Hopefully you have been keeping up with the Run+Yoga challenge!  I know life gets busy and often the first thing you’ll push aside is exercise, but try to make it a priority, even if its just 20-30 minutes per day.  Your body & mind will thank you for it.  Its the last week, so try to finish strong!

Day 22 – Rest or XT

Day 23 – RUN

Day 24 – YOGA

Individual runs, some yoga poses [all over Columbus!] and lots of water have kept us busy the last few days.  Some of our group members have been doing some high mileage lately… if you’re looking for some yoga stretches, check out the new post by Christine Yu,  yogi turned runner, called Six Yoga Poses for Runners.

We are headed to PAI yoga tomorrow night after our group run, so we’ll be sweating it out in multiple ways.  Pictures to follow 🙂

#whyirun [tgellenbeck]

Several of my non-running friends cringe when I say ‘Why don’t you join us for a group run this week?’ This often leads to conversations about exercise and my own personal beliefs about running.  Here is why I run, in a nutshell…

• In 2006, I hit a rough patch in my life.  I won’t bore you with the details, but running gave me something positive to focus on.  Instead of staying up late or indulging in unhealthy ways of coping with stress, I set out to become a distance runner. And that is just what I did. By 2008 I was in a much better place; I had completed my first marathon, met the man of my dreams and built several strong, lasting friendships.  Running helped me stay focused, stay positive and of course, stay FIT!

• Running is one of the best overall workouts that exists.  I have always been a roller coaster with my weight; lose 10 pounds, gain 5.  Lose 15 pounds, gain 10.  Especially after the birth of my son, my body needs some hard core cardio to stay lean!  Running is a fat blaster, especially if you are willing to do interval training.  It keeps me in shape and allows me to be guilt-free when I indulge in the [occasional] chocolate dessert. 🙂

• Its affordable!  No expensive gym membership.  Just a good pair of running shoes.

• Its a social sport.  I can bring my son with me in our jogging stroller (if I’m up for a good workout!)  I can chat with running friends about their week, their yummy lasagne recipe, or the latest yoga class that we just HAVE to check out. I’ve met new people through running and grown closer to some I already knew.  One of my dearest running friends talked me into running my first marathon and two years and two PRs later, I was also the Godmother of her children.  Another running buddy later became a roommate for a year.  You really get to know people when you are training together 1, 2 even 5+ hours per week.  There isn’t much else to do on those long runs than talk, share your stories and get to know one another.

• It allows me to set goals and work towards accomplishing them.  I have always been a list-maker.  I love making lists, then checking things off the list.  So a training schedule for a race is the ideal list-checking device!  Pick a race, make a training schedule, keep a copy on your fridge and watch your progress.  I also love to travel, so destination races are a way to check two things off the list at once… run a race and see a new place!

I could go on and on, probably coming up with 10-15 more reasons I run, but I’ll spare you 🙂  Thanks for reading!

Emerald City Quarter Marathon

Group run @ Bicentennial Park & Scioto Mile

Kick-off Run! 5/8/14

Columbus Half 2012

Akron Half ~ still my PR (1:53)

First Marathon! Cleveland 2008

“Finish on the 50” OSU 4 miler

Murphy’s first 5K

Join us this month [National Yoga Month!] as we wrap up our Run+Yoga Synergy challenge.  

Lan is one of our Living Fit Columbus and ptown runners.  We are excited to have her as our guest blogger this week.  Read more about her in our previous post 10 facts about Lan!

Here is her contributing post this week, telling us why she runs…

[LNguyen]  

Hi there, world!  Lan here.

This morning, I slept through my alarm and woke up late for my Saturday 12 mi run (I’m currently training for the Columbus Marathon in October).  Normally, to beat the heat, it’s been best to get out before the sun rises to squeeze those long miles in.  Today 8:30am would have to do.  Then I checked the humidity – 90%.  Oh my.

Fast forward – 3miles in, I had to stop and take a short break.  It was hot.  The sun was beating.  There was no breeze.  The first thing I wanted to do was quit, but I couldn’t.  Quitting is not an option.  Today is a 12 mile run and there’s no way I can go home and not finish my goal.

Running (and yoga too) has become a passion of mine over the last few years.  When I’m tired, I run/yoga.  When I’m stressed, I run/yoga.  It’s an outlet to think and clear the mind.  When I first started running, I would go a few miles and call it quits.  Overtime, the “quitting” turned into “Oh, only a few more miles to go!  No worries!”

My “why” to running is because it is a part of my lifestyle and method to mentally organize. 

So by my 9th mile, I was reminded of “why” I decided that a long run semi-mid morning was such a great idea.  The dedication, passion, and commitment I made to myself the day I signed up for the marathon (or any race in general) gives me reason to keep going.  The run was indeed challenging in hot weather, but it was worth it.   Now I get to enjoy my post-run green smoothie and I am one step closer to my recovery hot yoga session tomorrow!  

I’ll close with this quote, “The past is like an anchor holding us back.  You have to let go of who you are to become who you will be.”  

Harbor Yoga studio, one of our local Columbus favorites!

We encourage you to join us in September [National Yoga Month!] for our fun Run+Yoga Synergy challenge.  Who knows,  maybe you will discover a new passion and love for yoga and/or running!  Why not at least give it a try?

Check back soon for details!