“I wanted you to know - I'm hooked.  I just received Runner-Core and am making a commitment to your program.  I had a good year of triathlon this year (70.3 is my favorite distance) - but not stellar.  I have all the aerobic endurance I can use - but knew something was lacking.  I am thinking it is body weight to strength ratio. I am looking forward to a fun winter of training and using your circuits.  My glutes, hams and hip flexors have already tried using "Al" as a four-letter word - guess I have some work to do. J  Thank you for your positive attitude and sharing your knowledge and energy.”

-- L.J.White

"Al, I wanted to report on my running progress. As I have mentioned to you before, I have felt lately that my running is greatly improving, and I credit Runner-CORE for it since it’s the only different thing I’ve been doing. I went on a 12 miler yesterday morning with some friends and had a fantastic run. Averaged about 7 flat yet it felt easier than some of my 8 flat runs last year. My friends, many of whom are experienced and fast ironman athletes, were positively shocked at how well I was running and how good my form looked. I told them it has to be a result of doing Runner-CORE twice a week. It’s the only strength work I am doing now except for throwing in a few upper-body Bowflex sets once a week. I know I am getting much better range of hip motion, drive from the core, and I am almost entirely pain free in the hips which is a big change. I think it has allowed me to return to my natural running style which I had lost for a few years. I want you to know that the word has been getting out around here that the Runner-CORE routines are good stuff!"

- - Todd Kenyon (TTBikeFit.com)

"As a multisport athlete running has been a weakness of mine. I also managed to injure myself at least once a year pushing a bit too hard. To help improve my running I turned to Runner-CORE, which has turned out to be incredibly beneficial. I've been able to gain running strength without running as much. After using the programs regularly for several months, I'm running faster than before and so far, no injuries! Thanks Coach!”

-- Tony McCray

Even though I’m in the Coast Guard and stationed on an ice breaker, I wasn't ready to give up on my triathlon goals simply because of my situation. I started incorporating your Runner-Core workouts into my on-board training to prepare for a race when I returned to land. With the workouts from Runner-Core behind me, I arrived back on land and entered an Olympic distance triathlon and placed 2nd overall.  The next weekend I entered my FIRST ever 1/2 Ironman/70.3 and won my age group! Looking back, I know that the functional and core training helped me develop the strength along with the neuro-muscular response I needed to be a stronger runner off the bike. I also found that doing these circuits limited the mind numbing hours I would have had to spend on the treadmill and bike trainer.  Thanks Coach Al!
-- Rachel Beckmann

“After spending a few months using Runner-Core, I entered my first race of the year.  It’s a small local Duathlon that I do every year.  I haven't been to the track yet and I still ran faster than any previous year and came in 4th overall.  I then headed to San Francisco to race Escape from Alcatraz .  I had a really solid run split and noticed that where I made all my gains was when the road turned up!  I'm still no speedster but I have no doubt that more Runner-Core integrated in my run training will unlock the killer run splits I'm looking for!”

--Anthony Pace

“I have been using Runner-Core for a while now, and I am a believer! Before I started using it, I really felt like I was stuck on a plateau. After a few months, I am running less than I was before but feel like I have more endurance and speed! Focusing on the core and the strength of my leg muscles works! I now feel a spring in my step, more like gliding, that I never had, which is an amazing feeling.”  

-- Kevin Sorrell 

“I find Runner-Core to be easy to use understand and execute while remaining effective and focused.  Unlike general core, pilates, and yoga classes the correlation between the movements and actual running are obvious.  A credible runner in his own right, Coach Al sincerely and without an ego conveys a wealth of information.  The nutritional Audio CD has contributed not only to my general performance but also aided in loosing some unwanted extra baggage!  In total Runner-Core is a great tool for the time constrained athlete focused on improving performance as well as running injury free.  I particularly 
appreciate the ease of use and the 8 minute Core and Ab Blaster set!

In the fall of 2006, I was doing some longer runs (to try my first 50k) and started to have a problem with my left hamstring. It was nagging, and never got better. By December I took a month off to try to give it complete rest, but it never really got better (even with some ART therapy). I was able to continue running, some steps felt worse than others, some days particularly bad. I saw an ad for Runner-CORE (perhaps it was May 2007), and thought I should get myself on a program like this and see what it could do for me. So I started slowly, 3 times per week, and after a few weeks, the hamstring pain was just an occasional dull ache during very hard workouts. I felt much stronger climbing and descending, and on my tempo runs. I mostly race Xterra, and try to stay on the trails as much as possible. My trail running is Midwest trails, hard pack, more hills than flat (maybe hills measuring 1/3 to ½ mile long, varying steepnesses). I don’t know if I can attribute all my improving strength on the hills to Runner-CORE, but it surely has helped. I also feel very balanced and steady when I’m on the trails, which I do think has a great  deal to do with improved core strength.

I was just reading  the pawback notes in your running better guide, and everytime I do it as part of the Runner-CORE program, I wonder about this, and if what I am doing is helping my running. Now that I just saw your guide again, I’m going to re-read it a few times and see if I can relate to it on my next run. Thanks for your program!!

--Cheryl Stine

Overcome Your Injuries and See Your Running Soar with Runner-CORE: 

“After years of battling a chronic hamstring attachment problem that hampered my speed, I decided to change my training to solve the problem so I could hopefully qualify for the Boston Marathon. I've dramatically increased my core work but also added running drills (from Runner-Core) to my usual weight work to increase my strength and flexibility. And it's worked — my speed and strength have improved and my hamstring issue is gone. I'll never be as fast as I was as a college runner, but it is fun getting faster than I've been in a while. With the circuits in Runner-Core, I think I may have found my answer.”

--Joe Wojtas

Dear Al,

The year started off slow in January with very little training at all in December and the first time in 21 years that I had no activity.  This was a result of a ruptured appendix, serious colon infection and 10 of the most miserable days of my life lying in a hospital bed (first time I was ever in the hospital overnight) and hoping to get out before Christmas (I did get out on Christmas Eve).  One thing that it did do was put things in perspective again on how valuable it is to enjoy a healthy life, especially with my friends and wife.  I still remember watching the NCAA National Football Championship and walking on the treadmill for about 15 minutes and was totally exhausted.

I spoke to my coach (Nate Llerandi) and we put together the race schedule 1/2 Ironman, ½ marathons, 24 hour running race, a few sprint tri’s and the A race was to be the Double Ironman in Virginia). 

Again, the A race was the Double Ironman (no race goal, just completing was the focus) and I purchased Runner-Core.  I can tell you that using the program enabled me to recover significantly more than the past summers with all the heavy miles running (used the post recovery quick 10 minute stretching recovery workout religiously after all the long runs) I never did much stretching before as I have not experienced injuries.  Finally, Runner-Core’s exercises with the “bands” to build hip flexor strength and consistent bicycle kicks actually increased my leg turnover during the run.  It still amazes me how well I performed at races as that’s the only thing that changed with my training was adding the additional exercises of Runner-Core.   I can remember doing the “all night” evening runs late this summer and fall in preparation for the Double Ironman and it felt like my feet were not hitting the ground.  The stretching, corework (body planks for minutes on end!!!!)  and exercises to build hip flexor strength improved my running with a 7th place finish in a 6 hour running race, top 10 finish in the 24 hour running race and most important the strength to finish the run strong (strong in at the Double Ironman was to be able to keep running after 30 hours of racing).  The Double Ironman went exceptionally well and I finished.  I look forward to having additional improvements of my run with a full year of Runner-Core added to my training schedule for 2008/9. I used it for about 2 months in preparation for the Double). 

Al, thanks for the quality of the program. I can’t wait to see what happens next year with two Double Ironman’s on the schedule!!  I’m pumped!

Best Regards,

Wayne Kurtz