Erik Schlimmer tells the story of how he learned to fastpack the Adirondacks, a grueling 110 miles and 19,000 vertical feet of climbing, in five days with only 11 pounds on his back.
When this issue hits the gyms and stores, the story that inspired this column will be old news, but I’m writing about it anyway because I think it raises some really important issues in the active community.
Elizabeth Semrai
TRANING TACTIC: Currently using an online program to ready herself for a half-marathon, Semrai completes nearly all of her runs and workouts solo.
2008 GOAL: To finish the New Jersey half-marathon in May.
WHY IT WORKS: Brand new to the running scene, Semrai considers herself a student of the sport, preferring to stick to her own curriculum until she’s ready to join a group setting. “Honestly, I was intimidated about keeping up with a big pack of runners, and I found that training alone let me really focus on my own pace and fitness,” she says. “When I run, I feel comfortable and completely in control of my workout and what I want to achieve.”
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: In just a few months, Semrai has gone from a speed walker at the gym to a veritable road running warrior. She finished her first local race, the Fred Lebow 5-miler, in January, and plans to add a few more local races to her schedule before the half-marathon in May. “I’m amazed at my endurance and strength, and I’m proud of myself for being able to get to this level of fitness,” she says.
THE DOWNSIDES: The phrase “the loneliness of the long distance runner” often rings true for Semrai, who occasionally meets up with a group or a running buddy when she’s in need of a social fix. She also worries about overextend prepare herself, she found an online half-marathon training guide, which she’ll stick to until race day. “Regardless of my time, I just want to feel good and steady,” she says. “Mostly, I’ll just be excited to be a part of such a gratifying experience as a half-marathon.”
TRAINING TACTIC: Competes with Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Team Fox (www.teamfox.org), a charity group that raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease research.
2008 GOAL: To run a sub three-hour marathon.
RUNNING ROUTINE: Runs (and bikes and swims) in informal group sessions with fellow Team Fox members up to five times a week; also trains with Full Throttle Endurance triathlon team out of Chelsea Piers Sports Center.
WHY IT WORKS: Inspiration. “Meeting the other Team Fox members, and hearing their stories gives a purpose to my running when it otherwise might be a selfish endeavor,” says Gurkoff. He adds that racing and training become more meaningful when you commit yourself to helping people who live with Parkinson’s disease (including his grandfather) through fundraising. “I raise money by betting my friends and family that I will finish my races within a certain time. If I win, they donate to Team Fox. If I lose, I’ll donate to a charity of their choice. Putting money—and pride—on the line adds a few key layers of motivation to help me reach my goals.”
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT:Gurkoff joined Team Fox in 2005 with a marathon personal best of 3:30. In 2007, citing training with faster Team Fox members as a reason for his increased fitness, he ran 3:00:33 at the ING New York City Marathon. And the team’s stats are improving, too: In 2005, 22 people ran the ING New York City Marathon in a Team Fox uniform. Two years later, the number was over 100.
THE DOWNSIDES: None, if you ask Gurkoff. Generally, however, racing for a charity team requires extra leg work on the athlete’s part, including crafting fundraising letters, reaching out to friends and family, and following through on promised donations (which can run as high as $5,000 if you want guaranteed entry in exclusive races like the New York, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and London marathons). But it’s all for a good cause.
OUTLOOK:This season, Gurkoff will compete in Ironman Couer D’Alene, Boston Marathon, the ING New York City Marathon, and a smattering of other local road races and triathlons. “I just want to continue to get faster,” he says, “And raise even more money and awareness for Parkinson’s.”
TRAINING TACTIC: Endures one hour, running- and strength-focused workouts with a personal trainer each week.
2008 GOAL: To crack the 50-minute barrier in a 10K race.
RUNNING ROUTINE: Meets with trainer Jan Wyche once a week for an hour. Workouts include interval sessions on the treadmill, plus strength training to support her running, focusing on lateral hip muscles, lats, and glutes. Also runs up to 20 miles a week on her own.
WHY IT WORKS: Fried loves working out with a personal trainer simply because she does not have to think. “I just show up and Jan has everything planned out. She’s very observant and can figure out my weaknesses without me having to say anything. Then, she comes up with a way to strengthen those areas and continues to challenge me until I get it right,” says Fried.
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: Since starting her sessions with Wyche, Fried says the changes in her strength and appearance are far greater than anything she could achieve on her own. Though initially focused on trimming down, Fried soon noticed the benefits her workouts were bringing to her running. “At my first road race last year, I ran faster than I had in years. I got all fired up and realized how much the work I was doing with Jan was really helping,” she says.
THE DOWNSIDES: Like most relationships, the trainer/client dynamic has its ups and downs. “Some days I’m feeling tired or sorry for myself, and the workouts can be pure torture,” says Fried. “She’ll make me run steps, which I absolutely hate. But I know that they’re good for me in the end,” says Fried. The cost of hiring a trainer (around $100 per one-hour session) can also be prohibitive for most runners; Fried admits that she’d work with Wyche five times a week if she could afford it.
OUTLOOK: This season, Fried plans to take her fit new body on the roads, competing with the New York Flyers masters team in many of the NYRR races, including the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K in June. “Early this year, I ran a 10K in the park in 50:28, which was a big PR for me,” says Fried. “Now I’m looking forward to getting out there again, only this time running even faster.”
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