From mile splits to bulging biceps
Elisabeth Andrews is a graduate student in IUB's school of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
The worst thing about marathon training, in my opinion, is that my arms get so flabby. I ran my second marathon this fall and found that as race day approached, all I could think about was how much I wanted to get back in the weight room. Now that I'm no longer spending my mornings logging mile after mile in my running shoes, I plan to get serious about building some muscle and getting my upper body back in shape.
Mike Willett, assistant chair of IUB's Kinesiology department, wrote up a plan for me and my lifting buddy Tricia, a former javelin thrower and fellow runner. Here's how it's going to work:
-We lift weights four days a week, rotating through four different workouts. Each routine should take about half an hour.
-On our lifting days, we'll add about a half hour of cardiovascular training, which could be running, swimming, or using the machines at the gym. I plan to take at least two of those days for interval training, which consists of repeats of one to two minutes of intense effort followed by one to two minutes of recovery.
-The remaining days I'll do slightly longer cardio sessions, 45 minutes to an hour. I may take one rest day each week depending on how I feel.
I teach yoga for the Department of Kinesiology so I will also have the opportunity to stretch with my students Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Tomorrow we are meeting with Mike to learn how to do some powerlifting moves like front squats and power cleans. Maybe I should take some before and after photos- I am hoping for results!
