The More the Merrier!

Well, today at around 5, Isabelle, Wendy and I all did the .9 mile around the baseball/soccer fields.  It was chilly but not unbearable.  Isabelle is a natural runner.  Wendy is too--she just doesn't know it yet!  It was fun with all three of us.

Saturday Water Jogging, Mile with Wendy and Running Thoughts

Enjoyed the water jog but need to put ipod in the water-proof case to keep it interesting.  Will have to wear the ipod on my head but it will be worth it.

Wendy did well.  She wants to go a little faster and seems ready to.

From Galloway's Book on Running:  Running Every Other Day - P. 266-267, "Dr. Sheehan changed from seven days to three...at 62, George ran his fastest marathon ever.  George now runs 10 miles every other day, and feels this maintains his condition better than running 5-6 miles every day.  He adds long runs when he wants to run a marathon. 
 Jack Foster, who took up running at 33 and ran a 2:11 marathon at age 41, celebrated his 50th bday in 1982 by running a 2:20 marathon.  This was incredible in itself, but even more so when you consider that he shifted to a three-day running week.  To maintain his competitive edge, Jack runs accelerations once a week.  On Saturdays Jack rides his bike 3-4 hours. 

When Wendy has developed the running habit (takes 3 weeks), we will start running every other day for two miles.  This will build endurance and speed recovery.  We'll do 3.1 once a week since she is training for a 5k.

Water jogging, stretching and jogging

Just got back from water jogging for 20 in the JBU pool where it felt good.  I made an important discovery since it is sub zero degrees outside:  You don't have to get your hair at all wet to water jog so you don't have to take the time to blow dry it afterwards...Nice!  Also, you sleep better after water jogging (me last night). 

Stretching.  Just hung the preferred P90X chin-up bar in the doorway so I can stretch and hang after this.  I recommend buying Stretching by Bob Anderson (used?) because he has general stretches as well as sport-specific stretches.  Here are some of the general stretches I'll begin doing in a minute and continue doing for ages this time: 1. Stretching on a Chin Bar: Hold bar with both hands.  Relax chin forward.  Begin holding 10 seconds gradually increasing to 60 seconds.  Grip firmly.  Variation--Hang by one hand beginning with 5 seconds.  2. Leg and Groin: Lie on floor with butt 4 inches from wall.  Elevate feet working up to 8 minutes.  Then slowly separate your legs, with your heels resting on wall and hold stretch for 30 seconds.
3. Elongation: Lie on floor.  Extend arms overhead and straighten legs.  Reach as far as is comfortable in opposite directions with your arms and legs for 5 seconds, and then relax.  Now stretch diagonally.  Point toes of left foot as you extend right arm and stretch.  Hold 5 seconds.  Now do back one again. 

At 3 Wendy and I will run our mile.

Later on Thursday

Well, I let Wendy run wild and she just kept going--17 laps!  She is developing a passion for it but I will have to rein her in.  Her boys had given her grief today but she felt unstressed and energized after our run.  She's a natural runner.

Water jogging and jogging

Today, Thursday, I tried out the new speedo water jog belt.  It worked great except that I had to tie it and knot it because the belt was so long.  The water was nice and warm.  It was great to just jog in place for 25 minutes without having to get my face in the chlorine water.  Think I'll get addicted to water jogging!  I kept my knees low so I wouldn't travel.  Later Wendy and I will run her mile.

About Cross Training - Jan. 4 Rest Day

Yesterday Wendy and I ran a mile and then I went back with Rulon later to run a couple more, bike and do crunches.  Wendy said she felt like she could go farther after we finished our tenth lap.  That's how it gets.  Sometimes you have to hold yourself back and stick to the plan so you don't over do it.

Today I got a speedo aqua fitness jog belt for water running.  Starting tomorrow I'm going to water jog almost every day.  It's the only cross training you can do daily that won't interfere with your focus and won't injure you but will enhance your running, biking, or whatever.  I'm going to be careful after a barely lingering knee injury by water jogging and running on soft surfaces whenever possible. 

Pudgy or not

This is a disclaimer for using the word "pudgy."  I shouldn't have.  I really don't look down on anyone because of their weight (or in some cases like Julie, their underweight).  Honestly I was just decribing them and like the ring of that word.  I think the Barbie bashers are right.  Barbie would have died with those proportions.  There's too much emphasis on weight in our culture!  This blog is about total fitness, focusing on aerobics.  Rulon and I have often discussed how many heavier runners overtook us in races.  That's because they had trained aerobically better than we had.