Running for Fitness:
Achieving Total Fitness
Whether your running for fitness, fun, sanity, a moment for yourself, to save the world, or whatever reason, here are some important
running tips to follow.
In addition, if you're serious about running for fitness, you're going to want to incorporate some other techniques into your workout besides running. So take a look here and choose at least one alternative workout that you will enjoy doing one or two days of the week instead of running. It will enhance your running, your fitness and your overall life and happiness. Just make sure it is something you will be able to have fun with, because let's face it, that's the only way we will keep at it and see long term, healthy results.
Strengthen You Core with Pilates or Yoga
If I were going to choose one other workout in addition to running, it would be pilates. In my experience, pilates is the best alternative workout for the runner for many reasons.
It will help you get in a good stretch, which is very important, and increase your overall strength and fitness, thereby making you a better runner. One of the great things about it is, you can do it anywhere: at the gym, at a pilates studio, you can hire a trainer to come to your house, you can even get a DVD to walk you through it on your living room floor. To find out more about how pilates can enhance your running, overall fitness and quality of life,
check out this website.
It gives a great explanation of pilates and I especially like the style of this site because it is in keeping with our most important theme: HAVING FUN! Or here are some other ways to strengthen your core and improve your overall fitness.
Yoga for Runners and Pregnant Women
Other Exercise to Target the Abs
Exercises You Can Do Easily at Home
Housework
Jumping Jacks, Jump Rope and Other Cardio Workouts
Here are some more great home workout ideas.
Alternative Cardio Workouts that are Easy on the Joints and Feet
Cross-Country or Elliptical Machine Swimming Any workout you do is easier on your joints if you do it on a
rebounder.
Weight Training and Strength Training
Weight training is very important for runners because it helps strengthen your body, improve your fitness and therefore improve your runs but it goes beyond that.First of all, it makes your run easier on your joints. To explain how this works, ever heard that we are only as strong as our weakest link? For example, if your legs are weak, your run puts more strain on your knees, calves, shins and ankles. However if your upper legs are strong, they will carry their own weight and not put so much weight on the rest of your body. Another reason for weight training or strength training is it can help prevent osteoporosis later on in life. Weight training sound a little overwhelming?
Here is a helpful article
to walk you step by step through the process.
Importance of Stretching
When it comes to running for fitness, I cannot stress enough the importance of stretching ESPECIALLY if you are pregnant or nursing. I recommend stretching right before you run, right after you run, even during the run if you feel a cramp coming on. In addition, I recommend setting aside one day a week to not do any other workout, running or anything else, just get in a good 30-60 minutes of stretching. Now, I know stretching is not the funnest part of the workout. But it is well worth it in the pain and injury you will avoid and actually it feels really good afterwords.
Here are some great stretches to try.
Some alternate ways to get in a good stretch is to take up yoga, pilates, join a stretch class at the gym, have sex or hire a trainer to help you with stretching.
Achieving Total Fitness
Here we will look at achieving total fitness, not just health fitness, but mental, sexual and financial fitness. My goal is to be a great mom but without loosing myself. In fact, I believe the more in touch I am with my self, with my own happiness, the more I will be able to enhance the lives of those around me, and the better a mother I will be. That is why I am running for fitness and happiness for myself and all moms everywhere.I think it is important to remember that we are many things. We may be full-time-moms, stay-at-home moms, working moms, work-from-home moms, but we are so much more than that. We are running-moms, fit moms with all kinds of skills, talents, dreams, love and hope for us and our families. And most importantly we are happy moms. Mental Fitness Financial Fitness
Sexual Fitness
Note, if you have been to other pages on my site, you know this site is not for elite runners, people planning on trying out for the Olympics or other professional runners. Sorry, but if that is you, I can't help you, you will need more advanced training. This site is for mamas, beginners and intermediates running for fitness, health, happiness, a great cause, a great time, sanity or whatever other reason. So if you are looking for professional training in order to win an Olympic gold metal next year, I'm sorry I can't be of more help. But if you are running for fitness, fun, family or any other reason besides to be a professional runner, this is the site for you, and this information will help you improve your running for fitness, inspire you and make sure you have a great time while you're at it. But that doesn't mean we can't be competitive or that we don't have big dreams and goals for our running. My personal goal is to qualify for and run the Boston marathon before I turn 34. So regardless of whether you have great aspirations or are just running for fitness, fun and a good excuse to eat a slice of pizza, this site will give you valuable information for how to be a better runner. So all you mommies, beginner and intermediate runners, marathon runners, 5k race runners, slow runners, fast runners, even joggers and walkers, ladies running for fitness and sanity, men by the way are welcome too ;-) you have come to the right place! Enjoy a happy, healthy, fit life and may you be prosperous in all that you do!
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