Finding Balance

I've been thinking a lot lately about keeping balance in life and how it relates to keeping balance in running.  

Balance is an extremely important part of running and one that is often taken for granted. Balance in running can be described as the neuromuscular skill of initiating your muscles and adjusting your body alignment to keep you upright while running.  Having good balance while running will help you anticipate and react to changes in the body's equilibrium.  There is a ton of research out there about having the proper form when running to keep your balance and avoid injury, as well as to be an efficient runner.  

Beyond having the proper form for running, there are a host of other areas you have to work on to stay healthy and perform while running;

1. Cross training - what other exercise are you incorporating into your running program to help you strengthen your stability muscles (i.e. hips, knees, core)
2. Shoes - are you wearing the right running shoes for your gait
3. Warmup/Cooldown - are you being cognizant of doing your warmups and cooldowns before and after runs
4. Run Type Mix - are you doing enough steady state maintenance runs vs stress runs (i.e. hills, speedwork, long distance)
5. Nutrition - are you fueling your body with the right foods and mix of macronutrients 

Running is a balancing act just like life is a balancing act.  In life you have to find the right balance between career and family, enjoying your favorite foods and staying healthy, spending and saving, family time and kids time, and so much more.  When you get out of balance in one area you can feel how it starts to affect the other areas of your life.  Finding balance is a fine line and when you have it you can feel how right it is, but when you are out of balance boy oh boy can that create some stress in life.  

My wish for all of you on this rainy Friday afternoon is that you find your own balance in life, as well as in whatever other hobby's you have.  

2015 Goals & Race Schedule

December Recap

Pounded out 107 miles in December, keeping with the 5 days a week schedule I've been using.  3 days of easy runs, 1 speedwork day, and 1 long run.  Pretty happy that I was able to maintain that schedule thru the holidays too.  Also, started Insanity Max 30 for cross training and so far am seeing some nice increases in speed.  

Running Goals for 2015

I'm a big goal setter, so it goes without saying that I would be setting specific running goals for this year.  Here are my top 4:

1. Break 20 minutes in a 5K
2. Break 50 minutes in a 10K
3. Target 1:45 for a 1/2 marathon
4. Complete my first full marathon

The first 3 are tough ones, but I know I can get there.  The last one - completing my first full marathon - well now that one is a little daunting to me, but I know it will be mostly my mental will that will get me thru that one.  Its been on my bucket list to do and so I am putting it down in writing!  

Race Calendar (for first 1/2 of the year)

In an effort to hit the above goals, I've decided to tackle the following races

Village 10K on January 31st - this one is very close to where I live and will be a good test of the speedwork I've been doing

Cupids Cup 5K on February 14th - I've done this race once before and it is a pretty fast course so looking to see what the 2 months of Insanity Max 30 will help me gain here

Corporate Cup 1/2 Marathon on March 7th - I'm excited to try this race and course out

Racefest 10K on April 11th - this is the home of my first 1/2 marathon, but I am going to do the 10K instead on this one since it's only a month out from Corporate Cup

May & June are TBD

Run the Edge

Just for fun, I've decided to do a virtual year long race with Run the Edge to conquer 2,015 miles in 2015.  I am not doing it alone - I have 2 other team members (Chad McCurry and Lori Croston).  It's a fun way to stay on track with your running goals for the year.