By Joe Nuss
It’s back-to-school time and for many parents, the first school morning of the year can be tough. Getting kids on the bus on time, or waiting in line in carpool, can sap time from our summer workout routines and leave us a bit cranky. But in change, there is opportunity. As you transition to your school-year workout routine, consider shaking things up and doing something new and fun. In this issue of Endurance, we offer suggestions for adding events with friends to your schedule, incorporating a stress-busting element to your workouts, and getting you unstuck from a current routine that might not be working.
You may not be facing school-year challenges like some of us, but we all get stuck in a training rut sooner or later. Maybe you’re bored with the same run over and over, or you’re not making the kind of progress you thought you would, or you’re just not having fun. Whatever the case, read Vickie Leff’s article “Getting Unstuck,” which offers some quick-fix solutions and preemptive strategies to get back on track before a training rut brings your training to a halt.
One great strategy that Leff offers, and one that has worked well for me on many occasions, is “gear inspiration.” New gear always motivates me to train, and what better gear to motivate you than new shoes? Twice a year, running shoe companies release their newest products and make updates to our favorite trainers. This fall, we’ve got a new review guide just for you. Whether you’re a mid-foot striker or a heel-striker like I am, you’ll be happy to have some great new shoes coming in at weights traditionally reserved for racing flats this year. Shoes don’t have to be flats or minimalist to be light any longer! Check out our shoe review guide to find the best new shoes for your next inspirational gear purchase.
Another great way to shake things up this year is to share a new running goal with friends. What better shared goal than a relay race? Writer D.C. Luchessi shares the misery-loves-company awesomeness that transpires when you and some running buddies rent a van and set a goal to run a few hundred miles in just 24 hours, give or take. Events like the Tuna 200 Run, coming up in October, offer just that. The Tuna Run starts in Garner, N.C., and traverses eastern North Carolina all the way to Atlantic Beach, ending with a finish-line party.
If the idea of spending the better part of 24 hours carpooling with a bunch of sweaty, stinky runners seems more stressful than not, you may consider de-stressing by spending more time with that four-legged friend curled up at your feet. While it may seem all dogs are born to run, some are better suited to it than others. In this issue, we take a look at which breeds are the best fits for various paces and distances. Whether you need a training partner, protection, or just want to wear your dog out, you’ll want to make sure Fido is up to the task, too. We provide some tips on how best to incorporate your dog into your running routine this fall and winter.
Finally, don’t forget the tried and true methods of stress reduction, such as weekly yoga and monthly maintenance visits to massage therapists and chiropractors. Taking care of yourself with yoga and massage will pay dividends in a long athletic lifestyle or career, not to mention helping you recover in the short term. In his article “Being Whole,” Joshua Stevens writes about how these practitioners not only solve problems but encourage the body to become more sound in the long term. And don’t forget our other great articles on how to sustain yourself as an athlete. Writers Brian Schiff, Elizabeth Towe, and Brian Diaz provide helpful exercises this month to keep you strong and injury-free.
Inspire. Perform. Endure.
