Inner Athlete Fitness

09/08/2026

I hope you all had a lovely Labor Day! I spent the morning at the new Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Ontario and it did not disappoint! It was a game-time decision as I've been working through a pesky ankle, but I'm glad I did it!

See You in Hopkinton: A Strategic Guide to Help You Go from Almost BQ to the Start Line of the Boston Marathon is back in stock!

As you may know, Boston registration week is next week and if you've been thinking you might want to take a stab one day, this book shares the struggles I had as someone who was NOT a high school runner trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon (and it definitely took me a few tries!). Let me help you learn all the mistakes I made...and what to do instead.
You can get a copy here: https://www.innerathletemi.com/see-you-in-hopkinton

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09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day!

Today, as I take a day of rest from my beloved studio, I am so honored to have been able to do this amazing work exclusively for the past 14 years. I am forever grateful to the amazing people that place their trust in me, whether they train with me in person, I coach them online, or they are one of my incredible runners. THANK YOU for trusting me with your health and fitness journey! 💞

09/03/2026

Happy September & Labor Day!

Here's the latest newsletter.

Greetings, IAF Family! Happy September and Happy Labor Day weekend! I honestly don't know how we are here already - it feels like it was Memorial Day last week! Nevertheless, for many of us, September can feel like the start of a "New Year" of sorts. Personally, while I love the sun and relaxation o...

08/31/2026

August left about as fast as it came! It was jam packed between our family trip to Florida, a garage sale, my own training for the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon and even more importantly the training of all of my clients starting to ramp up for their big fall races.

It was a fabulous month of memories and miles, with just over 200 in the bank.

I suspect September will fly just as quickly - I just finished the calendars last night: Oliver started school today and XC starts tomorrow; client races start in just two weeks and there are some incredible ones on the calendar; and the studio is ramping back up as summer winds down.

Hope you had a fabulous August and that September is just as memorable!

08/27/2026

As the summer wraps up and training is in full swing, I am excited to share that I have more See You In Hopkinton books on order and arriving soon! If you've been thinking about attempting a BQ (Boston Qualifier) or know someone who is, this book is designed to help you understand some of the most common struggles Boston hopeful runners make and, most importantly, how to fix them and secure a BQ - whether that's in your next training cycle or in a few years.

As we await what the new buffer will be (projected to be around 5 minutes), sometimes it can feel like you are shooting in the dark. My book helps you to figure out your next steps to close that gap and feel confident. If you are not quite ready to take a stab at it but know that this is a long-term dream, this book helps you learn what you can start doing now to get closer.

As always, if you have any questions about training or the book, I'm always here!

You can pre-order your copy here: https://www.innerathletemi.com/see-you-in-hopkinton?utm_campaign=fc0837eb-727e-472e-bbfc-3d6e2d9f2eef&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail

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08/25/2026

What if better running form was the missing piece between you and your next PR?

Many runners focus on increasing mileage and the types of workouts they are doing... but your form can be a huge part of both your efficiency as well as your ability to continue stacking mileage and workouts without injury.

No, there is definitely not one "perfect" running form. If you watch the pros, you will notice that there are many different styles of running. The goal: make small tweaks to optimize your efficiency.

How a gait analysis works: Step 1. Movement screen to analyze your overall strength, mobility, and stability. Step 2. Analyze your actual running form.

What I do: I corroborate the findings of your overall strength, mobility, and stability along with what I see when you run from the front, sides, and back. In combination, the results start to paint a picture of how your static and dynamic strength and stability play into your running form.

What you get: a complete report of what I saw - strengths and weaknesses, voiceover video and still photos to illustrate the findings, and 1-2 simple programs to follow with dynamic warmups, drills, and form cues that specifically address the findings.

How I fell into this: I got started doing this when someone sent me a video of me running the last quarter mile of a 10K. I was horrified! I know I "prance" but this made me cringe! So as I often do, I got super nerdy about learning what is going on and what I was seeing.

I took two courses on gait analysis and learned a TON! I started applying my findings to my own running and have gradually made improvements. It's definitely not an overnight fix - nor should it be - any change in your form creates subtle changes in loading patterns so you want to makes sure you adjust slowly.

If you want to learn more about gait analysis, please DM me, comment below, or simply click this link: https://sjelinek.wixforms.com/f/7396716879533834280

08/24/2026

DETROIT FREE PRESS HALF MARATHON…9 WEEKS OUT! 🗓️

This week was back to normal after an odd week on vacation. I train on vacation but it tends to be more relaxed and not as structured. I also let myself “play” a bit more - explore new running areas, hit the gym, and do things I don’t otherwise get a chance to do.

So it was nice to resume my normal rhythm and in my favorite places this week.

Track Tuesday: I “pranced” through the track (if you saw my story) for 600m repeats.

Tempo Thursday: I took to the roads for one of my favorite types of workouts with very pleasant weather…it’s amazing how a slight drop in heat and humidity can make those previously challenging paces feel so much more achievable.

Long Run Sunday: 14 miles at “cruising” pace along some of my favorite routes, also “previewing” the local farmer’s market. Again, pleasant temps made this feel so much better than previous long runs had.

As we go into 8 weeks out, it’s exciting to think about how lowering temps will help. The plan for the next few weeks is to alternate longer long runs with shorter long runs that include goal pace work.

Happy Training!

08/19/2026

Congratulations to my sweet Winnie who earned her American Kennel Club Fit Dog Gold title! This one took us a while … not only did she have to walk a certain number of minutes each week for several months but she also had to participate in some additional races and have a secondary title. Winnie isn’t always an endurance dog like her mom - she’s more of a sprinter than I am 😜- but she works hard. As expected, she’s celebrating with a nap! 🤣

08/19/2026

FABULOUS FAMILY FLORIDA VACATION! 🏝️

I am finally getting around to posting about our fabulous trip to Caribe Royale Orlando + Universal Epic + Disney Springs. I am so lucky that we were able to take the whole crew down here to celebrate two huge birthdays - my mom’s 75th and Ryan’s 40th. We didn’t go overly bananas on parks, but we did thoroughly enjoy our hotel and I cannot recommend it enough. We had a two bedroom “villa” - which was basically like a two bedroom apartment with a separate living and eating area. It worked out great for the five of us to travel together. Thanks to Paws Academy Dog Training for taking great care of Winnie on our Disney Springs day.

Favorite moments:
🏊‍♀️Lots of pool time and delicious drinks
🏨 Enjoying the beautiful grounds of our hotel
🎮 Fun at Universal Epic especially Mario World
🦖 A delicious and fun dinner at T-Rex in Disney Springs
🛍️ Shopping at Disney Springs (I finally jumped on the reusable water bottle train lol)

Now that we are back, I’m already looking forward to our next trip…we’re considering returning to FL this January to visit Clearwater and see the Gulf Coast!

08/03/2026

👟 All About Running Shoes! 👟 Read the article here: https://wix.to/3DC9CSR