If you want to increase your endurance, strengthen and tone your mid section and meet other mom runners, think about signing up for this new mid-week conditioning class. This is an hourlong running-based program that combines speed work, endurance drills and core exercises to help you strengthen your body for any sport (including tag … Continue reading »
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Run for the hills
I grew up in a neighborhood where going to school everyday meant scaling one or two mountainous hills. I used to dread the daily trek and told everyone for a year that when I grew up I planned to live somewhere flat. Fast foward 30+ years and indeed I live on a flat street, … Continue reading »
Maximizing your treadmill workouts
There are some days — be it too rainy or hot — when running outside sounds about as appealing as swimming in the Bay. On those days, I head to the gym, drop Adeline off at the gym daycare and hit the treadmill. I used to think of the treadmill as an awfully boring and … Continue reading »
Run the distance
Okay, so the word I’m about to use is really funny — one of those that makes you giggle like a school girl. It’s Fartlek, Swedish for speed play. It’s the best principle I’ve found for not only increasing speed but distance. It goes something like this: Every time you run, increase your speed for set periods, then revert to your normal jog, then increase it again. Do this for a set period of time during your run and you’ll begin to notice a huge difference in your performance. For instance, a three mile run might look like this: Continue reading »
Run better by running less
It seems counterintuitive that to be a better runner you would run less, but it’s true. The muscles you use running need some time to rest and recuperate and your running form and strength can benefit from doing other activities. My running improved several years ago when I swapped a day for swimming. I learned … Continue reading »
Leaping over the mental hurdle of running
n the 15 years that I’ve been a runner the first few steps of a run have always been hard. Everything in my body wants me to stop. I’ve never been one of those people who pops on their running shoes and takes off like a gazelle, making it look as effortless as watching television.
The nagging feeling to stop got worse after Adeline was born. I was disappointed in my inability to run as fast or as far as pre-baby. Inside, I was a mental mess, doubting my ability. To get through it, I had to employ some old tricks and learn some news ones. Continue reading »
