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I've moved my blog to: gorgegirlruns.com

Come see me there :-).

Posted by Cate Hotchkiss at 5:38 PM No comments: 

Barre and Running: The Perfect Pairing

Tuck. Squeeze. Pulse. Plié.

If you've ever taken a barre class, you know that these small movements can set your muscles on fire! And make them shake wildly, which I've learned, is a good thing.

Barre ignites those deep, stabilizing muscles throughout your body, many of which in my case, were sound asleep. Never mind that I can run for several hours—one hour of barre pretty much kicks my butt every time.

In January, I started taking barre—a blend of yoga, Pilates and ballet—because I wanted to get stronger. Or more precisely, run stronger. Last fall, I missed qualifying for Boston by a few minutes so I’m planning to try again in June. I’ll need all the strength I can get.

The good news is, after sweating and quivering at the barre for a couple of months now, I’m starting to see results on the trail, which is really encouraging. My legs feel springier. My calves and feet feel stronger (all those relevés). And it seems as though I’ve cured my gluteal amnesia or sleepy glutes, which I hope will help to prevent some of the issues that have nagged me in the past, namely IT band flare ups. A stronger butt = stronger running, right?

One thing I didn't expect from barre was how much it would challenge my arms. Often after class, they are so fatigued I can hardly hold them up to my laptop. I seriously need props.

But as tough as barre is, I absolutely love it and continue to be inspired by the barre badassery of the instructors and other women in the classes. And weirdly, I've started to crave the barre burn, perhaps because that fire generates new growth.

I am so grateful to Christa Scheer who opened Hood River Barre last summer. If you'd like to learn more about barre and her fabulous new studio, check out the story I wrote for the spring issue of The Gorge Magazine, on stands now (in The Gorge, Portland, Seattle, and beyond). Posted by Cate Hotchkiss at 5:42 AM 1 comment: Labels: Barre, Injury Prevention, Marathon training


Favorite Trail Half Marathons in Oregon

For many of us, a new year marks the beginning of a new race schedule with dozens of races to choose from. Here are three stunningly beautiful trail half marathons from June to November that my friends and I love.

Timberline--Timothy Lake, early June. First, I should mention that the "half marathon" is actually 14.4 miles, so don't be alarmed if your time is much slower than usual. The single-track course follows the shoreline of Timothy Lake with breathtaking views of the lake and Mt. Hood. It's mostly flat on easy terrain at 3,000 feet. You can also sign up for the marathon, which loops around the lake twice.

Haulin' Aspen--Bend, early August. At 5,500 feet, this is a lung-buster, but Central Oregon is so beautiful, it's worth it. Plus, Bend is such a great place to play in the summer, or year-round for that matter. They have changed the course since we ran it, but I hear it's wonderful. There is also a marathon and a 6.5-mile race.

Silver Falls--Silver Falls State Park, first weekend in Nov. I absolutely love this run. Sometimes it falls on my birthday--what a gift to be able to run with waterfalls! It's a challenging course with steep climbs on single-track trails after the first paved mile. The race fills fast, so register early. Organizers also offer a 50K ultra, marathon and 7-mile race.

Posted by Cate Hotchkiss at 3:38 PM 1 comment: Labels: Half Marathons, Trails Cate Hotchkiss
I'm in love with running. And with the Columbia River Gorge. So I started a blog about running in this magical place.
