So I totally lied and spent most of yesterday napping in bed. I think it was worth it.
Today, the windchill brought the temperature down to -16C, and I didn't want to risk my cold getting worse on it. But I was getting very edgy about not running, so I took the road less travelled, the less-preferred course, the duller of two options, and ran on the treadmill thingy downstairs.
I still consider it cheating - 8+1x2 would have been harder out there, with wind resistance and so on. It's also boring - the only thing I get to look at is my mouth, singing along to the words of my music.
I will admit, though, that by the end of that second run, my gluteus maximus was starting to feel some burn.
The second benefit to running inside is that I was able to shift over and do some weights. The stomach-crunches felt harder on the soft mats, oddly enough.
Suffice to say, I really prefer running outdoors, but I guess I can do it inside if I must.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Bad Girl
So I've been a bad girl, not posting when I should.
I have still been running, and am getting to 6+1x3 with only a bit of difficulty. the first day of it was hard - I felt my muscles saying, "Aaaahhh! I thought we were friends! We'd do a bit of jogging, rest a bit, but now it's all running!" I wonder what they'll think when it's 8+1x2 next week.
However, I have hit my first blockade on the path to progress. I am sick. Stuffy head, sore throat, blocked-up lymph nodes, stuffed nose, and decreased hearing. This sucks!
The magazines that I've bought makes it clear that yes, you can run with a cold. They have conditions: don't run with heart palpitations, a chest cold, diarrhea/vomiting, high fever, or shortness of breath. I happen to not have any of those, so I am thinking that I will do my run today. But it goes against almost everything my parents taught me, growing up, and what an office environment encourages now: stay home, lots of fluids, rest your poor aching body. My head, when it can coordinate two thoughts in the same area, is conflicted, but the rest of my body is hungry for food, and a run. And hot sauce.
I will write about how my run goes today. I think it will be interesting to see how running with a head cold affects the rest of my body. Psychosomatic, or physiological?
I have still been running, and am getting to 6+1x3 with only a bit of difficulty. the first day of it was hard - I felt my muscles saying, "Aaaahhh! I thought we were friends! We'd do a bit of jogging, rest a bit, but now it's all running!" I wonder what they'll think when it's 8+1x2 next week.
However, I have hit my first blockade on the path to progress. I am sick. Stuffy head, sore throat, blocked-up lymph nodes, stuffed nose, and decreased hearing. This sucks!
The magazines that I've bought makes it clear that yes, you can run with a cold. They have conditions: don't run with heart palpitations, a chest cold, diarrhea/vomiting, high fever, or shortness of breath. I happen to not have any of those, so I am thinking that I will do my run today. But it goes against almost everything my parents taught me, growing up, and what an office environment encourages now: stay home, lots of fluids, rest your poor aching body. My head, when it can coordinate two thoughts in the same area, is conflicted, but the rest of my body is hungry for food, and a run. And hot sauce.
I will write about how my run goes today. I think it will be interesting to see how running with a head cold affects the rest of my body. Psychosomatic, or physiological?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Week 4
So week three ended with a bit of a whimper (or was that my thigh muscle?), and week four came roaring with great weather. Today was -6, and I wore three layers and the coat.
Yesterday, I actually covered 4.2k, and did some extra-fun sprints on the way home. My thigh muscle is still tight, and I'm a wee bit worried on that, so if it's not better by Wednesday, I'll see the Osteopath on it.
Today was good. I'm onto 5/1x3+2/1x1, and I think my body is responding splendidly. At one point, my right knee hurt on the inside, but I kept running (not the smartest idea), and it worked its way through. I really must remember to do all my stretches, no matter how long it takes. Recovery time after injuring myself will take a lot longer!
A few times, I felt the weariness in my pace, especially on the third rep, but I kept going. I can't tell if I varied my speed at all.
I've also noticed that not everyone in Ottawa is diligent about cleaning their sidewalks! Please, people, think of the runners! Think of me! Running on ice, however buried in snow it may be, is a scary proposition, and I like it just slightly less than running on the road.
I got my acknowledgment of payment from the race people: I'm in, and this is really real.
Yesterday, I actually covered 4.2k, and did some extra-fun sprints on the way home. My thigh muscle is still tight, and I'm a wee bit worried on that, so if it's not better by Wednesday, I'll see the Osteopath on it.
Today was good. I'm onto 5/1x3+2/1x1, and I think my body is responding splendidly. At one point, my right knee hurt on the inside, but I kept running (not the smartest idea), and it worked its way through. I really must remember to do all my stretches, no matter how long it takes. Recovery time after injuring myself will take a lot longer!
A few times, I felt the weariness in my pace, especially on the third rep, but I kept going. I can't tell if I varied my speed at all.
I've also noticed that not everyone in Ottawa is diligent about cleaning their sidewalks! Please, people, think of the runners! Think of me! Running on ice, however buried in snow it may be, is a scary proposition, and I like it just slightly less than running on the road.
I got my acknowledgment of payment from the race people: I'm in, and this is really real.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
On Not Running
As much thought as I put into running itself, I also put some thought into not running. The difference is important.
Running is awesome, but there are times where not running is just as conducive to your overall fitness as running. It's that time where you give your feet, ankles, knees, and muscles a break from the stresses of pounding pavement, and do something else. It can also go under the title of 'cross training'.
I said I was going to run every day this weekend, because the weather is so nice. However, I didn't run yesterday (at least in a straight line) because I walked home. Then I walked to Ultimate, and ran there.
I didn't run today because my legs are aching. I'm a bit surprised how much they hurt, in fact! My calves are tight, and my quads ache with each stretch I do. I think it's because running in Ultimate is a different style of running, in which different muscles are used. When I get to that heavenly plateau of speed-training, I will get to remember this then.
Today will be a day of rest and recovery. Some theorize that 'pain is nature's way of telling you you're doing it right', for a very certain definition of 'pain', excluding things like broken arms. That's wrong.
However, I learned one lesson early on in ever running - if it hurts now, and you overdo it again, your muscles will lock up, and you will feel very sorry for yourself the following day.
I will run tomorrow.
Running is awesome, but there are times where not running is just as conducive to your overall fitness as running. It's that time where you give your feet, ankles, knees, and muscles a break from the stresses of pounding pavement, and do something else. It can also go under the title of 'cross training'.
I said I was going to run every day this weekend, because the weather is so nice. However, I didn't run yesterday (at least in a straight line) because I walked home. Then I walked to Ultimate, and ran there.
I didn't run today because my legs are aching. I'm a bit surprised how much they hurt, in fact! My calves are tight, and my quads ache with each stretch I do. I think it's because running in Ultimate is a different style of running, in which different muscles are used. When I get to that heavenly plateau of speed-training, I will get to remember this then.
Today will be a day of rest and recovery. Some theorize that 'pain is nature's way of telling you you're doing it right', for a very certain definition of 'pain', excluding things like broken arms. That's wrong.
However, I learned one lesson early on in ever running - if it hurts now, and you overdo it again, your muscles will lock up, and you will feel very sorry for yourself the following day.
I will run tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Run 2, Week 3: Cold!
What does a girl have to do to earn a good cup of hot chocolate around here?
Go running in the cold, apparently.
It's -13C, with the windchill bringing it down to -22C. I didn't run yesterday because I'd run the two previous days and don't want to push it. However, I realized that to keep up my training, I would have to run today, on one of the colder days of the week.
I dressed up to the nines and headed out, empowered by tunes and a new direction to run. Starting out, I knew my calves were tighter than usual. Usually, that works itself through early on, but it lasted longer today. I felt more tired overall, and I wonder if it's because of the cold or overall tiredness.
Sadly, the path by the river is still covered by snow, but the run by the mall is open, so I went down that and it was almost enough.
To make a long story short, I was glad to get home and relax with a good cup of Farm Boy hot chocolate. Since I didn't finish this run with a sense of "Hell yeah!" I think it qualifies as a 'meh' run, and I feel a bit disappointed.
Go running in the cold, apparently.
It's -13C, with the windchill bringing it down to -22C. I didn't run yesterday because I'd run the two previous days and don't want to push it. However, I realized that to keep up my training, I would have to run today, on one of the colder days of the week.
I dressed up to the nines and headed out, empowered by tunes and a new direction to run. Starting out, I knew my calves were tighter than usual. Usually, that works itself through early on, but it lasted longer today. I felt more tired overall, and I wonder if it's because of the cold or overall tiredness.
Sadly, the path by the river is still covered by snow, but the run by the mall is open, so I went down that and it was almost enough.
To make a long story short, I was glad to get home and relax with a good cup of Farm Boy hot chocolate. Since I didn't finish this run with a sense of "Hell yeah!" I think it qualifies as a 'meh' run, and I feel a bit disappointed.
Monday, February 2, 2009
End Week 2, Start Week 3
I forgot to write about yesterday's run, but there's not much to write on. It was the end of the run 3 minutes/walk 1 minute x 5, and I didn't really enjoy it. The weather was a whoppin' 3C ABOVE zero, so I dressed a lot lighter - in fact, too lightly. One skin layer and a top is not enough for that.
Today, however, began the 4/1x4, and I loved it. There were a few times that I looked at my watch and was surprised to see I still had a minute of running left, but it didn't hurt to keep going. The sidewalks were relatively bare, due to the high temperature, the breeze was quiet, and the air with just a touch of chill. I had a skin layer, shirt, and long-sleeve top.
None of my joints hurt either. Sometimes a knee aches for a few strides, but it goes away. Once in a while, one calf will pull a bit, or the achilles, but I haven't had to stop and make it better. Sometimes, I feel the inside of my patella (the knee cap) aching, but I should warm up better.
The only cause for concern is my breathing right now. It's fine through out the run, even on bad runs, but I'm wheezing a bit now. Maybe I'll take P's advice and see a doctor about asthma. I really don't want to have it diagnosed.
Don't get me wrong - asthma can't stop me from doing anything I want to do. My sister has had asthma all her life, and she's a national gold medalist in boxing. But at the same time, I know how much of a pain in the ass and the lungs asthma can be, having to remember keyswalletcellphonepuffer makes it one item more to forget at home one day.
All in all, though, I'm pretty lucky. And as long as I can run, it'll be okay.
Today, however, began the 4/1x4, and I loved it. There were a few times that I looked at my watch and was surprised to see I still had a minute of running left, but it didn't hurt to keep going. The sidewalks were relatively bare, due to the high temperature, the breeze was quiet, and the air with just a touch of chill. I had a skin layer, shirt, and long-sleeve top.
None of my joints hurt either. Sometimes a knee aches for a few strides, but it goes away. Once in a while, one calf will pull a bit, or the achilles, but I haven't had to stop and make it better. Sometimes, I feel the inside of my patella (the knee cap) aching, but I should warm up better.
The only cause for concern is my breathing right now. It's fine through out the run, even on bad runs, but I'm wheezing a bit now. Maybe I'll take P's advice and see a doctor about asthma. I really don't want to have it diagnosed.
Don't get me wrong - asthma can't stop me from doing anything I want to do. My sister has had asthma all her life, and she's a national gold medalist in boxing. But at the same time, I know how much of a pain in the ass and the lungs asthma can be, having to remember keyswalletcellphonepuffer makes it one item more to forget at home one day.
All in all, though, I'm pretty lucky. And as long as I can run, it'll be okay.
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