The big winner of our first giveaway is…. Kelly from a little messed up. Congrats Kelly! Get with the Redhead for your $25 gift card from amazon.com.
On to the call out.
Last week, Tammy @ My quest to tackle the Charleston Distance Run wrote a post about strength and weight training. She basically said she needed someone to help her stay on it and not just talk about doing it. I commented that I too need some help staying on top of that. And true to Tammy form of ass-kicking awesomeness she called me out.
Starting today I am going to attempt to get in some core work and strength training. I am not sure how I’ll do because I feel tired after my runs, but I know I need the strength training. According to this article at coolrunning.com, you must obviously run to be a better runner, but functionally strength training can help you get faster. The article gives some specific examples of exercises which work for runners. The big incentive for me is all about speed.
In addition, the strength training helps with the main thing that we runners must avoid: INJURY. This article at runningplanet.com has some reasons why we should strength train. Of course they are obvious, but for those of us who need a kick in butt to get in the gym these are nice reminders.
Thanks for the call out Tammy. Who else out there is going to join us?
I will! I will! I always try to make it to the gym after every recovery run. I have a complete stretching routine along with some core excercises. The only problem is that I only make it to the gym maybe twice a month. Why? Because I'M TIRED after running. And, since run in the evening before eating, I'm usually also HUNGRY. And don't try to stand between a man andhis food!
So – if you're calling me out, I'll have to hit they gym. This week – Tuesday and Sunday. I'll be there!
Thanks for posting that Cool Running article. I'm going to incorporate several of those leg exercises every other day after my workouts.
I see you have been doing some research. Getting serious, are we? Think you're going to outdo me, do you? Hahahahahaa. It can't be done!
I've been trying to get in more strength training, but keep falling short. Got to get my ass going!
Congrats to your winner! And thanks for the article.
thanks for the articles! goodluck to you both 🙂
thanks for the articles! i think strength training is really important too… i really try to get it in every week but usually as the miles increase the strength training decreases :-/ i am trying REALLY hard to stick with it this time! thanks for the reminder 🙂
Dang it… I really wanted to win! 🙂
Great articles, thanks for sharing… I've been meaning to get in more core exercises myself but time is in short supply over yonder…
Good luck, I know that like everything else you will rock this!
Good luck on the strength training– It is SOOO important. I lift at least 3 days a we4ek and it totally compliments the running!
I can't believe I missed your contest!
I'm always a little afraid of strength training, thanks for the article!
thanks for sharing that article, i've been doing the TriPower workouts with my tri training, and really enjoy it… hope you enjoy the strength training too!
I strenght train a couple times a week and I think it makes a big difference. You will love it once you get in the habit. Good luck!
I need to do more strength training, it definately helps!
I LOVE strength training and I'm learning to love core work. It's hard. Seriously. But i know you can do it! I like finding a class at the gym for Strength training, I seem to push myself more in a class, then trying to do it on my own for an hour. but every little bit helps. 🙂
I'll do strength training over cardio any day! You run for me and I'll lift for you. How about it? Ah ha. Left you an award on our blog.
This is good motivation for me Beth! I do strength training- mainly because I enjoy it. But the CORE work….UGH…and it's my weakest area. I know w/o a doubt it affects all aspects of fitness to have a weak core. I need to get back to a routine so thanks for the PUSH! ; – ) Christine
I keep SAYING I need to work on this and then not actually doing anything about it… this could be good for me.
Good luck!
I'm a big believer in the whole body work out for runners. I put almost as much time into other exercises as I do running each week.
I'm all about strength training (even got certified) so if you ever need motivation/tips/anything, let me know, and I'd love to help!
i love the strength training too. Search amazon for a book called Tri Power – it's based around strength training for triathletes but has tons of core work. 15 minute workouts – i think you can squeeze that in. it fixed up all of my running injuries when i started the program.