Hi everyone! So today I want to talk about two things surrounding training: being smart about it and effective cross work. I am signing up for my first half marathon post-baby. It is on my birthday! April 14, 2013! It is the women’s More Fitness Half through central park (never been) and I am SUPER stoked! How fun to run in the “city that never sleeps!” I have run two halfs previously; the Disney Princess half and the Philly Half. Smart training is NOT Run-a-Day-cember, which resulted in a sore shin. But, hey, it was a one time challenge (that resulted in 130 miles in 31 days wooot!). Smart training DOES include REST days, which tend to be super hard on me mentally as I derive a great deal of happiness and stress relief from running. But in order to train smartly for this half marathon I NEED to take a rest day weekly and have vowed to do so. I have 14+ training weeks and want to use them wisely. So smart training also requires cross-training. I want to ask you: What type of cross training do you feel works best for running? I used to do a lot of Elliptical as it took pressure off of my bum/troubled shin, but now I am beginning to resort to swimming for several reasons:
a. It reminds me of being pregnant with Zach as I spent much time in the water with him in my belly. I LOVED it.
b. I feel like it REALLY increases my cardiovascular endurance through controlled breathing which definitely helps with running
c. I feel in another world under the water and need to escape sometimes. It is truly “me time.” NO ONE is going to come get me!
d. I feel like I am getting strength training as well as cardio (or at least my arms/shoulders bark like I am)
d. I got a waterproof iPod and it is bomb.com
So tell me: How do you train “smartly?” What do you feel is the best cross-training for running?
Daily Zach cuteness:
