Running + yoga = my new found loves

Nike Running Team (Santiago, Chile) Can you spot me?

Since August, I’ve been training with the Nike Running Team in Santiago.  Three words:  Peace. Abs. Thrill.  Running has been a surprisingly great time to de-clutter my mind and to think more clearly (e.g. about decisions to be made).  Abs – well, now I actually have some.  Definitely one of the first noticeable changes to my body.  And the thrill that comes with running in city races while team members, friends, and even policemen redirecting traffic cheers you on as you run past them is simply exhilarating.  So far, I’ve ran a couple of races:  5K (29 mins) and 9K (57 mins).  Speed isn’t my main priority at the moment.  My main goal is to build endurance, to do the distance, and never stop.  We train under captains who runs for Chile and we meet together four times a week in two different locations.  I love it!  (Anyone know of any similar running teams/clubs in the Toronto area?)

I’m sure that you’ve probably heard a few similar stories to hers.  But for me, at that campsite after (at least) 8 hours of trekking up and down the mountain and hearing her share a personal story about her willpower to change herself for the better really hit a chord in me.  And so, these people inspired me to try out running when I returned to Santiago, to experience the sport that this teacher and my friends have talked about so enthusiastically.

After our 9K race with Brooks Running Tour 2010. (Vitacura, Santiago, Chile)

And yoga, as it turns out, has been a great running companion.  I’d started yoga in July, mainly because a new yoga studio opened up right across from the school that I work at and they had offered a free trial for all teachers.  I had expected it to be … well, boring and meditative.  And … it’s soo not.  The poses are not always as simple as they may seem.  And it was amazing how inflexible and poor my posture was when I first started.  Ommmmmm!