Your Training Questions Answered

Carly asked: “Do you have any workout music playlist suggestions?”
Oh do I!! I am actually in the process of making a 1/2 marathon playlist for my big day, though I am not alllowing myself to sync it on my iPod until April 24th so I don’t ruin it for myself… I have to get excited somehow, right?? My best advice is to load your MP3 player with a variety of tunes… some in your face get-up-and-go music to get you excited to kick off the race, loud rock/pop when you’re struggling in the middle {and yes, I am planning on this happening to me at some point}, and other favorites to keep yuor spirits up– I’ll let you know a little secret: my playlist includes lots of the following artists… Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Muse, Breaking Benjamin, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Kings of Leon, and Jay-Z to name a few!

WestSacHoney asked: “Do you walk in between at all? Or straight running the whole time?”
Depends on what day it is–normally, I try to run the entire time, except for when I am first starting–I walk the first 1/10 mile, and then for cool down–the last 2 minutes or so. But if you have a hard time running continuously, it’s GREAT to switch it up into intervals–research shows it’s actually better for women to run, walk, run, walk than to run without breaks… do whatever is right for you and you’ll build up to longer distance runs

Amber asked: “I am scared to try spinning – isn’t is super hardcore??”
Well, that all depends on the instructor to be honest… some will have you wishing you’d never walked in the bike room, but others have a way to hook you fast, knowing you’ll be back again and again for another great workout–the thing I love about spinning is that it really does compliment your other workouts and it is something different than the mundane cardio and weights I normally do. Adding a class or two to your weekly routine will REALLY pay off and your body will thank you for it come bathing suit season =)

Teresa asked: “Do you run with an iPod?”
To put it nicely… YES!! In other words, I am NOT a runner who can tune out others and focus on my breathing patterns… I must ALWAYS have my trusty iPod–and in all honesty, I have 2 so if one has a dead battery, I have a backup to rely on to keep me going

Ashley Carole asked: “I just started training for a 10k and I was wondering how you train in the cold weather?”
Training in the cold weather can be difficult for everyone–myself included–which is why I am staying inside for the most part until spring comes my way!! Although if you are brave enough to endure the cold temps, make sure your body is covered and dressed properly. Focus on dry, breathable socks, workout wear with breathable material, a hat to keep your nogan warm, and SPF to put on your face–the sun can still get you when it’s chilly!!! They say to dress 20 degrees under what the actual temp is so that your body knows how to compensate for the change.

Hope these help!! Send any and all questions you have and I promise I’ll try to answer them as quickly as possible =)
Good luck with all your training friends– I can’t wait to see how all your hard work pays off, too!!