The Red River Gorge and my vow to get stronger!
On Sunday Saori, Kelty and I drove out to the Red River Gorge for some trail running. The weather forecast was chilly, cloudy, with a chance of rain. Not good, but not too bad to keep us away. Saori is a fantastic runner, and one I look up to and have a lot of respect for. We usually do not get to run together because she runs with the "speedys" aka Gary's group. She is doing Sugar and Spice on June 10th. Before then she has a triathlon and marathon! Saori is also doing the Pike's Peak Marathon in August with plans to marry her fiance on the top of the mountain. How cool is that? I just love her ambition.
We had a great time on the trail. I was so glad to be out there after so many months of road running. 3 hours felt like 1. Some parts of the trail were too steep to run so we hiked and ran. Kelty was about 6 inches from catching a squirrel until it ran up a tree. It was very exciting. The Gorge was beautifully green from all the rain, and we only saw 3 other people the entire time out there. There is something that is so peacefully distracting about being in the woods. I do enjoy road running, I'm not saying that, but trail running is more enjoyable for me. Saori and I were talking about this article we both happened to read in Trail Runner Magazine. The article was a trail vs. road debate between two experienced runners, Shayne Culpepper (road) and Bernie Boettcher (trail). It is Trail Runner Magazine so readers were probably supposed to side more with Bernie, and I know I definitely did. He expressed all of the reasons why I love running on trails.
The run/hike was a great workout and I fully expected to be very sore on Monday and Tuesday. To my pleasant surprise I was not. Although difficult, running on dirt is a lot less demanding on my body. I have had some fear that my hamstrings would not hold up for the Sugar and Spice but after Sunday I am feeling much more confident.
I have also been doing some exercises this week and last week to help strengthen my legs and hips:
Step ups with 10lb dumbbells
hamstring curls on the stability ball
kickbacks with green resistance band
toe raises (for achilles)
abduction on Pilates Reformer (hips)
From years of gymnastics and swimming I have always been strong and able to lift more weight than expected, but lately I have surprised myself at how weak I am. I know that my cardiovascular system is fit, body composition is normal, and my flexibility is good. However, my muscular strength and muscular endurance have diminished lately. Some exercises that have been easy for me in the past are much more difficult and I shake and fatigue much quicker. I have finally decided, after months and months of saying that I will, that I am going to add strength training into my routine. I really have no excuse not to; I work in a gym. How much easier can it get? Maybe the pain in my legs and back would have been a lot less had I been doing some resistance training. I'd like to think that would be the case.
We had a great time on the trail. I was so glad to be out there after so many months of road running. 3 hours felt like 1. Some parts of the trail were too steep to run so we hiked and ran. Kelty was about 6 inches from catching a squirrel until it ran up a tree. It was very exciting. The Gorge was beautifully green from all the rain, and we only saw 3 other people the entire time out there. There is something that is so peacefully distracting about being in the woods. I do enjoy road running, I'm not saying that, but trail running is more enjoyable for me. Saori and I were talking about this article we both happened to read in Trail Runner Magazine. The article was a trail vs. road debate between two experienced runners, Shayne Culpepper (road) and Bernie Boettcher (trail). It is Trail Runner Magazine so readers were probably supposed to side more with Bernie, and I know I definitely did. He expressed all of the reasons why I love running on trails.
The run/hike was a great workout and I fully expected to be very sore on Monday and Tuesday. To my pleasant surprise I was not. Although difficult, running on dirt is a lot less demanding on my body. I have had some fear that my hamstrings would not hold up for the Sugar and Spice but after Sunday I am feeling much more confident.
I have also been doing some exercises this week and last week to help strengthen my legs and hips:
Step ups with 10lb dumbbells
hamstring curls on the stability ball
kickbacks with green resistance band
toe raises (for achilles)
abduction on Pilates Reformer (hips)
From years of gymnastics and swimming I have always been strong and able to lift more weight than expected, but lately I have surprised myself at how weak I am. I know that my cardiovascular system is fit, body composition is normal, and my flexibility is good. However, my muscular strength and muscular endurance have diminished lately. Some exercises that have been easy for me in the past are much more difficult and I shake and fatigue much quicker. I have finally decided, after months and months of saying that I will, that I am going to add strength training into my routine. I really have no excuse not to; I work in a gym. How much easier can it get? Maybe the pain in my legs and back would have been a lot less had I been doing some resistance training. I'd like to think that would be the case.
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