How Les Mills Classes Help My Running

 

Hello!! I’m back to school (teaching) and just finished my first week.  I’ve been teaching BODYPUMP/CXWORX and violin lessons over the summer, but on my own time.  Now I’m getting back to a regular schedule and trying to fit it all in again!  I got a little behind on the blogging, but I did a lot of house projects this summer and was enjoying my time with family and our puppy 🙂  I will definitely post about the home improvements once things are complete, because I had great success with Pinterest projects!

Above is the Hal Higdon Marathon Novice 1 training plan I’ve been following for my upcoming October marathon.  This will be my third marathon!

I am going to finish week 12 this weekend.  I’ve been trying to maintain teaching my Les Mills classes along with this training plan.  Sometimes I’ve dropped a mid-week short run, but I’m okay with it.  I have to stop being obsessed with the training plan and just go with the flow!

 

Above are my iPhone workout notes from the past two weeks.  As you can see, I’ve been teaching BODYPUMP and CXWORX each week and trying to fit all my runs in as well.  I have gone DOWN on my leg weights for pump (squats and lunges) to prevent dead legs on my long runs each weekend.  Once I got to week 8, my long run was 13.1 and I need to take care of my legs.  I just want to stay healthy and keep my body injury-free!

 

I just realized that you can search distances on Garmin Connect!  I had an amazing 15 miler the other weekend, and looked up my other 15 milers from past training seasons.  This 15 was my best, by far!! I like that I can see them all in one spot.  I ran the first 5 on my own, and then my buddy Amy joined me for the last 10!

After my 15 miler, my body was tired.  I felt tired the next week, was hungry all the time and my legs were tired.  I know that is pretty normal, so I didn’t get upset that my 16 felt tough.  It wasn’t as good as my 16 miler in 2011, but that’s okay.  I didn’t do a 16 miler for my 2nd marathon in 2012 because I pulled my calf.

I’ve still been teaching BODYPUMP 90, because I like the release so much!  I’m ready to switch out a few tracks for a change this week, but I’m so ready to start memorizing 91!  I LOVE release 91!! I can’t wait to teach it and I’ve been listening to it non-stop on my long runs!

I’ve been trying to focus on my upper body when I teach pump since I’ve been going lighter on my leg tracks.  I can always build my weight back up after the marathon.  I know my legs are stronger from the muscle I’ve built because overall, my running has been so much better.

I LOVE CXWORX and I’m still teaching release 15.  It’s still hard for the class and still has my face dripping with sweat after the oblique track!  I LOVE the music for release 16 and I can’t wait to teach it soon.  My core is stronger and the class really works my shoulders, BACK, legs and hip flexors.

 

 

Not fitness related, we got new furniture and Bella approves!