Keep strong and flexible
It's your duty to be flexible
Keep strong and flexible
if you want to be fit..
****
Don't fail to do your stuff
On some rest days, that's enough
Keep strong and flexible if you want to be fit!
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Good Morning, running family!
I bet you enjoyed that little song, sung tot the tune of Keep Young and Beautiful !
Yes, here I am again and yes, another week has gone by; and some of you , no, ALL of you have been doing some pretty incredible things.
We have got Loads, and Loads of new runners joining us. ( I am hoping some of whom, may find their way to the Corner ), we have got some repeaters , running through the programme for a second or even third time and finding it so much fun. We have got many folk reaching that graduation Podium too, the Champagne corks have been a'popping, ( sparkling water for some), and we have celebrated each and every new Graduate's success.
Me.. well, I have had a run this week... yesterday... first one in a fortnight... short and sweet, and paying testimony to the fact that yes, the runs do wait for us
Still listening to my body... creaky old thing that it is and still taking notice too!
So.... what is my very long ramble about this week.... well... the song lyrics??? may give you a clue!
( Apologies to Al Dubin who wrote the original words ).
This ramble is about exercise... which I do know I have chatted about previously on the Corner chats.
The reason I am thinking about it again is because, I have been reading the posts over the last week and there have been a fair few that have mentioned folk struggling a tad, with persistent niggles, aches, pains and general, “...this felt really hard”, issues.
Well,,, it turns out that some of the posters did not realise that their little problems were probably stemming from the fact that in following the programme, all they were doing was.... running!
What ! I hear you cry.... But that is what we are meant to do isn't it?
Yes it is... BUT, ( there's that , but , again), it is about a doing a whole lot of other things too.
It is a really, really great ideas if, on some of your rest days, you do partake in some core strength and stamina work. Some other non impact exercise, that is different than running. On some of your rest days...not all.
Having a rest... a real rest from exercises is good. Really good.
If you have read the Essential reading pinned post on How to Run C25K, you already know this You really should read it if you have not.
But, even if you have, reminding yourselves is no bad thing.. and, because I read a post earlier which actually asked me , "... strength and stamina, what's that..? Never heard of it" , was an added prompt to just get this post out!
So, a quick refresher course follows...
We have a great sister site right here... it is the Strength and Flex forum..
healthunlocked.com/strength...
On this site, guided wonderfully, by the amazing CBDB ,you will find some great tips and advice for the strength and stamina work that many of us find so, so useful to do alongside our running.
Also great, if by some twist of fate you have an injury... the ideas for keeping up our strength and stamina are very useful.
The rest of our body really needs to keep up with our legs! Many of us find this out, both when we are first setting out on our running adventures and then again, as the runs get longer.
So, on some of our rest days, non impact work is essential. That is what the forum is all about... and you don't need a gym, or oodles of expensive equipment to be able to participate!
You just need, You, some self discipline and a lot of enthusiasm.
I am not going to put a load of links here again, you may just want to have a peek across at the S and F forum for yourselves Please do.
The point of all this is, that I would really like you to just think how important strength and stamina work is to you right now in your running. Listen to your body and note, any minor twinges, or persistent aches and pains... areas where you feel there is a need for some extra work.
Non-impact exercise on some of your rest days is essential, especially as the runs get longer, there is so, so much to choose from, and all of which can be done without the expense of a gym membership. Again, great ideas over on the S and F Forum.
Plus...You can cycle, dance, walk, climb or swim... a day's gardening, a housework blitz.... decorating... whatever. All contributing to keeping every bit of us going
Begin to form a regime of core strength and stamina work for yourself, keep it simple, do it on some of your rest days and it will soon become a habit... a good one!
You are worth it! I am worth it, we are ALL worth it.
So, to the running friend who asked me the question, “...strength and stamina, who needs it?
We all do
Looking forward to hear how it has all been going for you all. Plenty of cushions here and we are all eager to share.
Oldfloss x
UPDATE*********
PS
I am a chump!
I wanted to mention Yoga, specifically as one of the exercises we are able to do alongside our running...
The reply below from our wonderful Bluebirdrunner says it all. She has followed and still does, a regular Yoga Routine and has completed, enjoyably so many of thee Challenges that are put out on Yoga with Adrienne.
The mental, as well as the physical benefits are terrific
There are many links to Yoga on the S and F Forum... it is well worth you taking a look,
Thanks Bluebird! x
