My trainer is AWESOME.
Amy is much prettier in real life, and I am much rounder.
Umm, this might be a little premature to say seeing as I just had my first training, but I'm pretty confident when I say that I have THE BEST TRAINER EVER.
When I first started out the whole Marathon Missfit blog, I had no idea how I would get to my long term goal. Thankfully, Steph the web editor had some awesome contacts up her sleeve and was kind enough to introduce me to Amy Guth who we found wandering around Michigan Avenue looking for more projects to take on. If you Google "Amy Guth" you will find like 9 million cool things that she does. Seriously, her bio reads like a bucket list-she's pretty amazing!
Yesterday was our first initial meeting/training session and I was NER-VOUS. Honestly, I felt like I was going on a first date with the captain of the football team. Would she like me? Would she think my outfit is cute? Is she going to make me cry? My stomach was in knots the entire morning.
We went to my gym so that I could at least save face by not falling on my butt in the ice and snow. She had me walk with her on the track and asked me all sorts of questions such as what was I doing so far (not much) what exercise experience do I have (nada) what was my history of medical injuries (none-its pretty safe on the couch) and so on. Again, just like a first date!
We walked, we ran, and then she showed me some great stretches/exercises that I could do to strengthen my core which currently is in the geometric shape of a blob. She even showed me that you can use a yoga ball for exercise. Interesting. Prior to this I had been using it to torture my dog.
Amy then let me ask her all sorts of hard pressing questions, like what race has the prettiest medals, and what is her favorite mid-run snack. I told her that my one demand throughout this whole thing is that I WILL-NOT urinate on myself, and I don't care how long the line is, I will stop and go to the port-a-potty if need be (Just to clarify, I heard that some marathon runners pee on themselves during the big race. Gross). She agreed and I felt much more at ease. She also said I don't have to completely give up beer in which I began to weep for joy.
Amy also gave me the ok to share all her deep dark training secrets here with all you first-timers, so stay tuned because I'll be posting my training schedule soon!
Alright, that's all for now, I'm off to draw CR + AG in a big heart on my trapper keeper...
8 Comments
Amy Guth said:
The pleasure is mine. You're going to be great. Day by day, yoga ball crunch by yoga ball crunch, it'll all come together.
Note to self: we gotta take more pictures of training. Not that your stick figure representation isn't really awesome, ha!
Steph Yiu said:
:) I love this blog post!
Emily Rosenbaum said:
Trainers are the best. When I had a trainer, I learned so much about the body and what sort of exercise it responds to and that excuses just keep me fat. Stick with it and you will definitely see results. If you like to beat stuff up, try boxing. It's a great calorie torcher and it makes you feel like a badass.
Connie (Marathon MissFit) said:
"excuses keep you fat" that is an awesome way to look at it Emily, thanks! And yes I think I'm going to have to try boxing, how did you know I have a bit of a temper?? =)
Emily Rosenbaum said:
Hee. The line about torturing your dog gave you away.
Gump B said:
I'm using a back injury as an excuse not to run. But I have the desire back. I have found a new fear of the wild mountain lions in the neighborhood in Salt Lake City. I haven't come to peace with the big cats yet.
Gump B said:
When you're ready to urinate on yourself, you're read for the Wasatch Front 100, 100 miles through the toughest Utah mountains.I'm still getting Amy to think about that race.
HotStilettos said:
As a veteran marathon runner and ultra racer who runs all year around, I have some sound advice for all those novice runners who will be crowding the lakefront during the warm weather.
First, for your own safety and the safety of others practice proper lakefront path manners. For example, if you are passing someone, yell "On your left!" so that the person is not surprised when you come up behind them. If you are the one that is being passed and someone yells "On you left!" MOVE OVER to the right and get out of the way. This is very important when cyclist are passing you. Face it. You will be terribly injured if hit by a cyclist. The lakefront path is two directional just like a motor vehicle road in the USA. Therefore, do not run as if you are driving in France. Seriously! Can you be more rude? On that same note, if you are running with a buddy or two, DO NOT HOG the path. You should move to the far right of the path and only run two-by-two. When crossing the lakefront path to obtain water at the many drinking fountains along the way, please look both ways before crossing over. I have witnessed several novice runners get hit by cyclist and had to be carted away via an ambulance. It is not a pretty sight. There was blood everywhere. When running with your IPOD, do not blast the damn thing in your ears so you cannot be alert as to other cyclist, runners and pedestrians. Come on! I beg of you to PLEASE practice common sense. You are not the only person in this world or on the lakefront path.
Second, make sure you properly hydrate along the way and wear appropriate dryline clothing, shoes, socks, body glide, running sunglasses to prevent injuries. You will be truly sorry and your training will be short lived. I have witnessed novice runners throwing up on the lakefront path as I am speeding by doing my daily 13 miles. It is not pretty and most likely because the person was experiencing heat exhaustion.
Third, carry at least 20 dollars on you or your ATM card in the event you do get injured so you can flag a cab to take you to the hospital. I also suggest carrying your cell phone for EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY. Seriously. How vain are you that you need to be on your cell phone chatting with friends while you run? Can you be more ignorant? Moreover, your failure to pay attention could result in you injuring someone or yourself being injured. Again common sense please.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck and have a safe, productive and rewarding running season.
Now if you will, "ON YOUR LEFT!" I am speeding by. :)
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: