TIART: I'm Just Not Into It
It's Thursday, so that mean's TIART at Runner's Lounge. The theme is cross-training. As I have read some other posts about it, I find myself nodding in agreement to all of it.
I know I should be doing it, I know there are huge benefits, yet I just cannot get into it. My journey as a runner started as a soccer player and having to run a lot and finding that my conditioning between seasons suffered for lack of activity. So I started running to further my conditioning. It was a means to an end.
Then there was a hiatus of any activity except beer drinking at fraternity houses for a few years. The freshman 15 happened a year later for me - it was the sophomore 20 or so. Finally, I started running again, forcing myself around an indoor track on which 8 laps = 1 mile. I ran 2 mi/day every day in my 4th and 5th years. (you read that right, 5 years - I had fun in college...)
So for me, running over the past 20 years has been about keeping in shape, helping to combat the 5 - 10 lb that always creeps on and holds on for dear life. When I lived in SW Colorado and NW New Mexico, I did not have to worry about it as much, as my lifestyle was extremely active - hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing. I also ran, but not daily.
Now that I have been in Tulsa for 10 years (ack!), running is nearly my sole form of daily exercise. I will walk with the kids, I may play soccer with Nathan, but it is the one thing that I can do anywhere, anytime, with minimal equipment. It also has the benefit of being the most efficient for burning calories.
I would love to take a yoga class. When? Where? What suffers in my life in order to do that?
I do not swim. I cannot swim. I sink.
Biking? I did take my bike to the local shop for an overhaul and will retrieve it this weekend, hoping to ride with my family. But I do not foresee a day when it will be more than a family jaunt.
Elliptical? I have one. I use it occasionally. I do not like it as much as I like running. My husband uses it much more.
Strength and core exercises? I have made these a priority. I have started doing about 15-20 min of core work with my son in the evening. I have noticed an improvement in my posture during longer runs. I have incorporated 10 lb dumbbells 4x/wk. My arms do not tire as much during longer runs. I know this is helping and it makes me wonder how much more yoga could do for me. But for now, this is going to suffice.
I know I should be doing it, I know there are huge benefits, yet I just cannot get into it. My journey as a runner started as a soccer player and having to run a lot and finding that my conditioning between seasons suffered for lack of activity. So I started running to further my conditioning. It was a means to an end.
Then there was a hiatus of any activity except beer drinking at fraternity houses for a few years. The freshman 15 happened a year later for me - it was the sophomore 20 or so. Finally, I started running again, forcing myself around an indoor track on which 8 laps = 1 mile. I ran 2 mi/day every day in my 4th and 5th years. (you read that right, 5 years - I had fun in college...)
So for me, running over the past 20 years has been about keeping in shape, helping to combat the 5 - 10 lb that always creeps on and holds on for dear life. When I lived in SW Colorado and NW New Mexico, I did not have to worry about it as much, as my lifestyle was extremely active - hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing. I also ran, but not daily.
Now that I have been in Tulsa for 10 years (ack!), running is nearly my sole form of daily exercise. I will walk with the kids, I may play soccer with Nathan, but it is the one thing that I can do anywhere, anytime, with minimal equipment. It also has the benefit of being the most efficient for burning calories.
I would love to take a yoga class. When? Where? What suffers in my life in order to do that?
I do not swim. I cannot swim. I sink.
Biking? I did take my bike to the local shop for an overhaul and will retrieve it this weekend, hoping to ride with my family. But I do not foresee a day when it will be more than a family jaunt.
Elliptical? I have one. I use it occasionally. I do not like it as much as I like running. My husband uses it much more.
Strength and core exercises? I have made these a priority. I have started doing about 15-20 min of core work with my son in the evening. I have noticed an improvement in my posture during longer runs. I have incorporated 10 lb dumbbells 4x/wk. My arms do not tire as much during longer runs. I know this is helping and it makes me wonder how much more yoga could do for me. But for now, this is going to suffice.
Labels: take it and run Thursdays
9 Comments:
I hear you on this one. I really do. I just don't like it as much, and it's not as practical.
Strength training I think, will be my next cross-training initiative.
I also get bored to tears on the elliptical. I like the idea of doing core exercises in the evening. I may have to incorporate that into my routine.
I am pretty sure drinking at fraternity houses counts as cross training.
Does making cookies and banana bread count at cross training? Oh, wait, that's cross eating.
Maybe that's why I can swim so well. All the extra bouyancy!
It sounds like you are doing ok with incorporating other activities. I think strength training was the biggest benefit to me.
And, how about joining a local women's soccer league? Recreational, of course. I play indoor once per week and it is my primary form of cross training! (I mix in weights and strengthening and one day on the elliptical as well.)
And, it is SO fun!
I read your Monday post - you cross trained all weekend. :}
It's good that you've added weights, that counts! So does chasing children around ...
Maybe you can borrow a Yoga DVD from the library to try it out? Not as good as a class, where an instructor will correct you if your poses aren't quite right, but it'd still be beneficial.
I loathe weight training, but I have found that my strength has really gone downhill in the last couple of years. Running is not enough anymore, but I really have a hard time squeezing in the toning/weights. Lately, I have been doing core/strength videos. My strength is much better and it doesn't seem as much of a chore.
I have to say I am loving yoga. I tape all the episodes of Namaste Yoga on FitTV on the DVR and then I weed out the ones that are too hard :) There are several that say they are good for runners, good stretches for the hips and hamstrings. I definitely notice if I don't do it for awhile. If you skip the commericals it is about 22 minutes, I find right before bed a great time to calm down and run through it.
N & J might like it as well, sometimes the girls ask to do it with me--its never as relaxing as alone but I still get something from it.
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