Coming off a big race and with Adrienne rehabbing an injury (like a champ), it’s given space to reflect on the running journey.
It’s healthy in all pursuits to be able to step back and remind yourself how far you have come, what weaknesses can be improved, and to make a plan to move forward.
In looking at progress, look at the wins that running has brought to your life. Outside of performance gains, consider how training has impacted how you show up in all aspects of your life. Do you handle stress with more poise? Do you follow through with what you promise more often? Are you able to be more process-driven than results-driven in your endeavors? Have a domino effect of healthy life choices come out of your running journey?
These are some of the unintended wins that have come from my running journey and why we care to help others set scary goals, keep showing up, and proving to themselves that they are capable beyond the self-imposed limitations we all make up.
What has been the most surprising consequence of your running journey to this point?
#runjourney #trainingthoughts #runcoaching #borntomove #runspiration
Happy Birthday to the ADE STATION, @adrienne.doherty 🎉🎂
It has been another year of adventures and mostly smiles (overuse injuries aren’t fun). I am looking forward to continuing to build the future we have planned and will always bother/make you laugh along the way!
THE BOSTON MARATHON!
This was a day that I will remember and cherish forever. Thank you to everyone who sent messages in support, took time to attend in person, and supported my goal as I trained for this race.
Huge thank you to my wife, teammate and accountability partner, @adrienne.doherty for joining this adventure, with many more to come. I am so proud of you!
When I first qualified, I did not know how personal this race was for me. As training progressed, I realized the personal significance of past promises made and returning to the event that was an excuse to day drink in my past, this time in a completely different chapter in life.
Race day conditions were perfect for running. I put together an amazing training block and showed up more durable and prepared than I have for my first 2 marathons. I had the course dissected and knew the pacing strategies for each segment. My fueling and hydration plan was tested and dialed.
I executed my plan exactly as I planned it. I ran this race with my head. I held back in the early miles to save my legs for fear of the hills late in the race. I was in total control from the start to the finish line. As people were fading, I was steady and accelerating.
After leaving heartbreak hill in the rearview, rounding the corner in Cleveland Circle where I used to live, I felt like I was floating. Making eye-contact with my jumping and cheering family and high-fiving them in Coolidge Corner made me feel like I could run through a wall. Hearing my friends chanting my name as I approached St. Mary’s was when the sense of accomplishment really hit home. I was teary-eyed running up the bridge heading into Kenmore. Right on Hereford, left on Boylston was a haze, and crossing the finish line was as satisfying as anticipated.
I waited a few days to let it settle, but I am still overflowing with gratitude for everyone who made the day possible and has supported me along the way.
Fifteen years ago, I was getting ready for work when my legs went numb, tingling like they’d fallen asleep, but worse. Tingling turned to instability. Within minutes, I was on the floor, unable to stand. Living in Boston without a car, I called my dad to take me to the hospital.
After four days catheterized, countless blood tests, and a spinal tap, I was diagnosed with a single-event MS attack. Not enough for a full diagnosis, but enough to change everything.
Lying in that hospital bed one of the nights, I made a promise out loud:
“If I get the use of my legs back, I will run the Boston Marathon.”
With steroids, medication, physical therapy, and the support of family and friends, I walked again. I went back to work, but I didn’t keep the promise.
Instead, I drifted. No plan, no direction. What started as post-shift drinks in hospitality turned into dependence, then something deeper.
It took the world shutting down in 2020 to finally break the cycle. What began as “two weeks off” became a complete reset. Adrienne and I are now nearly six years sober.
Even then, I avoided the marathon. It was a pinnacle that I did not deserve to reach for. I raced Spartan events, but doubt and anger kept me from chasing the promise I made.
Until I stopped running from it.
Endurance training didn’t just make me more fit, it made me accountable. It taught me how to keep my word, something I hadn’t done in years.
5 years later, I qualified for Boston in the first marathon I ever ran. Not by luck, but by finally becoming someone who does what he says he will do.
I am grateful and honored to return to my hometown and run on Monday in front of friends and family who have supported me throughout this journey. This is not the end, but I am back on the right path!
We don’t want to be another piece of junk mail that gets skimmed over each month. Our goal for this newsletter is to provide more in depth, longer format information to help you reach your goals! We also plan to showcase races and events that we support, plan group meet ups, and spotlight the athletes we work with.
If this interests you, follow the link in our bio to add your email to this list!
Having a real life human coach to guide you and support you through training for endurance events is essential.
At Doherty Endurance, we provide a holistic approach to training. An app can take your data and spit out a plan, but it doesn’t take into consideration how you feel and adapt to training. We also view each of our athletes as a whole and work together to create a plan that fits your life.
As runners who started running later in life, there’s a lot we learned the hard way that we wish we had guidance for.
There’s nothing quite like getting into running later in life because there is so much room for improvement, so let’s find out what you’re capable of.
Shoot us a message for more info or inquire for info from the linktree in our bio.
That’s a wrap for March, and summer/fall race training starts NOW!
We have 6 spots open for remote coaching until the end of April, so if you’re eyeing a summer or fall race, let’s get a plan rolling.
Get accountability and safe, structured training that fits your life and moves you toward that race goal.
This is your sign to invest in your goals and invest in you as an athlete.
Send us a message, leave a comment, or inquire for more info via the link in our bio. Let’s do this!
First glimpse of race day on the 30 day forecast! Those are some ideal conditions, but in order to avoid jinxing things…these are subject to change and it’s way too early to count on it.
The best part is that we are getting close to race day. It has been a very long winter for training. One more week of work until the taper begins!
This has been a rough winter to train for a spring race in the northeast!
I did all the tricks. Reframed it as mental grit training. Practiced mantras. Wore extra layers. Posted funny snow beard pictures…but have to admit that yesterday’s run got to me.
I had a quality run planned and my workout window was pre-dawn before work. Because of the structure of the workout, I really didn’t want to do it on the treadmill. About an inch of fresh snow had already accumulated on the road and more was still coming down. I tried some accelerations to test footing and was slipping at even an easy pace. My vision was reduced to the view from the Millennium Falcon’s bridge as it enters warp speed, as the snow reflected in the light from my headlamp. Cars driving by had their hazard lights flashing and driving a cautious speeds. I finally said “FUCK THIS” and decided to live to run another day. It was the first time giving into weather conditions this long winter.
I cannot WAIT for this marathon to get here, weather to warm up and to get back on the trails for a summer and fall of ultra training and racing!
Getting dialed in throughout training and following progressions in pace and duration are great ways to build fitness and confidence heading into a goal race. The other side of the coin is that off days happen.
I had a long run with goal marathon pace chunks this week and just felt flat and faded late in the workout. I could let this increase stress and lower confidence, or I can take it as the data point it is. I will control the things in my control like recovery, sleep, nutrition, and manage life stress to help my body rebuild and prepare for the next one.
Give yourself some grace. Running is fun and should add to the enjoyment of life.
Starting running later on in life can be frustrating and confusing when it comes to what you should be focusing on.
We understand the importance of your goal and balancing training with life, while keeping injuries at bay.
Don’t go at it alone. We’re here for you every step of the way. Our plans aren’t cookie cutter. They aren’t set in stone. We work with people, not machines, and understand that one side dos not fit all.
We want to help you work toward your goals with a structured plan specific to you and your life.
Want more info? Leave a comment or send us a message. We look forward to getting to know you better!
