Pumping Iron Makes you Sexy – Week Recap

This week was a hawt one.  Right at triple digits each day.  I try to get up and run before the sun, but there’s not much relief as it’s not much cooler and we have the humidity to deal with.  That said, I was able to fight through.

Sunday – Trail run + yoga.  Tues – Road run + weights.  Wed – Track work.  Thurs – Weights + social run.

As you’ll notice, I do my share of cross training.  It wears me out, but I know it helps keep me injury free, so I keep doing it.

Dumbells make you smart…and sexy.

The only non morning run was the social one.  Man it was hot.  I’m still trying to acclimatize to the Texas summer.  A work in progress!

Anyway, just a quick recap.  Hope everyone is well!

How bout you?  Cross train much?  How do you deal with running in the heat?  How sexy-smart is my gym pic (be honest, it’s hawt)?

-Scott

Project Run 214 – Training Bonus #1

I’m part of a true grassroots run training group.  Project Run 214.  We’re small right now, but most start-ups are.  I am really excited to be a coach and taking part of this group.  We’ve had countless meetings over the past year in preparation for launching this group.  We wanted to make sure it was a well rounded training program.  It’s no secret that to be a runner, you have to do more than just run.  If you want to prevent injuries, you better be doing other stuff.  Yes, we have the weekend long run that almost every other training group has, but we also have some bonuses throughout the week/program…and guess what?  It’s all included in the price of the program!  Like I said, we really want this to be a well rounded program that strives to prevent the typical injuries that most runners get!

Today I’m going to write about one of these bonuses our members get as part of PR214.  Later on I’ll post about other bonuses.  But the focus today is on cross training sessions.  Last night we met at a track.  The workout included some track work, but also some resistance strength training.  Various lunges, dumbell work, core work, etc.  If you’re not doing strength work as part of your run training, you’re setting yourself up for a greater chance of injury.  You’re also risking cramping, as some cramping is a result of weak muscles.  You want strong muscles and bones and joints and such to help carry your body over the course of your race.  You should be doing this on your own, but by making various sessions part of our program, we can ensure that you’re actually doing it!  No person left behind!

Some of our group doing some of their exercises.

Anyway, that’s bonus #1.  There are lots of other exciting bonuses, including different cross training sessions…but I’ll get to them later.  Personally myself, I like to lift weights, yoga, trail run, play soccer, and occasionally swim or ride my bike.  What kind of cross training do you enjoy?

Don’t be an Embarrassed Runner

There’s no reason to be.  I bring this up because recently I’ve had a few interactions with people, who for whatever reason, are embarrassed to work out.  I guess I didn’t really know that so many people feel this way.  But I hear that they think everyone is judging them (either in the gym or on the roads) and they don’t want to be embarrassed by how they look working out.  They tell me that they are self conscience about their bodies, their running pace, their lack of knowledge around gym equipment, their age, etc. etc. etc.

I have never felt that way.  Well, except for once.  I had just had wrist surgery, and once I was cleared to start rehab, the only weights I could lift were 2-3 lbs.  So I hid in a side room at the gym so nobody would see me doing curls with baby weights.  But then a group of body builders came in the same room and stripped down to g-strings and started critiquing each others poses, as they were preparing for a competition.  I was trapped in the room, surrounded by giant men in tiny banana hammocks, lifting 2 pound dumbbells – so yes, I was a little embarrassed.

But anyway, I seem to recall in college someone telling me they were intimidated being around buff dudes in the gym, so they didn’t go.  Now I’m not saying I was buff, but I was on the cheerleading team and we had to lift weights…a lot.  The gym was our second home.  And yes, we had a strength and conditioning coach, just like every other sports team on campus.  Here’s photo proof of my involvement:

My fav cheerleading photo (Hint–I’m the one on the bottom)

I remember talking to some of the other regulars at the gym and asked if they ever judged anyone else, and they all said “No.”  They were too busy focusing on their own workouts.  In fact, they said they actually respect the out of shape people they see in the gym.  They respect how their in there working to get better.  The only time they don’t is when someone just shows up one time and quits.  Or people who are just there doing things half-butted.  But if you are there and committed, then others respect you, no matter what your fitness level is.

This goes for people running too.  Whenever I pass another runner, I don’t say to myself, “They should not be out here.”  Instead I think, “Hey, another runner trying to get better, just like me.”

And when I’m in my car and pass by someone running, I’m always jealous.  I’d rather be out there on my feet than on my vehicular wheels.

So to sum up:  lift the weights, run the roads, swim the the pools, bike the streets, yoga the yoga mats, do whatever it is you like to do without fear.  Nobody is judging how fast you run, how much weight you can lift, how unflexible  you are, etc, etc.   Chances are, you are actually being respected or envied……Unless of course you’re doing something weird, like stealing all the paper towels and putting them in her giant purse, like I saw an old lady at the gym do the other week.  If that’s the case, then yes, I am judging you Mrs. Paper Towel Stealer.