I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. The eyes staring back at me were sunken, and the dark circles underneath them contrasted with the white of my skin. My lips were chapped. “Damn, you look tired,” I said aloud as I turned away from the hotel’s bathroom mirror and towards the shower. My body …
3 Essential Life Skills Ultrarunning Has Taught Me Read More »
“I wish you much grit. Because you don’t need luck in life. You need grit”. A girl shouted those words at me after I told her I was nearing the end of a 100-mile race. It was a warm August summer night, and the streets of Berlin were filled with people. While they partied and …
I haven’t been injured once since I started running again in 2021. After an 8-year-long break, I resumed running to finish an ultramarathon. Tackling an ultra has been a long dream of mine. However, in my earlier running days, frequent injuries sidelined me. So I stuck to running half-marathons most of the time. In 2013 …
3 Kettlebell Exercises That Injury-Proofed My Running. Read More »
“You should walk a little faster. In the end, every lap counts.” “Well, I tried, but I can’t,” I wanted to shout. But I couldn’t. I could hardly hold my tears. Feeling defeated and deflated, a “yes” was all I could get across my lips. I checked my watch. It was 14:58 on a scorching …
Get ready to discover the perfect match for runners: kettlebell training! Like pancakes and jam, bacon, eggs, or red fruit jelly and vanilla sauce, running and kettlebells are meant to be together 😁 I started running in 2006 as a means to lose weight. Mind you, I wasn’t overweight. But to my timid 21-year-old self, …
I have always hated my body. But unlike most women who struggle with body-image issues, I can not point to glossy magazines, Hollywood, or social media for making me feel like I needed to look a certain way to be accepted. Instead, I was raised in an abusive household, where at times, food was scarce …
The Power of Strong:How Kettlebell Training Ended My War with My Body Read More »
I have been working out consistently since 2006. That’s almost 17 years at the time of this writing. When I began exercising regularly, I did it to lose weight. And running seemed like the most effective way to accomplish my goal. Like most people who want to lose weight, I approached my training sessions intending …
Why You Should Stop Working Out and Start Practicing Instead Read More »
Kettlebell training and ultrarunning are a perfect match. If you want to enjoy either for many years and continue to make progress, you need self-discipline, a commitment to excellence, and an iron mind. I started running in 2006 and added kettlebells to my routine in 2015. I don’t remember how I found out about them. …
How I Use Kettlebells to Train for a 215-Mile Ultramarathon Read More »
On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your level of physical fitness? If you are not between an 8 and 10, what stops you from achieving a higher level? You may lack time to work out or prepare healthy meals. Or you don’t know how to cook. Maybe your spouse is unwilling …
5 Fundamental Strategies to Raise Your Standards and Achieve Any Fitness Goal Read More »
Most females I work with as personal trainer want to lose fat and build muscle. And while many still want to avoid “looking like a bodybuilder,” most women who come to me know that building muscle is essential for achieving a lean, athletic look. Like most of us, these women want results fast, so their …
5 Habits Women Must Follow If They Want to Lose Fat and Gain Muscle Simultaneously Read More »