WARM-UP
Sometimes these posts are things I’m currently learning (banging my head against the wall) and sometimes I am attempting to reteach myself better habits…
I love love love training for this marathon. I have never before trained for something in such a specific structured way. In fact, I’m already planning which plan I’d like to follow when I’m done with this marathon. How could I operate for 37 years without a plan? I used to just go out and run. Run. That’s it. If I could ride, then I rode. If I had time to lift weights, I grabbed the weights and counted to 15 and called it lifting. I have learned so much in the past year, by writing it, by thinking about it, by reading massively…
DRILLS/STRETCHING
Today, I was doing what I always do. Stretch while thinking of fifty other things to do with the 10 minutes of quiet time that I had. My children were happy to watch Francis in Swiss Family Robinson try to catch an elephant, so I was taking the opportunity to stretch. My running buddy (new blogger- stop over and say hi) and I ran 8 miles this morning with 6 miles at our Planned Marathon Pace (8 minutes a mile or faster). People, I am getting stronger. Bobbi used to DROP my a** on these intensity runs, but she hasn’t lately..Humm, maybe, there is something to this marathon plan and the CORE training that I am doing?
Throughout the last couple of miles, I had some nagging tightness in my hamstring. In fact, so tight, that later in the day I cramped if I did something weird, like hand crackers over a seat. (College buddy, Tammy and I took kids to working farm to eat vegetables on a tracker).
INTENSITY/FOCUS
The go fit flat bands are what I used to stretch my hamstring, in high school we used towels…I could not MOVE my leg at all. Stuck. Tight. My leg was stuck in a road block or something. And I was rushing. Got to stretch. Got to cook dinner (etc…) Mindless mental chatter. STOP. LISTEN. BREATHE. STRETCH. After that, I started to make some gains on the leg. It moved a tiny bit. Took another breath, it moved a little more. It was all about slowing down long enough to THINK about what I was doing. In some literature, I’ve read that you can actually see more progress when you actually focus on the muscle being worked. This is true to life, too. If we can really have tunnel vision for the moment, maybe we’d be more effective in our daily lives.
COOL DOWN
“The state of your body influences your mind. If your body is stiff and rigid, or collapsed and limp, your mind will follow suit. (Gelb pg. 219) What a way to close this post! As I’m learning, I share. Listen to your body, focus on what it needs and take the necessary to steps to stay healthy in mind and body. I am so grateful, that my body has gotten me this far, certainly would like to see it through to the end, you know?
Quote from this book.
Digg!
8 responses so far ↓
1 AndrewE // Aug 1, 2008 at 6:58 am
I never stretch but I always cool down with a walk. I think the jury is still out on stretching. For some folks it seems to be needed for others it seems to do more harm than good.
2 Fitarella // Aug 1, 2008 at 10:53 am
Good for you! Sounds like you are right on target. My plan is going ok…I’ve been able to stay on track for the most part, but fitting the core circuits in before a run can be a little tricky at 4am. We’ll see how it goes, i’m still sticking to the plan, but for me it’s not an easy plan to follow with FT work, FT school & of course the fam. But I will say that I have seen big improvements in my times
One day at a time I guess, right? Congrats on your progress!
3 MizFit // Aug 1, 2008 at 12:29 pm
youre on track AND a roll model.
I never stretch since the onset of fullonTODDLERHOOD.
I get 40 minutes and Im not spending a second of that stretching.
a poster child for NOTHING,
Miz.
4 Fit Mommy // Aug 1, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Fitarella- I usually do the core workouts after the run. Or at some point during the day. They only take 15 minutes at a time so I just try to squeeze it in.
Andrew- isn’t there some research the validates the need for stretching? I’ve read that it will make you stronger.
Thanks Miz Fit- you are a roll model too! You are a poster child for MizFit- love what you are doing. Read it everyday.
5 bobbi // Aug 1, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Love the post! I have to say after the ten plus years of running I have done this is by far the best time I have had training! I feel like I am training for the Olympics, well maybe not that far but it’s been hard and challenging! I hope that we stay injury free and rock it in St.George. Thanks so much for all of your wisdom, support, and encouragement:)
6 Mark Salinas // Aug 2, 2008 at 1:50 am
You appear to be right on!
7 Mama C // Aug 2, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I don’t stretch as much as I should probably, but I am not running as much as I should either!
Am I still on your workout mailing list? I didn’t get an email last week. I know I have not come yet, but one of these days the stars and planets will align correctly, allowing me to come.
By the way, I’ve “tagged” you. Come to my blog to see what it’s about. Have a good weekend.
8 Michelle@Life with Three // Aug 2, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Just popped over to your blog from a comment I saw over at Blissfully Domestic. I had fun looking around — and I’ll definitely be back. I love your philosophy toward fitness and health.
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