Spin class and weights.

Continuing on with my taper, I decided to do my usual Tuesday morning spin class followed by about 40 minutes of strength training.  My husband's work schedule has switched to day shift, so I will be going it alone on Tues/Thurs now.  As much as I enjoy time alone with my husband, I'm kind of looking forward to being able to just "do my thing" for the next couple weeks...that is, until the kids are home from school for the summer.  That's a whole other topic...

This morning I was reading through the May issue of Runner's World (again), and came across a few great reminders in an article called, "Head to Toe."  So much of running is mental, these are some things to remember, whether we're training for races or new to running:

Run what you can - Any amount of exercise is better than nothing and you'll avoid the negative mind-set that comes from doing nothing.


Think walk, not just run - Frequent walk breaks improve your fitness by extending your exercise time.  Time on your feet builds strength and cardiovascular capacity.


Allow for no excuses - Runners claim a minor mishap as a reason to stop running, but usually something else in your life is going on.  If you falter, recommit by revisiting your original motivations.

(This is my favorite.)
*Understand discomfort - Running can be hard, but don't call it pain.  Pain is getting burned by a stove.  Some discomfort can lead to improvements in fitness.  What's hard today will get easier tomorrow.*