Run Gia Run

Ojai is in 12 days. Thats really soon, and as per my usual routine, I feel less than ready. My goal is to run a 1:40 Half (7:38/mile) … scary.

Not to say that I haven’t been running, that is exactly the opposite. I have been running 40-ish miles/week and cross training a ton. My life revolves around training clients on the run, having meetings on the run, having meetings at new fitness studios and trying out their classes … Its FUN and I love my job but also its a learning experience to ensure that I am managing my time and energy correctly . Many times I am doing more than one workout in a day, and while that is a common thing for some people, its a realtively new thing for me!

My biggest concern is that I have enough energy to make it through a busy day literally on the run AND be able to keep up with my kids … as much as I love what I do, I can’t empty my tank entirely and not have anything to give to my family.

Here are a few things I have learned about 2-a-days.

Identify your priority.

• Mine is running, and therefore I make my key workout a run.
• If I am cross training, spinning, yoga, barre, anything other than my training run I always make that my 2nd workout of the day … so that if I am tired, I can scale back on the less important workout.
• If I am running twice a day, I set my expectations higher for the first run. I will do my speed workout 1st thing in the morning and then make the 2nd run an easy jog with a client.

Its OK to split up your training run

• 2-a-days are also something that I do as a time saver.
• Some days my schedule will call for a 60-70 minute run. With shower, changing, etc that is a 90+ minute process … many mornings I just don’t have that kind of time. What I do is split up the run. I go for a 35 minute run in the morning at a slightly faster than normal pace (20-30 sec/mile) and another 30 minute easy run in the evening. Making the morning workout the more focused workout and the evening workout a simple shake out run.
• This can also work for a long run. Last weekend I had 12 miles on my schedule and only 75 minutes in the morning to do it. Not enough time. My coach had me incorporate 5 x 30 second sprints in my 75minute run to simulate muscle exhaustion and then do a short 30 min shake out in the evening … Time = saved.

Be Low Maintenance on a 2-a-day

• I would love to tell you that I blow dry my hair and put on my makeup in between my workouts, but that is not the case. I come home, shower and put on another set of workout clothes. Many times I don’t wash my hair between, I simply put it in a braid. Its what works for me.
• Being as low maintenance as possible on a 2-a-day is what makes them accessible. I promise I do wash my hair eventually

Get Ready for the Laundry Pile

• You will have an excess of laundry. Accept that and move on … there is no way around it

Always Have a quality snack on hand

• Multiple workouts means lots of calories burned. You need to keep your blood sugar up throughout the day.
• Waiting to eat is not a good idea for me (read: no one wants to encounter a hungry Gia) so I have almonds, apples and packets of Nut Butter with me at all times. (Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter – addicted.)

This week’s workouts:

• Monday – YOGA – REST DAY!!
• Tuesday – 50 Minutes hill repeats w/ Lululemon Run Club + SUMMIT class at Exceed Physical Culture COMPLETE 5.5 MILES & MORE BOX JUMPS THAN I CAN COUNT
• Wednesday – 45 Mins Easy run w/ client + Meeting and Spin class at Crank NYC – COMPLETE 5 MILES & FUN FUN FUN SPIN WITH ELLIE
• Thursday – OJAI Half Marathon Speed Workout #5 – 10 min w/u, 4-5 mile tempo at MP, c/d + #FITBLOGNYC
• Friday – 14 Mile Long run
• Saturday – 50 mins + Boot Camp with Lululemon
• Sunday – Soul Cycle + 40 Min run w/ client