M. Suzanne Terry

So it’s not Friday…but I’m almost caught up!

We have talked a lot about actions you can take to make yourself safer when you run, but here are five types of classes you can take or exercises you can do to stretch, strengthen, and protect yourself.

• Pilates is helpful because it works your core. Every exercise, whether it is designed to stretch or strengthen (or both), relies on isometric core work. My favorite is still Winsor pilates. The 20-minute workout doesn’t take a lot of time, but try it a few times a week, and you’ll start noticing differences in your balance and endurance quickly.
• Another good way to stretch and strengthen is to incorporate a regular yoga practice into your life. I like yoga because there is something for everyone. It’s also mentally soothing, which is a plus for most of us.
• My inner ballerina loooves barre. In fact, the first Pure Barre class I took reminded me of ballet warm-ups. You know, if warm-ups lasted an hour and kinda made you want to throw up (in the best way possible, of course). Do not be fooled by the fact that most of the class takes place on the floor. This is the best strengthening workout I’ve ever done. Hydrate, though. Also, don’t eat before you go to your first class.
• Kickboxing is a great way to work on your agility. It’s great for runners because it teaches your body how to use its strength in directed movement. As an added bonus, it lets you practice kicking which might come in handy if someday you need to take out an attacker’s knee. Just sayin’.
• If you’re going to be out and about on your own (running or otherwise), it’s a good idea to have some basic self-defense moves under your belt. There are a lot of videos online, but I recommend taking classes so that you can practice and get feedback right away. I sort of want to take Krav Maga classes.

Tomorrow we wrap up safety week and start our discussion on rest.

I’m spending 31 days running wild.