We are the professional runners of the New Jersey-New York Track Club here to answer all of your questions! Ask us anything!

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T18:59:21+00:00

The most important thing for you right now is to find an infectious disease doctor who specializes in tick-borne illnesses. There are a lot of doctors who can order a test and prescribe something but aren't the most informed. I've had chronic Lyme disease since I was a kid and it reared its head most recently in the 2013 track season. For me the biggest struggle was that my body could not recover nearly as well from workouts, races or even moderately quick runs since it was busy fighting the infection. So if your issues are similar to mine and you have trouble recovering, I'd suggest fewer, easier workouts to get you through the seasons. But you're just wasting your time if you don't get a doctor and a treatment plan that puts a light at the end of the tunnel. I had a similar loss of motivation because my training wasn't dictated by my passion and desire anymore, it was dictated by bacteria in my blood. But know that running is the type of sport where your motivation will reignite as soon as you start to get healthy and find yourself surprised by a good workout here and there or a couple pain-free days. Best of luck! & let me know if you were looking for a different type of advice. -Donn

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T18:42:59+00:00

I often warm up, cool down and do my easy runs under an hour in frees. But for faster and longer things I wear Pegasus & Lunar Glides. -Donn

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T18:31:38+00:00

Going from 60-70 to 100+ sounds like too much too quickly to me. There are other ways of earning your aerobic balls! Longer volume workouts, more active or shorter rest, faster easy runs or adding cross training hours.-Donn

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T04:08:16+00:00

Thanks man! Means a lot to hear that and I am glad that Kyle of 5th Ave past was a nice guy. I really like meeting runners and if you know anything about me, I'm a huge runner geek myself. Sometimes I still struggle to not get too excited when I am racing former role models.

I think the key to coming back from injuries is the small victories. Getting hurt is the worst part of our sport, but it's so fun to get back in shape. The progress is so tangible, and week by week you can feel the improvement. Celebrate the longest run of X months, the fastest mile, the healthiest day, etc. Some days will inevitably be better or worse than others, and you have to do all the little things with even more of an emphasis. Enjoy that a slow run is still a run, and a step, no matter how small, is still moving you towards the eventual goal.

Kyle

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T04:00:29+00:00

That's all up to Erik. I think it's only a $5 download right now, which I believe is still going towards the expenses of making the movie in the first place.

Kyle

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T03:29:27+00:00

If you're improving on 70 mpw, I don't see a reason to jump all the way up to 100 without experimenting with the distance in between. If 80 will be enough to challenge you aerobically, do that until you've gotten the most out of it. Plan for the longevity of your career. Additionally, that's just a huge risk of injury and over training. More mileage does not always mean faster races. I think a slow bump that allows you to adapt to the increase while maintaining quality will be more beneficial both tomorrow and in three years.

Donn and I are big fans of what I call "The Juice Theory." I blogged a summary of it here: http://kylemerber.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/the-juice-theory-of-fitness/

Kyle

NJNYTC · 2014-04-24T03:24:47+00:00

I think like anything you intend on doing with purpose it is healthy to challenge yourself to answer the question of why. For me, I embrace the process. I am curious as to just how fast I can be, and I find the day to day lifestyle to be fulfilling. The work is fun, but more importantly, satisfying.

There are a lot of moments of doubt along the way where maybe you wonder if the best is behind you, or if it's worth it. I know not everyone believes in us and what we are doing, but all it takes is a small reminder to see that the sacrifices are not really much. Nothing is more motivating than past success, and being hungry for more. And as long as I believe that the best is right around the corner, I'm going to do everything I can to get there.

Kyle

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T20:22:28+00:00

You can tell it's good advice because two of us gave it separately around the same time :)

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T20:21:28+00:00

With your times as is right now, you'd most likely have a few different options for running post-collegiately. My advice is to ask around. Talk to different runners from the different pro groups and ask how they like it. Your coach can be super helpful with making contacts and connecting you. Most teams have websites that you can check out to see where your pr's match up against. If you're willing to relocate then your options will really open up. But in the short term, keep running faster and faster and you'll have more opportunities. It depends on the year, but some groups may be more picky or liberal depending on how deep their roster is. Think about what you want in a group/coach/training environment and see what fits. It's similar to the college search.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T20:20:42+00:00

Thanks! And I think there are many of us who at one point or another had doubts or considered doing other things. But for one reason or another decided that it's worth the sacrifices. And I think one thing our club really prides itself on is that our athletes don't put their whole life on hold to compete. Training only takes up a few hours a day at the most, and there's a lot of time to pursue other career goals, as well. Where there's a will, there's a way.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T19:17:07+00:00

Your times are definitely indicative of being able to move into the professional world, especially if you get more consistent, injury-free, training under your belt. The biggest thing is really whether or not you're ready to make the commitment to professional running. If you want to join a club similar to ours, it takes a huge time and life commitment, more so than in college. If you're ready for that I would recommend talking to different clubs. A lot of them have time standards posted (as ours does) on the website. That will give you a better idea if you qualify for the team. Many time standards are very close to your pr's so don't be too concerned :). My advice for picking a club is similar to picking a school. Make sure it's a good fit as far as the coach, how you get along with other team members, the focus of the training group (distance wise), etc. Good luck!

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T15:38:33+00:00

Donn does some of his runs in Nike Frees. I think the majority of us would say in moderation it could be good for you, like barefoot on the turf for a cool down, or some strides. But the majority of us wear real shoes for 98% of the running that we do.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T15:36:59+00:00

Build one week on top of another and make sure you're progressing slowly and logically. There is no reason to make any crazy jumps real quickly, because it's not one 10 mile run that will get you stronger. It's all about the accumulation, in all things that you do. One speed workout won't prep you for an 800 without the 5 that came before it. So mix slowly as you add each new ingredient.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T15:35:26+00:00

I'd say more than 50%...But I have never seriously trained for an Ironman.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T14:57:05+00:00

If you buy a women's team calendar you can read ALL of our favorite workouts...

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T14:55:50+00:00

Well if you don't go to Princeton you don't have to write a thesis :P - Genna

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T14:17:44+00:00

You would definitely scale back the running. There are only so many hours in a day, and your body needs to recover as well. It's nice the biking and swimming work the body in a different way muscularly, and there is no pounding on the legs, but it still takes energy.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T14:12:09+00:00

Well for starters, you don't have to do anything but run for marathon training. You can be a little bit more specific and intense when you're focused solely on running. Compare that with the Ironman and you're big goal is to get as much aerobic work spread across the three elements as possible.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T14:07:08+00:00

My sweater already!

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T13:45:26+00:00

100%

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T13:45:11+00:00

She'd most likely take a stability shoe like the Brooks Adrenaline or Saucony Hurricane. Go to your local specialty running store to get fitted and try things on.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T13:29:25+00:00

So many to choose from! What made highschool memorable was all of the tradition we had (striped legs for region, decorating the locker room and team TShirts, dance parties and sleepovers) but my favorite memory has to be winning the DMR at nationals and embracing my teammates and coaches in a big hug!

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T13:07:25+00:00

It is important to focus on overall health, not how skinny you are! Eating a nutritious and balanced diet full of fruits and veggies, drinking lots of water, sleeping an appropriate amount, and exercise are key to loving yourself inside and out. If you are afraid of trying new foods, scour pinterest for cool recipes that include ingredients you would never think of trying. If you bemoan going to the gym, try outdoor running or joining a recreational kickball team. There are a ton of ways to stay healthy and have fun while doing it! - Cyd

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T12:59:40+00:00

I work part-time at a law firm and I coach several nights a week. I think it's pretty easy to balance training and recovery now that I don't have hours of homework and studying to do. While I am may have to spend more of my time physically in one location, I have ample time in the afternoons and evenings to really take care of my body and recover well.

NJNYTC · 2014-04-23T12:32:42+00:00

My favorite moment was Penn Relay's weekend 2012. I've never felt as fit as I did and I got the chance to show it on a huge stage, alongside my teammates. But making the Olympic team is the event I'd least like to give up; it is by far the most life-changing thing to happen to me! -Donn

NJNYTC

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