It's been two months since my last race and I haven't done much of anything! It actually felt good to not have to train, to not have to figure out the logistics of getting to and from an event and to not have to coerce someone into running with me. Maybe I was just burned out...9 events in six months might have been overdoing it a bit much for my first year running/biking/swimming.
One thing I have done in the past two months is working some strength training into my extracurricular activities. The Pather Circuit to be exact. BioSports, my favorite choice of physical therapy clinics in Wenatchee, started the Pather Circuit for the local high school athletes. Over time it has evolved into a community affair and on a given Tuesday in the fall/winter, you can find 20 or more people sweating it out in the WHS gym. Thursdays don't seem to be as busy as Tuesdays are.
I went to my first Panther Circuit on a Thursday and thought it was tough but doable. Mostly weights and upper body stuff...I don't know all the technical names for moves we were doing. Then I went on a Tuesday. Whole different story. Due to a new position at work, I could only go for 20 minutes my first time. The next day, I was SORE!! Mentally, I'm thinking if I'm this sore after only 20 minutes of work, how would staying the entire one hour make me feel?! The second time I went on a Tuesday, I only stayed for 30 minutes or so. I could barely walk, much less sit and stand up, the next day. Phew!! But what a workout!! It was a GOOD feeling despite the pain.
Yesterday was the first time I stayed the entire hour on a Tuesday. I felt great if not a little embarrassed by the fact that I'm extremely uncoordinated and asking me to stick a 6lb medicine ball between my feet and hock it up into the air like some sort of soccer superstar is just not going to be pretty. Today I realized that I'm obviously getting some strength in my core and other parts since I wasn't nearly as sore as the first time I went to Panther Circuit a month ago. Winner!!
My goal now is to get back into training. Nothing over the top, there's no marathons in my future (yet). Next event is a week a way and my will also be my first event in Wenatchee. I'll only have to travel 3 miles to get to the event and no need to coerce anyone since pretty much every athlete I know in the area is already participating. If you're not already doing something this Thanksgiving morning, come on down and join me in the 3rd Annual Turkey on the Run 5k / 10k. This is going to be a fun event!
