Recently, I've had several readers ask me about my passion for running and my general lifestyle when it comes to exercising and staying healthy, so I thought I'd dedicate this post to delve into that topic.
When did you start running?
I actually have been running since middle school. I received a call from the cross country coach; who was looking to recruit more ladies. I decided to give it a shot...and hated it. For some reason I stuck with it and ended up running cross-country and track all the way into college. My competitive drive, delight for the outdoors, and love for my running buddies have all been major reasons why I've stuck with this sport for so long. I really don't ever seeing myself not running, unless I physically can't anymore.
How do you train for races?
My training varies greatly depending on what race I'm running, how far it is, and what season I'm training in. I usually try to go off of a plan from a running coach; such as Hal Higdon or Jack Daniels, but when it comes down to it, it's mostly by feel and what my body deems is "enough." I like to train properly for every race I run, but if I feel sick, fatigued, or just overworked, missing a day or two isn't going to kill me. I also am a big believer in cross training your body. Just because you're training to run a race, does not mean you can't bike, swim, do yoga, or any other activity one or two days out of the week. Cross training has so many benefits; it allows you to work different sets of muscles while still getting a cardio workout, changes up the monotonous of running everyday, and lowers your risk for injury!
Do you have any advice on how to get back into shape to start running again?
You first have to
want to get back into shape and run again. Find a buddy that will hold you accountable or run with you! Start off slow, you don't want to burn yourself out in the first week. Plan goals for yourself! If that means signing up for a race in a couple of months or attaining a goal weight; then go after them. Joining a local running group is one of the best ways to stay on top of your training; along with meeting tons of new people. I'm fortunate to work for an amazing company that puts on many races and training groups each season. For more information, check out
Gazelle Sports' website!
How do you stay healthy and maintain your weight?
I firmly believe that everyone is unique, therefore each individual will respond differently to exercise and dieting. Personally for me, staying healthy is a lifestyle, one that I take very seriously. During my training seasons I usually try to run or cross train 6-7 times a week. In the off seasons sometimes I don't run for weeks, allowing my body to recover from my last race. When I don't feel like running, Zach and I enjoy playing a variety of sports and love our walks together. As far as what I eat, that has changed greatly since college. Over the past 2 years I've slowly started transitioning to a plant-based diet. The last 10 months I've felt amazing and have started to realize the huge significance eating this way has on my body, the economy, and the environment.
Any tips on how to stay motivated?
I love reading blogs and running books about athletes or fellow runners. They always seem to make me want to lace up those running shoes right away! Make sure to reward yourself when you do accomplish your goals. I tend to reward myself with a new running outfit right before a big race. :) I also recommend logging your miles or workouts online. I've used
Flotrackr and
DailyMile and both have been great resources to track how well I've been progressing in my training.
I hope you all enjoyed my running post! Feel free to shoot me an email or Facebook message if you have any more questions. I love talking about exercising and eating healthy.
Anyone have great plans for the weekend?
I'm anxiously awaiting to close on our house tomorrow and start the major overhaul on it! Yippee!!
Have a lovely weekend.
-Kate Lainey
pictures via
Pinterest
