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May 2009 Newsletter
Motivation and Inspiration:"People ask why I run. I say, "If you have to ask, you will never understand". It is something only those select few know. Those who put themselves through pain, but know, deep down, how good it really feels." Online Running Sites for your Logging and Blogging needs The second shirt will read as follows: If you are interested in a shirt, send me your size and shirt slogan choice. I am not totally sure of the cost of the shirt yet (probably b/w $20-25 depending on which shirt) and then a small shipping charge to get it from me to you. An oldie I wrote a couple years back but a goodie on how swimming is a wonderful cross training activity for runners to take advantage of, especially during the summer when most of are spending some time near water. Many of my runners are also competing in duathlons and triathlons. If you find you enjoy swimming and/or biking, you may want to consider participating in a du or triathlon. Multisport athletes learn how to incorporate the other disciplines while keeping the run strong. Whether you plan on competing in a multisport event or just want to add some non running variety to your routine, swimming is a great choice. Can a Summer Swim Help Your Running? Local pools are opening up for the summer. Beaches and lakes will soon be active with splashing kids. Just about everyone has access to some body of water during the warmer months. If you are thinking about adding some cross training to your running routine, swimming may be a nice option when temperatures rise. Wouldn't it be nice if swimming actually helped improve your running too? Summer provides a lot of opportunities to add some variety to your runs. Swimming can strengthen your legs, upper body and core, increase your cardiovascular fitness, increase flexibility and is a great option on recovery days. The kicking action in the water is like weight lifting for your legs. The resistance of the water builds your legs muscles, in a safer environment then the gym. Upper body and core strength is a must for runners. How about trading in the sit-ups and pushups for some cool laps? The pulling and pushing, through the resistance of the water, builds the muscles in your arms and upper body. The twisting motion and reaching through the water is great for strong abdominal development. Runners are used to breathing without restriction. Swimming forces rhythmic breathing which can aid in the development of your cardiovascular fitness and making you more efficient out of the water. It also forces pace control, which can be transferred to the roads. As a coach, many of you have heard my speeches about the importance of stretching. Flexibility is very important to good and fast running. Areas usually prone to tightest in runners, like ankles and hip flexors, can benefit from time swimming. Not only is flexibility increased but also ligaments and tendons are strengthened. I took my first serious plunge in the pool, since swim team at age 9, after a series of injuries a few years ago. I did include aqua jogging, but I also swam laps. I slowly learned the art of drills to improve form and interval swimming to get in a good workout. The pool offered a great place for my injuries to heal while maintaining fitness. I abandoned the water after I was running again and just recently came back to the pool. Of course running is what ultimately will make you a better runner, but there are things that can be done to supplement your running. Swimming can help areas that may be neglected by the runner otherwise. Lots of runners are making use of blogs and other online tools to track their running. It's a fun way to track your progress, vent your frustraions, connect with other enthusists and get support and advice. There are many options available, so if you ever wanted to explore this venue for yourself, the possibilities are endless.
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"A coach is someone who always makes you do what you don't want to do, so you can be who you've always wanted to be."
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