TRAIN.
RACE.
EXPLORE.
January 7, 2025
Welcome to Week 1 of Training
HEY MIT FAM!
We hope you had an amazing time at our season kickoff this past Saturday! It was incredible to see so many of you lacing up and showing up, despite the snowy conditions. Your resilience and determination are what set this community apart, and we couldn’t be more excited for the journey ahead.
Speaking of snowy conditions, let’s keep that same grit and determination going strong this week—but safely! Whether you're braving the outdoors or sticking to treadmill miles, make sure you're prepared: wear proper footwear, layer up with high-vis weather-appropriate gear, and stay cautious out there. Safety always comes first!
Remember, this newsletter is your hub for all things MIT! Each week, we’ll share workout locations, logistics, and important updates. In this issue, we’re excited to introduce you to one of the most valuable perks of being part of MIT: access to expert medical care through our Injury Pipeline and MIT Medical Team. They’re here to keep you strong, healthy, and running your best all season long.
Lastly, a quick note about inclement weather protocols: Our team monitors weather and trail conditions closely, and we’ll communicate any cancellations or changes at least two hours before any scheduled workout. You’ll hear from us via text, email, and the MIT Instagram account (@mitmarathoners), so be sure to stay tuned to those channels.
Here’s to kicking off a safe, strong, and successful season. Let’s keep the momentum rolling, MIT!
Warm (and layered-up) wishes,
Coach Hannah
NOTE: Thank you for your patience as I continue to assign VDOT training plans. If you have not accessed VDOT, please click the blue "MY TRAINING PLAN" button at the top of this page.
Workout Hub
This Week's Workouts at a Glance
WEDNESDAY GRIT WORK: TRACK FARTLEKS
WHEN
Wednesday, January 8th @ 6:30pm
LOCATION
Fleet Feet Office
867 North High Street, Suite A
Worthington, OH 43085
(PARKING: The parking lot behind our building is small, so please park across the street in the REMAX parking lot or find free parking in downtown Worthington.)
WORKOUT DETAILS:
Fartlek is a training method for runners/walkers that involves alternating between fast and slow paces. The term comes from the Swedish word fartlek, which means "speed play". Remember: Speed is a relative term, and all paces are welcome and will benefit from joining us for GRIT workouts!
WARM UP: 1 mile from Office to Worthingway Middle School Track
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HALF MARATHONERS:
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7 x 1 minute on, 1 minute off
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FULL MARATHONERS:
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10 x 1 minute on, 1 minute off
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COOL DOWN: 1 mile back to office
NOTE: Please be sure to bring a headlamp and reflective gear for Wednesday night runs.
SATURDAY LONG RUN: Westerville Central High School
WHEN
Saturday, January 11th @ 8:00am
LOCATION
Westerville Central High School
7118 Mt Royal Ave
Westerville, OH 43082
WORKOUT DETAILS:
Long Run Route - Note, we may update this due to trail conditions. Stay tuned!
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HALF MARATHONERS:
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5 miles
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FULL MARATHONERS:
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9 miles
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EDGE:
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14 miles
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Be sure to bring your own hydration cup or bottle - our water stops are cup-less! Use your MIT Discount at any Fleet Feet Columbus store and snag an amphipod flexible cup, a handheld bottle, or hydration vest.
MEET YOUR MIT MEDICAL TEAM
SEAN HUFFMAN, FIT FOR LIFE PHYSICAL THERAPY
Have you ever wondered about the level of medical care that is available to each walker and runner at Marathoner In Training? Well…it is the same elite care as those collegiate and professional athletes, with immediate triage injury screenings, rapid access to physician diagnosis, and prompt initiation of a return to sport rehabilitation program. Let’s meet the team.
Fit For Life Physical Therapy is proud to be the Official MIT and Fleet Feet Sports Medicine Partner. We care for people of all activity levels — to help prevent, recover from, or rehabilitate athletic injuries.
Fit For Life Physical Therapy are proud to be the Official MIT and Fleet Feet Columbus Medicine Partners. We care for people of all activity levels — to help prevent, recover from, or rehabilitate athletic injuries.
Michael Sean Huffman MS, ATC, PT
Fit For Life Physical Therapy
MIT Medical Resources Coach
ACCESS YOUR TRAINING PLANS
INTRODUCING THE VDOT TRAINING PLATFORM
As a community, we’ve always prided ourselves on combining tradition with innovation. For years, our custom Excel training plans have guided countless athletes toward their goals, built on the rock-solid training principles pioneered by legendary coach Dr. Jack Daniels. Now, we’re taking those same principles you know and trust and moving them into the 21st century with the VDOT platform!
VDOT isn’t just another training tool—it’s a game changer. Based on Dr. Daniels’ groundbreaking work, VDOT provides a personalized measure of your current running ability and helps you zero in on the paces that are right for you. All it takes is entering a recent race result or an estimated performance, and the platform calculates your unique VDOT score. From there, it tailors training paces and plans to your current fitness or aspirational goals.
Why the switch to VDOT? It’s simple: precision and personalization. With VDOT, we can take our training plans to the next level, giving you real-time updates on your workouts, streamlining your progress tracking, and ensuring that every session is customized to where you are right now.
Want to understand what VDOT pace categories are? Check out this guide to learn more about the paces and principles behind the platform: https://vdoto2.com/learn-more/training-definitions.
Together, we’re bridging the gap between time-tested training methods and modern technology to help you achieve your best. Here’s to smarter training and stronger strides!
Want to try it out? Click the ACCESS VDOT button below and fill out the form to receive your invitation link.
Prefer the classic excel sheet? No worries, the excel sheets will not be going away, and you can access them by clicking the blue "Training Plans" button at the top of each newsletter.
NOTE: Many of you signed up for VDOT over the holidays, and Hannah is diligently working to get your plans assigned before Kickoff! If your plan hasn't been assigned yet, have no fear, it will be soon!
MIT x FAST RABBITS @ Crooked Can Brewery
A FUN CROSSOVER EVENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Join us for a first-of-its-kind MIT x Fast Rabbits cross-over! That's right! MIT is joining forces with Fast Rabbits to get kids and adults moving like never before! Bring your kiddos to Crooked Can Brewing in Hilliard on January 25th at 8:00am for a free kids workout while you do your MIT long run!
WHAT IS FAST RABBITS?
The Fast Rabbits Youth Running Club offers participants the opportunity to participate in regular physical activity and to learn about healthy lifestyle behaviors along the way. We're not just here to prepare for a race, we're here to empower your athlete with knowledge and an understanding of lifelong fitness.
Though our focus is, ostensibly, on running, we allow kids time to just be kids as well! Your athlete will be introduced to different types of running/training (i.e. road running, trail running, track workouts and circuit training), running drills and stretching to improve form and prevent injury, as well as fun game.
WHAT WILL THE KIDDOS DO WHILE YOU ARE RUNNING?
The kiddos will do the Fast Rabbits Winter Season conditioning workout, which will consist of about 10 minutes of dynamic stretching/drills, 20 minutes of running, 10 minutes of strength training (body weight exercises), and 10 minutes of static stretching -- with plenty of water breaks in between!
Adults are welcome to stay with their kids if their kids would feel more comfortable with them in that capacity - Please note that we can only accommodate cross-over workouts for HALF MARATHON MILEAGE.
Interested in having the family participate in this event? Sign up below!
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