My Workout Pet Peeves

Seriously, I promise I'll post pictures from the Riverbank Run soon. I'm just really technology impaired and have been too busy to take 2 hours to sit down and figure out how to put pictures on this thing.

Anyway, at The Lift last night we had a substitute instructor. I'm not the type of person who will leave as soon as they see that the regular person isn't there, but it does grind my gears just a bit. I believe it takes at least 2 workouts with someone to get into the groove of what they do, so when a new person comes I feel a little lost. (Yes, I know everyone gets sick/deserves a vacation.) This prompted me to come up with a list of other things I dislike about group workout classes.

1. Techno covers of Top 40 music. If I want to hear a Miley-wannabe singing "I Can't Wait To See You Again", I'll watch American Idol.
2. Working one muscle group almost exclusively in a class that is geard toward a whole body workout. I'm training for a half-marathon for God's sake. My legs are getting plenty of work, thank you. I'm all for squats and lunges but can a girl get a bicep curl please?
3. Slippery gym floors and slippery steps/bosus DO NOT MIX. Let's get some rubber feet for those steps!
4. There's really no need to talk like the Sit & Be Fit lady on speed. (Those of you that grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood on Billings PBS know exactly what I'm talking about.) I know that's not your real voice because I heard you talking to your friend before class so just stop it!
5. Lunges. Just lunges in general.
6. I'm perfectly capable of doing crunches on my own. What I'm not really capable of doing on my own is timed planks. (It's pretty hard to look at your watch when you're supporting all of your weight on your arms.) This is why timed planks are a good activity for a group exercise class, and crunches are a lame activity. Creativity is a must!
7. I know the instructor wants to get a workout too, but when someone is bending exclusively at the waist during squats you should probably take a second to correct that, no?

I'm really not trying to be a grumpus here. I did have a good workout and I've got some sore muscles today so it's not like the whole night was a total loss. And I know all the squats and lunges are good for my running. I'll make sure to say a special thank you to our substitute instructor if I make it through 6 miles on Sunday!! :)

I'm Still Plugging Along...

Dear Readers,

I genuinely apologize for my lack of posts lately! On top of running, there is a lot going on in my personal/work/Alpha Phi lives that has kept me from the keyboard. However, I AM still keeping up with my training, for the most part.

On Sunday, since I was in Billings for Easter weekend, I missed training class. However, I DID have a great 4-mile run with my dad! I think I'm finally reaching the coveted threshold where adding an extra mile on to a run isn't as tough as it once seemed. (I'll get back to you on if I still feel that way after we get to 5 miles in two weeks!)

Aside from that, I've been enjoying some 2- and 3-mile runs with Lisa on Wednesdays and Sundays, (when we don't get lost!) and am either running 1-2 miles, going to The Lift, or hiking the M on off days. I really hate running by myself so it's usually hiking the M or running on the treadmill in front of the TVs at the gym. I know that's not as good for me but at least I'm doing it! I've said it before, but I'm thinking cross-training is key!

My shins are still hurting, but it's not getting any worse so I guess that's a good thing. I'll take what I can get!

I recently got a blister on the arch of my left foot, but that turned out to be a lot more minor than I thought it would be. Nevertheless, I'm saving the thin Gold-Toe socks for short runs and sticking with my Runner's Edge FitSoks for the long runs!

Thank you all so much for your encouragement and positive thoughts! Writing this blog and knowing you're all rooting for me is making this easier and way more fun, AND forcing me not to quit! (Because that would be REAL embarassing.)

Shin update #2,378

Are you guys tired of reading about my shins yet? I'm tired of writing about them! I'm feeling optimistic that the insoles will help because my right leg feels GREAT today! My left leg is hurting a bit but ice and Ibuprofen are helping immensely. Not too much pain on my run last night either. According to TCIGTR as long as it doesn't hurt while you're actually running it's ok to keep going. Tonight I'm going to The Lift and then running again tomorrow so I'll update you again after that.

Last night I ran a total of 1.3 miles. Not as close to my goal of two miles as I'd like to be by now but I think I'll make it!

Power Song of the Day: "Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued" by Fall Out Boy. FOB generally changes their sound a bit with every new album, and From Under the Cork Tree is the album with the sound I like the best. Additionally this song has lots of power chords and funny lyrics.

In Stitches and Splints

Recently, I bought The Complete Idiot's Guide to Running, (hereafter referred to as TCIGTR) which has, among lots of other information, a set of workouts that build up to running 30 minutes without stopping. Since I run a pretty slow mile, this will enable me to run more than 2 miles comfortably by the time the marathon training classes start in March. Since they start the training at 2 miles, I figure this will guarantee that I don't embarass myself.

The workouts started with walking ten minutes, alternating running 1 minute with walking 1 minute for ten minutes, then walking ten minutes. They build up from there, adding more running and less walking until eventually you're running the entire 30 minutes. Ideally, it should take 4 weeks of running 4 times per week.

Well, I have good news and bad news. I, like Wesley in The Princess Bride, am a firm believer in bad news first. However, in this case, the bad news is really the main topic of this post so we'll start with the good news.

The good news is I made it through the toughest run yet in the TCIGTR plan. I was very nearly positive I wouldn't make it through this one on the first try, so I'm stoked that I did it. It was really tough, I won't lie, but I'm really glad I didn't give up.

On to the bad news. My shins are killing me. KILLING ME. I asked the trainers at The Women's Club about them, and they gave me some advice: stretches, strengthening exercises, crosstraining, and cutting back my running to 2x per week until they heal.

I'm really bummed that I am having this set-back in my training. Part of me wants to push through the pain and do it anyway, but I know that's a terrible plan. The LAST thing I want to have happen is a stress fracture, which according to TCIGTR can develop from shin splints. So I'm taking it easy this week, doing The Lift tonight and maybe swimming on Thursday, then a short run on the weekend. I'm hoping to add in spinning next week and a bit more running if my legs feel better, but I'm not going to try for four in one week until the week after next. This still gives me just enough time to get to 2 miles before training starts. So expect lots of cross-training posts in the next two weeks.

I'm kind of panicking with how quickly time is going. The marathon will be here before I know it! I also didn't use strong enough wording in the last paragraph: I'm really damn frustrated that I can't run as much as I want to!! (Mom and Dad, pick yourselves up off the floor. Yes, I just said I WANT to run. Don't feel bad, I surprised myself, too.)

Anyway, to my running friends, if you have any advice on shin splints and/or how much or how little I should be running, I would love to hear it!

A side note: A HUGE thank you to the ladies at The Women's Club, who are so knowledgeable and nice. I've never had a gym that had certified trainers at the front desk who you could talk to without an appointment and without shelling out one red cent. Amazing.

Cross Training, Day 1

Last night was the first time since I decided to become a runner that I've done something besides, well, run. I went to one of my favorite classes at The Women's Club, The Lift Plus. According to www.thewomensclub.com, The Lift is an "exciting weight training class utilizing a specially designed barbell, steps and dumbbells. No fancy footwork, just simple and intense resistance training set to motivating music." Since the class on Tuesday nights is The Lift Plus, the instructor usually throws in a minutes of jumping jacks, jogging in place, or other super-fun (that was sarcasm) things here and there to get our hearts pumping.

I like this class for a number of reasons. 1. The instructor, Stephanie, is cool. 2. You don't have to be very coordinated, which keeps my flailing to a minimum. 3. I'll be honest here. If I try to weight lift on my own, I look like a fool. Or a tool. Whichever noun you're more comfortable with. 4. I just am not dedicated enough to force myself to do squats and lunges outside of a peer-pressure setting. (I HATE lunges. Hate them. I could get into all the things I would rather do than lunges, but it might get graphic, so I'll spare you.) Anyway, going to this class makes me feel like I've done a bit of resistance training, so I don't feel bad about skipping it the rest of the week. (I know one day a week of resistance training is not enough. I'll get there. I promise.)

During the class, I was excited to find that I was able to hold the plank position for 3 sets of 30 seconds. (Modified plank, of course.) If you don't know what "plank" is, get in the push-up position, with your arms extended all the way. Suck in your stomach. Now stay like that for a while. If you can't do that, do it in the modified push-up position, with your knees on the ground. Fun stuff, huh? Before Christmas, I could hold the plank for about 3 seconds. (I'm not exaggerating.) I'm really excited to find that my core has gotten a lot stronger from running!

I'm hoping to get in some swimming this weekend for my next round of cross training.