Friday Finds – 26th July

Friday Finds is a regular feature in which I collate and share interesting articles and posts on running/health/fitness which I’ve read recently. Some might be inspiring, some might be scientific, some might provoke debate. All are things I’ve found in some way thought-provoking.

Happy Friday! Have you had scorching weather this week? It’s been pretty toasty here, however it seems to have been a pretty quiet week in terms of running-related stories, so I think I’ll be delving into some older pieces I’ve saved for this week’s Friday Finds. Let’s get started…

First up is the latest Sweat Science column from Alex Hutchinson. I always enjoy his take on some of the latest scientific studies and this one concerns the loss of “critical speed” in the final miles of a marathon (i.e. the reason most of us tend to slow down). It makes for an interesting read, prefaced with Hutchinson’s reminder that the marathon is an unpredictable beast that won’t necessarily be tamed through science.

• The Real Reason Marathoners Hit the Wall

Next, a fascinating read about self care and its role in our mental toughness. We tend to separate “grit” and determination from more compassionate activities, yet it’s those compassionate activities, the piece argues, that help us to thrive. Something I’m going to keep in mind over the next school year.

• An Ultramarathon Runner’s Secret to Mental Toughness

Speaking of ultras, I recently heard something about the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence race on a podcast and found it intriguing – I mean, 3,100 miles around the same New York block? Utter madness! You can read more about it in this piece from the BBC:

• Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence: The 3,100-mile race around a New York block

If you’re looking for something to put on your summer reading list, then maybe there’s something in this next piece about some of the best running books around. Some of the selections are probably fairly predictable, but there has to be a good reason they always find their way onto these lists! There are a few on here I’ve not yet read, so it’s a great reminder to add them to my list. Have you read any of them?

• The Best Running Books, According to Runners and Coaches

And finally, if you’re training for an autumn marathon right now, chances are the miles are beginning to rack up and you might be questioning your decision given the recent heat. Never fear, your feelings are totally normal and here’s Canadian Running to remind us of the emotional stages of marathon training. Which one are you in right now?

• The 8 emotional stages of marathon training

Happy reading,
The Running Princess