HAPPY FRIDAY! Guess what? I have some really great news on the “why does my hip hate me” front: it might not hate me that much!
To open up my hips and keep them flexible I’ve always done Pigeon Pose:
Pigeon Pose | Photo: PopSugar Fitness
I used to hold the pose for 60 to 90 seconds thinking that was enough, but just three days ago I tried holding it for a full five minutes at the recommendation of my coach. THE LONGER HOLD HAS CHANGED MY WORLD! My right hip no longer feels super tight and uncomfortable!
I’m now holding Pigeon for five minutes in the morning and five minutes again at night.
I also mix in:
- Happy Baby Pose (I hold for 3 minutes x 2)
- Fire hydrants (2 x 12 reps)
- Hip bridges (I hold for 60 to 90 seconds)
- Clamshells
- Foam rolling
This combination of stretches seems to be working like a charm for me! Hallelujah! 🙂
I’m really glad to have found something that loosens up my hips before the weekend because I’ve got 5 miles on the schedule for Saturday and 14 miles on Sunday for a total of 19 miles. <– Lots of miles!
It’s really weird to think that this 14-miler will be the longest run of my marathon training cycle so far. Last year I did my first 14 mile run right before 4th of July weekend. My coach keeps reminding me that I shouldn’t compare last year to this year though. I’m following a completely different training methodology and one that has been proven to work great.
My intent when seeking out a new coach was to try out a new training method, so I just have to trust the process!
I’ll be thinking about and doing a lot of running this weekend, so I thought we could chat about some other things for a little bit:
In my new video I talk about the book I’m reading now, the movie I saw FOURTEEN TIMES in the theater and my favorite drink before bed! I hope you like it :).
Have a great weekend! The next time we talk I’ll be in the Dominican Republic!!
Hasta la próxima!
What is your all time favorite movie?
What book are you reading right now?
Is saying Hip-Hip-Hooray too cheesy? I’m glad you’ve gotten your hip tightness figured out!
Have an amazing vacation!
Author
Hahha I love it! Thank you 🙂
I am all about going to the movies by myself (if I can’t find someone to go)….and I went to see Titanic by myself too. It was so sad that when it was over, I was a little bummed I didn’t have anyone to cry with.
Author
Now that our local movie theater has reclining seats and delicious food it’s so much easier for me to get Adam to go with me, hahaha
But yes, I’m all about doing things by myself if I have to. #IndependentLadies 🙂
Have a wonderful vacation! I am reading In the Unlikely Event (Judy Blume) and The Prime Minister’s Secret Agent (MacNeal). Glad you have found a stretch that is working! I don’t watch movies by myself–If I did, I would be asleep. It’s a gift.
Author
Thanks so much!
That’s funny about the movies – I am the same way with TV shows. Unless it’s a show that I’m super invested in, I can be asleep in 2 minutes!
YAYAYAYAY! So glad you found something that works for your hip, that’s awesome! I think I need to try this one out, too. I know I don’t do enough in the way of stretching, rolling, etc., and believe me, I pay the price for it, haha. Love the new video! 🙂
Author
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover deep stretching – definitely give it a try as you start building mileage!!! it’s life changing! 🙂
Thanks so much for watching the new video!
I am glad you find the book interesting. I told you Isabella was so self important! It is funny you think you might be subconsciously putting off the sex chapter because I kept reading faster and faster so I could GET to the sex chapter!
I used to go see movies all the time by myself in college. I want to see Train Wreck and it looks like I may have to go to that alone because Paul doesn’t want to see it! I thought the fact that Lebron was in it would convince him but no.
Author
LeBron is definitely the best part of the movie, he is really funny in it!
Amy is okay. The first half of the movie is basically a straight up rom-com and Amy is good in it. The second half is more drama-ish and she’s not so great. Watching her fake cry made me squirm it was so bad!
Oh I forgot to tell you! I LOVE pigeon pose and do it every day- but did it EXTRA long today because of what you wrote. Also, I am glad it has helped your hip!
Author
Oh good! I hope that it helps in some small way for you too. After three days of holding for 5 minutes my hip feels totally normal. Today I didn’t even think about my hip at all … except for when I was commenting back on this post 🙂
The only movie I’ve ever seen on my own was Magic Mike, lol!! I had to get my car serviced and it was beside a movie theater, so I just went there while I waited. I was the only person in the theater, lol.
So I’d love to get some of your tips for filing vlogs. I remember you got a new camera…. do you use special software or a microphone?
Author
LMAO that’s awesome! A theater all to yourself for Magic Mike!
I did get a new-to-me camera but it’s actually an old camera. It’s a Samsung MV800. I also have a Canon Rebel T3i that I want to use for videos, but I haven’t purchased a tripod yet.
I don’t use a special microphone or anything, but I did buy a lighting kit off of Amazon. I clearly have no idea how to use it properly since the lighting was awful in this video!
For editing I just use iMovie and for adding annotations and music I use YouTube’s own editor!
I like that your 14 miles this weekend will be your longest run yet this cycle…I think maybe splitting your miles like this but also still building mileage with the long runs and medium runs in a row will make you really strong and help you avoid injury. Wow this sentence makes no sense.
I love tell-all books like the Playboy one you’re reading…I can’t wait to read Holly’s book about it! lol
The only movie I’ve ever seen on my own was Magic Mike, lol!! I had to get my car serviced and it was beside a movie theater, so I just went there while I waited. I was the only person in the theater, lol.
So I’d love to get some of your tips for filing vlogs. I remember you got a new camera…. do you use special software or a microphone? Are you wor ride about people from your work finding your vlogs?
Author
Hahah about the coworkers … the cat is out of the bag there now and I know a couple of them read here and watch the videos. I did make a couple of old posts private, but for the most part, I’m comfortable with them reading/watching. I thought it would be super weird but it’s really not.
It would be really weird if clients found my blog or videos but I don’t think they would. My full name is pretty optimized for professional things. I rarely ever use my full name here on the blog or on my social channels that are related to the blog for the sole reason that I wouldn’t want clients to (easily) find this little area of the Internet!
I think it’s so funny that you drink hot tea every night living in Florida. Does it ever not sound good? I hope you have the air conditioning cranked when you drink it. 🙂
I saw Titanic 5 times in theater, which is a record for me. I was obsessed with that movie and Leo. I would have gone with you over and over again.
I am currently reading A Life Without Limits
Great news. Your coach really seems great, maybe someday I’ll man up and get a coach.
I’m reading Soul Keeping right now. Biblical book all about the health of your soul. I’m excited!
That’s great news about the hip stretch! It reminds me to do mine as well. 🙂
I hope you have a super fabulous vacation Kristina! Take lots of pictures. 😀
Hi Kristina! I’m happy to read your blog and find out about the Pigeon Pose. I would totally pin this for future purposes. Or maybe I’m just going to add it to my daily exercises too! 🙂 19 miles is a lot but I know you can do it! And yipeee, it’s almost half of your 50-mile goal. Keep it up! 😉
I want to read Holly Madison’s new book about the Playboy Mansion so bad and now I want to read Isabella’s too. I think they would be so interesting!!
So glad you’re seeing results with the longer stretches 🙂 Hope you were able to get your long run in early this week. Keep it up. Challenging, yet rewarding weeks are ahead. Happy vacation! Enjoy every minute. xo