One of my athletes ran 11 miles last weekend, her first-ever double-digit run.

 

Afterward, she texted me: "I know you wouldn't have programmed it if you didn't think I could do it… but I still can’t believe I actually did it!"

 

God, I love that.

 

Because it’s not just about the distance. It’s about that moment when your brain is trying to catch up to what your body just proved you can do. That little emotional glitch when you realize… oh wow… it's working!

 

I know we all get caught up in what “impressive” looks like (and somehow, it's always what others are doing, never ourselves). It’s easy to scroll past your own progress and forget that six months ago, this would’ve been impossible. So I’m just here to say: this is impressive. And you should own it: every win, every quiet “wow, I've never done that before,” every day where you find your confidence and belief in yourself growing. 

 

Alright - on to the rest of this week’s training tips, brain candy, and probably at least one opinionated take ;-)

 

In this issue of The Weekly Stride, we’re talking about swapping long runs for long bikes/hikes/etc, look at the new BAA rules about downhill marathons for Boston Qualifying times, have a new podcast episode to help you (re)master the training basics, look at research that can help you catch overtraining before it takes you down, share wide toe box shoe favs, and more!

 

Let’s get after it!

 

Founder, Running Explained

 

This is where runners get stuck. You’ll do a big hike or a long ride and still think, “Well, I guess I should squeeze in that long run, too…” And now you’re not training smarter, you’re just stacking stress with no purpose. That’s a fast track to burnout, not a badge of honor.

 

Here’s the thing: a long, challenging hike or a quality bike ride is still endurance work. You're still loading your aerobic system, still building stamina, and still teaching your body to handle effort over time. Does it stress your joints and tendons like running? No…and that’s kind of the point. Sometimes you don’t need more pounding on your legs. Sometimes what your body needs is a different kind of stress that lets it absorb all the other work you've been doing.

 

Swapping doesn't mean you're falling behind. It means you're paying attention. It means you're not married to arbitrary boxes on a training plan. It means you're coaching yourself, and that’s what actually leads to long-term progress.

 

So yes, swap it. Call it a win. You’re still training. Just don’t feel like you need to cram everything in for it to “count.”

 

 

That’s exactly why we created the Road to Race Day group coaching program. It's a four-month, coach-led experience built to help you train like an actual human, with structure, flexibility, expert support, and a team by your side.

 

BIG NEWS from the BAA. If you've been eyeing a steep net downhill marathon for your Boston Qualifier (looking at you, REVEL…), listen up: the BAA is making changes. Starting with the 2027 Boston Marathon qualification window, if you run your BQ on a course that drops more than 1,500 feet, your time will be adjusted to account for the downhill advantage:

🟠 -1,500 to -2,999 ft drop? +5 minutes
🟠 -3,000+ ft drop? +10 minutes
🛑 -6,000 ft+? No longer a valid BQ course

This aims to level the playing field without outright banning popular downhill course, so you can still race them, just know how your time will count. ✨ Hopefully this helps stabilize the cutoffs and gives a fair shot to runners grinding it out on more level ground! WATCH ON YOUTUBE  👇👇👇

This week’s episode is a big one—not just because we’re going back to the basics (easy runs, tempo runs, speed workouts—what they’re actually for and how to run them right), but because I also get to share something I’ve been SO excited about...

 

I’m officially partnering with COROS! 🎉

 

I’ve been using a COROS watch since 2022, and in this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I use simple alerts (like pace and heart rate zones) on my watch to help execute different types of runs, without obsessing over pace or getting stuck in perfection mode.

 

These tools help you train smarter and learn what effort should feel like—and COROS makes it super easy to do just that.

 

🎁 Use code RUNEXP at coros.com to get a FREE second strap when you purchase any watch!

👉LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

👉LISTEN ON APPLE

👉WATCH ON YOUTUBE

Feeling run-down or just putting in the work? There’s a fine line between normal training fatigue and full-blown overtraining—and many runners cross it without even realizing. In this week’s Research Rundown, we’re breaking down a new study on how heart rate, HRV, and your own self-assessment can help you catch the signs early. Plus, I’m sharing how I use my COROS to monitor recovery and stay ahead of burnout!

 

If your current shoes make your feet feel like they’re auditioning for a medieval torture device, it’s time to check out Amanda Books' roundup of wide toe box running shoes. No more black toenails. No more mystery foot pain. Just blissfully uncrowded toe space!
 

👉👟10 Best Wide Toe Box Running Shoes from Run to the Finish

Whether you’re training for your first race, working on your next PR, or coming back from a break, we’ve got the tools and support to help you along the way.

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