Last week, I had a massage, which was equally relaxing and excruciating. This, in my eyes, is the perfect massage. My legs were a mess. I stretch. I foam roll. But sometimes, there are knots that only a trained massage therapist can work out.
My massage therapist pointed out something I already knew.
“How much do you strength train?”
“Not enough.”
“Well, if you don’t do anything else, work on your adductors. Your other thighs are strong from the running, but your inner thighs are weak and this imbalance will lead to knee pain.”
He isn’t wrong.
I used to be very good about strength training. I own and love ChaLEAN Extreme. I own weights from 2 pounds all the way up to 25 pounds. But once I started triathlon training, strength training sort of went out the window.
But I need to bring it back. The question is when.
My workout schedule is already crazy in the non-athlete’s eyes. Swim Tuesday morning, brick Wednesday, Team Fight swim Thursday, run Friday (well, usually), and long bike and long run workouts flip flop between Saturday and Sunday.
“Well, obviously, you have Monday free. Strength train then.”
And that’s probably what I am going to do for the summer. One day of strength probably isn’t enough, but it’s better than nothing to start out. Once the summer ends though, Monday nights are choir rehearsal nights. So I’ll have to figure something out then. Of course, triathlon training will also be over and I will be into marathon training again. A whole new kind of pain.
I know that once I get back into it, I will love the strength training. But sometimes, I love just having a day off to relax. And by relax, I mean run around the house getting things done that didn’t get done over the weekend.
Race training is insane. But I guess there are worse hobbies to have.
I’ve been taking a TRX class one day a week — which I love — but I find that other than that, I am not doing nearly enough strength training. Of course I am not doing enough swimming either. I need to retire. Maybe then I would have enough time.
I like that thought, Jim!
Sadly, I have many, many years before I can retire. And spending money on races and tri gear isn’t helping that goal! 😉
This is SO me! I don’t strength train NEARLY as often as I should, and I justify it with my already packed workout routine. In addition to running (and constantly training for races), I also take Taekwondo and Thai Kickboxing classes and cycle, and in the summer I (attempt) swimming, so I really cherish that rare “rest day!” But thanks for the reminder…it’s so important, and I really need to hit the gym more often!
Jennifer L. Nelson recently posted…Running Makes You Stronger. Period.
The only way I was able to get strength in is yoga sculpt. I HATE it! It’s always the first thing to go…
They said when you start to be real serious with training, enough is never enough and it should also be the mind set of many. No giving ins and no giving ups.