“The impossible can always be broken down into possibilities”

– Anon

Here at A Crazy Idea we truly believe the importance of a balanced and healthy diet as well as regular exercise. Below we have created simple exercise regimes you can follow, either to get you up and active, or running schedules you can follow to get you fit in order to partake at any level in the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon on December 3, 2011.

Our exercise schedules come in three forms: Beginner walker, Beginner runner and Novice runner and will be updated each week.

Week 8: October 6 to October 11, 2011

Each week A Crazy Idea will provide a suggested schedule of activity for those individuals who are looking to get a little bit crazy and dwell outside their comfort zone as they prepare for and complete their first Half Marathon (13.1 miles).

Before we go any further we would first like to advise everyone following our program to consult your physicians before starting the fitness routine. Your health is of the utmost importance and not to be neglected. Regular exercise can help control blood glucose levels and body weight. It can reduce the risk of heart disease as well as strengthen bones and muscles and even though moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, is safe for most people, health experts suggest that you talk to your doctor before you start any exercise program.

Week 8: One bad run….

A few weeks ago I received an email from a friend who is training for this year’s New York marathon. They had a few concerns after experiencing poor performance on their most recent run. Their email read as follows:

• Diet Am I eating enough food and the proper types of food to provide my body with fuel necessary to reach my desired energy levels? Am I properly hydrating? You’ll remember from one of my earlier columns I mentioned that I worked myself into a state of Ketosis which is obviously going to hamper my performance.
• Sleep - I usually get 8 or 9 hours of sleep a night (compared to the approx. 6hrs a night when I lived in Toronto) which is plenty but when life happens and my social calendar keeps me up past my regular bedtime the impact is usually reflected in my training.
• Recovery - Zero energy can be the body’s way of telling you it hasn’t recovered from the previous work out. I try to ensure I’m getting at least one rest day (no workouts) a week and giving myself proper time to recover between intense work outs.
• My goal for the workout itself - Sometimes during my training I’ll get on a roll where I’m consistently achieving or surpassing the goals I set for myself during each session. These streaks are great for boosting confidence. However, it can also lead to overestimating my abilities and at times setting unrealistic targets.
• General changes to my life - Exercise is a wonder drug when dealing with stress. However, changes to your daily routine (i.e. moving house, a new job, a new relationship, etc.) can impact your energy levels and performance. I certainly don’t recommend putting off exercising as you adjust to these changes but we need to be cognizant of the fact that performance may suffer as you adjust to changes in your daily routine.