part series will tackle the basics of the marathon cycle as Adam gets ready for June and share's his top training tips to keep things simple, keep things doable, and have the marathon work for those trying to get the most of of their 18-24 week build ups!

We talked with Eau Claire Marathon about ..... Eau Claire Marathon! What a great time catching up talking about what it takes to put on a big time event, what's hard, what could be misunderstood, the weather, and what makes it all worth it year in and year out!

It's winter .... kind of. What a strange off-season this year, let's talk about it! Today's episode we talk with special guest Brent Wathke (one of our coaches!) about structuring the year, off season activities, cross training, "running age", but also ... hockey, mananees, and getting jacked!

It's our 6th birthday episode! Listen (or better yet, watch on YouTube) us recall how crazy, fun, and sometimes incredibly stressful the last six years have been starting a business and growing downtown Eau Claire. Vote for an event you want us to BRING BACK sometime in the next year at the form ... blueox.run/vote

This month we're discussing what it means to have life move fast, grow older, adjust expectations, and what has changed (or stayed the same) in our running journey! Both Adam and Alicia turned 40 years old this year and they each took some time to adventure ... in totally different ways. Join us in processing change and how running / activity can be a great touchpoint for the other things that are actually (much more) important.

We're talking all about how running, walking, and even just moving supports & contributes to our mental health. What is the "icing" and what is "the cake"? How are healthy (and unhealthy) patterns developed and what does it mean to look at our process more than our goals? What does mental toughness mean and how do you endure hard things on the run (or in life)? These are all questions and themes we're asking and talking about this month as we close out Mental Health May!

We talk about growing older, long days, short years, braces, Bucks, learning a new city (or country!) through running, cultural differences and our rockstar guest Aude! . We're back with another guest ... one that takes us everywhere! Aude B is adventurous as she is happy. A constant smile at every group run in the area Aude isn't afraid to make Eau Claire her home since the 2020 lockdowns coming from Europe!

We're talking all things shoes!!! It goes without saying ... we sell (and help!) with shoes. It can be so overwhelming with how the industry and models have changed over the years. We're here to help be a guide for your particular fit and use of active shoes ... running, walking, standing, hiking, all of the above.

We're back in 2023 talking all things NEW YEAR and WINTER RUNNING! How do you structure training in the off season? What's actually helpful about #WinterRunning? Embracing the slower / colder #running (and cross training!) and wrapping up with a discussion about tracking all of our data - spreadsheets, Strava, Garmin, notebooks - what's helpful and what's not? LINKS: Training Links: https://www.blueoxrunning.com/training All Podcast Episodes: https://www.blueoxrunning.com/podcast/  

We recorded our 5 year anniversary episode live after a #GroupRun!We're celebrating five years and our first employee Mary Kane comes to talk about the running industry, group run, and more!

"I think success in running for me is more longevity and enjoying it." -Alex Wendler...

* We're talking all things "out of routine" ... running on vacation and more!* Guest Alex Rongstad gives us a glimpse of his last 4-5 year journey of running - the highs, lows, almost stopping, a different approach, a sweet project, and what he's doing next!* Q&A ... get at us at blueox.run/podcast

We're back! 2022 brings a new year of successes, challenges, a good time to reboot our podcast, and share how things have been during this strange time of running, business, and more! Adam & Alicia are excited to share the good, the bad, and the ugly as our pandemic-lives continue!

Adam & Alicia crack the mics to bring you a new #podcast episode talking all things 2020 & COVID. Talking #business, #running, and #personal change with an opportunity to reflect on how nuts it's been for all of us!

Meet some of the crew from Trail Transformation!Austin, Jake, and Rachel take us through some of their early years and beginners and why they're considered the experts in guiding all sorts of athletes with individualized services. Physical therapy, dietitian services, personalized coaching, running retreats, and more! Trail Transformation is a great asset to us all in Western Wisconsin (and beyond) ... and they even have their own podcast! trailtransformation.com

Meet fellow Blue Ox Running HERD member Mike Blazel as we get into fall and talk about running with grief, our very first group run, our favorite running season, and Mike’s first marathon buildup!

Catch up with all four of us this week as we dive into our year with trail #running! Alicia & Adam (and John!) talk about Afton Trail Run while our guests John & Brian, a father / son team, share of their run across the Grand Canyon ... FOR JOHN'S 60TH BIRTHDAY!!!!

Special 2019 Eau Claire Marathon episode! UW-Eau Claire students help walk us through their marathon weekend experience as we catch up before and after taking part in their very first distance race!

We check in from our new recording area with more elbow room - our new front of store lounge! Get to know two of our original Blue Ox Running HERD group run participants as speedsters Alex & Nick share their journey of competitive distance running mixed with severe medical setbacks.

Local trail & ultra-runner Deana Cantley shares with us her story of resolve and grit battling cancer, depression, and injury while holding running up as a way to recover and deal with everything in the last 20+ years.

Matt Evans shares more about his community role and how he got there. From Duluth to Eau Claire and 40+ years of running experience Matt Evans lives a full life balancing work, personal, and active life while doing it all with others. Professor of physics and also the Eau Claire Marathon course at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, he is often encouraging and pouring into others more than himself.

Adam & Alicia's Introduction episode. We'll talk through how we arrived at our current spot - owning a running store in Eau Claire, why we love what we do, and why we're excited to start the podcast.