The Carbo Load, Encinitas, CA (2026)

09/11/2020

Sometimes as a coach I get self-conscious. Is what I’m doing working for my athletes? Is what I provide valuable? Every athlete is different physically and mentally, so what works and what is valued can vary. As I seek to figure that out for each athlete sometimes I second guess myself.
is makes it easy on me. First of all, he responds well to just about any type of workout I throw his way. He also absorbs the context of the training, not just the content.
Most importantly, he encourages me. When I started coaching him he had been working with a great runner who just didn’t give him the feedback he needed from a coach. I was intimidated. “Would I be able to do that? Could I be any better?” I’m really grateful for the way he has expressed his appreciation and satisfaction of working with me. I wouldn’t say that I NEED a lot of this as a coach, but it sure does help sometimes.
Check his last post for some of the big progress he’s making!

09/09/2020

I had an athlete refer to her workout as the “dreaded tempo run” and I started to think back to my mindset about workouts.
When I first started running actual workouts- intervals and tempos, etc.- I quickly developed this outlook that I dreaded workout days and I loved the easy run days. Then I read an article that noted that athletes typically look forward to their faster workouts because they get to take the reins off and run fast! Plus, adding in workouts was producing so much progress. Why would I dread them? I should look forward to the opportunity to push myself. My mind flipped and I started to look forward to the opportunity to push myself and I embraced the physical pain even more instead of dreading it.
I remember when was coming off a season of overtraining (partially my fault, we both learned a lot that year, unfortunately at her expense) and getting back into big workouts. She had had so many workouts and races that did not produce positive results due to being overtrained that she began to dread that feeling of defeat and it took a toll on her mentality and performance in workouts. She has never dreaded the physical pain, only the thought of not being successful. But once she saw some success, she developed an enthusiasm for workouts rather than dreading them like she had for so long.
To run well, it’s imperative that you look forward to doing it, whether that’s easy miles, long runs, workouts, or races. And if something is stopping you from loving it- whether it’s a mental or physical dread- you’ll want to discover what that is and why, what you should do to work through it, and start to love it again. As for me, I can’t wait to be a little in over my head 3/4 through a workout daring myself to rise to rise to the occasion, grit my teeth, and dig in.

09/07/2020

A hard mile feels like a hard mile no matter what kind of shape you’re in. As I claw my way up from the fitness floor, I’ve used the mile to track my progress. At first, my groin and legs were the limiting factor and I wasn’t able to run a truly “hard” effort as I remained cautious not to hurt myself. Then as my legs strengthened I was able to push a little more and a little more.
I ran a mile in 5:56, then I ran 5:36, then 5:20, and last week I ran 3x mile in 5:14- 5:12- 5:21. All of those miles felt the same. My heart rate was 180+ at the end. My body was doing the same thing and feeling the same way, only at different paces.
That’s really what running is all about- working hard at the paces you can in order to work just as hard at faster paces. That’s why I always say, “It doesn’t get easier, you just get faster.”
It’s been a slow process this year, but I’m grateful to just be in the process again. I don’t take that lightly. I always want nothing but strong running for myself and anyone I coach (and anyone I know really), but sometimes it’s nice to know that your coach knows what it’s like to be where you are. My man is in a similar place (slowly getting up from the bottom) and I’m glad to be going through the process with him as a coach and a friend. Where he is fitness-wise couldn’t be fresher in my mind.
If you’re looking for someone to guide you through the process to faster stronger running, I’d love to be that guy. Send me a message. Let’s talk. And let’s build some fitness!

08/23/2020

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIMBERLY!
You enrich so many peoples lives, especially mine. I have never met anyone as encouraging as you. You have such great hope and faith, and you don’t keep it to yourself. You speak that hope and faith to everyone around you. You don’t let the people who interact with you continue in negativity or despair. You pull them out! You lift them up! You show them that hope and joy is theirs to take. You deserve for the whole world to wish you a Happy Birthday today!
I learn so much from you. I admire you. I adore you. I love you. Happy Birthday!
@ San Diego, California

07/27/2020

Back to the humble beginnings
I’ve had some seasons that I would take a break and come back and start running seven days a week within a few weeks and then a few more weeks and I’m running high mileage and right back to workouts and long runs. Then I’ve had seasons that weren’t quite like that… Since I’ve been trying to run more seriously I haven’t had to make my come back quite this slowly.
I’ve really had to learn to not get ahead of myself. To not be prideful about how much I’m able to run- or more like how little I am able to run. To be OK with however slow I need to go to not hurt myself. Sometimes I stupidly think that I’m too good for a certain level or that by default I should be able to do more or run faster.
This weekend was the best I’ve run in a while: 6 miles slow on Saturday and 4 miles today with 4x 1 min hills strides. Only running faster uphill makes for less pounding on my body. While those strides were the fastest I’ve run in months, they still weren’t much faster than I would run up that same hill on an easy day when I’m in good fitness. I’m just thankful to get some higher turnover and feel like I’m moving naturally and pain free.

07/21/2020

Is It New Or Does It Suck?
A friend referenced and article the other day pointing out that in order to form habits and succeed at something you have to simply stick with it until you have built enough of a tolerance for what you’re doing that you can actually enjoy it.
When something difficult is new, it really sucks. And if that something sucks, it means that it’s still just too new for you to have built a tolerance for it to the point that you can enjoy it.
I’ve said this about running so many times. As a runner, I’ve talked to so many non-runners (almost runners) who say “I’ve heard about the ‘runner’s high’ but I could never enjoy running at all. It just sucked the whole time.” And I’m a firm believer that SO many people end their pursuit of running right there, far too soon before they can actually enjoy it.
The activity of running is never an “easy” thing, but if you just build your tolerance of it enough so that it doesn’t completely suck al the time, there’s something really great beyond that point. If running sucks for you all the time, please don’t quit just yet.

07/07/2020

There’s a point during injury or illness when you’ve been away from running long enough or the issue has taken so long to resolve that it’s hard to imagine a time when you won’t deal with that certain thing. I know I’ve felt this dozens of times over the years. A lingering IT band issue, plantar fasciitis, Achilles pain, hamstring strain, burnout, etc. the battle has been so long that you can’t see yourself coming through it. You can’t picture a pain free run. You can’t see the fitness growing, digging through tough workouts and running strong without that issue that’s been in front of you for too long.
I’ve definitely felt like this some recently, but I haven’t been out long enough that I can’t talk myself back up and snap out of it. The picture here was only a year ago and I’ve done plenty of good running since then. I’ve got athletes and friends who have battled to be back with full force much longer than means and I respect their battle. Most of all I respect attitude- her positivity, hope, faith, and her ability to see herself running and training at full health and full strength again is simply incredible. And she’s not wrong for it. We get through our issues. We work them out. We recover. We heal. Like I said, I’ve had this feeling of “how will I ever not deal with this thing” like 20 times- and I’ve always healed and recovered and come back to enjoy pain free running again.
Hang in there. Keep seeing yourself running strong again. You will.

07/03/2020

Sometimes doing everything you can to be a better runner involves a whole lot of not running. It I involves doing a whole lot of things other than running. Running is the part of training I’m good at. I can make myself do it everyday whether I feel like it or not. As long as I’m not hurt, I can make myself get out there. I can rise to the occasion to dig deep in workouts and races. I’m good at the running part.
When I first started running higher mileage I started doing all the extra things to that were not running- hip/glute activation, hamstring curls, core work, ice baths. If I was gonna do it I was gonna do it right. Some seasons have been more consistent than others, but I know that the last year has been the least consistent thus far. In a lot of ways it shows.
For now I’m enjoying the ability to go for an easy run and get some aerobic work on the . Can’t wait to rip around a track again.
If you need some help with your own training- ripping around a track and how to navigate all the extra things, I’d love to help. Message me and let’s build some fitness!

05/31/2020

Bad Pride vs. Good Pride
Wandering thoughts this morning brought me to the (running) company I keep here in San Diego- teammates, training partners, and competitors- all certainly ran high school XC and track and most competed at a collegiate level. Then I thought of the company I can say I keep nationally- the Trials being the prime example coming to mind as it is recent, the most competitive field I’ve ever competed in, and also an exclusive field. Then I thought of me…
For me to go meet up with “the guys” for a workout or a long run is such a normal thing (not these days, obviously) and because we run at about the same level, I easily forget that my running history is so different than everyone else’s. At our level, it’s just assumed that everyone ran in high school and probably some level of college, and I’m sure some guys in different groups who I don’t know that well have NO idea that I didn’t even run for my high school.
I can so easily think about how much better of a runner I want to be. I surely didn’t get to where I am without the feeling of always wanting to be better than I am or to have performed better than I have. But to have embarrassment or shame on any kind of performance or race or place- as I look back and say “I’m so much better than 139th at the trials” or “I can’t believe I ran a 1:08:30 1/2 marathon last fall”- is the BAD kind of pride that I won’t let occupy space in my mind.
To look at the company I keep and be grateful that I can even run with these guys. To remember that at one point I never even considered that I would break 1:20 in a 1/2 marathon. To have had the opportunity to experience the Trials from the road and not the sidewalk. There is humility in that outlook, but I’m also SO proud of the things I’ve been able to do. I’m so proud that I could be considered a competitor to some of these guys. I’m so proud to just be in “the league.” That is the GOOD pride that I’ll hold onto.
Don’t let the bad pride crowd your thoughts and rob your joy of the pursuit. @ Balboa Park

05/30/2020

Upon hearing about the Boston Marathon cancellation, I started to think of the people training for the race, or a race, or to qualify for next spring (which won’t happen if there are no fall races). I thought about runners I’ve previously mentioned that tend to need an upcoming race to put the training in and I thought, “Wow, they’re (we’re) really gonna have to search for what they want now. We’re all going to have to find the joy of just running again."
I feel like I’ve answered the question “Why do you run?” on so many forms either for races, or shoe wear testing, etc. and there are always generic, pre-written answers: 1. To compete. 2. Just for fun. 3. To stay fit/healthy. 4. For the social aspects. Etc. I never like answering that question because for me, it’s all of those things plus like 1000 other reasons. The more I’ve invested in running over the years, the more I feel like I get from it and the more I just enjoy running in al forms.
I encourage you to find the enjoyment in just running. To let running be the thing you enjoy and not just the necessity of reaching a goal. To enjoy just being out there alone with your own thoughts. To take this time to appreciate the things that are great about being out on a run that are often overshadowed by our group runs and friends and race goals.
I ran an easy easy 30 minutes last night with less discomfort and enjoyed every minute of it!

The Carbo Load

09/11/2020

09/09/2020

09/07/2020

08/23/2020

07/27/2020

07/21/2020

07/07/2020

07/03/2020

05/31/2020

05/30/2020

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request