Issue 24

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Lessons From A Summer With Tinman Elite

Written by HAX Intern Rachael Woodruff

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived in Boulder this summer. I knew I’d be writing a newsletter and doing some social content, but I had no idea what working with a professional running team would look like. Despite the uncertainty, I was determined to make the most of every moment. Getting to spend a whole summer around the pros of your sport is a special opportunity, and as a runner myself, I was excited to learn all that I could. I basically had unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the coaching, training, competition, and business realms of the running world. It’s been an awesome experience being able to connect with everyone on Tinman Elite and watch them chase after their goals. Leaving is bittersweet, but I’m grateful to return home with greater insight and understanding on what it takes to become a better runner, teammate, friend, and creator. In this final reflection piece, I’ll share with you the 4 main lessons I’ve learned from my time as an intern this summer. They apply to running, but also, life! I plan to carry these lessons with me in all I pursue, and I hope you can find something meaningful in them for your life too.

Lesson 1: Trust Your Path

I’ve learned stories of many of the athletes on the team during my time here, and every single one is unique. Some came from historic NCAA programs, others from small D1 or D2 schools. Some have dealt with serious injuries over the past year and are working to get back, and others are currently in the best shape of their life. Some run for their career, while others rely on a part-time job and their own self-belief to make things work. Everyone’s journey to Tinman Elite was different, just as their paths moving forward will be. Most of them probably wouldn’t have guessed that this is where they would end up, or that they’d even be a professional runner in the first place. Hearing everyone’s different journey through running and life taught me that you have to trust the path you’re on, no matter the highs and lows. It can be so easy to compare yourself to others and doubt what you’re doing or what you’re capable of. I know I’ve done it, and it never ends well. Trust your path, and embrace all the change, challenge, and opportunity that comes with it. You never know where you’ll end up.

Lesson 2: Never Stop Learning

In the running world, things are always changing. New training philosophies, workout ideas, recovery techniques, nutrition products…If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind. With as much training and racing experience as most of the team has had in running, it could be easy for them to just say, “I know what’s best” and leave it at that. But that’s not the truth at all. Everyone who is a part of Tinman Elite shows up every day with the intention to grow and learn, both athletes and coaches included. Joan Hunter is actually the person who embodies this lesson the most for me. She’s someone who’s already so knowledgable about the sport, yet is always wanting to learn more. She frequently sought out feedback from the athletes - asking the team how they felt during workouts, what they liked, and what they would want to add or take away for next time. This allowed her to better tailor training to fit their needs. During guest speaker presentations at our Hammer & Axe summer camp, Joan sat in the room with the campers. But she wasn’t just supervising, she was taking notes. She was engaged in the conversation, asking questions with genuine curiosity. This is what makes her such a great coach - she’s always striving to be better. I was inspired by that this summer. No matter how much of an expert you consider yourself, seek feedback, take notes, and never stop learning.

Lesson 3: Consistency, Consistency, Consistency!

The most important aspect of training isn’t mileage or threshold volume or strength training or speed work. Without a doubt, it’s consistency. I’ve heard this before and you probably have too, but watching the team this summer really solidified it for me on a new level. At the Olympic Trials this year, it was evident that those who were the most consistent in training had the most success in racing. Drew and Joey each had one of the best races of their careers while coming off the most consistent training block of their careers. It wasn’t a coincidence. Consistency really is the key to longevity, enjoyment, and success in this sport. It doesn’t matter if you can do flashy workouts or knock out monster mileage unless you can sustain it week after week after week. It sounds simple, yet so many athletes struggle with finding the right balance of training that gets them faster while still allowing them to consistently show up. If you can find a way to be consistent - regardless of if your training looks “impressive” on paper - you’ll find success in your running.

Lesson 4: It’s Not That Serious

Practice time for pro runners isn’t as strict and hard-core as you might think, but that’s not a bad thing. From watching Tinman Elite, you learn that there’s a big difference between 1) being intensely dialed in and 2) being thoughtfully focused and intentional. The first leaves little room for error, and can be a stressful and draining mindset to maintain. The second allows for a purpose-driven and process-oriented approach, which the team embodies to its core. Even when there’s a hard workout on deck, the environment is light and fun. People are talkative, cracking jokes, and it’s obvious that they’re there because love what they do. And when you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s a lot easier to push through the difficult moments. Of course, not everyone may be lucky enough to do what they love each day for a living, but it's certainly something to shoot for in life. Don’t take yourself too seriously; seek out joy in the process, and great results will follow.

Trust your path, learn as much as you can, strive for consistency, and do it with a smile! That’s it for this issue of The Hammer. We’ll be back with more great training and racing content for you this fall. Follow @hammerandaxetraining on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop!

Looking for a coach? Meet Anthony!

Anthony Camerieri has worked his way to the elite ranks of every level he’s competed at in his career, culminating with a runner-up finish in the DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships. As a coach, Anthony believes in the value of doing more with less. He understands that the best athlete is a healthy athlete, and works to prioritize injury prevention without losing out on performance. Anthony is looking to work runners of all ability levels who are motivated to better themselves through running.

Hammer & Axe Coaching includes:

• Tailored training plan to help you reach your running goals

• Weekly video call to check in and run you through your training

• Unlimited text and email communication, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm MT

Need a training plan? We have a few of those…

Actually, we have a LOT of those! Check out our website and view training plans for every distance 800m to the marathon. You pick your program and start date, and the training schedule is automatically imported into the RunDNA platform to hold you accountable in working toward your goals.

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