Category Archives: Exercise

Stop Snowing! 30 minutes on the treadmill

Exercise, Goals, Motivation

I was doing really well in the beginning of the year. Even though it was 18 degrees out, at least the sun was shinning. Maybe I was more motivated (definitely a factor), maybe I was less busy (that sounds like an excuse), or maybe the weather just seemed more cooperative? Whatever the reason, I’ve been seriously lacking in the mileage department the last few weeks.

This week was no exception. I was busy. It rained a few days. I kept making excuses. Then this morning came, and I thought, today is the day I redeem myself. I’m going to get up and run 7+ miles and feel great about myself. Too bad I forgot to check the weather last night. 🙁

Continue reading Stop Snowing! 30 minutes on the treadmill →

Short runs still add miles

Exercise, Goals, Motivation

Another busy week, another lazy running schedule.

As usual, I overcommitted myself and found very little time to motivate myself to run. I keep telling myself that I need to take better care of myself, carve out the necessary time, but the morning comes and it’s cold and dark and windy. I find myself working late into the night to meet commitments that I stupidly said “yes” to. I’ve also been trying to commit to more sleep, which means I need to cut time either on the front-end (morning) or the backend (night).

Continue reading Short runs still add miles →

I was super lazy this week

Endurance, Exercise, Goals, Motivation

I was really busy this week. That was my excuse. This week in particular I had to head down to NYC for a day, it was my daughter’s birthday, plus I had a night out with friends planned. In fact, I had to attend an event for my niece and chaperone a Saturday birthday party with a gaggle of screaming 7-year-olds. So, like I mentioned, I was really busy.

Now, with all that being said, sure, it may have thrown me off for a few days. But, it was also cold in the mornings, and I’ve been working late into the night on some projects. So it became very easy for me to blow off my runs. Well now here we are on Sunday and I hadn’t done any running all week. I took a few walks during lunch (one at a brisk 14:45/mi pace), but that pales in comparison to a good solid half hour run. I couldn’t possible let the entire week go by and not at least get a few miles in.

Continue reading I was super lazy this week →

Weight Training for the Lazy Runner

Endurance, Exercise, Strength Training

Exercises

Running is an excellent way to exercise. It helps with cardiovascular fitness as well as endurance training. For the lazy runner, however, running can easily lead to injury if you do too much, too fast. This is where a proper weight training regime can really help, not just to prevent injuries, but also to increase your endurance and make you a better runner.

Continue reading Weight Training for the Lazy Runner →

HOW TO: Recover like a Lazy Runner

Exercise, Recovery

Whether you’re just starting to run, or you have been an running for awhile, it’s important to properly recover from a run. For the lazy runner, it’s also important to not push yourself too hard and too fast. If you’re just starting out, don’t run every day of the week. Start off with just a few short runs a week. Proper recovery is important because this is where improvement will happen. Proper recovery will ensure that your body gets the right amount of rest it needs for the next work out session and for every day life activities.

Once you have finished a run, the recovery process is starting to take effect. The fibers in your muscles that have suffered micro-tearing and been robbed of energy are in the process of recovery. Also, your bones that took a toll during your run are starting their own recovery process. It’s important to follow a well-balanced recovery regimen to keep you on track and to stay healthy.

Continue reading HOW TO: Recover like a Lazy Runner →

An interesting take on exercise and weight loss

Diets, Exercise

I came across this interesting article on Medium the other day that challenges the link between exercise and weight loss. As someone who has struggled a bit with fluctuating weight and has mixed in combinations of diet and exercise, I think I might have to agree.

A few years back I did the Insanity workout with Shaun T. I did it religiously, every day for 63 days. The net result? I only lost about 4 pounds. There are a few caveats here, though. I did NOT follow the diet. I didn’t eat terribly, but I wasn’t watching calories either. I also think I gained muscle and lost fat. I certainly looked better, but my weight didn’t change much.

Continue reading An interesting take on exercise and weight loss →