Sorry, U2.
Looking back at my post last week, I have decided that Sundays are the days of piercing wind and uncomfortable cold.
On Wednesday, I partook in my first Wednesday running group run. It was nice to see a lot of familiar faces. I had thought to bring my iPod for the run, but I soon realized a good reason not to - chatting with other runners makes the time pass way more quickly than listening to music.
Yesterday was a 4.47k to the Pretoria bridge and back. Though my legs felt slightly lead-like, I still made reasonable time. It was a bright, shining day, an example of Days that are Good to Run On. We were supposed to have a Yoga For Runners class after, but the instructor was unable to make it. I hear that she's well-known in Ottawa, though, so perhaps I'll be able to find her via web-search.
Today, we did 5.5k (close enough to 6) around the Canal, in a slightly different route. I stayed with my new friend, Lorna, and we chatted to pass the time. Much better than having my iPod hooked up to my ear. The weather was pretty crummy though. A slight mist of rain, piercing, cold wind, and not a sunbeam in sight! Since I'd stripped down a lot from yesterday's run (four layers down to three - I should have kept the long-sleeve), I really wanted that sunbeam!
I had gone to catch the bus when I saw it zoom past me. Curses! I certainly wasn't going to wait 30 minutes outside for the next bus! I walked back inside to where a group of women were waiting for the Home and Garden show, and a very kind woman offered to drive me home. She even bought me a coffee!
Runners are really nice people!
In other news, I weighed myself for the first time since I started this crazy journey, and I discovered that, in 3 months, I have lost ten pounds, without even putting a lot of effort into diet. I mean, I'm trying to eat smarter, with more fish and less fried foods, but there's not a lot of change otherwise. Except the spinach. I crave the spinach.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Post-Run
I went out with the Running Room Group (not the same as the clinic - the group is free), and found it very enjoyable. I think it's a great way to challenge my running pace and to meet and converse with new people.
When we took off, I started chatting with a woman who turns out to be an experienced runner. We chatted about running, the weather, careers, and even the bus strike. Turns out we share opinions on the Union and the City. It was a great run.
Something to bear in mind, though: when you are going for a cool-weather run where your end point is not home, take a warm coat with you.
The temperature gods said it was -2 with a -8 windchill. Hah, I said upon leaving, I will layer up in running clothes and be fine. Which I was, until I arrived at the store. By that time, I had realized I would have to lose one layer (of five, admittedly) to run comfortably.
The wind was quite cold and piercing, so I knew I couldn't take off my wind-breaker, so I took off the t-shirt, and left it at the store. The run was fine, I sweated like usual, and like usual, the sweat got trapped by the wind-breaker.
I arrived back at the store, a bit chilled, and upon putting my t-shirt on again, I realized that I would have to get home in damp, cold clothes that would do nothing to trap heat in, like it had on the walk there.
I know from working with horses that, if you have a damp horse, you never leave them to 'dry off' naturally. Horses, and you, lose a lot of heat, and then energy, when you are wet and cold. Always put a warm, dry coat (or blanket, in the case of a horse). The Running Room has a room downstairs where you can leave your coat while you run.
I certainly wish I had.
When we took off, I started chatting with a woman who turns out to be an experienced runner. We chatted about running, the weather, careers, and even the bus strike. Turns out we share opinions on the Union and the City. It was a great run.
Something to bear in mind, though: when you are going for a cool-weather run where your end point is not home, take a warm coat with you.
The temperature gods said it was -2 with a -8 windchill. Hah, I said upon leaving, I will layer up in running clothes and be fine. Which I was, until I arrived at the store. By that time, I had realized I would have to lose one layer (of five, admittedly) to run comfortably.
The wind was quite cold and piercing, so I knew I couldn't take off my wind-breaker, so I took off the t-shirt, and left it at the store. The run was fine, I sweated like usual, and like usual, the sweat got trapped by the wind-breaker.
I arrived back at the store, a bit chilled, and upon putting my t-shirt on again, I realized that I would have to get home in damp, cold clothes that would do nothing to trap heat in, like it had on the walk there.
I know from working with horses that, if you have a damp horse, you never leave them to 'dry off' naturally. Horses, and you, lose a lot of heat, and then energy, when you are wet and cold. Always put a warm, dry coat (or blanket, in the case of a horse). The Running Room has a room downstairs where you can leave your coat while you run.
I certainly wish I had.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Running Room Clinic Week 2
I had my second run with this group today, and again, so much fun was had. However, the spinach and swiss omelette at the Arrow&Loon? Remind me to cook at home instead.
One thing that I can honestly say about the RR is that it is taking me by the hand and guiding me through the process of learning to run 10k. It's great - this week was about buying proper shoes, next week is on stretching, and later on there's one on nutrition.
There's also a printable schedule that has dates and distances, so I know I'm not falling behind. Hill training? No problem, that's in a few weeks. Tempo? Don't worry!
Also, one of the run leaders was wearing a Forerunner 305, and we spent a few minutes discussing it versus the 405. At this point, the unfortunately ugly 305 is winning.
My osteo has given me a bunch of new stretches to do as well - can we say ow? These are things I have never asked my body to do, and the muscles are quite tired by the end of each set. However, I can see the benefit in running and in muscle tone, so I'm in.
Tomorrow: I will wake up at 7 a.m. to go run 5km with the RR, and I'm sure that will hurt even more.
One thing that I can honestly say about the RR is that it is taking me by the hand and guiding me through the process of learning to run 10k. It's great - this week was about buying proper shoes, next week is on stretching, and later on there's one on nutrition.
There's also a printable schedule that has dates and distances, so I know I'm not falling behind. Hill training? No problem, that's in a few weeks. Tempo? Don't worry!
Also, one of the run leaders was wearing a Forerunner 305, and we spent a few minutes discussing it versus the 405. At this point, the unfortunately ugly 305 is winning.
My osteo has given me a bunch of new stretches to do as well - can we say ow? These are things I have never asked my body to do, and the muscles are quite tired by the end of each set. However, I can see the benefit in running and in muscle tone, so I'm in.
Tomorrow: I will wake up at 7 a.m. to go run 5km with the RR, and I'm sure that will hurt even more.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
First Running Room Clinic
I had my first Running Room clinic (RRC) today! And I survived! Even moreso, I enjoyed it.
There's a totally different feeling to running in a group, I found. We did three 10+1s, and I handled it with ease. Admittedly, we were likely going slower than we will be in the future, but we left the shop and ran up the canal to Pretoria Bridge. It's lovely outside today, and though the air was cool, the sky was perfect to run beneath. However, I think sunglasses are a must on days like this.
I just mapped this out on Google Maps, and it's saying that we ran a kilometer longer than the coaches said. Very disappointing, because now I don't know how far I've run. This leads to my next subject: heart-rate, distance, and time monitor watches. I saw a bunch at the Running Room store today, and asked see the Garmin 305. It's a lot larger than I thought it was, which just made its ugliness worse. At least with the 405, I could almost pass it off as a huge watch.
Anyways, I went and spoiled my work-out with an eggs florentine at the Arrow&Loon. I was craving eggs and spinach. I should have gone for the spinach and swiss omelette!
I can't wait for next week
There's a totally different feeling to running in a group, I found. We did three 10+1s, and I handled it with ease. Admittedly, we were likely going slower than we will be in the future, but we left the shop and ran up the canal to Pretoria Bridge. It's lovely outside today, and though the air was cool, the sky was perfect to run beneath. However, I think sunglasses are a must on days like this.
I just mapped this out on Google Maps, and it's saying that we ran a kilometer longer than the coaches said. Very disappointing, because now I don't know how far I've run. This leads to my next subject: heart-rate, distance, and time monitor watches. I saw a bunch at the Running Room store today, and asked see the Garmin 305. It's a lot larger than I thought it was, which just made its ugliness worse. At least with the 405, I could almost pass it off as a huge watch.
Anyways, I went and spoiled my work-out with an eggs florentine at the Arrow&Loon. I was craving eggs and spinach. I should have gone for the spinach and swiss omelette!
I can't wait for next week
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Beginning of... Week Whatever
Today, I started my final week of time-run increases. I am proud to say that I made 10+1x2 today, and I did it reasonably well. I don't think I've plateaued (I'm still waiting for that flat place).
I went a bit further today, and I enjoyed the change in scenery. At one point, I was passed by a car I don't recognize, and people were cheering me on. I don't know if they know me, but it was fun to hear.
This weekend, I start my Running Room clinic. I'm kind of nervous about it - though I've heard that there are all sorts of different runners in the groups, I just don't want to look silly - is that possible, in a group of other lycra-and-spandex-dressed individuals? I guess I'll just wait and learn!
I went a bit further today, and I enjoyed the change in scenery. At one point, I was passed by a car I don't recognize, and people were cheering me on. I don't know if they know me, but it was fun to hear.
This weekend, I start my Running Room clinic. I'm kind of nervous about it - though I've heard that there are all sorts of different runners in the groups, I just don't want to look silly - is that possible, in a group of other lycra-and-spandex-dressed individuals? I guess I'll just wait and learn!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A New Heart-rate Monitor
If you remember, when I started this blog, I was talking about heart-rate monitors. I had decided to go with a very simple one, the F2 by Polar.
It actually came early on that I realized how useless the one-button-to-rule-them-all feature was. I can't flip back and forth between my heart-rate monitoring and my time without stopping the time, a frustration that has led to me using simply the watch, not the heart-rate band.
It comes down to: cheap=simple=not doing what I need it to. So I am in the market for a new one. Le sigh.
Right now, the Garmin Forerunner 305 (which the Sports 4 guy suggested!) is looking really good, despite the price. It can track my progress and distance by GPS, it monitors my heart, I can use it indoors with a superneat Foot Pod (take us to your feet, puny earthling) which ties to your shoe and monitors how far you've gone, and it comes in some nice colours.
However, the Forerunner 405 is a more attractive display, comes with an iPod-like touch bezel, and it can transmit information to other 405 users. It's the same price as the 305, as well, though I don't think the buttons are quite as intuitive as the 305.
Decisions, decisions.
As to why I haven't really looked too hard at Polar: their website is a bit more confusing than the Garmin site - Garmin lets me go through the list of things I need, and suggests an appropriate watch, whereas Polar lets you select multiple watches and shows you the comparisons. I'm just finding Garmin to be easier.
I think this will become a lot more pressing in the next couple of weeks, when I start training by distance instead of time. That gives me a little time to make a choice.
It actually came early on that I realized how useless the one-button-to-rule-them-all feature was. I can't flip back and forth between my heart-rate monitoring and my time without stopping the time, a frustration that has led to me using simply the watch, not the heart-rate band.
It comes down to: cheap=simple=not doing what I need it to. So I am in the market for a new one. Le sigh.
Right now, the Garmin Forerunner 305 (which the Sports 4 guy suggested!) is looking really good, despite the price. It can track my progress and distance by GPS, it monitors my heart, I can use it indoors with a superneat Foot Pod (take us to your feet, puny earthling) which ties to your shoe and monitors how far you've gone, and it comes in some nice colours.
However, the Forerunner 405 is a more attractive display, comes with an iPod-like touch bezel, and it can transmit information to other 405 users. It's the same price as the 305, as well, though I don't think the buttons are quite as intuitive as the 305.
Decisions, decisions.
As to why I haven't really looked too hard at Polar: their website is a bit more confusing than the Garmin site - Garmin lets me go through the list of things I need, and suggests an appropriate watch, whereas Polar lets you select multiple watches and shows you the comparisons. I'm just finding Garmin to be easier.
I think this will become a lot more pressing in the next couple of weeks, when I start training by distance instead of time. That gives me a little time to make a choice.
Cheat Well, Cheat Often
So in this repeat-of-week-6-which-is-actually-week7, I have cheated again. I went out today and did my first eight-minute run, and then started my second. I forgot to check my watch in time and ran an extra minute. Then, since I was having so much fun, I decided to run one more minute. So I really did 8+1+10+1. Bad, naughty Jelly.
I can now feel it a bit in my legs, and darn doesn't that feel good! I can't wait to do it again tomorrow!
In other news, I went to my osteopath, because it felt like I had more muscle on my dominant side than the other, in my back. It's something I've noticed since I started running, that my back feels tenser on one side after the other. If I tense the muscles of my back, it feels like there's nothing on my left-hand side, but my right side is tensing right along nicely. I didn't think had been caused by running because I couldn't figure where it would have come from.
Anyways, I saw my osteopath, and she said that there was quite a bit more muscle definition along the right side of my spine than my left. It's not unusual, and she didn't seem worried or put out by it. My almost obsessive need for symmetry is put out, though - if my muscles aren't even, how can the rest of my world be?
She gave me an exercise called the Superman. I think the video link provides a very good explanation.
She also noted that my pelvis is very well-positioned. She sounded a bit surprised about that - a lot of runners have tilted pelvises, I've heard. I'd like thank riding horses for my spectacular pelvic positioning. Now a word from our sponsors.
I have signed up for my Running Room course. I'm a bit nervous - will I keep up? Is my pace on par for the others? Will I like running with people, or will they like running with me?
These are all silly worries that, according to my psych class, is a sign of a maladaptive stress reaction, which is pretty much the story of my life. However, I've paid so much money on it that I can't let myself not go. As P. would say, I'll be fine, I just have to relax. Relaaaax!
I can now feel it a bit in my legs, and darn doesn't that feel good! I can't wait to do it again tomorrow!
In other news, I went to my osteopath, because it felt like I had more muscle on my dominant side than the other, in my back. It's something I've noticed since I started running, that my back feels tenser on one side after the other. If I tense the muscles of my back, it feels like there's nothing on my left-hand side, but my right side is tensing right along nicely. I didn't think had been caused by running because I couldn't figure where it would have come from.
Anyways, I saw my osteopath, and she said that there was quite a bit more muscle definition along the right side of my spine than my left. It's not unusual, and she didn't seem worried or put out by it. My almost obsessive need for symmetry is put out, though - if my muscles aren't even, how can the rest of my world be?
She gave me an exercise called the Superman. I think the video link provides a very good explanation.
She also noted that my pelvis is very well-positioned. She sounded a bit surprised about that - a lot of runners have tilted pelvises, I've heard. I'd like thank riding horses for my spectacular pelvic positioning. Now a word from our sponsors.
I have signed up for my Running Room course. I'm a bit nervous - will I keep up? Is my pace on par for the others? Will I like running with people, or will they like running with me?
These are all silly worries that, according to my psych class, is a sign of a maladaptive stress reaction, which is pretty much the story of my life. However, I've paid so much money on it that I can't let myself not go. As P. would say, I'll be fine, I just have to relax. Relaaaax!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Trying Week 6 Again
I am trying this week over, a bit like Groundhog Day, but all week, and only with running. Essentially, the way I felt on Monday got worse over the week, and though the cold never moved into my lungs, my head was so tired and achy that the idea of running gave it a headache.
Yesterday the windchill was chilly, and today was better by only 2C. But I decided that I've got to get back out there and running if I'm ever going to do 10K in three months. I was tired, cold, and reluctant, but I went out there, and I did it anyways.
Of course, I should probably take the advice from Runner's World and build up to running 8+1x2, but I was having so much fun out there that I went the whole way anyway. If anyone was taking advice from my blog, I would tell them to build up to the pace they were running before, be safe, love your knees, and take your time. But that's not the point: this is my blog, and learn from my mistakes!
As I was taking a quick extra jog back, I was so very glad to be out there and running again. It reaffirmed why I am doing this: because I feel good, I enjoy the small ache in my leg, I love the way I see myself in the mirror. And it makes me feel worth it.
Yesterday the windchill was chilly, and today was better by only 2C. But I decided that I've got to get back out there and running if I'm ever going to do 10K in three months. I was tired, cold, and reluctant, but I went out there, and I did it anyways.
Of course, I should probably take the advice from Runner's World and build up to running 8+1x2, but I was having so much fun out there that I went the whole way anyway. If anyone was taking advice from my blog, I would tell them to build up to the pace they were running before, be safe, love your knees, and take your time. But that's not the point: this is my blog, and learn from my mistakes!
As I was taking a quick extra jog back, I was so very glad to be out there and running again. It reaffirmed why I am doing this: because I feel good, I enjoy the small ache in my leg, I love the way I see myself in the mirror. And it makes me feel worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)