Many elite Masters runners are using the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle to reduce impact and improve their performance. By substituting running miles with ElliptiGO elliptical cycling miles, you can greatly reduce the amount of impact your body sustains during each training week, and early indications are that you can do so without adversely impacting your performance on race day. Since impact is a cause of many running-related injuries, reducing the amount of impact your body sustains each week should lower your risk of impact-related injuries. This should extend the time period in which you can include running as a part of your exercise regimen.
You can read the elite runners’ ElliptiGO training stories below:
Brian Pilcher
Brian Pilcher exploded onto the Masters running scene just a few years ago and earned the USATF and Running Times 2009 Runner of the Year for Men 50-54 title. His meteoric rise came to a screeching halt in March of 2010 when pain in his hips stopped him from running at all. Doctors determined that Brian had lost the cartilage in his hip and his pain was coming from the bones rubbing together. He underwent surgery to shave down the bones in both hips and anchor the labrum back in place. It was a success, but Brian found himself unable to run for even five minutes due to knee issues. Frustrated with this new reality, Brian searched for alternatives and discovered the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle.
Brian didn’t feel his hip or knee pain when he rode the ElliptiGO elliptical bike allowing him to train while injured. “I refused to sit and wait for fate to heal my knee – to run again,” he explained. “I enjoyed the ElliptiGO training. It kept me healthy psychologically because I was able to get in a solid workout. That’s key for any athlete suffering from an injury.”
Successful Miles Logged on the ElliptiGO Elliptical Bicycle
After thousands of miles on the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle, Brian began to work running back into his life. The results were remarkable. Only nine weeks after being cleared to run again, he finished third overall in the Dipsea Race, one of the nation’s most grueling trail races. The following month, Brian went on to earn three medals at the World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships and became the 2011 U.S. National Track Champion in the 5K and 10K for men 55 – 59. “I had a huge base of miles on the ElliptiGO bike, which really helped maintain my fitness until I could heal enough to run competitively again.”
In November 2011, Brian ran a 1:12:52 half-marathon, entering the record books with the 10th fastest half-marathon ever run by a 55-year old. In April 2012, he set a new American Record for Men 55-59 with a 16:05:12 in the 5K. You can read more about how Brian uses the ElliptiGO bike on The ElliptiGO Project website.
Christine Kennedy
A native of Ireland, Christine was inspired to start running at 27 years old after watching the Dublin Marathon. When she announced to her family that she was going to train for a marathon and win one day, they thought she was joking. Their disbelief only fueled the fire. Five years later she won the Dublin Marathon and never looked back.
Now a U.S. citizen, Christine continues to have success as a stellar Masters runner. Her remarkable versatility as a runner led her to victories in events ranging from the 5,000 meters to the marathon distance in 2011. She won titles in the 5K, 10K and 15K at the USA Masters. She followed these titles with two more in the 5K and the marathon at the World Masters Athletics Championships. USATF then named her the 2011 Masters Athlete of the Year.
“I was so honored to receive that award and I feel very grateful to still be running competitively,” stated Kennedy. Five years ago she suffered two herniated disks in her back, which made it impossible to get in all of the workouts she wanted. Over the last two years she also suffered a small calf injury that flares up from time to time. Though her body has healed well, the mental side of being unable to train as she wanted to posed her biggest challenge.
The Powerful Solution of Low-Impact ElliptiGO Training
“It’s incredibly frustrating to have to back off your training, knowing the miles you’re supposed to be putting in,” remarked Kennedy. “Even when you’re healthy, like I am now, it’s still difficult to be happy with a workout where you don’t push yourself. As a Masters runner, I know how important cross-training is, but it’s easier said than done. That’s why I love the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle. It keeps me fit, it doesn’t aggravate my previous injuries, and I don’t feel guilty about taking a recovery day. I still spare my body but my fitness only grows, and mentally I feel great about each workout,” said Christine.
Christine uses the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle to replace three running workouts a week and believes that it gives her an extra edge. “I feel you have to take advantage of everything you can in order to continue competing at this level. When other runners see me on my ElliptiGO bike, they say, ‘So THAT’S your secret!’ And they’re right. It’s what’s keeping me mentally and physically at the top of my game, and I intend to use it to repeat my victories in 2012 and beyond.”
So far in 2012, Christine has captured both the 8K and 10K US Masters Championship titles and seems poised to repeat her stellar 2011 performances.
Simon Gutierrez
Top U.S. Mountain Runner, Simon Gutierrez, has an exceptional mountain running career. His accomplishments include winning both the Mount Washington Road Race and the Pikes Peak Ascent three times each. His inspiring career came to a screeching halt in February 2010, however, when a common knee surgery went terribly wrong. Gutierrez nearly lost his leg. Doctors said he would never run again.
“I had a medial meniscus tear in my knee from slipping in a cross-country race,” said Gutierrez. “I decided to take care of it with surgery, and unfortunately an everyday procedure went very wrong.” After seeking several medical opinions, professionals determined he had necrosis and the bone in his thigh was slowly dying. Simon’s first concern became saving his leg.
Defying the odds, several months later doctors determined that Simon’s leg was healthy enough to begin exercising again. “That’s when I started using the elliptical machine because it allowed me to perform weight-bearing activity without any impact on my knee,” said Gutierrez. “Six weeks later I learned about the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle and went for a ride. I couldn’t believe it – I could push myself but had no pain at all. I thought to myself, I love this so much I won’t even miss running if I can ride this. It was a truly magical moment because I felt like I was running, something I never imagined I’d do again.”
Improved Pacing and Fitness from the ElliptiGO Elliptical Bike
Only a few weeks later, he began to push the intensity on the ElliptiGO elliptical bike but kept the running at a very easy effort. “I wasn’t doing any hard running, just jogging,” recalls Gutierrez. “I’d push on the ElliptiGO bike, jog in between, and I noticed that my fitness just kept coming back.” Amazingly, when he tested his speed, he could run a sub-6 minute pace without much effort.
“It was a miracle,” declared Gutierrez. “I thought to myself, I’ve found a secret formula back to running again. If I could do this, maybe I could race again.” And that is exactly what the U.S. Mountain Running champion did. Last summer, only 18 months after his catastrophic surgery, he returned to the racing circuit. Gutierrez astounded everyone with a fifth-place finish at the Mount Washington Road Race followed by a third-place finish at the Pikes Peak Ascent.
The 45-year old Gutierrez’s comeback performances are made even more impressive by the fact that he was at least a decade older than any other top-five finisher in either race. Equally surprising is that his recovery and rehabilitation strategy with ElliptiGO actually improved his running times, even though he hadn’t competed for nearly two years. He achieved a time at the 2011 Mount Washington Road Race almost identical to his time in 2009 and at the 2011 Pikes Peak Ascent. Gutierrez bested his previous time by more than 3 minutes. You can read more about Simon Gutierrez’ ElliptiGO training on The ElliptiGO Project website.
