Extraordinary Strides
Welcome to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast that celebrates the spirit of running and the inspiring stories of those who lace up their shoes and hit the pavement.
Here, we dive into the heart of what makes running an extraordinary adventure.
Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just starting out, Extraordinary Strides is your go-to source for expert tips, motivational stories, and the camaraderie of the running community.
Our episodes feature seasoned runners, coaches, and everyday athletes sharing their triumphs, challenges, and the joy they find in every run.
Join us for casual, uplifting conversations that will leave you excited to put on your running shoes and hit the road. We believe that every run, no matter the distance, is a step towards something greater.
So, subscribe now and join our community of runners who are making every stride extraordinary.
At Extraordinary Strides, we're here to inspire, motivate, and celebrate with you every step of the way!
Extraordinary Strides
Sleigh What?! Christmas in July Sleigh & Sprint 30-Minute Run Workout
We’re lacing up for a sweaty sleigh ride through Christmas in July, a 30-minute express workout that brings festive fun and fierce intention to your training. Whether you're chasing a PR or just showing up in the middle of summer chaos, this workout proves that short can still be extraordinary.
Coach Christine leads you through a power-packed interval session built around effort-based training that blends endurance, strength, and mental grit, plus just enough sparkle to keep it fun.
🎄 Here’s what you’ll experience:
- A structured 30-minute run with four rounds of strategic intervals:
• 3:00 Conversation Pace (RPE 3–5)
• 2:00 Tempo Effort (RPE 6–7)
• 1:00 All-Out Blitzen Mode (RPE 8–10) - Coaching cues that keep your form strong and your mindset sharper than Santa’s sleigh rails
- Why these express-style workouts matter when life is busy (and how they build speed, endurance, and resilience)
- Permission to stop chasing perfection and start chasing progress—with purpose
✨ Whether you’re an Extraordinary League athlete or new to this space, this bonus run gives you a sneak peek at what happens when we mix strategy, fun, and a little seasonal spice.
🎁 Ready for more?
The Extraordinary League Fall & Holiday Challenge Series kicks off soon, and it’s going to be our boldest season yet. But the themes and perks? They’re top secret (for now).
💌 Join the Early Bird Notification List to get first access, early bird pricing, and behind-the-scenes details before doors open to the public.
👉 Join here to Unlock YOUR EXTRAordinary Season!
🎅 And hey, text me what’s on your Christmas wish list this year! I’d love to hear your goals and how you're showing up for yourself this season.
Have questions or want to chat? Send me a text!
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Welcome to Slay what your Christmas in July? Slay and Sprint Run. Hey friend, I'm Coach Christine and today we're lacing up with one goal in mind to slay every single stride. This workout isn't just festive floss, it is fierce. We're talking jingle jogs, tempo, tempos and full blitzed mode. So, whether you're sweating through sunshine or sleigh bells, show up like Rudolph on race day. Let's get ready to lace up and get out there on that three-minute walking warm-up or light jog in three, two and one.
Speaker 2:Well, first of all, thank you so much for joining me and I hope that we can add a little sparkle to our day right here and now, knowing that, while we are potentially still in some hot temperatures, that it's all about setting our tone, setting our purpose. We're here in this warmup, nice and tall, proud of ourselves for showing up and also really intentional about what we want out of today's workout, which is a whole lot of sass. Right, it's not just a warmup. This is your opportunity to have a mindset check-in. What are you here for today? And I know that you are ready to own it because you showed up to have the most fun and a little bit of extra fierce, fast pieces here. So, while we're getting ready to set our intention for today, and I'm going to let you know what you can expect from the workout. I want to make sure that you are nice and tall. You're stacking your spine, You're opening your chest, your shoulders are down and back. This is your power stance before we get ready for takeoff. There's no pressure here. It's all about just being present. I'm gonna let you focus on what your intention is for today's workout. I'm gonna ask you to focus on your breath and express some of your gratitude for the opportunity to move and groove as we play through these sprints.
Speaker 2:Indeed, we are going to have a happy holiday today. We don't have to wait until it's officially Christmas in July to do so. We don't have to wait until it's officially Christmas in July to do so. We are able to bring in a little bit of joy into every single run. Gratitude and definitely add in a little bit of spice to our eggnog, if you will.
Speaker 2:Today we're going to do, after we're done with this three-minute walking warm-up or light jog warm-up, we're going to go into a three-minute conversation pace that is a rate of perceived effort of a three to five, which means we should be able to sing along to the music in the background. It should be a little bit of our jingle jog, if you will. So if we're rolling shoulder to shoulder, we're going to talk all about what our favorite aspects of the holidays are. Then for two minutes we're going to pump into our tinsel tempo. We're going to take that rate of perceived effort up to a six to seven. That becomes more of a sentence pace. You're definitely working a little bit harder. You're in this comfortably hard push.
Speaker 2:And then we get the beautiful opportunity for 60 seconds, one full minute, to bring that full Blitzen mode, Tackling RP from eight all the way to 10. We're going to repeat that four times and we're going to cool down with a three minute walk or a light jog on the flip side of this. So 30 minutes in total and just because it is short does not mean that it can't bring that spice, my friend. Just because it is short does not mean that it can't bring that spice, my friend. Let's get ready to go into that three-minute conversation pace in three, two and one. Oh yeah, Getting right to it, taking up that notch into our conversation pace, running light. But we're still grounded, really feeling that pavement or the treadmill belt. We're not fighting against it, we're letting it just return our energy letting it spring us forward.
Speaker 2:So again, those shoulders are down and back, which allows your arms to swing low and smooth like pistons, keeping them controlled During those three minutes. I really want you to focus on your form.
Speaker 1:Good, short strides, nice tall posture, and every step is a reminder I am here, I am ready and I am super strong.
Speaker 2:During this three-minute conversation block, you don't need to prove anything. You're warming up your confidence. You're letting your body wake up a little bit more. Bring a little bit more of that sparkle to you today and this is a great opportunity to really connect with your why? Why you show up? To keep up with Busta Rhymes. You're able to say this out loud, then you may be a little bit lower in your RPE. It is conversation paced, but I'm not sure it's full-on buster rhymes rapping mode I played my drum for him I played my bass for him.
Speaker 2:So, while we're here in conversation, hayes, I'd love to hear from you as to why you do not just show up here and now, but before we get into the busyness of the seasons that are here around the corner.
Speaker 2:We're at the end of July, I know, but before you know it we're going to be into August. School kicks back in. We'll have all those wonderful fall temperatures, those fall races we've been working and sweating so hard for, but, more importantly, we're also going to get into a lot of busyness and it's really important that we allow ourselves to realize that we have to own, with intention, our focus. So, with that said, let's get ready to focus our attention and our intention for our tempo in three, two and one, two minutes here for you to push at that pace if you are super metric focused and you can't resist. But just look at your watch now. What we're looking for here is to take it up about 15-30 seconds faster than your conversation pace, but again, really tuning into your body, listening to your body here for two minutes or 120 seconds. I want you to bring in more of that comfortably hard.
Speaker 1:Looking at RV of six to seven.
Speaker 2:Little tinsel tempo it's controlled. It is challenging. It does require some mental focus and grit. This is where you get your engine revving.
Speaker 1:You're strong, but you're not frantic.
Speaker 2:It's all smooth and steady Now, as you're landing lightly underneath your hips. I want you to think about pushing the ground away. Each step is intentional, driving you forward, keeping that cadence crisp, like that fall or winter era that, hopefully, is coming soon. You're not chasing your pace, you're building that rhythm. It's easier to see me with tears. I've met someone special, special.
Speaker 1:All you have, all you have the king of kings, no other name, all right, my friends, we're going into that.
Speaker 2:60 seconds, one minute of a push pace. Get ready to bring it in.
Speaker 1:Five, four, three, two one, let's go, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:It's 60 seconds, it's one minute long, it is fast, it is furious, but it is still definitely fabulous. Drive from those hips. We're thinking a little fire, a little extra fight, but definitely some fast feet with all that fabulousness. So, eyes forward, chin up, own this space that you're running in. It is yours. Dig a little deeper for 30 more seconds. You've got this. Take it all the way through. Don't let up yet. Not one second early. This is short, but it is spicy, staying tall Keeping your eyes on the prize. Five, four, three, two and one.
Speaker 2:Pull it back. We're taking it all the way back into our conversation pace. If you need to walk it out for a mere moment or to catch your breath, feel free, but I'd love for you to join me back in that conversation pace. When you have caught your breath, you have let your heart rate slow a little bit. Fantastic effort. So we have four full sets. Right, we did that first one. We only have three sets left. We're already in our second set set.
Speaker 2:What I love about this style of workout is that it's short but it's strategic. A lot of us that are training for endurance, we're used to going the distance pun intended, of course but you don't always need every single workout to be a full 90 minutes or beyond. You always need every single workout to be a full 90 minutes or beyond. You don't always need a sleigh full of free time to make progress. This 30-minute express session fits right into that hustle and bustle. It's perfect for when life gets a little chaotic, but you still know that your health is important, that you're worth that time frame, carving it out and really still moving forward, not sacrificing yourself, your time for yourself or your health. Now I'm going to tell you a little bit about why this workout does work, why it's so strategic. Now I'm going to tell you a little bit about why this workout does work, why it's so strategic.
Speaker 2:Right here, this steady conversation pace. It keeps your heart rate nice and honest, working in that zone two. This is where we really get to build endurance, even if it is a shorter workout. It also builds that foundation and on that foundation we get to build into that tempo work that builds that strength and stamina and that one-minute blitz and burst. That's where you build a kind of resilience that shows up on race day and in every single day of our lives. That's where we build confidence that we can do hard things. What I also love about this style of workout is that it reminds you that let's just say, maybe your set wasn't perfect. For set one, that's okay. We get to show up for set two, give it a little bit more, give it more focused. Each set is a new page allowing you to create your story here and now. Okay, we're taking it back up into that two minute tempo In five, four, three, two, one, bringing that tinsel, bringing that sparkle into our two minute tempo. So again, our PE of six to seven, 15 to 30 seconds faster than our conversation pace. This would also be more akin to your 10k or half marathon pace For this type of short workout. You're going to feel definitely a difference as you shift through those different pieces. What I also love is that while we are still working through summer and celebrating our christmas in july, here we're not just dashing through the heat, the humidity, the hard stuff. We're training like someone who's slaying that self-doubt with every single stride.
Speaker 2:I don't know about you, but this puts a huge smile on my face. I mean, I do want a lot for Christmas. You can give me some crowned athletics. You can give me some sparkle wear, some new race shoes, race registrations. Let's take it up. Woo, 60 seconds here. Let's make that mad dash all the way, like we've got all the fabulousness waiting underneath our Christmas tree that we could ever want. I just want you to push a little harder, go a little stronger and believe in yourself. You can make my wish come true here by doing that. 30 seconds left here. Can you give me a little bit more? Hey, I told you this workout would be short. I didn't tell you it would be easy.
Speaker 1:I told you this workout would be short.
Speaker 2:I didn't tell you it would be easy Moving those feet a little quicker. 10 more seconds here.
Speaker 1:Don't give up yet.
Speaker 2:3, 2, and one Congratulations. Two sets down, two sets to go Halfway point. This means, if you're out and back, turn yourself around, make your way back home.
Speaker 2:I'm curious what do you want for Christmas? You know that you can add a little response, a little reply here on episode notes. There's a little button there, hyperlink, that lets you text me your response. Just include your name. Tell me what you want for Christmas this year. You're thinking it's still July. I haven't even thought of my Christmas wish list. Well, let your heart's desire be known.
Speaker 2:My friend, we're still here in this conversation pace. It should feel even a little easier than it did the first time. Even the second time We've warmed up, we've allowed our body to really work through all the different efforts, all the different cases, efforts, all those different cases. I love using these intervals and these different sets as little mini mile markers, right, a little goal check-in in disguise, because each set lets us check in and recommit to our goals, our growth, lets us really hearken back to our why, especially when we're in the back half of the workout. We know that we can show up, we know that we can show out by putting in that work. And what I love too is that we're adding a little bit of fun to the purpose of our workout, to our training, because if we're going to put in the work, why not do it with a little glitter? I mean I put in the work. Why not do the little glitter? I mean I love that grit but let's add a little glitter.
Speaker 2:As we're here in our third set, I want to remind you this isn't just fluffy, this is a little festive fire that I want you to connect with. You're unwrapping the progress of your journey, that progress of your self-improvement, with every single step, every round. Here we're going to be taking it up into our two-minute tempo in just about 25 seconds. 20 seconds now. Oh yeah, you may naturally be wanting to go a little faster here just because of that beat. Well, I aim to. Please, let's do it in three, two and one. Let's go Two minutes of that tempo pace. Now, reminder tempo is that comfortably hard. We don't want to do this style of workout every single time we lace up and we show up, but we definitely want to sprinkle in tempos into our training for a myriad of reasons. It helps us to improve our lactate threshold, helps us to improve that mental grit. There's a lot of fortitude in this style of work here, this is a pace that should challenge you.
Speaker 2:It's not here to break you, but it is here to help you to learn how to hold a little bit of that difficult time. Those little bit of challenges that come our way allows you to own it, because Holiday Hustle Mode activate it, and if you're looking for a way to give yourself a gift to your future self, right here, this is how you deliver it Focusing on our form, our breath, moving ourselves forward as we get ready to go into our blitz and blast in. Five, four, three, two, one. Let's do it 60 seconds on the clock here. This is the time to blitz them like you mean it. This is not a drill, it's a holiday sprint for your soul. No holding back here, 60 seconds of everything you've got. You have big goals.
Speaker 2:These are the kind of workouts, right here, that are going to help you make it own it, get there. And you do it by continuing to show up, not pulling back, not holding yourself into that space where you know that you're comfortable in. Let's push past that comfort. Let's drive a little deeper here for 10. Those fast feet are moving. Five, four, three, two, one. Woo, take a good deep breath. Pull it back Nice and easy. Take a light walk or light jog if you need to, but join me back in our three-minute conversation pace as quickly as you can. This is our final set, our last chance to own it here. It'll be over before you know it. You'll be cooling down, feeling absolutely incredible for showing up for yourself here and I want you to have zero regrets. If you had a set throughout today's workout that wasn't your absolute perfect, that's okay. Not every set or segment needs to be perfect, not every run needs to be perfect, but every run and segment gives you something as long as you give it your best.
Speaker 1:Thank you, Everyone would have a plan and right would always win.
Speaker 2:And love would never end. So, again, as we start to bring summer I know it's not officially done yet, but as we start to get ready for fall, as we start to get ready for winter our calendar is likely looking like it's already getting attacked with several obligations, a lot of different needs. You're moving and grooving to multiple different things that are calling your name and, again, this is why this style of workout is going to actually help you to move the needle. You don't need hours, you need that intentional time to deliver for yourself. Here. It's also incredibly important that we find a little bit of joy, a little bit of fun with our workouts. We're doing this for long-term health. We're doing this for an opportunity to feel our best day tomorrow and hopefully in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 plus years. We're going to do that easier by bringing in a little bit of festivity to our fabulousness. This is an opportunity for you to continue your reset because it's a recharge, so consider this your reset button.
Speaker 2:Maybe you came into this workout feeling tired. Now you're already feeling that energy bouncing back. Let's do it as we go into our two-minute tempo right here. Bring it up. You're feeling energetic, you're feeling strong. You have given yourself the proof that life sometimes gets loud.
Speaker 2:Maybe some things are challenging, there's difficulties, there's obstacles, but this run, this is your time to quiet the noise, even my voice, tune into something that matters you, and you giving your best effort. So let's keep this going all the way to the end. We are in sight. That festive finish line is almost here. Let's drive a little harder, let's get a little deeper. Let's keep going. What I love again about these styles of work, guys, is that you don't have to push to the edge every single day. Right, it's knowing when to strike the balance between effort and ease, when to say, maybe I don't have a full 60 minutes or 45 minutes or two hours, but I do have 30 minutes for myself. I know you have a lot of hats to wear, including a Santa hat, so I'm glad that you wore the hat for yourself today.
Speaker 2:In 30 seconds we're going to go into our very final Blitzen Blast. This is where I'm going to give you full permission, though you don't need my permission to be your best, but I want you to give yourself that opportunity to show yourself that you can push past your limits. You'll have 60 seconds here to go all out in 3, 2, 1. Let's go Light and quick with those feet all the way to the end. My friend, this is your finish line. This is your time. Again, this is where there's a lot of growth.
Speaker 2:It lives here, in this burn, in this breath. Yes, I know your legs may be a little tired, your legs may be burning, but this is where you can say I could quit, but I won't. I know I'm capable of making this all the way to the finish.
Speaker 2:I'm pushing a little bit more here, moving those feet a little faster. Pump those arms. Stay nice and tall. Keep your eyes focused on that finish line. We're here for 10. Hitting a faster cadence for five. Quickening those studs for three, two, one, congratulations. We are officially in our three-minute light jog, or walking. Cool down, let that breath flow. Your heart is still likely beating nice and strong. That's just pride, that's good Revel in that you did this, my friend.
Speaker 1:So while the sleigh bells may fade away.
Speaker 2:As we bring this workout to a close, that finish line feeling of showing up here for yourself that stays with you.
Speaker 2:I want to congratulate you for keeping your promise to show up, for setting that intention at the beginning of this workout and for following through with giving your best from set to set. So here, as you're breathing in through your nose and out your mouth, I will need to remind yourself that life was hot and busy and sometimes full of noise, but that here you got to show up, and that truly is remarkable. I just want to take a moment to thank you because, speaking of Christmas in July and the best present that I could ever ask for is your presence here for showing up for yourself today and showing up to be here with me. This isn't just a workout. This is a moment. This is an incredible community, and I thank you so much for your contributions to it.
Speaker 2:Every step that you took today was a reminder that you're capable that you're consistent and you're worthy of every single minute that you invest in yourself. I'm so inspired by you and so proud of you, not just for running, but for staying connected to your goals, for not ghosting your greatness and for choosing growth even when it's hard, even when it's easier to say not today.
Speaker 2:So, as you continue, through your day after you're done here, I'm going to ask you to rehydrate and refuel with something delicious and nutritious Peppermint mocha, anyone but hold on to this feeling, that mix of strength and satisfaction. This, right here, is what happens when you show up. Thank you for being a part of this run, for trusting me to guide you. I'm so grateful and honored to be in your corner, not just as your coach, but as someone who believes in what you are building. So, my friend, I'm going to ask you to keep showing up. Let's keep going, not just toward finish lines, but towards the strongest, most unstoppable version of yourself. And I want to remind you, I'm Coach Christine. I'll see you next time for more strides, more joy and more unapologetic festivities.
