Before I became a runner, I was obsessed with ab exercises like crunches (that didn’t give me a 6 pack anyway). But as I became a more well informed runner and triathlete, I learnt about the value of core strength. When I asked experienced runners and coaches what else I could do to improve my running, their answer was yoga/pilates to strengthen my core. Benefits of a Strong Core A strong core can improve running posture. While running longer distances,…
If you’ve resolved to take up running, not only is it hard to take that first step to run, but to stick with running long term is a commitment in itself. Many people start running and then drop off because it is daunting (I can’t keep count of how many times I did that myself!). Running is a journey, not a destination. You don’t have to run X miles, or at Y pace to be a runner, you just have…
When I first started running, I ran on the treadmill exclusively. Yes, I had taken a mad leap by signing up for a half marathon as my first race, but I was like a beached whale, 190lbs, size 16, nursing my almost 1 year old (we all know what nursing does to certain parts of the body!) – very very conscious of my body. And so I was definitely not going to be running out on the streets huffing and puffing…
My favorite and most common place to run is a 3 mile FLAT gravel loop that has a 5 mile FLAT out and back on the road. Hills are hard. I don’t like hills. Sure, hills build character. But I don’t like hills. I usually pick races that are not hilly, even though I run my uber hilly hometown race Georgia Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Half almost every year. And of course, Boston Marathon with it’s (in)famous hills is next…
I went back on my blog to look through past posts to compare my goals of 2018 to what was actually accomplished, but other than a vague I need to try for the sub 5:30 marathon time again after the failure at Marine Corps Marathon in 2017, looks like I never wrote any goals down!! Was it an oops on my part on a very very sparse blogging year, or was it a deliberate thought of seeing where the year…
It is hard to imagine that it was only 8 short years ago that I took my first running steps. 8 years ago, I was nervous about it, I thought I was going to die while running and I hated it when I finished the run. I used to run alone with my eyes firmly on the ground and not looking up to anyone crossing, and I’d be dressed in all cotton T and baggy cotton capris, preferably black or grey. And…
These past few weekends with both my minions being sick have left me feeling like I’m running hard and fast to catch up. I may also have a tad too much on my plate on a normal day – lots of chauffeuring the minions and volunteering at school and other events. That is easily manageable except when work piles up and I’m playing catchup again. No big deal, I’ve learnt plenty on how to carve an hour or two here and there (lunch…