Runnerssoul

The way you've dressed for your running session affects your running. Believe me. Overdressed and you have a good chance of overheating, which decreases your willingness to make extra effort. Underdressed and you might end up with numb finger tips, which is no fun at all. So, how to dress appropriately for your running training?

      E: You are outside. You are running on trails. Feeling warmed up by now, and happy. Up and down, left and right. The movements are smooth and quick at the same time. You actually feel like you are invincible, like there is nothing you cannot do right now: is it running faster up the hill, or jumping to the clouds. Really, you can do anything!

E: Today, I want to share with you a marathon training plan, that I saw in Runners World magazine (USA, July 2015). I think, it might be worth your attention. This plan requires experience, based on running 30-40 miles a week in past. Also, please note, this is a customized plan, so it is not suitable for everyone. You actually would need the one that fits you the best. So, why do I share this particular plan?  Because, it does represent the main ideas of marathon training: easy runs, tempo runs, hill runs, long slow distance and more. By looking at it, you can adjust your training to your own experience.

E: Do you like trail running? If not, have you ever tried? It is fantastic feeling of freedom, runner's freedom. So, are you ready to hit the trails? Here is my basic list in comic illustration for you: U:   Чи любите ви крос-кантрі біг? Не знаєте: а чи пробували? На мій погляд, це самий що не є біг. Біг, який дає незабутнє відчуття свободи. Спробуйте! Що взяти з собою? Пропоную свій простий список в ілюстрації:

      E:  Hi! If you are reading this post, I am positive, you like running. Running brings you joy, energy, and strength. So it did to me, until Spring this year...       I started feeling like my batteries need to be recharged. I continued to run my usual distances, but the pace I was running with became so much worse. 'Is there anything that can help?', I asked myself. Some magic please! Well, I would like to share with you my personal story of finding my running super-food.       U:  Якщо ви читаєте мій блог, я більш ніж впевнена, ви любите біг. Біг заряджає енергією та оптимізмом. Так було зі мною до весни цього року.       Весною я стала все більше відчувати, що організм потребує перезарядки. Не було сил біжати догори, з'явилася задишка, а моя швидкість значно погіршилася. Уникаючи пагорби, я продовжувала бігати. Не раз запитувала себе, що це може бути, і що може допомогти мені повернутися до колишньої форми. Може, якесь чудо?       Хочу з вами поділити

Finally, I am holding a piece of paper and a pan to write down my thoughts about Gorgany Cross Country Half Marathon in Lviv, which took place on April 26, 2015. This was my very first experience running cross country, and 'oh, boy!', the actual taste of it I've tried only two weeks before the race, while testing the route. This was nothing like, practically even, route in Chicago marathons, that I've had run in the past. This year, Gorgany CC HM was fifth, starting the first one back in 2011. It went from 29 participants-finishers in 2011 (23 men and 6 women) to 258 in 2015 (208 men and 50 women). Impressive!

E:  Introduction to 'New Better Running' Part 1.   Old: Running the same path New: Differentiate surfaces and paths For many years, runners have been sure that hard surface causes injuries. Scientists from Canada made research on how muscles  and feet are reacting to different surfaces. The conclusion showed that, no matter what type surface was, runner's feet received about the same effect. It doesn't mean you have to run the same road over and over again. Every path and surface has its own unique qualities. For example, by running on asphalt, your strides are very similar, since you are running on a flat surface. Imagine yourself running on a table. If you change your routine, and start running on trails, your strides start to differentiate one from another, because of path variations. Also, your surroundings change: from city streets to nature. ! Just remember, if you are training for a city race, most of your runs should be on streets.

U: Ви вже поставили перед собою цілі на 2015 рік? Можливо, одна з них почати бігати більше? Супер! На дворі- зима. Як вдягатися до бігу взимку? Передусім, слої . Одягніть, як мінімум, три : 'cod gear' слой під низ, щоб залишатися в теплі і сухості. Теплий верх. А зверху- захист від вітру. Подбайте, щоб у вас був капішон, на випадок, якщо почнеться дощ чи сніг. Морозно, беріть шапку. А ні, то покладіть до кишені. Принаймні, вона буде поруч, коли замерзнете. Рукавиці. Не знаю, як ви, а я без них мерзну у руки, навіть у зимові плюси. Тому, краще їх брати з собою. Якщо сильний мороз, то не завадить захистити лице. Закрийте рот і ніс балаклавою, і повітря, яке ви вдихаєте в момент стане теплішим. При потребі одягніть окуляри, щоб захистити очі від вітру. Один нюанс тут: якщо вдягнули балаклаву, то окуляри можуть запотівати. На низ я вдягаю легінси від under armour. Ще ніколи не підвели :) Приблизно так. Ідіть назустріч своїм цілям, і погода вам не пе

E: Hi everybody! Do you love to read magazines? How about magazines about running? I do. One of my favorites, for a long time, has been Runner's World (USA) . This magazine taught me a lot about running, when I just came to running, as newbie. I am very thankful to the RW writers for giving me knowledge and useful tips. I was a long-time subscriber to the magazine. Years later, I've decided to stop subscription, since lots of information inside the articles started repeating itself. Last week, I went for a trip to Poland. While waiting for the bus to get back home, I visited '1-minute' stop. One of those places, where you can buy coffee or tea, some kind of snack and something to read, to make your bus traveling more enjoyable. Guess, what I spot on a newsstand? Yes, Runner's World... in Polish. Yeah! Without thinking too much, I grabbed a magazine. So, something different. Curious to find out what Polish authors are writing about running, I've start

           E:  Couple days ago, I saw this pic in my Facebook news feed line. Read it. Then, again and again, trying to catch the sense of humor here. Sorry, I didn't get it.           In my vision, distance runner has skinny toned body. So, why not wearing skinny jeans? Yes, the upper body of a runner, if you neglect some strength exercises, might be not the best built part. But, we are talking about legs. Runners have strong toned legs. I personally admire runners legs :)           What do you thing? Did you catch the humor from this pic? If you are a runner, do you agree with the statement above?         Maryana with a soul of a runner :)

English version: 'The beginning of a new year might be the beginning of a new me', many of us think, and make New Year resolutions. In a month or two, we find ourselves unmotivated, forgetful, tired, way too busy to follow freshly planned routine. So, what stops us from reaching our goals? Today, I would like to share my thoughts about it. The number one reason we give up on our plans, in my opinion, is that we create unrealistic plans. We want an instant transformation, instead of changing one step at a time. Yes, for some people, the cold-turkey method be helpful, but, generally, it creates a bigger stress on our minds an bodies. So, wouldn't it be a better way to make one small change each week towards a big final change.