In this weeks post, Im supposed to tell you about cross training and other ways I prepare for a marathon besides running. Dont worry, Ill get to that. But first I need to tell you about my runs on Saturday and Sunday and how I feel like got my groove back -- or at least part of it.Saturday was easily the best run of this training cycle. It wasnt a particularly difficult run -- just 10 easy miles. But it felt easy, and I hit the runners high early on. Im not going to lie, my confidence was shaken when I injured my foot a couple of weeks ago, and ever since then Ive been skeptical of my ability to run the New York marathon the way I want.But just minutes before I went out on my run on Saturday, someone very close to me told me, I want you to have the confidence you had when I met you. I took that to heart. I returned 10 miles later, basically jumping with joy because I had found my mojo again. The next six weeks didnt seem as daunting as they previously did.Sunday was another easy 10-mile run, and it was perfect for a different reason. It was a brisk morning, it finally felt like fall and I could wear my favorite outfit: shorts and long sleeve shirt. The sun was shining, the leaves were starting to change and I was in my happy place again -- putting one foot in front of the other. I really felt my confidence coming back.Now, back to cross-training and stretching. Its thought that no pain, no gain gets you progress, but I dont really believe that message, especially after injuring my foot and hamstring this year. I do believe your body can do more than you think it can, especially if your mental capacity is strong. But thats no reason to push through an injury. Instead, there are things you can do to help your body be more well-rounded and better able to handle the pain of pounding pavement.The first is to make sure you have proper warm-up and cool-down. Theres a common misconception that one should do static stretching before any physical activity. But its is much better to do dynamic stretching before working out because it warms the muscles up. Static stretching benefits you after exercising, as the muscles are already warm and the goal is to cool them down.Ive found that doing a minimum of four dynamic stretches before a run helps me tremendously -- then I dont need to spend as much time warming up my muscles during the first mile. Examples of dynamic stretches I do include high knees and butt-kicks. As far as cooling down, I am huge fan of using a foam roller, a softball and elastic band to loosen back up. These tools really help me get a complete body stretch and build strength.And then theres cross-training. I do at least one day a week on the elliptical as a modification to my training because of my hamstring injury. But cross-training also includes lifting, core workouts and other sports and workout methods. This summer I picked up golf. Im trying to play at least once a week before the good weather runs out. Its a different pace than running, but I still use my legs and engage my core. I also like to practice yoga, which helps me do more stretching and meditate.Training for a marathon is not all about running. Cross training is an excellent way to have a well-rounded, strong body going into a race. And now I really feel like Ive gotten back on track. As the late Arnold Palmer said, Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated. So is running, but its also extremely gratifying. This weekend, running rewarded my efforts, and I couldnt feel more elated about where this journey is headed.Training Notebook:Longest run: 16 miles Hardest run: Four, 1.5-mile runs at 7:50-minute-per-mile pace (didnt hit pace each time, but the principle of the run made it difficult) Highest weekly mileage: 50.3 miles Biggest accomplishment: Completing every workout since writing the last blog and finally feeling like I got some of my mojo backMegan Flood is a seven-time marathoner and half marathoner. She is on a quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon and hopes New York 2016 is her ticket to Boston. You can follow her progress every other week here on espnW.com and on Twitter @meganflood11. Jaromir Jagr Flyers Jersey . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Bobby Clarke Flyers Jersey . 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The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Top officials of the IOC and other sporting bodies would be banned from being members of anti-doping agencies under new proposals for tackling drugs in sports.Leaders of 17 anti-doping organizations met in Copenhagen this week to consider ways of fixing a global anti-doping effort that has been deeply damaged and to ensure that the disturbing events of recent years are not repeated.Among the groups aims was to remove the fundamental conflict of interest that exists when anti-doping decisions are controlled by sports organizations -- a shot at the current ties between the World Anti-Doping Agency and International Olympic Committee.The president of WADA is Craig Reedie, a senior IOC member from Britain whose dual role has come under scrutiny during the scandal over state-sponsored doping in Russia. Reedie served as an IOC vice president and member of the policy-making executive board until his term expired during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He is now a regular IOC memberThe Copenhagen summit proposed a rule that would forbid officers, directors, employees and all decision-makers of anti-doping bodies from also holding a top position in any international federation or major event organization.The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations said the proposal would prevent the inherent conflict of interest that exists when a sports organization is tasked with both promoting and policing itself.The IOC set up WADA in 2009 and provides 50 percent of the agencys funding, with national governments covering the other half.IOC President Thomas Bach has proposed making the anti-doping system independent from sports organizations and called for the creation of an independent agency to carry out global drug testing. The IOC has scheduled a meeting for Oct. 8 to consider ways of improving the international system.The exposure of widespread doping in Russia has led to a crisis in confidence in the entire global anti-doping fight. IOC members blamed WADA for not acting early enough to deal with evidence of Russian ddoping, while the IOC was accused of being soft on Russia by not banning the country entirely from the Rio Games.ddddddddddddThe anti-doping leaders meeting in Denmark represented countries that included the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Britain.They said WADA should be strengthened and given the independence and authority to impose sanctions for large scale subversions of the anti-doping system, such as the state-backed system in Russia. WADA currently has had no power to impose sanctions against a sport or a country, leaving that to the IOC and other bodies.WADA must have authority and capacity to investigate and to impose proportional sanctions and consequences for all instances of code non-compliance, the officials in Copenhagen said in their final statement.They also expressed unequivocal support for the completion of the investigation into Russian doping by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren. His report detailed manipulation of drug samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, as well as cover-ups of doping tests across dozens of summer and winter sports.The leaders called for increased protection and support for whistleblowers, including Yulia Stepanova and her husband, Vitaly, who helped expose the doping culture in their homeland.All relevant organizations should do everything in their power to protect and ensure safety, security and sustainable future for Yulia and Vitaly and the other whistleblowers, the statement said.The IOC rejected Stepanovas bid to compete in the Rio Games after the IAAF recommended the 800-meter runner be allowed to participate as a neutral athlete.Stepanova and her husband have been living in the United States. She said recently that she fears for her safety and has switched residences after hackers breached a WADA database that records her whereabouts.Bach said in Rio that the IOC was not responsible for dangers to which Mrs. Stepanova may be exposed. ' ' '