The jogging stroller is perhaps the greatest invention ever made for a running parent. It’s a win-win situation. You get your run in. Your child gets to see the world outside of their television. Best of all, you are engaged in a healthy shared experience with your child. Jogging strollers are best, however, used in moderation and under safe circumstances. Consider the following tips in deciding when and how to use a jogging stroller.
Head, neck, and spine safety. Every quality jogging stroller has manufacturer’s guidelines for when your child is old enough, heavy enough, or strong enough to safely ride in a jogging stroller. Generally, runners are urged to wait until their child is strong enough to support and hold up the weight of his head on his own. Some manufacturers sell accessories that are specifically designed to support your child’s head and neck. When in doubt, consult your pediatrician or wait a few more weeks before beginning your jogging stroller program.
Ideal temperatures. We have all probably seen a fanatical runner pushing a jogging stroller when its 28 degrees outside. Not cool. The child cannot be comfortable no matter how well bundled or covered by a plastic bubble. Try not to use jogging strollers when the weather is extremely hot or cold. Think of your child’s comfort first. 55 to 85 degrees is probably an ideal temperature range for a stroller jog if properly dressed.
Dress them warmer than yourself. Remember that you are running and your child is not. Your temperature will rise quickly because your blood is drawn towards the surface of your skin during a run. Your child’s internal temperature will be cooler than yours because they are not exercising. This means protecting your child’s extremities in colder temperatures. Even when its 60 degrees outside, don’t hesitate to dress then with a warm hat, gloves, warm socks/shoes, and a blanket. You can always remove these items during your run.
Protect them from the sun. Always put sunscreen on your child’s exposed skin when out for a run. If they will wear sunglasses (good luck) provide this extra protection as well. Keep the jogging stroller top down to protect them from the sun/heat or put a hat on them.
Limit time in the stroller. Stroller jogs are most appropriate for short to medium length runs (generally recovery runs or junk miles). It is unfair to your child to put them through a 20 miler. Just like you, they need to stretch out their legs. I generally limit stroller runs to 30-40 minutes.
Wrist strap: Use it just in case. I know you don’t intend to let go on down-hills but accidents happen.
Child straps: Always buckle your child in to their jogging stroller. At some point in time, he will try to exit a moving stroller without consulting you first.
Stay out of traffic. For those of you that have this luxury, limit stroller running to parks, greenways, or sidewalks. Do not trust other drivers with the safety of your child. If you must share the road with vehicles, always run on the left side of the road facing traffic wearing bright or reflective clothing.
Make it a smooth ride: Protect your child’s neck and spine by staying on smooth surfaces. Save the off-road runs for yourself.
Leave the iPod/MP3 at home: While jogging with your child, please be aware of your surroundings and traffic for your child’s safety. Of equal importance - have a conversation. Even if your child is only 6 months old, point out his surroundings or share the joys of running. This is a great time to bond with your son or daughter. Think about how much fun running with your child will be years from now when he or she will be able to whip you.
Food, drink, and bear. No matter how short the run, a crisis can ensue if your child gets hungry, thirsty, or fussy. Remember to bring a baggie full of Goldfish, Cheerios, or their favorite finger foods. A sippy cup full of milk, water, or apple juice is helpful. Finally, if your child has a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, this can help ward off boredom or temper tantrums.
Diapers and wet wipes. For 20 minute runs or more, these items speak for themselves.
Now that we’ve covered the basics for your child’s safety and comfort, here’s some tips to make your workouts together more fun and beneficial.
Posture: The nature inclination when pushing a jogging stroller is lead forward at the hips. Fight this tendency and don’t get injured. Stay upright with your head, shoulders, and hips upright.
Hills: Lugging a 30 pound jogging stroller and a 30 pound baby up and down hills repeatedly will surely get you injured. You’ll be pushing too hard on the uphills and pulling back on the downhills (even with a brake). Try to find a relatively flat course when pushing your baby.
Run to the park or pool: My favorite jogging stroller workout involves two shorter runs. Starting from your home, run one to two miles to the nearest park or your neighborhood swimming pool. Play at the park or swim at the pool with your child for 20-30 minutes and run home. Everyone gets to have fun, no one gets bored, and you get two to four miles logged.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Remember To Thank Mom and Dad
May 30th marks approximately the halfway point between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. At this time, I thought it appropriate to reflect on the positive influence that our parents may have had on our running.
My parents encouraged my siblings and I to participate in a number of different athletics growing up including running, basketball, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, golf, and swimming. My mother shuttled us back and forth to practices, games, and meets. My father attended nearly every game and even coached on a few of our teams. My brother, sister and I were all athletically-inclined, however, none of us were extraordinarily talented. My parents likely saw this eventuality early on. Nonetheless, they invested their money, time, and emotional energy into our athletic pursuits with encouragement and pride.
In doing so, they sent the message early on that being fit, strong, and confident is important. This message has carried through into adulthood. My siblings and I are all runners. My sister has complete two marathons. My brother has completed a marathon and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. We enjoy running and it is an important part of our lives.
I got the running bug very early in life. I ran in a number of 5-milers and 10k’s when I was a teenager growing-up in Pittsburgh. The shallow talent pool in lower age brackets allowed me to win a few age group awards. What must it have been like for my father to wake at 5:45 am on a Saturday morning (after he’d worked all week) to take me to a local 5-mile race? I remember him standing by the starting line with a cup of coffee encouraging me as I took off. About 35 minutes later after I finished, he’d then have to wait another hour for the awards ceremony to begin. I’d then collect an age group trophy (even if only 3 people competed in my age group). As the years have passed and I’ve become a parent myself, I realize now what a sacrifice of my parent’s time this was. But they never complained, always encouraged, never pushed, and always greeted me with a smile at the finish line.
My parents knew early on that I’d never be the next Salazar. Nonetheless, their support of my running at an early age is a deeply embedded part of my current love for the sport. Thank you Mom and Dad.
My parents encouraged my siblings and I to participate in a number of different athletics growing up including running, basketball, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, golf, and swimming. My mother shuttled us back and forth to practices, games, and meets. My father attended nearly every game and even coached on a few of our teams. My brother, sister and I were all athletically-inclined, however, none of us were extraordinarily talented. My parents likely saw this eventuality early on. Nonetheless, they invested their money, time, and emotional energy into our athletic pursuits with encouragement and pride.
In doing so, they sent the message early on that being fit, strong, and confident is important. This message has carried through into adulthood. My siblings and I are all runners. My sister has complete two marathons. My brother has completed a marathon and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. We enjoy running and it is an important part of our lives.
I got the running bug very early in life. I ran in a number of 5-milers and 10k’s when I was a teenager growing-up in Pittsburgh. The shallow talent pool in lower age brackets allowed me to win a few age group awards. What must it have been like for my father to wake at 5:45 am on a Saturday morning (after he’d worked all week) to take me to a local 5-mile race? I remember him standing by the starting line with a cup of coffee encouraging me as I took off. About 35 minutes later after I finished, he’d then have to wait another hour for the awards ceremony to begin. I’d then collect an age group trophy (even if only 3 people competed in my age group). As the years have passed and I’ve become a parent myself, I realize now what a sacrifice of my parent’s time this was. But they never complained, always encouraged, never pushed, and always greeted me with a smile at the finish line.
My parents knew early on that I’d never be the next Salazar. Nonetheless, their support of my running at an early age is a deeply embedded part of my current love for the sport. Thank you Mom and Dad.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
A Visit From Your Spirit Runner
As runners, we tend to mark great running moments through the prism of time and distance. We may note our fastest 10k or marathon when we reflect back on our running careers. As we age, however, our prospects for setting PR’s fade. This shouldn’t mean, however, that great running moments are only in our past. We simply need to open our minds and define great running moments through a different prism. We need to seek out our spirit runner. While I’d love to set a PR in my next 10k, I’d much rather get in touch with my spirit runner.
If you haven’t experienced your spirit runner, it’s hard to define in words. You know it if you’ve experienced it. Some call it a “runner’s high”, a surge of chemicals naturally released into your system. But it’s more than that. When your spirit runner enters your body and soul, you are elevated to a four-way intersection of performance, physical ease, emotional well-being, and oneness with the world around you.
The beautiful thing about your spirit runner is that it is not restricted to a USATF-certified course on a Saturday morning or a scenic trail. With an open mind, your spirit runner can appear at any time, place, or age.
Imagine walking out your front door for a five-miler in your neighborhood one night after work. Your plan is a three mile tempo run with easy miles as bookends. This workout is a regular part of your routine. After a one mile warm-up you lengthen your stride and increase your leg turnover. You are fit and confident in your training, however, tonight you feel particularly good. In fact, you feel so good that you pick-up the pace. The faster you run, the better you feel. When will it stop? When will you tire? It feels as if you will never fatigue. As you forge ahead, your breathing is controlled, your form is perfect, and your muscles gently glide like properly lubricated pistons. The afore-mentioned chemicals have now entered your system and you feel no pain or discomfort despite running at breakneck pace. No longer a tempo run, you are having an out-of-body experience. As the pain-numbing chemicals flow through your body, positive thoughts flow through your mind. You are happy with your life and you realize that running is a major part of this happiness. For the moment, you are an athlete perfectly designed for running. You feel an earthly connection to other perfectly created living things around you that move with ease and grace. Eagles fly effortlessly, dolphins swim effortlessly, and you run effortlessly. This elevated plane of consciousness continues until you hit mile four. Then you shorten your stride, decrease your leg turnover, and begin your cool down.
This wasn’t just a successful tempo run. No, this was something much greater. You were touched by your spirit runner. You haven’t felt this way for months. You may not experience this feeling again for years. Regardless, this was a great running moment. No race course, no cheering crowds, and no stop watch to measure exactly how fast you ran. Yet, this was clearly one of your greatest running moments. As the years pass and mileage is recorded in your running log, moments like this will mark when you were at your best. This tempo run could have occurred at six, eight, or ten minutes per mile pace. The pace is irrelevant. What matters is the feeling that you achieved. As you enter your second, third, or fourth decade of running, your PRs may be in the rearview mirror. But remember that your spirit runner may join you on your next run if you open your mind to it.
If you haven’t experienced your spirit runner, it’s hard to define in words. You know it if you’ve experienced it. Some call it a “runner’s high”, a surge of chemicals naturally released into your system. But it’s more than that. When your spirit runner enters your body and soul, you are elevated to a four-way intersection of performance, physical ease, emotional well-being, and oneness with the world around you.
The beautiful thing about your spirit runner is that it is not restricted to a USATF-certified course on a Saturday morning or a scenic trail. With an open mind, your spirit runner can appear at any time, place, or age.
Imagine walking out your front door for a five-miler in your neighborhood one night after work. Your plan is a three mile tempo run with easy miles as bookends. This workout is a regular part of your routine. After a one mile warm-up you lengthen your stride and increase your leg turnover. You are fit and confident in your training, however, tonight you feel particularly good. In fact, you feel so good that you pick-up the pace. The faster you run, the better you feel. When will it stop? When will you tire? It feels as if you will never fatigue. As you forge ahead, your breathing is controlled, your form is perfect, and your muscles gently glide like properly lubricated pistons. The afore-mentioned chemicals have now entered your system and you feel no pain or discomfort despite running at breakneck pace. No longer a tempo run, you are having an out-of-body experience. As the pain-numbing chemicals flow through your body, positive thoughts flow through your mind. You are happy with your life and you realize that running is a major part of this happiness. For the moment, you are an athlete perfectly designed for running. You feel an earthly connection to other perfectly created living things around you that move with ease and grace. Eagles fly effortlessly, dolphins swim effortlessly, and you run effortlessly. This elevated plane of consciousness continues until you hit mile four. Then you shorten your stride, decrease your leg turnover, and begin your cool down.
This wasn’t just a successful tempo run. No, this was something much greater. You were touched by your spirit runner. You haven’t felt this way for months. You may not experience this feeling again for years. Regardless, this was a great running moment. No race course, no cheering crowds, and no stop watch to measure exactly how fast you ran. Yet, this was clearly one of your greatest running moments. As the years pass and mileage is recorded in your running log, moments like this will mark when you were at your best. This tempo run could have occurred at six, eight, or ten minutes per mile pace. The pace is irrelevant. What matters is the feeling that you achieved. As you enter your second, third, or fourth decade of running, your PRs may be in the rearview mirror. But remember that your spirit runner may join you on your next run if you open your mind to it.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Stinky Runner
In a recent post, I debated the appropriateness of running during my lunch hour at work without the benefit of a shower. After careful deliberation, however, I decided to throw caution (and perhaps my odor) to the wind and began running during my lunch hour. The following is a report on how these lunch runs fit into my schedule.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. I change into my running gear in my office and apply sunscreen. I spend about two minutes lightly stretching. Exiting my office on the fifth floor, I take the elevator to the ground floor. Once outside, I run 4.5 miles on an out and back course. Over half of the course is residential and relatively traffic-free. Being that it is May in metro Atlanta, I sweat. I generally run with tunes or running commentary on my MP3. The sun on my shoulders feels wonderful. The freedom of movement energizes me. I feel as if I’ve escaped from a prison. No worries or thoughts about work. My mind is a vacuum. The run is liberating and refreshing.
About 35-40 minutes later I return to the ground floor of my office building. I calmly walk through the lobby and press the elevator button. I catch a few strange glances but act as if my actions are perfectly reasonable. I proceed to walk into the elevator when it opens. Sometimes I am joined by others but often I am not. This is a good thing for obvious reasons. Back onto the fifth floor I enter the rest room. Using the sink I throw water on my face, head, and neck. Using paper towels, I do the best I can to clean-up.
Exiting the rest room I return to my office, close the door, and turn on a portable fan. Still sweating, I reapply deodorant and put my work clothes (business casual) back on. I then walk to the break room still red-faced and sweating and grab my lunch out of the refrigerator. I return to my office to consume lunch. By 12:45 to 1:00 p.m. I’m back at work. By 1:30 I’ve cooled-off and appear almost normal.
I’ve enjoyed these lunch-time runs immensely. While I don’t have time for any distance beyond five miles, these runs should work perfectly about twice a week. I’ll use this time for junk/recovery miles, hill workouts (Atlanta is chocked full of hill), or tempo runs. The beautiful thing about this is that I don’t have to sacrifice family time or sleep at night to get my run in. Once I got over the awkwardness of walking around my office in my running gear, the decision to do this more regularly was easy. And until someone tells me that I stink, I’ll assume that my post-run hygiene efforts are adequate.
My office building employs a large number of morbidly obese people. I certainly wish shower or workout facilities were provided for all of us. In my opinion, employers that promote health and fitness help their bottom line with fewer sick days, lower healthcare costs, and improved morale. Until my employer or landlord takes this position, however, I will continue to be the stinky runner guy.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. I change into my running gear in my office and apply sunscreen. I spend about two minutes lightly stretching. Exiting my office on the fifth floor, I take the elevator to the ground floor. Once outside, I run 4.5 miles on an out and back course. Over half of the course is residential and relatively traffic-free. Being that it is May in metro Atlanta, I sweat. I generally run with tunes or running commentary on my MP3. The sun on my shoulders feels wonderful. The freedom of movement energizes me. I feel as if I’ve escaped from a prison. No worries or thoughts about work. My mind is a vacuum. The run is liberating and refreshing.
About 35-40 minutes later I return to the ground floor of my office building. I calmly walk through the lobby and press the elevator button. I catch a few strange glances but act as if my actions are perfectly reasonable. I proceed to walk into the elevator when it opens. Sometimes I am joined by others but often I am not. This is a good thing for obvious reasons. Back onto the fifth floor I enter the rest room. Using the sink I throw water on my face, head, and neck. Using paper towels, I do the best I can to clean-up.
Exiting the rest room I return to my office, close the door, and turn on a portable fan. Still sweating, I reapply deodorant and put my work clothes (business casual) back on. I then walk to the break room still red-faced and sweating and grab my lunch out of the refrigerator. I return to my office to consume lunch. By 12:45 to 1:00 p.m. I’m back at work. By 1:30 I’ve cooled-off and appear almost normal.
I’ve enjoyed these lunch-time runs immensely. While I don’t have time for any distance beyond five miles, these runs should work perfectly about twice a week. I’ll use this time for junk/recovery miles, hill workouts (Atlanta is chocked full of hill), or tempo runs. The beautiful thing about this is that I don’t have to sacrifice family time or sleep at night to get my run in. Once I got over the awkwardness of walking around my office in my running gear, the decision to do this more regularly was easy. And until someone tells me that I stink, I’ll assume that my post-run hygiene efforts are adequate.
My office building employs a large number of morbidly obese people. I certainly wish shower or workout facilities were provided for all of us. In my opinion, employers that promote health and fitness help their bottom line with fewer sick days, lower healthcare costs, and improved morale. Until my employer or landlord takes this position, however, I will continue to be the stinky runner guy.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The Power Of Subtle Advice
Most of my training runs are solo. During the week, I usually run at night after the kids go to bed. For Saturday long runs, I try to leave the house by 6-7 a.m. in order to be back by 9-10 a.m. and not miss the entire day. Once and a while, I run with friends, family, or neighbors. While I am not a particularly fast or accomplished runner, I am a fairly well-read runner. I enjoy reading running books that dispense advice from those who know. I enjoy reading about topics such as proper running form, injury prevention, diet, stretching, and speed work. For these reasons, I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable about these areas. As a result, it is often hard for me to bite my tongue when confronted with a fellow runner who is, for lack of a better phrase, hurting themselves.
For example, one running partner’s idea of a training pyramid is to build-up weekly mileage from zero to 30 miles in three weeks, get injured, recover, and start the process again. Another running partner has bad knees yet he always runs on concrete and asphalt surfaces rather than dirt trails nearby.
When I witness these running mistakes, I immediately want to dispense advice. I want to tell my running friends what they are doing is hurting them. Here’s the problem: I’m not Alberto Salazar or Jeff Galloway. In the past, I have tried to give advice based largely based on the teachings and writings of these legends. To my zero-to-30 friend, I preached about the 10 percent rule on mileage increases. To my cartilage-deprived concrete-loving friend, I’ve preached the benefits of soft surfaces. Yet despite my pleadings, some of my closest running companions failed to listen to my advice. Regardless, that is precisely where the problem lies – it was MY advice. The messenger is me; the idiot down the street that can barely break four hours in the marathon.
After some consideration, I started using my running library more wisely. I thought it would be more appropriate to let my amateur friends hear it directly from the source. My recent gift to my zero-to-30 friend was the temporary use of Galloway’s Book of Running. My preaching of Galloway’s teachings did not get through because I apparently lacked the credibility to deliver those teachings. As it turns out, Galloway dispenses his own advice quite well. After reading Galloway’s Book of Running, my friend has stayed injury-free through the use of sensible base-building techniques discussed in the book.
In the future, unless asked, I will shy away from giving unsolicited advice. Instead, I’ll turn to my library of legends and let them do it for me.
For example, one running partner’s idea of a training pyramid is to build-up weekly mileage from zero to 30 miles in three weeks, get injured, recover, and start the process again. Another running partner has bad knees yet he always runs on concrete and asphalt surfaces rather than dirt trails nearby.
When I witness these running mistakes, I immediately want to dispense advice. I want to tell my running friends what they are doing is hurting them. Here’s the problem: I’m not Alberto Salazar or Jeff Galloway. In the past, I have tried to give advice based largely based on the teachings and writings of these legends. To my zero-to-30 friend, I preached about the 10 percent rule on mileage increases. To my cartilage-deprived concrete-loving friend, I’ve preached the benefits of soft surfaces. Yet despite my pleadings, some of my closest running companions failed to listen to my advice. Regardless, that is precisely where the problem lies – it was MY advice. The messenger is me; the idiot down the street that can barely break four hours in the marathon.
After some consideration, I started using my running library more wisely. I thought it would be more appropriate to let my amateur friends hear it directly from the source. My recent gift to my zero-to-30 friend was the temporary use of Galloway’s Book of Running. My preaching of Galloway’s teachings did not get through because I apparently lacked the credibility to deliver those teachings. As it turns out, Galloway dispenses his own advice quite well. After reading Galloway’s Book of Running, my friend has stayed injury-free through the use of sensible base-building techniques discussed in the book.
In the future, unless asked, I will shy away from giving unsolicited advice. Instead, I’ll turn to my library of legends and let them do it for me.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Training With A Newborn
Its 4:00 a.m. and you are pacing through your home with your screaming newborn baby in your arms. This is not your idea of a tempo work-out. The joy of bringing a new life into the world has worn off and now you would just like some sleep. Her wailing has been ongoing for nearly an hour. You think about work, where you need to be in only four hours. You’ll be lucky just to survive the day, much less excel. Then in the midst of her breathless cries, your thoughts turn to running. Running is vital to your very existence. It sustains and uplifts you. It keeps you fit and mentally stable. Unfortunately, you have neglected your running program. It’s been two weeks since you’ve laced-up your running shoes. This isn’t your fault. If you can’t sleep you can’t run. Furthermore, it’s not fair to your spouse who has been at home all day with the baby. Right now you are in survival mode and your aspirations for a PR in the local 10k must take a back seat to your family obligations. In the meantime, however, you are losing fitness every minute. Lean muscle is turning to flab as you graze on foods that family and friends kindly prepare for you. Worse yet, the prospects for your future training are grim. How many months will go by before you have the time or energy to train in a meaningful way?
Whether it’s your first, second, or third baby, every running parent has experienced these depressing thoughts. But don’t despair and remember that your situation is temporary. Instead, have a plan to survive these turbulent weeks or months in order to restart your running program with a bang.
Be realistic. You are bringing a new life into the world. You are responsible for this new life. You cannot train through a newborn. It’s not fair to the baby, his or her siblings, your spouse, or you. Enjoy this time with your family and understand that running is secondary.
Be fit or schedule rest when the due date arrives. For almost nine months, you know that your child’s due date is coming. Use this fixed date to your advantage. Schedule a local marathon or important race in the weeks leading up to the due date (although don’t travel to run a marathon when you wife is 39 weeks). This way, you can effectively use the weeks after the race to rest, recover, and enjoy your baby guilt-free.
Improve you weak links. Full-blown training in the weeks after your baby is born will not only irritate your spouse. You are also more likely to get sick or injured during this time period due to lack of sleep. Instead of redlining it, use this time to engage in beneficial non-running activities from home. Work on your flexibility by starting an active-isolation stretching or yoga program. Improve your strength through core exercises or resistance training. All of these activities can be performed from the comfort of your home. This allows you to be with your family while improving your weak links at the same time.
Log on, research, and set goals. Your time off won’t last forever. Stay engaged in the running life by logging on to your favorite running resources on the internet. Research races that you want to participate in. Review and schedule new training programs that may work for you.
Eat well. When you are not running frequently, it is easy to let yourself go. Neighbors, family, and friends may be cooking tasty (yet fatty) meals for you. Appreciate their kindness while exercising appropriate portion control. Remember that you are burning fewer calories during this time period and, therefore, you must consume fewer calories.
Buy a jogging stroller. When your child is 4-6 months old and the weather is warm enough, a jogging stroller will be the best way to get in your junk or recovery miles. You’ll be spending quality outdoor time with your child, keeping your spouse happy, and getting in your mileage. Spend this time researching various jogging strollers on the internet and in stores. Find the stroller that is best suited for you and your baby and buy it so you are ready for this fun bonding time.
Above all, remember that this is a wonderful time to bond with your newborn son or daughter. Any loss of fitness (and perhaps sanity) is only temporary. And by using these suggestions, you can stay positive about the experience and ready to tackle the roads, tracks, and trails upon your full return to running.
Whether it’s your first, second, or third baby, every running parent has experienced these depressing thoughts. But don’t despair and remember that your situation is temporary. Instead, have a plan to survive these turbulent weeks or months in order to restart your running program with a bang.
Be realistic. You are bringing a new life into the world. You are responsible for this new life. You cannot train through a newborn. It’s not fair to the baby, his or her siblings, your spouse, or you. Enjoy this time with your family and understand that running is secondary.
Be fit or schedule rest when the due date arrives. For almost nine months, you know that your child’s due date is coming. Use this fixed date to your advantage. Schedule a local marathon or important race in the weeks leading up to the due date (although don’t travel to run a marathon when you wife is 39 weeks). This way, you can effectively use the weeks after the race to rest, recover, and enjoy your baby guilt-free.
Improve you weak links. Full-blown training in the weeks after your baby is born will not only irritate your spouse. You are also more likely to get sick or injured during this time period due to lack of sleep. Instead of redlining it, use this time to engage in beneficial non-running activities from home. Work on your flexibility by starting an active-isolation stretching or yoga program. Improve your strength through core exercises or resistance training. All of these activities can be performed from the comfort of your home. This allows you to be with your family while improving your weak links at the same time.
Log on, research, and set goals. Your time off won’t last forever. Stay engaged in the running life by logging on to your favorite running resources on the internet. Research races that you want to participate in. Review and schedule new training programs that may work for you.
Eat well. When you are not running frequently, it is easy to let yourself go. Neighbors, family, and friends may be cooking tasty (yet fatty) meals for you. Appreciate their kindness while exercising appropriate portion control. Remember that you are burning fewer calories during this time period and, therefore, you must consume fewer calories.
Buy a jogging stroller. When your child is 4-6 months old and the weather is warm enough, a jogging stroller will be the best way to get in your junk or recovery miles. You’ll be spending quality outdoor time with your child, keeping your spouse happy, and getting in your mileage. Spend this time researching various jogging strollers on the internet and in stores. Find the stroller that is best suited for you and your baby and buy it so you are ready for this fun bonding time.
Above all, remember that this is a wonderful time to bond with your newborn son or daughter. Any loss of fitness (and perhaps sanity) is only temporary. And by using these suggestions, you can stay positive about the experience and ready to tackle the roads, tracks, and trails upon your full return to running.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Lunch on the Run
Running magazines are full of suggestions on how busy working runners fit running into their hectic schedules. A common suggestion to the dilemma is the lunch-time run. In theory, I like this idea. I wouldn’t have to wake-up at 4:30 am. I wouldn’t have to run half-exhausted just before bed-time. Here’s the problem: I don’t have a shower facility where I work. I know that some runners go to the gym and run on the treadmill. Like many runners, however, I don’t have a gym membership and have little use for one either. So to go running during my lunch hour, I would need to then change out of my running clothes, run, and then change back into my work clothes without the benefit of a shower.
Like most of you, I sweat when I run. I don’t sweat profusely but I do sweat. Working in a professional office environment, it seems somewhat unprofessional to walk around the office the rest of the day looking (and perhaps smelling) like I’ve just run. I would love for my employer or landlord to install shower facilities in my office building. Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen. Some potential solutions may involve the use of my children’s wet wipes or only running when the temperature is less than say 70 degrees.
I would love to hear some thoughts and suggestions on this dilemma
Like most of you, I sweat when I run. I don’t sweat profusely but I do sweat. Working in a professional office environment, it seems somewhat unprofessional to walk around the office the rest of the day looking (and perhaps smelling) like I’ve just run. I would love for my employer or landlord to install shower facilities in my office building. Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen. Some potential solutions may involve the use of my children’s wet wipes or only running when the temperature is less than say 70 degrees.
I would love to hear some thoughts and suggestions on this dilemma
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