trailgirl

I know that broken and empty feeling. I've been there, not wanting to look anyone in the eye. The worst time for me was, from the outside, when my life was going great. I had just gotten a new exciting job in my field. I trained for and ran my first marathon. My husband and I were doing great. None of that made me less depressed, because depression isn't a mood. It's an illness. I couldn't will it away, or exercise it away, or work it away. My anxiety was so severe that I couldn't pick up the phone to make an appointment. I couldn't get on the path to get help on my own. My husband found a therapist, and made the appointment. When did I start feeling better? About three weeks after I started taking Prozac. That medicine put color back in the world. It is magic. I am so grateful for it. You're not alone.

I find that if I take a break from running, when I come back I often get shin splints and knee pain. I increase my mileage slowly and walk when it starts hurting, and after a few weeks the aches and pains fade. Comfortable shoes are important, but they aren't a panacea. Remember to give your body time to adjust.

My husband and I spent a month in Europe a few years ago. We are gamers who also like beer, history, and the outdoors. We sort of did the opposite of a hostel/backpacking trip - we had saved a bunch of hotel and airline points and blew them all on great places to stay! It was awesome. Websites like millionmilesecrets.com and mommypoints.com have good information on travel hacking. Steve even did a post on it when he started his Epic Quest I really love the Rick Steves guide books. He does a good job of breaking down the attractions in each country, and provides example itineraries that I found very helpful. He had a TV show where he toured a country at a time. It's a little dated, but if you can find it it's a quick way see what catches your eye. How does your family feel about museums? Amsterdam and Munich both had lots of unique museums and historical sites to explore. Do your parents like wine? A river trip on the Rhine or Mosel rivers in German could take you by the tasty wine-producing regions. If you like the outdoors, Austria and Switzerland have gorgeous mountains. We rented a car for a week and drove through some beautiful towns. Gimmelwald and Appenzeller, Switzerland, are quieter but gorgeous. You can take cable cars up mountains for some great views and hiking. Want to see some sweet castles? Bavaria has Neuschwanstein, which inspired Walt Disney, and many others. Nervous about not speaking the language? Rent a car and drive around Ireland! My husband and I took my parents on this one and it was fantastic. Irish people really are super friendly, and driving on the other side of the road isn't so bad. You can find lots of bed and breakfast places on Tripadvisor, usually within walking distance of a pub. Dublin has lots of sites to see. You can even catch a cheap, quick, Ryanair flight out of Dublin to somewhere else for a few days - we flew to Edinburgh for three nights for a change of scenery. Have fun planning!

Wow, that's awesome! Sounds like your training is going really well. Good idea to have someone look at your form. If you suspect glute trouble, maybe try some foam rolling in between sets? I do that when I'm lifting heavy and it seems to help unstick my muscles.

I definitely agree with this! You're going to stick with the activities that make you look forward to getting out of bed at 5AM. People will try to tell you what is "best," but that's what's best for them, because they enjoy it. You do you! Heck yeah! I run, bike commute, strength train, and practice karate. I love them all, that's why I'm a "Ranger" class. I've found that lots of components transfer across activities - controlled breathing, mental toughness, mobility, focus, muscular endurance - and they definitely complement one another. If I specialized in one thing, I'd be able to make more gains in that one thing, but I wouldn't be having as much fun. But everyone is different - if you want to focus on strength training and other activities feel like a boring waste of time, then put your energy into what you enjoy. Again, you do you!

I second this, Wool is fantastic.

Glad to hear your symptoms are improving! I do calf raises at work too - no idea if it's useful, but at least I feel a bit more active. This is me! I often think "Oh, if I take the time to warm up I'll never get out the door. Better to just do it." I easily fall into the habit of never warming up and later regretting it! So I'm trying to take five minutes before each run for warm ups.

I have quite wide forefeet, and it's often tough to find Women's shoes that fit well. Men's shoes either don't come in a small enough size or fit all weird. My favorite all around shoe is the Altra Intuition. They're nice and wide. They have enough cushioning to be comfy for running. They are zero drop, so I can use them for lifting and crosstraining. They look great for just walking around. When I'm going on vacation and don't want to take a shoe for every possible activity, I pack my Altras.

I too have this problem with barbell rows and bench presses. It was a little embarrassing to explain to my trainer (a guy), but he said he prefers dumbbell presses and rows anyway, because they engage more of your stabilizing muscles.

I've bought my last few pairs of running shoes online, from Zappos and runningwarehouse.com. I grew frustrated with shoe stores because they refused to fit me for a wide enough shoe just because they didn't have them in stock. I've read lots of articles on shoe fitting, and studies seem to go both ways on the pronation model that most stores use to fit shoes. In fact, the most recent article I read on how to pick shoes cited a study that concluded that "a runner intuitively selects a comfortable product using their own comfort filter that allows them to remain in the preferred movement path. " In other words, pick a shoe that feels comfortable. I'd say buy your shoes from a store or website that has some kind of guarantee - roadrunnersports.com is a good one. Go for a jog around the store and see how they feel. Make sure you can return them if they bother you on a run. I had a pair of Brooks that were fine for two miles, and then all the toes on my left foot would go numb. Sometimes you just can't tell until you get out there. I hope you find a pair that works for you. New running shoes can make a huge difference! I feel so much bouncier and faster when I have a shiny new pair of shoes. Happy trails!

It's certainly not the same as a chronic illness, but I kept up my karate training through most of my pregnancy. My stamina, balance, and strength were really reduced. But I felt I was still getting the benefit of refining my technique. If I'd just stopped going for those nine months, I'd have taken several steps backward in training, instead of staying at around the same place. I just did as much as I could, and it helped me both physically and mentally. If you're concerned about not getting any benefit, I'd talk to your teacher and make sure they know your situation. Mine were able to give suggestions for modifying my training so that I could still participate in almost everything.

Great job! I have pretty bad social anxiety, and I've actually turned around and left when the gym is really busy. Kudos to you for sticking around and doing workout! One thing that helps me sometimes is wearing headphones and turning my own music on pretty loud. The gym has loud music anyway, but something about hearing just my own music makes me feel more like I'm on my own, and I can focus on what I'm doing instead of thinking everyone is looking at me. And remember, “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.â€

OMG, I didn't know Wil Wheaton did the audiobook. I'm definitely going to check it out!

Yeah, I can never get anyone to play LotR Risk with me anymore.

These are some things my husband and I do to hang out: Read a book to one another (we're currently reading the Belgariad series) Play a co-op video game (Left 4 Dead, Borderlands, and Portal 2 are our favorites) Get into a tv show with a strong storyline (Lost, Dexter, Jessica Jones) and discuss it Jigsaw puzzles Favorite two-player games: Jaipur Machi Koro Hive Star Realms Splendor And really, if you're hanging out in the same room together, you can be doing your own thing and still enjoying yourselves. Chat a bit about the news, or your day, or listen to music.

I've been playing Pandemic Legacy with a group a friends. We've played four sessions of at least an hour each, and will end up playing at least 12 total. Most of my board games haven't seen that much play, so I think it's actually a great value. Most games I buy we play a few times, then they go in the closet and only come out once a year or less. The games that do come out more often: Splendor Seven Wonders Hive Betrayal at the House on the Hill Jaipur Escape the Curse of the Temple Star Realms

I love Ready Player One. It's such a fun book, I've also read it several times!

Here is my experience (your mileage may vary): I gained about 50 pounds during pregnancy. I was pretty active beforehand; I biked to work, ran, strength trained, and practiced karate twice a week. The strength training was the first to go at two months. I trained for and ran a 10k at five months, but stopped because I couldn't stand my bouncy belly. The belly got in the way during biking soon after. I managed to keep up with karate (adjusted for lower impact) until about seven months. I continued walking almost every day, about a mile at lunch time, until birth. I had a vaginal birth, with no serious complications. I was so incredibly sore and worn out for the two months following that I didn't do much. I was gradually able to extend my walking and by two months was at a mostly normal pace. My doctor OK'd me to ease back into the activities I'd done pre-pregnancy. After about three months, I started karate again. My balance, strength, and endurance were definitely reduced. It was humbling, but several of the women I train with have been through pregnancies and assured me it would get better. I had to take my movements slowly to accommodate my poor balance, stop for water breaks more often. and In just a few months (maybe six postpartum) I felt like I was back to my pre-pregnancy level of competance. Running has taken much longer to regain. I didn't really start until about six months pp, and I had to take frequent walk breaks. I'm still pretty slow, but at about 11 months pp I am able to run six miles without stopping to walk. I'm currently training for a half marathon, and focusing on a slow, injury-free build up of endurance without worrying about speed. I have been strength training twice a week since about four months pp, which has done wonders for my strength, balance, and self-confidence. The worst part was getting up a 4:30 am to pump before meeting my trainer at the gym. He had experience working with other women who were recovering from pregnancy, so he was great about adjusting workouts. I'm well into deadlifting, squatting, and pressing, and have surpassed my pre-pregnancy strength. I'm still about ten pounds more than I was before pregnancy (and was overweight even then) but I'm very happy with how my body looks and performs. Everyone is different, but I think if you take it slow and have fun with it you will see progress. Don't be afraid to tell your trainer/teacher/training partner that you're still recovering and need to take it slow. Eat tasty nutritious food, so you'll have the energy to move around. Sleep as much as possible (I know, this is super hard with a newborn). When you're ready to workout more, let your family/partner/spouse know that it's important to you and that you need their support (and babysitting). Good luck, and have fun!

Hi there - welcome to running! I've been running pretty steadily for about five years, and a lot of your issues have come up for me also. 1. If you get a stitch and have to walk, don't worry about it. Focus on breathing until it fades, then start running again. If it's constant, try running slower. Running can seem boring at times, but music and audio books can help. Also, sometimes my runs are also a type of meditation, and I mull over all the random things passing through my brain. 2. Side stitches happen. It sucks, but they will probably get better as your endurance increases. The advice above is good, give it a try and see if it helps you. 3. Hydration is good, and will probably help the cramping. You could try using a foam roller pre-run to loosen up your muscles. Check out this article for some tips. 4. I worry about my running form, too. All my problems are on my right leg. I try to make sure that I'm warmed up before running, that helps. I also "check in" with myself once or twice during my run. I spend a minute noticing my form - am I swinging my arms? Twisting my torso too much? Reaching too far forward with my heel? 5. Strength Running is my favorite running site. Jason's got a lot of great advice, and the race plans I've purchased from him have worked really well for me. Check out this article for some good dynamic warmups. He doesn't recommend stretching after a run - instead, try a quick bodyweight strength workout. I also suffer from tight hip flexors, and the most helpful things for me have been foam rolling (before and after), and a good dynamic warmup. Coach Jay Johnson's "Myrtle" routine is a lifesaver. 6. Consistency is the best bet! Take it slow and steady, and enjoy the process. Sign up for a local 5k. Running a race is super fun and inspiring - I'm almost always in the back of the pack, and I have a great time. If you're feeling bummed, watch "Spirit of the Marathon" or read "Born to Run" to help boost your spirits. Happy running!

I second the dynamic warmups on Strength Running. You can find a few of them here: http://strengthrunning.com/2010/05/elite-core-and-dynamic-warm-ups-a-comprehensive-guide/.

Pull ups would be nice! I've been working on them for years...

Here's an article that links to some good articles about big cyclists: http://fitisafeministissue.com/2014/10/15/big-women-on-bikes/ The blog focuses on women's issues, but I think most of the advice could apply to anyone.

I used to be hugely self-conscious in running tights. Running clothes in general are very form-fitting, especially on women, and I don't have a marathoner's figure. My thighs, hips, waist, and bust bulge in spandex. One day I asked myself, "You think you look bad, but when's the last time you looked saw someone running and criticized their outfit or shape?" I never do that, of course, I'm mentally cheering on every other runner I see, even the ones who pass me. I found some tights that make me feel like a superhero, and now when I look at my running outfit in the mirror, I tell myself, "Dang, you look like a real runner! Let's do this!" I'm currently rocking the Under Armour Fly Fast Luminous Leggings. They have a higher waist, are opaque, and very reflective for night running (handy in the winter). I'm about 180lb, 5'6", and the Large is the right size, if a bit long. All the UA Cold Gear brand is also really nice, but very warm. It's usually warmer than I need unless the temp is single digit or there is a bitter wind. If you remain hesitant to go full-on tights, consider Skirt Sports. They pair running leggings with cute running skirts, and look like they're on sale right now. Good luck finding something that works for you! And remember that you are hardcore for running in cold weather, no matter what your outfit .

I'll check out Prince of Thorns and Lady Knight, those sound right up my alley! I would recommend all the books by Tamora Pierce. Start with the Song of the Lioness quartet and move forward from there. They all feature intelligent, badass female protagonists in a fantasy medieval setting. Each series adds a few more layers to the world of Tortall, and they're a fun read. Enjoy!

I've read the first two. I couldn't put down Annihilation - it was suspenseful in the best way! I was super excited for the second book but found it kind of dull. I'm glad to hear the third book picks up, I'll have to check it out. It doesn't have quite the same creepy vibe, but you might enjoy the "Wool" series. It's good, sciency scifi with some unexpected twists. Happy reading!