Too much, too soon.
That’s my assessment, I’m afraid, of my Sunday run. The morning was crisp, the sunlight bright – what a beautiful day for a run. I had logged a couple of four-milers during the week without major incident. I was starting to feel good.
What the heck. It’s just one more mile, I thought. While running the Indian Creek Trail, a nice wooded path, my new friend from Garmin (the little guy needs a name, no?) beeped off one mile, then two. I’m not ready to turn around just yet, I thought. How about 5 today? So I pushed on for another half mile before turning around.
I was running at a brisk pace, at least for me. The first mile went by in 8:53 and my last two were 9:00 each. The whole 5.06 took 46:21.
I felt decent when I was done. Even did a little stretching in the parking lot. When I woke up on Monday, though, sore legs told me I might have pushed it a bit too much. Nothing catastrophic, but I need to be careful. I need gradually to build up more of a training base.
I took it easy with a 3-miler yesterday. My legs felt a bit like soggy tree stumps, at least as I chugged up a long hill. Toward the end though, I had worked out most of the kinks.
On Sunday, the sunshine just beckoned to go a little longer, a little longer. Frankly, I am surprised I stopped at 5. I am eager to crank up the training.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Isn't She Lovely
One rebate dividend from REI + a $50 rebate from Garmin + one very understanding (and maybe a little indulgent) wife = my new running companion.
It arrived yesterday in a plain, brown box that was left sitting on our front porch. Truly humble wrappings for such an amazing innovation.
I realize that the purists out there would think this all a bit silly. Grab a pair of running shoes, an old t-shirt and hit the streets, they would argue. My friend Henry is an accomplished runner who occasionally dashes in to a department store when it is time for new footwear. “I pick whichever ones are on sale,” Henry says.
Maybe it is a bit silly to get over-gadgeted with fancy-schmancy watches, mp3 players, shirts and shorts of high-tech fabrics and shoes seemingly designed by NASA engineers.
Laugh if you will, but I am besotted by my new Garmin.
Last year I had a brief dalliance with a Forerunner when a friend loaned me one to try out for a few weeks. As I boxed it up to return it one morning last summer, my daughter looked at me and said, “Dad, you are sad about giving that back, aren’t you?”
She’s a wise girl. I was.
It’s so comforting to know that when the training schedule calls for a 6 or 8 mile run that you are really running 6 or 8 miles. A quick glance at the sleek device on my wrist and you get an instant reading of distance, with pace as an added bonus. It sure beats driving a new course the night before and trying to remember the various mile markers while running the same route the next day.
I had been making similar glances at my trusty Timex for years. All it would tell me though was how many minutes and seconds had elapsed, triggering a conversation in my head: “Hmmm. 23 minutes and 12 seconds. Let’s see. I’ve gone about 2 and a half miles so that means my pace is about…..” Not a good thing for me to concentrate on math while keeping an eye out for ankle-twisting potholes.
With the Garmin, those conversations aren’t necessary. Now I can concentrate on something more important such as: “Hmmm. I wonder what I can have for breakfast when I get home…”
I charged it up last night and took it out this morning for a maiden voyage. A bright glowing ball of a moon shined down as I trod along the streets in my neighborhood. An encouraging little electronic beep ticked off each mile.
Then when I got home, I plugged it into the PC and was truly amazed to see a map pop up showing my running route, complete with splits for every mile. 4.01 miles.
Technology sure has come a long way since the days I borrowed an old stopwatch complete with a sweeping second hand from my big brother.
It arrived yesterday in a plain, brown box that was left sitting on our front porch. Truly humble wrappings for such an amazing innovation.
I realize that the purists out there would think this all a bit silly. Grab a pair of running shoes, an old t-shirt and hit the streets, they would argue. My friend Henry is an accomplished runner who occasionally dashes in to a department store when it is time for new footwear. “I pick whichever ones are on sale,” Henry says.
Maybe it is a bit silly to get over-gadgeted with fancy-schmancy watches, mp3 players, shirts and shorts of high-tech fabrics and shoes seemingly designed by NASA engineers.
Laugh if you will, but I am besotted by my new Garmin.
Last year I had a brief dalliance with a Forerunner when a friend loaned me one to try out for a few weeks. As I boxed it up to return it one morning last summer, my daughter looked at me and said, “Dad, you are sad about giving that back, aren’t you?”
She’s a wise girl. I was.
It’s so comforting to know that when the training schedule calls for a 6 or 8 mile run that you are really running 6 or 8 miles. A quick glance at the sleek device on my wrist and you get an instant reading of distance, with pace as an added bonus. It sure beats driving a new course the night before and trying to remember the various mile markers while running the same route the next day.
I had been making similar glances at my trusty Timex for years. All it would tell me though was how many minutes and seconds had elapsed, triggering a conversation in my head: “Hmmm. 23 minutes and 12 seconds. Let’s see. I’ve gone about 2 and a half miles so that means my pace is about…..” Not a good thing for me to concentrate on math while keeping an eye out for ankle-twisting potholes.
With the Garmin, those conversations aren’t necessary. Now I can concentrate on something more important such as: “Hmmm. I wonder what I can have for breakfast when I get home…”
I charged it up last night and took it out this morning for a maiden voyage. A bright glowing ball of a moon shined down as I trod along the streets in my neighborhood. An encouraging little electronic beep ticked off each mile.
Then when I got home, I plugged it into the PC and was truly amazed to see a map pop up showing my running route, complete with splits for every mile. 4.01 miles.
Technology sure has come a long way since the days I borrowed an old stopwatch complete with a sweeping second hand from my big brother.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Running Mind Games
Psst. Yeah, you. Can you keep a secret? Promise not to tell my body? Good. Here’s the deal:
I’ve started running again. But it’s more than that. I am trying to start training again.
My muscles don’t seem to be in shape for anything serious at the moment. To be honest, they seem more than a bit resistant. The struggle I have been encountering on my runs lately basically is part of paying the bill for my winter of healing injuries and slothfulness.
As far as training goes, my mind is willing, but my body is weak. And my muscles are as tight as ever, but I’ll leave that issue for another post.
So, the idea is to hide the truth from my body that this return to the road is anything more than just a few casual jogs. “Come on now, let’s go out for a bit of a stroll, maybe a fast stroll,” my mind coaxes. “Just a bit longer now. You can do it.”
By the time my body figures out what really is going on, I hope it will be in such decent running shape that it once again will be willing to participate.
Think this all sounds crazy? Maybe. Probably. RunnerSusan kind of gave me the idea, though, when she talked recently about her fears that her old house rebelled against her with a burst-pipe, floor-soaking tantrum. The house, she wrote in a post titled "My Advice to You," turned against her when it sensed imminent abandonment because she was moving to a new house.
Susan, and her wooden floors seem to be recovering. But she did advise that discretion – in front of your current home -- is extremely important for anyone else preparing to move.
I think the advice applies to stubbornly out-of-shape bodies reluctant to resume training.
Besides, I am not the only one wrestling with running mind games. Little Miss Runner Pants perfectly captured the sense that a runner has a voice whispering in one ear, feeding the part of you that says, "i loathe running. i hate it. i really do.” Then there is the other voice on the opposite shoulder leading you to the realization that “but ya know what? i hate it, in that way that i love it.”
Not really sure what I am training for, but I want to put my miles on the road toward a larger goal. Sure, I usually enjoy the running. Keeping my heart pumping also seems like a worthy cause. But steadily running three, four days a week for the sake of the run and only the run just isn’t the same as what I experienced last year.
While my marathon attempt ended in a bit of a debacle last year, the training was amazing.
As I logged miles over the summer and early fall, I was filled with such an intense sense of purpose. It was a powerful motivator. It helped me overcome the misery of long runs on days so hot and humid that I felt as if I were breathing water. Hot, hot, water.
Now as I have resumed running, I am finding it more difficult to go out for a couple miles at this stage than I did last year when I was cranking out 10, 12 or even 18 miles at a time. I also did a couple 20 milers, but I can’t say I did those with ease.
While the running was somewhat of a struggle, today was a glorious day for a run. Forty-eight degrees and bright sunshine. A steady 34-minute workout and a good way to cap off the week.
Now don’t tell my body about my plans to go even longer next weekend.
I’ve started running again. But it’s more than that. I am trying to start training again.
My muscles don’t seem to be in shape for anything serious at the moment. To be honest, they seem more than a bit resistant. The struggle I have been encountering on my runs lately basically is part of paying the bill for my winter of healing injuries and slothfulness.
As far as training goes, my mind is willing, but my body is weak. And my muscles are as tight as ever, but I’ll leave that issue for another post.
So, the idea is to hide the truth from my body that this return to the road is anything more than just a few casual jogs. “Come on now, let’s go out for a bit of a stroll, maybe a fast stroll,” my mind coaxes. “Just a bit longer now. You can do it.”
By the time my body figures out what really is going on, I hope it will be in such decent running shape that it once again will be willing to participate.
Think this all sounds crazy? Maybe. Probably. RunnerSusan kind of gave me the idea, though, when she talked recently about her fears that her old house rebelled against her with a burst-pipe, floor-soaking tantrum. The house, she wrote in a post titled "My Advice to You," turned against her when it sensed imminent abandonment because she was moving to a new house.
Susan, and her wooden floors seem to be recovering. But she did advise that discretion – in front of your current home -- is extremely important for anyone else preparing to move.
I think the advice applies to stubbornly out-of-shape bodies reluctant to resume training.
Besides, I am not the only one wrestling with running mind games. Little Miss Runner Pants perfectly captured the sense that a runner has a voice whispering in one ear, feeding the part of you that says, "i loathe running. i hate it. i really do.” Then there is the other voice on the opposite shoulder leading you to the realization that “but ya know what? i hate it, in that way that i love it.”
Not really sure what I am training for, but I want to put my miles on the road toward a larger goal. Sure, I usually enjoy the running. Keeping my heart pumping also seems like a worthy cause. But steadily running three, four days a week for the sake of the run and only the run just isn’t the same as what I experienced last year.
While my marathon attempt ended in a bit of a debacle last year, the training was amazing.
As I logged miles over the summer and early fall, I was filled with such an intense sense of purpose. It was a powerful motivator. It helped me overcome the misery of long runs on days so hot and humid that I felt as if I were breathing water. Hot, hot, water.
Now as I have resumed running, I am finding it more difficult to go out for a couple miles at this stage than I did last year when I was cranking out 10, 12 or even 18 miles at a time. I also did a couple 20 milers, but I can’t say I did those with ease.
While the running was somewhat of a struggle, today was a glorious day for a run. Forty-eight degrees and bright sunshine. A steady 34-minute workout and a good way to cap off the week.
Now don’t tell my body about my plans to go even longer next weekend.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Bear Emerges
It's been a long winter. A long, long winter without running.
Finally, it was time to emerge from hibernation.
I got out three times last week. Not far, not hard. But I was out there at least.
My legs felt like heavy logs on the first couple of runs. Then I had the joy of feeling the effects of lactic acid in muscles that have been doing far too little work in recent weeks.
It's good to be back on the streets at least a few days a week.
This bear gets grumpy without enough exercise.
Finally, it was time to emerge from hibernation.
I got out three times last week. Not far, not hard. But I was out there at least.
My legs felt like heavy logs on the first couple of runs. Then I had the joy of feeling the effects of lactic acid in muscles that have been doing far too little work in recent weeks.
It's good to be back on the streets at least a few days a week.
This bear gets grumpy without enough exercise.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Lost and Found
Months of hard-won conditioning now have been lost....
Frustrating, it's true.
But I know this for a fact because I found it out while on a run....yeah, you read that correctly....A RUN!
My stretching has been going fairly well in recent days. I don't notice a ton of new flexiblity yet, but it has been successful enough to make the throbbing ache in my left hip recede into the background.
I laced up the Mizunos and hit the streets this afternoon. The first time in nearly two months.
Although I was taking it slow and steady, after only a few blocks I already could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Never thought it would feel so good to feel so out of shape. I was running again.
Heeding the advice I have been given, I cut it short after a mile or so.
Sure it was a short, short run. I barely was outside for anytime at all. But still, I felt pumped up and was radiating energy when I got home.
Definitely need to keep up on the stretching. The hamstrings remain a problem area. I get on my back, grab one leg just below the knee and then attempt to extend the leg straight to stretch the hamstring.
Anybody have other hamstring stretches that seem to do the job?
I'll try to resist the urge to run again tomorrow, but Friday? Well, I'll be out there again.
After a single outing and a distance that barely qualifies as a run, I know it's crazy to get too far ahead of myself, but I want to sign up for a race. This one looks interesting.....
Frustrating, it's true.
But I know this for a fact because I found it out while on a run....yeah, you read that correctly....A RUN!
My stretching has been going fairly well in recent days. I don't notice a ton of new flexiblity yet, but it has been successful enough to make the throbbing ache in my left hip recede into the background.
I laced up the Mizunos and hit the streets this afternoon. The first time in nearly two months.
Although I was taking it slow and steady, after only a few blocks I already could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Never thought it would feel so good to feel so out of shape. I was running again.
Heeding the advice I have been given, I cut it short after a mile or so.
Sure it was a short, short run. I barely was outside for anytime at all. But still, I felt pumped up and was radiating energy when I got home.
Definitely need to keep up on the stretching. The hamstrings remain a problem area. I get on my back, grab one leg just below the knee and then attempt to extend the leg straight to stretch the hamstring.
Anybody have other hamstring stretches that seem to do the job?
I'll try to resist the urge to run again tomorrow, but Friday? Well, I'll be out there again.
After a single outing and a distance that barely qualifies as a run, I know it's crazy to get too far ahead of myself, but I want to sign up for a race. This one looks interesting.....
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Reset
Leaving the physical therapist's office yesterday, I carried a list of instructions for new exercises, a torturing device known as a foam roller.....and hope.
I am going to have to reset my conditioning and my strength.
My injury has caused my left leg to become noticeably weaker than its counterpart on the right. Thus, the exercises. The foam roller may not feel wonderful when being used, but it is remarkable in its ability to knead deep into tight muscles. My pathetically tight hamstrings also drew a rebuke. They very much could have contributed to the injury because it required my quads to bear so much more of the load.
So, the plan is to do the stretching and strengthening exercises twice a day.
But the good news is.....I can resume running!!!
Only about a mile at a time to start. But I'll take it.
I am going to have to reset my conditioning and my strength.
My injury has caused my left leg to become noticeably weaker than its counterpart on the right. Thus, the exercises. The foam roller may not feel wonderful when being used, but it is remarkable in its ability to knead deep into tight muscles. My pathetically tight hamstrings also drew a rebuke. They very much could have contributed to the injury because it required my quads to bear so much more of the load.
So, the plan is to do the stretching and strengthening exercises twice a day.
But the good news is.....I can resume running!!!
Only about a mile at a time to start. But I'll take it.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Anticipation
I have been developing and refining my ability to worry - and often come up with worst-case scenarios -- for many years. When I was little, my mom used to refrain from telling me the night before when I had a dentist appointment the next morning, knowing I would worry, worry, worry until the dawn.
Well, I can't really resort to that technique now. Especially considering that I am the one who made the appointment for tomorrow morning with the physical therapist.
Maybe he will finally help me figure out what is going on with my body. Or -- here's the product of Mr. Worst-Case Scenario: he'll tell me I can't run anymore.
Staying off the streets for nearly two months and still feeling pain can't be good.
I have only ventured out running once or twice since the Marathon Debacle. Both times I felt pains in my feet.
Then I dumped my running shoes in the corner of my closet and haven't touched them since. While my feet, and my knee, now are feeling much better -- dare I say, completely healed? -- the pain in my upper thigh still persists. Plus I have some sort of ache or pain in my lower back. That can't be good, right?
Good or bad, on Monday morning I should have some answers.
Well, I can't really resort to that technique now. Especially considering that I am the one who made the appointment for tomorrow morning with the physical therapist.
Maybe he will finally help me figure out what is going on with my body. Or -- here's the product of Mr. Worst-Case Scenario: he'll tell me I can't run anymore.
Staying off the streets for nearly two months and still feeling pain can't be good.
I have only ventured out running once or twice since the Marathon Debacle. Both times I felt pains in my feet.
Then I dumped my running shoes in the corner of my closet and haven't touched them since. While my feet, and my knee, now are feeling much better -- dare I say, completely healed? -- the pain in my upper thigh still persists. Plus I have some sort of ache or pain in my lower back. That can't be good, right?
Good or bad, on Monday morning I should have some answers.
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