Happy New Year from everyone at www.gripandhammer.com.  We all have New Year’s resolutions, but the problem is to keep them up once you’ve started them.  Better yet, “STARTING” is the key issue here and then keeping the resolution going.  So remember to keep things exciting for yourself and find out early on what works for “you”.  My resolution for this year is to hopefully help you get better and be better as a runner.  I may not know all the answers to your needs, but I surprise myself sometimes, so ask away!

As the days, weeks and months unfold, I’ll be providing random workouts and a workout regimen.  The problem is that all of us have different goals in mind and our levels will change over time.  So if you’re a beginner now, you may become an intermediate runner within a couple of months.  It all depends on how your body adapts to the workouts and your current condition.  If you stay all year at a beginner level, there’s nothing wrong with that either.  Just be sure that you’re doing the workouts and eventually things will improve.

My goals for you over the coming year is for you to stay healthy and injury free.  Although I can’t promise that will happen, I will do my best though.  Again, please see a doctor before attempting to do these workouts.  Also, a doctor will be able to guide you and possibly tell you want kind of category you should be running in (if at all).  The good news is that I will also try to supply an “Alternate” workout or as most athletes know it as “cross-training”.

Cross-training is a wonderful thing.  There are several reasons why cross-training is so important.  One, it gives your body a rest from the normal stresses of just running.  Two, it gives your mind a rest and gives it a chance to concentrate on something new.  So when you get back into running, your mind is fresh and ready to run.  Third, even though you are resting from running, you are still working out and keeping your conditioning up.  Most athletes will incorporate cross-training into there weekly workouts, especially in the off season.