Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

I look forward to Wednesday evenings for the Tabata class at the Northwest CT YMCA in Torrington.

What is Tabata?

Tabata is a high-intensity workout that has fitness and weight-loss benefits. Is it like CrossFit? Is it like circuit training? It is a bit of both. Tabata training is intense and It offers maximum workouts in shorter periods of time. Tabata comes from the man who invented it - Dr. Izumi Tabata, a Japanese physician and researcher. He conducted a study using an interval-based training model. His objective was to see if athletes would benefit from a 20/10 session repeated eight times. 20/10 means 20 seconds of all-out exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest. This adds up to four minutes total.

Well, I did it. I finished in an upright position,  didn't finish last and I didn't "hurl" at the finish line!! These three things are important to me when I'm in a race. (Ok it's not really, but it is on my mind)

As I mentioned in a previous blog, this was my third LHRR. I experienced the  hottest sun I've ever felt while running. I ran the first 3 1/2 miles at my normal 15 minute mile; I was feeling good. Thankfully I was still running when the other runners were passing me, (since they all ran three times faster than me). For a split second I was embarrassed ~ but in true runner fashion, the high fives, shout outs, and thumbs up from those passing me by gave me the push I needed to keep going. Runners are courteous, kind, supportive and only in competition with themselves ~ my size didn't matter, my speed, or lack of, didn't matter, my being four to five miles behind them didn't matter. All that mattered to them was I was there; giving it my all. I embraced not only the shout outs and high fives of the other runners, but the spectators as well.

Well hello everyone, it's me ~ Marilyn preparing for my third Litchfield Hills Road Race. 7.1 miles of long country roads and a hill at the end that scares even the elite runners. I've trained well. I'm a slow runner but speed has nothing to do with how I feel before, during and after my run. I'm out there completing something I'd never even dreamed of. In previous years past, I was the "official" videographer for the race, riding I the pace car. Back then I thought those people were nuts. Running in the heat and humidity of the early afternoon ~ that's never going to be me!!!!

Well, I proved myself wrong didn't I? Yes I did!!! If you are reading this and you are not a runner, you have no idea how I feel. It's hard to put into words the excitement felt the day before and day of the big race ~ ok and the day after you're really tired----but it's a good tired. LOL the shouts, cheers, cowbells, music and the outstanding onlookers motivate you. It's the high fives from fellow runners passing you that gives you the energy to keep moving.  I've been high fived during my training runs ~ yes indeed ~ by men and women half my size who support me and don't care how long it takes me to finish. Runners are polite. Runners are real people. Runners are genuine in spirit. I'm proud to be a runner ..............

Picture this: June 2009. Fifty-five years old and at my highest weight ever. Recently laid off and feeling, well, not good! Join the local YMCA to swim because I’m too embarrassed to be seen in a gym.