Runners: Open Thread
Posted by Carrie on 17 Jan 2009 | Tagged as: Fitness and Health
While running in the dark this morning, sausaged into two of of every article of clothing, waving a flashlight to help cars spot me amid the swirling snow, stumbling over ice boulders, and flinching from the dagger-sharp pellets of ice digging into my cheeks…it occurred to me that perhaps I’m doing this wrong. At least, in the alternative, I’m doing it nuttily. Doing outdoor sports all year long in this environment? Isn’t that the act of a crazy person? Shouldn’t I have taken up, say, swimming (in a heated, indoor pool) for this season?
Our running crew was smaller than usual for today; the announcement email had suggested that instead of running, members might like to go cross-country skiing instead. Presumably, some did, though I didn’t interrogate the people who skipped the run and showed up for coffee afterward. They did look far warmer than me, but that’s not proof positive of anything. 
I don’t think you stay warmer while skiing than you do running, anyway. What you do get is a nice cross-training session, working other muscles and in different ways that you do when just running all the time, which makes the idea sort of appealing if it didn’t come with a hefty price tag attached to the equipment.
For me, I cross-train in my nice, indoor, heated gym, which also houses a nice, indoor, very heated sauna and steam room (but no pool, sadly). Since I’ve developed something of an obsession for tracking miles (fueled by Buckeye Outdoors and its challenges: “Who can get to 2,009 miles first?” et al.), I’ve opted to stick with the bike – stationary in the season of ice, by necessity. I do some weight training, too, especially working on my core, since that’s what really helps keep one going through those tough later miles in the long runs. If your abs and back give out, you’re not going to make it through 26.2, so into the plank position go I, muttering and grimacing all the way. I’m afraid that I’m not a gracious cross-trainer, though I don’t skimp or wimp out.
But whether I’m doing it wrong, crazily, or stupidly, I remain steadfast in my running, frozen cheekbones and all. For one thing, it’s rather more difficult to get in an hour of skiing before one’s spouse leaves for work in the morning. With running, even taking into account the extra layers of protection, it’s “get dressed, get shod, and go.” No equipment to check; no need to get to a hill, park, or fresh trail. Most days, I’m out the door in under fifteen minutes from when I swing my legs out of the bed. You can’t beat running for convenience.
Cross-training is necessary, though, especially if you want to avoid injury. Maybe sometime I’ll look into a pair of used snowshoes; I saw an article about snowshoe racing in Runner’s World… How do you cross-train?
9 Comments »
on 17 Jan 2009 at 5:18 pm
Kate said …
1. Strength training in the off-season, yoga all year round. Makes for good strong core and flexible muscles are less likely to be injured.
2. Swimming. I’m lucky to have access to a pool, so if the weather or my legs are uncooperative, it’s no-impact, high lung capacity, endurance swimming for me.
3. Biking. Buy a trainer and use the bike you have, rather than torturing yourself with the spin bike or the gym’s exercycles.
4. Rest. Can’t say it enough. Well placed rest = increased performance.
on 17 Jan 2009 at 7:57 pm
ashley said …
Carrie:
I am considering Chinese medicine in my attempt to conceive a 2nd child. I know you are not a doctor, nor do you replace my physician (disclaimer out of the way), but have you any advice? Do you know anyone who has ever done this?
As I told hubby tonight, since IVF is out of the cards (due to religious precepts), I wanted to explore Chinese medicine/herbs, etc. That way, if Sean IS an only child, that’s fine. But I don’t want to be 60 wondering “what would of happened if I…”
on 17 Jan 2009 at 9:12 pm
Adrith said …
You mean, other than walking between the train station and work?
Joe has been making noise about getting me a trainer for my bike. I have to admit, it’s an idea that’s becoming increasingly more appealing now that I have a triathlon on my mental schedule of races this year.
I need to do some swimming, too. Generally I can get into the water and swim a half mile without any sort of practice beforehand, but it would be nice to be trained for it.
on 18 Jan 2009 at 9:56 am
debra said …
Hi Carrie,
I’ve been lurking for about a month. Ever since I had heard of your blog on Phedip. It was the redhead part that made me check it out, being a redhead (and a runner) myself. Then finding out you have two boys, I have three, right around your sons ages. AND the Suziki lessons, which my two older boys, 7 and 6, do at school, well needless to say I have been checking in everyday ever since. Anywas crosstraining wise I do yoga, aqua jogging (although I don’t know if this would be crosstraining or just considered more running), using the eliptical in the reverse-so I’m going backwards, and weight training. I live in central NY so snow and cold (and wind) are an issue here in winter also. A friend of mine, who is training for her first 100 miler in April, has on occassion used snowshoes for her long run. Once a week they start at midnight (to get their bodies used to running at night) on the trails and run for 6 hours. If the trails are bad then they use the snowshoes. It’s quite a workout. If I remember I think she said it’s a good core workout too.
Love your blog.
OH and redheads can wear red lipstick. It’s just finding an orange/warm based colored one and not a blue based (use to sell cosmetics so I had plenty of opportunity to play with colors). Unfortuantely I’ve sometimes had to pay a fortune for one lipstick because I really needed to go to a cosmetic department to test them.
Try and stay warm,
Debra
on 18 Jan 2009 at 11:00 pm
hannah said …
You seem kind of hard core to me. Mind, I don’t have my finger on the pulse of athletes.
Yet, running in the dark, icy, snowing winter where you live, seem really hard core.
You’re plucky.
Have you given though to polar bear clubs, or triathlons? Or auditioning for Survivor. . .
on 19 Jan 2009 at 9:07 am
Melissa said …
Snowshoeing
Skiing
Taking a class at the gym (Kickboxing, Strengthtraining)
and when weather permits, biking or spinning.
on 19 Jan 2009 at 10:31 am
Susan said …
Your comment about waving a flashlight while running made me want to send you this link: http://www.blt-lights.com/product/helmet_lights/lid_led/
I’m a cyclist, not a runner and this is designed to go on a bicycle helmet, but it is BRIGHT. There is no way a car will miss seeing you with this on. I’m sure you could rig up something to attach it to a hat. One of the things I like best about it is that it flashes white in the front and red in the back so an observer can even tell which direction you’re traveling!
on 20 Jan 2009 at 5:27 am
Joanne said …
Skipping – done in intervals
Yoga so I don’t get too stiff
If I really can’t face heading out for a run? Turbo Jam
Carrie,
Ive been meaning to ask you – what strength training do you do?
on 20 Jan 2009 at 8:28 am
Carrie said …
Kate – but I like my gym! (See: sauna and steam room.
)
Ashley – never tried Chinese medicine, other than dong quai, perhaps? (Can’t recall if I used that specific herb.) My best wishes go to you, though. I know how tough it can be.
Adrith – the tri bug bit you, too?1
It’s taking everybody!
Welcome, Debra.
Do you blog, too?
Hannah, Survivor requires coordination, not just endurance, and I…well…
I’d love to do kickboxing, Melissa. Something that just screams, “Don’t mess with me!”
Susan, I have a few lights, though nothing as strong as that one, probably. I do like the flashlight for the way I have control over the aim and can use it to avoid stumbling, too, as well as make absolutely sure that the driver sees me!
Joanne – Weights, a combination of machines and free weights. Mainly, I stick to the “back corner” of the gym, where the “tough guys” who look like they know what they’re doing stay.
I also do crunches and some other isometric stuff.