I went running this morning with my youngest brother. We ran a mile for time and I bested my time from Saturday by 20 seconds. I went from 8:05 to 7:43, which is pretty good. It's still not my best time but that will come, hopefully Sunday.
After the mile run, we walked one lap and went right into our sprints. I didn't think my brother would be able to last, and I was right. But it's because he's not used to running like that. Training that way is very difficult, especially when you aren't used to running for distance. Jesse runs well in soccer but it's a different beast when you run intervals and sprints, as we did today.
I actually felt good throughout the entire run. Although I didn't do as much as I did on Saturday - I didn't run the cool-down mile - I still felt good and I still got loads from the workout.
One thing I noticed about my heart rate... it pretty much stayed above 160 when I was running the sprints, and in fact stayed above 170 for most of it. It fluctuated between 170 and 180-something. I didn't see it get up to 187 but that may have been in the middle or end of one of my last sprints. I saw it go to 185 or so, I think.
Here are the vitals:
Time: 36:00
In zone: 10:40
Avg hr: 166
Max hr: 187
Cal: 587
Showing posts with label jogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jogging. Show all posts
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
No. 136
After maneuvering through some side streets, back alleys and full parking lots in the heart of Fontana, I found an empty spot a short walk from City Hall. I was early but there were already hordes of people crowding the sidewalks and spilling over onto blocked-off Sierra Avenue waiting for the day's races to start.
I made my way to the check-in station for the Fontana Days 5K Run and was handed bib No. 136, along with a bag of assorted goodies. That really made it official. It was the first time I'd been in any sort of organized athletic event ever, and that bib sealed the deal.
How do you put this thing on?
Well, there was that little issue. I guess I'd never had reason to figure that out. I noticed people had attached theirs to shirts or shorts using safety pins and quickly scanned for some. There were piles of them everywhere so I grabbed four and attached it to the midsection of my shirt.
I had to trek back to my car, though, since I had forgotten a key part of my jogging attire. I wasn't sure if the race allowed for the use of iPods so I'd left it in the car. But as I walked up to check in, I noticed plenty of people wearing one and I wasn't about to run three miles without one if I didn't have to.
Once I had my iPod and strapped it on my arm, I felt much more comfortable. I went over to wait for a bus that would take people up to the starting line.
And then we've got to come right back here.
Well, not exactly right back but this would be our destination. There was the sign that said FINISH LINE and I figured that at some point that would serve as some motivation. I had made it a goal to finish under 25 minutes and while I thought that was a decent goal I wondered if it was attainable. I'd never really run outside with the use of a watch before.
That's because you don't have one, dork.
I made it on the first bus. It was a school bus, actually, and I didn't remember school buses being so small when I used to ride them. Then again, I was 11 or 12 the last time I rode on them regularly, so that might have something to do with it.
We drove up through Sierra and across several intersections before crossing over the 210 Freeway. The bus driver took us a bit further than we'd intended to go on accident but nonetheless it seemed like a lot longer than three miles.
Yeah, but you've run three miles plenty of times before. And besides, it's a school bus. Those things crawl and make everything seems to take a lot longer than it should.
I wasn't really nervous or anything. In fact, I was just anxious for the run to start. Unfortunately, since I was on the first bus, that meant plenty more busloads to follow. So I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Went to the bathroom, even though I didn't have to. Then I waited. Sat on a curb. Thought about stretching. Jogging, perhaps. Lightly.
Yeah, you don't want to run cold. Heck, usually you walk five minutes before starting to run.
This week I had, because I'd gone to the gym. Usually I walk 20 steps before starting to run. Regardless, I was happy that I had my iPod as the Smashing Pumpkins soothed me and kept me from losing my sanity. I stretched and then jogged lightly, ever so lightly, light enough to get my heart rate up a bit but not too heavy. I didn't want to burn myself out. It helped. Both to pass the time and get warmed up. Probably did it five minutes too early, though. Oh well.
Finally, after much deliberation and many more buses filled with runners and walkers, it started. Everyone bunched up at the start line, a lot of runners. How many? 300? 400? More?
Gotta switch up the music.
I'd been playing my songs softly because I wanted louder music to help me during my run. I switched over to the one playlist I made specifically for running. Moments later, the horn went off as Flogging Molly's Swagger sounded in my ears.
I wasn't that close to the start line, and a lot of people in front of me took off. I didn't want to take off hard and then lose steam so I stayed back. If I wanted to win, that would have been fatal. As it stood, I wanted to meet my goal.
And pass up a lot of people too.
Well, there was that. I wanted to start slow and finish strong, so I figured that I would zoom past some stragglers as I got closer and closer to the finish.
Here we go. Over the freeway.
One landmark after another came and went. First, it was the freeway. Then, it was Miller High School. Afterward, it was Foothill Boulevard.
Funny thing, though: I wasn't passing as many people as I thought I would. In fact, I was the straggler. The mass of people moved quickly in front of me at the start and only got further and further ahead. Every now and then I'd move past some people but mostly I was going slow. I wondered if I would meet my time.
Probably not. You'll probably finish closer to a half hour.
I got closer to the finish line. I knew because even from a distance I could make out the words FINISH LINE. The mass of people had crossed it probably five or 10 minutes ago.
Time to pick up the pace.
I had actually alternated speeds during the run. If I was at the gym I would have probably been between a 6.0 and a 7.0, but now it was time to hit that top gear. I had lowered the sound on my iPod and wanted to see if I could spot my wife and girls. They were there, somewhere amidst the suddenly large number of spectators. We'd passed a few people watching the race from their front lawns along the way but now City Hall was teeming with people. My three were there somewhere.
Hey, what the hell?
As I picked up my pace, someone else thought about using me as a marker. I got passed up some 50 yards from the finish line by someone I'd already passed up. Actually, he got by me before and then I passed him up again. I remember him because he was a little heavier and I remember wondering how long ago it had been since I looked like that.
He can't beat you.
Damn straight. I hit the top gear, the highest gear I had. My legs responded. I blew past that jackhole as if we were fighting for the last spot on the last helicopter out of Hanoi. I could feel him picking up his pace as I zoomed past him.
Forget it, buddy. I got you dead to rights.
And I did. I finished in front of him. Nevermind that dozens upon dozens of people finished in front of me...
Anyway, I'd finished the race. After reveling ever-so-briefly about my blazing fast finish, I scanned around for my wife and girls. It took me a couple of minutes but I found them, all looking at the other stragglers for me.
Come on, man. I'm not that slow.
They congratulated me and I showed them my medal. We walked over to see if the results were posted. I didn't expect them to be but there were a crowd of people around a board that read RESULTS so I figured that maybe they were up after all.
I started at the bottom. The people who finished at 29 minutes. I was surely among them. My heart jumped when I saw Luis but my last name isn't Cerda so it wasn't me. I scanned the entire page and the one before it, where it had the results for more stragglers but I couldn't find my name.
It took you more than a half hour? Wow.
I figured I'd wait until the others were posted but after comparing times with my wife I realized it was about a half hour from the start of the race that I saw them. So I had renewed hope that my name was up there, closer to the front, closer to my goal.
There it is! Look! I see it! I see it! There it is!
Okay, well it wasn't quite like Vern Tessio stumbling across Ray Brower's body but I did find my name. I made it over to the time and...
25:05?!? What?!? Oh no!!! Five seconds?!?
Oh well. What are you going to do? I finished in 181st place, ninth out of 20 in my age category. I suppose I can feel good about myself for having ran it, and maybe now I can spend some money on a watch.
After all, there will be plenty more runs in the future.
I made my way to the check-in station for the Fontana Days 5K Run and was handed bib No. 136, along with a bag of assorted goodies. That really made it official. It was the first time I'd been in any sort of organized athletic event ever, and that bib sealed the deal.
How do you put this thing on?
Well, there was that little issue. I guess I'd never had reason to figure that out. I noticed people had attached theirs to shirts or shorts using safety pins and quickly scanned for some. There were piles of them everywhere so I grabbed four and attached it to the midsection of my shirt.
I had to trek back to my car, though, since I had forgotten a key part of my jogging attire. I wasn't sure if the race allowed for the use of iPods so I'd left it in the car. But as I walked up to check in, I noticed plenty of people wearing one and I wasn't about to run three miles without one if I didn't have to.
Once I had my iPod and strapped it on my arm, I felt much more comfortable. I went over to wait for a bus that would take people up to the starting line.
And then we've got to come right back here.
Well, not exactly right back but this would be our destination. There was the sign that said FINISH LINE and I figured that at some point that would serve as some motivation. I had made it a goal to finish under 25 minutes and while I thought that was a decent goal I wondered if it was attainable. I'd never really run outside with the use of a watch before.
That's because you don't have one, dork.
I made it on the first bus. It was a school bus, actually, and I didn't remember school buses being so small when I used to ride them. Then again, I was 11 or 12 the last time I rode on them regularly, so that might have something to do with it.
We drove up through Sierra and across several intersections before crossing over the 210 Freeway. The bus driver took us a bit further than we'd intended to go on accident but nonetheless it seemed like a lot longer than three miles.
Yeah, but you've run three miles plenty of times before. And besides, it's a school bus. Those things crawl and make everything seems to take a lot longer than it should.
I wasn't really nervous or anything. In fact, I was just anxious for the run to start. Unfortunately, since I was on the first bus, that meant plenty more busloads to follow. So I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Went to the bathroom, even though I didn't have to. Then I waited. Sat on a curb. Thought about stretching. Jogging, perhaps. Lightly.
Yeah, you don't want to run cold. Heck, usually you walk five minutes before starting to run.
This week I had, because I'd gone to the gym. Usually I walk 20 steps before starting to run. Regardless, I was happy that I had my iPod as the Smashing Pumpkins soothed me and kept me from losing my sanity. I stretched and then jogged lightly, ever so lightly, light enough to get my heart rate up a bit but not too heavy. I didn't want to burn myself out. It helped. Both to pass the time and get warmed up. Probably did it five minutes too early, though. Oh well.
Finally, after much deliberation and many more buses filled with runners and walkers, it started. Everyone bunched up at the start line, a lot of runners. How many? 300? 400? More?
Gotta switch up the music.
I'd been playing my songs softly because I wanted louder music to help me during my run. I switched over to the one playlist I made specifically for running. Moments later, the horn went off as Flogging Molly's Swagger sounded in my ears.
I wasn't that close to the start line, and a lot of people in front of me took off. I didn't want to take off hard and then lose steam so I stayed back. If I wanted to win, that would have been fatal. As it stood, I wanted to meet my goal.
And pass up a lot of people too.
Well, there was that. I wanted to start slow and finish strong, so I figured that I would zoom past some stragglers as I got closer and closer to the finish.
Here we go. Over the freeway.
One landmark after another came and went. First, it was the freeway. Then, it was Miller High School. Afterward, it was Foothill Boulevard.
Funny thing, though: I wasn't passing as many people as I thought I would. In fact, I was the straggler. The mass of people moved quickly in front of me at the start and only got further and further ahead. Every now and then I'd move past some people but mostly I was going slow. I wondered if I would meet my time.
Probably not. You'll probably finish closer to a half hour.
I got closer to the finish line. I knew because even from a distance I could make out the words FINISH LINE. The mass of people had crossed it probably five or 10 minutes ago.
Time to pick up the pace.
I had actually alternated speeds during the run. If I was at the gym I would have probably been between a 6.0 and a 7.0, but now it was time to hit that top gear. I had lowered the sound on my iPod and wanted to see if I could spot my wife and girls. They were there, somewhere amidst the suddenly large number of spectators. We'd passed a few people watching the race from their front lawns along the way but now City Hall was teeming with people. My three were there somewhere.
Hey, what the hell?
As I picked up my pace, someone else thought about using me as a marker. I got passed up some 50 yards from the finish line by someone I'd already passed up. Actually, he got by me before and then I passed him up again. I remember him because he was a little heavier and I remember wondering how long ago it had been since I looked like that.
He can't beat you.
Damn straight. I hit the top gear, the highest gear I had. My legs responded. I blew past that jackhole as if we were fighting for the last spot on the last helicopter out of Hanoi. I could feel him picking up his pace as I zoomed past him.
Forget it, buddy. I got you dead to rights.
And I did. I finished in front of him. Nevermind that dozens upon dozens of people finished in front of me...
Anyway, I'd finished the race. After reveling ever-so-briefly about my blazing fast finish, I scanned around for my wife and girls. It took me a couple of minutes but I found them, all looking at the other stragglers for me.
Come on, man. I'm not that slow.
They congratulated me and I showed them my medal. We walked over to see if the results were posted. I didn't expect them to be but there were a crowd of people around a board that read RESULTS so I figured that maybe they were up after all.
I started at the bottom. The people who finished at 29 minutes. I was surely among them. My heart jumped when I saw Luis but my last name isn't Cerda so it wasn't me. I scanned the entire page and the one before it, where it had the results for more stragglers but I couldn't find my name.
It took you more than a half hour? Wow.
I figured I'd wait until the others were posted but after comparing times with my wife I realized it was about a half hour from the start of the race that I saw them. So I had renewed hope that my name was up there, closer to the front, closer to my goal.
There it is! Look! I see it! I see it! There it is!
Okay, well it wasn't quite like Vern Tessio stumbling across Ray Brower's body but I did find my name. I made it over to the time and...
25:05?!? What?!? Oh no!!! Five seconds?!?
Oh well. What are you going to do? I finished in 181st place, ninth out of 20 in my age category. I suppose I can feel good about myself for having ran it, and maybe now I can spend some money on a watch.
After all, there will be plenty more runs in the future.
Up early
I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep.
My wife actually had me set the alarm and I did, just in case I slept in. Turns out, that wasn't necessary at all. I rolled over at 4:26 wide awake.
I'm about an hour now from heading out to my first-ever 5K run, and as you can tell I'm a little nervous. I don't know what to expect. I have no idea what it will be like to participate in one since I've never participated in one. Two and a half years ago, I weighed well over 300 pounds and the only 5K I was doing was the 5Krispy Kreme run.
Now, this isn't the run that will bring all of my achievements and accomplishments together and put them to the test while moving me forward into a new era of my fitness. No, that will be the Camp Pendleton Mud Run in October. Today's run is more for participation and to get a feel of what it's like to compete and take part in an organized athletic event.
It's a relatively moderate run for me right now. If you look at the Run List on the right-hand side of this blog, I've kept tabs on my runs and I've run more than 3.1 miles exactly half of the time, 7 of the 14 runs I've done. So I have proven myself I can do it, but how fast can I do it in?
I'm a little nervous right now as I type and as the moment gets closer. I don't know what to expect. I suppose I'll hit this head on, go to the City Hall, check in and get my race stuff and head up to the starting line.
It should be a good experience. And for me the best part will be seeing my family at or near the finish line, with Yvie and Kennedy chanting "Go, Daddy, Go!" Those three are pretty much my motivation right now to finish the race fast, and they've been fueling me since the start of my quest for fitness many months ago.
My wife actually had me set the alarm and I did, just in case I slept in. Turns out, that wasn't necessary at all. I rolled over at 4:26 wide awake.
I'm about an hour now from heading out to my first-ever 5K run, and as you can tell I'm a little nervous. I don't know what to expect. I have no idea what it will be like to participate in one since I've never participated in one. Two and a half years ago, I weighed well over 300 pounds and the only 5K I was doing was the 5Krispy Kreme run.
Now, this isn't the run that will bring all of my achievements and accomplishments together and put them to the test while moving me forward into a new era of my fitness. No, that will be the Camp Pendleton Mud Run in October. Today's run is more for participation and to get a feel of what it's like to compete and take part in an organized athletic event.
It's a relatively moderate run for me right now. If you look at the Run List on the right-hand side of this blog, I've kept tabs on my runs and I've run more than 3.1 miles exactly half of the time, 7 of the 14 runs I've done. So I have proven myself I can do it, but how fast can I do it in?
I'm a little nervous right now as I type and as the moment gets closer. I don't know what to expect. I suppose I'll hit this head on, go to the City Hall, check in and get my race stuff and head up to the starting line.
It should be a good experience. And for me the best part will be seeing my family at or near the finish line, with Yvie and Kennedy chanting "Go, Daddy, Go!" Those three are pretty much my motivation right now to finish the race fast, and they've been fueling me since the start of my quest for fitness many months ago.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
You again?
I made it back to the gym for another round of workouts today. I don't want to burn myself out for Saturday but at the same time I want to get there in as best position as possible.
My arms and chest are a bit sore today, which lets me know yesterday's workout went well. I hope I won't be too sore on Saturday but if I am, I'll have to deal with it. I wanted to work on my legs today but I also wanted to do some cardio. I wondered though if it would be wise to do another of my favorite 42-minute cardio sessions or not because I don't want to get to Saturday with no energy.
I did only three leg workouts - extensions, curls and calf raises. I didn't have too much time and figured I'd hit those since I'd done them forever and I wanted to get back to something familiar.
After my leg workouts, I decided to go ahead and do my regular cardio session. Actually, I think it was during the five-minute warm up that I decided. I almost mixed it up - and I would have to mix it up but not by my doing - but at about minute four I went ahead to go with it.
I found another messed up machine, though. This one spat out my heart rate to me but it didn't change speeds easily. I had to manually go from the 3.7 I'd been warming up at to the 5.8 I wanted to use. It took me some time to figure it out, though, and by the time I was at the 5.8 it was almost minute six. Not to mention my towel fell off the treadmill.
Great. My run is ruined.
Not exactly. After a minute at 5.8, I just decided to run at a 7.3 for three straight minutes. I got up to minute 10 running at the steady clip. I went back down to 5.8 for three minutes and back up to 7.3 for another four minutes.
Still, there was the matter of the changing speeds. I went down to 3.9 and checked my heart rate. It was at a 183 which was good. Perfect actually. But I wanted to do the next six rounds one minute at a time. So I switched machines. The towel, in the end, was the deciding factor.
All I need now is for this one to mess up on me.
Yes, I gambled. It was a risk switching machines because if I struck out again then it relly would have messed me up. But I lucked out. The machine not only measured my heart rate, but it changed speeds easily. In other words, it worked.
I walked for about a minute and then picked up the pace: 5.8, 7.3, 5.8, 7.3, 5.8, 7.3.
I caught my breath somewhat during my brief cooldown. It was an intended part of the interval training, though. You are supposed to recover and then change speeds to maximize the workout.
After three minutes of cooldown and four minutes of rounds, I went down for a quick cooldown session before my two-minute sprint. By this time, I was exhausted. I wasn't totally gassed but I was getting there. I don't know if it was the early sustained 7.3 pace or yesterday's run but my legs weren't quite there at the end. Maybe it's raising the overall level of the run from 5.5-7.0 to 5.7-7.3. Or maybe it was the leg exercises I did earlier.
Whatever the reason, I wasn't about to back down.
I gotta change up the song.
I'd been listening to random songs but I decided to go for one of my heavy songs, Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson. It was time. I got up to an 8.3. Then an 8.6.
I think I can feel my heart. It's going to exit my chest.
My heart was indeed pumping hard. It felt good, though, once I finished the two minutes. My heart rate was 188 when I was done, which is 100 percent of my rate and probably why I was feeling it during my sprint.
Now my plan for the rest of the week is simple. I am going to rest on Thursday and run my 2.25 mile run around my neighborhood. I think that will be the best for me in terms of entering Saturday at my peak.
My arms and chest are a bit sore today, which lets me know yesterday's workout went well. I hope I won't be too sore on Saturday but if I am, I'll have to deal with it. I wanted to work on my legs today but I also wanted to do some cardio. I wondered though if it would be wise to do another of my favorite 42-minute cardio sessions or not because I don't want to get to Saturday with no energy.
I did only three leg workouts - extensions, curls and calf raises. I didn't have too much time and figured I'd hit those since I'd done them forever and I wanted to get back to something familiar.
After my leg workouts, I decided to go ahead and do my regular cardio session. Actually, I think it was during the five-minute warm up that I decided. I almost mixed it up - and I would have to mix it up but not by my doing - but at about minute four I went ahead to go with it.
I found another messed up machine, though. This one spat out my heart rate to me but it didn't change speeds easily. I had to manually go from the 3.7 I'd been warming up at to the 5.8 I wanted to use. It took me some time to figure it out, though, and by the time I was at the 5.8 it was almost minute six. Not to mention my towel fell off the treadmill.
Great. My run is ruined.
Not exactly. After a minute at 5.8, I just decided to run at a 7.3 for three straight minutes. I got up to minute 10 running at the steady clip. I went back down to 5.8 for three minutes and back up to 7.3 for another four minutes.
Still, there was the matter of the changing speeds. I went down to 3.9 and checked my heart rate. It was at a 183 which was good. Perfect actually. But I wanted to do the next six rounds one minute at a time. So I switched machines. The towel, in the end, was the deciding factor.
All I need now is for this one to mess up on me.
Yes, I gambled. It was a risk switching machines because if I struck out again then it relly would have messed me up. But I lucked out. The machine not only measured my heart rate, but it changed speeds easily. In other words, it worked.
I walked for about a minute and then picked up the pace: 5.8, 7.3, 5.8, 7.3, 5.8, 7.3.
I caught my breath somewhat during my brief cooldown. It was an intended part of the interval training, though. You are supposed to recover and then change speeds to maximize the workout.
After three minutes of cooldown and four minutes of rounds, I went down for a quick cooldown session before my two-minute sprint. By this time, I was exhausted. I wasn't totally gassed but I was getting there. I don't know if it was the early sustained 7.3 pace or yesterday's run but my legs weren't quite there at the end. Maybe it's raising the overall level of the run from 5.5-7.0 to 5.7-7.3. Or maybe it was the leg exercises I did earlier.
Whatever the reason, I wasn't about to back down.
I gotta change up the song.
I'd been listening to random songs but I decided to go for one of my heavy songs, Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson. It was time. I got up to an 8.3. Then an 8.6.
I think I can feel my heart. It's going to exit my chest.
My heart was indeed pumping hard. It felt good, though, once I finished the two minutes. My heart rate was 188 when I was done, which is 100 percent of my rate and probably why I was feeling it during my sprint.
Now my plan for the rest of the week is simple. I am going to rest on Thursday and run my 2.25 mile run around my neighborhood. I think that will be the best for me in terms of entering Saturday at my peak.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Return to the gym
It had been a long time between gym visits. I believe it was March when I last visited the gym. May have even been late February.
Now, I haven't exactly stopped working out as you know. I've been running outside, but all of my exercise has consisted of running around here. No free weights. No core exercises. No machines. Nothing but my new shoes and the street.
I made it back to the gym today, and I'd like to say it was a triumphant return but that would be too over-dramatic. So I'll settle for a satisfying return visit.
I started off with a gentle five-minute bike ride. As I started peddling, the one thing I had missed was the ability to keep track of my heart rate. After about a minute or so, I checked my heart and it was at about 90. After another minute or so, I got it up to 120. By the end, it was at about 154, which is a pretty good clip. I like to warm up for five minutes before I start my workouts.
I went to lift some weights afterward and did bench, lat pulldown and pec fly. I did three sets of 10 on each. But I really wanted to get back to running on the treadmill for old time's sake, so I only did those exercises. Usually, I'd done maybe twice as much work before hitting the treadmill but this time cut it a bit short.
So I walked over to the treadmill and it was a different and interesting experience. I wanted to run my usual 42-minute cardio session that includes walking, jogging, jogging fast and sprinting. The first thing that was different was the iPod slung around my arm instead of somewhere on the treadmill. That made such a huge difference. I wasn't distracted by it at all, whereas before it got in the way sometimes.
I set out on a five-minute walk and tried to read my heart rate. Of course, as luck would have it I picked a machine that wasn't working in that department. I had to measure it by hand. But since I'd tried so long, the time ran out. I had to start my 12 minutes of rounds.
I set at 5.5 and started jogging. It felt very slow. The first thing I noticed was that I run faster than a 5.5 clip outside. I jogged at this pace for a minute and it wasn't as I'd remembered it. Now, it was challenging the first time I ran it, way back in 2006. But now, it wasn't. I went back to a 7.0 and that was a steady pace but again not as challenging as I'd remembered it. I tried to keep the original interval plan in mind. I didn't want to throw it off by changing the speeds and running too fast. I wanted to run one minute at about 70 percent and the other at 90 percent, but I also wanted to keep it at a pace that wouldn't burn me out right away.
So I went up to a 5.7 and 7.2. That was better, even though the changes were slight. I wanted to keep the lower one at under a 6 and the other 1.5 higher. The next time, I might try 5.9 and 7.4 or I may go to 6.0 and 7.5, though I'd like to keep the low one low, otherwise the intervals won't work as well.
Anyway, I finished the 12 minutes of rounds and went down to a 4.0. I felt around for my heart beat on my neck and it wasn't exactly difficult to find. As the heart beat pounded out on my index and middle fingers, I tried to keep up with it. I counted it for 15 seconds and got to 43. By my math, 43 times 4 is 172, so it was pretty much right on track.
After a three-minute walk at 4.0, I went back for six more minutes of rounds. Afterward, my heart was up to 46 beats per 15 seconds, so it had increased to 184. It was about the same after my four minutes of rounds.
I got ready to run my two-minute sprint. By this time, I was getting fatigued. The intervals were working and although I wasn't as exhausted as my previous dozens of interval sessions, I was getting there. After a two-minute walk, I set it at a 6.0 to get my feet underneath me and then took off at an 8.3 pace. After one minute, I increased it to an 8.6. I actually ran over for 15 seconds before going back down to a 4.0. I checked my heart rate and I got to 49 in 15 seconds, which is 196. That's actually above what my max should be, since the max is 220 minus your age and that would put me at 188. But the last story I read about intervals suggested training at quick intervals at more than your max heart rate, so I was encouraged actually.
All in all, going back to the gym was refreshing. I felt in much better shape after leaving today than I had the last time I'd left that place.
Oh, and I weighed myself too. 184.0, post-workout. That was a nice way to end the day as well.
Now, I haven't exactly stopped working out as you know. I've been running outside, but all of my exercise has consisted of running around here. No free weights. No core exercises. No machines. Nothing but my new shoes and the street.
I made it back to the gym today, and I'd like to say it was a triumphant return but that would be too over-dramatic. So I'll settle for a satisfying return visit.
I started off with a gentle five-minute bike ride. As I started peddling, the one thing I had missed was the ability to keep track of my heart rate. After about a minute or so, I checked my heart and it was at about 90. After another minute or so, I got it up to 120. By the end, it was at about 154, which is a pretty good clip. I like to warm up for five minutes before I start my workouts.
I went to lift some weights afterward and did bench, lat pulldown and pec fly. I did three sets of 10 on each. But I really wanted to get back to running on the treadmill for old time's sake, so I only did those exercises. Usually, I'd done maybe twice as much work before hitting the treadmill but this time cut it a bit short.
So I walked over to the treadmill and it was a different and interesting experience. I wanted to run my usual 42-minute cardio session that includes walking, jogging, jogging fast and sprinting. The first thing that was different was the iPod slung around my arm instead of somewhere on the treadmill. That made such a huge difference. I wasn't distracted by it at all, whereas before it got in the way sometimes.
I set out on a five-minute walk and tried to read my heart rate. Of course, as luck would have it I picked a machine that wasn't working in that department. I had to measure it by hand. But since I'd tried so long, the time ran out. I had to start my 12 minutes of rounds.
I set at 5.5 and started jogging. It felt very slow. The first thing I noticed was that I run faster than a 5.5 clip outside. I jogged at this pace for a minute and it wasn't as I'd remembered it. Now, it was challenging the first time I ran it, way back in 2006. But now, it wasn't. I went back to a 7.0 and that was a steady pace but again not as challenging as I'd remembered it. I tried to keep the original interval plan in mind. I didn't want to throw it off by changing the speeds and running too fast. I wanted to run one minute at about 70 percent and the other at 90 percent, but I also wanted to keep it at a pace that wouldn't burn me out right away.
So I went up to a 5.7 and 7.2. That was better, even though the changes were slight. I wanted to keep the lower one at under a 6 and the other 1.5 higher. The next time, I might try 5.9 and 7.4 or I may go to 6.0 and 7.5, though I'd like to keep the low one low, otherwise the intervals won't work as well.
Anyway, I finished the 12 minutes of rounds and went down to a 4.0. I felt around for my heart beat on my neck and it wasn't exactly difficult to find. As the heart beat pounded out on my index and middle fingers, I tried to keep up with it. I counted it for 15 seconds and got to 43. By my math, 43 times 4 is 172, so it was pretty much right on track.
After a three-minute walk at 4.0, I went back for six more minutes of rounds. Afterward, my heart was up to 46 beats per 15 seconds, so it had increased to 184. It was about the same after my four minutes of rounds.
I got ready to run my two-minute sprint. By this time, I was getting fatigued. The intervals were working and although I wasn't as exhausted as my previous dozens of interval sessions, I was getting there. After a two-minute walk, I set it at a 6.0 to get my feet underneath me and then took off at an 8.3 pace. After one minute, I increased it to an 8.6. I actually ran over for 15 seconds before going back down to a 4.0. I checked my heart rate and I got to 49 in 15 seconds, which is 196. That's actually above what my max should be, since the max is 220 minus your age and that would put me at 188. But the last story I read about intervals suggested training at quick intervals at more than your max heart rate, so I was encouraged actually.
All in all, going back to the gym was refreshing. I felt in much better shape after leaving today than I had the last time I'd left that place.
Oh, and I weighed myself too. 184.0, post-workout. That was a nice way to end the day as well.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Back to where it all started
Now that summer is here, the weather will start to get warmer and warmer until the thermometer breaks. 100-degree temperatures are right around the corner, and such weather can severely hamper my outside workouts.
Never fear, though. As summer arrives, so to does the prospect of more free time. Yvie (my daughter) is finally done with preschool and that means no more running around on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That's going to allow me more time to do more things, and one of them is going to the gym.
A year ago, I hit the gym hard in June, July and August. I went from 232 in early June to 217 by late July, and this was before I started running on the treadmill. All of that was done on the elliptical, weights and my steady meal plan. I think it was around a year ago when I really started incorporating fruits and vegetables into my meal plan and made them a priority.
Anyway, I'm salivating about the gym. I want to get back into a rhythm in terms of lifting and hitting the gym in general. I still plan on running outside. That much hasn't changed. But it will be nice to know that on the days I wake up without energy to run at 5 in the a.m. I can still perform the cardio for the day at the gym. I want to get back to my 42-minute cardio sessions and mix those in. I think they can still do me a boatload of good. I want to work on my upper-body strength and I want to do some core exercises as well.
My initial plan is to go on Tuesday. I've got my 5K run a week from tomorrow so I want to run on Saturday outdoors and hit the gym on Tuesday and Thursday. I'd also like to mix in one more outdoor run, perhaps on Monday and/or Wednesday.
I used to dread going to the gym, but now I'm anxious to get back to it, back to the place where I've left so much sweat and so many pounds behind.
Never fear, though. As summer arrives, so to does the prospect of more free time. Yvie (my daughter) is finally done with preschool and that means no more running around on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That's going to allow me more time to do more things, and one of them is going to the gym.
A year ago, I hit the gym hard in June, July and August. I went from 232 in early June to 217 by late July, and this was before I started running on the treadmill. All of that was done on the elliptical, weights and my steady meal plan. I think it was around a year ago when I really started incorporating fruits and vegetables into my meal plan and made them a priority.
Anyway, I'm salivating about the gym. I want to get back into a rhythm in terms of lifting and hitting the gym in general. I still plan on running outside. That much hasn't changed. But it will be nice to know that on the days I wake up without energy to run at 5 in the a.m. I can still perform the cardio for the day at the gym. I want to get back to my 42-minute cardio sessions and mix those in. I think they can still do me a boatload of good. I want to work on my upper-body strength and I want to do some core exercises as well.
My initial plan is to go on Tuesday. I've got my 5K run a week from tomorrow so I want to run on Saturday outdoors and hit the gym on Tuesday and Thursday. I'd also like to mix in one more outdoor run, perhaps on Monday and/or Wednesday.
I used to dread going to the gym, but now I'm anxious to get back to it, back to the place where I've left so much sweat and so many pounds behind.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Running for time
I didn't get the chance to run my 2.25 or 3.25 miles today but I did have the opportunity to run for time. I went down to the local high school track with my wife and kids to run a mile for time. I'd never run before for time, well, at least not in the last year, so I was looking forward to it.
I wanted to run a mile under 8 minutes. I know that isn't exactly the world's fastest mile but I felt that if I could run it under 8 and document it, it would be a good place to start for me. I haven't gotten a watch so I took a digital recorder and had my wife turn it on when I started and off when I stopped. I do need to invest in a watch, though, and soon.
The run didn't start off greatly. I had a mental block or something creep up when I stepped onto the track. For some reason, four laps seemed really long but from my front door to the one-mile mark on my morning runs doesn't seem that long. That mental block screwed me up.
I never really got into a rhythm. I ran as I normally do but I felt discombobulated from the start. It's difficult to explain, really. I felt fine physically. I ran okay and wasn't out of breath at all. But when I went for the high gear, it wasn't there as consistently as I would have wanted it to be. And I blame the track.
Whatever the reason, I wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders. But as I rounded the final corner I did find that high gear after all. I told my wife to get ready as she had been walking around the track as the girls rode their tricycles in front of her.
I sprinted as hard as I could, not worrying about conserving any strength for any further running. I crossed the mile mark and put my hands up to let my wife know that I was done. I turned around and walked back to her to check how much time my recorder had recorded.
7:38
Okay, it wasn't great but it was under 8 minutes. I was worried that I wouldn't finish under 8 minutes and had actually convinced myself that I wasn't going to cross it. But I did. And now at least I have some sort of foundation for future runs.
I wanted to run a mile under 8 minutes. I know that isn't exactly the world's fastest mile but I felt that if I could run it under 8 and document it, it would be a good place to start for me. I haven't gotten a watch so I took a digital recorder and had my wife turn it on when I started and off when I stopped. I do need to invest in a watch, though, and soon.
The run didn't start off greatly. I had a mental block or something creep up when I stepped onto the track. For some reason, four laps seemed really long but from my front door to the one-mile mark on my morning runs doesn't seem that long. That mental block screwed me up.
I never really got into a rhythm. I ran as I normally do but I felt discombobulated from the start. It's difficult to explain, really. I felt fine physically. I ran okay and wasn't out of breath at all. But when I went for the high gear, it wasn't there as consistently as I would have wanted it to be. And I blame the track.
Whatever the reason, I wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders. But as I rounded the final corner I did find that high gear after all. I told my wife to get ready as she had been walking around the track as the girls rode their tricycles in front of her.
I sprinted as hard as I could, not worrying about conserving any strength for any further running. I crossed the mile mark and put my hands up to let my wife know that I was done. I turned around and walked back to her to check how much time my recorder had recorded.
7:38
Okay, it wasn't great but it was under 8 minutes. I was worried that I wouldn't finish under 8 minutes and had actually convinced myself that I wasn't going to cross it. But I did. And now at least I have some sort of foundation for future runs.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Interval gave out
I tried my first outdoors interval run today. I've mixed in some of it during previous runs but nothing as organized as I had today. Overall, I think it went well. Better than I'd expected, actually. Not even my iPod could keep up with me.
First thing this morning was the task of making a playlist. I wanted to run three sets of intervals, that is a four-minute 90-percent clip, three-minute 70-percent clip, back up to 4 minutes, down to 3, up to 4 and down to 3. On either end of the run I wanted to have time to warm up and cool down. I ran the Oak Quarry course, so it was a good 3.25 miles. I selected a two-minute song to kind of serve as a warm up, followed by songs with lengths to correspond to the intervals.
After the warm-up song, I let loose in a sprint as The Killers sang about Sam's Town. It actually felt good to just kick it into high gear, to open it up right away. But about halfway through the song, I felt myself slowing down. It was hard but I kept at it. I wasn't at a full-on sprint but I was close. By the time Brandon Flowers saw London and Sam's Town, I was ready for a change of song.
I went down to 70 percent, which was hard to gauge. I didn't want to go too far down to where I'm just basically speed walking but I didn't want to overexert myself either. It didn't take long to find a comfortable clip, though. But the three minutes went by fast and then I had to kick it back up to high gear.
I wasn't moving as fast as before but I wasn't exactly gassed either. I was still going at a steady pace and I knew if I had run my usual 2.25 Run Around the Neighborhood I would have set a new high, if in fact I kept times. But the 90-percent clip was further complicated by my run. I was starting to run at an incline as the Oak Quarry route takes me up a slight hill. After the four-minute song was over, I moved into a three-minute System of a Down song. I needed that extra energy from Serj and his boys to get me up the hill. I made it up to the entrance, crossed the street and started to go back down toward Armstrong. Once I crossed that, I'd be close to the home stretch. I had a lot to give still. I felt it. I could have run a lot longer than my original 3.25-mile plan.
As it were, though, the iPod couldn't. After the four-minute song, I went into the final three-minute song, which would have been followed up by a pair of longer songs that would have played during my final cooldown portion of the run. Instead, barely a minute into the song, the iPod gave out on me. All I heard was the occasional passing car and my footsteps, and eventually my labored breathing.
I wasn't too worried about maintaining the 70 percent clip. I set a mental landmark to try and cross and I maintained the clip until then. After that, I figured I had about three-quarters of a mile to go and I started to go into my usual steady (slow) pace. But I forced myself to move at a faster pace.
I kept it up. I got close to the home stretch so I decided to sprint part of it. I took off and although I wasn't moving at supersonic speed my heart was pumping hard, my legs were moving and I was maintaining a steady, somewhat faster pace. I rounded the second-to-last corner and slowed down. The worst of my run was over. I tried my steady pace instead of my slower one but I was beat down by that point.
When I finally made it home, I was exhausted. I could have kept going. Had I not sprinted that last portion I wouldn't have been so dead tired. But it actually fit well with the interval. I had exerted myself at different times of the run and then I really challenged my heart during the sprint. I'm guessing my heart rate was close to 180 at the end of my sprint.
My iPod, though, was stuck on zero. It didn't flat-line (I resuscitated it after some moments of anguish) but it left me alone to my thoughts. And that was just another challenge I eventually overcame.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Intervals
One of the few downsides for running outdoors versus running on a treadmill has been my interval training regiment. Whenever I'd run on a treadmill, I ran in intervals - one minute at a 7.0, the next at a 5.5, back to 7.0, down to 5.5, etc. - and it worked well for me. I had increased my recovery rate because of that and my overall stamina. I noticed that I could still hit top gear after playing nearly two hours of soccer, for instance, even if my top gear isn't exactly fast.
I came across a piece in Men's Health about heart rate and beats per minute and it included a good tip on using intervals outside. According to the story, the average man's bpm is about 70, and I'd read and heard before that closer to 50 would be ideal. Basically, you don't want to be above 70 because it increases risk of a heart attack. The last time I saw a trainer, around October 2007, my bpm was at 54.
Anyway, the tip that most caught my eye was the interval one. According to a study by the American College of Sports Medicine, interval training can increase the amount of blood the heart pumps with each heartbeat (which is a good thing) by 10 percent while running at a slower, sustained pace had no effect.
Their tip: Run four minutes at 90 percent of your maximum heart rate, then three minutes at 70 percent, and repeat it three times. Repeat this run three times a week.
So what does that translate to? A grueling 28 minutes, or is it 21? Maybe I'll go with 21...
Actually, that's sort of what I did with the 7.0-5.5 interval. When I first started it, I figured 7.0 was about 90 percent, though that 7.0 became an increasingly lower percentage the more I ran and built up my speed and endurance.
Of course, when you are running on the street, you can't really run according to speeds.
I'm going to try this. What I'll do for the time (since I don't have a watch yet) is make a playlist that alternates between songs rougly four minutes long and three minutes long. What I'd suggest and probably would do as well is to warm up, either by walking or jogging lightly, before hitting the first four-minute segment. It might throw of my pre-planned route, though, so I'll have to figure out how much I ran afterward, if in fact I did go longer than my route or take a different one altogether.
To be honest, though, I've run intervals before and try to incorprate them in my jogs but this is a good organized plan and that's what I need more than anything - an organized plan.
I came across a piece in Men's Health about heart rate and beats per minute and it included a good tip on using intervals outside. According to the story, the average man's bpm is about 70, and I'd read and heard before that closer to 50 would be ideal. Basically, you don't want to be above 70 because it increases risk of a heart attack. The last time I saw a trainer, around October 2007, my bpm was at 54.
Anyway, the tip that most caught my eye was the interval one. According to a study by the American College of Sports Medicine, interval training can increase the amount of blood the heart pumps with each heartbeat (which is a good thing) by 10 percent while running at a slower, sustained pace had no effect.
Their tip: Run four minutes at 90 percent of your maximum heart rate, then three minutes at 70 percent, and repeat it three times. Repeat this run three times a week.
So what does that translate to? A grueling 28 minutes, or is it 21? Maybe I'll go with 21...
Actually, that's sort of what I did with the 7.0-5.5 interval. When I first started it, I figured 7.0 was about 90 percent, though that 7.0 became an increasingly lower percentage the more I ran and built up my speed and endurance.
Of course, when you are running on the street, you can't really run according to speeds.
I'm going to try this. What I'll do for the time (since I don't have a watch yet) is make a playlist that alternates between songs rougly four minutes long and three minutes long. What I'd suggest and probably would do as well is to warm up, either by walking or jogging lightly, before hitting the first four-minute segment. It might throw of my pre-planned route, though, so I'll have to figure out how much I ran afterward, if in fact I did go longer than my route or take a different one altogether.
To be honest, though, I've run intervals before and try to incorprate them in my jogs but this is a good organized plan and that's what I need more than anything - an organized plan.
Stretching my legs
Recently, my activity in working out has been as much as my activity here - which is to say not much.
I've got to get back in the swing of things though and I will. Lately, though, I've not felt like running when I get out of bed in the mornings. Not at all.
But I'm going to sign up for the Fontana Days 5k Run. I've been looking for a 5K run to compete in and this one is perfect. It's very close to my house and it's not too far away.
I'm actually looking forward to it. It's not that I don't think I can finish. Unlike the Mud Run, I do think that I can run this without completely collapsing at the end. It's not so much a physical challenge as it is a first. I've never run in a 5k race. Hell, I've never run in a race, unless the Mrs. Needles' fifth-grade class relay race counts. It'll be a competition. I don't expect to win or finish near the top but I do want to compete against others and try and score a good finish. Plus it will be nice to have Tiffany and the girls waiting and cheering for me at the finish line.
And heck, it would make a good story for The San Bernardino Sun. "Slimming Race: Man loses 100-plus, competes in 5k race for first time."
My tentative plan is to run on Saturday and Sunday and Monday. That might be too ambitious but I need to kickstart my training again, and that would be a good way to do it.
ADD: Okay, it's official. I just signed up for the Fontana Days 5K run. It's scheduled for June 7 so I've got some time to get ready for it.
I've got to get back in the swing of things though and I will. Lately, though, I've not felt like running when I get out of bed in the mornings. Not at all.
But I'm going to sign up for the Fontana Days 5k Run. I've been looking for a 5K run to compete in and this one is perfect. It's very close to my house and it's not too far away.
I'm actually looking forward to it. It's not that I don't think I can finish. Unlike the Mud Run, I do think that I can run this without completely collapsing at the end. It's not so much a physical challenge as it is a first. I've never run in a 5k race. Hell, I've never run in a race, unless the Mrs. Needles' fifth-grade class relay race counts. It'll be a competition. I don't expect to win or finish near the top but I do want to compete against others and try and score a good finish. Plus it will be nice to have Tiffany and the girls waiting and cheering for me at the finish line.
And heck, it would make a good story for The San Bernardino Sun. "Slimming Race: Man loses 100-plus, competes in 5k race for first time."
My tentative plan is to run on Saturday and Sunday and Monday. That might be too ambitious but I need to kickstart my training again, and that would be a good way to do it.
ADD: Okay, it's official. I just signed up for the Fontana Days 5K run. It's scheduled for June 7 so I've got some time to get ready for it.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Long layoff
I haven't posted much recently because I haven't run much. I finally hit the streets again on Saturday morning and ran my short 2.25 run around the neighborhood. It went okay, but I was gassed after I ran it. I plan on going again on Sunday morning.
I have a ways to go still before I get back into the groove. I thought I'd gotten into it before this last week but then I didn't do any running and now I feel like I'm back at square one. I'm not, but I feel like it.
I'll post more later about the upcoming competition I'm going to dive head first into and some nutrition stuff I came across in my most recent Men's Health magazine.
I have a ways to go still before I get back into the groove. I thought I'd gotten into it before this last week but then I didn't do any running and now I feel like I'm back at square one. I'm not, but I feel like it.
I'll post more later about the upcoming competition I'm going to dive head first into and some nutrition stuff I came across in my most recent Men's Health magazine.
Friday, May 9, 2008
A tad under four
It was the birds that woke me up this morning. I thought the anticipation of knowing I'd go on another early-morning run would stir me before the sun came up but, as luck would have it, some bird chirping about something roused me from sleep at 5:21 am.
Oh, there's no way.
The run was fresh on my mind but getting up and running three miles wasn't exactly the most enticing thing at that moment. I stayed in bed a few moments before getting up. I remembered that I had set my clothes out in the office and that my brand-new shoes were waiting for me there as well.
I had set everything up for me to get up and go, and I took care of the first part of the plan. Now, I just had to follow through.
Come on, what else are you going to do?
A few minutes later, I set my iPod on System of a Down and I was out on the street. And off I went.
I wanted to run a bit longer on Friday than the usual 2.25 run-around-the-neighborhood. I thought about the Oak Quarry course, which would require a bit of uphill running. I figured I'd do that so I went down 30th, up Florine, out to 34th and over to Armstrong. But as I went down the street toward Sierra, I thought about going up to Gilliam, which was a new route I'd mapped out over the weekend. I remembered it being about 3.4 miles, the same distance as the Oak Quarry run, so I decided to try that. Something new.
I crossed over Sierra and passed a small side street that I would come out of on my way back. I'd go up to Gilliam, down a back street and out this little street here, Karen Street I believe. I turned my attention up towards Gilliam, only...
I don't see anything up ahead.
There was a sidewalk before me, which was good, a long stretch of sidewalk. The street was at a bit of an incline and there was a bike lane adjacent to the sidewalk. But as far as I could tell, it was all sidewalk. No Gilliam.
Still, I plowed ahead. I wondered how long I'd been running for. I wondered how much I'd ran at that point. I remembered having had a digital watch on recently and playing with it and setting the time and it was pretty vivid.
Yeah, it was a dream, stupid.
Oh yeah. I had that dream. I need to invest in a watch.
I tried not to look too far ahead. I didn't want to get discouraged and I was in a good groove. I wasn't tired. I wasn't mentally exhausted or anything. The only problem was that I wasn't getting the good System of a Down songs that I'd hoped for. Oh well.
Finally, I saw the bike lane break up ahead. Or, did it?
No. It's just the incline and the angle I'm at that makes it look like a street up ahead.
Crap. I just had to keep running. There weren't too many cars out on the street that morning, at least not on Armstrong headed to our coming out of Bloomington. I had on a grey t-shirt with the word ARMY in front of it, and I wondered a few times if passers-by thought I was an Army veteran or something.
Look. Finally. Gilliam.
I rounded the corner off Armstrong, off the comforts of a sidewalk and down into a residential neighborhood I'd seen only in December. I remember driving down the street I was now running on during the Christmas season and that not many of the houses there were in the holiday spirit. It was a tiny bit of a downward slope so I wasn't trudging up as I had been on the other side of the houses.
The jaunt back to Karen and out to Armstrong again passed by soon enough and then I was heading down Sierra. About halfway, I took off. I tried to sprint a good portion of the run and I had enough gas to do it. I was flying... okay, maybe not speeding but I was running at a good pace.
I was beat down, though, when I got to the end of Sierra. Back on 30th Street, I got back into a steady pace and before too long I was home.
After I showered I went to check out the route on my trusty WalkJogRun.net account. I noticed that I hadn't run the right route. I had actually ran a little longer. I mapped the precise route I took, down to the places I crossed different streets at, and it came out to 3.75. It's nice but if I knew I was so close to four miles I would have made it an even four.
Oh well. Guess I'll save that run for the next time some annoying bird chirps me awake before 5:30 am.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Not feeling it
My calf, that is.
I felt up for an early-morning run today and that's exactly what I did. I got up really early (not by choice) and instantly knew that I would go on a run later in the morning. So at about 5:30, after I'd been up for about an hour, I got my stuff together, stretched and ran.
Now I hadn't gone on a run since Saturday. I think I had a calf strain and while I still felt it yesterday I figured I'd better get up and run. I was worried that my calf strain would turn into a vaginal strain and since I'm not a pussy I figured I needed to run.
It actually felt great. Everything about the run felt great. It was nice to put my comfy running shoes on again. It was good to stretch and have that feeling I get when I'm stretching about the upcoming workout/run/exercise. It felt good to step outside in the brisk early-morning air. It felt good to take my first few paces and to get into a rhythm.
Careful, you might become a runner.
But really, though, aren't I one already? Okay, I'd venture to say no but only runners get up before 5 and get out on a run before 6, don't they?
Actually, I know that I haven't put in the time and effort and just outright miles to call myself a runner. There are still parts of it that I don't like and I don't think runners face the same mental obstacles I do. But I'm beginning to think that it's not so much that I don't like them because they make me uncomfortable but rather because they are strange to me. It still seems a bit strange for me to do nothing but run for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, whatever. So I think I deal with that negatively through dislike. I need to embrace the time and prepare myself mentally for running.
I think I did that a little this morning. I didn't think about taking shortcuts or that I'd rather do something else. I just relaxed mentally while exerting a lot of physical energy and listened to some soothing tunes, in this case Black Stone Cherry.
So now I'm showered, my calf isn't bothering me in the least and I feel good physically and mentally about my run.
Injuries be damned!
I felt up for an early-morning run today and that's exactly what I did. I got up really early (not by choice) and instantly knew that I would go on a run later in the morning. So at about 5:30, after I'd been up for about an hour, I got my stuff together, stretched and ran.
Now I hadn't gone on a run since Saturday. I think I had a calf strain and while I still felt it yesterday I figured I'd better get up and run. I was worried that my calf strain would turn into a vaginal strain and since I'm not a pussy I figured I needed to run.
It actually felt great. Everything about the run felt great. It was nice to put my comfy running shoes on again. It was good to stretch and have that feeling I get when I'm stretching about the upcoming workout/run/exercise. It felt good to step outside in the brisk early-morning air. It felt good to take my first few paces and to get into a rhythm.
Careful, you might become a runner.
But really, though, aren't I one already? Okay, I'd venture to say no but only runners get up before 5 and get out on a run before 6, don't they?
Actually, I know that I haven't put in the time and effort and just outright miles to call myself a runner. There are still parts of it that I don't like and I don't think runners face the same mental obstacles I do. But I'm beginning to think that it's not so much that I don't like them because they make me uncomfortable but rather because they are strange to me. It still seems a bit strange for me to do nothing but run for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, whatever. So I think I deal with that negatively through dislike. I need to embrace the time and prepare myself mentally for running.
I think I did that a little this morning. I didn't think about taking shortcuts or that I'd rather do something else. I just relaxed mentally while exerting a lot of physical energy and listened to some soothing tunes, in this case Black Stone Cherry.
So now I'm showered, my calf isn't bothering me in the least and I feel good physically and mentally about my run.
Injuries be damned!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
No better, no worse
So I think my calf strain, or whatever that hard little bump I have on my calf is, will be a part of me from now on. Okay, maybe not forever but it's not improving. Nor is it getting worse.
I've decided that I will go on a run on Thursday morning. I will probably do my 2.25 run, the shortest course around here. I want to get back on track and work towards a regular running schedule. I'd love to be able to run Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and I think it's just a matter of time before I do so.
I mapped out a 6.5 mile run that seems both challenging and enticing. I want to work my way up to that, strained calf or not.
I've decided that I will go on a run on Thursday morning. I will probably do my 2.25 run, the shortest course around here. I want to get back on track and work towards a regular running schedule. I'd love to be able to run Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and I think it's just a matter of time before I do so.
I mapped out a 6.5 mile run that seems both challenging and enticing. I want to work my way up to that, strained calf or not.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Calf strain
I've been slowed somewhat these last few days. I haven't been running despite my new aerodynamic shoes. Problem is, the last few times I've been running I've taken home a nasty little souvenir - an aching calf. It actually flares up during the run but I can get through it with no problems. But the rest of the day I feel discomfort. I haven't been running since Saturday, a full three days now and the swelling hasn't gone down.
I think I have a strained calf. That's what I thought I had from the start but I did some research and it looks like that's what I have.
At this point, I don't know what to do other than rest. No running, which is a pain because I was starting to get into a groove. But I'd rather take a few days off and get rid of this pain than keep running on it and keep flaring it up.
I think I have a strained calf. That's what I thought I had from the start but I did some research and it looks like that's what I have.
At this point, I don't know what to do other than rest. No running, which is a pain because I was starting to get into a groove. But I'd rather take a few days off and get rid of this pain than keep running on it and keep flaring it up.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Jogging on cushions
I got an e-mail early Wednesday that shamed me somewhat. It was from my brother Danny and the subject said "run."
I hadn't, and I had said I was going to run the day after my new shoes arrived.
Sure enough, he wanted to know if I'd gone running that morning and how the shoes worked out. I responded "No :(" and I could feel him shaking his head some 40 miles away. I felt like telling him that I was on my way to Disneyland and that I would be walking for about six hours and that I did not have my new shoes on but I wasn't going to just sit around all day... but I went with the short answer instead.
So this morning, I made it a point to run. I got up at about 4:35 or so and it took me about 10 minutes to shake off the sleep. It was closer to 5 when I finally went outside. I waited until Tiffany got up to go on my run.
The first thing I felt when I stepped outside, aside from the cool early-morning air, was my new shoes. They were comfortable. Very comfortable. I hadn't even taken a few steps when I knew that my runs were going to improve. I rounded the corner away from my street and felt the cool breeze on my toes. My old shoes didn't come with AC, but apparently these did.
Now, one thing that irritated me this morning was my iPod. I inadvertantly helped myself train for the Mud Run in another way as I will run that course without the use of the iPod. It had no juice so I wasn't able to use it. So I got to experience a two-mile run with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. I would have given anything to listen to those songs that I'd skipped over on Saturday.
Such as it were, my run was a mental challenge more than anything. My mind wasn't trying to get me to take shortcuts but there were times early on that the time before me was going to be long when really it was going to be somewhere around 20 minutes or so. I need to invest in a watch because I didn't time my run. I left the house sometime around 5:03 and got back at around 5:23 but the times were from different clocks and that's not exactly the most accurate.
There were times during my run that I was able to increase my speed and the new shoes helped. When I made myself run at a brisk pace, the shoes did well to absorb the increased pace. And the only place I felt discomfort when I got home was my calf, which is still a bit tight. It'll go away, hopefully.
So my new shoes were a hit, already worth the $79 I spent on them. Well, that wasn't a 79-dollar-jog but I know the investment was well worth it because I know I'll run and run and run in those shoes, and hopefully they will feel as comfortable as they did this morning.
I hadn't, and I had said I was going to run the day after my new shoes arrived.
Sure enough, he wanted to know if I'd gone running that morning and how the shoes worked out. I responded "No :(" and I could feel him shaking his head some 40 miles away. I felt like telling him that I was on my way to Disneyland and that I would be walking for about six hours and that I did not have my new shoes on but I wasn't going to just sit around all day... but I went with the short answer instead.
So this morning, I made it a point to run. I got up at about 4:35 or so and it took me about 10 minutes to shake off the sleep. It was closer to 5 when I finally went outside. I waited until Tiffany got up to go on my run.
The first thing I felt when I stepped outside, aside from the cool early-morning air, was my new shoes. They were comfortable. Very comfortable. I hadn't even taken a few steps when I knew that my runs were going to improve. I rounded the corner away from my street and felt the cool breeze on my toes. My old shoes didn't come with AC, but apparently these did.
Now, one thing that irritated me this morning was my iPod. I inadvertantly helped myself train for the Mud Run in another way as I will run that course without the use of the iPod. It had no juice so I wasn't able to use it. So I got to experience a two-mile run with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. I would have given anything to listen to those songs that I'd skipped over on Saturday.
Such as it were, my run was a mental challenge more than anything. My mind wasn't trying to get me to take shortcuts but there were times early on that the time before me was going to be long when really it was going to be somewhere around 20 minutes or so. I need to invest in a watch because I didn't time my run. I left the house sometime around 5:03 and got back at around 5:23 but the times were from different clocks and that's not exactly the most accurate.
There were times during my run that I was able to increase my speed and the new shoes helped. When I made myself run at a brisk pace, the shoes did well to absorb the increased pace. And the only place I felt discomfort when I got home was my calf, which is still a bit tight. It'll go away, hopefully.
So my new shoes were a hit, already worth the $79 I spent on them. Well, that wasn't a 79-dollar-jog but I know the investment was well worth it because I know I'll run and run and run in those shoes, and hopefully they will feel as comfortable as they did this morning.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Anticipation
When I was younger, I ordered two things via mail. One was a switch blade. The other was a book on fighter planes. I awaited both with baited breath and was excited when each arrived. I longed to play with the switch blade, to add it to my "arsenal" of toys I used when I pretended to shoot up bad guys and go off to war. I also longed to scan through the fighter plane book, to look at all the old war planes and the new ones in awesome detail.
I think those were the last times I felt as anxious as I feel now. On Sunday I ordered a pair of new running shoes, the first time I ordered a pair of shoes online. And according to UPS.com, they went out with the morning's deliveries.
These are the ASICS GT-2120 model. I ordered a size 9. I tried to get the black pair but they had only a few colors to choose from and black wasn't one of them, so I went with this exact color scheme. It's not the colors that I'm concerned about, though. The shoes I have now and have had for several years just arent' working any more. They've put up through some tough challenges before as they helped me go from 300-plus to my current weight of 185. I should put them in the hall of fame for that.
These new shoes, though, are different. They are running shoes and are geared for the runner, which I guess I am. I've been running like a fool lately... okay, not that much but I've run some in recent weeks and I hope to continue running, perhaps at an even greater pace. I will go running Wednesday morning if the shoes arrive. Even if they don't, though, I need to get out there and run.
Now, being that I've never been a runner, I don't know what to look for in running shoes. My brother- and father-in-law are each avid runners, the former is actually training for a marathon, and they suggested this specific shoe. The way I figure, if it works for them, it will work for me. My brother-in-law Kyle actually showed me his pair, which is the same model as the one I have, and they feel light.
I'm hoping that they make a difference. It's not that my shoes are hurting me but they don't exactly feel like pillows on my feet or anything. Maybe I can blame them for my calf injury on Saturday's run.
When they get here I will put them to use no doubt. And maybe I'll have better luck with them than I did with my switch blade (broke within weeks) and the book (had to send back because couldn't make the payment).
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Defeating the beast
It was probably best that I was jarred out of sleep this morning by the phone. If I would have had too much time to think about my task this morning, I might have psyched myself out. As it stood, Danny called and russled me out of my peaceful slumber.
I didn't have too much time to gather my stuff together. I drove to my mom's house - the same exact route I was going to run in a matter of minutes - to go get him.
Holy crap. This is a bit of a drive. I can just imagine how hard it will be when I have to navigate this by foot.
After picking Danny up, I came back to where it all started. I tried to stall. I didn't do it on purpose but I caught myself doing that. For instance, I didn't need to use the bathroom but I went to the bathroom anyway.
I got my iPod ready and went to say my final farewell to Tiffany. She asked me what was the matter.
I'm a ball of nerves right now, I told her.
She settled me somewhat, though. We walked out of the house, onto the street and head on into the toughest challenge of my life.
We made it to the end of my street. I turned, made it down to the end of 30th Street. We had to get up to the freeway, go under it and get out to Jurupa Road. That would be about 1/4 or 1/5 of the distance. Jurupa Road would take up a sizable amount of the jog.
We navigated through some construction. I stepped on a sandbag.
Maybe if I'm lucky I'll sprain my ankle and then I'll have to turn around and go home.
I refused to let those sorts of thoughts linger. I knew that if I could just make it out to Jurupa Road and get into a rhythm I'd be fine. Physically I didn't doubt myself. It was the mental crap I was worried about.
We darted under the freeway underpass, skirted across Mission Boulevard and went down towards Jurupa. Once on Jurupa, it seemed simultaneously an accomplishment and inconsequential.
Okay, we're on Jurupa. Kind of weird seeing it at this level.
I was thinking about reaching Patriot High when it happened. I felt a twinge in my calf. Great. Just what I needed, an injury. The part of me that earlier hoped for an injury even felt guilty. I wasn't even on Mile 2 and now I had something I had to fight through.
A few minutes later I was struggling. My mentality was in the toilet and my calf was reminding me every now and then that I couldn't overlook it. Add to that the seemingly endless road before me and, well...
Oh my God this sucks.
I tried to keep my focus on the upcoming streets. I made it a goal to get to Pyrite, and then I wanted to get to Agate and then Pedley. I passed them all by and was within sight of Van Buren. Suddenly I started to feel good about myself.
Danny is waaaay ahead of you.
In a way, though, that was good. He was holding a steady pace and I needed to do that as well. I'm not going to run as fast as he does. That's just not going to happen. But I could use his example to keep myself going and push myself.
He's going to kick your ass in the Mud Run.
Probably, but I'm not as far along as he is with our respective preparations.
Oh look. A train!
Indeed, a train was slowly chugging along. We were not going to be able to get across it, obviously. So we might get to rest a little after all. I'd stopped to walk once before then, right after my calf started to make noise. But I took about three steps and got right back on it. This time, though, the train might force our hand. However, I knew that I wouldn't reach it while it was still in front of me, and sure enough I was about 20 yards from the tracks when the train went past. I jogged to the street as the light had turned green. I didn't want to get stuck at the light, but it turned yellow right when I got to it.
I stopped just as Danny had crossed the street and turned back to look where I was. The ground swam underneath me.
Hey there. I can't stop now.
A red car made a left turn in front of me. I jogged across the street. By that point, I figured we were more than 3/4 of the way done. Actually, we'd passed the four-mile mark somewhere before the train tracks.
Danny was really far ahead of my by this point. Something I need to work on is to run at a steady pace. I actually can do some of that but my pace is slow. I need to work on that before the Mud Run, but that's something I never would have known by running only at the gym.
I passed the elementary school and turned onto the second-to-last street.
Where the hell is Danny?
I turned on to Webb, which bends and turns into my mom's street. I wasn't on there for 20 seconds when he turned the corner way up ahead. Our original goal was to complete the run between 45-48 minutes. I figured we'd passed the 50-minute mark and that I wasn't going to get to that goal, but it was a good foundation nonetheless.
Okay, you're almost there. Finish!
I picked up the pace a little and saw Danny standing in front of my mom's house. I made it to within sight of the house itself. I stopped at the driveway where earlier I'd parked in front of.
47:22.
I tried to cool down. I was tired and my leg started to hurt once I stopped running. I was drenched in sweat. I wanted to take off my shirt and my shoes and socks. But I also wanted to enjoy the moment and feel good about what I'd done. So I called home.
I did it, I panted into the phone.
I didn't have too much time to gather my stuff together. I drove to my mom's house - the same exact route I was going to run in a matter of minutes - to go get him.
Holy crap. This is a bit of a drive. I can just imagine how hard it will be when I have to navigate this by foot.
After picking Danny up, I came back to where it all started. I tried to stall. I didn't do it on purpose but I caught myself doing that. For instance, I didn't need to use the bathroom but I went to the bathroom anyway.
I got my iPod ready and went to say my final farewell to Tiffany. She asked me what was the matter.
I'm a ball of nerves right now, I told her.
She settled me somewhat, though. We walked out of the house, onto the street and head on into the toughest challenge of my life.
We made it to the end of my street. I turned, made it down to the end of 30th Street. We had to get up to the freeway, go under it and get out to Jurupa Road. That would be about 1/4 or 1/5 of the distance. Jurupa Road would take up a sizable amount of the jog.
We navigated through some construction. I stepped on a sandbag.
Maybe if I'm lucky I'll sprain my ankle and then I'll have to turn around and go home.
I refused to let those sorts of thoughts linger. I knew that if I could just make it out to Jurupa Road and get into a rhythm I'd be fine. Physically I didn't doubt myself. It was the mental crap I was worried about.
We darted under the freeway underpass, skirted across Mission Boulevard and went down towards Jurupa. Once on Jurupa, it seemed simultaneously an accomplishment and inconsequential.
Okay, we're on Jurupa. Kind of weird seeing it at this level.
I was thinking about reaching Patriot High when it happened. I felt a twinge in my calf. Great. Just what I needed, an injury. The part of me that earlier hoped for an injury even felt guilty. I wasn't even on Mile 2 and now I had something I had to fight through.
A few minutes later I was struggling. My mentality was in the toilet and my calf was reminding me every now and then that I couldn't overlook it. Add to that the seemingly endless road before me and, well...
Oh my God this sucks.
I tried to keep my focus on the upcoming streets. I made it a goal to get to Pyrite, and then I wanted to get to Agate and then Pedley. I passed them all by and was within sight of Van Buren. Suddenly I started to feel good about myself.
Danny is waaaay ahead of you.
In a way, though, that was good. He was holding a steady pace and I needed to do that as well. I'm not going to run as fast as he does. That's just not going to happen. But I could use his example to keep myself going and push myself.
He's going to kick your ass in the Mud Run.
Probably, but I'm not as far along as he is with our respective preparations.
Oh look. A train!
Indeed, a train was slowly chugging along. We were not going to be able to get across it, obviously. So we might get to rest a little after all. I'd stopped to walk once before then, right after my calf started to make noise. But I took about three steps and got right back on it. This time, though, the train might force our hand. However, I knew that I wouldn't reach it while it was still in front of me, and sure enough I was about 20 yards from the tracks when the train went past. I jogged to the street as the light had turned green. I didn't want to get stuck at the light, but it turned yellow right when I got to it.
I stopped just as Danny had crossed the street and turned back to look where I was. The ground swam underneath me.
Hey there. I can't stop now.
A red car made a left turn in front of me. I jogged across the street. By that point, I figured we were more than 3/4 of the way done. Actually, we'd passed the four-mile mark somewhere before the train tracks.
Danny was really far ahead of my by this point. Something I need to work on is to run at a steady pace. I actually can do some of that but my pace is slow. I need to work on that before the Mud Run, but that's something I never would have known by running only at the gym.
I passed the elementary school and turned onto the second-to-last street.
Where the hell is Danny?
I turned on to Webb, which bends and turns into my mom's street. I wasn't on there for 20 seconds when he turned the corner way up ahead. Our original goal was to complete the run between 45-48 minutes. I figured we'd passed the 50-minute mark and that I wasn't going to get to that goal, but it was a good foundation nonetheless.
Okay, you're almost there. Finish!
I picked up the pace a little and saw Danny standing in front of my mom's house. I made it to within sight of the house itself. I stopped at the driveway where earlier I'd parked in front of.
47:22.
I tried to cool down. I was tired and my leg started to hurt once I stopped running. I was drenched in sweat. I wanted to take off my shirt and my shoes and socks. But I also wanted to enjoy the moment and feel good about what I'd done. So I called home.
I did it, I panted into the phone.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Daunting
I'll admit it. I'm scared.
It's not that I don't think I'll finish the five-mile run I have planned for Saturday morning. I actually plan on getting to my mom's house in one piece. But just the thought of trying to run for five miles without stopping seems very daunting to me.
Scary.
I have never run this far outside at once, so I don't know how to pace myself. I figure I'll just try to maintain a steady pace but keep some in reserve. I don't want to gas myself halfway through the run.
Luckily for us, the path isn't smooth. There is a lot of road construction near my house and how we'll be able to navigate under a freeway overpass is beyond me at this point. I think we'll just have to sprint past that part and hopefully come out unscathed on the other side.
I'm worried that I'll hit a point in the run where my mental exhaustion will overcome me. I will just have to focus and battle through it. I think I will use upcoming streets as markers.
Hopefully at some point in the future I'll be planning runs with distances in the double digits, and then I can look back at this with a different perspective. I don't know, though. Right now, it seems as if I'm climbing Mt. Everest first thing Saturday.
It's not that I don't think I'll finish the five-mile run I have planned for Saturday morning. I actually plan on getting to my mom's house in one piece. But just the thought of trying to run for five miles without stopping seems very daunting to me.
Scary.
I have never run this far outside at once, so I don't know how to pace myself. I figure I'll just try to maintain a steady pace but keep some in reserve. I don't want to gas myself halfway through the run.
Luckily for us, the path isn't smooth. There is a lot of road construction near my house and how we'll be able to navigate under a freeway overpass is beyond me at this point. I think we'll just have to sprint past that part and hopefully come out unscathed on the other side.
I'm worried that I'll hit a point in the run where my mental exhaustion will overcome me. I will just have to focus and battle through it. I think I will use upcoming streets as markers.
Hopefully at some point in the future I'll be planning runs with distances in the double digits, and then I can look back at this with a different perspective. I don't know, though. Right now, it seems as if I'm climbing Mt. Everest first thing Saturday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)