G.O. H.A.R.D. - Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day

Today is Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day! What a great day, I love that it is GLOBAL. Here is a cute training guide I lifted from runtheedge.com 1. Interval Hugging: Try both long and short intervals and don’t forget to change leads with your hugging partners so everybody gets a chance to set the pace. We recommend starting with 10 X 40-second hugs with ample recovery. More experienced huggers may want to cut down on the rest between hugs. 2. Long Slow Hugs: This should be a staple of your training program. Set aside time twice a week to share a hug lasting several minutes. Up to 20% of your weekly hugging time can be spent in a single hug. Be sure to choose your LSH partners carefully because this kind of training might scare off newcomers. 3. Speed Hugging: Don’t overdo this especially if you are not already an experienced hugger. Speed training is important but can lead to injury if huggers try to do too much too soon. 4. Hug Visualization: To be at your best you must prepare mentally. In order to be ready for anything, make sure to visualize hugging runners of all sizes, genders, ages, and ethnicities. Unlike in running, we do not recommend hug visualization (HV) while engaged in interval hugging (IH), speed hugging (SH), or Long Slow Hugging (LSH). Leave hug visualization to moments when you are alone. 5. Cross Training: Running couples may want to engage in some “cross training” activities. In fact some of the above workouts (especially the LSH) can lead to cross training. While not necessary, these activities can add a little spice to the day-to-day grind. 4 Ways To Participate Before The Event: 1. Practice hugging as many runners as possible. 2. Go to the Hug a Runner event page on facebook and click the blue “Join” button. Don’t forget to invite your friends! 3. Follow these pages. At least one of these amazing facebook pages will be giving away free stuff every single day leading up to the event: Distant Runners, Runner Unleashed, Ultra Moms on a Mission, Running Through Chaos, Run Like a Girl, I Run to Drink, Run Hard Always Finish, Run Junkees, Slow is the New Fast, No Limits Running, Dare to Be Different, and Life in the Day of a Runner. 4. Share this blog or write your own. If you have a blog you have permission to use anything you find here. 4 Ways To Participate On November 20th: 1. Wear running shoes all day long. If possible, wear an old race bib. If you see someone wearing these items, run up and give them a hug! 2. Organize a group hug with your training group. Send us a picture of your G.O. H.A.R.D. celebration. The pic with the most spirit/creativity/people will be visited by us Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano in 2014. More details to follow. 3. Send every runner you know a virtual hug by enclosing their names in double brackets like this ((Adam and Tim)). 4. Commit random acts of hugging.