UPDATE: October 13, 2019 – I just ran another PB in the half marathon!! 1:45:03. Okay, it was a 5 second PB, but I’m in the middle of hard core marathon training right now, so I’ll take it! I felt really good, loved the rolling hills (in the Victoria Half marathon course) and I beat my dad (although only by 2 minutes lol). The best part is I recovered almost immediately, legs feel good and am right back into my marathon training.
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UPDATE: October 7, 2018 – Success! I ran my first ever marathon! In under 4 hours! I never thought I’d run a full marathon, and had no idea what to expect so I didn’t want to put any time pressures on myself. But Sarah knew I could run a sub-4 so that is what she set me up for, and I did it! I can’t believe I held the pace I did for so long, but I fueled the way Sarah told me to and I took all the gels she had outlined for me. I just loved it – and I say that after running it in the pouring rain for 4 hours. What an incredible experience. Everything Sarah said to do worked perfectly!!! She is amazing!
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(Fall 2015) I was first introduced to Sarah almost a year ago at the First Half Running Seminar at the Roundhouse where she came to speak about running and nutrition – my two favourite topics! I already considered myself a pretty healthy eater so I wasn’t sure what else she could do to really help me.
Regardless, her company was called Eat 2 Run so she had me at hello. I quickly signed up to her newsletter, implemented some of her suggestions, particularly the matcha tea because I couldn’t drink coffee, and ended up contacting her 8 months later. Better late than never!
Things we worked on were stomach issues, and most importantly to me, chronic knee pain which I had for years.
She took what I was already eating, moved some things around and then added some things. Her menu plan fit me like a tee! When I first started on her plan, the first thing I noticed was that I was no longer starving for each meal – just ready to eat – so that part was amazing. I couldn’t believe it to be honest. Blood sugar levels were evening out and I was starting to feel better.
Since I started following my action plan, I’ve ran 3 x 10K races with no problems whatsoever. I literally cannot believe how great my stomach felt during the races and lack of knee pain afterwards. After each race, I would wait for the pain to come, but there was either nothing or just general weakness. Normally, I would have been sore for weeks or months afterwards and now can run just a few days afterwards.
I also ended up with a huge personal best in my 10K – a 1 minute and 20 second PB in the Turkey Trot this year (51 minutes flat)! It’s hard for me to even write this because I don’t want to jinx myself but so far so good and I will take it!
I was the definition of insanity – doing the same thing and expecting a different result because I was already eating well but I still needed her help! I would 100% recommend Sarah to anyone looking to improve their health, running and shorten recovery time. I know now I could never have figured out this on my own and needed her ongoing support to keep me on track.
Her recipes were all fantastic too and I now use them daily! Even my son who is super picky likes her recipes! I learned so much and am so thankful for Sarah’s help! I look forward to my knees getting even stronger, becoming fitter, and more PBs in the future!
Tracy R., Vancouver BC (fall 2015)
(nutrition coaching and run coaching client)
UPDATES (under ongoing run coaching, continuing to follow original nutrition plan with updates and adjustments)
April 22, 2018 – Another PB! Got a 46:10 in the Vancouver Sun Run 10k today – a full 2 minutes and 20 seconds faster than last years Sun Run and 12 seconds faster than my last 10k. So happy!
February 11, 2018 – PB in the Vancouver First half marathon! 1:45:08! That’s over 4 minutes off my last PB. Felt great – really good – until near the end where I felt myself starting to slow down but could still hold somewhat. Worked on my form and relaxing my breath – which helped! No knee pain, no stomach issues, nada! Thank you Sarah for your amazing coaching, support and confidence in me!
September 16, 2017 – Got a PB in the Vancouver Eastside 10k today – 46:22 – So hard, enormous hill, I thought I was going to die!!! This one really built my confidence and know what pace I’m capable of holding for a 10k!
May 7, 2017 – Another PB, in the Vancouver BMO Half Marathon today – 1:49:14! Felt really good at the start! And even felt pretty strong right to the end. Feel like this one was a great success and am very happy with my almost 2 minute PB!
October 23, 2016 – Brought home a 1:50:59 in the Rock n Roll Vancouver Half Marathon today, which is almost a 7 minute PB! Yesssss! Huge thanks to Sarah and Eat2Run!!
October 10, 2016 – Brought home a 46:47 PB in the Turkey Trot 10k race (4.5 minutes faster than last year and a PB by 1.5 minutes!)… YAY!!! I can’t believe I did this! No stomach issues, no knee pain. Felt a little harder than
Eastside but easier than Sun Run. Can you believe it? I’m so shocked…. I keep thinking it must be wrong! I was so surprised when I got to the end! Good enough for 5th place too!
September 17, 2016 – Brought home a 48:11 PB in the Eastside 10k race… A shiny new PB!!! Plus 3 mins faster than last year! Success! Pretty happy considering all the hills, rain and wind! Another good thing is that this race wasn’t even half as bad as the Sun Run felt so I’m pretty happy about that too! I definitely felt stronger in this race 🙂
May 1, 2016 – Brought home a 1:57:27 PB in the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon… A PB by 2 minutes! Felt amazing until 15K. Followed the 1:50 pace bunny because I was feeling so good but paid for it later… On the bright side, I got a 2 min PB… Also 10 min PB over last year.
April 17, 2016 – Brought home a 48:29 PB in the Vancouver Sun Run 10k… PB! Stomach was fine – as were knees! Started out too fast… Race felt hard.
February 14, 2016 – Brought home a 1:59:07 PB in the First Half Half Marathon… Nutrition was spot on – no digestive issues whatsoever. Felt fantastic first 14K – like REALLY fantastic. Felt like I wasn’t out of breath AT ALL and could run comfortably! Was a little weird… to be honest! Could have ran faster but I wasn’t about to do anything Sarah said not to do!! Around 14K I could feel my knee a little more but was still able to keep pace. I used her visuals… Helped a lot. Ran into a bit of trouble at 19/20K – both knees were screaming at me… but then, miraculously, I sprinted uphill under Granville Street bridge – like you said to and sprinted to finish! Not sure where that came from!!!
October 7, 2018 – Success! I ran my first ever marathon! In under 4 hours! I never thought I’d run a full marathon, and had no idea what to expect so I didn’t want to put any time pressures on myself. But Sarah knew I could run a sub-4 so that is what she set me up for, and I did it! I can’t believe I held the pace I did for so long, but I fueled the way Sarah told me to and I took all the gels she had outlined for me. I just loved it – and I say that after running it in the pouring rain for 4 hours. What an incredible experience. Everything Sarah said to do worked perfectly!!! She is amazing!
October 13, 2019 – I just ran another PB in the half marathon!! 1:45:03. Okay, it was a 5 second PB, but I’m in the middle of hard core marathon training right now, so I’ll take it! I felt really good, loved the rolling hills (in the Victoria Half marathon course) and I beat my dad (although only by 2 minutes lol). The best part is I recovered almost immediately, legs feel good and am right back into my marathon training.
