Add some variety
Skiing and riding bicycles are options
KAITLYN HERBST
Last week the training schedule suggested cross- training, which is something I have been doing all along. I don’t have a choice, actually, since a few weeks after the Sun Run I am registered for a 100K bike ride. Running is my go- to form of exercise: it is relatively easy, you can do it almost anywhere, and the equipment is minimal ( more about this in later posts). I am new to cycling but I figure if it is good enough for Trevor Linden, it has to be good. I am learning to ride a road bike right now and I am loving it. Once the weather cleared up — for a few days at least — I decided it was time to get out there and really go for a ride. I feel confi dent riding my bike but I’m still scared of riding on the road with cars; I guess that comes from seeing too many collisions involving cyclists in my years as a traffi c reporter. I decided to start off on rural roads and paved trails and so far this has served me well. I took my coach’s advice and changed my pace while riding to improve my speed for the Sun Run. While cycling will probably never replace running for me — I really hate wearing padded spandex — it is a great option for cross- training and a fun mode of transportation.
FAZIL MIHLAR
With the help of my physiotherapist, Kim, I did manage to stick to my Vancouver Sun Run training clinic schedule of three runs for the week. As boring as all those stretching exercises are, they help ensure that I don’t have tight calf muscles and/ or lower back pain. I ran twice for 50 minutes each time. I particularly enjoyed a Friday run on one of those rare sunny Vancouver days. Then on Sunday, I had my third run with my running group on the Pacifi c Spirit Park trail for 65 minutes. It felt good. Saturday was a diff erent story though. I went up to Grouse Mountain for a skiing lesson with my kids and wife. They enjoyed the day; not me. I hated every aspect of it: From getting my ski boots on to carrying the skis and walking down the steps like a penguin. It only got worse on the ski hill as I kept falling awkwardly. Trying to get back up was not easy, either. I will stick to running. For more blogs, go to sunrun. com.