As I mentioned last week, I found some great info on the optimum heart rate level to train at for endurance sports. It is quite different from the high intensity trend that is popular today. Well I started it last week and I was very surprised at the results. Let me tell you all about it and then you can decide for yourself if you’d like to give it a whirl.
How To
Read most any fitness website and you’ll see hardcore sayings like
- “Go Hard or Go Home”
- “No Excuses”
- “Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body”
- “You Only Get Out What You Put In”
- “When My Mind Shouts STOP My Body Shouts NEVER”
Ok, you get the idea: “Train hard then train hard some more.” It’s the American way! But…
Today I learned that this is really bad advice. The exciting thing is I found out why. Let me share with you.
I just recently began trying the barefoot method of running and I can say that I do like it a lot. I was open minded about trying it, but I wasn’t tied to the idea that I would love it. I’ve been using Merrell’s Barefoot Run Vapor Glove. As these are my first pair of minimalist running shoes, I don’t have anything to compare it to except traditional shoes. But I will give you my impressions of this brand of shoe and also tell you how I have made the transition.
The last 2 days I ran later in the day than usual and boy my head felt like it was being melted in an oven. So today I decided to try the Bandana Cooler. It worked great! Here’s how to make one yourself. (Read all the way through to the end of the article for a funny anecdote.)
I’ve been so excited to write this article because I have found running mantras to be so helpful that I want to share them. Included here are mantras for beginning to experienced runners that will help increase your enjoyment, enhance performance, and keep you going when it gets tough. Click through to check these out!
Over time running gets easier.
Our heart, lungs and muscles get conditioned. We can go farther without stopping. And hopefully some of the jiggling of fat goes away which makes things a lot easier!
But it also stays difficult.
There’s the breathing. Heavy. Sometimes there’s the tired tree trunks, I mean legs. And then there is the ever challenging mental struggle of staying focused, not quitting, and gently pushing ourselves to do a little bit better.
But at the end of every run is the sweet satisfaction that makes it all worth it. So can we make the running part easier? Sometimes we can. This is what I’ve noticed.