Yoga is for Running

When I trained for and ran first marathon back in 2007/2008, I didn’t really know what I was doing.  This is evident by the horrible IT Band issues I suffered.  As a result, come race day my feet were left bloodied as I limped across the finish line.

My shoes and socks after the race. Try not to barf.

Since then I have learned a ton about how to stay healthy when running all these miles.  Today I will share one – Yoga.  Yoga is excellent for runners, in my experience.

At a recent practice at Lululemon. Cat, cow, whatever.

Strength – Runners need to cross-train so they can exercise muscles other than the ones they use when running.  You don’t want to create any imbalances and luckily Yoga works out all the muscles.  From toes to brain.  In particular, it works the core, which you need to do everything from grabbing a jar from the cupboard, to running a marathon.

Flexibility (Letting go) – Most of us could use some more flexibility.  Our muscles get tight, not only from running, but also from life.  This can lead to injury.  Yoga helps stretch us out.  As one instructor put it, “We are not creating flexibility, we are letting go of tension.”  Good way to think of it.

Breathing – Yoga is all about your breath.  As one instructor told me, “Breath is life, without it there is no life.”  Besides different breathing techniques, I’ve learned how important my breath is in yoga, and how many different parts of the breath there are.  I apply it to my running – when things get tough, I try to calm my breath.

Endurance – Runners are supposed to have endurance, but I’m reminded each practice that we could always gain more.  Tell me to run 5 miles, fine.  Tell me to hold an up-on-toes chair pose for 45 seconds, we may have issues.

Mental – Runners are mentally tough, but yoga helps our wills get stronger.  At a recent practice we were in a difficult pose and everyone was shaking and falling out of it.  The instructor said, “When you lose your concentration, that’s when you fall.”  This totally applies to running.  Focus, Danielson!

In the Moment – To me, this is the hardest part.  In yoga you’re supposed to stay in the moment.  You’re not supposed to be thinking about what you’re going to do after class, your grocery list, etc.  This helps me in running, when things get hard, I remember to take it one step at a time.  You don’t want to be thinking how much further you have to go!

I’ve done yoga at different studios, gyms, living rooms, sporting goods stores, and even one time in a train station.  I mentioned earlier how I’ve been going to Lululemon yoga sessions – well the other day I saw this written on the store window…

Yes, yes it is.

So there you have it, a quick overview of one of the ways I stay healthy for running – Yoga.

How bout you?  Do you do yoga?  For yourself or for running (or both)?  Did my shoes/socks make you barf?

– Scott

 

Expo Recap – Disney Dopey Challenge

Since the Dopey Challenge was four days of races, I figured I’d break up the recaps so I don’t bore you with one big huge one.

Anyway, the first day started with an early morning rise to get to the airport.  I was traveling with my mom and my almost five year old.

On dee plane. He’s a good flier, or is it flyer?

We got in to Orlando where my sis picked us up and went straight to the Expo.  Both of them were doing the Dopey too!  Crazy cause my moms hadn’t ever run a full marathon before, but she wanted in on the action!

With my sis and mom and dwarf.

The Expo takes place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.  That’s where they have all their soccer, baseball, and football fields, along with a track and some field houses.

The Expo was divided into three buildings.  The first one is the main baseball stadium where we had to pick up the boy’s kid’s race packet.  While we did, we took a chance to preview a portion of the marathon course that runs there on the Atlanta Braves baseball spring training field.

Diggin’ the dugout.

The other two Expo buildings housed all the usual stuff that you usually see at an expo.

Yup, that’s an expo.

I’m not big into expos, I prefer to get my stuff and get out of the crowds.  But I did have to take a closer look at some of the bling we were shooting for!

My precious is so close.

I wish that was the end of the story, but it wasn’t.  The big thing this year was the RunDisney New Balance designed running shoes.  There were lines down the street, and people were buying them even if they didn’t have their size!  Turns out a lot of them were turning around and selling them on Ebay for like $700.  Crazy!  That said, my mom and sis wanted some, so we went back to the Expo a few more times the next few days until they were able to get them.

They were all the rage.

It wasn’t all bad though, as they had a bar there for me to play at.  And one booth had a Wii for the boy to play with.  And I got to see some of the speakers.  And my mom bought me some new running shades.  And we got stickers for the cars – you know, the kind that say 48.6.  Hayup.

Anyway, we got through the Expo, got some dinner, and went to the hotel to sleep (or at least try to) because the 2 am wake-up call was looming.

My Dopey Game Face.

So there you have it, the Disney Dopey Challenge Race Expo Recap (from my perspective).

How about you?  If you were there, do you have any opinions on the Expo?  Either way, how do you feel about Expos –  Do you like all the crowds and merch?  Or are you like me and want to get your race stuff and go because you prefer to buy things on your own terms?

Please Vote & Weekday Workout Recap

CLICK THIS SENTENCE TO VOTE FOR MY GRIFFIN!!!

Here’s my explanation of the above link:  I love Brooks exercise products.  I have so much gear that sometimes looks like Brooks threw up on me.  Mainly, I’m about the shoes.  When I switched to Pure Flows a couple years ago, I haven’t had a running injury since.  I’m not saying the shoes are the main reason, they aren’t, but for me they seem to be the right fit (pun intended).  In fact, one day I was given a pair of free shoes of another brand, I wore them for one run and my calf hurt for weeks after.  So I’m sticking with them until something changes.

At a recent Relay Race – We’re both rockin the Pure Flow 2 by Brooks.

That said, Brooks is having a contest.  They want to see your #RunHappy moment.  I submitted a picture of our toddler running a race at Disney World this past year (he won the race).  Can’t help but smile when looking at that photo.  He’s running so free and happy!  Here’s the photo:

I can’t believe he has better form than I do. He also has better race photos and better  hair.

I HATE those contests that try to get  you to try and get all your facebook friends and twitter followers to vote for you in order to win.  You have close to zero chance of winning them.  That said, that is only part of this contest – They are taking into consideration the votes, but then their judges are deciding the winners.  So your vote could help some.  You vote by either Facebook liking or Tweeting this pic from their page.  You have until midnight tonight.

CLICK THIS SENTENCE TO VOTE FOR MY GRIFFIN!!!

The prize I’m interested in is the GoPro camera.  They are great.  And since I’m a TV producer, I could use one.  And since I’m a runner, I could bring it along during races or mud runs too!  So click that link above if you see this by midnight Aug 29, 2013.  Thanks in advance.

Anyway, another weekday set of workouts is finally done!  It went like this:  Tues, 3 mile run + weights.  Wed, 4 mile run with hill repeats.  Thurs 3 mile run + weights.  Tomorrow is rest day, then the weekend back to back of 3 and 12 miles.  I’m probably going to yoga as well.  Then a MUCH needed Labor Day holiday!  It’ll be nice to have a day off to try and get caught up on life stuff.  Family BBQ is on Sunday, but other than that haven’t made plans yet.

What are y’all doing?

P.S. If anyone from Brooks sees this and can help get me some kind of sponsorship, I would appreciate you for life!

Disney World Marathon #blog #WDWMarathon

This weekend I am about to headbutt my third marathon in it’s face’s mouth.  I’ve been training for months, and I feel that I will have my best ever showing at 26.2 miles.  All three marathons have been the Disney World one.  I figure that if I’m going to go through the pain of a full marathon, I may as well do it someplace somewhat somescenic.  It doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty flat and they have pretty decent weather in Central Florida either.  But my theory is that that miles go by faster if you have pretty stuff to look at – and since Hawaiian Tropic Calendar Girls Marathon doesn’t exist to my knowledge, then a magical place like Disney will have to do!

Feeling like a princess coming out of Cinderella’s Castle with my sis in 2012.

I’ve always been a runner – I was a 4-year letter winner and honorable mention All-Conferance track athlete in high school – and ever since then I’ve run around three times per week and countless 5k’s.

Smokin’ fools in the 400 in high school.

However, I never felt the urge to run longer distances.  That was until I ran my first marathon.  It got addicting, kind of like golf, as you keep learning and thinking that your next outing will be better than your last.  And let me tell you, ANY race after my first marathon would have no choice but to be better.  You see, I didn’t know what I was doing.  I printed some training schedule off the internet and just went for it.  I didn’t know how to stretch right, eat right, cross train right, or even what to wear.  I ended up getting horrible IT Band Syndrome, which relegated my training to the elliptical machine.  And since I wasn’t used to the pounding of concrete, my feet bled like a hemophiliac for most of the race.  It wasn’t pretty.  I had to walk most of the way cause it hurt so bad to run.

I think the looks on our faces capture the feels of our bodies in 2008.

My shoes and socks after the race. Try not to barf.

But then I got smarter.  I took four months off to rest my IT Band.  I added yoga to my multiple weekly workouts.  I started building the miles back up slowly.  I listened to my body.  I got support from friends and family.  I got better running equipment.  I read tons of articles on running.  I took the right supplements.  I started going to a chiropractor.  I wore out one foam roller and got a new torturous one.  I kept and keep learning.  So much of this lead me to give Disney another go – four years later.  It went much better.

Disney 2012 – much better, but I should’ve photoshopped out the photobomber.

It was better, but I can do better.  I didn’t time my training right and peaked a month too early.  I also started getting the old IT Band issue back toward the end of my training.  That said, I was able to run this race, which was goal #1.  Though I hit the wall starting at mile 18 and had to take walk breaks the rest of the way.  Plus the IT Band flared up some – not so much that I had to quit, but it was noticeable and affected my run.  But like I said, I was able to get it done!

Despite my finger I didn’t actually finish in first place.

Here’s a quick video of me during the 2012 race – I felt like was going much faster than I look.

Which leads me to 2013.  I’m taking on the Mouse once again.  I couldn’t help myself.  Besides wanting to run the whole way strong and reach my goal time, they also suckered me in with this year’s race plan.  It’s the 20th anniversary of the Disney Marathon and they’re pulling out all the stops, and the go’s too for that matter.  They redesigned the course, and I like the changes a lot.  New this year we don’t have to run a lap around Epcot to start the race, we get to run on their auto racing track, we get to run through the sports complex (spring training baseball fields, etc.), and they have a special celebration planned all along mile 20.

If you watched that video, you saw a glimpse of the medal.  That is always a draw for me, and this year’s looks to be baddbutt!  Two spinning elements?  Yes please!

The 20th anniversary medal is 20% more awesomer.

In addition, this race is cool because all along the course they have characters, props, entertainers, volunteer cheerers, etc. so that you never get bored.  And if you’re not in it for a PR, then you can stop and have your picture taken with the characters by an official race photographer.  There’s also some celebs set to run this race.  Joey Fatone, Sean Astin, Drew Carey, etc.  I also found out that I have some friends running it, so it will be fun to see them!  Not to mention I’ll be running with my sister again!

One cool thing is that this will also be the first time that I actually get to watch a race – the day before the marathon they have a half marathon, which my moms and other peeps are running.  I can’t wait to see what it’s like from the spectators perspective, and I especially can’t wait to make some funny signs!!!

Anykitandkaboodle, I probably won’t be posting any blogs the next week or so as I’ll be enjoying sunny Florida after the race.  But as soon as I get back I’ll write up a full recap of the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend!