Run Like Hell

I read a quote today that made me feel pretty great, so I thought I'd share it...

"Run like hell and get the agony over with."

Our sport is agony. Cross country races are comprised of screaming muscles, gasping for air, and using every last ounce of your willpower not to just walk off the course halfway through. Yet, we come to practice every day and train ourselves to grow accustomed to this pain. We want to feel that pain again, consciously or not. We want to feel it so that we can run faster, better, stronger.

Some people call us crazy masochists. I think we all just love the challenge of running- it's hard and you can never, ever be perfect. There's always something more to strive for.

I'm getting a little off-track here, though. Back to the quote.

"Run like hell and get the agony over with."

During a race, there are moments- a lot of them- where you want to slow down because you don't think you can keep up with the runner ahead of you, or because you feel like absolute shit and you honestly think you can't go any faster. But as the quote says, the faster you run, the faster you'll feel normal again. Why not give it your all? Ask yourself which feels better afterwards: finishing and feeling exhausted, but wishing you'd run just a little faster? Or finishing and feeling like you're going to collapse and die but knowing that you just ran an amazing, fantastic race that you fought for every second?

Remember, you can breathe comfortably... AFTER you finish.

Aaand that's my inspiration for everyone today. :)

Awkward Runners & Shin Splints

Here's an absolutely hilarious video reminding you to never be that awkward runner...

Epic, I know.

On a less humorous note, several members of our team have had issues with shin splints lately. We have incorporated some injury prevention (the barefoot walking exercises) into our weekly routine, but here are some recommendations if you need to do more. First of all, instead of just doing those on the days we do them at practice, do them every day at home. Backwards on your toes, feet spread out, feet in, outside edges and inside edges. Also, start doing shin tap exercises. Stand up and tap each foot (keeping your heels on the ground) 20 times fast, 20 times slow, and 20 times side to side. All these shin workouts help to strengthen the muscles in and around your shins so you're less likely to get injured. As far as recovery, try to ice for 20 minutes, then heat for 20 minutes. Repeat that every day. If you're only beginning to get shin splints, make sure you are doing the ice/heat thing and also running on softer surfaces (grass, turf, trials) whenever possible. If you are reeeeaaally injured and can't run at all, or can only run a little bit, try the elliptical machine and swimming for some non-impactive cardio workouts. Hopefully everyone's shin splints will be better by our first meet THIS THURSDAY! Whoo-hoo!