An exercise in flexibility

I’ve never been a particularly flexible person, both literally and figuratively. In the literal sense, I have never been able to do deep stretches, or the splits, or stick my head down on my knee while stretching.

And in the more figurative sense, I’m also not a very flexible person. I don’t particularly like change (I know I’m not uncommon in that!), and when I get something into my head, I tend to stick with it.

But lately, I’m working hard on becoming more flexible, in both meanings of the word! First, I’ll just say a little bit about the physical flexibility side.

I’m now about five weeks away from my first half-marathon (on March 1), and I find I’m suffering a little. Tight quads, tight glutes… typical running stuff. And, like many runners, I’m not very good at stretching properly after a run. I’ve also been doing a lot of strength training, particularly during a once-a-week Intense Strength class.

To make a long story short, I need to stretch more and become more flexible, so I have decided to take up yoga. There’s a new “hot” yoga studio (where you practice yoga in a hot room) that also offers regular classes. I am definitely looking into that soon! In the meantime, I have taped a few yoga shows on my PVR, and I’m incorporating that into my training. I already feel a little better, and performed decently at the 8K Robbie Burns race I ran this morning. (45:51… about what I expected. I sure didn’t want it to be WORSE than that!)

Now on to the “emotional” flexibility I’m working on. I’ll start by backing up my story a little bit. The Intense Strength class I’m currently taking is part of a new group I’ve joined called Tread Powerfully (www.treadpowerfully.com). Run by a former instructor at my old gym, this new workout is unlike anything I’ve ever tried. It combines power walking with strength training and is a great workout. Sue, the creator/instructor, is also running the Intense Strength classes as part of it, which is an hour of intense training (hence the name!). I am really enjoying it… the muscle definition I’m getting, particularly in my arms, is great, and I’m really enjoying it. In fact, I’m enjoying it so much, I actually joined my mom up to come with me!

As far as the half marathon training was going, though, it was a different story. I had signed up with the half marathon clinic at the Running Room. And I have to confess, it was tough going. I had to keep missing classes because of my crazy schedule, and when I finally did get to go, I hardly knew anyone. The three people I did know were much, much faster runners than I am, and I struggled to keep up. I would end up running by myself, even on the long group runs. Pretty depressing, and I started to struggle with my training. I began to wonder if I’d even make it to the end. (And that’s shocking for me… I generally have a “stick-to-it-iveness” that means I get the job done.)

Right in the middle of this crisis, I received a very strange e-mail from Sue, the TP instructor. The e-mail said Sue was changing the meeting to a bar in Downtown Burlington so we could meet and talk about the training over drinks.

Huh? I was lost. What meeting? What training?

Two minutes later, a second e-mail popped into my inbox from Sue. It said, “I included you on my e-mail because I know you like to run. I’m getting a group together to train for the Chilly half marathon. It’s a plan I’ve used before, and I really like it because it’s not that strenuous and it’s geared toward moms who work, and have kids, and just don’t have time to be following a tough schedule. I thought you might like to train with us.”

I jumped at the chance, and met with the group that Friday night. Sue presented us each with our own personalized plan, and we talked about getting together as a group for our long runs. I asked my all-important question, “How fast does everyone run?”

Three of the women replied that they had done half marathons in about 2:15 – almost exactly what I estimate it will take me. (Assuming I have a good day, mind you. If it’s not a good day… well, that’s anyone’s guess. But given that I have run a 55 minute 10K, I think 2:15 is probably somewhat realistic.)

So I hooked up with the group and started running. At first, I was doing a mix of both Running Room training and Sue’s training, but lately I’ve been doing just Sue’s. It’s quite different… instead of hills and lots of “easy” runs, this plan relies on fewer, more intense runs. During the runs, you’re supposed to do something called “Aerobic Intervals,” (AIs) which is pushing your effort for a certain amount of time. We started with five to seven AIs at one minute a piece, and now are up to six AIs, three at two minutes and three at 2:30.

The plan also calls for “gentle pickups” at the end of some runs, where you gradually increase your speed and try to run a shorter distance at that speed. Then it calls for a “Tread Powerfully Turbo” class once a week, and the usual long slow distance run on Sundays.

The best part? No hills!! I know, I know… many people swear by hill training. But honestly, I haven’t had time to go to the hill training on Wednesday nights (I’ve already been out 2-3 nights a week as it is, and I was hardly seeing my kids!). And the Chilly half marathon is a FLAT course. Why on earth am I practicing by running up hills? (I think, however, if I was doing the very hilly Around the Bay race, I would definitely train on the hills.)

It was the perfect answer for me. And yet, I had a hard time making the decision to abandon the Running Room training and pick up Sue’s training. Why? Well, that’s where my inflexibility came into play. My PLAN had been to do the Running Room training. Why would I deviate from that plan? Could I deviate from that plan?

Well, I can and I did. I’m already happier for it. I have been running with those three women, and today, we crossed the finish line of our 8K race at the same time. I believe that with their help, I will make my half marathon goals and they will help me get to the finish line in one piece. This past week, I have felt stronger and better while running than I have in a long time. For a while there, I really thought I wouldn’t be able to run the half (never mind even THINK about running a full marathon next year). Now I think I can.

Five weeks and counting.

Happy trails…