writer: Womanly Magazine
Issue no. 5: Stressed out!
‘In fight training, the friendships formed between teammates run deep. This is partially due to the fact that sharing an experience of pain, like trading punches or running sprints until you’re ready to puke, creates a bond of trust, camaraderie, and loyalty. It’s also due to the raw, intimate, physical contact required in the sport. Before Muay Thai, the only times I’d felt a stranger’s sweaty face mashed into my sweaty neck involved a mosh pit or a drunken make-out session. Now, it’s just a normal Thursday practice.
“The one-on-one exchange of trust and respect that it takes to spar—to hit another person and be hit—is unique,.” says Stanya. “We’re all going through something hard, together. That feeling of being connected to other people, all different kinds of people, alleviates stress, especially in this increasingly alienating world.”’
Published December 1, 2019. Full piece available in print or digital.
Men’s journal contribution:
7 treadmill workouts to be a better runner
“For existing runners, doing interval work improves running efficiency, increases anaerobic endurance, helps build fast-twitch muscle fibers, and increases V02 max”—all of which will help you go faster for longer, says Leanne Pedante, an RRCA-certified running coach and head of training for STRIDE. “And for people who don’t consider themselves ‘runners,’ interval workouts are a great way to introduce some mileage in small chunks on a low-impact surface, which lets your body adapt and can help prevent injury while burning a ton of fat and calories in relatively short amounts of time.”
Published November 28, 2019. Link to digital article here.
livestrong contribution:
how to start exercising over 40
‘So what's the best way to approach exercise at this phase of life? "For anyone who is returning to exercise after a long break — say, several years or more without exercising — it's important to start slow and gradually increase your duration and intensity," says Leanne Pedante, head of the training program at STRIDE, a running-based fitness club in Los Angeles.’
‘"After you retire, your workplace community is gone and isolation becomes increasingly likely," Pedante says. "Group fitness classes are an amazing way to stay not just physically active, but socially active as well.”’
Published October 4, 2019. Link to digital article here.
Well + Good Contribution:
skipping as a warmup
‘Skipping is a great movement to prepare the body for running,” says Leanne Pedante, certified running coach and head of training program for Stride. “Skipping forces the body to practice sharp, efficient muscle actions that you need when you run fast: knee drive, propulsion, core control, and arm drive. And skipping drills increase flexibility in the hamstrings, glutes, and shoulders, while warming up other key muscles like your quads and calves.” So yeah, skipping’s legit.’
Published September 11, 2019. Link to digital article here.
Ask Men Contribution:
Fall workout ideas
‘“As the weather cools down in the fall, runners can find a lot of benefits in taking their workouts indoors on a treadmill. Lots of studios offer great treadmill-based workouts that incorporate cardio and strength intervals,” says Leanne Pedante, RRCA Certified Run Coach and Training Program Director for STRIDE. “No matter how dark or rainy it is outside, you can always run on a treadmill. It's a perfect "no-excuse" machine. Treadmill surfaces are actually easier on the joints and connective tissue than concrete, too.”’
Published September 11, 2019. Link to digital article here.
Livestrong Contribution:
7 IT Band Stretches every runner should do
‘"The IT band, or iliotibial band, is a tract of fascia the runs along the lateral of your knee, up to the outside of your hip," says Leanne Pedante, running coach and head of the training program for STRIDE.
Think of wearing a pair of jeans. The IT band is like the seam of your pants that runs from your hip to your knee, she says. It plays a big role in extending and rotating your hips, abducting your legs (moving your leg out to the side) and stabilizing your knee. ITBS usually feels like a sharp pain on top of and outside of the knee joint and can make every step quite painful, says Pedante.’
Published August 30, 2019. Link to digital article here.