Season 7 Ep 1 — Inside Nell Rojas' Approach to Marathon Training and Athlete Development
Jan 15, 2025
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Nell Rojas, a professional marathoner and coach celebrated for her top American finishes in the Boston and New York City Marathons, shares her rich insights on marathon training. She emphasizes the art and science of coaching, balancing individual needs with athletic goals. Nell discusses the importance of tailored nutrition, recovery strategies, and integrating strength training into marathon preparation. Advocating for inclusivity in running, she inspires athletes with her journey from competitor to coach, highlighting the joy of empowering others in the sport.
Nell Rojas emphasizes the importance of a diverse training regimen combining varied pace and effort to prevent burnout and enhance overall athletic development.
She advocates for teaching athletes to run intuitively, enabling them to better distinguish between true fatigue and physical overexertion during their training.
Deep dives
Training Approaches for Marathon Preparation
Marathon training should include a balance of general and specific workouts, emphasizing the importance of variety in pace and effort. A diverse training regimen allows runners to avoid burnout and promotes overall athletic development. For example, integrating faster-paced 400-meter repeats can enhance speed while also improving athletes’ confidence in their marathon pace. This approach ensures that runners are well-rounded and prepared for the demands of race day.
Intuitive Running and Athlete Development
A key focus in coaching is to teach athletes how to run intuitively, distinguishing between physical and mental limits during training. For example, many athletes may misinterpret feelings of fatigue as mental weakness when they are, in fact, overexerting themselves physically. By conducting consistent workouts and discussions around perceived exertion, coaches can guide athletes to better understand their bodies and pacing. This fosters a more sustainable running practice and builds resilience over time.
Nutrition and Race Day Preparedness
Incorporating nutrition strategies into training is vital for optimal performance on race day. Athletes are encouraged to experiment with energy gels during long runs to identify what works best for their individual needs and stomach sensitivities. Aiming for around 60-80 grams of carbohydrates per hour is a common target, which can significantly enhance endurance. Tracking this feedback in a training diary also allows for ongoing adjustments and improvements in fueling strategies.
The Importance of Strength Training
Integrating strength training into a marathon training program is essential, albeit it must be adapted to each athlete’s schedule and intensity of their running. Prioritizing strength training before the marathon build allows athletes to build foundational strength, which can then be maintained throughout the training cycle. Coaches must ensure that athletes do not neglect this aspect, as it supports injury prevention and enhances overall performance. By encouraging consistency and providing flexibility in strength workouts, athletes can remain healthy and competitive.
Professional runner and running coach Nell Rojas shares her insights into racing and coaching athletes for marathons, including the Boston Marathon, using a balance of art and science.
She attended Northern Arizona University, where she studied exercise science and competed in cross country and track. Nell ran her first marathon in 2018 and became the top American finisher in the Boston Marathon in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, she finished 10th at the 2022 New York City Marathon.
Nell has achieved remarkable success as an American marathon runner, securing top American finishes at the 2021 and 2022 Boston Marathons, a top 10 finish at the 2022 New York City Marathon, and competing in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. She has also claimed a 10-mile US Championship title and won Grandma's Marathon.
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Nell advocates for inclusivity within the running community, focusing on empowering people of color and women. With 20 years of coaching experience, she is dedicated to helping athletes of all abilities achieve their own running goals.
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