WEEKLY COACHING ADVICE
Featuring Sportmedbc’s Runwalk Coach and resident Olympian
Greetings everyone. Thinking of you all as Greater Vancouver turned into a winter wonderland. I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the weather. I managed to find my toque, warm mitts and extra jacket for my morning jaunt with the dog today. It was cold at – 2 degrees, but it was gorgeous with snowflakes coming down and the road beautifully quiet and peaceful. Honestly, if I dress properly and take care with my footing, I love it. Be sure to slow down in these conditions and plant each foot firmly with a soft bend of the knee. Of course my perspective comes from remembering my days as an athlete training in – 30 temperatures in blowing- snow Saskatchewan. So gang, this is nothing. A frosty beard and eyebrows on every run back in the day along Wascana Parkway.
Our friends up north are truly dealing with less than ideal running conditions, but you can draw from the inspiration that they are out there following the program the same way that you are. Our Sportmed Runwalk team will soon be heading up to Quesnel and the Queen Charlottes to help motivate these folks, and you can bet we’ll be wearing warm socks and hiking boots with running insoles for our Runwalk workouts.
By now you are well on your way into Week 2 or 3 of the Sportmed Sun Run Intraining program. You should be progressing nicely, establishing your routine of training three times a week, recording your successes and feeling fantastic about yourself!
For me, this week’s inspiration comes from a clinic member who showed up this year having “lost” something …
Fifty pounds that is. Because of keeping the running going since the 2011 Vancouver Sun Run, all the way through the summer and fall. It’s the No. 1 question I get asked by participants early in the program: When will I start to lose weight?
My answer to this is pretty simple: Be patient. Exercise and healthy food choices will eventually increase the rate at which your body burns calories. Some of your fat tissue will turn into muscle, so your shape may change before you actually lose weight. Cut yourself some slack and try to focus more on how great you feel when you complete your sessions. Drink plenty of water, get your rest and choose balanced meals and snacks. Pay attention to our Sportmed dietitian’s weekly advice.