Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: breakfast, dealing with stress, pressure, running, stress
Hello! I’m usually such a morning person, but I’m a little sleepy this morning. Nevertheless, I’m up and did some exercises: 50 crunches, 15 push-ups, 20 squats, 20 dead-lifts. Right now it’s tea and 1/2 pb&j on whole wheat time, while I lament the fact that I didn’t go to the grocery store yesterday to get produce (we’re almost all out!)
Last night, the husbo worked late – very late. I like to wait up for him even if “waiting up” means leaving the tv on and falling asleep on the couch until he gets in which is what happened last night. He finally rolled in a little after midnight, and when you work at a 9-5 office job, this is extreme overtime. Anyhow, he was super-hungry when he came in so I heated up some dinner and then we went to bed. 5 hours later I woke him up to head back to work. Wow.
While I don’t ever work those crazy hours, my job can be extremely stressful. Many of us are stretched thin and have a lot of pressures in our lives. How do you take care of yourself when you are really stressed? How do you slow down and find time for yourself?
For me, exercise is key. Running is very cathartic for me. I can really clear my head while running outside and listening to only the pace of my footsteps. I tend to schedule some time to run on a really stressful week, even if only for a few minutes. It really calms my nerves and gives me uninterrupted alone time to work through problems.
I also tend to isolate myself from negativity. Lunch with teachers at work can often be a festival of complaints, and when I’m stressed and worked to the bone, I find a quiet lunch by myself, or with a book, really restorative.
As far as easing the transition back into the work week, I tend to use Sunday to cook a bunch of meals, prepare some lunches, etc. This can save me a lot of time during the week and also ensure that I am still getting very healthy, home-cooked meals despite not having much time. I’ll be posting quite a bit on make-ahead meals in the upcoming weeks.
These are a few things I do to keep stress at bay. So let me know – how do you deal?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 30 day shred, diet, fitness, goal setting, goals, health, nutrition, pilates, rewards, running, strength training, yoga
As I mentioned before, I view my years from September to September. I set my goals and resolutions around this time each year. Generally, rather that set nebulous goals like “lose weight” or be more thoughtful, I try to make measurable short-term (month to month) mini-goals to help me get there.
Here’s what I’m striving for this September in…
Fitness:
- Do yoga 2x/week (either at home or at the studio)
- Complete regular exercises every weekday morning (push-ups, squats, sit-ups, etc).
- Run 3x/week (2 shorter weekday runs, 1 longer weekend run)
- Strength train (either at the gym or at home with Shred) 2x/week
- Swim weekly
Health/Nutrition:
- Cook fish 1-2x/week
- Try one new recipe from “How to Cook Everything Vegetarian” per week
Now, I admit, some of these I already kinda do. I already run 3x/week and I already try at least 1 recipe from HtCEV per week. I think this kind of motivates me though, and helps me develop the others into good habits too.
Whenever I set my goals like this, I also think of some rewards for my success. For example, if I keep up with all of my fitness goals, I’ll treat myself to a new, cute workout outfit after September is over. This tends to work for me.
What do you do to stay motivated?? Do you reward yourself? Set short-term goals? Let me know your thoughts!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: new york times, running, side stitches, stretching
As a runner, I hate getting side stitches. I’ve tried a few things to get rid of them: ignore them, push my hand into my side and lean over, and try to stretch it out.
I just saw this article on side stitches in the “Well” blog for the New York Times.
It seems funny to me that my non-scientific methods of dealing with side stitches are actually medically recommended, ha.
What are other issues that you deal with when running?
Filed under: People/Person | Tags: Bittman, cooking, diet, kastor, marathon, nyc, running, video
On a long run, I looooove thinking about what big meal I’m going to have when I finish. (At around mile 22 of this year’s NY Marathon, I began to set my sights on a burger and a nice cold beer).
Recently, the NY Times blog Well (one of my faves), featured an article and video with Mark Bittman and Deena Kastor. Mark Bittman, of whom I’m a HUGE fan, is a NYTimes foodie. Apparently, he’s also a runner who is training for this year’s marathon. Deena Kastor is a super US marathoner. The two paired up for a run, and for some cooking.
Check out the article and the video here.
Happy Fourth of July!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: injury-prevention, marathon, run/walk, running, training
A few years ago I began running again after a hiatus that lasted the four years of college. In order to gradually get back into running shape, I used the “Couch to 5k” plan so I wouldn’t do too much too soon and injure myself. It worked really well. It forced me to gradually increase my running distance, even though sometimes I felt I could do more. It employed a plan of mixing running and walking that could ease you into the workout without too much risk of injury.
Since then, about 4 years ago, I have run 2 marathons, about 10 half-marathons, and countless other races. However, I didn’t really go back to the same run-walk methods that were so successful before.
That said, a friend of mine swears by the run-walk method. She has used it to train for and run 3 marathons. She has never experienced a running-related injury. The run-walk method was popularized by Jeff Galloway, a running coach. The idea is that forcing your body to take these walk breaks during a run can help your body to recover better.
This friend of mine and I bumped into each other at an 18 mile training run in Central Park last fall before the NY Marathon. I have always trained for and run my races solo, but we started chatting and I ran along with her. Taking her walk breaks with her. Every five minutes, her watch would beep, we would walk for one minute. Her watch would beep again to signal our running. As someone who was pretty skeptical, it really made the 18 miles pretty painless. And not that I’m always concerned with time, but our finishing time (mysteriously) wasn’t too different from what mine would have been otherwise.
As I’m about to begin (again) training for the NY Marathon, I’m seriously considering the run-walk method…
For more information, check out this great article in the New York Times.
Speaking of keeping the pace… I’ve realized that I haven’t been chatting enough about my fitness routines/training programs. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a few races coming up including a half-marathon next Saturday, my first triathlon this August, and (of course) the NY Marathon in the fall. It feels like I’m almost always training for something, but I like that a lot.
In preparation for the half-marathon, I’ve just been doing a long run on the weekend and a few short runs during the week. Today I ran 8 miles (so as to free up my weekend), and I’ll run about 3-3milers between now and the race. After the race, I’ll steer clear of running (but not yoga or swimming) for a few days.
What I’ve found to be most helpful in training is extensive cross-training work. The more I swim, bike, strength-train, do yoga (whatever!) the stronger I feel, and the faster I get as I run. I’m actually running less this year than in prior years, and I find it feels easier. More on my cross-training next week…
Happy trails!
