Ken Rideout resides life as one of the best model of himself. After battling an opioid dependancy, the “hobby jogger” from Boston started coaching with a function in 2010, and he hasn’t appeared again since.
Running has introduced the 51-year-old a wealth of medals in as far-flung locations as Tokyo, the place he got here first with a time of slightly below 2½ hours within the 50-54 class. In truth, in a 17-month interval, Rideout competed in London, New York, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and the aforementioned Tokyo with out ever putting lower than second place.
M&F sat down with Ken Rideout to search out out what motivates him to cross the marathon end line.
“I originally got into endurance sports as a way to deal with an opioid addiction,” shares Rideout, who turned to medicine as an escape from an anxiousness ridden profession in finance.
For him, the dependancy was extra about escaping his emotions slightly than partying, and it took his participation in a rehabilitation program to lastly make him perceive that he was making an attempt to fill a void in a really self-sabotaging manner. In distinction, operating grew to become a good way for Rideout to let off some steam in a extra constructive method and feels that it has turn out to be a more moderen, extra constructive dependancy to embrace.
In coaching for an Ironman competitors as a part of his want to get more healthy, Rideout realized that he had large potential as a runner. Then, proper earlier than he turned 50, that potential began to turn out to be an simple actuality.
“I won the Myrtle Beach Marathon (finish time 2:30) the day before I turned 50,” he says. “I was happy to win but thought I could have run faster. What I’ve come to realize over the past several years is that the victory is great, but the process is the ultimate reward. I didn’t start running with a goal of winning races. I started running with a goal of being healthy, both mentally and physically.”
Ken Rideout Controls the Variables for Consistently Great Runs
Still, there’s a distinction between coaching for an area marathon, versus travelling internationally for one, just like the London Marathon for instance, the place he got here second however accomplished with a time that was one minute quicker than his first place Boston Marathon effort.
“I like to get to international races at least a week prior to the race, to get my circadian rhythm aligned with local time at race,” says Rideout. “I’ll also try to control as many variables as possible such as diet, training and sleep. At the same time, I try to mimic the routine that I maintain when training at home.”
In phrases of coaching, Rideout isn’t your typical runner. He has a blocky, muscular construct from years of lifting weights, however he feels with some justification that power coaching has helped him to turn out to be quicker. “I train with weights three to four days per week, usually in the evening” he shares.
He provides: “I run first thing in the morning. My typical exercise routine includes pullups, bench press; incline and flat, barbell and dumbbells, always varying the routine slightly. I do situps, lots of kettlebell exercises, as well as variations of squat exercises for my legs. I think the strength work I’ve done has helped my body to stay strong late in marathons where most people start to break down and it has also helped me to absorb and recover from the miles that I’ve put in with running.”
Rideout believes that everybody needs to be figuring out in an effort to obtain longevity. “I think you should take care of your physical and mental health like your life depends on it, because it does,” he says. “To me, that everyone should be doing some form of cardio and resistance training. I don’t know that my training program is right for everybody, but it works for me.”
Rideout says that he’s feeling nice. Around 5 years in the past he was concerned in a motorcycle crash that required surgical procedure on his hip, and he’s additionally had shoulder surgical procedure on account of falling within the snow, however he says that apart from the standard aches and pains that the majority runners can relate to, he has no intention of slowing down. “There’s something rewarding about experiencing some soreness,” he says. “It makes me feel alive and reminds me that I’m competing in life, not just participating. There’s a big difference between competing and participating.” And, when Rideout does endure from muscle spasms or tight hamstrings, the gold medalist says that easy restoration strategies like stretching, warmth, ice, and the percussion therapeutic massage gun work wonders.
Ken Rideout Uses the Right Supplements and Footwear to Get to the Finish Line
When it involves footwear, Rideout wouldn’t be with out his Reebok Floatride Energy X trainers. “The Floatrides provide the perfect balance of cushioning, support and more importantly, responsiveness,” he says. “The cushioning and support really help to keep me healthy when I’m logging 100-mile weeks, and the responsiveness is great when I’m doing speed or tempo work.”
As for dietary supplements, Rideout takes a protein and carbohydrate shake submit run, on daily basis, for restoration. He additionally drinks Athletic Greens and creatine. “I also take a daily multi-vitamin and fish oil,” he says. For help with sleeping, Rideout likes to take a Sleep Pak containing magnesium and theanine. He additionally likes to devour some beef bone broth day by day. “Obviously, I think everybody should exercise on a regular basis, but particularly recovering addicts,” he shares. “Training and physical activity can serve as a great distraction from drugs. Physical activity can also become a source of pride. One thing most addict’s experience is a massive sense of shame and self-loathing and getting fit can help restore self-confidence.”
So, whether or not you’re coping with your individual private points, or simply want an inspiration like Rideout that can assist you lace-up these sneakers, the marathon champ has a ultimate phrase for you: “Get busy living, or get busy dying! You don’t have to run marathons, but you should absolutely be doing some form of cardio and resistance training on a regular basis.” Got it? We’ll race you to the gymnasium!