by Nicole Herold | Jul 8, 2021 | Newsletter

CHALLENGE OF THE MONTH

by Margot Johnson

Many SCRR members are “streakers” – having run a mile, or a specific number of miles, every day for years. While impressive, I don’t think my body could handle no days off! But there are other types of “streaks” or challenges that can be done to improve fitness and help keep you a healthy runner.

Since beginning running a little over 10 years ago, I’ve been injured a few times and while the injuries haven’t been exactly the same, they’ve come down to one thing: weak core, glues, and hips. As I’ve read more about running, and chatted with other runners, this seems to be a pretty common occurrence.

As a result, I’ve seen a PT a few times and she tells me the same thing each visit – these weak areas are leading to the pain. I listen, nod, and go home and do the exercises for a bit until I’m feeling good again…and slowly taper off them while increasing my mileage. Then, it pops up again and I’m back in her office.

Late last year, after seeing her and getting my set of core/hip/glute exercises, I was inconsistently doing them and still feeling pain. Knowing I needed to make a change, I committed to a 30-day ab challenge (which incorporated the other problem areas too). It was the most consistent I’d been with it and surprisingly (to me), I saw results.

Part of my month challenge was doing planks, and I learned about all the different variations – type of plank, length you hold, etc., all with the intent of strengthening the core (and a whole lot of other muscles at the same time).

For those interested in doing a different type of “streak”, doing planks every day for 30 days could be one option. Begin with 15 seconds, 30 seconds, whatever is possible. Choose an increment to increase, maybe 5 seconds every few days, and see where you end up at the end of the 30 days. Or, if you’re already a plank pro, try learning new variations to increase the challenge (reverse planks with leg lifts – OUCH!)

From this “streak”, my takeaway was that 30 days is enough time to
1. Make a difference and build muscle
2. Make something more of a routine

It may not be a running streak – but my mini-streak did help get me on the right path to being a stronger, healthier runner.

FAVORITE THINGS

by Nicole Herold

We runners are usually particular about our running stuff, whether it’s a brand, style, method, or ritual. For this installment of Favorite Things, your fellow Roadrunners shared what makes them take out their plastic and splurge.

Shoes was the overwhelming #1 answer with 14 respondents out of 26 people polled. There was no consensus on manufacturer, but there were a few who had a shocking number of pairs currently in their rotation. It was no surprise that the 2 who work at a running store have the most pairs, 30 for Scott and 22 for Steve Whitson. Most people had between 4 and 6 pairs, which seems perfectly acceptable to this runner.

The priciest taste was for running vacations, or runcations. Seven people identified this as their splurge. Racing and traveling internationally to Berlin and London was mentioned by 4. Domestic races were a hit for not just the race, but for the post-race excursions to local tasting rooms and delicious wine-of-the-month clubs that are a gift that just keeps on giving.

Last, but not least (expensive) was technology in the form of watches. Three people mentioned their Garmin as the big purchase. Of course what’s high dollar to one person is cheap to others, so model ran the gamut.

On what running item do you like to spend the most?

BIRTHDAYS!

• 7/6 – Amy Katz

• 7/6 – Ron Brugger

• 7/8 – Katrina Blake

• 7/8 – Stacey LaRuffa

• 7/9 – Sorel Hanson

• 7/10 – Linda Lemus

• 7/13 – Quentin Talley

• 7/14 – Matt Hood

• 7/26 – Barbara Eckes

• 7/30 – Justin O’Brian

• 7/31 – Mike Connors