A Running Mom

I’m in a “watch it” phase right now. I’m watching what I eat; I’m carefully planning my workouts; I’m stretching and doing my pilates moves even when I can’t get to my class; I’m sieving out people in my life who bring me down. I’m watching it.

And it’s working! I feel better. I’ve dropped a few. I’m getting stronger (or at least convincing myself that I feel stronger in a short amount of time). And the peeps around me are keeping me smiling.

Here’s what I want to share with you on the food thing:

1. Oatmeal with peanut butter in the morning.

2. Cheddar cheese and apple for a snack.

3. Split pea soup or another soup-type food for lunch.

4. Pretzels and a hard-boiled egg for a snack.

5. Salad with chicken for dinner.

And for a treat, a Tofutti Cutie!  Yum.

Try it. It’s working for me. I hope it works for you. This week? Let’s get out for 3 good runs, shall we?

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

I’m absolutely pumped about The Pittsburgh Marathon this year. Not sure if I’ll be able to run the whole thing, since my knee still bugs me, but I do know this: I am running that day in some way. And I cannot wait! It’s going to be such a thrill! Here’s why:

We’re all going to be celebrating the Marathon’s return to Pittsburgh. This city needs some attention paid to it for fitness. For the character of the city. The unique people. The neighborhoods. The culture. And at a time when marathons across the country keep popping up everywhere, it seems quite fitting for Pittsburgh to recognize the importance of keeping ours on the books.

Have you signed up yet?  Think you don’t have enough time to train?

I’ve always used the program mentioned here, and I’ve always enjoyed a comfortable, rewarding race. I don’t win. But I enjoy it. And I am not walking funny the next day because my training wasn’t robust enough.

Check it out:

Hal Higdon’s MARATHON TRAINING GUIDE.

May your next run be a good one. Happy New Year!

Rebecca

If you are anything like me, you are getting tired of all of the hype around the various workouts out there. From “boot camps” to “high intensity mega tapes” to a multitude of dvds recently offered, men and women can be tempted to spend mega bucks on ways to make working out more effective and interesting. Well, here’s my few thoughts for free. Here’s my top 5 Speed Workouts that will make YOU stronger, focussed and challenged. Try this:

5. INTERVALS During your next run, identify a target about 100 yards away.  This target could be a tree, lampost, bench or if you’re really abmitious, another runner. Run as fast as your legs can carry you to this target and then resume your comfortable pace. Do this once per mile of a “comfortable pace” run. WHY? It builds strength, endurance and challenges how you regard your pace. Plus, it’s fun, especially if you dust another runner.

4. BUILD THAT MUSCLE After three runs each week, do 3 sets of 8 of each of these: push-ups, dips, lunges. Try to incorporate them into the setting of your run, immediately upon finishing your run. WHY? Challenging muscles when their fatigued can quickly build strength. That’s why we do sets until muscle failure. Plus you’ll feel like Rocky.

3. CUT DISTANCE/ADD SPEED For one run each week, lessen your distance by half and run that distance in a :30-:45 less per mile than your comfortable pace. If you usually run four miles at 9:30, run two miles at 8:30-9:00. Don’t fret if you don’t successfully achieve this goal your first time. But keep trying. WHY? Each time you try will make you faster the next time you go out.

2. RUN WITH SOMEONE FASTER THAN YOU Not every run, but once in a while, find someone to run with whose pace is faster than yours. It can be annoying, yes, but as you guessed, it can make you stronger and faster. You may even make a new friend, or an old friendship stronger.

1. FINISH EVERY RUN LIKE AN EIGHT YEAR OLD No matter how far you’re running, select a point at the end of your run when you will just let it fly like you did when you were a kid and run as fast as you can, even if your form begins to break down. WHY? It’ll make you stronger and faster. And you know what? It’s fun.

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Join the group “Sign up for the Pittsburgh Marathon!”  It’s on Facebook now so check it out!  What a great way to avoid the “holiday 10.”

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Welcome to my ‘hood.  This is the fastest part of any run for me around where I live.  When I make it to this stop sign, my wheels can’t stop.  I’m running as fast as I can down this hill, around this corner (beautiful view, yes?) and whew! into my backyard.  Why is it so great?  It’s all downhill, baby.  Not steep.  Just sloped ever-so-subtly so that by the time I reach my house, I feel like an Olympian.

It’s a great finish.  And for me, sometimes, a great finish means a great run.

May your next run be a great one.

Rebecca

Last year, at this time, I played paddle tennis several times a week.  I started running a little less.  And I developed some pretty uncomfortable lower back pain.  You know the kind, where you squat to pick things up instead of bending over?  Yeah.  No fun.  Because of a friend, I found a pilates studio nearby where I learned the “hundred,” among other exercises.  Here’s the man himself, Joseph Pilates, demonstrating the hundred.  Look simple?  You strike that pose and count to 100! Try it.  It’s really, really tough.  Lower those legs a bit and it gets more challenging.  Just make sure you keep your back glued to the floor, because if you engage your back muscles you could get hurt.  For me, it worked and I’m a pilates convert.  You might even end up with a six-pack!  

Want more Pilates? Check out: http://tinyurl.com/6jjz8d

May your next run be a great one.  

Rebecca

Here’s another mom’s reason for running.  Check her out:

http://tinyurl.com/5j2jxm

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca