Ahh, the first days after the winter solstice - always a bit of a relief to me, knowing we can enjoy longer and longer daylight for the next 6 months! I’ve learned to love some snowy winter weather, but the short days still get to me. It’s also just about time for the annual self-assessment of the previous year, and of course, planning our New Year’s intentions. We hope everyone enjoys their holidays and rings in the New Year with gratitude and excitement for 2026! — Susan
Cupids Chocolate Chase
February 7 — Eugene, OR / 5K, 10K
Join us for a sweet start to Valentine’s season at the inaugural Cupids Chocolate Chase Presented by Euphoria Chocolate Company! Each participant will be treated to a handcrafted Euphoria chocolate at the finish line. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bags of Love, a local nonprofit supporting children in need.
Have you heard the term “running economy” thrown around lately? It seems that training theory has shifted away from focusing on VO2 max as a measure of fitness and more toward the importance of running economy. This is great news, actually, as it is much easier to improve our economy - or efficiency - through various training practices. Running economy refers to “how efficiently your body uses oxygen at a given pace.” Improving your economy can make the same pace feel easier, and eventually make your easy pace faster. Adding variety to your workouts, strength training, and working in plyometrics or strides are some easy ways to start developing better economy.
Running Economy: Why It’s Important and How Every Runner Can Improve It
Strides - otherwise known as pick-ups, accelerations, stride-outs - are a simple and effective training tool that I’ve personally been using for many years. Just a few short intervals offer plenty of benefits like improved leg turnover and the aforementioned “economy” at little to no risk. Use them near the end of an easy run, or as preparation for interval work to open up your legs and get your nervous system firing. Even on a heavy-leg day, I always feel better after!
Everything You Need to Know About How to Run Strides
Do you use Strava? If you’re one of the over 180 million users your relationship with the platform may fluctuate through the course of your training. It’s actually my favorite “social media” platform and, although I am an innately competitive person, I don’t find myself getting discouraged by each activity’s stats. I love seeing what my friends are doing out there, and it’s a great tool to find routes when visiting a new area or creating maps to download for navigation. It’s been my singular training log for at least 10 years; reminiscing on previous activities is easy and fun. If you do struggle with the data or find the unavoidable comparison trap demoralizing, this post from Running Sucks has some great advice for how to enjoy the Strava experience.
Benjamin Franklin claimed, “I never leave home without a nice pair of socks,” and as runners and cyclists, we couldn’t agree more. I’m lucky enough to have a fair amount of foot privilege: no tendency toward blisters, most toenails intact, a surprising lack of calluses. Most of my sock decisions come down to warmth and fashion. However, choosing appropriate fabric and fit can prevent a long-run sufferfest for many athletes. My current favorite is a pair of Icebreaker Merino Blend Run+ Ultralight Crew Socks, but sadly, I can’t seem to find any more. Perhaps one of these suggestions in Running Supply’s roundup will fill their shoes.
The Best Running Socks, from a guy that used to never wear socks
ETCETERA
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