One of my goals for this year was to start strength training. I had planned on going to the gym at my school to use the weights there but I learned UMBC has a pretty crappy gym. Big disappointment. I considered just giving up on strength training but after a few days it occurred to me that I don't necessarily have to go to a gym to strength train.
A little while ago I went with my boyfriend to his gym while we were home and that was the moment I realized I need to do some form of strength training, even if it is just at my apartment. I guess I should mention that my main reasons for incorporating strength training into my half marathon training is to build strength (obviously) and prevent injury.
Ever since I started having trouble with my right IT band back in the fall, I have been trying to do whatever possible to prevent it from getting any worse and hopefully help heal everything. When I was reading up about IT band injuries I kept reading about how important it is to strengthen the gluteal muscles as well as the quads and hamstrings.
Compared to my upper body strength, my lower body strength has always been pretty much nonexistent. I have always had issues with my knee caps sliding out and was told by my physical therapist awhile ago that strengthening my quads would help stabilize my knees. Well now I have more than one reason to strengthen my lower body.
What I have been doing lately to get in some strength training without going to the gym is lunges, squats, step ups, and the Insanity recovery workouts. I have some free weights at my house in Pennsylvania that I am going to bring down the next time I am home.
Do you strength train? Do you belong to a gym? If not, how do you workout at home?
i belong to a gym but finally bought a set of 10lb weights (the ones i use most at the gym) so that when I am in a hurry i can still get in stuff at home!
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