Name: Bryan Traughber

Age: 30

Occupation: Teacher and Cross Country Track Coach at De Smet Jesuit High School

I have always enjoyed running but recently, I found myself struggling to stay motivated to train. While on a 16 mile weekend run, after about 3 miles, I quit, I had no desire to continue running. What is wrong with me? I had been training on my own for about 7 years, and had completed 3 marathons, numerous half marathons and almost every other possible distance race I could enter.  However, I decided it wasn't fun anymore and that I would focus on coaching instead and would no longer train seriously. Then one day, while listening to the Big River Running Radio Show, I heard an advertisement for Big River Running Personal Coaching.  This inspired me to run again and I decided it was exactly what I needed.  A meeting with Tim Bradley was scheduled and has since taken my training to the next level!

Because of this meeting, my attitude toward training finally changed.  Running is no longer a chore and on most days I actually look forward to my run.  I have been working with Tim for about a year and a half now. Tim has provided me with a much needed structure to my training program. He's been a great source of motivation and a quick resource. He's also helped me understand the physical and mental side of training to a greater degree.  Tim also holds you accountable for your training, an aspect that I really like. It keeps me on the right track.  Plus, everything Tim has taught me, I am putting to use coaching the De Smet Jesuit High School Cross Country and Track teams.

Since I began the program, I have run personal bests (post high school personal bests) in the 1600m ( 5:47 in Mackind mile), 3200m ( 12:32 at the Big River Summer Speedwork), 5000m ( 20:00 in the Big River Summer Speedwork 5k) , and the Half Marathon ( 1:32:26 at the Frostbite Series).  I am most proud of the half marathon PR as it was more than one minute faster than my

previous time, and it was about 15 degrees on race day.  Currently, I am training for the LCFB Marathon in Dublin , Ohio on February 28th, 2010 .  My current PR is 3:39 and I plan to break 3:30 under Tim's instruction.  The first month and half of training has been near perfect as I have logged more miles per week over the last six weeks than I have done since high school.  I can't wait for race day! Thanks Big River Running for helping me find my passion for running again!

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Name: Maggie Morris

Age: 52

 In March of 2008 I set a goal of running the St. Louis Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure in June of that year.  I was 52 years old, had never run a day in my life. I had walked in my first Susan Komen race in 2002 when I was in the middle of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.  At that time, I struggled to complete the one mile.  I thought running the 5K six years later would be a demonstration of how far I had come in my battle against breast cancer.
  
I really had no idea how to start a running program so I did what lots of people do - I pulled an intro program off the internet and did my best to follow it.  I did complete the 2008 Komen 5K, with a walk/run approach, and from the experience got excited about the possibility of running a 5k continuously and participating in more races. I knew that I needed additional advice and guidance to move toward my next set of goals.  I had come as far as I could on my own.  I saw the link of the Personal Coaching on the Big River Running website and decided to give it a try.  I was a bit hesitant at first, concerned the program was geared to younger, more experienced runners - but I was wrong.  In my first meeting with Tim Bradley, we first discussed my goals.  For me, I had 3 goals: 

1) stay healthy/don't get hurt, 2) be capable for continuously running a 5K and 3) run future races fasted that previous races.
  
Tim put together a program and as I followed the program, Tim was available to answer all my questions with patience and clarity.  The program developed by Tim incorporated my current weight training and cardio activity and took into account my work schedule. In May of 2009, I ran my first 5K of the year in 31:42.  I continued following my program developed by Tim, ran several 5K races over the summer of 2009 and finished the summer with a 5K time of 28:00.  In addition, I completed the Lewis and Clark Half Marathon in September 2009 in under 2:30:00 .  When I look back, my progress has been amazing over the summer of 2009. My progress would not have been possible without the expertise, structure and support of the Personal Coaching at Big River .
  
Maggie Morris