Stability in a Crazy World

According to Sakyong Mipham, “When people say meditation makes them calm, they are often referring to this stability of the mind. A stable mind creates the foundation for a happier and more contented person.”

Likewise, a stable body can create the foundation for a happier and more contented runner, hiker, and walker.

One of the best ways to ensure a stable body is to increase your core strength. A strong core will help you run, hike, and walk longer and faster and with less effort. Consider incorporating planks, sit-ups, pull-ups, and other core strength exercises into your workout routine. Searching for “core strength exercises” on Google or You Tube will provide a vast number of tutorials to help you get started.

But sometimes we need extra help. For example, for those prone to osteoporosis, walking (as well as other weight-bearing exercises), can be a very effective way to increase bone density. However, a fall could result in a broken bone. So, what to do? Should you walk for exercise and to improve your bone strength, but risk a fall? A single walking stick or a pair of poles could be the answer to allowing you to walk farther with less risk.

Hiking poles are also great for trail running and for…well, duh…hiking. If you have never used poles while on trails, you are in for a treat. Poles not only help with stability while climbing and descending hills and mountains, using poles gives your upper body a workout as well. Therefore, not only will you be able to traverse steep or rocky terrain more confidently, you will also get a full body workout while doing so. I used to hike without poles until a hiking buddy recommended them to me and I realized how helpful they really can be.  Now, I am much faster climbing mountains than I ever could have been without poles and much more confident descending.

I was recently asked which brand of poles I recommend (and no, I do not get a commission and this is not a sponsored post).  I personally have a pair of less expensive Leki women-specific poles that collapse (but do not fold up small). I use these regularly for hiking and they do fold up enough to fit in my suitcase when I travel. However, while they fit inside a carryon-sized piece of luggage, you are going to have to check your bag when flying because they are considered by TSA to be a weapon.  

I recently bought a pair of ultralight Black Diamond poles that do fold up very small for trail running. Obviously, the ultralight weight and small size profile add to the cost of the poles.  However, I cannot tell you how helpful these have been! They are featherlight and I do not even notice I am carrying them. They fold up so small that they fit inside my hydration vest.  And when I get tired toward the second half or end of a trail race, they easily pop out of my hydration vest and unfold quickly into a very stable and durable set of poles to help me in the final stretch. I am so happy I invested in a good set of trail running poles.

If you are buying the poles for walking stability on pavement, however, I do not think the weight and size features are critical. Poles that are not “ultralight” are still not heavy, so do not feel compelled to spend extra for these features unless you plan to use them for trail running or really want to carry them around in your backpack or purse all the time. 

If you are buying poles for walking on pavement (as opposed to hiking on trails), I highly recommend you buy tips to put over the bottom of your poles that will make them better suited to walking on pavement and more stable on sidewalks. Here is a link to the proper tips for walking on pavement:

https://www.rei.com/product/750119/leki-fitness-walking-tips-pair

Again, I don’t get a commission, so feel free to buy them wherever you would like. I have included the link so you can see exactly what I am talking about because I want you have the right stuff. One reason people are unhappy when they run/walk is because they are not using the right gear. The right gear makes all the difference. So, if concerns about stability have prevented you from going out for a walk, or a hike, or a run, I hope you will realize that there are tools that can help you. So, keep moving!

Finding Joy in Complaining

Before I head out on a hike or a trail run, I often look at a map of the area and try to plan out a route that I think will work for whatever I want to get accomplished that day. I usually plan based on distance, or elevation change, or something particular I want to see that day (like a waterfall or viewpoint). But sometimes, I come to a trailhead that I either did not notice on the map, or just looks more interesting than the trail I am on at that particular moment. So, I go off on a side route even though it was not part of my original plan. That is what I am going to do today. If you have been on one of our daily walks, you know I try to keep the conversation positive and energetic. Sometimes that is easier than others, especially during this unique and challenging time we are all experiencing. However, today I am going to talk about complaining.

Those of you who walk with us regularly know Meg Keehan as my neighbor in the floppy sun hat who is always ahead of me doing run/walk/run intervals during our walks. Earlier this week, I shared with Meg that the shelter-in-place was hitting me particularly hard this week. Later, she forwarded to me a blog post written by Esther Perel, author of the book Mating in Captivity. Coincidentally, Esther’s book is one of my favorites but I don’t subscribe to her blog. I am grateful that Meg took the time to share it with me.

According to Esther,

“Week by week, we’ve been going through phases. Mad hoarding and planning moved into high anxiety and stress, and now we’ve entered the stale phase. After weeks of watching delayed faces on Zoom, are we surprised we’re feeling stilted? Hasn’t it been refreshing to read all of these articles about how productivity in quarantine is overrated? How many of us made plans to take care of the never-ending project list? On the days we have managed to be productive, it has felt great. But, besides work—which I love—I struggle to self-motivate. And since I’m bored of hearing myself complain and feeling bad about complaining, I have shifted to full group accountability. It’s not everybody’s recipe, but I find it more motivating than anything I can do alone.”

Esther continues:

“I get up early for yoga five days a week because I know I have my friends waiting for me on Zoom. Even if I stayed up late and didn’t sleep well, I’m motivated to see my people who are waiting for me and who are themselves motivated knowing that I’m waiting for them. Yes, we do yoga, but we also catch up, share resources, and get a chance to complain outside of our own echo chambers. And, by the way, it’s okay to have some friends that you want to engage with a lot, others you want to engage with a little…

As my friend Guy Winch wrote in his book “The Squeaky Wheel,” there is actually a right way to complain that will get you results, improve your relationships, and enhance your self-esteem. I recommend you read his book if you want to develop the art of effective complaint. But my letter today is simpler: it’s just to give us all the permission for good old kvetching…” [Yiddish for “bitching and moaning”]

And finally, Esther says:

“We can be grateful and complain. We can be accountable and slack off. We can be peaceful and loving and we can talk shit and blow off steam. Kvetching is a survival tool. Use it wisely. It will help us cope during these scary times. Complaining is juicy. So, make your complaints good.”

Here are some tips Esther gives for productive effective, complaining within relationships and groups that you may find helpful during this difficult time:

  • Make space for other people to vent aloud. It often expresses their feelings of loss and longing. They know that they are powerless and they have to accept the situation; venting gives them the illusion that they have a say. It’s best to just let it pass and not try to reason with it. 
  • Have a little competition with whomever you’re quarantined or in touch with about your best complaints. 
  • If you have kids, create a house chart of complaints where they can let out their own. Display it on the fridge for all to see. We can’t only have stars for good behavior. 
  • If your complaints are more serious in nature, try Guy Winch’s tips for productive complaining, whether with a spouse, child, or friend. It’s not the same as venting.  
  • And be careful to avoid what Winch refers to as “the five mistakes we make when complaining.”

And now, with that slight detour, I’m going to head back to the main trail….

Join us for a virtual group walk or run Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30am PST/12:30pm EST and Tuesday and Thursdays at 5pm PST/8pm EST. Hope to see you there! Register here for the zoom link.

Safety First

A lot of you started running or walking regularly when the quarantine started. Conveniently during that time, there were not a lot of cars on the road. Now that it’s getting busier out there, I thought this would be a good time to talk about safety. First of all, you want to make sure you are visible to vehicles. My favorite running hat is neon orange. It may not be the most fashionable (and people make fun of me all the time!), but it sure does make me stand out on the road.  One day when I was on my weekly long run wearing a hot pink shirt, hot pink knee-high compression socks, and my trusty orange hat, the FedEx guy passed me on the road and yelled out that no one could miss seeing me. I gave him a thumbs up, since that was exactly my plan! If you are running out in nature (as we in Sonoma County are fortunate to be able to do regularly), remember that colors like blue, green, and brown tend to blend in with trees and shrubs. So even if you are not particularly fond of pink, orange, and bright yellow, those do make good colors for running apparel.  When running at night, be sure to wear a headlamp not only for your benefit, but also for the benefit of cars, bikes, and other runners you may encounter. Many running jackets and hats have reflective material that will also help keep you visible at night.

My second visibility recommendation is to run on the sidewalk against traffic. If you are used to cycling, you are used to traveling in the same direction as traffic because a bicycle is also a vehicle. The safest place for a runner to be is moving in the opposite direction of traffic flow so that you know what is coming and are not surprised when a car approaches and passes you. And while it is unlikely for a car to veer off the road and onto the sidewalk, it is not unheard of—especially in wine country. By running towards oncoming traffic, you will have more warning should you need to get out of the way.

Safety is not just about visibility, however. Sometimes, especially on a long run or walk, the unexpected happens. Always carry your phone. If the clothes you are wearing don’t have pockets, there are lots of products on the market that can help you carry your gear. A backpack works if you are walking or hiking. But if you are running, a backpack bouncing up and down on your back can cause chafing and be very uncomfortable no matter how light the contents may be. You may find something like a flip belt (or similar product) to be more comfortable, or an arm band that holds your phone. If you don’t want to be disturbed while you are running or walking, feel free to put your phone on do not disturb, airplane mode, or even turn it off completely. But it is a good idea to have with you just in case.

On the topic of ‘just in case”, you may want a Road ID. A Road ID contains your emergency contact information and other important medical information (such as allergies and medical conditions) that a first responder should be aware of in the event that you need a first responder. It can be worn like a necklace, a bracelet, or attached to your shoe. Road ID’s are good to have with you not only when you are out exercising but in other situations as well.  For example, I always wear mine when I travel, just in case.

Finally, I always carry a whistle. I have never had to use it, but it is lightweight, fits easily into my hydration vest (or flip belt or pocket) and is good for a variety of uses, especially since I am a woman often running alone along the road or on a remote hiking trail.  As you may or may not know, I volunteer for Sonoma County Search & Rescue. I hope you never find yourself at the bottom of a ravine unable to get out. However, if you do and have no cell coverage, having a whistle readily available can help alert passersby to your location.

I hope you will not let all this talk of the negative things that can happen scare you. I’ve been running and hiking regularly for more than 14 years and have not encountered any life-threatening situations. However, it is important to be aware, so that you can be prepared. Have fun, stay active, and be safe out there, folks!

Links to the some of the products* mentioned:

Flip Belt: https://flipbelt.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2PP1BRCiARIsAEqv-pQfM8HsQKCPGTJAWWPgxtcDp5JO2kfVoR-3Nvt9AKDp9nCyFLM-6PIaApZgEALw_wcB

Armbands: https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/g24520820/armbands-for-phone/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=arb_ga_rnw_d_bm_hp_g24520820&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2PP1BRCiARIsAEqv-pRNpRgsDVG9EdDkhI3H_HQ_vlasFXWUmZMTa9G3vw67NgEEdQ3dDXIaAtJwEALw_wcB

Road ID: https://www.roadid.com/?referrer=60640&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2PP1BRCiARIsAEqv-pRkOq2Vv3h1wmU6evDgrBwVg8J0l2BGSzicBKMP4EfLYHStZNGJnAMaAjbJEALw_wcB

My favorite running hat: https://www.google.com/search?q=orange+headsweats&oq=orange&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57.1331j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

*Note: I do not receive a commission or any other benefit from your clicking on these links. This is not a sponsored post. These are products I use regularly and links are provided for your convenience and curiosity.

Things are heating up!

I hear it’s still snowing in Maine, but here in Northern California, it’s getting pretty hot out there. Temperatures seem to have gone from the mid-60’s to mid-80’s almost overnight. It’s time to start thinking about carrying a water bottle when you go out for even a short walk or run. But how much should you drink? In other words, how much hydration do you need?

You may have heard of the 8 x 8 rule: everyone should drink eight 8 oz glasses of water a day. It turns out that while that may be easy to remember, it is an over generalization. This guidance was developed with the intent of being easy to remember and being suitable for people of “average height and weight”. And, of course, “average” is not an absolute.

According the Mayo Clinic, the following factors influence the amount of hydration your body needs:

  • Exercise

If you do any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to cover the fluid loss. It’s important to drink water before, during and after a workout.

  • Environment

Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional fluid intake. Dehydration also can occur at high altitudes.

  • Overall health

Your body loses fluids when you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Bladder infections and urinary tract infections may also require you to increase hydration.

  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding 

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated.

In short, all of thing being equal, exercising in a hot or humid environment will increase your hydration needs.

Hydration, however, does not only refer to what you drink. Many foods also provide hydration. For example, fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100 percent water by weight. In addition, beverages such as milk, juice and herbal teas are composed mostly of water.

Should I be drinking sports drinks instead of water while exercising?

Another common rule you may be familiar with is that sports drinks should be used when you’re exercising intensely for more than an hour. These drinks help replace electrolytes lost through perspiration and sugar needed for energy during longer workouts. However, if you want to avoid processed sugar, you can replenish electrolytes with other products, such as Nuun. Nuun is one of many brands of electrolyte replacement tablets. I have not noticed significant differences among the different brands based on my personal experience. I tend to choose based on the flavors each brand has available. Each quickly dissolvable tablet can be added to a 16oz bottle of water and provides a flavored, sometimes fizzy taste. For those of you who don’t like drinking water because of the taste, Nuun not only increases the electrolytes you consume, it can make the water taste more interesting.

Each Nuun tablet contains the following active ingredients:

  • Sodium (carbonates): 360.0 milligrams.
  • Potassium (bicarbonate): 100.0 milligrams.
  • Calcium (carbonate): 12.5 milligrams.
  • Magnesium (sulfate): 25.0 milligrams.
  • Vitamin C: 37.5 milligrams.
  • Vitamin B2: 500 micrograms.
  • Calories: 10.
  • Sugar: 1 gram.

While the popular sports drink Gatorade does not provide the same level of detail on its label, compare the 10 calories and 1 gram of sugar per 16 oz serving of Nuun to 16 oz of Gatorade, which has 100 calories and 24 grams of sugar.

What about energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar?

Energy drinks are different from sports drinks. Energy drinks generally are not formulated to replace electrolytes. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of caffeine or other stimulants, sugar, and other additives. Whether or not you choose to drink energy drinks in your daily life, they are not recommended for use during athletic activities including walking and running.

Is more of a good thing always a good thing, or can you drink too much water?

It is possible to drink too much water. While this is usually uncommon, it is more common in athletes (and yes, you are an athlete!) than in the general population since athletes are very concerned with replacing the fluids lost during exercise, especially in hot and humid environments. When your kidneys cannot excrete the excess water, the sodium content of your blood becomes diluted leading to a condition called hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening.

How do you know if you a hydrated, dehydrated (not enough fluids) or overhydrated (too much fluid)?

Your urine should be a pale, yellow color. Dark urine (like the color of apple juice) indicates that you may be dehydrated and should hydrate more. On the flip side, completely clear urine does not necessarily indicate they you have overhydrated.  However, a good way to avoid hyponatremia is to make sure you are consuming sodium in addition to water when exercising, rather than just water alone. By including some sodium, you can ensure the sodium content of your blood does not get diluted to the point of hyponatremia. You can accomplish this by including oranges or watermelon slices in your hydration plan, if possible. Or you can carry salty snacks such as nuts, pretzels, and potato chips to consume with water while you exercise. While these are all awesome options for hiking, you may find it difficult to carry them on your long runs. The portability of sport drinks and electrolyte replacement tablets make them ideal for scenarios when you are not carrying a cooler or backpack.

Confucius’s Thoughts on Running

Confucius said, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” This has been my mantra ever since I started running.  Actually, I started running by walking, and then by walking a half marathon. And then I started running because walking was taking too long, or at least that was my opinion at the time. But who is to say that something takes “too” long? The Byrds sang “To everything there is a season, and to every time a purpose.” (well sort of, I’m paraphrasing here.) It was just a perception I had and I wanted to move faster. Now, some days I run faster and some slower. Some days I don’t run at all and just walk. And again, there are different paces of walking. Sometimes I walk briskly and with purpose, and sometimes I just saunter along smelling (or taking pictures of) all the flowers along the way. But the important thing, as Confucius said, is that I keep going.

Life is just like running. Yup, it really is!  Sometimes you find your life racing along at a blistering pace. Sometimes, things move more slowly. Sometimes you seek a change of speed—either faster or slower depending on your mood. See where I’m going here? In life as well, the important thing is that you keep going.

Almost all of us have been staying at home for more than a month now.  Some of us have been home close to two months already. Those essential workers who do leave the house have been working long hours under stressful conditions.  But it is important you keep going. Keep getting out of bed. Keep getting dressed (and showering!  Reminder: don’t forget to shower!). Keep preparing healthy meals. Keep shopping for healthy snacks to have around the house. Keep staying in touch with friends and loved ones. Keep working on projects that motivate you. Keep planning for the future. It does not matter how slowly you do these things, as long as you do not stop.

And, back to running, join me for a run or walk Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 9:30am PST/12:30pm EST and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm PST/8pm EST. Keep moving. Stay active. As Confucius said, it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

Be Strong!

Those of you who walk or run with me on regular basis know that I am not only passionate about running but also about taking care of my body. My plan is keep running until I finally win an age group award by default, because I have outlived everyone else in my age group! Running can lengthen the years in your life, but some people find that running can cause pain. Some of the painful injuries that regularly plague runners include achilles tendonitis, back pain, calf and hamstring strains, IT Band syndrome, shin splints and plantar fasciitis, just to name a few. So how can you avoid suffering from these and other injuries? A good strength training program can help not only decrease the risk of injury, but also the severity and recovery time if an injury does occur.

Running and walking not only requires strong legs but also a strong core and a strong upper body. Your posture affects your running and walking form. Bad posture can lead to increased energy expenditure while you are running or walking, which will cause fatigue to set in sooner. A strong core and upper body will keep you upright while you navigate the obstacles you encounter on the road or the trail.

Strength training can help improve control, coordination, and stability, which can improve the quality of your running and walking.  Strength training can help increase your push off every time your foot leaves the ground and can improve your posture.  It can also improve your body mechanics.  The more efficiently your body moves, the stronger your running and walking will become. Efficient body mechanics can allow your body to run or walk longer, faster, and with more stability and less pain.  And here’s fact many people who don’t regularly strength train may not know: muscles mass helps you burn calories faster.  It’s true!

So, what kind of strength training should you do? You can start with basic core exercise such as planks. However, starting strength training without the benefit of a trainer requires you to be personally diligent about your form. Try to workout in front of a mirror, if you can, to make sure you are getting the most out of your exercises. If you google “Yoga for Strength Training” you will find several poses in addition to the plank that will help you strengthen your whole body.

Personally, I am a big fan of Crossfit. However, during the shelter-in-place, crossfit may not be an option for you. And it requires you to find a crossfit gym that accommodates your personal needs, which not all do. However, I recently came across a community that offers live virtual workouts with a well-rounded offering of strength training exercises that can be done at home with little or no equipment. These workouts are suitable for people at almost all levels of physical fitness. Why join a live workout instead of one of the many pre-recorded options that are available these days? The accountability that a community offers not only helps you show up for yourself more regularly, it’s great for that fostering that feeling of “being with others”, just like our daily virtual walks do. Check out the She Shines group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/602969703098662/ for more information. And for those of you who don’t do Facebook, you can contact Raquel directly at raquel@raquelbarrios.com. Be sure to tell her I sent you and she will offer you a free trial period so you can determine if her workouts are good fit for you. Many of you are trying new options these days as the quarantine has forced us all to be creative. Please let me know what solutions you have found to stay fit.

Social Distancing from the Fridge

Facebook is full of jokes about people’s eating habits these days. We are all stuck at home with kitchens full of food.  First, let’s count our blessings that we have plenty of food during this difficult time. But just because we are so blessed, doesn’t mean we need to eat it all at this particular moment.

Food is the fuel that your body needs to keep going. You can’t drive your car without gas, right? And if you put leaded gasoline or diesel in a car that needs unleaded gasoline, it won’t run properly. If you are going to be walking or running regularly (and I hope you are!), you need the right kind of fuel to keep your body moving. Unfortunately, not all food creates an equal amount of fuel.  And I’m sorry to tell you that Doritos and Cheetos will only get you so far.

The building blocks of nutrition are the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Complex carbohydrates provide slow and steady fuel. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, whole breads and unrefined pastas, vegetables and potatoes will not produce the sharp blood sugar highs and lows that you often get with refined sugar. These highs and lows can leave you feeling depleted before the end of your run or walk or the end of your day.

Protein is essential for both tendon and muscle repair. Proteins are also essential for regulating your hormones. The more often you run or walk and the further distance you cover, the more repair work there will be for your muscles.

Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, flax seed oil, canola oil, and avocados are the healthiest fats to consume. Contrary to some points of view, you do need fat in your diet. Healthy fats helps you feel sated, which is really important. Eating healthy does not mean you need to be miserable or feel deprived. On the contrary, properly fueling your body makes you feel SO good.


Once you start running or walking long distances on a regular basis you will notice that your base metabolism starts to run a bit faster, which means that you will be burning up more calories. This is great news for those who want to shed a few pounds. Those who do not want to lose any weight will need to eat a little extra.

Nutritional snacks such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain sandwiches, smoothies, nuts, eggs, yogurts, and protein or health-food bars can all help to alleviate the dreaded energy slump. Healthy snacks will also ensure that your muscles and liver are always ready for further exercise. In addition, you will have sufficient energy to get through your daily activities.

A doughnut may give you energy for five minutes (and then you crash!), but an apple with a tablespoon of nut butter can give you energy for more than an hour without the crash.  From a caloric perspective, you can have almost 3 apples AND 3 tablespoons of nut butter for the same calories as a doughnut. Try eating all that in one sitting! I bet you can’t even do it! So, instead of five minutes of energy, you could get more than three hours of energy for the same calories while still avoiding the dreaded sugar crash.

Eating smaller meals more often will also keep your blood sugar level steady and your metabolism running high. I prefer to have 3 small meals and 2 snacks a day rather than 3 bigger meals spread farther apart throughout the day. This way I have something to eat approximately every 2-3 hours during the day. I find the consistency of eating every 2-3 hours, even if it’s only a small amount, really helps me perform better not only physically, but also mentally. So, don’t social distance from the refrigerator. Food is your friend. Just make sure your refrigerator is stocked with the kind of fuel that will keep you going instead of the kind that drags you down.

Some of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens… no, I’m just kidding (although I do like kittens!) This time I’m talking about Buffs. Buffs are multifunctional headwear that are indispensable for runners, hikers, and anyone engaging in physical activity. A Buff is made of a moisture-managing microfiber fabric that is wind resistant and controls odor. Buffs can be worn more than 12 different ways from a cap to a balaclava to a hair tie and can also be used as a scarf and a towel. Here are some pictures of me wearing a Buff as a balaclava at the start of the Lake Tahoe Triple (when it was a mere 18 degrees Fahrenheit!) and as a scarf later in the day when it warmed up.  Yes, that’s me under all those layers with the headlamp!

As you can see from the photo…you can use a Buff to cover your nose and mouth. And it is SO much more comfortable than an N95 mask or surgical mask. The government is currently suggesting people wear homemade masks, scarves, or cut up t-shirts over their noses and mouths when they are out for necessities such as groceries. The Buff is such a better option than a cut up t-shirt and provides better coverage than a regular scarf. And it is much easier than making your own mask. It is machine washable, so you can easily disinfect it.  And even more good news: it is readily available at almost any running or sporting goods store. You can order one online, but I have one more suggestion.

Another one of my favorite things is the Healdsburg Running Company. If you are local to Sonoma County, I hope you are already aware of HRC. If you aren’t, you are missing out. Not only do they have the best products, they are awesome people who support runners in a variety of ways every day. If you are local, consider purchasing your Buff from HRC by emailing Skip Brand at skip@healdsburgrunningcompany.com. He may even be willing to ship if you don’t live here in Sonoma County. And, once this all this is over, I guarantee you will find a multitude of uses for your Buff aside from using it as a face mask. It truly is one of my favorite running accessories. So, please stay safe, stay home, and please support a small business!

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED

How are you feeling these days? Are you waking up each day excited to face the day and ready to get everything on your to-do list done? Me neither. Some days it’s just hard to get going. And with the changes in our schedules lately due to the shelter-in-place, it’s even harder.  Here are a few techniques I’ve been using to make sure I get my daily run/walk/strength training/business goals/other to-do’s done:

Get Dressed

I put my workout clothes on as soon as I get up. I used to wait until after breakfast, or after I walked the dog.  With the prevalence of sitting around in pj’s all day (have you seen all those Facebook memes about pajamas lately?), it’s important to set your intention by getting dressed for the day. It also helps to make sure you are ready to workout whenever the mood or the opportunity strikes.  When my dad was critically ill in the hospital a few years ago, I never knew when I would have time to work out. Every morning, I put on my workout clothes and took my crossfit bag with me when I went to the hospital. I was always ready—just in case there was a lull in the day’s schedule of meeting with doctors, tending to my dad, and helping my mom with errands. One of the nurses even told me she thought I worked out all the time because she always saw me in workout gear! If only!

Have a Schedule

If you can control your day (more likely with the shelter-in-place than it was when my dad was sick), make a schedule. Having a set time when you eat, work, and work out, helps keep you on track to get everything done. I keep a schedule on my Gmail calendar. If something unexpected happens (like a client calls) and I can’t get to something I have intended to do at that time, I move it to another spot on my calendar so I don’t lose track of what I still need to do.

Fight the Feeling to Postpone

Sometimes I have the urge to reschedule something on my calendar even if something unexpected doesn’t happen. Sometimes I just don’t feel like going out for that run or walk. When that happens, I lace up my shoes anyway and give it a try. I tell myself that if I am just not feeling it [after 30 minutes, after half a mile, whatever time period works for you], I can stop. But I give it a try. Sometimes you just need to start to get in the groove.  A few weeks ago, I talked about how running and walking is good for your brain and can help raise the levels of endorphins (feel-good hormones) in your body. [read my blog here: https://wimruntheworld.com/2020/03/15/how-running-affects-your-brain/ ] Once you start and the endorphins kick in, you will be much more likely to continue (and be happy that you did).

What If You Just Feel Too Tired?

Sometimes, the first three options just don’t work for me. In that situation, the first question I ask myself is “why am I tired?”  Because I’ve done hard workouts every day this week and my muscles are sore? Because I had an exhausting day of work? Or because I am just feeling down?

Having a good training plan, will hopefully prevent the first situation [see my blog on periodization here: https://wimruntheworld.com/2020/03/22/staying-injury-free/]  

In the second situation, just getting started often helps. The endorphins are usually just what I need to put the hard day of work behind me and move on both literally and emotionally.

Earlier this week, however, I felt too tired to run and I realized it was most likely the third situation.  I realized that I was feeling exhausted as a result of the “weight” the shelter-in-place was putting on my psyche. I just couldn’t get myself to lace up my shoes.  So, I decided to take a bubble bath instead (see my Instagram feed for a picture!). After the bath, my psyche and my body both felt better. But I still didn’t feel like going out. However, a few hours later, my energy was back and I headed to the track to do some speed work.  After a little self-care, not only was I motivated to get out of the house, I had the energy for a hard workout. And I felt great afterwards.

Be sure to take care of yourself! As my fabulous business coach, Caterina Rando, says “we can’t fill from an empty cup”. When your cup is empty, make sure you take some time to fill it up.

Do you have other tips to help yourself stay motivated? Please share them with me in the comments.

Staying Injury-Free

As you increase mileage, you may find that you start to experience aches and pains. Many people conclude at this point that running longer distances just is not achievable. If I had a quarter for every person who told me that running marathons would kill my knees, I’d be a multi-millionaire! I am happy to report that my knees (and the rest of me!) are just fine. However, sometimes your body just gets tired. Has your brain ever felt exhausted after a long work week? Are some work weeks worse than others? The same happens to your body, and a little extra TLC (tender loving care) is all that is needed.

First, make sure you are ramping up your distance prudently. The prevailing thought among running coaches is to not increase your distance by more than 10% each week. And for those of us who are no longer twenty-something or thirty-somethings  (insert throat clearing sound effects here), even that may be too aggressive. The important thing is to give your body time to adjust before forcing it to go further. For example, I usually run 3 days per week with 2 of those runs being “short” runs and one being a “long” run.  I also follow a periodization plan. During a given four-week “period”, I increase the distance of my long runs by 10% for three consecutive weeks and then take a “recovery” week on the fourth week when I scale back even more. And then I start a new “period” with three weeks of increasing distance and one week of recovery. It looks something like this:

Week 1: 2-3 mile run on Tuesday, 2-3 mile run on Thursday, 5 mile run on Saturday

Week 2: 2-3 mile run, 2-3 mile run, 5.5 miles (increase 10% of 5 miles)

Week 3: 2-3 mile run, 2-3 mile run, 6 miles (increase 10% of 5.5 miles)

Week 4: 2-3 mile run, 2-3 mile run, 3 miles (recovery week)

Week 5: 2-3 mile run, 2-3 mile run, 6.6 miles (increase 10% of 6 miles)

Week 6: 2-3 mile run, 2-3 mile run, 7.25 miles (increase 10% of 6.6 miles)

Week 7: 2-3 mile run, 2-3 mile run, 8 miles (increase 10% of 7.25 miles)

Week 8: 2-3 mile run , 2-3 mile run , 3 miles (recovery week)

Does this mean that it will take you longer than 8 weeks to train for a half marathon if you are starting from scratch? Yes. Will your body thank you for the extra time to adjust? Definitely!

For those of you training for full marathons, I have found through trial and error (read: lots of error), once I get to 15 miles on my long run, continuing to increase by 10% causes me to be more injury-prone than I would like. So, I chose to limit my weekly increases to one mile each week.  I would rather plan in the extra time when training for a race, then have to drop out of a race due to injury.

However, even though you may be prudent in your mileage increases, sometimes your body gets tight. Shin splints and plantar fasciitis are common running “injuries” that are preventable and treatable with stretching, yoga, and massage. You may have noticed above that I only run 3 days a week. Does that mean I only workout 3 days a week? Nope. I also do 3-4 days of strength training, cross-training (cardio activity other than running/walking), and yoga.  Stretching, yoga, and massage are essential tools needed to keep your body supple, so don’t skimp on those. If you were looking for an excuse to get a professional massage on a regular basis, now you have it!