I have a confession to make. I haven't truly cross-trained in over six months.
As Emily at Daily Garnish explains, cross-training - especially of the strength variety - is essential to being a successful runner. Sure, those twice weekly spinning classes count as cross-training because they give your body a break from the stress of running, but they are still aerobic exercises working more or less the same muscle groups.
James and I belong to Gold's Gym and once upon a time I attended twice weekly Power Cut classes (read: a combination of aerobics, light weight/high rep strength training, and pilates). But then the schedules changed and more and more I opted to come home and kick back with a beer than making the classes work.
I was cursing this decision at the 2010 City of Oaks Half-Marathon Mile 8, as I trudged up the long gradual incline, the crowning glory after a series of hills. My breathing checked in fine, but my form was collapsing. My ankles felt weak. (Are my feet still connected to my shins?) My back ached. I hadn't built the support I discovered I was going to need to deal with the incline changes of that race.
That's where Claudia comes in.
Claudia is both an awesome teacher and a true inspiration. She's a small Latina powerhouse with a soft voice, outrageous hair, and thighs that you can break bricks on. She recently won her age group at a half-marathon in Wilmington - and only ran on the weekends to train. "Between teaching spinning and Power Cut classes, I didn't have time." She encouraged me to come back to Power Cut; I should have known what was waiting for me.
Probably because she also has a background in yoga, Claudia is not only strong but also flexible. Squats with Claudia is unlike any leg workout I've ever done. This rendering is not far from the truth.
I love the added red face! haha too cute.
ReplyDelete