Who knew? Well I knew. Sort of. It is really a challenge to blog DAILY! That was my goal for this project, but since I’m already three days behind. . . .
Here’s a recap of days 25, 24, and 23. I actually can see how this “realistic” blogging around my very real life carries some important messages. Bonus :).
Message #1 (Day 25): I will go to my grave saying that the best way to make exercise (and eating well) consistent and a priority is to plan for it. You absolutely cannot let your schedule take you by surprise (i.e. not looking at your upcoming schedule for commitments) if you want to stay on track. There will always be last minute issues that come up, but when you plan, and plan some more by looking at the big picture, those last minute glitches will wreak less havoc. That said, on Wednesday I did my usual strength training workout – chest and back exercises, with a few light exercises for legs. Since Thursday was a running day, I didn’t want to overdo it with lower body.
If you’re wondering how important strength training is for running a 1/2 marathon, consider that for 13.2 miles (for many of us, in excess of 2 hours!), you’ll be holding your body upright as you power along at your running pace. If your upper body and core are weak, you’ll fatigue much faster. Cardio endurance, as well as lower body strength are of course, important, but strengthening your upper body is a must.
Message #2 (Day 24): Thursday was a running day; indoor, on the treadmill. I did 5 miles (following a 1 mile walking warm-up) and felt amazingly strong and pain-free. This, is a really, really good thing, particularly this close to race day. When you come back from any type of running injury, you quickly learn that you don’t want to ever (if you can possibly prevent it) get injured again. Continuing to do the exercises and stretches recommended during your recovery will keep you injury free and running strong. Although they take extra time, and I often flirt with skipping them. . .I don’t. I’m too terrified to find out what will happen if I stop. So don’t neglect them. See if you can find a way to work them into your warm-up/cool down routine, because prevention really is the best medicine.
Message #3 (Day 23): Today was a planned rest day that I really didn’t want to be a rest day. Huh? For my husband’s birthday, I surprised him with Chicago Blackhawks tickets. Unfortunately, the ONLY game I could get us in to where we could actually sit down was on a week night. I honestly don’t like attending events during the week; I’m too tired from getting up so early, and, there’s always the possibility that my next-morning workout will become a victim of that late night event. Sure enough, those pesky Blackhawks tied the St. Louis Blues, went into overtime, and resolved the entire ordeal with a shootout. . .that they LOST. Sigh. Hockey isn’t even my favorite sport.
Since I got to bed too ridiculously late to even consider getting up at my usual early hour, and I needed to be at the office relatively early, I skipped my workout. And I am ok with that! Here’s how to know that it’s ok. Ask yourself: “What workout did I do yesterday (and the day before)? What workout do I have planned for tomorrow (and the day after)”? If the answer to all of those questions is NOTHING, then you are seriously behind in your workouts. Go ahead and get to the office (or wherever you need to be), but see if you can fit even 10-15 minutes of activity into your day, and be sure you get in a solid workout the day after. If you’re sandwiching that “day off that you don’t want to be a day off” between several days of activity – IT’S COMPLETELY OK!
Pesky Chicago Blackhawks