BRITTANY MORAN
on prehab
“I’m a chiropractor, so I place a huge emphasis on mobility, as well as strength training. To run a fast marathon, you need to be strong. People think that they’re going to gain bulk, but that isn’t true. I strength train one to three times a week and am consistent with active stretching after every run. I’d also recommend not waiting until something becomes a problem to address it. As soon as you feel anything, give that area some extra attention with a foam roller and stretching, and if possible seek massage or physio care pre-emptively.”
on motivation
“I’ve read two good sports psychology books recently – Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence by Gary Mack and The Champion’s Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive by Jim Afremow. I’ve come to realize that my outlook plays a big role and I’ve been working on not putting too much pressure on myself because, at the end of the day, running needs to be fun even when we want to go fast. I had this revelation on a long run – that what I do doesn’t matter to anyone else, everything I do needs to be done for myself; I’m giving my all for my own sake and no one else’s.”
best story?
“My second marathon was one of those rare days when everything clicked – it’s only happened for me that one time and it’s the most amazing feeling, like nothing is going to get in your way. After I finished I asked my coach: ‘How do I do that in every race?!’ and her response was to chuckle and then say bluntly, ‘that doesn’t happen in every race.’”