Shortcomings
After my last post, Mark asked me if I had done any cross training during my recovery. The short answer is no. The longer answer is that I had planned to, but I was enjoying doing nothing but relax for a few days.
His question got me thinking about my shortcomings as a runner and what I need to do if I truly want to reach my potential. There are three major things that I need to work on if I want to continue to improve: diet/nutrition, hill running, and cross training.
I started running basically to keep a buddy company while he trained for a 10K. The reason I continued running was because I like to eat, and I needed to lose a few pounds. Running allowed me to lose the weight without dieting. Like many runners I evolved from running for weight control to running to compete. I've tried to cutback on the calories a few times but haven't found the willpower while married to a wife who loves to cook and bake.
I'm not sure what to do about running hills. I live in the Bay Area (in Alameda, which is near Oakland in the east bay). There are 100s of hills in the metropolitan area, but not in Alameda, which is a flat-as-a-pancake island. I could drive to the Oakland hills or to Berkeley to run hills, but I hate the thought of driving someplace to run. It seems to defeat the whole purpose.
I don't know why I don't do any cross training. If I did, it would only be crunches and push ups, which I could do while watching television. I understand the benefit, but it's also easy to look at my log and the mileage being run and feel satisfied that the work has been done.
Will I improve in any of these three areas? I don't know. I'm going to make an effort to drop some weight. I've said that before on this very blog and have had no success, but all I can do is keep trying. I find that a lot of my bad eating is just habit. If I can improve for a week or so, I'll have a good shot at sticking with it for a while. I'm also going to make an effort to get in some crunches and push ups. Again it's just getting into a routine. Once it becomes part of my day, it won't be a big deal. Right now I don't see me doing any hill running. I know the reasons that I should, but the driving would add close to an hour to my workout each time I did it, and I'm not ready to make that commitment right now.
Today I ran six easy miles. I ran without a watch, but would estimate that I ran 8:20 pace.
His question got me thinking about my shortcomings as a runner and what I need to do if I truly want to reach my potential. There are three major things that I need to work on if I want to continue to improve: diet/nutrition, hill running, and cross training.
I started running basically to keep a buddy company while he trained for a 10K. The reason I continued running was because I like to eat, and I needed to lose a few pounds. Running allowed me to lose the weight without dieting. Like many runners I evolved from running for weight control to running to compete. I've tried to cutback on the calories a few times but haven't found the willpower while married to a wife who loves to cook and bake.
I'm not sure what to do about running hills. I live in the Bay Area (in Alameda, which is near Oakland in the east bay). There are 100s of hills in the metropolitan area, but not in Alameda, which is a flat-as-a-pancake island. I could drive to the Oakland hills or to Berkeley to run hills, but I hate the thought of driving someplace to run. It seems to defeat the whole purpose.
I don't know why I don't do any cross training. If I did, it would only be crunches and push ups, which I could do while watching television. I understand the benefit, but it's also easy to look at my log and the mileage being run and feel satisfied that the work has been done.
Will I improve in any of these three areas? I don't know. I'm going to make an effort to drop some weight. I've said that before on this very blog and have had no success, but all I can do is keep trying. I find that a lot of my bad eating is just habit. If I can improve for a week or so, I'll have a good shot at sticking with it for a while. I'm also going to make an effort to get in some crunches and push ups. Again it's just getting into a routine. Once it becomes part of my day, it won't be a big deal. Right now I don't see me doing any hill running. I know the reasons that I should, but the driving would add close to an hour to my workout each time I did it, and I'm not ready to make that commitment right now.
Today I ran six easy miles. I ran without a watch, but would estimate that I ran 8:20 pace.
posted by Bart at 8:16 PM
2 Comments:
Most branches of the military have PT test, CG? I would think so, isn't that motivation enought to bust out the crunches and push-ups on a daily basis? even if you start with a few a day, it's like you wrote in how you started to run.
Then, soon it will be regular habit, you will be glsd because it will bring your race times down
There's no PT test for the CG. All we are required to do is meet a maximum weight or maximum body fat standard. The exception being for those assigned as rescue swimmers, boarding team members, or in similar jobs.
I think I'll just include the push-ups and crunches in my blog and see if that will help motivate me. I'll also post my weekly weight. Maybe some it will give me a sense of accountability.
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