🏃 RunLetters #23

Helloooo and happy Friday! 🙌

Today, I’ve got a 20% discount for you on Harrier Trail Running gear (but it expires at 4pm, which is really soon, so better be quick), some crazy ultra running, a kebab race, and a video on how to get ChatGPT to be your coach.

Let’s run with it ⤵️

📹 Watchlist: The Texas 1000 

If you’ve been craving a “series to watch”, then I’ve got you covered. You can dial into veteran Matthew Johnson’s run across Texas daily (at least, until it’s done). On YouTube, there are 5 episodes you can watch so far, with “day 5” going live today. So a nice little bingeeeee 🍿

Checking his Instagram, he’s on day 6, so YouTube is only one day behind.

The videos are pretty raw. Well edited, but still showing the rough side of things. And with an episode a day, we get to see the highs and lows.

It’s the second time he’s running across Texas (you can see the first time documentary here), but that doesn’t make it any easier.

One thing I love about this is that we also get to see the crew behind the mission. While Matthew may be the one running, he’s not doing this solo: the team is incredibly important!

📲 Social Spotlight: Adam Burns, the Aid Stations & Running Across Utah Guy

Adam Burns has gone viral on Instagram several times for his pop-up “aid stations” for runners on the Provo River Trail, whether they’re out for a long run, a half-marathon effort, or just a Sunday spin. It’s a simple, generous idea more of us could try, especially in places where people frequent the same loop.

He’s also on an almost 1.5-year daily run streak, highlighted by a 36.5-mile celebration on the BYU track.

But that’s not all.

He’s about to embark on a goal he’s trained for a long time: running across Utah in nine days, aiming to be the fastest and youngest to do it, while raising money for suicide prevention. For nearly a decade, Adam says he woke up with suicidal thoughts (no attempts), and his family has faced significant mental-health challenges. He also has close friends who have attempted.

He wants to give people what he needed then: hope, and to normalize talking about it. Running gave him structure, purpose, confidence, gratitude, and mental clarity, helping him through that dark period.

He recently dealt with early signs of shin splints but says they’re under control. I’m betting he still crushes it. Let’s see!

🗓 Events & Races: Kebab Race? What?

Run 10 miles from one kebab store to another, and get a free kebab (as long as you buy a drink or a side). Pretty solid deal, right? Especially since they’ve vegan options too, so something for everyone.

Not the type of event one may want to travel to London for, but… an idea to maybe spread. Got a local chain in your town? Maybe they’re up for organizing something similar for local run clubs!

These kinds of local incentives can be great ways to get more people into running. 10 miles is not nothing, so maybe more for regular runners. You could try to find a chain with two locations 5k-10k from each other. Either way, it’s something I will try to implement locally too 😄

🎽 Gear & Gadgets: 20% Off Harrier Trail Running

Harrier Trail Running has been featured in RunLetters before, but I’m bringing them back this week since they currently have their own version of “Prime Days” going on, and today is the last day!

You have until 4 pm (UK time) today to use the code PRIME20 to get 20% off on their website.

✨ Wild Card: ChatGPT as Your Coach?

Looking to save some bucks? Not ready to work with a coach (yet)? Unsatisfied with your running app or finding it too expensive?

Then ChatGPT could be a good option. But don’t just “ask it to be your coach.” You’ve got to be careful with the information you give it and how you prompt it. In the video below, Wild Rapha walks through all the steps to turn ChatGPT into a much more educated and professional coach than it’d be if you just used it “out of the box.”

Always be cautious with AI, though. This method is best suited for runners who already know themselves well enough to recognize signs of discomfort or injury, and who know when they’re pushing too hard.

Either way, it’s a fun watch, and if you’re already doing this, it might help you optimize your current plan!

🏁 The Finish Line

That’s it for another edition of RunLetters ✅ 

Racing this weekend? GOOD LUCK! 🍀 And if you’re recovering from a race last weekend, rest up. Oh, and if you are tapering… don’t go crazy! You’ve got this!

And if you are, like me, just running, then I wish you a nice run 🙏

See you next week!

Caroline

P.S. I ran a new PB last weekend in Cardiff, whoohoooo! See here which 7 products made ME a faster runner ⤵️