Exercising after the marathon

Today I did some weight training. I wanted to run but it's raining (it rained all weekend too). It's supposed to continue to rain until Saturday. So instead of braving the rain I decided to do some weights.

I'd like to do a short run tomorrow morning but if it's pouring out...I'm not pressed at all.

What I did today was very basic. I just did some squats, lunges, wall sits, one-legged squats, butt exercises, back exercises, abs and pushups (diamond and normal). It felt good to do some strength exercises again.

Thursday I'll do something else. I wanted to start CrossFit Endurance but I've decided it's way too complicated for me to attempt right now.

First off, I'd need steady access to a track for the running portions and I don't. Plus a lot of the exercises require gym equipment, which I don't have. Then the majority of the strength training exercises are not new to me.

I've done the same things for so long that I want to try something completely new.

Yesterday I was thinking that for Christmas I need to buy some DVDs and maybe even some new workout equipment. Specifically a bosu ball, a kettlebell and a medicine ball. With those tools I can do the same type of exercises but with a whole new challenge.

This stuff I've wanted to try since forever but with me moving around from country to country every five seconds it hasn't worked out. My goal is this Christmas to get at least a couple things on my list.

However, I still need a routine for now. So I will do some more searching on the web. I think I'll probably hit Runner's World first and then figure out a game plan from there.

Week 4 Marathon Training

Yesterday marked 1-month in my marathon training. So far I'm doing pretty good and have only missed one day of running. It was Sunday's active recovery day of 3 miles and I preferred to rest.

I have, however, incorporated 2 more days of weight training into my program since my body responds well to strength training. If you see my original marathon training schedule there is only one weight day on a Wednesday.

It works out perfectly because I now do weights on Monday (normally a cross-training day) and Friday (normally a rest day). So I don't do weights on days that I run.

To check out my current weight routines look at:

- the New Weights Routine post

- the Metabolism-Boosting workout at Fitness Magazine

- the Firm and Burn workout also at Fitness Magazine

These workouts are great because they help me switch it up a bit so that I don't get bored. It also helps to make sure that I'm working all my muscle groups. Each group of exercises works each muscle group in a different way. I'm loving these workouts so far. 

In about a month or so I will probably revamp the workouts to avoid the plateau.

Foot Update and tomfoolery at the gym

This foot injury is WEIRD! 

I went for a walk with my brother every day this week, except today because I went to the gym with my mom.

 Aren't we cute?

Body combat rules! We might hit zumba tomorrow but I'm not sure I'm up for embarrassing myself quite yet.

Okay, yesterday we went on our walk and I used some old running shoes.

Oh, random moment, here's a nice car we saw:

Oh, and some people have already put up Halloween decorations! Crazy.

You can't see it that well, but yes, it's a pumpkin. We even saw scarecrows but didn't take pics. I don't know what we were thinking.

Anyway, the sneakers aren't technically old. Since you're supposed to swap out shoes, I swapped out those. I really like them so I didn't want to wear them out.Well, I wore them to go walking because they matched my outfit.

So we walked for about 70 minutes and then I went for a run. I only did 20 minutes because I didn't want to put uneccessary strain on my foot. Especially since I knew I'd be going to the gym today.

My foot felt great! Completely fine. I woke up this morning with no-pain-whatsoever! Strange, right?

In body combat today, I felt no pain. My mom and I registered for a 7-day free tryout pass. The monthly plan is pretty decent. It's only $44 a month and since we live at the same address the second person is $30.

Completely high tech: all of the treadmills have touch screens, each elliptical it's own TV... However, there's a gym even closer for only $10 a month, no committment. I will definitely check that place out before I make any decisions.

Tomorrow I plan to run at the gym and I hope to feel no pain. Right now my foot feels great. I don't know what to make of it.

Brooke @ FreeBird Runner had such a great suggestion: do some foot strengthening exercises!

(By the way, you should check out her blog if you haven't. She is super nice and positive and runs in the most beautiful places! If I had a blogroll she'd be on it without a doubt.)

Google is amazing. Once I put together my routine I'll share it with you all but I'm excited about it! Hopefully it will help me avoid this phantom "injury" in the future.

Stay tuned for tomorrow because my mom might just make me do zumba with her...

Debate/Discussion: Cardio vs. strength training

Womens Health Magazine

When I first realized the importance of a healthy lifestyle combined with eating right and exercising:  

I was a cardio fiend! 

I'd go to the gym and spend hours on the elliptical trainer, the static bike, the treadmill, the stair stepper...anything cardio related really.

Not until I lost some weight did I venture into the weight room. In my mind:

cardio was for losing weight and strength training was for toning muscles. 

Once I had burned the fat hiding these areas I then started toning them. Sounds logical right?

Fast forward 8 years and I would say that the information out there isn't definitive one way or the other. Personally, I'm no longer one of those people who only goes to the gym for the cardio machines. I also have a real interest in strength training.

I use them both as part of my exercise routine and value them both. 

However, after a snacking binge, I think first about running to burn off some of those calories and not about pumping iron.

Is this from fact or fiction?

Last week, while browinsg twitter, I came across an interesting tweet from @WomensHealthMag. The article gave a breakdown (based on your needs) on whether cardio or strength training was "better".

• To burn fat and keep it off = strength training
• Combat stress = cardio
• Increase self-confidence = strength
• Reduce exercise related injuries = strength
• Live longer = cardio
• Increase your speed = it was a tie

Yesterday, I read another tweet posted by @katieRUNSthis. She wanted to know how much strength training we runners incorporate into our routines. As well as how much we think we should be doing. So, maybe we only do strength training twice a week but think the magical number is three times a week.

Honestly, I don't know how much I should be doing.

Is there a magical number? 

All I know is that I need both to be a stronger and more efficient runner. Even when I wasn't training I would do both cardio and strength everytime I hit the gym.  I felt I couldn't have one without the other. Yet, in the past I was convinced that cardio was the answer to my healthier lifestyle goals.

What do you think? Which is "better", cardio or strength training? Do you agree with Women's Health Magazine? As a runner, if you do incorporate strength training into your routine, why? If not, why not?