Self-Care

"Self-care is giving the best of you, instead of what's left of you." -Katie Reed

Why is this so hard to accept. We need to take care of ourselves. Just like we are instructed on the airplane, put the mask on first and then help those who need it. If we can't breathe, we can't help. It's that simple. Here are a few tips for runners and, frankly, for anyone.

Simple: Breathe & Meditate - Meditation has so many benefits. Among them are improving the immune system, lowering blood pressure, increasing serotonin—improving mood.

Easy: Salt Bath - An epsom salt bath specifically can potentially reduce muscle soreness and inflammation. According to this Runner's World article the science is not proven but there really is no risk. Ultimately it is one of the easiest ways to just relax. And I will take this over the also unproven benefits of an ice bath!

Hard: Foam rolling - I know, I know it's hard to go through the pain of the foam rolling. I dusted mine off this week and have found some real benefit to my recovery with this dreaded tool.

Amazing: Book a massage or an adjustment at the chiropractor, or maybe acupuncture. Whatever you fancy this may be just the time to sneak one of these into your schedule.

Ultimate: Yin - Ok, here I get really honest. I treat yin as cramming all the stretching I need into 60-90 minutes. This safe stretching/myofascial release with the guidance of the right teacher (Breanna Taylor Yoga, of course!) is such a beautiful way to listen to and connect with your body.

Preventative: Dynamic Stretching before the run - I know boring but most of you have a 5 minute walk in your plan before you run. Maybe add a dynamic stretching routine or swap it for the walk. I looked for a good video and did not find exactly what I wanted you to see. So I will make one and post it on social media. This type of stretching (and maybe I'll add a little strengthening) can get your body properly warmed up to avoid injury. Especially as the temps drop we should all try to add this to our routine.