Running supplements I use
I guess everyone focusses on the training as what makes a runner, and I think this is 100% of what benefits you, in my opinion. However, there are a lot of products out there which 'aid' training and recovery and this ranges from vitamin supplements to massage etc. It's really hard to prove which ones help and which ones don't and I don't have many opinions on what's really good and what isn't but I'll run through the 'things I do that I wouldn't do if I didn't run so much' just as an insight really and to stimulate some discussion.
Hydration: I always keep an eye on this. I'll have a coffee in the morning but also juice and squash and water throughout the day. The juice is good for vitamins and minerals and the rest is pure hydration. I don't think there's any argument that being hydrated leads to optimal performance!
Iron supplements: I take spa-tone. I have it twice a day (as of recently) with some fruit juice. Vitamin C aids iron absorption and caffeine blunts it so best not to take near a coffee! It's common for marathon runners to struggle with iron levels after marathons and generally. My blood test suggest I'm ok but more can't do any harm!
Sports Drinks: I bought some Leppin tubs a while ago and usually have after long runs and sessions just to replenish enrgy stores. They're purely carbs and no protein and stuff, although maybe some protein would be a good idea too...
Go Bars: I also bought a box of these and also have immediately after races and sessions, just as a carb snack. Again, just the carb ones. The taste is 'acceptable'. I'm going to get me some CLIF cereal bars after trying them today though! Probably for mid afternoon snacking or to replace go bars.
Gels: I use the SIS ones in the marathon, and practise on long runs and tempos a few weeks before, but don't tend to consistently practise with them.
Berocca/Wellman tablets: Have one of these a day too, just to boost vitamins and so on. Quite like the taste and watching it fizz around in the glass.
Massage - don't do regularly. I would do if I had more time/money!
Stretching - again, I don't do much static stretching. My hamstrings are very tight and I should definitely do more here but I don't do a lot....
Think that's it... Like I said, I've got no evidence that any of this stuff helps but it can't do harm and some people will say it's all a scam, and they may well be right.
Comments On "Running supplements I use"
Thanks mentor - I'd not forgotten this - just taking it all in. It's definitely very appealing and interesting and something I may well consider pretty hard pver the next few months. MAy as well write to them and see what they say!
Ben Posted on April 4th, 2010in your best interests Ben !!!
bit more info- food for thought. Contact Lemoncello for further info or rMcMillanElite :: About Us
the mentor Posted on March 21st, 2010McMillanElite, Inc. is a non-profit post-collegiate running team based in Flagstaff, Arizona and under the direction of Coach Greg McMillan. This team offers emerging elite runners an ideal training environment combined with the necessary support to achieve success in long distance running.
Mission & Purpose
The mission of the team is to develop athletes capable of competing successfully at the national and international level in long distance running. History indicates that U.S. distance runners don’t reach their full potential and race their best until several years after the completion of their collegiate eligibility. Therefore, the purpose of this program is to provide a comprehensive, positive and supportive environment that prepares emerging elite long distance runners for their highest performance ability in the coming years. Toward that end, the program provides an optimal training environment as well as the guidance and support necessary to gradually yet progressively develop the skills required for world-class performances in long distance running.
To contact McMillanElite, please email us at support@mcmillanrunning.com
Coaches and Staff
Greg McMillan, M.S. - Head Coach and Director
Greg McMillan is a runner, exercise scientist and USATF-certified coach who has the unique ability to combine the science of endurance performance with the art of real-world coaching. Greg has a masters degree in Exercise Physiology where his research focused on the determining factors of distance running performance. A student of the sport since he began running in high school, he continues to apply advances in sports science to his training programs.
Greg has coached athletes in the 2008 Olympic Games, the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials, the 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 World Track and Field Championships, the 2003 Pan American Games and coached the 2002 National Marathon Champion - Jill Gaitenby, 2005 Houston Marathon Champion - Kelly Keane and World Championships Marathoner Paige Higgins.
His influences include Arthur Lydiard, Tim Noakes, Gabriele Rosa, Guy Avery, David Martin, Tom Osler, Joe Vigil, Jerry Lynch, Amby Burfoot, Russ Pate and Ed Burke.
Click here to read all of Coach Greg McMillan's Blogs
Tracy McMillan - Athlete and Business Manager
Tracy is the business manager for McMillanElite, handling all travel arrangements and accounting, acting as the team’s liaison with sponsors, heading up our fundraising efforts and providing vital “mother hen” duties for the athletes.
Click here to read all of Tracy McMillan's Blogs
Trina Painter - Assistant Coach
Trina is the latest addition to the McMillanElite support staff serving the athletes in several key areas. She helps the athletes with workouts (pacing for the women’s team and helping administer workouts for the full team), is the team’s liaison with race directors, assists with fundraising projects and is a mentor to the athletes having already “been there, done that” over her successful two decade running career.
It is rare to have an athlete as successful as Trina part of the support team in a post-collegiate team. She is the former American Record holder at 20K and the 20K National Champion. She was an Olympic Trials finalist in 1988 (3,000m), 1992 (10,000m) and 1996 (10,000m and marathon) and has represented the US in the World Cross Country Championships, the World Half-Marathon Championships, World University Games and Team USA Ekiden.
Click here to read all of Coach Trina Painter's Blogs
Phil Wharton - Wharton Health Performance
Nicknamed “The Mechanics” by USA Today, Jim and Phil Wharton are internationally known trainers, therapists, and authors who established their practice in 1989 and changed the face of human performance. They have worked with luminaries in the sports world from professional football players to Olympic gold medal winners. This famous father and son team can be found in their clinics in New York City, Mexico City, and Flagstaff, Arizona, on campuses and in sports venues all over the world, at the podiums of seminars and workshops, in fitness centers all over New York, on Broadway stages, and in the spotlight of the press.
Click here to find out more about Wharton Health Performance
Burt Gershater - Team Sports Psychologist
Burt is an exciting nationally recognized speaker and trainer. He has spoken to and worked with thousands of people across the country. Participants report that they are inspired to believe in their ability to succeed beyond their highest personal and professional dreams and they leave equipped with the tools to make these dreams a reality. Burt’s clients consistently report a more intense focus and greater productivity after his presentations. His programs range from one-hour keynote talks to three-day intensive Leadership/Team Building Programs. Burt’s messages are customized for corporate and public sector groups, and collegiate athletic teams. In addition, Burt tailors specific programs for parents, students and educators. (from www.BurtGershater.com)
Click here to find out more about Burt Gershater
Philosophy: Greg’s Five Circles of Success
The foundation of the McMillanElite team is Greg’s Five Circles of Success philosophy. Like the interlocking five rings of the Olympic Movement and following the Greek ideal of a well-balanced life, each circle of success works in concert with every other circle into order to promote a full, balanced, well-lived life focused on integrity and excellence. Athletes on this team focus on achieving excellence with integrity in each area.
Circle 1 Athletics: Steady, progressive achievement of ever increasing athletic goals
Circle 2 Self-improvement- Within the context of personal core values, improvement in physical, mental and emotional goals
Circle 3 Life goals/skills- Development of post running career job skills and choice of life’s work and ambition
Circle 4 Community involvement- Involvement in the local community outside of athletics
Circle 5 Sport involvement- Involvement in the sport of distance running to (1) promote the sport and (2) help current and future athletes through programs such as mentorship
Information on McMillan Running
McMillan Running is a world-wide leader in coaching distance runners. Greg McMillan has coached athletes in every Olympic Marathon Trials since 1996; the 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 World Track & Field Championships and the 2003 Pan American Games. His athletes won the 2002 US National Women’s Marathon and the 2005 Houston Marathon. He has a Masters of Science Degree in Exercise Science and is a Level II Certified USA Track & Field Coach. He works tirelessly to help runners of all ages and ability levels and donates his time and resources to deserving running-related programs. More information can be found on his website at www.mcmillanrunning.com
ead his blogs.
States
Thanks mentor - very good advice! I'll think about it after Lonon and evaluate what my next steps are then =)
Ben Posted on March 17th, 2010info re Hanson brooks project in USA-just apply with your cv
The standards these athletes had to meet to be eligible for the Olympic Development program are 29:00/33:45 for the 10k, 14:00/16:15 for the 5k, and 2:20/2:42 for the marathon. These standards are the basis for the selection process although they are not set in stone. Other factors such as the athletes willingness to relocate to the Rochester area, the meets where they ran their times at, and also the size of the college that they attended come into play when the athletes are selected.
mentor Posted on March 12th, 2010This opportunity provided by the Hansons is the best out there for runners coming out of college who have demonstrated the ability and wish to continue running, but haven't quite advanced to the next level. The Olympics are the ultimate focus of the runners but more importantly all the runners here are taking part in this program to see how fast they can become. Everything here focuses around time to train. Our lifestyle is most accurately described as being like college only we don't have classes or homework.
The approach realized in the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project incorporates the following four principles:
1. Create an opportunity for successful college athletes to continue training beyond their college years.
2. Provide an environment in which training can be the focus of those post-collegiate athletes (without the financial necessity of working full time or chasing after money in road races).
3. Develop a center for those athletes to train together as a team.
4. Incorporate the team members in local community activities to foster an excitement in the sport of distance running, and motivate future distance runners.
These are the two houses purchased by the Hansons to house the men of the Distance Project. Thanks to Brooks Running Inc., a third house was purchased to house the newly formed women's team.
These houses located in the Rochester area provide a great training area for distance runners. It's not the type of area that comes to mind when most people think of the Detroit Metro area. For everyday training there are plenty of dirt roads north of Rochester, the paint creek trail, and Stoney Creek Metro Park, which all offer great places to run. When it comes time to race, the southeast of Michigan offers some of the best competition in the Midwest. Whether it be races for cross-country or track, the colleges in the area prove to be an excellent resource for the program. Both these factors make it a great place to start a distance training program.
The States
Hi mentor,
Ben Posted on March 11th, 2010The problem with Oxford was that they wouldn't let me take a year out to go to the states. I had some interest when I ran 14.15 for 5k in 2005, but I couldn't pause my PhD to take a year out. These days I do look at people like Lemoncello and think that it would be pretty cool to do what he's doing. If an opportunity arose I would have to consider it pretty hard. I guess it's just the upheaval of leaving it all behind and putting it all into it. Oregon or Colorado would be pretty amazing.... I have no idea how to go about it though! And income may be an issue...!
Better facilities in the States
Ben
your mentor Posted on March 7th, 2010With regard to your uni blog- do you ever wish that you had taken up a scholership in the States like many of our decent young guys are currently taking advantage of for various reasons?
Also do you ever currently consider moving to a post college specialist training group/camp like Zapfitness/Mcmillan elite/Hansons Brooks to live a runnerslife with like minded athletes(to push you hard) and receive the best coaching in superb surroundings?. Also the competition is tougher, and there are more top class, well supported races to choose from.
Bet when your training on a cold rainy night around London you must think about your peer Lemoncello in the states with miles of clean crisp air and beautiful surroundings, living his dream every day?.
Oregon or Boulder/Colorado would be good as they are geared up for top athletes and the altitude might help you also! You can switch off from other pressures and just concentrate on what you do best-RUN!
Tempted? get your CV off!!!
What have you got to loose? - and what an opportunity (too good to miss)
Uni
When I was an undergrad, I trained, but not 100 miles a week. I was probably doing 70-80. Of course I was going out more, but I din't find it toooo hard. Oxford is more demanding than most unis I guess with workload but it's definitely doable and if you're prepared to say no to the odd night out, you can do it pretty comfortably.
Ben Posted on March 2nd, 2010I definitely improved when I started my phd, and this was probably a combination of training harder, being a bit older, and going out less! I definitely trained a lot less when I had finals, and took a bit of a time out for 10 weeks or so here, but otherwise I could keep training all the time.
Hi Ben
Mark Posted on March 2nd, 2010I was wondering what sort of mileage you were running as a junior and an U17, and did you find it easy to build up your mileage as you got older without it being detrimental to your sessions?
Thanks a lot,
Mark
balance
Did you find it difficult combining a demanding Uni course with running? I find that exams can mess up my track seasons a bit. Does work also get in the way now?
uni work Posted on March 2nd, 2010Thanks mysterious mentor! I'm trying to do more stretching, it's definitely something I neglect. Thanks also to 'be careful' you're both right. It's worth it and could be the difference.
Ben Posted on March 2nd, 2010I'm glad you like the blogs - I'm trying ot write things that aren't just 'what I've done this week and feeding off comments people make to me. So if you have any questions that you would like a blog post about, let me know!
new you!
Ben recently your blogs have certainly improved. They are longer, more informative and interesting- like the new style and approach you are putting into these blogs.
Mentor Posted on February 28th, 2010They certainly provide a greater insight into the life of an elite distance runner as well as giving tips and advice for us mere club runners!
One bit of advice get some flexibility bands/resistance ropes and start extensive streching as they will help keep you supple and may help prevent future injury.
Work harder to reap the success!
You're clearly gonna run great in London if you keep this sort of training going consistently. So I think the main thing you should concentrate on is staying injury free and healthy. My advice, if you are at all interested would be to stretch those hamstrings and glutes, do a bit of core etc and get plenty of rest! Thanks very much for the blogs, very interesting and keep up the good work!
be careful Posted on February 28th, 2010