For the past few weeks, I’ve been going to a Whole Body Strength class at my yoga studio. It’s a 1-hour circuit training class and it’s enjoyable and convenient. And…it’s also getting comfortable. As in the last 2 times I went (despite upping my weights) I woke up the next day not sore at all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m challenged during the class but the next day I want to feel like I did something. And, it being a circuit training class, we do some drills and jumping which I’m not a fan of.
Marathon training is taxing enough. Each time your foot stikes the ground it has to absorb two to three times your body weight…multiply that by miles per week and you got a helluva lot of pounding. Add drills and jumping during your strength training class and I get very nervous about injury. Call me a nervous Nellie but I’ll save CrossFit and Bootcamp for the off season. I even asked my PT about CrossFit (since I have a Groupon) and she told me to be very careful. She treats a lot of patients because of CrossFit.
So I’m looking for strength training that is marathon training-friendly (i.e., minimal impact). Here are the options I came up with:
BodyPump
I would love to do this but, unless I join a gym, it’s not feasible 🙁
Pure Barre
Per the website, Pure Barre is intelligent exercise. The technique protects your joints as it does not involve any bouncing or jumping. Each strength section of the workout is followed by a stretching section in order to create long, lean muscle without bulk. The workout launches a full blown attack on the areas of the body all women struggle with: abs, hips, seat and arms. It defies gravity by tapering everything in and lifting it up.
Defies gravity?! We’ll see. I have heard that you feel like you got hit by a truck the next day. Sweet. Just what I’m looking for. And I can unleash my inner Black Swan. Look out.
Power Yoga
A new yoga studio opened up around the corner and they only offer power yoga. I used to take an athletic yoga class years ago that always kicked my butt to the curb. And I don’t even need to list the ways yoga benefits runners.
I’m thinking a power yoga and Pure Barre session each week will work out just dandy with marathon training. We’ll see. I plan on going to Pure Barre tonight so, as long as I’m able to type tomorrow, I’ll let you know how it goes.
Ever take a Pure Barre class?
Do you enjoy the hit-by-a-truck feeling post-race or post-strength training? I have to admit I love it. It’s a nice reminder of what you accomplished!
I took Body Pump for like a year and I got to the point that I could just do it at home (by the music, but my own). I don’t need no stinking gym. 🙂
I like feeling like I worked, but only if it lasts a day. 🙂
i would love to try a pure barre class but there are none around me (in central PA) 🙁 i do take power yoga every week and i swear by it! it’s an awesome workout and you still get the stretching benefits and hip opening exercises that we runners need. i totally agree with you about the “hit by a truck” feeling. i took a pilates class last week in new jersey and didn’t feel a thing the next day. i felt like i wasted $20 which is how much i paid to take the darn class!
I’ve never tried Pure Barre, but have been trying to do power yoga every week. I’m always sore after & love it.
I need to hear more about this Pure Barre class. Where is it offered? Perhaps I’ll join you post pregnancy.
They just opened a place in Wayne. The original location is in Philly. Not sure if you remember the Kristin Armstrong post after she went to a Pure Barre class? She was unbelievably sore!!!
I used to do power yoga pre-kids and it was great for running cross-training. I’m with you–I don’t like boot camp type stuff when I’m running a lot–don’t need the extra cardio, just the strength and stretching. I’d like to try Pure Barre. It’s the $$$$ that’s keeping me from it.
Exactly! I feel the same way about the extra cardio…so not necessary.
Pure Barre is so $$$ but, if I like it, I’m only planning to go once a week and (hopefully) do power yoga too.
Let me know how Pure Barre goes! I have been wanting to try a ballet inspired fitness class.
I love the feeling but it’s been a long time since I have gotten it. I am trying to get back into doing my crunches, planks and push-ups, but it is hard. I am so unmotivated with strength stuff! They also don’t usually leave me with a hit by a truck feeling…too tame.
I love to workout to the point that I’m sore the next day…otherwise I feel like I didn’t work hard enough 🙂 My old gym had Body Pump and I loooooved it! The Pure Barre sounds interesting…
I love Body Pump, but I say go for the Pure Barre, for the sole reason that it names one of my favorite songs in the description. I like Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones – its quick, works all the major muscle groups, no jumping, and all you need it the DVD and five pound weights. I’ll even burn it and mail it to you if you want!
I’m trying to figure out what I want to do for strength training for a marathon as well — I may join a nearby gym (if it would ever start raining, I’d like a treadmill back up option) and they’ve got a Body Pump class there — so that would be nice. I don’t know Pure Barre — will have to investigate.
you know i love strength training (and bodypump) but i do have to say that the majority of the time, i am not sore from it. you are still doing good things for your body and muscle tone, even if you don’t feel sore after every workout. that being said, i LOVE to challenge myself in new ways and feel sore sometimes!
I’ve done flybarre, which I bet is similar to pure barre. It’s surprisingly hard! However, it didn’t make me so sore that it compromised my running. I think that pure barre + marathon training is a great idea!
I do love that hurts-so-good feeling – both post-race and post-I’ve-done-a-10-minute-plank-and-can’t-breathe-in-too-deeply.
I had a comment for you yesterday but got sidetracked at work, so it never went out. I looked at the Pure Barre website and it looks similar to the Bar Method out here. It’s TOUGH. I’ve never done it, but my boss has and she bought the DVD to go with it. So I did that at home and let me tell you, my legs are shaking when doing the leg workouts.
How did you like the class? I’m interested to know. My boss thinks I should take one so I can experience it and to make sure I’m doing the poses correctly when I do them at home. Doesn’t sound like a bad idea. It’s just, I think I would rather spend the money on hot yoga v. bar method. I love hot yoga. Not Bikram. Bikram I felt was too repetitive. I like variety.
Stay tuned for a review post later on today…. 🙂
I think you’re wise to keep some low-impact s/t with marathon training, it seems to help me combat injury. I did some bodypump or dvds on my own (like jillians no more trouble zones)… both barre and yoga sound like great complements to running, too!
I linked this post into today’s post on my blog…I hadn’t looked at it this way, but I think you are right!