RRT79 - Coach Jackson

Adam Culp (CrazyFloridian blog) and Nicole (running bebe blog) talk with Coach Alphonzo Jackson, head coach of the San Francisco East Bay Run Team for Team-in-Training. He was the Head Coach of "Students Run Oakland" when the documentary film, "Runner's High" was made and has become sort of a celebrity coach since the film, and deservedly so. "Runner's High" follows a handful of Oakland High School students, many from poor backgrounds, as they train for their first marathons and gain self-discipline and self-confidence in the process. Coach Jackson has also been advising Team Point Two member, Nicole.

Coach Alphonzo also taped some Marathon Running Tips - 4 short films of about 2 minutes each - that are posted on the Runner's High website.

[Click here for Runners Roundtable - Episode 79]

RRT 78 - Race Preparations

We talk about race preparations. Hosted by Chris Russell (@cyktrussell) fresh from running the Boston Marathon, an author and host of the RunRunLive podcast, and he's joined by Marci G, host of her blog, MarciRunstheMarathon, Colin (@resurrectedrunner), host of the Resurrected Runner blog, Tim McDonald (@tmac1980) and Kenny Gordon (@runsolo).  In the chatroom was Adam (@ ZenRunner) host of his new podcast HearRunZen, Joe Garland, host of his blog www.runwestchester.wordpress.com and Matt (@runnermatt), host of the Dump Runners Club Podcast.

Image from hellasound.com blog post "Your First Marathon" with great advice!

[Click here for Runners Roundtable - Episode 78]

RRT 77 - Trails vs. Road Running

Listen in as Mike W (Westy's Running) is joined by EddieMarathon, Charlie Colpaert (Running with Coffee), Tim Doiron (RunDervRun), and Brian Walter (RushRunner) for episode 77 of the RunnersRoundTable. The topic: Trails vs. Road Running.

We tried to cover a variety of topics about trail running like getting started, pros and cons of trails, hazards of trails, surfaces and of course shoes. We may or may not have gotten through all of that but we all enjoyed our conversation, hopefully you will too.

I mentioned I would post a few links to some trail running resources these may help get you started but there are many more out there and don't forget to check your state, regional and national parks as they almost always have trails.

American Trail Running Assoc
Coach Weber's Ultramarathon Calendar
Georgia Ultrarunning & Trailrunning Society
Superior Trail Races
Trail Run Events
Trail Runner Magazine
UltraRUNNING Online
ULTRAmarathonRunning.com | The ULTRA Running Race & Information Site
Ultrarunner.net-The UltraRunning link for the U.S.
Upper Midwest Trail Races
Upper Midwest Trail Runners

[Click here for Runners Roundtable - Episode 77]

RRT 76 - Dreaming of Deliverance

On Wednesday April 7th the author of the novel Dreaming of Deliverance, Renee Chambliss, joined Joe Garland, Lesley and Toni to discuss the novel, writing, and, now and then, running. It was agreed that while Jane Eyre would like make a good ultra-marathoner (lots of stamina), Elizabeth Bennett would do quite well at shorter stuff. Renee explained how she used a Spiderman tent as her recording studio for the podiocast of the novel, and she promised to resume recording now that she's back from a surfing photo safari in Tasmania Tanzania. She's promising a sequel.

For her part, Lesley admitted that starting out as a runner and going first to the marathon was a mistake; she's quite happy doing much shorter stuff in a local race series where she lives in North Carolina. Toni was enjoying a respite from the London weather in Florida.

Couple of updates. Little Nell (and you'll have to listen to the program to see how she came up) is from Dickens's "The Old Curiosity Shop." The classic prison-runner movie, "The Jericho Mile," is from 1979:

[Click here for Runners Roundtable - Episode 76]