A little off stride....

Some runs just come easier than others. I know this and believe me, I never take a great run for granted, but I have been struggling a little bit lately. I am still on track with my training plan and am even hitting (well as close as I am likely to get in this lifetime) my paces as dictated by Runner's World. But.....

I feel as if my stride is off, even after I am warmed up and at the point where typically I am going strong. In my mind, I am sure that I must look like Phoebe from Friends when she runs. I have weird leg/calf issues that crest and wane as I run. I know my shoes are not likely to be the cause so I am left hoping that each run will just be better.

There are definitely 'things' I should be doing better as a runner. Primarily, strength training! Second, I need to do some cross training to give my legs a break. In an effort to be proactive I will do some strength training while my girls bathe (we have a huge master bath) and I will make Fridays my elliptical days. I think trading an easy 3 mile run for 3 miles on the elliptical makes sense for me now. Hopefully, next week I can report back that I back to normal!

30 Day Shred

I was inspired by Megan and my half-marathon Sole Sisters to kick up my workouts a notch. I've been pretty consistent with my running but not upping my mileage as I've felt on the verge of an injury recently. I have a good routine of running 2-3 times a week, 2 days of elliptical plus a core class at the Y, and the occasional yoga class. However, the running and strength training have gotten much easier for me over the past few months, and with my kids in school and a new job I find that I'm less active during the day.

I've owned the 30 Day Shred DVD for some time - I bought it when we lived in our old house, so I've probably had it for 2 years. I've never done it. Not once. So sad! The workouts are only 20 minutes each so I'm committing to 1 DVD workout a day in addition to my regular routine for the month of December. The holidays are a hard time to keep focused on health and fitness, what with all of the extra obligations and tempting treats, and I'm not a New Year's resolution kind of girl!

Here's hoping that a little extra cardio and strength training will up my running game enough to commit to a big race, or at least keep those extra holiday pounds at bay... as the saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! What are you doing to keep fit during the busy holiday season, replace missed runs due to bad weather, or cross train?

A New Challenge

I am a Mother. I had 4 kids in 5 years. My body is not what it used to be. Now, I don't want to be the size I once was, even the weight. I want to embrace my Mommy body, I want to own it. I want to tone it up and be proud of who my kids have made me, who I am now because of motherhood.

Running was a HUGE obstacle for me to overcome. I am still shocked that I claim to be a runner and that my legs get jittery when its been a few days between runs.

BUT- now, I have a stress fracture. The last two months my runs have been few and far between. Someday soon (shouldn't it have been here by now?) the cold snap will actually hit the midwest and running will definitely not be an option anymore as I don't own a treadmill and honestly, I have not the time or money for the gym.

Enter Stage Left: P90x.

Oh jeez. What have I gotten myself into? Am I REALLY going to do this? REALLY? I'm officialy insane.

My friend Inna invited me to join her on this 90 day voyage. She did it 2 years ago and her results are truly remarkable. And, as I said, I'm not so much in it for the weight loss, but the idea of toning my stomach and getting stronger for the Spring when I can hopefully run again consistently is alluring. I have goals for the spring and summer race seasons and I feel this sort of crazy-intense strength training will help me not just reach those goals, but exceed them.

BUT- 90 days. 6 days a week. I'm certifiable.

So, my hope is to post here each Monday on my progress. Did I actually do all 6 workouts? Can I really finish what I've started? Running has shown me that I have the strength inside to go longer, further, harder... lessons I will try to remember as I'm gargling my heart after too many pushups.

And I start..... today! Yikes!

Cross training

As the weather gets colder and daylight hours get shorter, I find myself needing to find other ways to work on my physical fitness besides running. I do have a treadmill, which is great, but it gets rather tedious 3 times a week too. I also am finding that I have plenty of strength and stamina for running, but not for hauling laundry up and down the stairs or carrying my 4 year old on occasion. I have also been trying to work on my form, especially strengthening my core and retraining my shoulders that want to tighten at the end of every run. All this has brought me to the world of cross training.

A simple Google search for "cross training for runners" tells me that cross training will help balance my muscles, help maintain my cardiovascular fitness, especially if I can't run for some reason, and helps to reduce my chances of being injured by running. There are many different activities to choose from as well, from walking, cycling, swimming, to strength training, yoga, and cross-country skiing.

But what will work for me? During the warmer seasons, I walk with my kids in the stroller a couple times a week, but that's out during the winter too. I could join a gym, but with preschool tuition new this year, I just can't justify the expense. I used to do Jazzercise before becoming pregnant with my youngest, but the expense holds me back on this one too. I do a mommy-child swimming lesson with my daughter once a week, but that's not really a workout (great soak for my sore muscles though!). Of course, I do have those old workout tapes from college...

OK, I have more than just those old VHS tapes from college! Don't worry, my Tae Bo days are past me! I do have more recently produced exercise DVD's, several aerobic workouts, a couple that focus on strengthening the core and more strength training, as well as a yoga workout. So I'm trying to get outside for a long run on the weekends so my hubby is home with the kids, but it's actually light outside, a short run or two on the treadmill during the week, and an exercise DVD a couple times a week. It's still early in the winter, but I have high hopes for keeping up on my fitness. I want to do a 10k next spring or summer, I'm going to have to stay in shape to reach that goal!

What do you do to cross train? Do you cross train regularly, or are you more of a seasonal cross trainer like me?

Lacing Your Shoes

My feet have changed a bit since having babies, along with other things, but my old comfy shoes just didn't seem to fit right and were no longer so comfy. I figured it was just time to get a new pair and headed out for some cross-trainers a while back. After trying on several pairs, I finally settled on one and had to order them since all they had left in my size was the display. I have had a love/hate relationship with them since. If I get the toe part tight enough so my foot stays put, the top is too tight. So, I loosen the top and it works itself loose again at the bottom and my foot is moving too much in the shoe. I remembered doing "fancy" laces in elementary school and wondered if there was a way to lace them differently for running. Remember, I'm just getting into this whole things as running for a purpose and not because I'm being chased or playing with the kids, so I had no clue about all the different information out there. I actually came across a couple different sites that have information on this! If you are like me, these will help you figure out a way to lace your shoes to keep your feet from sliding around. I now can do cross-training videos and not have aching feet and legs!

How to Properly Tie Your Shoes - Runner's World

katieRUNSthis

Run, Mama, Run!

I am so excited to be able to post about my first 10K! I truly enjoyed running the race, it was such a great feeling to accomplish this goal. My time was right in line with what I expected from my training, 1 hour, 8 minutes and 46 seconds. RunKeeper had the distance at over .2 miles farther, which is still confusing to me. (I know my phone updated the app recently, has anyone else seen a change in the accuracy?)

My family came to cheer me on and lend their support. Well, that is what they claimed, but I think my girls had an eye out for the swag more than for their mom. ;) Addy jumped out and joined me for the last few strides across the finish line. She really kept up too! She said that was her favorite part of the day and I have to agree with her!

 

 

My two goals for this race were to run the whole 6.2 miles and to beat my training times. I accomplished both of those goals so I feel incredibly blessed. My next goal is to work on increasing my strength through actually cross training and to increase my comfort on longer runs. My big goal for my 35th year is to complete at least 2 half-marathons. I better get running!! :)

Plans schplans!

Truthfully, I am not great at sticking to a training plan. I think I felt my way through the last three weeks of the couch to 5k training plan my first go through with it. The second time I did it, I glanced at it every few weeks to get a second opinion on where I should be. After being able to run for over thirty minutes straight, I just kept adding minutes. Sure, I sometimes had to slow way down to keep from walking, but soon those minutes added up to an hour.

Eventually, I realized that to improve my speed (and I am not talking elite runner status!) I would probably need to consult a training plan. Not only consult a training plan, but actually stick to it the entire time, not only when I felt like it. I searched and searched for one that would fit my schedule. Well, one that would fit the child watch schedule at my local Y at least! Once I found  my training plan, I signed up for the run, and blabbed to enough people that I felt truly committed to the plan and the run.

Here is a link to my 10K training plan, http://www.runningplanet.com/training/10K-training-program-recreational.html. For those too enthralled to look away from this post, in short the training plan has 4 days of running. Two of those days are shorter easy runs, one is a long easy run and one is a speed or hill workout. There are 3 rest days, one rest day is an optional rest or cross training day. I took the rest day every single time (ans sometimes more than once ;))!

My next challenge is to take the cross training option. I have decent endurance, but am pretty short on strength and defined abs and arms. While running has helped my legs get toned, my upper body is not enjoying the same benefits.

One day when I was feeding my obsession with the Hood to Coast relay, I came across a runner, Jess, whose blog really inspired me to commit to increasing my strength. I would be lying if I didn't say that I am intimidated and more than a little fearful of being sore but I am excited to give it a shot. Here is the link to Jess' blog and fall fitness series, http://blondeponytail.com/2012/09/gnc-get-strong-lean-home-workout/#comments. I love that it is not time-intensive, doesn't need fancy equipment and instead of dreaming of toned abs and arms I will be working on toning them!

What cross training do you do? What is your favorite half-marathon training plan? I would love to hear from you! I am ready to quit talking about doing a half and just get it done! :)