A workout partner is helpful in a number of ways.
Working out with a partner helps create a commitment to stay on task and create a positive habit-forming routine. Once you commit to working out with a spouse, friend, teammate or family member, you are more apt to do the workout, because someone else is counting on you. After a short time of roughly 14 workouts, you will have created a habit, and your body and mind will want to keep this new-found positive sensation going.
A workout partner is more apt to encourage you. People help each other reach common goals with encouragement. We all need encouragement along the way, and when you are with a partner, you gain strength to reach that goal. Someone else needs you and your help while they help and encourage you.
Perfect examples of how teaming up works is the Valdosta State cross country men’s and women’s teams. Each team is full of individuals who train by themselves during parts of the year. However, during their season, they improve greatly when they train together. It is hard to put on the shoes to run, or do the weight workout by yourself. But when you are meeting your teammates, the work is easier, more enjoyable and more effective.
The VSU men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to University of Tampa for a Friday evening meet. Both teams came home on Saturday with impressive individual and team performances.
The men started the evening off at 6 p.m. at the Syndney Dover Trials in Brandon, Fla. running a 4-mile event. The team placed fourth out of 11 teams. Leading the team for the second week was D.J. Smith (22:40), who placed 19th out of 101 men. The pack of Alan McGough (24th, 23:12), Chris Rice (27th, 23:24), Steve Cary (29th, 23:55) and Brandon Joyner (31st, 23:43) closed very strongly for the team. The top five were followed by Juan Tejada (39th, 24:14), Cory Stejback (49th, 24:37), Austin McDonald (53rd, 24:46), Marc Kaiser (73rd, 26:03), Patrick McGough (80th, 26:30) and Daniel McCormick (88th, 27:22).
In this event, with the entire men’s team competing, there was also an intersquad competition between the returning team members versus the new faces on the team. The returning members of both McGoughs, Cary, Joyner, Tejada and McCormick won by a mere 19 points. Another intersquad meet is scheduled for October.
At 6:45 p.m., all attention was on the women’s race, with a 5K distance ahead of them. The Lady Blazers finished sixth out of 11 teams, just a few points away from finishing fourth. Jordanne Helton, a freshman, led the team for the second week in a row with a near-personal best of 20:08, placing 16th out of 84 finishers. Lady Blazer teammates Tiffany Zuganelis (29th, 21:43), Ashley Hiott (31st, 21:49) and Alecia Beck (36th, 22:03) all packed very well. Andrea Smith (76th, 26:06) finished with a personal best and passed a number of competitors in the last half mile to improve her position, and therefore the position of the team.
The hard training that these young men and women endure weekly would be nearly unbearable if they did the work by themselves. These teams train together, encouraging each other to higher levels. They are not finished; they have more hard work and much more improvement to come through conference and regional NCAA competition. Their next meet is Sept. 20th in Huntsville.
Find a teammate or partner; your improvement will most assuredly be on its way.
See you at the races! September 20 is the Brooks County 8K event for walkers and runners. Come by the Get Active — Running and More store to get registered.
There are weekly, free activities for the runners and cyclists in the area. Runners can show up at Get Active on Saturday and Sunday morning at 7 a.m. for runs from 1.5 to 8-plus miles. Thursday morning is a women’s only run, but the other runs are all-comers. Cyclists can meet for rides on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, check out the web page at www.azaleacitycyclists.com.
If you have questions about your walking, running or other training, drop me an e-mail and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Check out www.getactivevaldosta.com to get connected. Listen to the Get Active South Georgia radio show on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. on NewsTalk 105.9 FM WVGA to receive additional information or to ask questions.
Get Active
September 7, 2008
Fitness column: Get a workout partner
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- Get Active: Road safety anyone? Two cyclists on a training ride are side-swiped by a vehicle and thrown from their bikes and injured. Another cyclist was hit on the leg by the mirror of a passing vehicle and bruised badly.
- Get Active: Some exercise opportunities for all citizens Walking, running, cycling, swimming, soccer, martial arts, tennis, basketball, weightlifting, pilates, aerobics and ballroom dancing are all methods of exercise. These are the type of exercises that improve your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as muscle tone and your quality of life. Your choices of exercise are plentiful; now you need to pick a few and make the conscious effort to get involved.
- Get Active: Make the right decisions today As a role model, what decisions did you make this week that will help lead others in a positive fashion?
- Get Active: Our role models Charles Barkley is one of the more famous basketball players in recent history. A few years back, he caused controversy through stating that he did not want to be a role model; he was a basketball player. People on both sides of the argument had valid points — however, the bottom line is, he is famous, seen often and youth particularly wanted to have his success. Whether he liked it or not, he was a role model.
- Get Active: Valdosta’s grand prix continues The Get Active Grand Prix circuit that started in 2009 on New Year’s Day is about to offer the second event in the series. This grand prix circuit consists of five events throughout the year.
- Get Active: New name, old tradition Independence Day in the United States is celebrated in many fashions, including picnics, parades, ceremonies, outdoor activities, fireworks and, in many places like Valdosta, a road race event. Independence Day is quickly approaching – only 10 weeks away.
- Get Active: The magic pill you have been looking for Have you found the one magic pill that will help control the development of, or lessen the impact of, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, mental depression, insomnia and ED?
- Get Active: VSU cross country team progressing The Valdosta State cross country team members were asked to share their thoughts of the fall competitive season, and the spring training season. The following are a few of the team members’ ideas.
- Get active: Runners, walkers should meet their equipment needs Spring is now upon us, and starting an exercise program is often thought of. You have made the decision to start an exercise program using walking or running. The question then becomes “What type equipment is needed to walk or run?”
- Get active: Opportunities abound; What are you doing? Walking, running, cycling, swimming, soccer, martial arts, tennis, basketball, weightlifting, pilates, aerobics, kickboxing and dancing are all methods of exercise. These are the type of exercises that improve your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as muscle tone, and therefore, your quality of life.
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