When you need a little motivation or inspiration to keep running for your big race bring it all into balance with some of these tips.
Running a marathon is hard work so these are some times that will help you achieve your goal. In the upcoming months I will expand these tips with more articles but for now as part of my daily motivational/thoughts series we are just going to list them out. (more…)
So you have been good this New Year and are following through with your resolutions. You’ve run a majority of the days and you feel good. Then while walking down the hallway you feel a slight twinge in you left leg. What the heck is that. Oh no, shin splints. Classic overuse injury. What do you do ?
What are shin splints ?
[from wikipedia]
Shin splints is a general term used to refer to a painful condition in the shins. It is often caused by running or jumping or sprinting, and may be very slow to heal. A formal medical term for the condition is medial tibial stress syndrome. (more…)
Running in the winter time isn’t really as bad as it may seem. Sure, there are times when you should not venture out into the storm, but a lot of times it might be a great time for a run. Running through the cold weather can help shake those winter doldrums, improve your energy level, invigorate you, and help you keep in shape for the upcoming racing season.
I find that cold weather running really tests your will and also brings out a very zen like mind state. At times it is quieter with less traffic so your runs are pretty undisturbed. Running in snow really is a calming sensation.
Of course, you do have to be properly prepared in order to brave the conditions. Running in the crappy weather is challenging and you have to be at the top of your game. You’d hate to slip and fall on your butt. I think we’re all a little more embarrassed if someone sees us fall that the fall itself.
So, here are some tips when you decide to get out and run in the winter snow.
Choose quality over quantity. People often spend hours in the gym rather than focusing on the quality of the exercise they’re performing. Even if you can only allocate ten minutes to exercise, make those ten minutes count. Focus on performing the exercises to the best of your ability. It’s better to spend ten quality minutes exercising than it is spending an hour in the gym doing it all wrong.
Found this on a forum. Wearing wetsuits and open water swims.
1) In the short distance race it may not be worth wearing the wetsuit depending on water temp and distance
2) Let the wetsuit work for you, don’t fight it.
3) It will take time to adjust to swimming in the wetsuit
4) Pool to lake can create a little anxiety, noticed or not, and can add to the over exertion
5) Adjust your swimming as well as comfort level feeling “restricted” by wetsuit
6) Take all the slack out of the wetsuit, pull it waaaaayyy up into the crotch
