Hi! My name is Bill and I'm a weakling. I hear the first step to any sort of rehab program is admitting that there is a problem in the first place. And I am finally ready to do that after 5+ years of running. So, I am asking all of YOU to take an honest look at yourself as a runner and address your 2 greatest weaknesses so we can get better together.
I've done a lot of thinking about my running since the Miami Marathon. I know that I am not content to try and maintain what I have been able to accomplish. Like so many of you, I want to get better. And I think it is time to change things up a little bit. I made a subtle change in diet a few months ago when I added the Hammer nutrition products to all the other supplements I am already taking. And I think they have certainly helped and will make a huge difference the next time I run on a truly hot day. I also believe their products will help me recover just a little bit quicker from those really tough runs. But much more than just diet, I think I need to change these 2 things.
I need to get stronger.
I'll admit that I am not very good at it, but I have taken the step of adding weight training and yoga/pilates type exercises to my regimen. I have become much more dedicated to getting stronger abs through situps and crunches. I have also added in a number of different exercises that involve me lying on back and doing different leg positions and movements to strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, and even the quads. Miami made me really question my muscle strength and the conclusion was not pretty. I have almost fanatically maintained a light weight and it has made me quite a bit faster. But at what cost? I need to get stronger and that may be the difference between a late mile slowdown and those so important fast finishing miles.
I need to get better at running hills.
I do a fair amount of my training on treadmills. There are a few different reasons, but most importantly they are convenient and I believe allow me to do more miles without getting injured. But I have been thinking lately (gasp!) that maybe I am not getting as much of a workout as I should be. For this reason I have decided to do all my treadmill runs (even recovery) at a 2% or better grade. True hill training runs will be at a challenging 4% or better grade. Until I can get outside and test myself against the Stony Creek and Rochester hills, this will just have to do. But my hope is that constantly running up hills will make me stronger when I am on the hills and SUPA DUPA fast when I am on the flats.
Best of luck to everybody with your training, racing, and just plain living.
A couple more pics from Miami... what a beautiful place!
Hi! My name is Bill and I'm a weakling. I hear the first step to any sort of rehab program is admitting that there is a problem in the first place. And I am finally ready to do that after 5+ years of running. So, I am asking all of YOU to take an honest look at yourself as a runner and address your 2 greatest weaknesses so we can get better together.
I've done a lot of thinking about my running since the Miami Marathon. I know that I am not content to try and maintain what I have been able to accomplish. Like so many of you, I want to get better. And I think it is time to change things up a little bit. I made a subtle change in diet a few months ago when I added the Hammer nutrition products to all the other supplements I am already taking. And I think they have certainly helped and will make a huge difference the next time I run on a truly hot day. I also believe their products will help me recover just a little bit quicker from those really tough runs. But much more than just diet, I think I need to change these 2 things.
I need to get stronger.
I'll admit that I am not very good at it, but I have taken the step of adding weight training and yoga/pilates type exercises to my regimen. I have become much more dedicated to getting stronger abs through situps and crunches. I have also added in a number of different exercises that involve me lying on back and doing different leg positions and movements to strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, and even the quads. Miami made me really question my muscle strength and the conclusion was not pretty. I have almost fanatically maintained a light weight and it has made me quite a bit faster. But at what cost? I need to get stronger and that may be the difference between a late mile slowdown and those so important fast finishing miles.
I need to get better at running hills.
I do a fair amount of my training on treadmills. There are a few different reasons, but most importantly they are convenient and I believe allow me to do more miles without getting injured. But I have been thinking lately (gasp!) that maybe I am not getting as much of a workout as I should be. For this reason I have decided to do all my treadmill runs (even recovery) at a 2% or better grade. True hill training runs will be at a challenging 4% or better grade. Until I can get outside and test myself against the Stony Creek and Rochester hills, this will just have to do. But my hope is that constantly running up hills will make me stronger when I am on the hills and SUPA DUPA fast when I am on the flats.
Best of luck to everybody with your training, racing, and just plain living.
A couple more pics from Miami... what a beautiful place!