My apologies for this being quite delayed- schools sprung midterms on me and I've only just found time to breathe!
First and foremost- the 5k. It may not have been the most pleasant experience, but I certainly learned some things about myself.
1. I really, really do hate running.
2. Irish dancing has made my calves awesome- my shins...not so much.
3. My quads are surprisingly weak for a dancer who loves jumping
4. I have a lot more trouble keeping on running than I do keeping on dancing.
5. I hate running in the town I live in- because it is ridiculously, ridiculously hilly, with more out of place bricks and roots than you could imagine.
6. Dancing has trained me to be a sprinter- I really need to stop kidding myself that I can run long distance. 600m tops, and I am painfully reminded of this whenever I try to run further!
A note on the shins- I've discovered that perhaps doing both dancing and running in large amounts may not be the best idea, considering how high impact both of these activities are. In dancing, when we land from jumps, the ground clearly does not give way enough for there to be no shock, so something has to absorb the shock of hitting the ground. This would be the shins. This is also the root of why dancing on concrete is so horrible compared to a sprung dance floor- there's no give in the concrete, putting a lot of pressure onto shins, and causing shin splits- an ailment I'm sure many dancers are familiar with. For those who are not, this picture is a very simplified image of the location of the bones vs. where the symptoms are felt.
For a much more educated and detailed description, visit Feis Fit's posts on shin splints! http://feisfit.com/2011/12/03/legs-from-hell-shin-splints/ (I would highly recommend reading everything else on this blog- coming from a science geek I find everything on there very interesting! Certainly a great perspective of dance you don't see as much- something I'd love to get into though.)
As for the other comments on running- it became very clear to me midway through about the second mile that running 5ks is NOT the way for me to get my endurance up. I'd only end up killing my shins or breaking my ankle as I trip over the bricks in this hilly town.
So, is there a compromise? Well as I read the Feis Fit blog I took particular interest in the commentary on interval training. The workout was tailored specifically for Irish dancers and building up the endurance and strength to get through those 2 1/2 hornpipes or that set dance. Doesn't this sound wonderful? A practical workout- for once! I have no doubt it'll be grueling at first, but maybe it'll become easier if I keep at it. So, I'll try that in the upcoming week at let you know how it works.
Last but not least, I've noticed that many Americans don't know what hot water bottles are. Well these wonderful rubber bottles full of hot water radiate heat, and I'm mentioning them because mine is currently one of my most used possessions- especially after a feis. Mine has a nice fluffy cover, and after a long day when my legs are achy there is NOTHING better than lying down and having a fluffy source of heat soothe your muscles- it can also help stop legs from cramping if they're feeling like they might. In my opinion, a must have for Irish dancers- or any athlete really.
Until next time: http://pinterest.com/pin/223561568972333654/
Thanks for reading!
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