SparkPeople is a great source for all things fitness and nutrition related. I came across this article about cross training the other day (the 9 in the title caught my attention at first) and realized that I was using the same cross training in my exercise regime as they were suggesting. Swimming was on the top of the list (unfortunately my shoulder is preventing me from doing it these days), and so was biking. Other activities included elliptical training (not my favorite…), cross country skiing (not easily done without snow), and indoor rowing. For more information on SparkPeople follow the link! What are your favorite cross training routines?
9 Cross Training Activites for Runners
The only way to become a better runner is to run, but the more running replaces other exercises in your fitness program, the more likely you are to become injured, suffer from burnout, or develop muscular imbalances. So what’s a runner to do (besides run, of course)? Cross train. [Read more…]
I ran a ten miler hard this morning with my iPod “plugged-in”. This is the first time since starting my marathon training that I have used the iPod. I actually don’t even own one; I used my husband’s and my kids created my playlist. It wasn’t a great run; but that’s for another post, actually it was the iPod that saved me. When I felt like I was dying and wanted to stop, the music motivated me and the words kept me moving. I ran the trail near my house which is about 5.8 miles out to the turn around. I was cruising at about 7:20 pace until I reached the turnaround…then my legs decided they had really had enough of my silliness and they were done. 
I’m one of those weird people who loves a good “run” story. Give it to me play by play and I won’t be the slightest bit bored. Ok, that’s not totally true….maybe a little bored, especially if you start at mile one and I know you went 18…then I might get a little nervous. But I can relate to the really bad runs and also the really good ones, and it’s great to know I’m not alone in the “runner’s analysis” that tends to happen after both. On Saturday I had a really good run, and so I’m going to gloat a little…mostly because they have been so lacking in my marathon training up to this point.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the same old run can get a little stale. As a cross country coach, I am always looking for something different that is both challenging and fun at the same time. I asked 
I love to run. If my body would keep in step with my desire, I would run, and run, and run. But at 44 years old, my body is not too excited about keeping in step, and instead is saying, “yeah, right”! So instead I adhere to my husband’s philosophy, which is “stick with your own reality”. My reality, in terms of marathon training, is quality over quantity. 
I had the privilege of running six miles with Dan Finanger this morning. Dan served as executive race director of the 
Last week James (my husband) and I went for an evening run. It was drizzing when we started out and it didn’t look like it would clear. However, it didn’t look like “thunderstorm sky”, either. How quickly things can change! By the time we finished one and a half miles, the skies had opened up and we were totally soaked. At that point, we didn’t really hesitate or consider turning back (we were only going four…out for two and then back). Besides, we were already drenched…and it was kind of fun. When we got to the two mile mark where we turned around, the thunder was rolling pretty loudly and the sky started to flash with lightning. Still, it wasn’t very near, and I didn’t feel like we were in any danger. Infact, it felt great to finally have a cool (although soaking) run. But soon, the thunder became louder, the lightning seemed to be striking simultaneously, and there was really no where to go for cover (except to knock on someones door). So we ran faster! 
I would like to qualify this by saying that I really don’t like running the 5K distance. It hurts too much. There is no padding in it. That is exactly what I was thinking when I lined up at the starting line on Sunday night (July 3rd) for the Firecracker 5K in Charlotte. Why was I doing this to myself? Actually it wasn’t just me. My son Peter (15) and daughter Annie (13) were doing it as well. The worst part was that it was an evening race, and it was 93 degrees by our car’s thermometer. We had to walk a few blocks from where we parked to the start, and I looked at my sweat-filled shirt before the race began and thought it looked more like I was at the finish of a race rather than start of one. 
I am Bert Belt’s daughter. 20 years after his death I still miss him and think of him often, as I do on this Father’s Day. My dad instilled in me a love of sports. Whether he was participating in them (he loved golf, running, and skiing) or watching them (his favorite team was the Iowa Hawkeyes), my dad valued athletics. I remember that on most Sunday mornings when we were growing up he would go out for a 12-mile run. The funny thing is, I don’t ever remember him running any other day of the week…just that one weekend run. That was sort of how he was. I recall one morning when I was about 10, he announced (after he had been at a party the night before) that he and his friend were going to run the upcoming Chicago Marathon. This was way before running marathons became a popular thing to do. Whether it was pure spontenaity or the influence of certain beverages at the party, it was a little insane. He didn’t have much time to think about a training regimen since it was a matter of days before the race, not weeks or months! 
I like a massage, just like the next person (or runner, at least). But let’s face it, sports massages are not cheap! Just how much are we willing to do to keep running and exercising? For me, it depends on a few factors. If I am training for something, and it’s pretty close to race date, or if my insurance pays for it (some do), then I can justify a massage. Otherwise, it fits into the luxury category, and I usually do without. Although there really isn’t anything like a good deep tissue massage for tight muscles, these days I am relying more and more on the 
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