|
The Heart of an Endurance Athlete & Woman
Most of us know that February is National Heart Health
Awareness Month, but here in Nebraska, it is also the time for
marathon runners to begin their training. The National Guard
marathon/half marathon is the first Sunday of May, and the number of
participants has grown every year. This month we are going to feature
one such participant, who has run both the full and half marathon for
several years, and to whom running is truly one of her favorite past
times. Michelle Schmidt is first and foremost a wife, and mother of
two young children, but she finds time to be an aerobics instructor,
and works full-time as a hair dresser. In this month’s issue, I am
passing the torch to my friend, Michelle, as I bow down to her
amazing running ability, and let her tell you firsthand the work,
dedication, and commitment it takes to successfully complete a
marathon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training for a half marathon, marathon, or any other race for that
matter, takes time. I think if you find something you are truly
passionate about, you will make time and stick with it. My passion is
running. There is nothing better than hitting that “runner’s high” or
that sense of accomplishment you get when you cross the finish line.
For me, it’s not about being faster than the person next to me, but
setting a personal record for myself. If I have a race to train
for and I set goals for myself, if keeps me going. I have some
amazing women that I run with who push me to work harder.
Along with the support of my family and friends, Max
Muscle has helped me to improve with my nutrition and
supplement needs.
I usually run 3-5 days a week depending on how many classes I have
to teach that week. On my days off from running I cross train by
teaching cycling and step class and strength train 2-3 times per week.
Several of my days begin at 4:30 a.m., whether it is to go for a run or
teach a class. Before I head out the door, I have a pre-workout drink
consisting of Full Blown Extreme and Xtinguisher. These two
supplments have helped tremendously with my endurance and also
give me that extra boost I need early in the morning. Not often do I
run in the evening, but if I do, I take Kre-Alkalyn (also found in Full
Blown Extreme) capsules instead of Full Blown Extreme to avoid the
caffeine late in the day.
After my run, I have a recovery drink consisting of Afterglow and
Maxpro Protein. I think so many endurance athletes are so set on
eating their carbohydrates they forget how important protein is in their
recovery. When you are training for a marathon, you are running a lot. |
