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WEEK 7 HALF MARATHON 2020 with ‘SAINTS DAYS’ Training Plan Starts
The month of February ends this Saturday and March begins Sunday. That’s progress! Runners, congratulate yourself on reaching the point at which the long run at week’s end (6.5 miles) surpasses the distance you’ll be racing in a St. Patrick’s Day 10K (6.25 miles). Walkers will cover 6 miles, just shy of the actual race distance, and can be equally as proud. If you have not been running or walking hill repeats, consider trying this workout option (Tuesdays) as spring weather commences. It will add variety and help build strength and speed without formal speed drills. There's only one 'Saints' Day' tune-up race to complete, in the upcoming month of March before the focus changes. After this benchmark accomplishment you will only be concentrating on preparing for the half marathon. Part 2 of each training plan begins with week 9. The plans overlap quite a bit, through week 12 so you can follow Part 1 for an additional 3 weeks but some may want to ‘turn the page’ and feel the excitement of being on the last part of the 18-week program. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! The full plans are on the RESOURCES page
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THE ORGANIZERS OF THE MARCH 1, 2020 ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS EVENT CALLED OFF THE RACE FOR THE MASSES on Monday February 17, explaining to roughly 38,000 registrants that only the field of elite marathoners and wheelchair elites would be competing that day. Because a case of infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was confirmed in Tokyo, the race would need to be scaled down as a preventative safety measure an announcement declared.
The general, semi-elite, and charity marathon runners, and those planning to run the half marathon and 10K races were given the option of deferring their entry for the 2021 Marathon and were informed they would be required to again pay a registration fee. This is a devastating for all who trained to compete but were prevented from doing so by circumstances. By far the most common scenario of arises on the side of the individual runner, who cannot compete because of injury or other circumstance, and who must suffer the loss of the registration fee and other expenses paid in advance. Major race changes like cancellation are not unprecedented though. A runnersworld.com article that also announced the Tokyo news identified previous international competitions that were either called-off or truncated because of environmental or dangerous conditions. The motivation behind the 2014 founding of Earned Runs company was the unpredictability of my ‘compete-ability’ (there’s no such term) in organized races. I was unable to make two half marathon races in one year due to injury. In other years, family events prevented my participation after paying registration fees. Ultimately, I decided to design professional-grade race bibs for personal use in custom events competed on my own terms. I vowed that never again would I suffer the disappointment and expense of not being able to participate in a race for which I had trained. If my personal event, I could determine, or change as needed, the details of each including theme date, time, distance, and challenge format. Because other runners might have experienced similar frustrations, an annual bib set has been mailed to anyone who makes a request. Just this past fall Earned Runs was a sponsor of a pre-Thanksgiving Day cross country race, but three days before the start a family event prevented our presence there. It was sad not to be cheering on the Turkey Trot runners that day. I hope that disappointed Tokyo runners who are not able to compete in this important goal race find a way to celebrate their readiness and perseverance, as individuals or in groups, in an alternate endurance contest. Earned Runs has bibs for you. RUN & MOVE HAPPY https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/news/detail/news_001576.html https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a30964793/tokyo-marathon-canceled-coronavirus/ THERE'S NO NEED TO WAIT FOR TUESDAY; FAT THURSDAY IS FEBRUARY 20, 2020
[originally run February 2019] I’m of Polish heritage, and a tradition in my family, before the start of the Catholic Lenten season on Fat Tuesday (otherwise known as Mardi Gras) is to eat a deep-fried pastry called paczki. These tasty creations have the reputation of being high in calories and fat, and to not be on the modern list of foods that are ‘healthy’. The planned purpose of the post in 2019 was to dispel these myths by comparing the filled-bun’s ingredients and calorie count with those of other breakfast sweets. And to show runners, walkers, and exercisers that it wouldn’t be too exhausting to burn the calories needed to ‘earn’ one or two for the special occasion. When I searched the internet last year I learned about Fat Thursday,or Tłusty Czwartek. According to an item from Wikipedia this day represents a traditional “Catholic Christian feast marking the last Thursday before Lent” which is “associated with the celebration of Carnival.” A time of fasting, the 6-week long period of Lent would not provide an opportunity for feasting until Easter. Thus, this Thursday was a day that became dedicated to the gathering of friends and families to “eat large quantities of sweets, cakes, and other meals usually not eaten during Lent.” Although Fat Thursday is more popular in Poland, it is might still be celebrated as Pączki Day in some Polish-immigrant-packed centers in the USA, in the Detroit Mi and Chicago IL areas. The way my mother explained it, any sugar, fruit, eggs, cream, and fat in the household would not be needed until Easter. To avoid spoilage and waste, the cupboards and larders were cleared of such items and used to make rich pastries. Wikipedia indicates that the most popular of these all-national Pre-Lenten foods are the paczki, from Poland. Mom had never told me that pączki-lovers could legitimately, within the old traditional holiday boundaries, begin eating the sweet treats on Fat THURDAY, a full 6 days before Ash Wednesday! “Pączki have been known in Poland at least since the Middle Ages. Jędrzej Kitowicz has described that during the reign of August III, under the influence of French cooks who came to Poland, pączki dough was improved, so that pączki became lighter, spongier, and more resilient.” So says Wikipedia. In my experience hunting for paczki in many locales across the USA I’ve enjoyed a variety numerous fillings, including traditional plum, prune, and poppy-seed, and modern raspberry jelly, blueberry and strawberry preserves, apple, lemon, custard, and Bavarian crème. The paczki surface is most commonly dusted with granulated or powdered sugar, but occasionally is glazed or plain. (if frosted it becomes a ‘bismarck’ or jelly roll, in my opinion.) Which leads to one of the points I was originally hoping to make in my Pączki post, that properly made, they are light and fluffy pastries, not fat-soaked, heavy-tasting and weighted calorie bombs. If this is your experience, find another source, preferably an established ethnic bakery. If they are heavy it is because of abundant filling, not excessive fat. The same Wikipedia entry mentioned above, says a bit of grain alcohol was added to the dough before cooking, which, as it evaporated, prevented the absorption of oil deep into the dough. Okay now let’s get to the ingredients. Rather than provide a listing with calorie count here’s a recipe* (link is at the very bottom of this post You can check it out and determine for yourself how delicious it might be to celebrate February 20 (Fat Thursday) or February 25 (Fat Tuesday) with one or several. Add an extra mile or two of brisk walking each day, starting today February 19 through 25. At roughly 65-100 calories expended per mile depending on your weight, you’ll be able to afford this tradition! RUN & MOVE HAPPY! NOTE: Waiting in line on Fat Tuesday to buy paczki at local bakeries that specialize in making the annual treats, along with other hungry and happy people celebrating the day, is a unique community-bonding experience. It has been a cherished tradition of mine for decades. As such bakeries close and supermarket chains become the only places to find mass-produced paczki, it may be necessary to make them at home. Consider saving this recipe for later use and have fun in line. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Thursday https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pączki http://www.bennisonscakes.com/paczki.html *https://www.thespruce.com/polish-paczki-doughnuts-recipe-1136411 SAINTS DAYS 5K &10K TRAINING STARTS The upcoming weekend February 22-23 is probably the very last on which an organized or custom race might be scheduled with a St. Valentine’s Day theme. So, everyone is likely to be looking ahead to training for the ‘SAINTS DAYS’ 10K competition at the end of this upcoming week .
Although the official holiday date is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day-themed races can be found scheduled on the March 14-15 weekend and the following March 21-22 weeknd. For example, Chicago’s Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K will be held March 21 this year. For those not running/walking a St Valentine’s 5K this Saturday, the long run is 6 miles and the walk is 4 miles. Going forward, you will be building endurance to allow finishing the 10K, 6.1- mile race distance next month with confidence. How exciting; soon there will be one Saint's Day in the books and only one more to go! Occasional posts in past years have suggested cross training options. The RUN plan does not formally schedule a cross training day. The WALK Earned Runs plan suggests Mondays, and this could work for runners too, depending on your usual level of activity and need for recovery. Each individual must determine whether to cross train, and how to do so without adversely affecting running/walking days. You may find that a moderately paced swimming session provides a pleasant level of tiredness, or that a short high-intensity interval cycling or rowing session invigorates your next run. An article in runnersworld.com features the "unconventional" training program of an elite runner, Ann Mazur who qualified for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Team Trials by running less and swimming more (much, much more), plus continuing with another leg-saving specialty activity, yoga. Experiment to learn what helps you to perform best physically and mentally. Although the RUN plan has 4 running days and the WALK plan has 4 walking days, one day could be substituted with cross-training to spare your legs. However, runners should keep the long run sessions and the hills’ sessions if you are comfortably able to perform them. Walkers should try to maintain the long walk and one HIIT walk session. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://www.shamrockshuffle.com/register-for-2020/8krun/ https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a30459353/ann-mazur-2020-olympic-trials-qualifier/ MAKE AN EFFORT to notice that ways nature demonstrates it's love on this Valentine's Day!
RUN & MOVE HAPPY! SLING EXERCISES activate core
GEAR LOVE: TRX. ALTHOUGH A TRX SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS A RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF FITNESS EQUIPMENT TO PURCHASE FOR HOME USE (roughly $145) for the exercises that incorporate its use might be included in trainer-designed gym workouts. If you’re not currently exercising with TRX you might consider attempting exercises demonstrated in one of the articles described below.
Also known as sling exercises in the scientific research literature, this type of training was shown, in a small German study (44 patients) to be more beneficial to older adults (age 62-84 years) with osteoporosis (Bone Mineral Density T-score equal to or less than 2.5) in improving mobility and reducing fall risk than traditional physical therapy. Pain was alleviated by both types of exercise.
Both Abbate’s and Charkalis’ routines take advantage of the suspension system’s unique construction, which Charkalis informs was developed by a US Navy Seal, to build strength, endurance and balance. Also known as sling exercises in the scientific research literature, this type of training was shown, in a small German study (44 patients) to be more beneficial to older adults (age 62-84 years) with osteoporosis (Bone Mineral Density T-score equal to or less than 2.5) in improving mobility and reducing fall risk than traditional physical therapy. Pain was alleviated by both types of exercise Performing any exercise using the sling system that ordinarily would not utilize one, like a push-up, transforms it to a move that significant increases core activation, and makes it much more difficult in my experience. Experiment a bit in 2020 if you haven’t used one before or add a couple new TRX moves to your list of exercises if you are already familiar with the tougher muscle-shaking workout it can provide. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://eurapa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s11556-013-0128-6 https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/trx-hiit-workout-arms-abs https://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/1008001-16-trx-moves-30minute-fullbody-workout/ WEEK 5 HALF MARATHON 2020 WITH ‘SAINTS DAYS 5K&10K TRAINING STARTS. St. Valentine’s Day is Friday! The true holiday may be the actual date some of you will be running the first of the two ‘SAINT’S DAYS’ tune-up races, the 5K. A personal, custom-designed competition will allow this, so use Earned Runs bibs if you choose this 5k option.
Most of the organized St. Valentine’s Day themed races are likely to be slated to be run on the Saturday-Sunday part of the weekend. Good luck to all who join happy crowds of others to celebrate this day; have fun! Congratulations to all who've persevered with training up to this point. If you don’t have a race planned, but still want to cover the 3.1-mile distance on the 14th, swap Thursday’s run or walk session with Friday’s. Treat it like an official tune-up race; it can be a tempo training run/walk performed at less than all-out effort. Check out the article by Pete Magill about Tune-Up races that was discussed in the original blog post on the topic. The referenced expert, Paul Aufdemberge, explains the way to approach this race. ”Since it’s not a goal race you should feel like you ran fairly evenly all the way through. You should feel like you could have run faster. You don’t want to charge out and die”. It’s about building confidence. You will then be able to stick with the plan as it builds up mileage and get in a long slow 6-mile run or brisk 5-mile walk on Saturday. Stretch and roll afterwards and look forward to the next goal in your plan, the 10k. Hopefully if you have been paying attention to building strength, improving balance, and increasing speed in the last half of your long runs/walks, you will notice fresher legs, and achieve a strong finish. Good luck. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20811938/tune-up-for-successful-racing/ ATTENTION GRABBING TOPICS THAT SURFACED DURING THE WEEK, WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO INVESTIGATE:
1. SLEEP AS PERFORMANCE ENHANCER; THE SCANDI METHOD A Runner’s World email featured an article on why sleeping hard might beat training more for those seeking a better race time. The Scandinavian practice of shared-bed sleeping, with each person having their own separate bedding, might help some situations in which couples' slumber is not restful. (FYI: I could not find the special UK Ikea TOG-ether duvet offer that was mentioned online). “I Swapped Training Sessions for Sleep and Never Ran Faster” by Kiera Carter https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a30680541/swapped-training-for-sleep/?source=nl “One Bed, Two Duvets -Does the Scandi Method of Sleeping Work?” by Sadhbh O’Sullivan https://medium.com/refinery29/one-bed-two-duvets-does-the-scandi-sleeping-method-work-4b3114076d3 https://mashable.com/2018/01/23/ikea-duvet-together/ 2. CAN ONLY FOUR DAYS OF EATING ‘HEALTHY’ IMPROVE PERFORMANCE? When I think of instituting eating habit changes to improve my nutritional intake and ultimately boost health, I think of the activity as a process. A long process, in which results can be realized, not after days, but weeks and probably months of adherence. If I were to follow a new diet for only 4 days, not even a full week, the effort would be graded as a failure. Until now. Check out the abstract that reports 11 young male and female athletes (avg. age ~28 years, avg BMI ~24.6) showed improved running performance in a 5K after eating a Mediterranean diet compared with eating a typical Western diet. This is a very small study but made me consider that even my intermittent bouts of healthy eating might be worthy of a pat on the back. It’s an uplifting thought. “Short-term Mediterranean Diet Improves Endurance Exercise Performance: A Randomized-Sequence Crossover Trial” in the Journal of American College of Nutrition https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07315724.2019.1568322 3. EXTREME CROSS TRAINING DELIVERED OLYMPIC TRIAL QUALIFYING RESULTS. Maybe those of us who must decrease miles spent pounding the pavement because of health limitations can improve performance with other intense aerobic and mobility training sessions. A Runner’s world article highlighted the unusual training method of Ann Mazur, who achieved an Olympic Trials Qualifying Time at the California International Marathon his past December. Mazur swims miles in the pool each week and practices yoga (she’s an instructor) to save her legs, running much less than the usual 100+ miles per week of elite marathoners and skipping speedwork. Clearly, she is a talented and hardworking athlete who enjoys sharing how she’s learned to prevent and manage injuries with rigorous cross training. A word to the wise. “How Rigorous Swimming and Yoga Helped Ann mazur Get Into OTQ Shape” by Hailey Middlebrook https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a30459353/ann-mazur-2020-olympic-trials-qualifier/ Enjoy the weekend TGIF! RUN & MOVE HAPPY! TO CONSIDER DURING HALF MARATHON OR OTHER COMPETITION TRAINING: DIAGNOSE AND FIX MUSCLE STRENGTH IMBALANCES
ALINA KENNEDY’S article on Medium.com offers a simple method for identifying and lessening muscle group strength inequalities we all possess. Kennedy starts by explaining why muscle strength asymmetries “limit performance” and why eventually they will lead to injury. Runners and walkers training for a competition like the half marathon will be asking their power, balance, and stabilizer muscles to perform harder and harder work as training progresses, which may ultimately force the body into revealing weaknesses between the right- and left- sided muscle groups. Kennedy helps readers find and fix them. In the article she indicates her clinical experience shows that “muscle aches, strains, tendinopathies, and joint injuries could all be prevented with better strength training”. As the recipient of almost identical advice from an expert trainer, Tim Broe, who explained my knee problem in the same terms, I will testify to the truth of Kennedy’s statement! Five areas receive attention in her article: calves, balance, hip stabilizers, hamstrings and gluteal muscles, and abdominal oblique muscles. Kennedy doesn’t prescribe exercises in the article. One simple way to start correcting specific imbalances is to use the specific diagnostic move for that area as the correcting exercise! As an example, because side planks (#5) are the diagnostic move to discover inequalities between the right and left abdominal oblique muscles, performing side planks as Kennedy directs in the last part of the article will serve to strengthen those oblique muscles. Online searches will turn up additional exercises to try. In a similar way, if single-leg, standing calf raises (#1) are used to identify which calf is weaker, the right versus the left, performing them is a great way to build calf strength. Before getting deep into training, consider testing yourself. On strength days you can concentrate on these areas rather than randomly perform other lower body, upper body, and core strength exercises. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://medium.com/@alinakennedy/find-and-fix-your-muscle-strength-imbalances-ae9e314c6f89 WITH ‘SAINTS DAYS’ 5K & 10K TRAINING PLAN STARTS Today is Super Bowl Sunday in the USA, so it might be wise to get your recovery session walk in early to leave the remainder of the day to enjoy the fun and excitement if doing so is in your plans. The calendar is counting down quickly to Friday, February 14 - St. Valentine’s Day! That means the first of the Saints’ Days Races, the 5K, could potentially be scheduled as early as this coming Saturday or Sunday for some runners and walkers. If weather forecasts of extreme cold or snowy conditions threaten to prevent your participation in an organized event you may be out the registration fee. However, that shouldn’t stop you from accomplishing a goal race. Consider running/walking a custom event using Earned Runs bibs on a day of your choosing during Week 5 or 6 rather than February 14-16 weekend to avoid this outcome or to prevent disruption of other plans. Request bibs for the competition, or get it done without a bib, but with love in your heart! At the end of week 4 you will have spent one full month in training. Congratulations. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! FOR BONE STRENGTH SPECIFIC DETAILS MATTERTHE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL SPECIAL HEALTH REPORT, “OSTEOPOROSIS” that I recently purchased is more than 50 pages in length. The publication begins by explaining the “basics of bone”, then goes on to discuss the causes, risk factors, and consequences of the disease, among many other topics. There are three sections that deal with bone protection: nutrition, exercise, and medication.
What surprised me is that, in addition to explaining the importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D each day to building and maintaining healthy bones, Vitamin K was included as a nutrient contributing to bone health. This vitamin has been of interest to me for almost 3 years, especially Vitamin K2. I ‘discovered’ it while searching the scientific literature for ways to help my personal health situation, living with osteopenia and osteoporosis since the age of about 51 years. In my understanding from reading on the topic, vitamin K1 (phylloquinone)and K2 (menaquinone) are different nutrients by several parameters: 1. Dietary Sources: Vit K1 -Green leafy plants (esp. spinach, cabbage, kale), vegetables (Brussel sprouts, asparagus, cabbage), some fruits (avocado, kiwi, grapes) Vit K2 -Produced through bacterial conversion of Vit K1 in the gut of animals that consume plants containing Vit K1 where it is then converted to Vit K2 - Meats (esp. chicken), eggs, and dairy foods (esp. hard cheeses) of pasture animals (grass fed, not corn/grain fed goats, etc.) - Foods fermented by bacteria that convert Vit K1 to Vit K2, like the fermented soybean product, natto, and sauerkraut 2. Storage/Distribution within the body: Vit K1 Stored inside the liver (site of coagulation factor production) Vit K2 Distributed widely in tissues outside the liver (extra-hepatic tissues) 3. Biological function in the human body: Vit K1 -Synthesis of blood coagulation/clotting factors II, VII, IX, X, - and anti-coagulation proteins C, S, and Z Vit K2 -Protection against pathological inflammation -Synthesis of osteocalcin and other proteins that protect against pathological calcification/mineralization of blood vessel (vascular) tissue and other soft (non-bone) tissues -New roles being investigated: “anti-oxidant”, “promoter of cognition”, inhibitor of tumor progression, and regulator of bone-building genes The Harvard report indicates that Vitamin K, which is present “in leafy greens”, may assist with strengthening bones by helping the body “produce osteocalcin, a protein that is instrumental in bone formation”, blocking substances that break it down, and regulating urinary calcium loss. Not much effort is made to distinguish between Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2 or it’s different dietary sources except in the instance noted below regarding fracture risk. The report cites a) a review in which 7 of 13 studies on the subject, all involving Japanese people, showed reduced fracture risk in those taking Vitamin K2 , and b) the Nurses’ Health Study and the Framingham Heart Study, both of which showed a decreased risk of hip fracture in those who consumed Vitamin K in greater amounts. Readers are assured that most diets can adequately supply Vitamin K if they contain vegetables like raw spinach, cooked broccoli or Brussels sprouts, collard greens, scallion, asparagus, cabbage, and certain herbs (basil, thyme, sage). There is no mention of animal sources of K2. Fortunately, the US National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements website also provides information on the role of Vitamin K in bone health but separately discusses K1 and K2 and their dietary sources, identified as leafy green vegetables (K1) and foods of animal origin and fermented foods (K2). In spite of the erratic reporting on specific Vitamin K types in health information, there is a noticeable effort to raise awareness of the potential importance of this nutritional factor to bone health. Some sources now make the effort to explain the differences in Vit K1 and Vit K2 and a few identify the different forms of K2 (usually MK-4 and MK-7). Remarkably, research studies in the past have not always made the distinction either. Future research will hopefully shed more light on the roles Vitamin K1 and K2 play in bone and other areas of health. Check out the linked/referenced articles if you wish to learn more. One thing is certain, although these two vitamins share similar chemical structures and names, they have different dietary sources for humans. Earned Runs predicts that Vitamin K, especially Vit K2, will be the next big “new” health story to grab headlines in 2020 because of advances in understanding of certain aspects of cardiovascular disease, bone health and disease, cancer, and inflammation leading to aging-related conditions. Last January (2019) a review article in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, “Vitamin K: Double Bonds Beyond Coagulation Insights into Differences between Vitamin K1 and K2 In Health and Disease” identifies itself as “ the first to highlight differences between isoforms K1 and K2 by means of source, function and extra-hepatic activity.” The organ systems pictured at the article’s end, in which Vit K2 is identified as playing a protective role, include brain, bone, heart and blood vessels, kidney, liver, pancreas, and fat tissue. It further declares that “Vitamin K2, in the form of MK-7 has been shown to be a bioactive compound in regulating osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, cancer and inflammatory disease. A scientific article in the November 2019 journal issue Gynecological Endocrinology, “Role of Vitamin K2 in Bone Metabolism: a Point of View and a Short Re-appraisal of the Literature” focuses on this nutrient’s potential role in limiting bone loss and in boosting existing therapies for osteoporosis, especially combined with adequate intakes of calcium and Vitamin D. Most recently, in January 2020, the journal Nutrients published the article “Vitamin K as a Diet Supplement with Impact in Human Health: Current Evidence in Age-Related Diseases”. It discusses Vitamin K in general and Vitamins K1 and K2 separately, particularly in terms of absorption, bioavailability, storage and targets. The review article begins with an explanation of why the nutrient is worth investigating fully. “Vitamin K health benefits have been recently widely shown to extend beyond blood homeostasis and implicated in chronic low-grade inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, dementia, cognitive impairment, mobility disability, and frailty. Excitement about Vit K and especially K2 may also be running rather high because, as the International Journal of Molecular Sciences piece (freely available for download) indicates, it has not been shown to cause toxicity, harmful side effects, or risk of overdosing. Athletes might be excited about Vit K2 because of its potential impact on bone health, possibly helping to lessen or delay the onset of joint degeneration in osteoarthritis and bone loss in osteopenia/osteoporosis. Another reason to take note of investigations into this nutrient is the possibility It may offer protection against abnormal coronary artery calcification that has been noted to occur in a subset of aging endurance athletes. With such encouraging news from the scientific community, we might expect to see Vitamin K receive more attention from popular media sources. To be accurately informed, pay attention to the specifics. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! NOTE: Importantly, Vitamin K reports provide humans with additional reasons to fill their plates with dark -colored ‘greens’ that include collards, turnip greens, broccoli, and kale, and other vegetables and fruits that serve as good sources of Vitamin K1. AND we now have additional incentives to enjoy chicken, eggs, ground beef, ham, cheese, and milk as sources of Vitamin K2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30791399 https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2019.1689554 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31947821 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/circulationaha.117.028750 https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a20857967/heres-the-latest-on-whether-running-hardens-your-arteries/ ELIMINATING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR THE OPENING MONTH OF THE YEAR is an effort many athletes think about making to boost sport or training performance. An article in outsideonline.com suggests that doing so probably won’t transform an ordinary athlete into an elite one but may help improve other aspects of life: losing weight, saving money, and sleeping better.
Whether or not you spent January sober, the question arises as to how alcohol drinking might be handled in February. If abstinence left you eagerly awaiting the opportunity to loosen up once the calendar date permits but falling back into old habits doesn’t seem to be a healthy course of action, Lauren Bravo has an alternative: commit to limiting yourself to just one drink. Her article, “How to Become a One Drink Wonder”, for Refinery29.com, outlines and explains 10 steps toward accomplishing this goal. Bravo’s tips are creative and practical; you’ll need to read the article itself because to outline them secondhand here would be unfair to her. However, I will share the one tip Bravo explained that I thought would be most helpful to me. It’s No.6, “Eating Isn’t Cheating”, which suggests enjoying a drink before eating but not continuing through dinner. Those who have tried to hold to a predetermined budget at a pricey restaurant will be familiar with this tactic. Savoring a single cocktail or glass of wine over the entire meal experience is a sure way contain cost. Bravo’s setting the time for stopping when the meal arrives is a terrific idea for those of us who appreciate a clear boundary. Alcoholic beverages aren’t true health drinks but the social gatherings in which we have an opportunity to safely enjoy them might contribute to a healthy life. If teetotalling isn’t an objective, limiting drinks to one per day fits with health experts guidelines and seems do-able long-term. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://www.outsideonline.com/2147006/can-dry-january-make-you-better-athlete https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/alcohol-moderation-tips https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/moderate-drinking.htm WITH 'SAINTS DAYS' 5K & 10K RACES TRAINING STARTS RUN PLAN: You may become more aware of the progress you are making in training after finishing two weeks of training. If you feel comfortable with the schedule, plan ahead to take advantage of the optional Tuesday run + hill workout discussed in last week’s blog post, especially if January weather takes a turn toward very cold and snowy. Use the upcoming weeks to locate an incline that takes about 1.5 minutes to climb at a slow to moderate pace with moderate intensity, and about 2 minutes to descend at a walk. Three repeats will add just 10.5 minutes to your initial 2-mile warm-up run; 4 repeats will add roughly 14 minutes. In cold and wet weather, hill repeats can be an affordable way for those without a fitness center membership to maintain intensity of this workout at a higher level in spite of unfavorable outdoor conditions. Especially if you are able to drive and park or work/live near the “hill” (multi-level parking ramp or actual hill). There’s a short initial 2-mile warm-up distance to cover that can be accomplished as around-the-block or out-and- back loops that end at the training ‘hill’. A good reason to find a convenient covered parking ramp for hill repeats instead of a real outdoor hill is that you’ll lessen your exposure to the elements running under the top level. Stick to the plan’s number of repeats until you know your tolerance to hill work. You might wish to progressively increase the repeats by one hill climb each week to 6-8. but not to the point it imapcts your readiness to increase mileage on the long run day. Want to perform hill repeats indoors? Stair climbing and treadmill incline running can substitute for hill climbing, some trainers advise. Others warn against this type of repetitive training. Best to check with your doctor if you have been seen or treated for joint or skeletal problems before working out on stairs or hills. An article posted on runsociety.com offers formulas for calculating an appropriate number of stair flights.] WALK PLAN: As discussed for runners, prepare now to find an incline for a hill workout. The walk plan hill repeats are first scheduled in week 6 so there’s plenty of time to investigate and plan ahead before starting. It’s also a good idea to obtain medical clearance for these activities if you have had joint/skeletal problems in the past. Warmup by walking for 20 minutes on a flat stretch, walk up then down on an incline that takes about 2 minutes to climb then 2 minutes to descend. Three to 4 cycles of uphill-downhill repeats will take about 12-16 minutes. After a 5-minute cool-down walk, you are finished! Both runner and walker plans (below) are also on the RESOURCES page: Just think, the days are getting longer and you are getting stronger, especially if you are performing the lower and upper body strength work of each week’s plan and the dynamic warm-ups. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://www.livestrong.com/article/476957-running-hills-vs-running-stairs/ https://health.usnews.com/wellness/fitness/the-health-benefits-of-stair-climbing-exercise https://www.runsociety.com/training/stair-climbing-vs-running/ http://fitfordutyconsulting.com/2014/01/how-to-train-for-a-stairclimb/ SWISS BALL TRAINING FOR SEDENTARY WORKERS WORKOUT FOR DESK JOB HOLDERS THAT MAY NOT STRESS WRISTS?
AN OLDER RESEARCH STUDY ARTICLE “Effects of Swiss-Ball Core Strength Training…” provides images and an exercise protocol that demonstrate 7 moves on a Swiss/stability ball which were designed to help previously sedentary adult women build muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility, as well as dynamic balance, of the core and lower body. Muscles that were strengthened included:
Muscular endurance was improved in the trunk/lower back extensors, trunk/abdominal flexors, and lower leg, and overall dynamic balance was better. The 21 women who volunteered to participate in the scientific study, published in 2010, averaged 34 year of age and 64kg in weight, were not regular exercisers, and had never trained using this equipment. The women held sedentary administrative staff positions at a university in Turkey. They were required to train with the Swiss ball protocol for 45 minutes, 3 days per week, for 8 weeks. Warm-up and cool-down periods were included that involved walking and stretching sessions. The study investigators from Australia and Turkey reported that “results support the fact that Swiss-ball core strength training exercises can be used to provide improvement” in strength, endurance, and flexibility of trunk/lower back/abdominal and lower limb muscles and in dynamic balance in women who do not regularly train. The images and protocol seem to be ‘wrist -friendly’. I am always on the lookout for routines that are affordable (no gym membership or expensive equipment required) and easy to move through for persons who have wrist issues or have had carpal-tunnel or hand surgery. Those of us who have had desk jobs have often performed them for hours while tapping on keyboards. I don’t have wrist/hand problems and cannot fully review the workout from this perspective. However, perhaps someone else can comment on the ease of its performance for those with wrist disabilities or offer advice on an approach to performing the specific protocol moves that pose a challenge. It’s possible that anexercise move is easy, but getting into position or onto the the floor is not. A warning that the authors make which bears repeating here is about safety. The Swiss ball is inherently unstable and poses a risk of falling and injury for some. Exercisers are encouraged to take precautions and to “follow a progressive training system for the adaptation of the stabilizing core musculature”. Every never-before-performed exercise can be unsafe, though, so best be careful trying new routines in general. My take, as an active person, is that Swiss balls are effective for building core strength regardless of experience level. The wall-squat, shoulder bridge, back extension, and hamstring curl exercises have served as components of my running strength training for years. If you like video demonstrations the team of “most famous” Physical Therapists, Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck, model 15 Swiss Ball exercises with lots of added commentary. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2010/11000/Effects_of_Swiss_Ball_Core_Strength_Training_on.19.aspx?WT.mc_id=HPxADx20100319xMP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoUQJA5ogM GEAR LOVE: BOSU BALL
ALTHOUGH A BOSU* BALL BALANCE TRAINER IS A RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF FITNESS EQUIPMENT TO PURCHASE FOR HOME USE (roughly $100 for the Bosu brand on Amazon.com), exercises that incorporate its use commonly are included in trainer-designed workouts. If you’re not currently exercising with a BOSU you might consider attempting exercises demonstrated in one of the following articles or YouTube video.
Abbate considers the exercises to be appropriate for beginners, however, some, like the Bosu Burpee, may be a bit challenging for true exercise novices. The jumps (leg jump-back that starts the Burpee move and standing jump up that concludes it) can be omitted as needed. The ‘hop’ can also be changed to a move that doesn’t require leaving the ground.
Both Abbate’s and Biswas’ routines take advantage of the ball’s unique construction and shape, which make both sides serve as unsteady base surfaces for exercising. As a result, moves performed while using the ball for support force the recruitment of additional core and balance muscles to restore steady positioning and help keep the body from falling.
Performing any exercise on a BOSU, that ordinarily would not utilize one, transforms it to a compound move and makes it more difficult in my experience. Experiment a bit in 2020 if you haven’t used one before or add a couple new BOSU moves to your list of exercises if you are already familiar with the tougher muscle-shaking workout it can provide. RUN & MOVE HAPPY! *short for “BOth Sides Utilized” https://www.shape.com/fitness/videos/beginner-bosu-ball-exercises https://www.prevention.com/fitness/workouts/g28252198/bosu-ball-exercises/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75cxJvLLUik |
BRIDGE TO PHYSICAL SELF
Running, walking, and fitness activities enable us to experience our physical selves in a world mostly accessed through use of fingers on a mobile device. AuthorEARNED RUNS is edited and authored by me, runner and founder. In 1978 I began participating in 10K road races before 5Ks were common. I've been a dietitian, practiced and taught clinical pathology, and been involved with research that utilized pathology. I am fascinated with understanding the origins of disease as well as health and longevity. Archives
November 2023
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