Making the Most of It

Good morning

Amid this lifestyle altering time, I have witnessed some activities which have made me smile…

While walking Roy around the neighborhood we passed a house where 4 women were sitting in lawn chairs (socially acceptable spaced) sipping wine. They appeared to be having a great time and no doubt the longer they stayed out there, the more enjoyable it would get.

I am also witnessing an increased number of people running, and many I have never seen out on the streets previously. This could be the result of people now running at different times (hence more noticeable) or maybe some have decided to take up this great form of exercise. By the looks of the running form I am seeing, I believe many are just now taking up running!?? I will come back to this in a bit.

Another wonderful activity I am seeing, is the number of husbands and wives out walking together. Again, maybe they have been doing this all along, and I am just now seeing it, but regardless, I always smile when I see couples out walking together. While walking may not be the most beneficial exercise for us physically, I believe it is a wonderful activity for couples. Getting out and away from distractions allows for nice conversation and relaxation. Bonus: Seeing some holding hands!

Those are some the positives I have witnessed. Have you seen any?

Circling back to the running…

If you think this would be a good time to start running, I think you are right! Running offers so many great benefits and is quite simple to do. I would like to offer up some suggestions to those of you who have never run (or it has been a few years).

1. Footwear is critical. If you want to begin running, be careful about running in non-running sneakers or sneakers you have been kicking around in. Tough time to go out and get the best option for you, but just limit how much you run, if your sneakers are not in the best shape. Runners Alley is offering curbside pickup, so maybe call them and discuss some options.
2. Instead of going out and trying to run a certain distance, set out with a plan to walk/run for a certain amount of time. If you are just beginning, do something like this: Walk 5 minutes, then alternate running 1 minutes and walking 2 minutes for a total of 30 minutes. Do not worry about the distance you go.
3. Pacing: If you are a runner you understand the term “conversational pace (CP)”. When you run, your pace should allow you to sing the Brady Bunch song without much effort. If you cannot sing a song or carry a comfortable conversation, you are running to fast. Conversational pace is a key component in healthy and happy running.
4. Stretching

I will not get deep here, because this is a subject which has a long history of false thinking. Simply put

Before you run: warm your body up

• Jumping Jacks
• Walking lunges
• Skipping
• Walking

After you run: stretch

• Hinge at the hips and let your hands dangle
• Extend one foot out and bend at the knee
• Any stretch where you hold for 30 seconds

5. Safety

• Wear clothes that will make you visible
• Run on the sidewalk or if on the road, run facing traffic
• If wearing ear buds, wear only one in the ear or keep the volume down
• Accept responsibility for your safety

Just some things to consider if you are taking advantage of this time to take up running. If you need any additional help or have questions, please feel free to email us at info@nofinishlinefitness.com or just check out some of our resources on the website.

This week we are going to roll out a daily 15-minute workout on Facebook. We will start tomorrow with a clip on getting started. Hope you check it out!

Have a great week and stay positive!

God Bless

Mike

#Faithoverfear