Jeff Benjamin and Amanda Eccleston, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Amanda Eccleston is one of those American athletes gifted with good speed and versatility. With elite PBs, from 2:02.14 at 800m, to 4:03.25 at 1,500m, 4:25.64 at the mile and 15:26.26 at the 5,000m, Amanda has the speed and endurance to be a player in US championships, both indoor and out.
Jeff Benjamin asked Amanda to provide some suggestions on training during the current plague.
Awaiting The Baton In The Relay Exchange Zone – Profiles Of Athletes, Coaches & Legends During The War Against Corona
Profile # 35
Top American Miler BROOKS Athlete Amanda Eccleston
By Jeff Benjamin
How is your daily training/coaching regimen going and how challenging has it been for you in this environment?
“Thankfully my daily routine hasn’t been too different. I’m still able to get all my runs in; we’ve just shifted to a much bigger focus on strength and building a base than trying to run a fast 1500 soon. There are miles and miles of dirt roads just outside of Ann Arbor, and that’s where I’ve been doing the majority of my running. The biggest change is lacking access to weight rooms and physical therapy, so I’ve been creative with my exercises at home and working hard to stay healthy at this point.”
What advice can you give to runners, -especially youth, high school, collegiate- who are challenged during this time as well?
“This is a great time to really think about your “whys” of running. Why do you run, and why do you love it? What inspires you to get out the door everyday even when there are no races on the calendar? Now it also a great time to work on your weaknesses. Those drills you never have time for? Those pesky rehab exercises? Staying on top of foam rolling and icing? This is your opportunity! Finally, in all the uncertainty, don’t forget to give yourself some grace. Some days you’ll be raring to go, and some days it may be a struggle to get out the door. Find the joy in your running and the satisfaction of a hard day’s effort. There will be races again, and there will be opportunities, but for now, just enjoy the simplicity of being able to put one foot in front of the other and know that every single mile you run is making you a better runner.”
