PUBLISHED 07/09/2008
As a runner, you're constantly searching for the next big breakthrough. Wherever you fall in the pack, you long to run faster, go farther, or get fitter. Most times, you're content to set goals with little fanfare. Pride--and sometimes fear of failure--keeps you from sharing your aspirations with anyone but your closest confidants.
Well, meet Deb Dyle, Valdi Sapira, and Kate Hoof. Last winter, each set goals--and let the running universe in on their dreams.
The three took part in the Runner's World Half-Marathon Challenge. We took a beginner (Dyle), an ex-runner (Sapira), and an age-group champ (Hoof) and followed them as they reached for their next running milestone at the SunTrust National Half-Marathon in Washington, D.C., in March. To help them reach their goals, we enlisted a team of experts--Toby Tanser, a renowned running coach in New York City; Leslie Bonci, a nutritionist for several professional sports teams; and physical therapist and veteran ultramarathoner David Balsley--to evaluate them, design their training, and teach them what it takes to conquer 13.1 miles. Dyle, Sapira, and Hoof shared the successes and struggles they faced during the 10 weeks leading up to the March 29 race at runnersworld.com/halfchallenge.
In this report, we take a closer look at how three very different runners took on the same distance--and how their experiences will help you meet your next running challenge.
THE BEGINNER
Name: Deborah Dyle
Location: Clifton, New Jersey
Occupation: Full-Time Mom
Goal: Become a Runner for Life
Age: 34
Place in the Pack: Beginner
Deb Dyle had two very good reasons to sign on for the Half-Marathon Challenge: her 10-year-old son, Evan, who has autism, and her 9-month-old son, Jake. "I just want to be healthy," says Dyle. "I want to be around as long as I can for both my boys--and I know running is going to help."
Caring for her kids, though, left little time for Dyle to take care of herself; last summer, she weighed 172 pounds, 37 pounds more than her goal. And with a family history of hypertension and diabetes, Dyle knew she had to get fit. So in July she began taking two-mile walks with her sons. She gradually added intervals of running, extending them by one minute per week. By Labor Day, she could run five minutes for every minute of walking. By January 1, she had lost 20 pounds and finished two 5-Ks. "I'm a whole different person because of running," she says. "I have more energy, I'm less stressed, and I actually look good in jeans again!"
But Dyle knew that the half-marathon, and making running a lifetime habit, would require a stepped-up commitment. That began when she, Sapira, and Hoof met with our experts at Runner's World headquarters in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, last January. During a group run and one-on-one sessions, the Challengers were questioned, tested, and observed. Dyle left with a big to-do list: learn how to do tempo runs, hydrate, and eat a nutritious diet. She also had to squeeze training into an already packed schedule. Despite everything she was juggling, Dyle was determined. "I want to do things right and build a nice solid base to keep running for the rest of my life."
Expert Analysis
Diet: Deb had already cut back her eating in order to lose some weight, but because she'd done that, she wasn't getting enough of the healthy fuel that she needed to maintain a steady level of energy. She also wasn't eating any vegetables. I recommended that she eat regular meals, especially breakfast. I also suggested she have more high-quality fats and carbs, like brown rice and whole-grain bread, that are easy to prepare. --Leslie Bonci
Training: Debbie is a real fighter, and that gave me great assurance that she was going to lay a foundation for her running life. With beginners, you don't want to blow it by building up too fast, too early. Also, Debbie talked a lot about including her sons in exercise, so it was important to make time for that in her schedule in a way that didn't affect her preparation for the race. --Toby Tanser
Strength: Deb didn't do any stretching or strength training, so she needed to add that to her training program. I also recommended that she wear softer shoes, so she didn't worsen some sciatica and back problems that she's struggled with in the past. --David Balsley
