Then summer was over and I had to shift my jogging to the 4PM heat and humidity. It was almost unbearable, but I made it. Then winter arrived and I had to deal with a host of new issues ---- never been an exerciser, let alone one who ran in the ice and snow, so how do you keep your glasses from fogging up or avoid bronchitis in the cold???? Made it through that too.
This summer (up until yesterday's close), I taught summer academy but did not have to be there so early as with regular school, so I was able to return to my morning workouts. HALLELUJAH --- I had forgotten how incredible cool, peaceful, and invigorating it is to run in the early morning hours. It's as if my dog and I are the only living beings..... I love it.
My body clock is pretty good at waking me up and I try very hard to just make it happen every day --- for me to be done with my workout in the cooler weather and because my dog needs the exercise, but my friend Tamar who lives in a VERY HOT climate is having a hard time getting up to run.
How do you make it happen for yourself? How do you get up and get going???????
Other deep thoughts that cross my mind in the morning..........
1) my knees are beginning to be an issue even with new shoes, stretching, ibuprofen, etc, anyone here an OT or sports medicine guru? I know I supinate/walk on the outsides of my feet and that is why my knees hurt ---from being torqued too hard side to side, so what do I do to strengthen whatever quad/ham muscles to stop/help my knees?
2)am I the only person stricken at times with almost emergency bathroom situations while jogging before "voiding"?
3) anyone find now the mp3 player that first motivated you to keep going is now just a distraction from the road and your pace?
4) what about runner's etiquette ??? -- I always get out of oncoming car paths -- even if it means running across the road or getting my running shoes wet/dirty, but still the people in this town are hateful.
5) what about this --- the same routes I have been running (I have a range of 2-5 miles mapped out) are getting too easy/too short/I feel like I could run more, but I like to do a loop, you know? start at my house, make 4 turns, I am home. do I just try to pick up my speed (yuck) or do I do two trips?
This is long, but I hope to hear lots of good advice and get a support group going for all us early morning slaves of the shoe! Are you out there?????
wow, I have been a bit slack in posting the last couple of days... Had to read through quite a few just to catch up.
Welcome trijem!
sugarbabie, just keep at it, I definitely didn't start out doing these distances, in fact back in Feb/March I was struggling BIG time to break the 3 mile mark, but once I hit 4 miles, it just all seemed to come together and I haven't looked back since!
My two cents on intervals... NOT a big fan, but I do perfer them to hill repeats. My favorite speed training run is a fartlek though. I always find the first two intervals not too bad, but then every interval after that is just torture. Did an interval run on Thursday morning which actually wasn't horrible, but still... not a big fan!
This morning, I just couldn't do it, I couldn't coax myself out of bed, which meant a lunctime run. I think the fact that is was absolutely pissing down rain when I woke up to my 5 am alarm had something to do with me not getting out of bed. Then I sat at work for most of the day watching the rain fall and coming up with excuses NOT to go. Well, there was eventually a break in the rain and I figured it was now or never. Other than being really damn cold and me forgetting to bring my rain jacket, AND the rain starting to fall at the end of the run, it was an ok 5 miles. About 2/3rds into it I had the though that I really am a runner now, even on a run that I didn't want to do, it was fairly easy to get it done.
My crazy speed increase is still happening, the run I just did was supposed to be an easy 5 miles, which a few weeks ago meant ~10:30-11 min/mile, and I did this in 9:50 min/mile without any struggle, my pace was quite easy and my HR stayed under 140 for most of the run except the hills. I am not complaining, but its just weird because nothing has really changed in my training. I had a PB 5K last week, which I wasn't trying for, and my 12 mile long run was done at a 10:10 min/mile pace when up until then my long runs were usually closer to an 11 min/mile.
Oh well, debating if I want to do 13 miles on Sunday or just wait until I run the half to do that distance. Will see how I feel I guess
mkculs - lol! that is funny...but very true. it takes time to actually see lasting results. Plus i figured that this would just help my running. yesterday we did plyometrics..or jump training. That is basically what it is. you are jumping, leaping, hopping, for an hour. it was like an aerobics class on crack! what i like is that this type of workout is meant to help your speed and endurance. so i think this will be a great benefit. it is a pretty crazy workout though. he does say in the video that it is not going to be easy...and he is not kidding. i was supposed to run this morning, but i was worn out. i also dont want to push too much since i have my long run tomorrow (13 mi). i will run at the gym during lunch and then go home and do day#3 of P90X. then maybe soak in the tub...mmm...
i am getting married 2/28/09. so i am glad i have time to get in shape. The weddign will be in Acapulco, Mx and i am so excited!!! my family is originally from Mexico City and since it would be difficult to have them come out here, we are going out there. Acapulco is about a 6hr drive from Mexico City so my family can make it, but it is also a destination where our US fam/friends would want to go. i can't wait! the best part will be to have so many diverse people in one place. We even have people coming from Europe from my fiance's side.
it makes me chuckle when i hear people, especially at work talk about the new "miracle" 2 day diet that they are on. i have just always been in some type of sport since i was a kid, so i enjoy being active. It is a good thing too, since i have NO will power when it comes food. it is the only way i can stay in shape. Running is my miracle. i cant believe how many calories you can burn and what incredible cardio and physical shape it gets you into. the best part is that the more i run, the more i have to eat!!
manta - you run outside during lunch? where do you change and freshen up afterwards? that is aweome that your running has improved so much! it is true that the more you run and get used to a certain distance, you just naturally start to get faster!! you're going to do great come race day. do you have a goal time?
sugarbabie - that is great. keep at it. none of just started out running crazy distances. i remember not being able to run 1 complete mile without stopping when i started. what you can try doing if you want to start getting used to longer distances, is take your speed down a bit towards the end of your run to like 6.2 or 6.3 and just try to go a little farther. even if it is only a minute or two...or 1/8 of amile. it is still farther than the day before and before you know it, you will be getting to 4miles and even farther. once you are comfortable there, you can start increasing the speed again. it is easier to go farther if you go a little slower. and you dont have to go that much slower to do it. just enough so that it feels a little easier. good job so far!!
khooder: I have seen those adverts for P90X. yeah, some of those bodies are amazing. I neer knew if it was really true or not but it did look pretty intense. My push ups are still on my knees and focusing on form and keeping my body rigid but I can hold a plank for like 3 minutes...
mkculs: definitely have him write down a routines and also how you need to vary that routine - I went to a personal trainer and I could never get him to write it down or give me instruction. I think that he wanted me to come like every other day to him - it was expensive!
I am getting back to my routine after vacation and sickness...
Original Post by cawilder:
mkculs: definitely have him write down a routines and also how you need to vary that routine - I went to a personal trainer and I could never get him to write it down or give me instruction. I think that he wanted me to come like every other day to him - it was expensive!
Our Y trainers have it down to a science. I got my demo on each exercise, with a chart lisitng weights, reps, any other important detail, etc. I tried each one while she watched and corrected my form. This routine is just for 4-6 weeks to get some basic strength and stability going, and then she'll change it up. Right now a lot of machines but the next routine will be more free weights.
I swear, I'm already sore in body parts I don't normally use much, even though I only did like 5 reps of each exercise. Man, I am going to HURT after that first full workout, whcih probably will be Sunday afternoon.
On another note, I had a nice "vacation" yesterday, no working out and eating out without worrying about ccing. Back on schedule today. I actually felt really full for the first time in a LONG time. I'm not having a lot of hunger, but I'm not feeling full ever, either. Or maybe "full" to me means "stuffed," haha. I really enjoyed eating like that, because it was a special event. I definitely don't need or want to eat like that on a regular basis, but I would not have known that if I hadn't been ccing for the past several weeks.
I won't get another run into until tomorrw evening; I start my graduate program tonight and all day tomorrow, plus getting the kids to their sitter, etc. I'll be lucky to get 6 hour of sleep tonight as it is, so I'm definitely not going to get up and run tomorrow!! I start back to work (meetings; students are back on the 2nd) on Aug. 27 and we'll see how often I get up and out once that happens!!
mkculs~ we all deserve a day to enjoy life and do whatever we want to do. Dessert, that sounds good, lol. Monday is my anniversary and the in-laws took the kids so we might just have to go out to eat and maybe even go to the bar this weekend. What a way to reward myself for my 13 mile run tomorrow.
khooder~ that sounds like a really intense program!! No days off, that would worry me a bit. I'd be sooo afraid of injury, but I guess if you are working different muscle groups everything gets a chance to rest. You should be all hot and sexy for your wedding. LMAO "aerobics on crack" sounds like a good workout. I'm with you on the lack of will power, I figured it out for me 30 miles a week = 3500 calories burned. I like many runners run because I like to eat.
manta~I like to run in the rain at the end of the day, not sure it's something I'd want to do right away in the morning. WTG on not letting yourself come up with an excuse. Good for you having the speed increases, all your hill repeats must be paying off.
sugarbabie~ try dropping the speed down to 5.5 on your treadmill. You might be pushing yourself to fast, I know I do my treadmill runs under 6mph unless it's an interval or tempo run.
Yesterday ended up being just nuts for me and I didn't get my run in. The kids had back to school night. I got to run home long enough to grab a sandwich and go to my childcare assoc. meeting. The meeting was supposed to run 7-8:30 but it didn't get done until after 9:30 and I was not going to go out for a run then. So I did it this afternoon after all the kids laid down for nap. The one huge advantage of the hubby being home with me. It was sooo windy so I was slowed down the pace when I was running into the wind. I was doing 9:30-10:00 with the wind behind/beside me and 12:00-12:30 when I was running into the wind. I don't have any hills I can run on but boy can we get the wind, consistent 25mph with gusts as high as 40mph today. I really hope the wind calms down I so do not want to run 13 miles in that. But I guess the more I train in the better prepared I am for a race.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
cawilder- my push ups are on my knees also. especially after like the 5th or 6th set. planks are great too. 3 mins is a long time!
mkculs- it sounds like you have a trainer that knows their stuff. that is always good. i am glad you got to treat yourself. that is fun! i love food and beer so the thought of having that will get me get through my long run tomorrow. we are going out tomorrow night for a friend's birthday and i dont plan on holding back. i think that a 13 miler and 1hr of yoga (my p90x workout) should be enough to let me splurge.
it sounds like you have a very full plate! that is amazing!! hopefully you can fit running in at least when you need to destress and some "me" time. good luck!
cfeltontufty - happy anniversary!! you definitely have to celebrate! congrats! how many years? the workout is pretty intense. i was a bit concerned about injury also at first, but like you said, everyday is something different, so i actually only workout the same muscle group once or twice a week. i hope i see results! this is a lot of work. we took before pics last night so it will be interesting to see any changes at the end of 90 days. if anything at least i hope it helps my training.
that is good that you have your kclas linked to your mileage. did you figure out how much you burn per mile? you definitely got a good workout with those head winds...great training!!
happy friday everyone!
Wow, Khooder I'm impressed that you're doing the P90X along with pretty long runs! I've heard that it's very intense.
I'm trying to get into a strength training routine, but it's so much harder to motivate myself to do that compared to running. I think I just need to write out a plan for myself and stick with it.
I did manage to drag myself out of bed for a 5 mile run this morning after a late night. My longest since probably January (I've been doing 3-4 miles a few days a week since then). I was definitely dragging. I tried to be good last night and only have one beer, but even that seems to slow me down sometimes.
Sugarbabie sounds like you're doing great! I agree with Manta and Khooder to just keep at it with the distances. Every year when I try to run longer distances again after some time off I wonder how I ever did it before. But trying to go at a really easy pace on long runs and increasing distance a little at a time seems to help. Maybe if you start out a little slower than 6.5 on days you want to try to run longer that might make it feel less strenous towards the end.
Hi all,
What a relief - I got out for a 90 minute run - 8.5mi along the trails (Wildwood, here in Portland, OR). It was nice, a bit muggy for Portland but still dry.
I had the most bizarre thoughts while I was running. For some reason, I got stuck on creating a survival kit - you know if you had no city services or anything for 1 week because of some major disaster what would I put in a "kit". I was making a mental list - like kid's vitamins, 21 gallons of water, a tent, blankets, etc. I don't know why other than I am sure that there are homeless people who live in the woods where I run and I wonder how they survive.
mkculs - keep going on the personal trainer - it is hard - mine had me doing alot of plyometrics which while look easy are really hard.
I am really trying to hit a solid 35 - 40 miles per week but I am concerned that it might be too much for my left tibia. I still have not addressed my tripping problem but I am gonna!
Well, smile, the week is starting....
Original Post by trijem:
I'm trying to get into a strength training routine, but it's so much harder to motivate myself to do that compared to running.
Amen! I have my routine and was going to do it today but . . . well, I WAS in classes 16 hours since Friday evening, so I'll use that as my excuse. I just slept 3 hours, too, in the late afternoon; I'll be up until 2 am now. Oh, well!
I am sore in my abs after 10 practice crunches. Geez, what am I going to feel like after the whole routine??
On a running note, I discovered a new way to breathe through steep hills (and these are really steep, although not too long; only takes about 30 seconds to get up each. They are +9 or +10 hills on the cross-country ski trail). I tried breathing like a sprinter--artificially fast but almost as deep, and really blowing out the air. Usually I just start sucking wind as I climb. With the new technique, I didn't get winded!! I could not believe it. I hit 7 of these hills in about a half mile!! I was able to climb each fast enough to feel it in my quads without distressing my breathing noticeably!!
For someone who has run most of her life, this was a really interesting experience. I guess I never needed to change anything when I was young and really in shape; I actually welcomed the challenge of my steep, long Virginia hills in those days.
Of course, now my quads are sore :) If isn't one thing, it is another. Still, I did all the hills with a lot less distress than ever before (and it was a new trail, too). I'm really excited!
funny, I too am trying to get into a strength training routine, but just can't seem to motivate myself either. I finally went out and bought weights so i could do it at home on my off days from running and figured I would do 3 days a week (tues, thurs, and sat since I don't run on tues and sat). Well, all the good intention has not led to me starting YET... maybe tomorrow will be the day? Its funny because I used to prefer weights to cardio... but now running has consumed me.
Khooder, we have a room with a shower off of the bathroom on the floor I work on, so I just bring my stuff and take a quick 5 minute shower after a lunchtime run, and since I work in a research lab, I don't really have to worry toomuch about walking around with wet hair or whatever afterwards. One of the many perks of being a lab rat!
Well, I didn't do the 12-13 miles I planned to do this weekend, I didn't even do a long run. We ended up going about an hour away to visit friends and stayed overnight. When we finally got hom Sunday afternoon, it was almost 4:30, so I just did a short, quick 4.5 miles and then was really good and motivated because I got up ridiculously early this morning to get in some semblance of a long run. I ended up waking at 4:15, out the door at 4:30, and did 10.5 miles@ Not too bad considering I needed to be home and the get me and my daughter ready for work. I am sure I will crash tonight from getting up so early!
mkculs, will have to try that breathing technique, I am intrigued!
AAAHHH Hills... The bane of the runner's existence. My husband has always said that they are the true test of a runner's fitness.
I think hills are about 50% mental (or maybe even more) I just try to do even breaths, and focus only a few yards ahead of me. I taken the Mindfulness Meditation approach to them and just try to stay in the moment. If I feel like stopping then I slow down a bit and let myself catch up.
trijem - so far the 1st week of P90X has kicked my butt! it was my fiance's idea as a way for us to get in shape for our wedding. i thought if we both did it, that we would stick with it and since i do weight training 2x's a week anyway, this would supplement that. but this is SO much harder! if i do this program, plus my regular running, i should hopefully be marathon ready. so far, i am glad we are doing it!
i know what you mean about being out and then having to get up and run. i try to do my long runs on saturday because i know that if we go out, i wont get up on Sunday.
cawilder - that is so true. sometimes i think our lives are way more indulgent that we think they are compared to those people who practically have nothing. it puts things into perspective and makes you appreciate your life more.
mkculs - that sounds like a good technique. i might have to give it a try as well!
i ran the 13 miles i planned on Saturday. it was quite a bit slower than what i was aiming for, but i think the fact that i was sore and tired from the new workout routine had something to do with it. I took a few walk breaks and i even made a pit stop by the house to get some water and a few carrots. my back and arms felt a bit tired through out the run. but as soon as i got home and sat on the cold tile to cool off, it was like i got run over by a bus!! my back, arms, shoulders were just aching and i cant even describe how sore my legs were. i just laid on the tile for about half an hour before waking up my fiance so we coudl do our yoga workout for the day. that helped my muscles a lot. i have to say though that the rest of they day, i was sore, but not too bad (which is good because i had to get dressed up for a birthday party). sunday was all rest. we went to a concert last night though, so i didnt get up to run this morning.
today we start week 2 of P90X: im skipping my run at the gym and will probably do an easy run after our p90x workout, just to loosen up...and take the boys out. i got some new running shoes from my fiance as an early b-day present, so it will be fun to break those in.
khooder~ as of today I have been married 7 years, and we were together 5 before that. I figured out my cal burned off my garmin and I avg it out over a variety of runs so it's a good ball park figure. I'm sure you will see some real changes with the P90X, especially adding in your runs.
trijem~ I feel the same way about the strength training. I keep telling myself I have to get back into doing strength training along with my runs but it hasn't happened yet. Writing out a plan should definitely help you out.
cawilder~ interesting thoughts coming up with your disaster kit. Good luck with the 35-40 mile weekly goal, but you really should figure out that tripping problem.
mkculs~ I got the book "Run tall, run easy" by Gerard "GP" Pearlberg and one full section of the book is on breathing. He recommends a 2-2 cadence for hills, breathe in for two foot strikes, breath out over 2 foot strikes. I've found it works really good for me.
manta~ I have the free weights, ball, roller, bands at home and I still can't seem to get motivated to strength train. I keep telling myself next week at nap time. Awesome that you have a shower available at work to use. WTG getting the long run in even if it wasn't the 12-13 miles you were planing.
I did get my full 13 mile run in on Sat. it was really cool it ended up being 4 of us instead of the normal 2. It was really nice to have extra people to talk too. Sat. night we did go out to the bar, I didn't have a lot to drink but I did have a few drinks. We must be getting old, we left the bar by 10:30pm, lol.
I Walked my kids to school this morning and made sure my boyz got on the right bus. So for the next week I'm going to get 3 miles of walking in every day besides my normal run. I hope my boyz do good, they are starting full day kindergarten, can't believe they are this old already.
Oh, no; injury!!
I went running on the trail I found near my son's soccer practice. By the first mile, I was feeling something in my left hip, right in the area of the trochanter. I didn't think much of it, maybe just some stiffness, although that was an odd place. I had terrible pain there when on bedrest with my now 10 year old, and the area was numb for a year after his birth. It is easily irritated when I sleep on my side on a hard surface, but nothing else bothers it.
Well, to make a long story a bit shorter, I had to stop running b/c of the pain. In all my years of athletic activities, I've never had to stop a run!! I walked back (did a total of about 4 miles, walking the last 3/4ths of a mile or so). It really hurts with weight bearing. I think the surface--a paved bike trail--was just too hard for me. The pain came/comes when I put weight on that leg.
I'm going to use ice now and hope, hope, hope it gets better fast. No more venturing off my soft trails!! This is so disappointing; I've worked so hard to stay injury-free all summer and soccer starts on Thursday!!
Sigh. Guess I had better hit the weight room after all! :(
Just did my first 3-miler (I'm a newbie, I know) and while it was hard, I felt good all-around. :)
I haven't had internet for a few days so I'm not caught up with the conversation. *goes to read it all*
wtg goddess, how are the new shoes working out for you?
Did 6.5 miles this morning and was just above a 9 min/mile pace. So nice to be able to do those intermediate distance runs a bit quicker than I used to, I can get back tot he house quickler and be ready for work without toomany dramas. Too bad my little one woke up before I got home and gave her dad a bit of a hard time. She always seems to stand inthe hallway and cry for me when I am not home when she wakes up. Not sure what thats all about, but it drives my hubby crazy because he can't calm her for quite some time. Most of the time I think oh well... I am the one who usually deals with it, but today is his bday, so I did kind of feel bad he didn't get to sleep in (but only a LITTLE bad!)
Speed training tomorrow, the big decision... hills, intervals, or fartlek... I am thinking a 4 mile fartlek might be SOMEWHAT fun. Will see how I feel in the morning... its been a killer day at work and I am exhausted right now and still have about an hour left.
The shoes are good! My next shoes must have more mid-sole cushioning and a tighter heel (which is funny since that heel seems pretty narrow to begin with). Oh well. :)
I one day hope to run 6.5 miles at 6+ MPH!
mkculs - so sorry! injuries are no fun. they are just frustrating and prevent you from running. i hope you heal quickly!! what kind of weight training do you do to strenghten that part of your legs?
goddess - great job! keep it up!
manta - 6.5 - that is great!! i can't get more than 6 miles in during my morning runs. i guess i need to get faster!! and probably get up a little earlier- hee, hee. morning runs dont seem to be as fun for your little girl. it looks like your hubby can handle it once in a while though. what do you do that you work so late? hope you get to rest up.
i ran at the gym yesterday for 3 miles followed up by a few squats. then i went home and did day 9 of P90X. i sure felt it this morning. i ran 4.7 miles today and my upper body was pretty sore. i will be going to the gym to work on my speed and then at home, P90X - day 10. lets hope i make it! my hope is that after the first month i will have adjusted a bit and i wont be as drained at the end of the day. i hope that running while i am tired will trian me to push harder and have better endurance.
you will get there goddess. Not sure how I made it to this point considering less than a year ago I couldn't run for more than a minute at a time and felt like I was going to die after doing it. Just keep plodding on and putting the mileage in and the distance and speed just seem to creep up on you I guess. Glad the shoes seem to be working for you. You could try to get a store bought insert that might help for the mid sole cushioning at least, they shouldn't be too expensive and they will outlast your shoes... just a thought. Also, as you lose more weight, the mid sole cushioning may not be as much of an issue.
Khooder, its not me who works late, its my hubby. I do research (have my PhD in Biomedical Engineering and am working on developing new ways to deliver cancer drugs to eliminate many of the bad side effects they have atm... I know, sounds interesting when you say it, I think research is like that, while I do like doing it and it CAN be exciting, I always think it sounds a lot cooler to people than it can actually be sometimes). Anyway, my job is quite flexible so most days I am home by like 5/5:30, but my hubby doesn't usually get home until close to 7 (he is a dive bum.... I mean a dive instructor/dive shop manager, tough job eh?), and by the time he and I eat, and I get my daughter to bed, its getting quite late and totally dark outside and I am exhausted from the day so the last thing I want to do is an hour or so run starting at 8:30 at night. My only other option would be to get a jogging stroller, which I have often thought about doing, but as much as I LOVE my daughter, I really do like having my runs to myself... its about the only me time I get. Plus the idea of actually pushing a stroller while trying to run seems like too much of a hassle. Fortunately, if I miss a morning run, I can usually get a run in on my lunch break, or even around 4:30 ish at the end of my work day, but I have to pick my daughter up from daycare by 6pm when they close and I really don't like leaving her there so later (prefer to pick her up around 4:30)
Did 3.5 mile fartlek this morning and it kind of sucked... don't think my heart was in it and my time was a bit slower than it should have been... on a positive note, the mornings are STARTING to get slightly warmer! I even had to unzip my fleece vest this morning towards the end of my run.
Your body will adjust khooder, just be careful you don't push too hard and injure yourself or just overtrain! That would suck.
mkculs - how is the injury? I hope you heal quickly!
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