Successful Week!

Sunday, January 15, 2017 · Mike Davis

Good morning,

Hard to believe that we have hit the midway point of January, winter is just about over! While we may not be out of the woods as far as winter weather, it is heartening to have daylight at 5:00. Longer days are the best!

The past week was certainly a nice one here in North Carolina, with a couple day’s in the 60s and one in the 70s. I understand that it was unseasonable in New Hampshire as well, so we all had some nice running weather. Nice to get the vitamin D the natural way.

I spent a good part of last evening doing an RRCA Level II module on strength training for runners. Lots of great information, but honestly it could have been better. I guess I have spent so much time researching the best workouts and Kathy has shared a lot of her ACE fitness knowledge, so the module seemed a bit elementary. However, there was some good information that I got from it. Strength training helps in two critical areas; running stronger and helps preventing injuries. Every runner would hope for both, yet most do not strength train. The other great takeaway is: Strength training need only be 20 to 25 minutes, twice a week. Not much of a time investment for such great rewards. We have an ACE certified fitness coach that allows us provide our runners strength training plans that will complement their running, without needing to go to a gym. Think about how you can best help your running in 2017 and contact us for some help.

On the subject of strength training, I rate the success of my weekly workouts by how many strength training sessions I get it. I have always known enough about the value of working my muscles for not only the reasons I just mentioned, but also long term fitness and functional movement. Also, my current studies are focusing on bones and muscles and one huge bit of knowledge is the fact that the aging process decreases our bone density. With reduced bone density, we are more susceptible to breaking a bone, have back problems, poor posture, and overall poor functional movement. However, stress to the bones (strength training), will counter the aging process and actually increasing bone density. Helping with our posture, functional living and reduces our chance of our bones becoming brittle. Many reasons to have a functional strength training program along with your running. This knowledge motivates me to treat my strength training as important as I do my running.

I forgot to mention that a couple of weeks ago, Portsmouth Herald running columnist, Rob Levey did an interview with NFLR longtime client, Bill Leonard. I have mentioned Bill a couple a times in my chatter and I was pleased that Rob chose him to interview. Bill will never be the fastest runner in a race, but he represents everything NFLR stands for. He takes on running as a way of life and only focuses on his own improvements. Last year at this time he was wearing a cast as a result of an ankle break and was a bit disheartened and concerned about his running. However, not only did he get back running, but by the end of 2016 he was getting the same weekly mileage in he had been prior to the injury AND his pace was just about as fast as well! Both those are great accomplishments for any runner as we get older, never mind having to deal with an injury. Bill gave NFLR a great deal of credit, but truly, Bill is easy to coach. He trusted our training plans and the process and the success followed. Great guy and a great runner!

After a good period of healthy running for me, I am thinking I will look for a half marathon in the not so distant future. Note, that I did not say a “marathon”. I feel good right now and I would like to stay that way. Well, that may not be entirely accurate as I did step on a pine cone last Tuesday and it was on the same foot that I am dealing with plantar fasciitis. I will hopefully find out after some running this week, if it was the pine cone or is the plantar fasciitis the problem? I have hung in there with the Saucony Kinvara’s and I really like them. However, the lack of mobility in my left ankle does not react well to a zero-drop shoe and the Kinvara is a 4mm drop, so… I am intent on getting my ankle looser and also trying to avoid pine cones. We will see how this week works out. Now it is time to get ready for church.

Have a great week!

God Bless!

Mike