19 December 2007
Cross training!
Posted by Charles Mockridge under: Charles Mockridge .
I still can’t feel my cheeks! Call me a wimp, but running in December is not as fun as running in July! Our feet were wet and cold, our noses were running and frozen and I finished with salt lines half-way up my leg. Last Sunday was the first time that I had actually run outside in the winter for more than a mile…but, all in all, it was actually a lot of fun! I have always been a “Lone Runner”; just me and my iPod. I couldn’t believe how fast time could fly by when running with a group. Thanks to everyone one who made it out…I look forward to making it to the Sunday runs with everyone this winter (since I work out of town a lot, I am afraid that I might miss a number of the weekday workouts). Some Pointers for those who get bored with running: One thing that I noticed as I started running a couple years ago is that it can get pretty boring, especially the long runs. I have always been pretty good at amusing myself and have been caught having full conversations with myself on too many occasions but it can only go so far. So, to break up the monotony, I try to mix-it-up in my workouts as much as possible. Although your workout trainings may call for a 3 mile run one day, you can change it up a bit and not be set back. I try to throw in a number of cross training workouts…basketball, racquetball, tennis or swimming (although I swim like a rock, it is a great compliment to a long run). For me, these are great ways to build different muscles and motions that will be helpful during the race. When you are in mile 13 of a 25K, your whole body will hurt…not just your legs. So, it makes sense to train your whole body…just don’t catch a racquetball in the eye or bust an ankle playing basketball. If anything, these activities are a good excuse to not run on those days that you “just don’t feel like it”. Ok, I will get off the soap box…just a thought I had as I skipped my run last night to play some hoops.