In recent months, I have been running less and doing Crossfit more. It's been a great way to increase strength training, still get some cardio in and keep myself from getting in a rut. However, I recently injured myself at the gym - no I am not that hardcore, I just try to do too much too fast. It was a wrist injury, but it affected my elbow and shoulder a bit, too, so I was really limited as to what kind of exercise I could do.
When I found out how long it would take to recover (several weeks), I panicked. How was I going to replace the Crossfit experience when I could barely use one arm? That's when I rediscovered my old friends - running and swimming. Those two used to be my sole forms of exercise until I got bored of doing the same thing ALL the time and I wanted to tone up. However, I found this mix a relief while I nursed my injury. I felt like I was in control of my recovery and I was (still am) able to stay active. Not only did they keep me moving, but I am pretty sure swimming helped my wrist recover more quickly because I could use and strengthen it without any impact. Once I started swimming, recovery soon followed.
Swimming has kept this whole runner in action - what do you fall back on when injury sidelines you from your favorite exercise?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
When Do You Register?
How far in advance of a race do you register?
I am one of those runners that likes to plan her races on January 1 of each year. I want to make a plan for training, know when I will be relaxing and try to fit the races into whatever travel and work plans I have for the year. However, am I registering for those races I choose as soon as registration opens? No way!
In the early stages, I am a lurker - I keep an eye on the race website, decide what kind of travel plans I will need to make, get excited about the other things I can do it town before or after the race, but I do quite a lot of things before I even register. When I sat back and thought about it, I wondered why I wait instead of signing up right away.
I think the registration signals the commitment to the race and I am locked in. I have no choice but to participate once I've paid and that scares me! It's not just a commitment to the race, but to the training, which is so much worse than the race itself. It's a commitment to eating in "training mode" and making sure you're keeping healthy and in optimal performance mode (like having less wine). Committing the time to train is also a big challenge, not to mention the sacrifices your family has to make to let you train. It's a big decision!
I usually register a couple of months in advance because I get scared about a race getting full, so there is some advance planning there, I want to know how far in advance you register. Why?
I am one of those runners that likes to plan her races on January 1 of each year. I want to make a plan for training, know when I will be relaxing and try to fit the races into whatever travel and work plans I have for the year. However, am I registering for those races I choose as soon as registration opens? No way!
In the early stages, I am a lurker - I keep an eye on the race website, decide what kind of travel plans I will need to make, get excited about the other things I can do it town before or after the race, but I do quite a lot of things before I even register. When I sat back and thought about it, I wondered why I wait instead of signing up right away.
I think the registration signals the commitment to the race and I am locked in. I have no choice but to participate once I've paid and that scares me! It's not just a commitment to the race, but to the training, which is so much worse than the race itself. It's a commitment to eating in "training mode" and making sure you're keeping healthy and in optimal performance mode (like having less wine). Committing the time to train is also a big challenge, not to mention the sacrifices your family has to make to let you train. It's a big decision!
I usually register a couple of months in advance because I get scared about a race getting full, so there is some advance planning there, I want to know how far in advance you register. Why?
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