Category: Sweat

Sometimes the hardest part of any workout is simply getting out the door. This is especially true when the workout in question involves a long run. It can be hard enough at times to get motivated to jog just a couple of miles, and when that distance stretches out further, it can be incredibly tough to get yourself psyched up for a little roadwork. But being disciplined and mentally tough is usually the key to achieving your fitness goals, and it can pay off in these situations too. Here’s how you can get yourself mentally prepared for that long run.

Break The Run Into Segments

Let’s face it, long runs can be really monotonous at times, and just thinking about all of the miles ahead can be daunting. You can overcome this to a degree by planning out your route ahead of time and breaking it down into shorter, more digestible segments. Then when you hit the road, think about completing those individual segments one at a time rather than powering your way through the entire run. By separating the route into smaller portions you can prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed and stay more focused on the task at hand.

Create Smaller Goals Within The Run

Obviously the main goal of any run is to complete the distance that you’ve set out for yourself. In order to get through a longer workout sometimes it helps to set smaller goals that you can accomplish along the way. For instance, you may focus on reaching a certain landmark within a set time or completing a specific leg at a faster pace. These smaller goals can turn into little competitions with yourself that not only improve your fitness but also take your mind off the distance you’re running.

Give Yourself Something To Look Forward To

When preparing for a longer run it’s easier to get motivated if you give yourself something to look forward to while out on the road. For instance, most of us run with our smartphones and a pair of earbuds these days, which obviously helps to keep us entertained while working out. Leverage this technology by creating special playlists of your favorite songs and saving them for your longer runs, which will give you something to enjoy while you’re running. Better yet, interesting podcasts and audiobooks can help distract you from the distances you’re covering by giving you something else to think about along the way. Save those items just for your run, and you may find yourself looking forward to a workout just so you can find out what happens next.

Change Your Route. Often!

One sure way to get bored of your longer runs is to stick to the same route all of the time. When the scenery doesn’t change much, you’ll find yourself having a difficult time getting motivated to go run the same path once again. Mix it up by running in different parts of town or getting dropped off at a new starting point and finding your way back home. It’ll be a lot easier to head out the door if you know you’ll be seeing new things along the way, and you just might enjoy exploring new neighborhoods, parks, or roads.

Find A Running Partner

Running can be a lonely activity, particularly when you’re covering longer distances. Finding someone to run with can make your runs much more communal and improve your outlook and performance at the same time. Having a running partner doesn’t just mean you have a companion for those long workout sessions, it also makes you accountable to someone. That helps to keep you motivated while also giving you someone to chat with on the road. A bit of friendly competition can help push you to run a bit faster, too, as you challenge each other along the way.

Give Yourself A Day Off

Running is both mentally and physically taxing, and sometimes a lack of motivation springs from the fact that you simply need to take a break every now and again. If you’re finding it hard to get excited about a longer run, go ahead and skip it. Chances are your mind and body will appreciate the time off, and you’ll feel more eager to get back on the road again afterward.

Long runs are hard, and finding ways to keep them fresh is important. Hopefully these tips will help you to continue pursuing your running goals and find the motivation you need for that next workout.

Are you trying to decide between taking a Pilates or Yoga class? Are you confused about the differences between the two? Pilates and Yoga are similar practices in that they both work strength and flexibility, but their differences are also numerous.

Let’s start at the beginning, The Pilates Method began as a form of rehabilitation, increasing muscles strength and flexibility in the body.  Pilates originated in Germany in the mid-20th century.  Yoga originated in India and is more than 5,000 years old.

Yoga classes tend to vary based on the style of the practice being taught.  Classes are created through a combination of postures, sequences, and variations.  And of course, there is part of Yoga class that everyone loves, Shavasana. That moment where it is you, your mat and your breathe, the end, you know you have made it through class!

Pilates classes are often considered more structured with a typical class repertoire.  The Classical Pilates Method has five levels of exercises from beginner through to advanced levels work.  The repertoire will vary depending on if you are taking a Pilates Mat or equipment class.

If you are looking for a grounded, meditative workout you may lean more towards a Yoga class that comprises static stretching-holding postures for a length of time to stretch muscle groups.  With The Pilates Method you will experience dynamic stretching, slow and controlled movements that stretch and strengthen muscles simultaneously.

Both practices incorporate the importance of breathe work.  The Pilates Method teaches natural breathing patterns coordinated with each movement and exercise.  Inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth. While Yoga breath work is taught as a technique to create and move energy through the body.  The breath is inhaling and exhaling through the nose to build energy and warmth in the body.

For me, the main difference between taking a Pilates or Yoga class is that with The Pilates Method, the emphasis is on using the deep abdominal muscles and pelvic floor while the body is in motion.  While Yoga focuses more on anatomical alignment of poses.

I think The Pilates Method and Yoga are a good balance, and personally helps to push my Pilates practice further.  On the days I am need to be more grounded, Yoga explores the body, mind, spirit connection and can be more meditative.  With The Pilates Method, the focus is on how the connection between the mind and body helps with everyday life.  My favorite part of any Pilates class is when you leave with the sense of standing taller from a stronger core, now that’s a great class!

With both Pilates and Yoga classes of there are numerous benefits to each one. Let’s take a look at Yoga first; you’ll enjoy increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone, improved vitality, cardio and overall health.  With Pilates you’ll improve overall muscle, core strength and stability, improve posture, balance, and flexibility, and decrease everyday aches and pains.

Though The Pilates Method and Yoga have some key similarities, they are two very different practices.  The best way to find out which one is best for you is to try out several classes in each practice.  Mix and match between Pilates mat and equipment classes. As well as between Yoga Flow, and Hot Yoga class.  Who knows, like me, you may find that you love both practices, and are able to incorporate them both into your workout repertoire.

I am thrilled by autumn’s arrival. Sipping a warm latte while taking a walk down a colorful tree-lined street, wrapped in a cozy sweater and riding boots? Uh, yeah! Sign me up.
There’s a whole lot to love about the current season. Football games. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Cozier clothing. Comfort foods. Bonfires. Cuffing season. Cool weather and hot drinks. Mmm. Cheers!
…But hold up one sec. Before I wax poetic about autumn’s delights, did you notice the common thread in that list? Every single item I mentioned has the potential to derail your health goals. No good thing comes without a price, right?
Luckily, I’ve got you covered with a few easy-to-follow guidelines. Let’s break down the ways and times we compromise our diet and fitness regimens as the weather cools down—and how to avoid that fate, while still enjoying some fall favorites.

Football Games

Trap: Football food isn’t exactly forgiving. Tailgates and viewing parties abound during game time and pre-game festivities, complete with beer, wings, burgers and hot dogs, loaded potato skins, fatty “salads” that do nothing for your waistline.
Fix: Offer to bring your own dish along, and make it something healthy—like a plate of fresh-cut veggies, or a grilled-chicken salad. Stick to one indulgence. It’s beer or a few loaded potato skins, not both.

Warm Drinks

Trap: A Starbucks cup is practically a fall accessory in its own right. However, tons of the contents in that little white cup are sugar, calorie and fat bombs. From pumpkin spice lattes, to mochas and hot cocoa, warm drinks can run you up toward 400 or 500 calories if you’re not careful.
Fix: If you want your favorite coffee-shop beverage, order up that chai tea latte (YOLO, right?). At the same time, that specific order should be the exception and not the rule. On a regular basis, stick to nonfat lattes with flavorful spices cinnamon and nutmeg, the array of nutrient-rich teas available (from peach to ginger) and all the killer seasonal coffee roasts (holiday blends and pumpkin are comin’). It’s warming up the smarter way.

Cold Weather

Trap: First of all, it’s not as easy to get motivated for your workout when temperatures are taking a nosedive. Secondly, it’s easier to hide that extra five pounds under a big, roomy sweater instead of the bikini—or so you rationalize.
Fix: Start budgeting for your winter workouts. If you can exercise outside most days in the summer, save your gym or yoga membership for the months you’re stuck indoors. Beautiful weather is motivation enough to get an outdoor workout in the summer. In the winter, if you’re paying for that workout, you’re more likely to follow through. And don’t just stick to cozy oversize clothes and leggings during the winter. Wear jeans and trousers once in a while to make sure they’re not getting hard to zip into. It’s checking your health status without obsessing over the scale.

Bonfires

Trap: As a midwest girl, I’m well-acquainted with the bonfire get-together. These casual affairs are usually coupled with a lot of eating and chatting—and not much activity. It’s easy to tip back a few beers, cook up some s’mores and dogs, indulge in some cocoa and totally bust your calorie bank every weekend.
Fix: Mix it up! Suggest a corn maze or haunted house to your crew, so you’re moving instead of eating. And no more than one s’more or cup of hot chocolate. If you must eat something sweet outside that, roast up another marshmallow. At 25 calories a pop, they’re not packing nutrients, but they’re also not packing on potential pounds.

Comfort Food

Trap: I get it. When the weather cools off, that creamy, cheesy soup is way more appealing than a cold salad. But in the fall and winter, one cannot (should not) live on mashed potatoes and mac n’ cheese alone.
Fix: Steam or bake your veggies, so feel warmed and satisfied while still getting your daily dose of key nutrients and fiber. Also, sub those comfort food favorites for veggie-based alternatives like spaghetti squash, cauliflower mashed potatoes or eggplant pizza crust (at least sometimes). When you’re noshing on the real deal, make sure it’s a side and not the main event. The key word is portion. Half a cup is enough to satisfy, but not overindulge.

Cuffing Season

Trap: It’s a truth universally acknowledged that many seek out relationships in the fall, leading into the holiday season. If you’re going on dates and getting serious with a special someone, it’s easy to drink a little too much, eat a few too many restaurant meals, and put on some unintended “happy weight.”
Fix: Go ahead, get lost in love! Just don’t lose sight of your health goals. Plan active dates where you’re working out together, or at least walking—apple-picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, walks in the park—and build healthy meals at home, like a batch of broth-based veggie soup or roasted Brussels sprouts. (Cooking together real bonding, my friends.)

Halloween

Trap: You might be an adult, but that doesn’t mean Halloween has lost its appeal. Whether you’re a parent picking at your child’s enormous mounds of candy, or you’re at a party with fancy spooky cocktails and sweet treats—you’ve got to be careful around October 31.
Fix: Set limits. The week of Halloween, stick to the rule of one per indulgence per day. If you’re attending a party, you get one cocktail or one dessert. Choose wisely. And if you’re noshing on candy at home, give away or set aside everything you don’t absolutely love. If you’re a Twix and Snickers fanatic, but think fruity stuff and M&Ms are just meh, you know what’s hitting the wayside—and then, again, one sweet treat per day only, and it stops the week after Halloween. No noshing until that candy is finally gone by, say, mid-April.

Thanksgiving

Trap: While the table is likely lovely and overflowing with heavenly comfort foods, Thanksgiving might be the worst health trap of the season. Not only do we overindulge on the day, but we’re also likely to retain oodles of leftovers. Ah!
Fix: First, you want to enjoy yourself—but make it your goal to feel comfortable by day’s end and not stuffed. Pick one or two indulgences at the table—like sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, pecan or pumpkin pie—and stick to taste-testing portions of the others. Try to fill your plate with lean cuts of turkey, salads, and veggies like corn and green beans so you don’t overdo it on the caloric stuff. If you’re the host, send leftovers out the door with each guest. It’s the generous thing to do, and you’re saving yourself from temptation in the fridge for days to come. And at the end of the day, no matter what happens at the table? You let it go, and start fresh tomorrow. Diets are not made in one day, so don’t let any “mistakes” get you down.

You’re lying in bed in the morning, thinking how happy and proud you are of yourself for kicking butt in spin class the day before…until you roll over and try to get up. Your thighs are screaming, your butt is killing you, and every time you twist, your abs go into spasms. Is this the thanks you get for doing your body good?!
Delayed onset muscle soreness (or DOMS) is caused by microscopic tears in your connective tissue that make your nerves go haywire and cause inflammation and a buildup of chemicals and fluids. Although it feels crappy, muscle soreness is neither good nor bad for you. Studies conflict over whether your body needs to be sore in order to get stronger and fitter. The truth is, you can get healthier without it. But sometimes, when you push hard, it happens. And although it’s not bad for you, it can demotivate you to catapult yourself into your afternoon 10K and make you feel like general crap all day long.
Muscle soreness usually peaks 48 to 72 hours after your workout, depending on your body, and it takes just about as long to go away. There are things that you can do that can speed the process along. Here are 10 easy ones to help you feel better, quicker.

1. Water

It’s true. Water does a body good. In the case of muscle soreness, water will help to repair your muscles quickly and flush away excess fluid. Aim for at least eight glasses a day.

2. Massage

Manual pressure helps flush out waste products and increase circulation which speeds up the healing process. Foam rolling, a new popular way to “self massage,” is really good for you as well. It uses pressure and targeted massage to help prevent scarring of the connective tissue between your muscles (the fascia).

3. Curcumin

An extract of the turmeric root, curcumin has long be been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Researchers have found that curcumin supplementation causes a decrease in DOMS-related symptoms, muscle damage, and inflammation which lead to improved training and performance along with injury prevention. You can take an oral supplement daily but also get the benefits by sprinkling it on veggies, adding it to eggs, and using it in soups and stews.

4. Sleep

While you rest, muscle building chemicals increase and help your body to repair. Sleep is essential to a healthy body and you should aim for at least seven hours per night, but eight to nine hours is the optimal amount.

5. Snack

Protein helps build muscle and studies have shown that small, frequent meals can help your body build muscle better than one big one. Try to eat your first snack within 30 minutes of finishing your workout and continue for two to four hours after. Five to seven grams of protein per meal is what you should aim to get.

6. Tart Cherry Juice 

Touted as one of the hottest foods in 2015, cherry juice is high in antioxidants which help inflammation and muscle soreness. Put a splash into your smoothie or drink it straight up!

7. Creatine 

Creatine is an amino acid that fuels your muscles and gives you the energy to rebuild and refuel. The more energy you have, the better you can repair and recover. Choose oral supplements or add some to your post workout snack.

8. Mushroom Extract

The ‘shroom works by activating ATP, the energy powerhouses in your cells, to give you “clean” energy without resorting to stimulants. Add fresh dried mushroom to soups, stews and meals or opt for an oral supplement in capsule or extract form.

9. Magnesium

Essential for healthy muscles, magnesium also serves as a gentle, natural muscle relaxant. Instead of taking an oral supplement, add it to a warm bath or compress where it can be absorbed by the skin and act more effectively.

10. Caffeine

Recently, researchers found that drinking caffeine (about two cups worth) helped reduce muscle soreness in women after a hard workout. It works by blocking adenosine, a chemical released by your body in response to injury.

I read a story on the Stir about a woman who had weight loss surgery and lost 180 pounds. She was “bitterly disappointed” after her weight loss because her life didn’t magically become better. She said, “I was skinny, but my life wasn’t suddenly and magically perfect — and that completely astonished me.”

I am sorry that she was disappointed with her lack of happiness and perfection in her weight loss, but her experience can help you understand that losing weight isn’t a magic bullet to a perfect life.

Expecting a perfect life after you lose weight is common. This woman isn’t the first person to assume that a large amount of weight will solve life’s problems.

I had that expectation before I lost weight, but I quickly learned as I was dropping 10 pounds here and 20 pounds there that my overall life wasn’t changing. Just my appearance and my health.

Even though I looked tons better than before, I was still the same person inside with the same problems and same feelings.

Weight loss does not make your financial problems disappear, does not make you suddenly become happy with your appearance, and it definitely does not fix relational or emotional problems you may have been dealing with before you lost weight.

All weight loss really does it change your outer appearance and in most cases, improve your health.

The people who are sad that losing weight did not fix their life are usually the same people who:

1) Did not deal with the emotional aspects of their weight either before or during their weight loss experience.

2) Had unrealistic expectations of what their life would be like after they reached their goal weight.

People who acknowledge their emotional ties to food and work hard to deal with expectations are the ones who are most pleased when they lose weight.

Why?

Because those people understand the mind connection they have to food. And as they lose weight they gain a better understanding of their emotional relationship to food and realize that losing weight is not going to change their lives completely.

I’ve put together a few suggestions for you to think about when you are in the process of losing weight to ensure you are pleased and satisfied with yourself and your life once you reach your goal weight.

1. Focus On More Than Pounds Lost

Everyone wants to drop pounds when losing weight, but don’t just focus on those pounds. Focus on your life, focus on your emotional well being, and focus on developing the relationships you have.

2. Don’t Expect Everyone to Be Happy for You

Your relationships with people will shift as you lose weight. Sometimes they shift in a negative way. People may be happy for your success or they may not. It doesn’t matter. You need to be happy for yourself and not worry about other people.

3. Be Prepared for Change

You will change in a lot of ways as you lose weight. Your priorities may change, you may struggle in areas where you hadn’t struggled before, and you will look different. Losing weight doesn’t fix your struggles. In fact, sometimes new ones come to the forefront.

4. Keep a Journal

Keep an emotions journal that enables you to look back and discover what situations made you overeat, what foods triggered intense cravings, and how you handled each situation. Losing weight will not fix your desire to eat when you are not hungry and you must learn from past mistakes and triumphs.

5. Face Reality

Your life will be basically the same after you lose weight. You will probably still live in the same place, have the same financial challenges, and be married to the same person.

I know we all want weight loss to solve life’s problems, but sadly it does not. As the saying goes, “Life goes on.” Let’s add this to that phrase. “Life goes on after weight loss.” Have realistic expectations of what your life will be like after weight loss and you will not be disappointed.

Back in the day, Pilate’s classes weren’t set to music. There was an instructor, you, and the works of Joseph Pilates.  When I too, first taught Pilates, dare I say over 14-years ago, there was never music playing in class. As time passed, I started adding in calming ocean waves and background music as a touch of ambiance. As the years passed, and I started to play different styles of music, I found that the music helped to fuel my classes. The energy, especially in group classes was much higher, and you could feel clients energized and willing to really work hard with the music.

Researchers have long known that music and exercise both increase improvements in our overall health.  Recently, more and more scientists are looking at the effects of music and exercise together and how they affect one’s workouts.  They have found that, overall, people work out harder and are more consistent when music is involved.  A study by clinical psychologist Charles Emery of Ohio State University looked at participants’ mental performance after exercising with music.  They were given a verbal fluency test after exercising.  The participants were each in the final week of a cardiac rehabilitation program.  The results were amazing! I knew they would be good – but wow!  On average, the people who listened to music while exercising performed twice as well on the test afterwards than the ones who did not listen to music.  This indicates that mental performance can actually be improved when someone exercises with music.

I personally am a music lover, and have music playing be it while training privately, or on my Pilates mat, or Pilates-Barre classes.  The music is always different depending on the class and the vibe of clients as they arrive for their workouts.  I try to mix up the music weekly to help keep the energy fresh and clients enjoying their workouts.

To celebrate the amazing effects of music on our health, below is an upbeat 55-minute playlist that I created for one of my Pilates classes. As a fitness instructor, I am addicted to making new playlist that revolve around my moods and new music loves.  I hope this playlist invigorates and energizes you as much as it does for my classes and I.

Tiesto & Hardwell, “Shimmer”

2.   Kiesza, “Hideaway”

3.   Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne, “Real Love”

4.   Beyonce, “Halo (Dave Aude Club Remix)”

5. Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream (Tommie Sunshine’s Remix)”

6.   Britney Spears, “Circus (Villains Remix)”

7.   Christina Aguilera, “Not Myself Tonight”

8.   Alesso, “Heroes (feat Tove Lo)”

9.   John Legend, ” All of Me (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment)”

10.  Coldplay, “A Sky Full of Stars (feat. Jess Glynne)

11. Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne, ” Rather Be”

12.  Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”

When your current playlist runs dry, a fresh crop of songs is all that’s needed to bring new motivation to any type of workout.  This playlist is great for Pilates classes, Barre Classes and even private training sessions.

Now, time to get your workout on!

Several years ago, social media was saturated with “thinspiration.” If you frequented Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram, you probably saw collarbones. And thigh gaps. Visible ribs, jutting hips, and waiflike bodies.
Around the same time the movement began, supermodel Kate Moss uttered that “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” which became the motto of the moment. The highest goal, for way too many, was obtaining the marks of a skinny girl—no matter your size, no matter your frame.
Thankfully, today, the thinspiration trend seems to be dying to the mainstream. Now, as a society, we’re much more focused on getting fit instead of getting thin. Fitspiration photos are the stuff of Kardashian instagrams and fit blogs, and we’re constantly bombarded with post-workout photos of celebrities like Demi Lovato, Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Taylor Swift.
While it’s awesome that we’re attempting to promote strong bodies instead of sickly ones, I still have to wonder if we’re there yet in terms of our body-image ideals.
The bodies of fitspiration stars are still tough to obtain, the result of just the right diet and just the right workout regimen followed very consistently over time. Is it too much that we’re cheering washboard abs, biceps with just the right muscle tone, and an endless stream of workout Instagrams?
If it’s affecting your mood and how you view your own body, yes.
Most of us don’t have access to the same resources of celebrities and fit bloggers to maintain those tight, toned bodies. We probably don’t have access to a personal trainer like the Kardashians, a mindlessly healthy diet like Beyonce’s vegan meal service—or a schedule that allows us to get enough beauty sleep, get in a great workout, and then get to work on time.
This sets the table for a cycle of obsession and guilt: obsessing about superfoods, workout goals, and body ideals, and guilt every single day you fall short of your ideal. We can see this trend in the rise of conditions like orthorexia, obsessing about eating very specific “healthy” foods, and exercise disorders.
Social media gives us just a peek at the whole story. Ultimately, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at someone’s health habits—but it’s just a glimpse. What looks healthy on the surface might not be what it seems. I’m not saying every person, celebrity or otherwise, has disordered eating or a fit obsession. But I am saying that it can exist under the surface, and you’d never know who it affects. I’ve talked to enough former workout stars and Instagram-famous health gurus to know it is an unspoken undercurrent of that culture.
Now, it’s not our job to determine who’s healthy and who’s not on social media. But here’s what I hope we all remember about what we see: what looks healthy for someone else might not be the best type of healthy for you.
We all have different calorie and nutrient needs. Different workouts will make us feel our best and reach a body type that’s sustainable. Maybe you don’t have cutting-board abs. Maybe you splurge on the occasional topping-laden fro-yo on the way home from work. Maybe you don’t track every bite of food on an app. Maybe your Instagram couldn’t pass for a fit blogger’s paradise. That’s okay. All of it. As long as your highest goal is maintaining personal health, without the burdens of guilt and shame when you don’t meet narrow goals.
Personally, I struggled for a long time to figure out what healthy looks like, but I finally know that it’s not working out six days a week for an hour, fitting a specific dress size, or eliminating all carbs or sugar from my diet. It’s living my life without obsessing about numbers, making mostly healthy dietary decisions, working out as much as possible (without killing myself), getting enough sleep, surrounding myself with good people—and keeping a positive attitude about my body.
If you follow that formula, your body is probably going to morph into the one you were intended to have all along—whether it be fit, thin, curvy, strong, soft, or whatever word you choose to assign to it.
Healthy is beautiful. I hope you seek and find your version of it.

One of the most common questions that runners have is how they can improve their overall speed. Dedicated runners usually obtain a good level of fitness through regular workouts, and they can generally go for miles without stopping. But many often end up hitting a plateau in terms of how quickly they can cover those distances. If you find yourself wondering how you can improve your running speeds, here are some helpful tips that could help you shave time off of your pace.

Focus on Form and Stride

Many runners don’t actually think much about their workouts. They simply head out the door with a distance in mind, and soon find themselves lost in thought as they listen to music in their headphones. But if you concentrate on maintaining a good running form and a natural stride, you’ll learn to be a more efficient runner that can cover longer distances at a faster pace. You should run with your back straight, standing tall and leaning slightly forward, while landing with the mid-foot rather than the heel. Swing your arms in a natural movement forward and back, while avoiding moving them from side to side. Add in long, natural strides that allow your legs to flow smoothly, and you’re likely to see noticeable improvements in efficiency and speed.

Sprint Training

One of the surest ways to improve speed while running is to simply run fast. You can’t just decide to do that on your longer runs however, as it takes time and conditioning. You can switch up your workouts to include sprint training though, which involves running fast intervals over shorter distances. Running a 50 or 100-meter dash, then taking a short break before doing it again will help to build muscle, as well as improve cardio efficiency. Both of those are key elements to running faster on longer runs as well.

Stretch Daily

It is debatable whether or not stretching can help avoid injuries while working out, but it can definitely improve flexibility and loosen up the muscles. This has the benefit of shortening the time it takes for your body to warm up while on a run, which is important when you’re looking to improve your times over longer distances. You should also stretch on your rest days too, as it will keep your body limber and relaxed at a time when muscles tend to tighten up.

Run Hills

Let’s face it, hills are the bane of a runners existence, often pushing our muscles and lungs to the max. But if you want to run faster you shouldn’t avoid hills, as the effort to get up, and down them helps improve your overall level of fitness and ultimately allows you to run faster too. And once you’ve learned to conquer the hills, it’ll bring a nice sense of satisfaction and confidence to your running as well.

Cross Train

Running may be an excellent workout, but there are other exercises that can help you get fit and improve your speeds too. For instance, cycling is a good alternative to running in terms of building lean muscles while still working the legs. Sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups are also great for the core, which is integral for improving your running times as well. Lifting lighter weights can help build strength and tone muscles without adding bulk, which can help to maintain your speed over longer runs.

Don’t Forget About Your Shoes

I’m not sold on the idea that wearing one specific shoe over another will make you a faster runner, but there is something to be said for finding the right pair of shoes that work for you. Your shoes should be comfortable on your feet and provide plenty of cushioning from the road or trail. What that means for each individual runner is truly a personal matter, and finding the shoe that works best for you will certainly help you run better. Also, don’t forget to replace them with a new pair every 300-500 miles, as once the support starts to go, it’ll put extra wear and tear on your legs that will eventually slow you down. Keeping your legs fresh are an important key to achieving improved personal times over longer distances.

The key to improving your running speeds isn’t about working harder, but more importantly running smarter. Wanting to improve your time is a natural part of the sport, and these tips can help you achieve that goal. Don’t forget to be stay hydrated, and be mindful of what you eat, as those elements can have an impact on the efficiency of your runs as well. With a bit of focus and planning, you’ll soon be taking precious second off your run times, and pushing the limits of just how fast you can truly go.

Ahhh the long run. Runners love to hate it and hate to love it.
Actually, I take that back, most of us love to love it. But I digress.
The long run, for those unfamiliar, is a workout typically done once per week when training for some sort of long distance race, such as a half marathon or above. The goal of the long run is to slowly build up the cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength necessary to cover 13.1 miles, 26.2 miles, or more by spending time on your feet and, more often than not, plenty of time in the aerobic zone (hence, the “slow” concept of the “long slow distance” ).
And while long runs are necessary, and some of us even find them fun, there is no denying that sometimes long runs can not only hurt but make you really hungry and tired.
So while no one can blame you for wanting to top your latest 15 miler off with a cold beer, potato chips, and a long nap on the couch, there are a few things you should probably do to ensure the best chance at proper recovery.
HYDRATE. And I don’t mean with a cold beer. Well at least, not quite yet. Rehydrating post workout is probably the most important thing you can, and need, to do. So instead of that beer, start instead with some water, and perhaps even an endurance-specific electrolyte recovery drink. The rule of thumb is to drink between 16 and 24 ounces of sports drink for every pound of body weight you lost during exercise. Proper hydration will not only help speed up recovery from your long run, but will help you avoid all of the uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous, side effects of dehydration.
REFUEL. That is, eat something. Sure, it’s incredibly easy to justify an entire plate of bacon, a whole pizza, and a quart of ice cream when you just ran 20 miles. But keep in mind the food you consume post run is your best chance at refueling your muscles and aiding in recovery. So which would you rather reach for…something healthy or junk? Make smart choices: find something with a 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio to help replenish calories, nutrients, and glycogen stores as well as speed up muscle recovery. And as an added bonus: smart, healthy choices will help avoid the ever popular long run weight gain.
ACTIVE RECOVERY. Don’t worry, your Netflix marathon is coming soon, but don’t hit the couch quite yet First, give your legs a little bit of attention with light stretching or gentle massage. Hop on the foam roller, grab “The Stick,” or drop into your favorite yoga poses to help lengthen and relax your tense muscles. Avoid vigorous massage as it may damage the already injured muscle fibers. Take a short, easy walk to encourage blood flow to the muscles, which will help further stimulate recovery.
ICE BATH? This one is up to you. Researchers are still on the fence as to the benefits of an ice bath, but if you are up for the subjecting yourself to the icy cold torture of an ice bath, it might be worth a try. If you are new to the ice bath practice, check out the tips in this article “To Ice Bath or Not to Ice Bath: That is the Cold Question“, to ensure you go about it safely.
REST. Now you can finally prop those feet up. Take a nap, play an extended round of Candy Crush, read a book, do whatever you need to do to stay off of your feet for a while. Allow those muscles to relax as they begin to heal. But the key here is to not spend the rest of your day on the couch. After a while, consider going for a walk to get the blood flow circulating to those muscles once again (see “Active Recovery” above). I can assure you, it really does work. My worst post marathon recovery was when I spent 8 hours in a car almost immediately after the race. My best post marathon recovery was when I spent 8 hours walking around Disney World almost immediately after the race. Rest is important, but active recovery does help.
While the hard work is done during your long run, the hours and days after are where the progress in your running strength actually happens. While no one can blame you for having the “I just ran really, really far, I can eat/drink/do whatever I want” feelings, the choices you make post long run can really make or break your recovery and progress. Now, I’m certainly not saying to NOT treat yourself, I like my post long run I.P.A. as much as the next person. But making smart choices in your recovery the majority of the time will absolutely pay off on race day.

Have you’ve felt fatigued, cranky, or bloated lately? Has every month turned into one long PMS party for you and those around you? You, my friend, may be experiencing levels of hormone imbalance. Generally speaking, hormone levels stabilize after your period, however, various life aspects such as stress, poor diet, and anxiety are also culprits that can cause hormones to go out of balance.
So how can you tell if your hormones are off or if it’s just life that’s got you feeling like a “hot mess”? Alyssa Dweck, OB-GYN and MD at the Mount Kisco Medical Group in New York, shares the five red flags that suggest it’s time to check-in with your doctor.
Night sweats: Unless it’s unusually warm in your bedroom, or you are living in Arizona right now, waking up feeling hot and sweaty could be the result of lower estrogen levels and infrequent ovulation, also known as perimenopause. “Perimenopause can occur up to 10 years before you’re even near the age of menopause,” says Dweck, “so unless you’re having major menstrual issues before age 40, there’s a good chance your phantom sweating could actually be early menopause.” Either way, Dweck recommends making an appointment with your doctor to have your hormone levels checked out.
Fatigue: Exhaustion is one of the most common, and hardest symptoms for a doctor, since it has so many possible causes. “If you’re tired after a week of final exams or late nights at work, then you’re probably fine,” says Dweck. “But if you are constantly feeling worn out and notice weight gain, appetite fluctuations, and a change in bowel movements, it could be a sign of an underactive thyroid.” Yes, fatigue happens to everyone, be it from daily life stress like work or home life. But if yours doesn’t feel logical, then it’s time to get a checkup with your doctor.
Hair growth: “If you all of a sudden you grow a beard within a month or notice coarse, dark hairs popping up on your chest, back or arms, that is usually a sign of a testosterone-secreting tumor,” explains Dweck. Don’t freak out, these testosterone tumors are rare, Dweck says, and can often be treated with medication and or minor surgery.
Skin changes: That same stubborn zit is back again! While sudden breakouts could be caused by overindulging in sugary snacks, stress, or in one too many nights of forgetting to wash your face, they could be signs of something more.
“Adult acne or cystic acne around the lower half of your face could suggest a high level of testosterone,” says Dweck. Although not a life-threatening problem, breakouts can take a toll on your self-confidence. Nowadays, your doctor can prescribe medications that can help stabilize your hormone levels and clear up skin.
Hormones control the various metabolic activities of the body. They help to provide the proper amount of energy and nutrition your body needs to function. Hormones tend to get a bad rap, when in fact, if properly in-balance, can increase our stamina, libido, and lean muscle mass, as well as promote an overall sense of wellness.
With that being said, don’t you think it’s time to find a bit of balance in your life?