The hot sticky tropical summer of 2018 lasted a good 140 days in New Jersey;  I can’t vouch for the rest of the country, but it was hot and draining here.   Week after week there was hot weather and rain and humidity.  It may have finally broken this week;  even if we have some warmer weather, hopefully the humidity is at least gone.

The Fall brings me back to high school cross country and teamwork and running in cooler temperatures in colorful leaved streets.  It also brings me back to the runs in college at the Rockefeller State Park in Westchester County for Pace University.

There are so many positive aspects to the fall season for runners.    The first is that the weather is cooler, allowing for better training and potentially faster times for races.  Secondly, there are many many races to choose from, from 5K’s to marathons to ultras on different surfaces and in so many places.  Within a 50 mile radius of Northern NJ there are literally 20 races per weekend for 8 straight weeks.   This year I already have run 3 races I have never run before over the last 3 weeks.   There are many unique fun themed races to do for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s (Eve and Day).     A lot of runners are into running in the Fall after being away for the summer.  Therefore you have more runners to potentially run with (if you are looking for them).   For beginners, a lot of couch to 5K programs are available in this time to introduce you to running for the first time.

So many reasons to be happy about the Fall as a runner….. especially in 2018!

Trials of Miles

Coach Nick

 

 

Nickolas Joannidis
Nickolas Joannidis
I have been running for over 35 years, having done practically every possible racing event or distance from the 100 meters through the marathon. I competed in varsity high school cross country and track at Saddle Brook High School in the mid-1980's, varsity cross country and track at Division II Pace University and finished well over 200 road races since then, including 20 marathons with a lifetime best of 3:14:50. I was the president of the Hoffmann LaRoche corporate running team for 7 years, growing the team from 25 to over 90 during his tenure. I coached many of these runners to achieve their goals, whether they were beginners or advanced. In 2011 I was an assistant coach for the Fair Lawn Recreation track team, helping the 10 to 14 year old group. I am currently personally coaching dozens of runners, from beginner levels to advanced levels and getting them to be prepared to meet their goals.

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