Returning to the Sunrise

I have often said that I've never met a sunrise I didn't love.

Recently, thanks to the increasing daylight, I've been able to return to my (almost) daily sunrise exploits. Of course, those consistent exploits are currently suffering a brief setback due to the time change. Within a few weeks, though, that "lost" hour will be reinstated (mostly, LOL) and all will be well.

None the less, I'm eager and ecstatic to be experiencing the sunrise again...

Off-Season doesn't mean On-Couch

Have you ever taken an off-season?

Many are afraid of declaring an off-season, fearing all (or some) of their fitness gains will disappear. An off-season is not a time of complete and total laziness. It's actually a time of maintenance, while recovering from a busy, action-packed or demanding season.

Myself, I had several races on my calendar this past year, especially in the last four months. All of these races were sprinkled in with training for the Marine Corps Marathon. The dominant activity was running (no surprises there), which encompassed long runs on most weekends, weekly speed drills, and many short, easy-paced runs as well. There also was plenty of cross-training to keep my muscles strong and stave off injury.

Alas, the final race of the season has come and gone...so now it's time to recover, regroup, and ready myself for the what's next. Enter: Off-Season!

Early Morning Running is Where It's At!

I'm all about the early morning hours.

Lacing up and heading out in the pre-dawn hours can be an opportune time to knock out some miles, especially in the summer months. Even if the humidity is already heavy, with the sun low in the morning sky, the summer heat will usually be at its lowest for the day.

What's to love about the early morning runs?  Let me elaborate...

Switching Gears...Say Hello to Ellie

One thing I have learned is that running isn't everything.

Even if it's my sport of choice, I have become an even better runner by doing other things. For example, I'm a huge advocate for stair-climbing. I also enjoy an invigorating power walk, any time of the day. Strength-training has also been a longtime supplement to my training.

Recently, though, I added a new friend to my fitness family. I'd like you to meet Ellie. She's my elliptical trainer.