Post the Trivandrum Marathon, I've been taking my "rest" period very seriously. Maybe too seriously even! :) Now that my running goals have been met I have decided to dial back on my running and spend the next two months focussing on improving strength & flexibility.
I have mentioned it before: I am not a fan of weight training. I find lifting weights boring and repetitive but developing strength is a necessary part of fitness and so it has become something that I try to incorportae regularly in my workout routine. Very often I turn to workout routines that have a mash-up of cardio exercises & weights and I feel this allows me to get through the routine better and also burns more calories. But a concentrated approach to weight training where you focus on an isolated muscle or group of muscles is supposedly more effective and goes a long way in improving strength & muscle tone.
My husband, Dominic has become my self-appointed fitness trainer in this aspect and has decided that he will train me to get stronger & fitter. It is always nice to have a work-out buddy to push through the excercises but I am also groaning inwardly since I know he can be a punishing task-master (in a good way!)
My plan is also to focus on strengthening those problem areas that are susceptible to injury - especially during running. For me that will be my feet, and the pelvic / hip area. Strengthening the main leg muscles - the quads, hamstrings & calves - are also a must and the reason goes without saying.
Equally important for me over the next few weeks is to develop my flexibility. I daresay my flexibility is above average but it can be much better. For this, I plan to incorporate a lot of Yoga and stretching as part of my daily routine. I have borrowed this really great book on Yoga asanas (simply titled Yoga) from my sister-in-law (who is an expert on the subject and a trained yoga teacher) and am hoping it will push me along my flexibility goals.
So here goes..
