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On December 3, 2022, the city of Memphis will a bit Extra-Ordinary. This race offers multiple distances – Full and half-marathons, a 10k and a 5k. Come and join us.

We will also be doing a ZOOM training session for those who want to train for the full or the half-marathon. Stay tuned!

Mike Romans is a teacher, firefighter and a youth sports coach.  When not busy adopting children, he is busy training for two Ironman 70.3’s in 2021 and even bigger plans beyond that.  He is a member of Team Ordinary and currently coached by Coach Scott.

Cycling, running, swimming, racing, riding – so many decisions involved in endurance athletics. That’s just what to do for the day… then there are things like gear, nutrition, times, routines… so many things.  It’s like going to Walmart with a 4-year-old during Black Friday. There are not many sane people that can keep those things straight.

Then there is a decision that I teetered on for a long time, one I am sure many of you have thought about at one time or another, perhaps reaching the same conclusion I did, or perhaps not. That decision is hiring a coach. Now, first off, this isn’t an advertisement for Scott, though I would recommend him in a heartbeat to anyone who will listen. But this is more of a ‘Don’t think like I did if you can help it” pitch. There are many reasons people don’t hire a coach.  Many of those are justified, but I will do what I can to answer some of the demons that lingered in my head all too long.

“It costs so much”

Yes. As with anything in endurance sport, coaches are not free. Many of the range in price dependent on many things such as credentials, location, services provided etc. but the bottom line is, succeeding in endurance sports is anything but cheap. True, all you really NEED is a bike, trunks and a pair of shorts. BUT, with anything, typically you get what you pay for. True, there is a cost involved.  But in my case, I spent more money nickel-and-diming my way into self-training, that it was CHEAPER to hire a coach. I wish I had half of the money back on things that I bought on a whim, thinking they would shave seconds or make me look better. Fact is, those things are achieved with hard work and grit.

“I can find my own program on the internet”

Yes. There are many programs out there.  Many of them constructed by reliable, knowledgeable professionals geared for the common person. But where are they when you miss a day and aren’t sure what to prioritize? Where are they when you get hurt and need to make changes in your schedule and intensity to heal? Where are they when a bonehead idea for a two-hour hill climb comes into your head at the last minute and adjustments need to be made? They are nowhere, of course. They don’t know you.  They don’t know your situation, your strengths and weaknesses.

Yes, you can research the different disciplines, get to know your body and adjust.  You can guide yourself and complete any race distance or discipline you chose. However, many of us, myself included, get through the first race, and have new goals in mind before getting back to the car! The question is, how do I get there? That is where coaches come into play. While many programs and cookie cutter ideas can get you to it, a qualified coach will get you through it.

“I do better when I work by myself”

True. Some people enjoy the solitude of a strong workout and use it to escape away from people telling them what to do and how to do it. This is one of the reasons I gravitate toward going to a gym.  I use it as a tool to get away, and for me it seems much more productive than going to the bar on a Friday night to relieve stress.

The question isn’t about having the desire to get there.  The question is what to do when you are there! There is a lot to say about just going for a run, a bike ride, a swim, without looking at your watch or meter. Heck, my coach has suggested it. But when we freelance, we tend to get complacent, or worse off, too deep. Coaches provide the right mix of accountability and reality to help us keep going without going too far. I have slipped into both at times and have needed that much appreciated kick in the pants. Perhaps my two flat tires on the trainer that day was fate’s subtle message to tone it down a bit. Yes…. a flat tire on an indoor bike trainer…. twice….

There are many more reasons to investigate hiring a quality coach – comradery, advice, friendship. There is nothing more motivating for me than to see the invites on Zwift, the workouts in Training Peaks and the many messages from the group about our next adventure. True, we get many of those benefits from the group, which I have grown to NEED.  However, there is just something about a coach that makes a person feel like a team. Now, I will again state that while I am writing this on Scott’s page, for Scott’s blog, this was entirely my idea to write. It is not just so Scott will give me an easier workout. I did not receive anything in return. I am simply telling my experience and decision-making process so that maybe it will help you with your own.

Good luck training!

Erin Shepherd is a TeamOrdinary athlete coached by Coach Scott. She is currently training for her first Ironman 70.3 in 2021.

A while back, I had some pretty bad foot pain in my heel.  Like all good endurance athletes, I totally ignored it for about two weeks. I went into the doctor at last, and was told I had likely had a stress fracture in my heel. Naturally, I was pretty let down. 

After over four years of running and, more recently, triathlon, I’d never had more than a sprained ankle. I was really worried how this was going to impact my fitness.  Through training, I was finally gaining speed on the run and some serious strength on the bike.  I raced (albeit placing last, look for my other blog post on that), and overall felt as though I was improving.  

So, I did what any good athlete does and threw myself into the one discipline that I was able to do, and that was swim. I was a good little fishy, and really improved my overall strength and time in the chlorine box. I was able to get in a few more open water swims, and work on my anxiety.   I worked on my nutrition skills, focused on my day job, and did my best to keep on keeping on, despite not doing the one thing I love most: the run.  I have to admit, not being able to run for weeks was not fantastic on a mental level.  Even though I knew I was doing well on the swim, staying fit, and working on mental aspects of the sport, it didn’t feel like enough.  It didn’t feel like I was truly present in my training.  

Fast forward to my follow up appointment with a different doctor, who took much more comprehensive x-rays. They determined it was not a stress fracture. The pain was caused by a bone spur which, eventually, will need to be removed but for now we can mitigate with different shoes, insoles, anti-inflammatories and stretching. 

The best part? I was cleared to run and bike!

I could get back into my training routine.  Oh boy did I do so!  I immediately went for a run the next day, and biked that weekend.  In the month since that appointment, I have been able to meet an outside distance cycling goal (40 miles) and I ran an in-person 25K trail race.  My running is back to 20 miles a week (low end for me), and I’m back on the bike regularly.

Originally, this was going to be a story of how I bounced back from injury.  But, upon reflection, I never really left.  I did swim.  I did use yoga practice. I did work on core strength. I did work on my nutrition. My training just changed a little to meet the circumstances presented.  Just like when work conflicts with my training schedule, or when I travel for holidays, it doesn’t stop or bounce back.  It just changes. 

When you’re presented with a change, whether its family/work obligations or injury, it’s important to understand you’re not coming back from something.  You’re just changing the game. Sometimes, the game goes back to normal, sometimes it doesn’t.  But, at the end of the day, as long as you’re putting in the work, you’re still in the game.

Part 1

Ronald Boos is a member of Team Ordinary and the United States Marine Corps. A whiz at trivia, he can be found frequently on our Early Morning Zwift Training Rides. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

The exuberance of inexperience:

The Lookout Mountain 50-mile Ultra is a race that weaves through the trails of Lookout Mountain surrounding Covenant College.  On December 21^st, 2019 I woke up at 4:30am in a little hostel in Chattanooga to get ready for the biggest single physical endeavor I had ever attempted. 

The athletes took the line on frosted tipped grass as the sun’s rays began to creep into the sky. Some brief announcements were made, and the countdown began. With excited anticipation hanging in the air, the starting horn sounded.    

Off I went on a grand adventure. Naturally starting a little hotter than planned, up and around the college on a paved road until eventually dropping in on a single-track trail.  I got my pacing under control, found my rhythm, and settled in for the long haul.  I didn’t know at the time how long, or more accurately how short, that haul would be.

“Why do you do that crazy stuff?”

2019 was a year of running for me.  A few months after completing a Spartan Ultra (50k) in 2018, I began a running streak of at least 1 mile every day for a month, which turned into 100 days, and then turned into a year.  I have an addictive personality, and while I have kept myself away from the trappings of life that would be negative if addicted to them, I tend to get really hooked on new things very quickly.

In 2017 when I rediscovered exercise and fitness, I made a goal to do a Spartan Race in my local area. This quickly became 3 races of longer distances within a month, which led to the 50k.  Noticing a trend here? 

The thing is, I’ve never failed a task that I’ve put my mind to.  Last year I signed up for the Marine Corps 50k in October on a whim.  Then I decided to run a mountain marathon in June as part of my training. This was my first, after which my running partner and I signed up for Lookout Mountain to cap off our year.  Everything was going according to plan, goals being crushed, until Lookout Mountain. It was there where I achieved my very first DNF (Did Not Finish).

I’m often asked why I complete long endurance events, always shooting for farther or harder distances and environments.  My answer has always been to find out what my personal limitations are.  People often joke during a hard race that they lost part of their soul on the course; I’d always joked about it myself because it’s common in a runner’s vernacular to express pain.  I thought I knew what kind of pain it was referring to. More than once I found myself hobbling across a finish line completely spent.  While I didn’t lose my soul on that mountain in Tennessee, I certainly left behind part of my spirit. 

I lost all desire to run after what I considered at the time to be my first failure. Along with that went some of the discipline that I had built over the previous 3 years.  I thought that I could take some time off, stop being so structured with my nutrition and have plenty of time to regroup and get on back on track with my training.  Certainly 37 miles wasn’t the limit that I was searching for.  But that was, and currently is, the high-water mark on my running career.  I was certain that I’d be back in 2020 for revenge, come hell or high water.  Unless of course the race got cancelled, but that would never happen.  Right?

To be continued…

By Scott Riecke

Scott Riecke is a USAT Level I Certified Triathlon Coach and helps train runners and triathletes of all skill levels reach their athletic goals and beyond. If interested in a free consultation, email him at coachscott@teamordinary.com.

With a toddler in the house now approaching 2 years old, my summer training schedule had been, let’s say, “in flux.”  I would carve out time to workout during her nap, and then she wouldn’t nap.  Stefany might suddenly have to work late one night and instead of compiling miles on the bike or the treadmill, I would find myself on baby-duty.  As a Dad, it’s all good – that comes with the territory.  As an athlete, it can throw your training into a world of uncertainty, inconsistency, and perhaps even failure.

It was beginning to become a problem desperate for a solution.  There was only one that I could think of… the early morning workout. It seemed to be the only way I could get some time to myself without distraction.

During an initial trial period, I would set my alarm early (maybe 5:30) and with no real plan I would just expect to get up and run or ride – whatever I felt like doing.  The alarm rang, I turned it off, went back to sleep and the whole project was a big FAIL.

I had the DESIRE to get up early, but I didn’t have DISCIPLINE to follow through.  I needed to tweak the plan, but maybe the first step should be… to find one.

Zwift (the virtual bike platform a lot of us use) is loaded with different training plans to help you improve power and performance.  I did some research and chose one – the 6-week Beginner FTP Builder.  I decided one additional way to hold myself accountable was to livestream my rides.  Who knows… maybe people would want to watch a 46-year old wake up early and struggle through and hour of sweat and tears on a daily basis. 

Another thought came to mind – if it helped one other person struggling through the same early morning discipline issues I was having, then it was worth it.  (I feel like that’s a little cliché, but having experienced the struggle, it certainly applied).

The first day of riding I set my alarm for 5:30AM and found myself cruising Watopia (the Zwift world) just 15 minutes later.  One workout down, 29 more to go.  But then a funny thing happened.

My friend Ron noticed I was riding early and offered, “Hey… if you want to ride at 5AM instead of 5:45, I’d get up and ride with you.”

I’m not sure if he really thought I might say “yes.”  I, myself, had never thought of asking someone to join me.  Imagining that someone else might WANT to come along this early never entered my mind.  In a strange way I felt honored he would ask – and the 45 extra minutes of sleep hardly weighed on my decision-making process at all.  If there was someone out there who wanted to ride with me at this God-forsaken hour, then what difference was 45 minutes?

“Let’s do it,” I said.

On Week 1, Day 2, I had company on my ride.  Although it takes some time to get these 46-year old muscles warmed-up, it felt great to check that “workout” box off so early in the morning.  I got something done… and anything else I could do during the day was just gravy.  I felt so good about it that I posted about it on social media.  And wouldn’t you know… we discovered two more takers.

Todd Seiden from Florida now joins us every day and Mike Romans from North Dakota even makes it from time-to-time.  (The kicker, of course, is that North Dakota is a time-zone over, so Mike is setting the alarm for THREE THIRTY in the morning to make it.  We give him a pass when he misses days.)  We have now almost finished Week 6, the final week of the training plan.

These rides have been a blessing for me in many more ways than I ever thought possible.  My schedule is no longer in flux.  Every day I have a workout planned; every day I get a workout complete.  The discipline has been locked-in and consistent.  Though I’d love to say that my initial plan of riding alone would have carried on throughout the full six weeks, riding with others has added an accountability system that sometimes goes through my head at 4:30 when that alarm rings.  The conversation goes like this:

“You have to get up now.”

“But I’m tired.”

“You said this was your thing… you need to do the training plan.”

“Meh… I can do the workout later today.  It’s not going anywhere.”

“Yeah, but Todd and Ron are waiting, and today’s workout is supposed to be difficult.  You’ll look like a total wuss if you don’t show up.”

“Alright, alright, I’m going.”

These types of battles are fought often for an athlete in-training, but they aren’t only waged in the mornings.  This is where some of the benefits of riding early extend well beyond my initial thoughts.  Let me explain.

Stef and I were getting into a habit of opening bottles of wine at night.  And if we do that, we typically finish the bottle.  This means we’re going to be up later at night and I’m going to be in no condition to get up when that alarm rings.

In fact, it turns out that early morning rides are not compatible with a slew of bad habits I hardly even knew I had.

Now I can’t open that bottle of wine… gotta get up early and ride.

Now I can’t stay up late and watch ANOTHER episode of whatever Netflix series we’re binging… gotta get up early and ride.

Now I can’t order a second beer if we are out at dinner… gotta get up early and ride.

Now I can’t sit up for hours in bed surfing through nothingness on my cellphone… gotta get up early and ride.

These morning rides have been great for me for more reasons I could have ever imagined.  I’ve implemented new sleep patterns, new diet approaches, and new accountability structures.  It’s a discipline I hope to hold onto for the weeks, months and years to come.  We’re just about finished with our 6-week training plan, but I know there will be more productive morning workouts to come.

If you are on the Zwift platform and would like to join us on our morning rides, please let us know.  Follow my Zwift account – O. Rdinary Marathoner (Ordinary), and either let me know in-game you’d like to be added, or email me at coachscott@teamordinary.com

Contributed By Stu Weiner

I have never been a blogger, but I took this opportunity to contribute to the Team Ordinary blog and talk about my running experiences the last few years.

The last three years of running has had its share of ups and downs. For those who follow the Ordinary Marathoner page, you have seen the myriad of races I have run and know how I have enjoyed the challenge of several distance races.

Up until 2017, I was running two marathons a year. Unfortunately, in recent years there have been some disappointments. I could not even get to the start line in marathons in the fall of 2017, 2018, and most recently, in the spring of 2019. While disappointing to have not reached my goals of completing marathons in each New England state and getting past the 10 marathon mark, I have stayed motivated and determined to keep running. I feel that runners never “waste our training” even if we can’t achieve our goals. All the miles we log, the cross training, and everything we put in is worth the effort, as it carries on to other races whether it is one week, one month or a few months away.

Injuries – They are part of the Journey

I have had minor injuries, but I have been fortunate in that I have always had a cross training routine to keep healthy and keep the injuries limited. This has helped keep me motivated and determined. My focus is to address the injuries by not pushing myself. I prefer resting and recovering, so it doesn’t prolong the injury.

My advice to experienced and inexperienced runners… IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE RUNNING. It is important to add a variety of activities that add depth to your workout routine. Whether it is cycling at the gym or outside, weight training, core workouts, boot camps, and yes STRETCHING!!! All of this plays into our overall health and reduces the probability of injury. This is what has continued to keep me motivated and determined to keep running and setting new goals for myself.  

2020 – The proverbial Twilight Zone

One of the odd things during the pandemic (besides the world coming to a screeching halt, the unimaginable stories of people getting sick and, even worse, seeing all the people who have died) are the empty streets. There is one main street in my small town of Stoughton, MA where I have literally seen zero traffic at 6am. At times, I have been able to run in the middle of empty streets and keep socially distant.

In the time of COVID and the pandemic, what has kept me motivated and determined has not been training for a virtual marathon. Instead it is smaller virtual races that provide support to local causes. These races include our annual Falmouth Road Race, or the Heady Trotter 4-Mile Road Race normally held in Stowe, VT, or even the run recently completed for the #Irun4movement (I Run Solo 2020), and the two fall virtual half marathons I have on my calendar.

My big running accomplishment (or shall I say my “marathon”) was running the streets of my town of Stoughton MA. ALL 533 STREETS!!! These smaller goals have kept me focused on maintaining a schedule for training which has helped me stay motivated and determined to train for a 2021 marathon. It has kept my immune system strong, kept me mentally sound, and also kept me physically strong as I have managed to go back to the gym to do some weight training.

Seeing Friends (virtually or in person)

I have seen hardly any running friends the last 7 months. I ran with a small group on the 4^th of July. I try to run with one person once a week just to mix it up. Recently, I saw two friends who were running their virtual Boston Marathon and walked with a group of people helping one of our friends finish their race. It was great seeing Lorraine Fano, and Laurie Krim who I met in person for the first time on Saturday. We even got to share a socially distant beer afterwards.

However, I have really taken to running solo and have enjoyed the “me time” and not running with people (not that I am socially awkward). The “Irunsolo2020” run pretty much sums me up now, and while I probably will on occasion run with people, I am not sure it will be easy to transition back to running with groups of people on a regular basis. This includes the group runs I would do on Saturday’s with my running club.

I look forward to 2021 in that I hope to see more in-person races and see more people out running. But if I see people out running and decide not to join them, I hope they don’t take it personally. It just feels good to run solo and, more importantly, I have enjoyed not having to drive anywhere to meet people to run and not having to adjust my schedule. It has just felt great running from my house and seeing friends while I’m out running in town.

Blog Contributor Mike Romans is a Team Ordinary athlete, firefighter and role model who often rescues people… and not just from his firefighter job.

Y. The second to last letter in the alphabet, which at times has translated to my finishing position in many races. Second to last. But that’s besides the point. I do it for a reason, I do it for a cause, I do it for my “why.”

As I was studying to become a personal trainer (and by studying I mean looking for a program) I consistently saw one common question asked by many programs and personal trainers alike. “What is your why?” This caught on to me, resonated so to speak and caused me to think long and hard about why I was doing what I was doing. I looked up to several people along my journey – Jay Cutler, Kris Gethin, Triathlon Taren, Lionel Sanders among many and they all had the same idea – discover your “why.” When I have asked people to define their ‘why’, they often balk and become timid, stating that they could never find the time, energy or the whatever to do what I do. “You’re Crazy” many will state (medically, they are not wrong, however that’s for another post).

Health. Many do it for overall health. Let’s face it, we’re not getting younger. Whether we look at family history, personal vanity or just lasting longer to spend more time with our kids, health is the ultimate and main reason many begin on a fitness journey. The age old Chinese proverb “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step” rings true in many aspects of this reason. No, it is not talking about Matt Schorer’s latest training plan of a super mega hugely awesome ultra. It’s that you can’t get started if you don’t begin. Had you told me 5 years ago I would have 3 half marathons, 1 full and 4 sprint triathlons under my belt, I would have called you crazy, but here I am.

Family. As mentioned before, many people look to their family as motivation on a fitness journey. Admittingly, and as you will read, perhaps contradictory to the basis of this post, this is one of my main reasons. My son has proclaimed he will be the youngest to do the annual sprint tri I participate in. When asked what he wants for his birthday, he has stated for 3 years now “A triathlon bike!” When a member of Team Ordinary was hurt during the Ordinary Marathon, he didn’t skip a beat.  He offered to run part of her remaining miles for her so that she could reach her goal. He just turned 8. If continuing to motivate him to do his best in order to combat his mental health struggles isn’t reason enough for me to continue, nothing will be.  However…..

Bling. Admit it. We have all done it – booked a race (especially now with the number of virtual races going on) based on the gear or medals that go with it. I won’t say there is anything wrong with that. Heck, it motivated my other son to run a 5k with me simply because the medal was a huge golden baseball mitt. Many of these races are meant to raise money for various charities and causes, things that are near and dear to many of our hearts. Personally, I have made my own ‘logo’ and gear based on the many causes and people I think about when racing. It’s a mental thing for me. Think of those who have suffered greatly, those who have gone through pain and those who would give anything to be able to walk again let alone do what you do.  It makes the pain for whatever race you are doing more bearable. My fastest 5k time to date came in a race for a fellow firefighter’s son who was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease and needed a transplant. Rather than sport my usual gear, I wore plain shorts and our firefighter t-shirt and told him before the race “No one will cross before me, this one’s for you brother” and I wasn’t wrong. Well, not totally. Someone did, but only because he got lost on the route and just came back. LOL! Anyway, with his son in mind, I bared through the hurt, the suck and pushed through.

There are many other reasons, some personal, some practical, some cliché, as to why we do what we do. Many ask why, many wonder what the point of getting up at 3:30am on a day off to ride 5000 feet of elevation before starting a day. Fact is, there doesn’t have to be a reason. You should be the reason. If you do not do things for yourself, for what matters to you, then all the above listed reasons are for naught. We can have our goals, our dreams, our admirers or motivators, but fact is, we cannot pour from an empty cup. I have read and stated that exercise is the most under-used antidepressant and there is no convincing me otherwise. So instead of consistently searching for “The Why” maybe ask yourself, ”Why not?”