A Running Mom

Photo Credit: OldOnliner

Most people hate running hills. I love it. Know why? Because a friend of mine took a running class with the NYRRC (New York Road Runners Club) and she shared with me this excellent tip: it’s the one thing you must do when you’re running hills that will make all the difference for you every time!

Best part? It’s so easy!
As you start up your next hill, pretend you’re holding potato chips between your thumb and middle fingers which you cannot break. These potato chips aren’t the crunchy, kettle chips either. These potato chips are the flimsy, fragile Lay’s Brand potato chips that will crack the minute you hold your fingers together too tightly.

Try it. You will never hate hills again. Ok. Well at least you’ll never approach a hill the same again.

Here’s why: when you’re pretending to hold that chip, you’re also forcing yourself to keep a light touch about your fingers; your hands; your arm; your shoulders. The tenseness that often comes during a part of a run that runners hate — which often results in a tensing of the shoulders, especially in women runners — just won’t happen to you while you’re running up that hill. Sure the challenge will remain the same. But your experience of this challenge will change dramatically. Promise.

Just don’t break those chips!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Photo Credit: Cole24

Look at that.
Read this.
Then go for your interval run!

Confidence
You don’t always have to be in the lead…
If you have the heart to come from behind.
Don’t give up hope, don’t doubt yourself,
And a new strength is what you’ll find.
The spirit of competition, the desire to succeed
will always be important for life.
So give your all, everything you’ve got,
No matter the occasion, through pain and strife.
So step up to the plate, enter the race,
Never be afraid to take your turn.
Because winners are people who just never quit,
And this is a life lesson we all will learn.
©Melissa Underwood

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

Photo Credit: pillotgirl

Check out the runners in this picture. It’s a great shot of the Freihofer’s Run for Women. Aren’t they inspiring? Let them get you psyched for a week of running! Get off your couch and plan to join me for these 5 days of running this week.

It’s easy! Just plan to go out for these 5 great runs with me. Check in and let me know how you did!

(Remember, before you ever start a new fitness routine, it’s always good to check in with your physician to make sure it’s right for you.)

5. An easy 30 minutes. For this run, just go out and run for about 30 minutes without worrying about your pace. The idea for this run is to loosen up after the weekend and get your breathing in check.

4. Intervals! Break up your course in 4 sections. For me, I’m going to for 40 minutes for this run. You should plan to run a distance you know you can cover, but that you can really deliver some speed, too, and that you can easily break up into 4 intervals.

Interval 1: easy
Interval 2: slightly faster
Interval 3: race pace
Interval 4: easy

This run will challenge your muscles, your breathing, and of course, your endurance. Make sure your “easy” intervals do not become a walk and that your form does not break down. If you feel like you need to walk, then you probably are running too fast during the quicker intervals, so make sure you don’t overdo it.

And make sure that your “slightly faster” interval doesn’t become your race pace. This is a nice drill on controlling your pace and identifying “faster” vs. “race.” So if you realize you’re not nailing the right pace, know that we all do this. It’s part of what this run is designed to teach you!

3. An easy 20 minutes. For this run, just go out and run for about 20 minutes without worrying about your pace. The idea for this run is to loosen up after the interval run.

2. Hills! Find a course near you with 3 nice hills. If you live in a flat area of the country, then consider a treadmill that allows you can alter the incline. Hill running is an incredible help for fitness, endurance and strength. I’m going to plan on a nice 5-mile run with about 7 hills. They are rolling hills, so I won’t have to worry about training for them. Remember to always use your arms on the uphill, and to be sure not to land on your forefoot on the downhill. Form on the downhill is important so you don’t get hurt.

1. An easy 20 minutes. For this run, just go out and run for about 20 minutes, but this time, give yourself a nice “stride” in the middle of it. You will feel able to run faster, so enjoy a nice 4 minutes or so with an increased pace. But make yourself stay loose and at an easy pace for the majority of it. The idea for this run is to loosen up after the week of running.

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

May your next run be a good one.

Rebecca

Seven miles down. Thirteen to go.

How many miles do you run in your shoes before you buy new ones? I’m the worst at this discipline. I like to wait until my feet hurt, my knee starts puffing up, or some other body part complains before I go and buy new shoes. Why? Because the models keep changing… I just fall in love with one pair and when I go to buy the same one it is gone?
Am I alone here?

So I may be showing off my new running sneaks soon. Any recommendations out there?

How many more miles on your agenda this week?

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

Photo Credit: Jacob Enos

My core strength is depleted. Even a simple run has my abs feeling fatigued. So I’m taking these girls as my inspiration to Just Add Yoga to my routine and get back that core strength that has kept my lower back in check for the past year!

What’s your most challenging pose? Favorite routine? Is there a best time of day for yoga?

I’m looking for some wise words from my peeps. I’m going to try the yoga thing at home… this is new to me!

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca

Photo Credit: RBackowski

Ever commit to something that you’re just not sure how you’re going to achieve it? You know, you set your sights on a goal. You believe you can do it. You commit to it. And then you look around and realize, wow, you’ve got to start taking some steps to make that thing happen!

I’m in a bit of all that right now.

I’m running the Chicago Marathon in October. GASP! This isn’t a picture of me finishing, but I like it because I see that time as a highly motivating one for me. But just to be clear, I usually don’t like to talk about a goal like this. I won’t even say the words, “I’m training for a marathon” out loud (or in print) until the week of the race because you just never know what happens during training. But what I realized this week is that I’ve got to figure out how to take the time and start to train for it! Hello! The marathon is only 19 weeks away! Like a bucket of water over my head, it hit me: it’s TIME TO TRAIN!

So how ’bout we make a deal. I’ll set a few goals here and there and make some progress in getting ready for the race. You’ll share some inspirational goals and achievements of yours with me. And together, regardless of whether you’re training for a race, just starting back running again, getting back into shape, or are planning to run a marathon in the fall like me, we’ll achieve something together. Deal?

Here’s the beauty in this deal, though: Starting this week, we’ll never be as out of shape, tired, or full of “I’ll start tomorrow” as we have been before this day. Tomorrow it all begins. And we’ll do it!

I do believe in the power of community; the power of believing in each other; the power in looking beyond one’s self to reach a higher level of worth. So join me and let’s go!

May your next run be a good one.
Rebecca