Category Archives: Fitness

Race Recap: Springfield 5K

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Granted, I have not been blogging lately.  No excuses!  Of course, it is hard balancing training, work, and life.

Since I last logged on, I ran another 5K.  I have decided to focus on shorter distance races, instead of pushing myself towards the half marathon.  Since the knee injury last year and the pain that I am still experiencing due to scar tissue, I am playing it safe this time around.

Last Saturday, I ran the Springfield 5K, which was held in conjunction with the Springfield Days festival.  My friend urged me to run this race, as he was planning to run the 15K.  While the 15K was tempting, I opted for the 5K to attempt to shatter my previous record:  30:45 (which I accomplished at the Walter L. Mess W&OD 5K in March 2012).

The 5K started off downhill, so I was able to run faster than usual.  I would guess my pace was in the  8 minute/mile arena.  However, the early downhill did have a negative impact, when it came to keeping the pace in the flat portions of the course.  I knew going fast in the beginning might backfire and result in some walk breaks a little down the line.

By the time the 5K runners separated from the 15K runners, I knew it was going to be a reversal where we would have to go back uphill again.  For some reason, my body was not too thrilled.  If my quads were able to give me the middle finger or scream, they would have on the Commerce Street hill.  I just dug deep and pushed myself to get up that hill in one piece.  By the time I got over that hill, my adrenaline kicked in and I sprinted back to the line.

Overall, I placed 12th in my age group with a time of 30:36 (9 seconds off my previous time).  If you are looking for local races, check out RunWashington.com.   The next race I am looking at running is another 5K during Father’s Day weekend in Cleveland.  Hopefully, I shave a minute off this time (if things work in my favor).

Sad State of the Playground

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When I was growing up, one of my favorite pastimes was going to the playground.  It was a time to forge new friendships, get a break from school work, and to exert some excess energy.  Granted, there was always some sort of bullying, whether it would be this tall boy trying to take a basketball and hold it out of my reach (I was short and this was the common treatment).  Overall, it was a great experience.

According to a recent CNN article, the playground has changed into a judgment zone.  It is not harmless picking, like the treatment I experienced growing up; rather it has morphed into a place where kids are judging on the size of another.  Talk about being exposed to body image issues at a young age.

Fat is the new ugly on the school playground. Children as young as 3 worry about being fat. Four- and 5-year-olds know “skinny” is good and “fat” is bad. Children in elementary school are calling each other fat as a put-down.’’

As our country becomes more obsessed with increasingly skinny ideals of beauty at the same time that we’re getting more obese, “Fat hatred has become so pervasive that it is part of the fabric of our language and interactions,” says Dr. Robyn Silverman, author of “Good Girls Don’t Get Fat: How Weight Obsession is Messing Up Our Girls and How We Can Help Them Thrive Despite It.” “Fat and thin are no longer simply assessments of size or weight, but rather of character. So you can imagine why adoption of these attitudes, diet talk and disordered behavior is happening earlier as well.”

Granted, it is natural for children to notice that they are different than others, and this is to be celebrated.  However, with entertainment and media focusing on the images of extremely skinny celebrities, they forget to remember that children see these images.  This is leading to children judging other children on the stigma that our society focuses on far too often.

However, there is another factor that the article addresses:  how the parent addresses his/her own body image before the child.  Is the parent focused consistently on dieting or over-exercising?   A child sees how the parent conducts themselves and seeks to emulate them.   It is natural, but it can be unhealthy for a child emotionally.  How about appreciating your looks and seeking to live a healthy lifestyle?  This is the greatest role model for children to see.

Perhaps, a child judging another child’s body is becoming the new form of playground bullying.  I hope this is a wake-up call for parents to address that each person is unique, beautiful, and destined for great things. It is time for the playground to return to its fun roots.

**Note:  As a former social worker, I worked with children in a clinical setting.**

Good News: Chocolate is good for you and…

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the world turns. Seriously, I was not surprised by the results of a study found in the Archives of Internal Medicine that pointed to the correlation between consuming chocolate and a lower body mass index. Chocolate has proven antioxidants that have been known to reduce heart disease, as well as lowering blood pressure.

The study points out:

Body mass index (BMI) is part of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) picture, and other MetS elements relate favorably to moderate chocolate consumption. Therefore, we hypothesized that the benefits of modest frequent chocolate intake might extend to reduced fat deposition, potentially offsetting the added calories. To evaluate this, we examined the cross-sectional relationship of chocolate consumption frequency to BMI.

This study also focused on those from 20-85 years old, who participated in some form of aerobic activity at least three times a week.

Of course, this study does not point out is the need for moderation and making healthy choices. When one thinks about chocolate, it is usually the first instinct to grab a Hershey’s bar, a Twix bar, or some other milk chocolate delicacy. However, these are loaded with plenty of empty calories and ingredients that do not offer the benefits of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is the best option, as it is loaded with plenty antioxidants and when consumed in smaller quantities offers more health benefits. Along with exercise, chocolate can be healthy.

Journey into Bikram Yoga

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You knew this post was eventually coming, and I forewarned you that I was going to write about other things outside of politics. So, without further adieu, I present to you the first into my series focusing on fitness.

With health care costs increasing significantly every year and with obesity rates at 36%, exercise is the best preventative medicine around (along with eating right…but I’m not going to go all Michelle Obama on this post). It gives you energy and for the most part, it provides focus and clarity.

Today, I ventured into a Bikram Yoga class. It was not my first time encountering a 104 degree room and holding poses. I had been before, but I was not thoroughly convinced that it would be the perfect alternative to running. However, after today’s class, I feel this could be an alternative.

Bikram Yoga has many benefits including increased flexibility through intense stretching, and allows the ability to sweat out the toxins. Of course, you need to drink lots of water before, during, and after practice to remain hydrated due to the excessive amount of sweat loss.

Running has caused a few injuries along the way, and lately, I have been feeling frustrated by the fact that I am in pain a few hours after a long run. It is great cardio, and one that has contributed to my overall weight loss. From being overweight in high school, I bought my first pair of running shoes during my freshman year in college, and the first run was painful. Needless to say, I have been running strong over the years with several races under my belt (a 5-K, 8-K, 10-K, and a 10 miler), and a goal to run a half marathon this year.

However, I need balance. I tried CrossFit, but I feel like that it is taking away from my overall flexibility. Yes, I like weight lifting, but I really don’t need to add muscle mass or bulk to my petite frame. Yoga feels like a natural complement to running. I just feel flexible and peaceful after class, which is a good thing.

In the end, if you can take the heat and are willing to embrace your inner self through the practice, you should definitely try Bikram Yoga (or another form, if you are not a big fan of the heat). The health benefits are tremendous, and there is no doubt that you will leave with a peaceful feeling at the end of practice.