Now that Spring is here and the weather has finally decided to act like it, I thought it would be an ideal time to discuss Spring running apparel (gear) as well as some very essential add­ons that every runner should have.

We all have very different physiology and we handle the changes in weather differently. However there are a few things you should all keep in mind when deciding what running gear to buy and what to wear to ensure that you run comfortably this Spring

I’d like to think that the mile is my distance, the one I am best suited for, because it is by far my favorite distance to race. I was born with raw half mile speed (maybe even quarter mile speed) and with a 5K­type aerobic engine so I guess it makes sense that I fell somewhere in the middle of the two. As I developed as a runner, I became more of a speed runner rather than an endurance monster but I didn’t have the wheels to be a big­time half­miler. I also didn’t mind. The mile is iconic. In a different sort of way than the marathon. They both require lots of strength and endurance, lots and lots of miles of training and they each have their own way of pushing you to your physical and mental limits. However the mile has a history and a reverence in the sport of running that is unlike any other race. 

Way to go Rhode Runners! We showed February who’s boss!! I mean, seriously! That extra day didn’t matter at all, it just gave us one more chance to prove how dedicated and resilient we all are. There were so many inspiring photos and moments captured during our #HitTheRhode and #Win contest last month, so I decided to highlight just a few of them. Our winners will be announced very soon, but in the meantime enjoy reliving some of these fantastic moments:

Here is an early-season Fartlek workout that both half and full marathoners can utilize, after their winter base training, as well as a runner who is in the early stages of training for a 5K and is not yet ready for 5K-specific speed work. It’s a very effective workout to do as you transition between the roads and the track.

I sat down with our very own Jake Sienko this past weekend as he was getting ready to travel to LA for the Olympic Marathon trials. Jake was a standout cross-country and track runner at Hendricken, then went on to run for Columbia University. After college he continued to develop as a runner and just last year, qualified for the Olympic Marathon trials by running a 1:04:35 at the Houston Half Marathon.