Daily Improvements: How to Become a Better Runner in 30 Days Series

Daily Improvements

SNAPSHOT

Join me on this journey to be a better runner in 30 days.

DIGGING DEEPER

#1 Daily Improvements

Start each day with the objective to improve your running by giving your body the needed stress (which will cause adaptations) or recovery (which will allow for adaptations to occur). Deciphering the needed stress or recovery will allow you to incrementally and consistently progress forward.

Notice Stress. Yes, you will have to get uncomfortable in order to cause your body to rebuild and become better. For the marathon runners out there that no matter the distance of your run, 3 miles or 26 miles, you ALWAYS run the same speed. You are not causing improved fitness adaption in your body. Run a little faster at least once a week. For example, instead of running 10 minute miles for 6 miles, slip in 4 miles of 9 minute miles between the first and last mile. By week three you will love those 9 minute miles for the sense of a new accomplishment.

Notice Recovery. Without recovery you can not adapt to become a more fit runner. Recovery can take more than 24 hours depending on the stress load and system that you are stressing.

1 Week to Understanding Recovery

To all the engineers out there, stop logging your running for one week. I know it will ruin your spreadsheet and mess up the yearly mileage records, but please let running be something more than numbers on a document. Now during this week complete this plan.

Day ONE -Run a different course than you have before.

Day TWO - Run but don’t wear a watch.

Day THREE - Don’t run, just walk for the same amount of time as you would have run.

Day FOUR - Run a true fartlek workout by landmarks only, no watch.

Day FIVE - Run your usual run then afterward write on an index card three words that describe how your body or mind feels, flip the card over and write three more words (those are most likely your true feelings, not just what you thought you should write).

Day SIX - Without a watch run until you can’t safely run any longer, don’t use specific courses to figure out the distance (it doesn’t matter this week).

Day SEVEN - Within five minutes total, max out on push ups and squats, no running.

After a week of following this plan you will have a new perspective on recovery. Stop counting and reaching for goals and start listening, feeling, and experiencing. If you think this is hogwash and won’t be of any use in learning to recover, I dare you to try and prove me wrong.

Notice incrementally. That is with small steps going in the right direction. An example of the wrong direction is for you to jump into an advanced strengthening gym class and end up with a strained muscle. Versus recognizing the need for a strong body and receiving instruction on a few body weight exercises that will prepare your body for the next level of training in the future. Be patient and wise, choose to progress step by step. Mastering each step before going onto the next.

Notice consistently. There are two facets to this suggestion of consistency. There is the never take a day off mentality. Where you have a good habits of raising your heart rate with some type of exercise (usually running or strengthening) every single day. The other is the close monitoring of the body in order to make small adjustments so that you don’t trip, figuratively and literally, yourself up and end up on the injured list.

SOLUTION

Reread this sentence below and endeavor to become a better runner in the next 30 days.

Start each day with the objective to improve your running by giving your body the needed stress (which will cause adaptations) or recovery (which will allow for adaptations to occur). Deciphering the needed stress or recovery will allow you to incrementally and consistently progress forward.

This 30 day series is a quest for me as a writer, coach, and runner. I promise to write about running for 30 days in a row. In doing so I intend to gain in knowledge and expression of running and daily life. My hope is that we all grow together.

Rise Again Weary One

SNAPSHOT

Life is hard. Really hard.

DIGGING DEEPER

Blind hits can throw you backwards, taking the wind out of your lungs. Another hit doubles you over. Not me, you cry. Not now.

Pain.

Confusion makes it worse.

No quick answer. No reassurance of a quick rebound.

Pain. Holding pain.

These trials come in every part of life. Even if you made all the right choices, took the road less traveled, went up the treacherous hill, sure that your hard work would pay off. Never choosing the easy road.

Yet. This happened. Pain happened.

Cliches swirl about as if they will soften the blow. But they do nothing but point out how cruel life can be.

Pain has to be endured. Escaping it only puts it off, returning with vengeance later on.

These stings. I have felt them over and over as life has happened. Similar to when you cut your finger and the stinging, burning sensation cries out for an end. But you can’t stop the pain. The burning of an injury, a loss, mean words, or an absence fills the body.

And so you try to understand the situation, cry over it, explain it away. Perhaps a friend’s words can soothe the discomfort. But to no avail.

For you must endure, accept, and wait.

Yes wait. Wait for the pain to wean. Wait for the situation to change. Wait for good again.

https://shellybinsfeld.smugmug.com/

Over and over throughout life we are subjected to these times of hardship. You simply can’t live life without them happening. However, each time I learn a bit more patience. Because waiting for healing is all you really can do. Sometimes it takes time, sometimes it takes understanding, sometimes it takes a resolution. But none of those will happen as fast as you want. The cut has to have time to heal.

So if this is one of those times when you are an injured athlete, grieving lover, or hurt soul, WAIT. For this too will pass. This is not the end of the road. You will rise again.

SOLUTION

Rise again all those who are weary.

Matthew eleven twenty-eight

Happy Runner

SNAPSHOT

SARAH DIDOMIZIO

DIGGING DEEPER

Sarah’s thoughts:

Sister and Sarah

“I have been running for a few years after taking a 15+ year hiatus from the sport. About six months ago, I decided that I wanted to run a half marathon but knew that I needed some assistance to keep moving towards that goal.  I found Shelly through an online search and I couldn’t be happier about my decision to contact her.  At first, I was a little apprehensive at contacting Shelly… after all… how effective is online coaching?!  I can tell you from my personal experience that it is absolutely fantastic! 

When we first talked, Shelly and I discussed the training methods I’d used before, what her philosophy on training was, what my goals were and how she thought we could get there.  We hit it off right from the start.  One of the great things I liked about Shelly was that her goal is to get her athletes to the starting line in the best fitness possible, which means making sure you’re giving your body the time it needs to rest after putting in those hard workouts. I knew too many fellow runners who pushed their bodies to the point of injury and ended up missing out on their goal events due to it.

Shelly uses a combination of training tools including the Final Surge platform, which is a great way to share workouts, comments about the workouts, what you’re feeling, etc.  She also can be easily reached via phone, email and text messages to talk about workouts, any issues/injuries, and just about anything else that’s going on.  I think at times she’s part psychologist when it comes to running.

In the six months since contacting Shelly, I’ve gone from run/walking 5ks to running my first 10k and my first half marathon! Throughout the spring and summer, she consistently worked with me in evaluating my fitness, training progress and goals to adapt my training plans to meet my goal of running a half marathon in the fall.  I’m excited to see my results next year after another six months of training with Shelly!”
1st Half Marathon: 2:30:42 E-Race Cancer HM 2018

Sarah put into words so well the way in which I strive to guide runners. In her testimonial for my website she described our partnership these past 6 months. I have really appreciated her honesty, devotion, and desire to learn. We exchanged articles and portions of running literature in order to gain a better understanding of training and the body. Common runner concerns were answered with a thorough phone call or typed out text. We also shared in the delight of a finished half marathon at her desired pace. It has been such a great partnership. I am thankful she gave me a chance to be apart of her journey.

I love running and want others to be impacted by its many virtues. I work with only a handful of runners, cultivating a quality partnership. I make it a priority to be easily accessible. If you or your friend want to take your running experience to a new level, contact me. I am right here.

SOLUTION

Sarah works with me through Weekly Training Guidance. It has been a very effective partnership.

Runner's Amazon Book List

SNAPSHOT

Booklover Runner

DIGGING DEEPER

My Amazon Book List— Those that I have highlighted, referenced, and devoured!

Ok, check it out. See which ones you want as Christmas presents, to find at your library, or to add to your audiobook collection.

My favorite categories of items are BOOKS, BAGS, and BASKETS. Oddly, they all start with the letter B, but they are my candy. I know what I love about books: well written, only as long as they need to be, insightful, and eye appealing.

So I searched though my bookshelves, Audible app, amazon ordered list and picked out my recommendations. These are the books that have survived the test of time or are new favorites.

Podcast interviews, the library bookshelf, and favorite authors are the many ways that a title will first get my attention. Often I request books from my library regional system and preview it to find if it is worth the time and money investment to purchase.

If it passes the test, I choose if audio or print format will be the best way to consume its contents.

Some printed books I highlight like crazy as a form of interactive learning.

Others are more for reference material. A conversation with a friend can cause me to research a deeper reason for my answer or intuition.

The audiobooks are often helpful for busy driving days and to share with my family through the audible app.

You may note that my list does not contain just running books. We are whole people with diversity within our bodies and minds. The interplay of different parts shapes us in unique ways. Growing ourselves as a whole being and not just in one facet will generate good health.

SOLUTION

A good book will take you away and return you changed.

Pass another cough drop, kleenex please

SNAPSHOT

Limit your running when you are sick with the cold.

DIGGING DEEPER

On Thursday my run was way slower than usual, yet I felt I was putting in the same effort.  Then I attempted my normal lifting weights routine and couldn't even lift my usual dumbbell once.  Not even once!  I knew something was really off! 

Friday morning just after leaving our home I felt that dry mouth sensation moments after drinking a sip of water, the first sign of an oncoming cold sickness. I was out of the house for the day and wouldn't be near my Vitamin C tablets until evening.  The day wore on and the throat got worse.  By bedtime, I was eating ice cream, smoothies, and Danielle Walker's applesauce. 

Thankfully Saturday was a low key day with the skies bringing in wicked thunderstorms and only 2 hockey lessons/practices for one of my sons.  With my husband home, I was off the hook from transportation duties.  I read the entire Chasing Slow book by Erin Loechner (wow, awesome book) and slurped up the bone broth.  I wasn't much better and the night was painful and long.

Sunny Sunday rolled around and I figured I was done with the cold and could soldier on with my backlog of errands. I'm in control, right? However, by midday, all I wanted was be in bed.  As you know, moms don't take more than one sick day, so the food was purchased, freezer picked out at Best Buy, and library books returned.  The squash, chicken, and dinner all got cooked.  I thought my saving grace would be a good night of sleep before the start of a new week.

"Mom, my stomach hurts so much!" pleaded my 15-year-old son. I couldn't deny him comfort through the trips to the bathroom and tucks back into bed.  Not so hard if it weren't for the fact that I was pleading also for painless sinus canals and continuous sleep. 

So it is Monday today and I am still so sick and still hoping for a good nights sleep. I did do a short run today only because it had been so long since my last and a friend would be waiting for me.

I don't plan to run tomorrow. I will need all my energy reserves for kicking this cold.

NOTE: When you move to another region of the US you get hit harder with sicknesses as you have not built up an immunity to that region's germs.  This is going to be an interesting year!

My view of the USA regions include Colorado in the Midwest section.

SOLUTION

My personal guidelines for when to skip my daily run due to sickness.

Fever or Stomach Pain = NO RUNNING

Congestion or Sore throats = RUN EVERY OTHER DAY at most//Fresh air is helpful but limit energy expenditures

Headaches = Safe Walks

HAPPY WINTER COLD SEASON, HAPPY RUNNING