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Aimee's Soapbox!
September 2006: Groovy Readers Poll Results!
Howdy Soapsters! I hope that everyone has enjoyed a wonderful summer and a super Labor Day! Last month, I asked what you thought about five different training topics. My secret plan was to get you all thinking about things so you could head into the fall season with renewed goals and motivation.
Well, apparently most of you are still thinking because only one of you actually wrote me back with his opinions. I would like to thank my good friend Keith Straw for sharing his ideas on the following topics:
1. NUTRITION. "Vitally important," Keith says. "There's no point giving up hours of your free time putting in many miles per week if you are not going to fuel your body appropriately. Good food choices are the simplest way to enhance your training." Now Keith did go on to say that, after going through many phases of eating this or that, he has concluded that the body is remarkably able to process whatever it is given. For example, he is finding that caffeine before and meal-replacement drinks after runs are effective for him right now. (My two cents--yes, the body is very adaptable and will indeed survive on any kind of calories, but think how much better you would feel if you focused on "thrive" and not just "survive.")
2. OVERTRAINING. "The curse of the eager athlete," says Keith. He notes that many athletes are Type A personalities who can forget that sometimes those extra miles can do more harm than good. His excellent advice--check your heart rate and other symptoms (changes in eating or sleeping habits, for example) to make sure you are training properly. There is always the need for a balacing act by athletes. For Keith, who is making a name for himself as a top ultrarunner, those extra miles are helpful. He notes that increased weekly mileage has resulted in improved race performances. (My two cents--be smart. Listen to that little voice inside you that really knows what's best.)
3. STRETCHING. Keith was of two minds here. On the one hand, he did mention a "stretching injury." On the other, he did note that flexibility can create faster turnover and a longer stride. "It's a sure-fire way to create speed and reduce injury," he says. OK, so how do we make sense of this? My two cents--there are a lot of people out there who are stretching improperly which, yes, can cause problems. Everyone should go research Active Isolated Stretching right now, and never ever ever do any other kind of stretching again.
4. RUNNING GEAR. First, Keith was sweet enough to give props to Your Local Run Shop. Thanks for the shout-out, bud! Then, he does go on to say that technical fabrics and a GPS are a runner's best friends. Keith wisely notes that cotton shirts are "useless" to a runner, and praises the GPS for its inspirational abilities. "Seeing how far I've run helps motivate me to keep up the miles," he says. (My two cents--Boo cotton! Hooray fun running stuff!)
5. MENTAL CHATTER. Now if anyone would know about mental chatter, it would be an ultrarunner. "I try to remove conscious thought and let my body get on with the job of running My legs know what to do without 'me' getting in the way. It gives me the edge on very long runs." Keith also gives a nod to visualization techniques. He mentions that all professional athletes use it to get that extra boost. "You've put a lifetime into getting your body prepared for running," he writes. "It makes no sense not to give the mind some exercise as well." Well said, Keith! In fact, next month's column will be on visualization, so I will save my two cents for then!
Thanks for your ideas, Keith, and for taking the time to write! It's always great to have new ideas and input, so we all can learn.
Coming up. . .
Visualize Red to Win Gold!
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