Not-So-Common Core

Monday night I had my first workout session with my new running coach, Coach Ann of Resolute Running. It was a core strengthening class with about a dozen other lovely ladies. 

I knew the class would be tough because Ann is a superhuman. (Let's not forget that she qualified for the Boston Marathon when she was 4 months pregnant.) But for some reason I actually thought the class wouldn't make me sweat. And I mean that literally. I walked out of the house without a towel. Fortunately, Resolute Running had plenty of towels on hand to mop up all the perspiration on my brow, back and chest by the end of the workout. 

I should have known better. If Jillian Michaels' 30-minute 6-Week Six Pack workouts have me looking like I got knocked in a swimming pool, then why didn't I think this core class would get my heart pumping, too? 

Oh, and did I mention that the class was an hour long?! If you think this means I was doing crunches for 60 minutes, think again. This class was about strengthening not just abs but the back, hips, glutes, and oblique muscles. Even my quadriceps are sore as I type this. 

Monday's workout included planks, squats, lunges, push-ups, and a host of other moves so tough that when we did do crunches it felt like a break. 

Why is my running coach helping me strengthen my core? 

"Running is a balancing act—placing one foot after the next and allowing the body to make the adjustments needed to keep moving forward," Coach Ann explains. "A strong core is vital for good posture, stability, and balance for everyone, and more so for runners.  Runners that maintain proper running form are more efficient, which translates directly to running farther and faster before fatigue sets in.  Improving muscular strength by developing the postural muscles also reduces the risk of injury. This is why I stress core strength to all of my clients." 

Working out with Ann was great. She's the kind of coach who really pushes you to be your best self. She offers different levels of difficulty for each exercise but urges you to try the level above what you think you can do. She wants you to challenge yourself, but she wants you to be safe and smart. She'll encourage you, for example, to try a move with ankle weights but let you know you're free to take them off if they start to compromise your ability to do an exercise properly. 

She's also hilarious. 

During the class Ann said to us, "If it hurts to laugh or sneeze tomorrow -- you're welcome!"

And I've been saying "Ouch" after every laugh today.


If you're interested in trying out this or other classes at Resolute Running, click here for a complete class schedule


Disclosure: I attended this class free-of-charge for the purposes of reviewing it for my blog. All opinions are my own.