Cross-Training

            I like trying new things and challenging myself, so about four years ago I decided to attempt a half-marathon. I thought that if I wanted to run 13.1 miles, all I had to do was start training seven weeks before the race – the first Saturday I’d run 6 miles, the second Satuday 7, and so on. During the week I’d run anywhere from 3-5 miles per day. I put the treadmill on the same speed every time I ran – 6 miles an hour.

            When race day arrived, I was super nervous. As I first started running, I kept worrying I was going too fast or too slow. My knee started hurting about halfway through. At a few places, I felt like I wanted to give up. But I did it! Crossing that finish line was a great feeling, even though my entire body ached like crazy and I kind of wanted to pass out. I didn’t go in with a specific goal in mind besides just to finish. When I learned my time – two hours and six minutes – I was proud of my accomplishment.

            But I knew I could do better. I could finish in two hours.

            I went on-line and found a training program. To my surprise I wasn’t just supposed to run, I was supposed to cross-train. I walked, biked, lifted, even did aerobics and yoga. And the program had me running at different speeds on different days. Not only did I become stronger, I became faster.  

            I made other changes as well. I broke down and went to an actual running gear store where a guy observed my form and helped me pick out the perfect pair of shoes (before that, my perfect pair of running shoes was defined as “whatever is on sale in a color I like”). I watched what I ate, I got enough sleep. I bought orange sports drinks, then promptly gave them to my husband and bought grape instead (orange sports drinks are terrible).

            When my second half-marathon race day arrived I was still nervous, but under that nervousness I felt good. I was ready. And when the starting pistol fired, I decided I was just going to have fun. 

            I jammed out to Lady Gaga on my iPod. I smiled at the spectators lining the streets. I jumped up and waved at my husband when he couldn’t find me at the sea of runners. I still struggled at certain points, but nothing like my first race.

            When I rounded the final corner, I saw the official clock and knew I was going to accomplish my goal. I practically floated across the finish line with the biggest smile on my face, my final time an hour and fifty-six minutes. I felt good, physically and mentally.

            My writing journey has been a lot like my running journey.

            I’ve learned if I want to publish a novel, I can’t just write in a vacuum. Don’t get me wrong, I know I need to spend a lot of time advancing the plot of said novel if I ever want to finish it, but I shouldn’t ignore other “cross-training” activities that can improve my craft. Like creating character sketches, attending writing conferences, writing short-stories, playing word-association games, even just plain reading. One of my friends says she’s more creative when she spends fifteen minutes coloring (yes, with crayons!) before she writes.

            What sorts of “cross-training” activities do you like to do?