Marathon & Yoga Connection

One week and an Easter holiday after the London marathon and everything is starting to feel slightly back to normal. I've been back on the yoga mat for a few Sun Salutations each morning, out for two easy runs, and today have managed to find time to catch up with internet things :)

The marathon day was great. It all began with a bowl of porridge and a mug of sweet black coffee (caffeine was needed!) at my friend's cosy Blackheath flat. We then walked down to the start area, loaded kit-bags on to the truck and finally were ready to GO!

From the gun, I was aware of the tightness in my right hamstring, but managed to stay relaxed and carried on, running easily and gently. The beautiful weather and fantastic crowds lining the streets kept me smiling.

By mile 18 unfortunately the constant need to readjust my stride due to the hamstring meant that I was still running cautiously, not striding out fully, but 'within' myself. Mentally it was very tiring to maintain concentration, and a few different mantras kept running through my mind...BLT and plenty of other things...it's amazing how many different thoughts whizz through your mind over such a distance! But eventually Big Ben appeared and I knew the finish was just around the corner. Crossing the 26.2 mile line was a huge relief! I was so happy to have completed the event with my hamstring intact - no personal records this time around, absolutely no worries - plenty of time.

Interestingly, running with such a keen awareness, allowed me to take in more of the scenery and atmosphere. The crowds, who had spilled on to the streets at some points with their enthusiasm were being held back by police! I smelt barbeques, tasted plenty of sugary drinks, enjoyed the cooling spray from the misters and listened to all the people cheering.

It truely is a unique experience to run a marathon, and I can highly recommend it - seriously! I can also recommend building yoga practice in to a running plan, they go hand-in-hand. Simply stated, the awareness and mind-body connection that they create cannot be overestimated.

The London Marathon day of 2011 ended after a reunion with family and friends, a trip to the pub, and a long drive home. Renewed yoga practice is on the horizon next, and maybe even another marathon...

How about you? If you are a running-yogi or a yogi-runner what are the highlights of practicing both, and how will they help you prepare for whatever is next on the horizon?

Tapering, Yoga & YIOM

Tapering for the marathon is interesting when you also practice yoga. The idea of a taper is to rest your body, prepare for the marathon day, store up some energy and prepare for the marathon - oops, already said that, but that's the point! It's all about resting, which is preparing. Building a yoga practice into this has meant that I've cut back on asanas, and tried to do alittle more pranayama. In an ideal world I would have also fitted in a few more meditative sessions but it's been tricky to find time.

There have been two recent YIOM blog posts that have really helped me this week:
1. Living in the k(Now), a post about pain,
2. The Veganasana's post about listening to your body.

The point is that as I taper for the marathon I have developed a niggling, nagging tightness in my right hamstring that even after a few massages and the rest doesn't seem to have gone away. I am aware that during this resting period aches and pains might start to appear as the body relaxes and recovers from the training, and that ultimately all will be fine on Sunday - it's not a pain as such in my leg but it's still on the back of my mind...

So, I've come up with a three point plan - based on points from Born to Run and also the above blogs:
1. Breathe into my hamstring when I stretch and run, to keep everything relaxed :)
2. Listen to my body - be attentive - need to keep the ego in check!
3. Tune in to the positive - all the preparation will make a difference on the day!

A BLT running/ yoga mantra :)

Thousands of people are running in the London Marathon on Sunday and everyone will have a few tales about their preparations. And hundreds, maybe millions of pounds will be raised for charity. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with my family, running friends and the running community that the marathon creates.

Now...which gate is the flight to London?...

Competitive Chatter

There is one specific area where yoga can definitely help runners - competitiveness.
Or should that read the competitive attitude and how to best handle competitive feelings...

Naturally we can all be a little competitive, whether we admit it or even realise it. The statement by a co-worker of, "Well, you are pretty competitive" shocked me one night at a work's party, where I hung on to a Bucking Bronco (of all things) for far longer than I thought possible. My ill attempt at an attention diffuser phrase had been, "Wow, didn't think I would stay on for that long"...But afterwards I realised how right they were! I thought my competiveness was pretty well in check, saved up for and spent during runs, but obviously not that night!

The key is how to tap in to innate competitiveness, and when to use it. Runners, if competing in a race, need to use the emotions that the competitive arena can induce positively and graciously. There can be many thoughts that flow through your mind: Is that person fitter than me? Have I done the right training? etc. But negative thoughts are exhausting. A still calm yoga-like mind pre-race doesn't need any energy. Save the adrenaline.

Luckily, in a yoga class, a teacher will remind us not to compare our physical postures to any other person, or body. Don't be competitive. It usually lands us in yoga-double-trouble, mentally and physically drained. Use the breath, relax, drop those shoulders, close your eyes :)

If, as runners, we can take yoga teachings with us from the mat to the road or trail, we will be in good mental shape to deal with the urgings of competitiveness. I'm not suggesting that we start running with our eyes closed but in the marathon the competition will spur me on, I'll have fun with it - the last thing you need is extra tension to add to the tiredness!

There is a great article about the mental aspects of running with marathon runner Kara Goucher in the US Runner's World this month - in the actual magazine, and also online.

I can really recommend it - LINK!

Combining Strengths

This week started on a high note. I attended an early morning Vinyasa class with a good running friend, who is relatively new to yoga, and we had a wonderful practice. The room was warm, the teacher excellent and the level of the class ideal. I also noticed that a normally insignificant strength difference between my right and left arm, was really exaggerated!

During the class we did a few vinyasas moving in and out of Vasisthasana and also a side fore-arm plank version of Dolphin plank pose, before then leading up into Dolphin. It was at this point that I really started to feel the difference in my left and weaker arm, and took a break - for a much needed rest in an attempt to be graceful before I crashed down to the mat!

I am sure that everyone notices strength differences between their right and left arms and legs, but I am curious to know how this affects our yoga practice, and if anyone has any suggestions or ideas as to how to maybe address the imbalance?

Or is it literally a case of realising that our right and left handsides are supposed to work together - the strengths combined! And is it only when we insist on doing one armed balances that the differences are really noticeable?!

The interesting thing is that also this week I have felt a tightness developing in my right hamstring, which is probably due to the higher mileage of marathon training - and also maybe a strength difference...(and a signal that it is high time for a massage).

Thanks to the Monday morning yoga class, if the right hand side of my body really is stronger it is something I'll need to be mindful of in the future!

Yogis Inspiring Oneness Month

April sees the start of 'Yogis Inspiring Oneness Month' - a month during which yogis will be sharing their insights, inspiring others to have a go - try a different class, learn a little more about yoga, delve deeper and may be discover something new...

As a runner, currently marathon training, not only do the physical aspects of yoga have an important part to play in my life right now - but so do pranayama and meditation. The awareness that asana practice brings has helped me to prevent 'twinges' from becoming serious injuries. Breathing exercises aid relaxation and meditation enhances concentration. Overall, yoga has helped me to become a more fully conscious runner, and person.

Today, quite aptly, the Yoga Journal wrote about the impacts of yoga:

"Our asana practice can have a positive impact on our lives because it constantly asks us to become more sensitive, more conscious, and more aware of our bodies, minds, feelings, and emotions. As our sensitivity increases, life becomes more rich and enjoyable because we can taste the unique flavor of each individual moment. More important, we also become more aware of what moves us toward our dharma, or life path, and what takes us away from it. This awareness makes us clearer and more peaceful, more able to elegantly handle life's endless dilemmas without feeling overwhelmed or fearful. As a result, we become more effective in all of our actions, and our presence begins to inspire and bring out the best in people around us.

The awareness that we develop on the yoga mat, though seemingly small, affects all that is. As we become more aware in our yoga practice and in our lives, as we move away from force and violence and toward sensitivity, feeling, and awareness, we change our individual consciousness and actions. In turn, these changes influence the consciousness and the actions of everyone we meet. Slowly, we shift the direction the world is taking."

The great thing about YIOM is that it plays a part in exactly what is stated above: awareness effecting individual actions. By sharing the experience of this, we can also learn.

Throughout the rest of April, I aim to write about and share the awareness that yoga and running bring as I make final preparations for, run, and recover from the London marathon.

YIOM was created by Lorin, The VeganAsana, whose blog has a full description of what it is all about and how to become involved.