Functional Training 101, Cobb-ish salad, and a perfect winter run!

Here is the workout I mapped out for myself yesterday. I had every intention of banging it out, no problem. However, as the day got on I noticed a little twinge in my left hip flexor/groin area which reminded me that I had felt the same thing the night before, with my feet on the inverted BOSU core set. A bit later I felt it on my right side also- nothing severe, just a twinge that made my hip joint feel a bit "off". That's enough of a reason to take a rest day in my opinion. It is a lesson. Although it's hard to be motivated and it is disappointing to skip a workout you are planning, it is devastating to be injured. The workout can wait; the way I see it "just give me a good enough reason to rest" hehe.

I have been doing a lot of unilateral BOSU work as well as added more stability challenge to my core sets by placing my feet on the inverted BOSU. These are new and advanced (for me) positions I have worked up to, so it is reasonable that I am feeling sore in different places. It is best to take it slow- functional training 101.

I was also planning a run today because I have some time without my kids, and that is always the perfect opportunity. So here's the good news! The weather cooperated with a mild but fluffy-snowy morning and I was out the door (after a hectic AM of driving around) by 10:30AM. I texted my running buddy who I knew was doing a L(ong)S(low)D(istance) with his marathon clinic this morning and he joined me for 6.7K. He is the best company. I could have gone farther but he had already logged 13K (the cat is a machine!) and as his trainer and his friend I am mindful of over training ;) As for me, "gas-in-the-can" is always a good mantra and I haven't been running much at all for months. There's no harm in building it back up.

One thing I love about running is how my body feels afterwards. It is very unique. Although I feel pumped up I always feel hard- hard body 101 I always say! I was definitely feeling the workout in my glutes which I am happy about. It is better to feel run fatigue in the glute muscles than the quads and hamstrings. The glutes have more fundamental/base role in pelvic stability and SHOULD be the ones working the hardest while running. If the fatigue travels to the quadriceps and hamstrings that indicates that the glutes are not strong enough to do their job and the fatigue will carry through the collapsing form down the legs! This is a common cause of injury in runners- most often in knees, ankles and feet. Train your glutes folks, and I mean LATERAL! I know I sound like a broken record.

Here is my food detour- a Cobb-ish salad I made last night, inspired by a lunch date I had last week with a girlfriend. This was fuel for my run today. Training is great motivation for solid nutrition. This is romaine lettuce, 3 pieces of chopped bacon, 1 piece of diced pan fried ham, 1 egg, tomato, cucumber, shredded cheese with peppercorn dressing. It was yummy.