Thursday: 2.51 mi. in 36:36 min.
Friday: 2.56 mi. in 36:52 min.
DD1 reminded me that right now my goal is to train consistently, building my endurance slowly. So I think I am doing o.k. with the consistency but I admit to allowing grand thoughts of excellence into my head. My experience Monday of over doing it really stopped me in my tracks and I have backed off those grand thoughts.
I ran Thursday early afternoon due to some scheduling issues and turned around and ran again this morning. I want to get back to running in the morning for a couple of reasons. 1) Consistency. Only rarely does an early morning run time cause a real schedule conflict for me. 2) I feel better all day. 3) The run is finished and I can move on to other tasks. When I wait till later in the day to run, I find myself doing mostly inconsequential stuff to pass the time until I do run.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Back At It
2.5 mi. in 42 min. 1% incline
It was very cold this morning and I have several meetings scheduled today so I ran on the treadmill at the gym this morning. Unfortunately I accidentally hit the reset button about halfway through my run so my distance & time is an estimate—albeit very close.
So after a really wiped out yesterday I woke up feeling so much better this morning. I am proud of myself that I got up and ran this morning. In my old workout days I would have used the excuse of still "resting" and taken the remainder of the week off. Then come Monday I would have said, "oh well" and given up. But I was eager to run this morning. I have to say that the 2 apps I am using, Running Log and Runmeter, really help in the motivation area. "Seeing" my run on the graphs in Runmeter and my totals in Running Log are so cool!
I finally received the book I ordered way back in November, Beginning Runner's Handbook - The Proven 13-week Walk/Run Program. It is very basic. If I hadn't had DD1 to help me get started, this book would have been ideal. It follows the same basic philosophy she uses of walking and adding run time a little at a time until you can run 30 minutes continuously. The book has you run 3 days a week, but I like running 5 or 6 days and then taking a day off. I need the daily routine.
It was ironic that I received the book on Tuesday, the same day I did too much. The second chapter of the book is about how your body adapts s-l-o-w-l-y to running. And, how you may feel o.k. aerobically but your muscles and bones are still adapting to the exercise. I think that is exactly what occurred with me Tuesday. I didn't necessarily feel winded while I was running, but I definitely think my muscles and bones were not ready for that intense of a workout.
I'm obviously still reading the book and look forward to discussing it more.
It was very cold this morning and I have several meetings scheduled today so I ran on the treadmill at the gym this morning. Unfortunately I accidentally hit the reset button about halfway through my run so my distance & time is an estimate—albeit very close.
So after a really wiped out yesterday I woke up feeling so much better this morning. I am proud of myself that I got up and ran this morning. In my old workout days I would have used the excuse of still "resting" and taken the remainder of the week off. Then come Monday I would have said, "oh well" and given up. But I was eager to run this morning. I have to say that the 2 apps I am using, Running Log and Runmeter, really help in the motivation area. "Seeing" my run on the graphs in Runmeter and my totals in Running Log are so cool!
I finally received the book I ordered way back in November, Beginning Runner's Handbook - The Proven 13-week Walk/Run Program. It is very basic. If I hadn't had DD1 to help me get started, this book would have been ideal. It follows the same basic philosophy she uses of walking and adding run time a little at a time until you can run 30 minutes continuously. The book has you run 3 days a week, but I like running 5 or 6 days and then taking a day off. I need the daily routine.
It was ironic that I received the book on Tuesday, the same day I did too much. The second chapter of the book is about how your body adapts s-l-o-w-l-y to running. And, how you may feel o.k. aerobically but your muscles and bones are still adapting to the exercise. I think that is exactly what occurred with me Tuesday. I didn't necessarily feel winded while I was running, but I definitely think my muscles and bones were not ready for that intense of a workout.
I'm obviously still reading the book and look forward to discussing it more.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Too
Rest Day
Yesterday was too much. Too many hills, too big of hills, too long running.
I spent yesterday evening laying on the couch watching the SF Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals, feeling completely wiped out. My legs ached and I was quickly getting stiff. During the night I decided that I had just done too much yesterday with my run and I needed to rest today. I was really sore when I first rolled out of bed, but yoga helped loosen the muscles.
Lesson learned.
Yesterday was too much. Too many hills, too big of hills, too long running.
I spent yesterday evening laying on the couch watching the SF Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals, feeling completely wiped out. My legs ached and I was quickly getting stiff. During the night I decided that I had just done too much yesterday with my run and I needed to rest today. I was really sore when I first rolled out of bed, but yoga helped loosen the muscles.
Lesson learned.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Today Really Kicked My Butt and/or Wishful Thinking
2.45 mi. in 35:01 min.
First, the nitty gritty, I ran 7 3-min jogs today to finish up the trail I was on.
And speaking of the trail I was on…I ran a new route today, a fitness trail near home . It has 2 loops or you can run the entire perimeter, which is what I did. Because it is a fitness trail it has its ups and downs. (Pun intended.) It has 1 big hill (I ran down it. I'm no fool!) and 2 slightly smaller hills and multiple small inclines and declines. But even the smaller inclines are tough. I was surprised at how much slower I was today. Some of the hills really kicked butt.
I started walking this trail with The Love of My Life after his bypass surgery 7 years ago. I remember thinking several times that it would be great to be able to run the trail. But I didn't have a clue how to get started and I was too old and I was too out of shape. It was just wishful thinking that I would ever be able to do that. But today that wish is almost a reality. While I didn't run the entire 2.45 miles, I did run a good portion of it. Even better, I can see the day when I will be able to run the whole distance. In fact, I figure this trail will be a good place to build up my distance. You can run the outer perimeter, each loop, or figure-8 the trail. If I did each on of those in one run that would total a little over 7 miles.
One of the conversations DD1 and I had very early in my training was about running shoes. She told me the specifics about how long running shoes last (about 500 mi.) and how to recognize when they begin to wear out (her knees start to bother her). I couldn't imagine running 500 miles and wearing out a pair of shoes. Again, one of those inconceivable goals I thought I couldn't attain. In fact, one of the iPhone apps I use had a reviewer ask for a feature that tracked how many miles were on your shoes. How silly I thought.
But yesterday I was looking at the distance totals on my iPhone. I was very surprised to see that I've accummulated almost 50 miles in 3-1/2 weeks. That means that by Dec. 31 I will be close to 100 miles. Once I start adding distance to my training the miles will just pile on. It will be no time at all before I reach that 500 mile mark. Do you think I should start picking out a new pair now?
First, the nitty gritty, I ran 7 3-min jogs today to finish up the trail I was on.
And speaking of the trail I was on…I ran a new route today, a fitness trail near home . It has 2 loops or you can run the entire perimeter, which is what I did. Because it is a fitness trail it has its ups and downs. (Pun intended.) It has 1 big hill (I ran down it. I'm no fool!) and 2 slightly smaller hills and multiple small inclines and declines. But even the smaller inclines are tough. I was surprised at how much slower I was today. Some of the hills really kicked butt.
I started walking this trail with The Love of My Life after his bypass surgery 7 years ago. I remember thinking several times that it would be great to be able to run the trail. But I didn't have a clue how to get started and I was too old and I was too out of shape. It was just wishful thinking that I would ever be able to do that. But today that wish is almost a reality. While I didn't run the entire 2.45 miles, I did run a good portion of it. Even better, I can see the day when I will be able to run the whole distance. In fact, I figure this trail will be a good place to build up my distance. You can run the outer perimeter, each loop, or figure-8 the trail. If I did each on of those in one run that would total a little over 7 miles.
One of the conversations DD1 and I had very early in my training was about running shoes. She told me the specifics about how long running shoes last (about 500 mi.) and how to recognize when they begin to wear out (her knees start to bother her). I couldn't imagine running 500 miles and wearing out a pair of shoes. Again, one of those inconceivable goals I thought I couldn't attain. In fact, one of the iPhone apps I use had a reviewer ask for a feature that tracked how many miles were on your shoes. How silly I thought.
But yesterday I was looking at the distance totals on my iPhone. I was very surprised to see that I've accummulated almost 50 miles in 3-1/2 weeks. That means that by Dec. 31 I will be close to 100 miles. Once I start adding distance to my training the miles will just pile on. It will be no time at all before I reach that 500 mile mark. Do you think I should start picking out a new pair now?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Do You Remember the Crayola Color Red Violet?
2.65 mi. in 34.35 min.
A little slower today. Must be that broken toe. Saturday night I walked into my guest room to put something away. I was barefoot. It was late. I stubbed my toe on the chair. It hurt like the dickens. But really, how bad can a stubbed toe be? It was after all just a small chair. A couple of times during the night I bumped my toe in bed and it hurt enough to rouse me. But I was shocked this morning to see my middle toe was swollen and obviously injured. It was red-violet. You remember, the reddish-purple Crayola crayon from years ago before Crayola changed all the names? And what's really funny is that the discoloration is a perfect ring around my toe about 3/4" wide. It looks like a really big toe ring!
But did that stop me from running? No way. It really didn't bother me at all so I don't know why my time was a little slower than yesterday. However, I did have trouble doing Downward Facing Dog in my little yoga routine. Something about the way I hold my foot caused a lot of pain in the toe.
(On a side note, DH has started doing the little yoga routine with me. I'm so happy. He has never been very limber. I believe that some of his stiffness is hereditary; both his mom & uncle were stiff. But I think these yoga moves will help him.)
Here is my schedule for this week. It is a bit up in the air due to the weather forecast.
Monday: Run at 4 p.m. on the school track.
Tuesday: Run outside at 5:30 a.m.
Wednesday & Friday run at 5:30 a.m. either outside or on the treadmill at the gym depending on weather.
Thursday is a rest day.
Tuesday I will start integrating a jog 4 min/walk 1 min circuit into my running time.
A little slower today. Must be that broken toe. Saturday night I walked into my guest room to put something away. I was barefoot. It was late. I stubbed my toe on the chair. It hurt like the dickens. But really, how bad can a stubbed toe be? It was after all just a small chair. A couple of times during the night I bumped my toe in bed and it hurt enough to rouse me. But I was shocked this morning to see my middle toe was swollen and obviously injured. It was red-violet. You remember, the reddish-purple Crayola crayon from years ago before Crayola changed all the names? And what's really funny is that the discoloration is a perfect ring around my toe about 3/4" wide. It looks like a really big toe ring!
But did that stop me from running? No way. It really didn't bother me at all so I don't know why my time was a little slower than yesterday. However, I did have trouble doing Downward Facing Dog in my little yoga routine. Something about the way I hold my foot caused a lot of pain in the toe.
(On a side note, DH has started doing the little yoga routine with me. I'm so happy. He has never been very limber. I believe that some of his stiffness is hereditary; both his mom & uncle were stiff. But I think these yoga moves will help him.)
Here is my schedule for this week. It is a bit up in the air due to the weather forecast.
Monday: Run at 4 p.m. on the school track.
Tuesday: Run outside at 5:30 a.m.
Wednesday & Friday run at 5:30 a.m. either outside or on the treadmill at the gym depending on weather.
Thursday is a rest day.
Tuesday I will start integrating a jog 4 min/walk 1 min circuit into my running time.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Today Was Fabulous!
2.87 mi. in 37:09 min.
Today was one of those rare days when life is really, really good. DH & I were hitting on all the same cylinders. As we went about our business everything just kind of fell into place. Even lunch at the worst Mexican restaurant ever was fun because we both hated the food, hated over hearing what the guy in the next booth was talking about, hated the music. It was a fabulous day!
But back to running, I ran at the local middle school track today while DH walked. I am amazed again what a difference hills, even small inclines, make in my distance. I ran the 3/2 circuits, all 6 of them, and I rated my effort as an 8. Part of that was the cold, stiff wind I was up against on one part of the track.
I was talking to DH last night about my running experience so far and these are some of the things I told him. I amazed I have been doing this for 3-1/2 weeks already. I am amazed that I have stuck with it for that long. Also, when I first talked to DD1 about training for a 1/2 marathon and she talked about the first phase as working up to running for 30 minutes, I just couldn't see myself doing that. I was like, "oh sure, I can do that", but inside the thought of being able to run 30 minutes in one session was just unimaginable to me. But I can see it on the horizon. I figure that by Christmas I will run 30 minutes in one session! That thought takes my breath away.
One thing I have noticed since I started this journey is how much better I feel about myself. I am still very critical when I look in the mirror, but I am beginning to look at myself differently. This truly is a journey that will affect my whole being. So far I'm having a great time.!
Today was one of those rare days when life is really, really good. DH & I were hitting on all the same cylinders. As we went about our business everything just kind of fell into place. Even lunch at the worst Mexican restaurant ever was fun because we both hated the food, hated over hearing what the guy in the next booth was talking about, hated the music. It was a fabulous day!
But back to running, I ran at the local middle school track today while DH walked. I am amazed again what a difference hills, even small inclines, make in my distance. I ran the 3/2 circuits, all 6 of them, and I rated my effort as an 8. Part of that was the cold, stiff wind I was up against on one part of the track.
I was talking to DH last night about my running experience so far and these are some of the things I told him. I amazed I have been doing this for 3-1/2 weeks already. I am amazed that I have stuck with it for that long. Also, when I first talked to DD1 about training for a 1/2 marathon and she talked about the first phase as working up to running for 30 minutes, I just couldn't see myself doing that. I was like, "oh sure, I can do that", but inside the thought of being able to run 30 minutes in one session was just unimaginable to me. But I can see it on the horizon. I figure that by Christmas I will run 30 minutes in one session! That thought takes my breath away.
One thing I have noticed since I started this journey is how much better I feel about myself. I am still very critical when I look in the mirror, but I am beginning to look at myself differently. This truly is a journey that will affect my whole being. So far I'm having a great time.!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Outside vs. Treadmill
2.31 mi. in 34:19 min.
It's Friday. Business is always slow on Friday afternoon, especially this close to the Christmas holiday. So I decided to wait until lunchtime to run in hopes it would be warm enough to run outside. Yeah! It was! It felt so good to be outside.
I had been beating myself up for not running yesterday. (Waking up at 4:30 a.m. to a cold house and no electricity just started the day off bad and it went downhill from there.) But when I was logging today's run I realized that I had already run 5 days in a row so it would be o.k. to count yesterday as a rest day. I feel so much better.
I had no trouble upping my intensity to the 3/2 level today. The only problem was my legs got so tired. Seriously. About 10 min. into the run my lower calfs were so tired I didn't think I was going to be able to continue. But continue I did. They got a little better, but I was really glad to get home and just sit down. Weird I know.
I used to see people running in cold weather and think how crazy they were. But I get it now. It feels great to be out in the cold, in the sunshine, running. It clears my head. And I feel so much more energetic. I like it so much better than running on the treadmill.
It's Friday. Business is always slow on Friday afternoon, especially this close to the Christmas holiday. So I decided to wait until lunchtime to run in hopes it would be warm enough to run outside. Yeah! It was! It felt so good to be outside.
I had been beating myself up for not running yesterday. (Waking up at 4:30 a.m. to a cold house and no electricity just started the day off bad and it went downhill from there.) But when I was logging today's run I realized that I had already run 5 days in a row so it would be o.k. to count yesterday as a rest day. I feel so much better.
I had no trouble upping my intensity to the 3/2 level today. The only problem was my legs got so tired. Seriously. About 10 min. into the run my lower calfs were so tired I didn't think I was going to be able to continue. But continue I did. They got a little better, but I was really glad to get home and just sit down. Weird I know.
I used to see people running in cold weather and think how crazy they were. But I get it now. It feels great to be out in the cold, in the sunshine, running. It clears my head. And I feel so much more energetic. I like it so much better than running on the treadmill.
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