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Lynne Brick's Fit Tip #34, 2007 — Connect to Your Community for A Cause
Fall has arrived and there are tons of community events, walks and races. You can do something great to help others while you are doing something great for yourself! Register yourself, your family, your friends and co-workers. Each cause has a passionate purpose for which you can help to make a difference in either a child's life, research or help to raise community awareness.
Here's a checklist of reminders as you prepare to walk or run in events this fall:
- Wear supportive shoes. Be sure your shoes feel comfortable when you walk or run. They need to have good arch support, laces, and support through the forefoot. The heel should have extra cushioning because that is what strikes the ground first. Some shoes come with air soles which can help to give you more pep in your step! Be sure you have room in the toe box area so when your foot pushes forward with each step, your toes are not cramping into the top edge. Each shoe comes with a toe line which helps to indicate where you should feel your longest toe. For some of us, the second toe is longer than the big toe!
- Wear a supportive bra. Walking or running without proper support can be uncomfortable and painful. Additionally, wearing a supportive bra can help improve your posture, which can help you to breathe!
- Dress in layers. The air can be quite chilly early in the morning. Wear layers which you can strip off as your body warms up.
- Use perfect posture. Great posture not only helps you to walk or run more efficiently but also helps oxygen to be delivered to your muscles and vital organs more efficiently.
- Guide your knees over your toes.
- Zip up the imaginary zipper under your belly button.
- Connect the imaginary dots between your belly button and your spine.
- Pull up under your rib cage.
- Draw your shoulders back and down as you lift your chest.
- Align your entire spine in a line.
- Use your arms. Whether you are walking or running, be sure to use your arms to help pump and propel your body forward. I've recently returned from Sweden where I saw many people using Nordic-style walking poles. If you are walking, pretend you have poles in your hands.
- Breathe. As your intensity increases, your breathing will naturally increase in intensity, depth and frequency. Allow your body to breathe naturally to keep up with the metabolic demands of your activity.
- H2O on the go. Be sure to drink water before, during and after your event.
- Connect to your community. Now is the time to make a difference for a cause. Connect to your community, your neighbor, your family and your self. Just do it.
P.S. Help us to help the community by signing up for Team Brick Bodies at www.LynneBricks.com.
You Go Girl!
Resources:
www.lynnebricks.com
www.komenmd.org
http://vmcontinuum.org/Documents/Walk Registration Form.doc
heartwalk.kintera.org/baltimore
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