Our 8 week challenge has ended!
Here is a glimpse at the Leader Board…
A $20 Starbucks gift card is headed to Peggy and several challengers are eligible for the $5 card for earning over 500 points. Congrats to all on your hard work [and free stuff]!
Check back soon for our next FIT challenge and send any ideas you have our way.
Although the doldrum of cold weather, treadmill running and holiday eating often keep us from sticking 100% to our fitness goals, January and February often bring something exciting… TRAINING SEASON is upon us!
Our Living Fit Columbus running group is going to be training for the Cap City Half Marathon this spring. We have a few veterans and a couple first-timers. I always get excited as a new racing season begins and I’m especially excited this year, as I didn’t experience it last year (for good reason, my precious little guy was born Jan 24).
Our 12 week training program begins in just NINE days and our first group run is only two weeks away!
Here is the base building schedule I’ll be following for next week.
If you are a new runner, you shouldn’t increase your mileage more than 10% per week. I had been running consistently (approx 3-4 miles, 2-3x/week) for about a year before I began training for my first half. Runner’s World and other sites recommend a solid running base of 6+ months before conquering your first half. Overuse injuries are common if your body is not ready and not used to the high-impact pounding.
If you want to join us for the training or just a Saturday run, check out our FB page and/or blog page for more info. I’m happy to provide support, training tips, success stories and answer any questions you may have. There is no fee, so remember you get what you pay for 🙂
I’m also excited to join MIT on a run next Saturday, before our group training begins. They are a fabulous training group if you are looking for a BIG group to train with! I’ll be running with coach Turnbull and her group. She helped me PR at the Detroit Marathon (4:05!) and is an amazing, inspirational mentor of mine. Update 2/10 ~ unfortunately my son and then my husband & I got the stomach flu last week, so I didn’t make it to the run with MIT (not to mention the fact that it was -14 degrees!). I do plan to run with Coach Turnbull soon!
Stay tuned for weekly updates and tips for FIRST TIME HALF MARATHON TRAINING from the field!
Are you planning to do a half marathon this spring? Is it your first? Your 50th? Tell us, we want to know about your experience!
I am an outdoor runner. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great relationship with my treadmill and after 10 years, it is still going strong. But I MUCH prefer to be out in the sunshine! The wind in your hair, the new paths to explore… such a nice change from the (what some would call) dreadmill. I typically don’t mind running in cold weather and just layer up accordingly.
But COME ON WINTER! You are KILLING me! Even my warmest layers cannot compete with the subzero temperatures we have been having around here. Hot Yoga has been wonderful (if you haven’t checked out Harbor Yoga studios in Dublin, you are missing out!), but this girl is ready for Spring.
I am going to have to get creative, as we are in for another week of negative temps. Update running playlist. Check. Hang motivational posters on wall near treadmill. Check. Hi ho, hi ho, off to the treadmill we go!
Do you prefer treadmill running or outdoor running?
As promised, we will try to feature a new WEEKLY WORKOUT to keep things fresh around here. The same old, same old is not only B-O-R-I-N-G, but your body adapts to a particular workout and then plateaus. This week, try an interval run. 
The PUMA PUNISHER is an example, thanks to LiveLifeActive.com for sharing. Personally, I think 10 is too fast and 5 is too slow, so I’ll modify it to fit my running needs (prob 8.0 as max and 6.0 as min).
Here is another example for a 30 min workout, compliments of slimsanity.com…
Adjust to YOUR needs and remember, only try intervals if you’ve been running consistently without problems.
You could also keep the speed constant and adjust the incline. Or if you’re outside (meaning you live in the South or West or are crazy, as its been -15 here recently!) you could just pick up your pace for one-three minutes, then slow back down.
If I get overly ambitious, maybe I’ll create my own and post it (after successfully completing it, of course).
Happy (speed) running!
Exercise isn’t just about burning calories, there are all the other benefits… stress relief, cardiovascular & heart health, etc, etc. BUT we all like the calorie burn too (or some of us may not do it!)
I’ve been using My Fitness Pal lately to try and shred the last 5-10 pounds and rekindle my pre-baby self. The calorie tracker only gives you 170 calories for 60 minutes of Hatha yoga. 170 calories in 60 min!? You burn more than that walking for an hour!
So I did some internet investigating. Hatha is a low impact, more basic form of yoga. [Hot] Vinyasa yoga, the kind I’ve been doing at Harbor, gives you much more of a burn. Phew!
To read more, visit Fit Sugar’s article, LEARN YOUR BURN ~ while you’re there, check out REASONS YOU SHOULD TRY VINYASA YOGA. It is a great workout and my new favorite cross-training activity.
See you on the mat!
Social diets are trending right now… using technology, social media, apps and the like to get a group of people together to help motivate each other to reach their fitness goals.
Our LIVING FIT group is in the middle of an 8-week social fitness challenge in which we have a new ‘bonus’ challenge each week.
Some ideas we’ve inspired each other to do…
Why not start your own Social Diet (or rather Social Healthy Lifestyle Challenge… ‘diets’ seems so depriving!) Good luck!
Welcome! This blog is beginning for several reasons…
Hope you find a little piece of inspiration while reading about my fitness journey. Maybe it will be to run. Maybe it will be to blog. Either way, get moving!
~Teresa
Living Fit [Columbus] 