The Sly Six Pack

As promised, faithful readers, I will delve into the subject of "the sly six pack" today.

If you have ever watched the Olympics or any sporting event where people run, you will notice that runners have ridiculous muscles.  They have thighs the size of watermelons and somehow their arms are toned and insanely ripped.  Their entire bodies merge into one rippling muscle.  Needless to say, my body is not like that.  I mean, I would describe myself as a runner, but I'm certainly not an amazing runner and I'm certainly not that good.  I also have a penchant for chocolate and just today, after a 9 mile run, I decided to follow it with a beer (and water, of course, but I decided a beer would taste really good).  So...I have not really developed the body of an Olympian.  

However, I will not deny that certain parts of my body have taken well to running.  I have, for example, something resembling a tan for the first time in my life, and I have ridiculous calves.  That's the one thing I will admit to.  They are definitely slimmer than they were when I did tennis or rowing - in fact my whole body is slimmer, but I notice it particularly in my calves.  But they are still bigger than most women's, and I will admit that gladly.  I can't even twitch my foot without having it look like I'm hard core flexing my calf muscles.  A part of me takes secret glee from this and another part of me winces when I catch a glance of them in high heels.  You can definitely tell that I do more than just go for a stroll during my lunch hour.

But, you are wondering about the six pack.  And no, I'm not talking about beer, I did not down a whole six pack after my run today.  Very funny guys.  

My abs are the one part of my body that I have never been able to control.  I have managed to whip my arms and legs, even my lower back, into ridiculous shape through running, weight training, classes, playing sports...but my stomach refuses to follow suite.  I learned in a health class once that women develop a layer of fat on their stomachs once they "mature" to protect their future babies, so I always just kind of accepted the fact that women are supposed to have soft, if slightly squishy, tummies.  Don't get me wrong, I've tried my darndest to tone it up - Pilates, ab classes at the gym, sit-ups, crunches, work out videos - they are all fun and can leave you with an awfully sore stomach for a few days, but I've never managed to stick with it long enough to acheive results.  Okay, I'm dwelling here and making it sound like I've spent hours and hours for nothing (really, I'd do like a class and then be like, that was fun and then never go again).  But the other day, I was startled to look in the mirror and see the top of my abs.  Like, the top of my abs in high definition.  First of all, there have only been brief moments in my life when I could even say I had abs and not just a tummy (there is a difference).  Second of all, I was surprised to see the start of what appears to be a six pack.  A very small start, I'm not talking like ripped, chisled abdominals just yet.  But enough that I mentioned it to a friend and he told me that no matter how many crunches I do, I'll never get a six pack that way - you have to run.  Considering that I'm now at about 30-35 miles a week, I assume that they will only continue to develop from here.  Without my consent!  Without my effort!  Don't get me wrong, I do a very light weight routine about once a week...but I find myself spending less and less time on my sit-ups and more on my lunges.

The sly six pack takes another victim!  Here it comes, like the creature from the Black Lagoon, storming your body and taking no prisoners!

Okay...once again, I have gotten carried away.

Speaking of getting carried away, I recently learned that in Maryland, in November, there is a FIFTY mile run.  I am intrigued and, unfortunately, tempted.  Why shoot for 26.2 when you can go for 50???  I mean, you're already over halfway to 50 after you've done a marathon.  Why not just keep going?  Such lofty goals for such a little runner...