Chihuahua legs
Getting ready to head west on my mainland travels. So thankful for my time on the east coast! Turkey of course, pumpkin hats (feel free to ask), time with friends and family, subways, meeting new people, new perspectives, and feeling my butt work like never before! I have a term called "shaking chihuahua"...it's when you KNOW your muscles are working because they start to shake. So excited to bring back some fresh concepts and ideas in fitness from Manhatten Island to the Big Island!
Variability in Workouts
As our bodies continually adapt, the inclusion of variablity in our workouts is key. Adding variability to strength training as well as cardiovascular training is a necessary factor in seeing results and avoiding plateaus; and it's more fun! Check out the following article and comment ideas or questions!
http://betterexercisenfitness.com/exercise/post/Importance-of-Variability-in-Cardiovascular-Workouts.aspx
All about balance
My knee pops. I've had issues with my knee for several years due to lots of things like falls, sports injuries, work environment; just like most with similar issues. I was lucky enough to score a leg massage yesterday from my friend who is a massage therapist and very knowledgeable in his profession. Interestingly enough he asked if I had issues with this specific knee and commented on the difference in ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the knees of both legs. He has expressed frustraion on several occasions on how the soft tissues, which make up most of our body, are so often overlooked. Then came the good news: "You can probably improve the condition of your knee quite a bit. Try massage, lots of stretching, and strenthening your hamstrings which are unbalanced from your quadraceps." This was an important comment for me to hear since I often speak on how important stretching is knowing I don't do nearly enough myself. Also, how our body feels is often a reflection to how efficiently we are training and working it. Do your shoulders hunch forward a bit? Do you feel pain in your lower back? Questions like these are so important to ask and to communicate to a trainer. Too often we work the muscles that are already being strenthened in other areas of our activities, outside of the workout, and falling short on devoting time to strenthening opposing muscle groups. So ask yourself "How balanced am I?"
Goal Setting
Congratulations to all Ironman Athletes! Such an inspiring event watching the drive and determination of these elite athletes. Definitely a privilege to watch those individuals who have pushed themselves to discover their full potential. A great time for all of us to think of our own progress and set new goals! Comment back on your own goals, challenges, or training questions!
Traveling to Kona
Visit the activities and travel resources tabs for information on arranging your trip to Kona and visit our Ironman Traveler site for specific information on Ironman training and courses.