One of the reasons why a significant number of athletes don't like running is because they view it as punishment. They dread what is about to come next when the coach looks at them and says "you screwed up, go run laps". It's not fun. Running on a track or a treadmill is also a significant part of cross training for many athletes. Some enjoy it, others hate it. And the folks who hate it view it as something that they don't necessarily want to do, but more like something they need to do to keep up with their training and perform to their maximum potential. For a while I had that sentiment about strength training. I didn't like it. It just wasn't my thing. I liked running through the wilderness, the mountains and through neighborhoods. I felt most comfortable outside. Hanging out in a gym lifting weights, doing squats, and climbing on a stair master just wasn't my jam. Even though I've been running for about thirteen years, it wasn't until about two years ago that I began to really understand why strength workouts are so important for me as a runner. First off, it's a great form of cross training. My other forms of cross training include hiking, cross country skiing, snowboarding, and paddling, so why not throw something new into the equation? Having some muscle and strength also lowers a runner's chances of getting injured, plus having strong core fitness can really help when I'm hauling myself up those mountain trails. Not to mention the impact it can have on physical appearance, body strength that is needed for everyday life, and hormone production.
Okay, so all is this makes sense. This is great. Strength training is awesome for runners. But it still doesn't change the fact that I don't like it. So, how the hell am I supposed to make it part of my cross training routine if I loathe the idea of getting a gym membership, forcing myself to go, and putting myself in a position where I feel completely out of place? I know, I always say that putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations is how we build confidence, but sometimes you just have to draw the line between what works for you and what doesn't. I've tried the gym, and it doesn't work for me. So what could I do? Truth be told, it's been a struggle to make strength training part of my routine. I've been doing it on and off for the last two years, but I could never get a consistent routine down. I've been fortunate to have friends in my running community who teach strength training classes and can offer good tips on what kind of workouts to incorporate into my routine, which is certainly a good start. Ellen, a runner in the community, taught strength training classes at a local park here in Silicon Valley twice a week in the evenings for a while, but I was never able to attend due to my work schedule. That all changed once the pandemic hit. In April of 2020 Ellen began offering her classes virtually through Zoom. Around the same time, Kelly, another runner who is also a personal trainer, began offering similar classes on opposite days of the week from Ellen's classes. I was working remotely at the time so I had more flexibility in my schedule. Bearing in mind the importance of strength training, I decided to join in on a class one day. I enjoyed it and I participated in their classes pretty consistently for a while. Eventually my attendance became sporadic, and ultimately I stopped going all together. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the classes, I just found it difficult to make them a consistent part of my routine. Strength training wasn't my thing but I was trying to make myself do it for that very reason. And to build the strength to be a better runner, of course. Soon after, I tried doing strength training on my own terms, piecing together workouts I learned from Kelly and Ellen. Again, it was consistent, until it wasn't. Sam took notice. She's big on strength training, and I told her that I was having a hard time fitting strength workouts into my schedule and because they weren't my favorite thing, I found it difficult to incorporate them into my routine.
One day, after some encouragement from Sam, I decided to schedule a meeting with Kelly to voice my frustration and get some of her input. I told her that I wanted to make strength training a consistent part of my life, but I was having a tough go at it. I confessed that it wasn't something I was particularly fond of, but I knew it would be good for my running and my physical health. We talked a lot about the positive impact that strength training can have, and Kelly encouraged me to start small. She explained that doing even ten minutes of strength workouts a day consistently would be a good start. I listened and digested this information. "Okay" I thought. "Ten minutes a day, I can swing that. Everyone has ten minutes in a day to do something". Then I remembered that starting small was how I brought running into my routine. It started with two or three mile runs four days a week, and thirteen years later, I had created a monster. I went from ten to twelve miles a week to running stupidly long distances that sometimes take eighteen hours to finish. Maybe I was being to forceful. Perhaps I had been trying too hard to make strength training a regular part of my life, and I should start small, be patient, and let it happen naturally. Afterall, nothing good comes from trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Did this approach work? I don't really know yet, but I can say that I currently have a fourteen day streak going where I've done some form of strength training everyday. It's not much, but I'm starting small, and at least it's been consistent. Consistency is the key to creating a lifestyle, so we'll see what happens. I'm slowly noticing a transformation, and I'm excited to see how long I can keep this streak going and where it will take me. More updates to come!
