Ryan Hall's Blog, page 219

Short Film “Moments at Elevation” Captures the Beautiful Challenges of the Leadville 100

Filmmaker Isaiah Jay followed Maggie Walsh, Luke Jay, Casey Hill and Jason Michalak from The Adrenalin Project as they tackled the iconic Leadville 100 on Aug. 20-21 in the high country of Colorado. His video, “Moments at Elevation,” serves up amazing cinematography and audio that captures the spirit and challenge of running 100 miles from historic Leadville to the old mining settlement of Winfield and back in under 30 hours. The Adrenalin Project is a group of Colorado athletes and friends who love the challenge of the mountains and racing a wide range of endurance events.

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Jordan Hasay to Make Half Marathon Debut at AACR Rock ‘n’ Roll Philly

Jordan Hasay, who has run 15:28 in the 5K and 31:39 in the 10K, makes her half marathon debut on Sept. 18 in Philadelphia. Photo: PhotoRun.net

Thanks to the movie Rocky, the city of Philadelphia has enjoyed a reputation as the home of the underdog. On Sunday, at the AACR Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon, 24-year-old Jordan Hasay will be playing this role.

The Arroyo Grande, Calif., native who broke several national records in high school and garnered 18 All-American honors while at the University of Oregon before becoming a professional 10,000m runner, has decided to “move up” in her racing distance and off the track—taking on the 13.1-mile distance competitively for the first time. (Hasay has non-competitively run the 2014 and 2015 Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco, in which she claimed a first place finish of 1:21:53 with fellow Nike athlete Alexi Pappas in 2015.)

She’s a two-time runner-up in the 10,000m at the U.S. championships and has a PR of 31:39 on the track and 31:58 on the roads. The Rock ‘n’ Roll race in Philly will be twice as long as she’s ever raced before, but her fitness and 10K times suggest she could run in the 1:08-1:11 range if things go as planned.

“I’m really happy with my training leading up to this,” says Hasay, who is coached by legendary marathoner Alberto Salazar. “I’ve been doing over 100 miles a week and some long progression runs to get ready.”

Once the track and field poster child of her generation, Hasay has had some rough patches in recent years as she’s moved up from the 1,500m and 5,000m on the track. Last year, she struggled with a nagging plantar fasciitis injury and she admits that it affected her training and prevented her from a real chance at qualifying for the U.S. team at the Olympics. (She placed ninth in the 10,000m final at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July.)

“(The last year) was frustrating,” Hasay says. “But I’m confident that this race will be a good stepping stone to the marathon.”

Hasay says that fellow Nike Oregon Project teammate Galen Rupp has been an inspiration to her. The 30-year-old Rupp won the bronze medal in the marathon at the Olympics in Rio.

“I used to see him heading out to train on these long runs and feel sorry for him,” she says. “But now I’m doing them and I realize they aren’t that bad.”

The “City of Brotherly Love” is an unknown venue for Hasay. She admits she’s never raced in Philadelphia before.

“I hear it’s a super-fast course and I’m thrilled to be there this weekend.”

Hasay’s half-marathon debut will also be her first Rock ‘n’ Roll series race. “I hear it’s going to be fun and I can’t wait to hear all the bands.”

Hasay’s favorite musician is Grammy-award-winning singer Adele.

“I’m not sure she counts as rock and roll, but I’d love to hear some of her songs out there on the course,” she added.

Among those joining Hasay on the starting line in front of the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art within sight of the Rocky statue will be Ethiopian Buze Diriba along with Americans Susanna Sullivan and Neely Spence-Gracey, who finished second in Philadelphia last year.

“I hear that the leaders want to head out at 1:10 pace,” Hasay says. “That sounds about right to me and I hope to be up there with them so we can push each other.”

Elite women aside, several big-name male competitors will be taking to the streets of Philadelphia as well. Wearing bib No. 1 is Stephen Sambu. The former University of Arizona star and Kenyan national won the New York City Half Marathon back in March. Like many competitors, Sambu will be using the AACR Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon as a tune-up race for his full marathon debut in Chicago this fall.

Expected to give Sambu a good race will be fellow Kenyan Augustine Choge, who is racing his first half marathon after clocking a blistering 12:53 5,000m personal best. A pair of top-tier Americans—Tyler Pennell and Jeffery Eggleston—should also be in the mix for the win. Pennell owns a 1:01:44 half-marathon personal best and a fifth-place finish in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, while Eggleston has triumphed at previous Rock ‘n’ Roll races and has run 1:02:41 for the half marathon and 2:10:52 for the marathon.

The AACR Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon has always been the fastest “go-to” place for the start of the fall marathon season. The race, which was historically known as the Philadelphia Distance Run, dates back to 1978 and has been the site of five World Half Marathon Records and three American Records.

Fast times aside, plenty of fun is in store for participants just out for a rockin’ good time. Bands and cheer zones line the scenic course, which routes through downtown Philadelphia and then out along the beautiful Schuylkill River. The excitement begins with the opening of the Health and Fitness expo at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Friday and continues with a 5K race on Saturday near the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The culminating event, the half marathon, takes place on Sunday with alternative rock band Guster headlining the post-race concert. Race weekend registration for all distances will be available at the expo.

PHOTOS: Scenes from the 2015 Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon

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The Sewing Room Lets Runners Design Their Own Skirt Sports Apparel

The Out and About Dress, a piece that could be worn as a running outfit or as casual wear, is one of the first designs up for funding at The Sewing Room recently launched by Skirt Sports.

If you’ve ever had an idea for your ultimate piece of running apparel, Skirt Sports, a women’s athletic apparel brand based in Boulder, Colo., is ready to make your dream a reality with The Sewing Room.

Share design ideas, vote for your favorite styles, fund the process by placing a pre-order, and be the first to own the latest customer-driven styles. That’s the concept behind The Sewing Room, an innovative concept that launched earlier this summer with the intent of involving consumers in all of the behind-the-scenes processes of running apparel development.

“As a brand, we’re really in tune with women, their different body types and body image concerns,” says Skirt Sports founder Nicole DeBoom, a former professional triathlete. “Our customers also speak loudly about their apparel desires. The Sewing Room is a way for us to honor some of those requests and creative ideas.”

Skirt Sports is eager to make products that help women feel good about themselves. But DeBoom also wanted a way to make sure customers were serious about their special requests. The organic, grassroots nature of The Sewing Room puts consumers in charge, from submitting and funding designs (basically pre-ordering at a discount, with free shipping), to get exactly what they want.

RELATED: Why Women’s Apparel Companies Are On The Rise

For the first round, there were almost 100 submissions, from sketches on cocktail napkins to official drawings by burgeoning designers. DeBoom and her team narrowed down the choices to 11. After public voting, five styles, offered in both black and a pattern, made the final cut. What happens next depends upon a crowd-funding process.

“The way the funding works is much like Kickstarter, and if a design is not funded, customers will not be charged,” DeBoom says. “People can keep track of the goal meter for each design, but honestly, I have no idea what’s going to happen!”

All funded styles will be produced and shipped by May 1, 2017. (Click here to view styles on the funding page.)

Kelly Vaughn, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., is one of the initial designer finalists in the first round, as her Out and About Dress (see above) made it to the funding round. She’s a publisher by trade, but lives an active lifestyle—training for half marathons and doing a variety of other exercises, plus gardening and walking with her three dogs.

Vaughn says she has always had a challenging time finding clothes that fit her frame. With a large bust, small waist and muscular build, alterations are the norm. She’s long been a fan of Skirt Sports and jumped at the opportunity to design something just for her. The Out and About Dress meets her needs, from the perfect fit to styling that is appropriate for heading out on a run or going to meet clients.

“I love their dresses, but I had some modifications in mind,” Vaughn says. “Once I got the email (about The Sewing Room), I immediately made my sketch and submitted it, probably within a span of 10 minutes at most! I was shocked when I found out I made it to the next stage.

“My modifications included taking out the built-in bra, adding full-back coverage to accommodate straps from a variety of bras, reducing the size of the arm holes for more front coverage, yet adding some gathering so it fit an A cup to a D cup. I added side panels to allow for a fun bit of color that doesn’t come across as too bold. I also suggested a heavier fabric so the dress could perform on the run and for wearing to work.”

Retailers have also been welcome to participate by funding designs to meet the specific needs of their customers. DeBoom says she is even open to the idea of other competing brands testing new design ideas through The Sewing Room.

While many were excited about the idea, some naysayers accused Skirt Sports of taking intellectual property, something DeBoom was quick to dispel.

“These designs belong to these women,” DeBoom says. “Based upon our terms and conditions, once a specific design round is over, the women are free to do what they want with their submissions.”

In addition to the “designers” having their bios on the Skirt Sports website and social media channels, they get five units of product if their design is funded. For those designers whose styles made the final cut, but don’t receive funding, they get a $50 gift certificate. And if any styles are selected for inclusion in the line, there is an official contract with compensation.

Keep in mind, these styles won’t be around forever, and that’s part of the appeal. The funding round for the first edition of styles continues through Oct. 4, meaning orders are still being accepted. A new round of design submissions begins in November.

“This has been a super fun experience,” Vaughn says. “I definitely have more designs to share with The Sewing Room.”

The post The Sewing Room Lets Runners Design Their Own Skirt Sports Apparel appeared first on Competitor.com.

The Sewing Room Lets Runners Design Their Own Skirt Sports’ Apparel

The Out and About Dress, a piece that could be worn as a running outfit or as casual wear, is one of the first designs up for funding at The Sewing Room recently launched by Skirt Sports.

If you’ve ever had an idea for your ultimate piece of running apparel, Skirt Sports, a women’s athletic apparel brand based in Boulder, Colo., is ready to make your dream a reality with The Sewing Room.

Share design ideas, vote for your favorite styles, fund the process by placing a pre-order, and be the first to own the latest customer-driven styles. That’s the concept behind The Sewing Room, an innovative concept that launched earlier this summer with the intent of involving consumers in all of the behind-the-scenes processes of running apparel development.

“As a brand, we’re really in tune with women, their different body types and body image concerns,” says Skirt Sports founder Nicole DeBoom, a former professional triathlete. “Our customers also speak loudly about their apparel desires. The Sewing Room is a way for us to honor some of those requests and creative ideas.”

Skirt Sports is eager to make products that help women feel good about themselves. But DeBoom also wanted a way to make sure customers were serious about their special requests. The organic, grassroots nature of The Sewing Room puts consumers in charge, from submitting and funding designs (basically pre-ordering at a discount, with free shipping), to get exactly what they want.

For the first round, there were almost 100 submissions, from sketches on cocktail napkins to official drawings by burgeoning designers. DeBoom and her team narrowed down the choices to 11. After public voting, five styles, offered in both black and a pattern, made the final cut. What happens next depends upon a crowd-funding process.

“The way the funding works is much like Kickstarter, and if a design is not funded, customers will not be charged,” DeBoom says. “People can keep track of the goal meter for each design, but honestly, I have no idea what’s going to happen!”

All funded styles will be produced and shipped by May 1, 2017. (Click here to the styles here at the funding page.)

Kelly Vaughn, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., is one of the initial designer finalists in the first round, as her Out and About Dress (see above) made it to the funding round. She’s a publisher by trade, but she lives an active lifestyle—training for half marathons and doing a variety of other exercises, plus gardening and walking with her three dogs.

Vaughn says she has always had a challenging time finding clothes that fit her frame. With a large bust, small waist and muscular build, alterations are the norm. She’s long been a fan of Skirt Sports and jumped at the opportunity to design something just for her. The Out and About Dress meets her needs, from the perfect fit to styling that is appropriate for heading out on a run or going to meet clients.

“I love their dresses, but I had some modifications in mind,” Vaughn says. “Once I got the email (about The Sewing Room), I immediately made my sketch and submitted it, probably within a span of 10 minutes at most! I was shocked when I found out I made it to the next stage.

“My modifications included taking out the built-in bra, adding full-back coverage to accommodate straps from a variety of bras, reducing the size of the arm holes for more front coverage, yet adding some gathering so it fit an A cup to a D cup. I added side panels to allow for a fun bit of color that doesn’t come across as too bold. I also suggested a heavier fabric so the dress could perform on the run and for wearing to work.”

Retailers have been welcome to participate by funding designs to meet the specific needs of their customers. DeBoom says she is even open to the idea of other competing brands testing new design ideas through The Sewing Room.

While many were excited about the idea, some naysayers accused Skirt Sports of taking intellectual property, something DeBoom was quick to dispel.

“These designs belong to these women,” DeBoom says. “Based upon our terms and conditions, once a specific design round is over, the women are free to do what they want with their submissions.”

In addition to the “designers” having their bios on the Skirt Sports website and social media channels, they get five units of product if their design is funded. For those designers whose styles made the final cut, but don’t receive funding, they get a $50 gift certificate. And if any styles are selected for inclusion in the line, there is an official contract with compensation.

Keep in mind, these styles won’t be around forever, and that’s part of the appeal. The funding round for the first edition of styles continues through Oct. 4, meaning orders are still being accepted. A new round of design submissions begins in November.

“This has been a super fun experience,” Vaughn says. “I definitely have more designs to share with The Sewing Room.”

The post The Sewing Room Lets Runners Design Their Own Skirt Sports’ Apparel appeared first on Competitor.com.

Scout Bassett: Striving For The Podium

Becoming one of the best single amputee sprinters is neither a solitary nor simple journey—it requires a team of supporters to carry you through many ups and downs. And Scout Bassett knows this better than anyone. Watch as she takes us through the rigors of her workouts, how she leans on her training family for motivation, and why “I can’t” has been eliminated from her vocabulary as she strives for the podium this summer.

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Scout Bassett: Turning Failure Into Success

Scout Bassett is a fighter. The world-class triathlete and sprinter lost her leg to a fire in Nanjing, China, when she was a baby, and, after being adopted by a family in Michigan, has since become one of the most elite single amputee sprinters of our day. Watch the story of how she turned personal tragedy into athletic triumph as she strives for podium success this summer. Then look for Episode 2, coming soon.

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Celebrities Running the 2016 New York City Marathon

Singer Jax is prepping for this fall's New York City Marathon while also going through radiation treatments for thyroid cancer. Photo: Matt Harbicht

Here’s a rundown of celebrities and other notable personalities who will be running the Nov. 6 TCS New York City Marathon.

Jax, singer who starred in American Idol’s 14th season

(It was just announced she’s battling thyroid cancer in People.) The 20-year-old from New York is running on behalf of Tuesday’s Children.

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Richard Blais, American chef, restaurateur and winner of the reality television show “Top Chef: All-Stars”

– Running on behalf of Save the Children USA.

Elizabeth Falkner, Chef, Food Network TV personality, and author

– Running on behalf of NYRR Team for Kids

George Mendes, Executive chef at Aledea, New York City

Tiki Barber, former NFL running back and New York Giants all-time rushing leader; co-host of CBS Sports Radio’s morning show

– Running on behalf of the PitCCh In Foundation



RELATED: 36 Celebs and Notable People Who Run



Andy Katz, ESPN commentator

– Running on behalf of The V Foundation for Cancer Research

Alexander Mijares, Miami based visual artist with Cuban and Spanish roots

– Running on behalf of Keep a Child Alive

Cynthia Erivo, Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Musical for “The Color Purple”

Duane McLaughlin, actor and musician

– Running on behalf of Keep a Child Alive

Eric Millegan, American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Zack Addy on the hit Fox series “Bones”

RELATED: How Celebs Fared in the 2015 New York City Marathon

Graham Elliot, celebrity chef

Jacqueline Laurita, reality TV personality on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New Jersey”

– Running on behalf of Kulture City

Jeanette Jenkins, celebrity trainer, author, producer and  creator of The Hollywood Trainer Club and trainer to P!nk, Alicia Keys, Tia Mowry and many more

– Running on behalf of Keep a Child Alive.

Lee Pace, American actor, currently starring as the protagonist Joe MacMillan in AMC’s “Halt and Catch Fire”

– Running on behalf of Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund

Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon Champion, fashion designer, artist, learner, fighter

– Running on behalf of NYRR Team for Kids

Nev Schulman, producer, actor, photographer; best known for his documentary and MTV program “Catfish”

Raúl González Blanco, Spanish soccer legend

Sean Astin, actor best known for his roles in “Goonies,” “Rudy,” and the “Lord of the Rings” series

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Cross-Training: Tabata-Style Workouts

Whether you’re looking to sneak in a time-efficient workout or simply want to shake up your running routine, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than Tabata training. Similar to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), the original Tabata Protocol was developed for Olympic speed skaters and put to the test by Japanese sports scientist Izumi Tabata. These workouts are all about getting the most bang for your buck. Bust your butt for a few minutes at top-level effort and the research shows you’ll burn a ton of fat, and improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness too.

Start with a 10-minute warm-up before going into this tabata-style workout. With each move, do as many as you can in 20 seconds, take a 10-second break, then move on to the next exercise. Once you’ve completed all five exercises, take a 1-minute break and repeat the entire sequence three more times. (Similar workouts can also be done while running or riding a spin bike.)

Photos: Oliver Baker

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Jump Squats

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight. Bend your knees and lower your backside downward, feeling your weight supported through your heels. When your thighs are parallel to the ground, explode upward, jumping with both feet and swinging your arms in the same direction.

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Mountain Climbers

Get in pushup position. Jump your right knee forward toward your chest, keeping your hips in plank position and stabilizing your upper body with your arms and shoulders. As you jump that leg back to starting position, simultaneously drive your left knee forward and repeat as if you were running in place.

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Jump Lunges

Begin by lunging forward with your right foot, lowering your body until your right thigh is parallel with the floor and your left leg is behind your body. Keep your back straight and your right knee aligned with your right ankle. Then push off both feet to explode upward and switch your foot position midair, landing with your left leg out in front of your body and the right leg behind. Lunge downward again and continue alternating legs.

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High Knees

With a straight back and good posture, begin by marching in place, bringing each knee up until your thigh is parallel with the ground. Swing the opposite arm forward with each knee drive. Once you get the motion down, get on your toes and pick up the pace.

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Burpees

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Squat down and put your hands on the ground, jumping your feet back into pushup position. Do a push-up before jumping your feet back toward your hands and springing into the air with your arms over your head.

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Video: Running Los Angeles After Dark with BlacklistLA

BlacklistLA is a social running group that combines late-night runs with urban art in the heart of Los Angeles. Watch the video above and check out the story from our July 2016 issue of Competitor magazine.

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How Running Changed These Four People’s Lives

Julio Salazar found light at the end of a tunnel of depression along a dirt trail in the woods of Northern Minnesota. Now he runs to help others overcome the stigma associated with mental illness. Photo: Paul Phillips

We run for all different reasons:

To feel great, to lose weight, to have fun, to challenge ourselves. Yes, running can change your life. By now it’s practically a cliché. But for the following four people, running truly changed their lives in profound ways—maybe even saved them. Each of their stories is a testament to how powerful our sport is.

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