Finally got a training run in this week! I say finally because my legs had to recover from this past weekend. Here's a quick recap: I got a new pair of running shoes on Wednesday of last week (my first pair of
Newton running shoes - great so far!), ran a 5K Friday night, and a 10K Saturday morning. I actually set a PR for the 10K time and was only 2 seconds off my PR per mile pace in the 5K. I fully believe that this was due in part to the new shoes and a few running tips I received from
Georgia Game Changers when selecting them. Now here's the thing. What I picked up was a need to change slightly the way I stride and impact the ground with my lead foot and these particular shoes aid in creating a landing that does what I need which is to land on the front/ball of my foot first and under my hips rather than a leg extended heel-first strike.
Now back to my need to recover. Changing my stride just that little bit put more emphasis on my calf muscles and since I hadn't been training for that as of yet they were really tight for a few days following the race. I of course have a rolling stick and a knotted foam roller, a.k.a. the
rumble roller, which I used to help work out the tension and create some
myofascial release. So today my legs felt pretty good and knowing I have a 10K coming up this weekend I wanted to get out and hit the pavement. Due to my personal schedule this was the only morning I'd be able to run prior to the race, even though it was 30 degrees out! But hey, when you have goals you have to go after it and not be derailed by external factors. I had to be smart though. I honestly wanted to go for about 6 miles, but once I got going I could feel my calf muscles starting to tighten up. Instead of letting ego win and push myself, I backed off my intensity just a bit and completed a 3.02 mile run so I could get home and roll the muscles out.
I have a long way to go to complete my 40 races here in 2016 and that means I have to be smart about training and recovery. I don't want to burn my mind or my body out, so some days that means I'm going to have to put the ego to the side and do what's right. This year is just another step along my personal journey to healthier living and making the most out of this life. I encourage you to do the same. No matter where you are right now, no matter the current state of your health, I challenge you to set a personal health & fitness goal. Start with something to accomplish by the end of this year that will be a first step towards your larger goal. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you, motivate you, and keep you accountable because they want you to succeed!
Recovery is also a huge part of training. That means not only physical recovery with proper stretching and rest but also proper nutrition. I'm currently in between shipments of my
Beachbody Performance supplements, so today's recovery calls for
Shakeology! The new Cafe' Latte' to be precise. Re-fueling with superfoods without artificial ingredients and fillers is how I help keep my body healthy and performing at its best.
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