Tonight was my first track workout with the team. I thought running on a trail hurt...HOLY $#&@!
Tonight was full of challenges, my Jeep died on the way to the track, luckily Carolyn was in the area and picked me up. I'll figure out what to do about the Jeep tomorrow. Then I was late. I warmed up and started the "hard" part of the work out, which included running so fast that I thought my lungs were bleeding. But, if that was not enough, I had to endure a bunch of other runners passing me like Dale Jr. at Daytona while smiling and chuckling about who knows what. Then I drove home (an hour) and found that now I wasn't physically able to walk up the stairs. Don't even ask how I got into the house...trust me, you don't want to know.
Now, I'm trying to remember how to spell through a pain induced haze. Screw it! I'm going to bed.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Running to Slow Down
There was a break in the weather tonight, so I took the opportunity to fit in a 3.5 mile run after work. I have to admit, it may have been my toughest run since beginning TNT. I've put in a lot more miles than I'm used to this week and I think my body is telling me to chill out a bit. My legs have never hurt so bad.
It's funny how therapeutic running has become. On non-running days I feel like I'm missing out on something. Like tonight, as I ran I was able to see some of the streets I drive on daily in a completely different light. There is so much life in the in-between spaces of our lives. We miss a lot of the beauty while coming and going. Running slows me down a bit, mentally. When I run, I feel more in tune with things around me and less stressed about things I cannot control. I think we could all use a little more of that.
It's funny how therapeutic running has become. On non-running days I feel like I'm missing out on something. Like tonight, as I ran I was able to see some of the streets I drive on daily in a completely different light. There is so much life in the in-between spaces of our lives. We miss a lot of the beauty while coming and going. Running slows me down a bit, mentally. When I run, I feel more in tune with things around me and less stressed about things I cannot control. I think we could all use a little more of that.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Goin' Long
Yesterday was my first 7 mile run. I've added miles a little fast lately and I'm feeling it today. I'm sore; nothing a little stretching won't fix. Even though it was a long, it felt really great.
I went out a little too fast and was worried by mile 3. I was huffing and puffing and generally ready to quit. But, one of my team-mates caught up to me and we began talking, before I knew it, we were passing mile 5 and going for 7. At mile 4, my body changed like someone through a switch. Suddenly, my legs stopped hurting, my breathing slowed down and I felt great. When I got home, I looked at my heart-rate profile (I love my Garmin 305) and could see my heart rate drop and fall into a slower rhythm right at 4 miles, even though my pace didn't change a bit. Is this "the Wall" that everyone talks about?
Anyway, it feels really good to run that far. I'm no longer embarrassed when meeting other runners. I feel like I can hang.
On another note, I got a great donation from someone close that put me a little closer to my fund-raising goal. This week, I'm sending out letters and emails to really begin raising money for this worthy cause. Thanks everyone for the support!
I went out a little too fast and was worried by mile 3. I was huffing and puffing and generally ready to quit. But, one of my team-mates caught up to me and we began talking, before I knew it, we were passing mile 5 and going for 7. At mile 4, my body changed like someone through a switch. Suddenly, my legs stopped hurting, my breathing slowed down and I felt great. When I got home, I looked at my heart-rate profile (I love my Garmin 305) and could see my heart rate drop and fall into a slower rhythm right at 4 miles, even though my pace didn't change a bit. Is this "the Wall" that everyone talks about?
Anyway, it feels really good to run that far. I'm no longer embarrassed when meeting other runners. I feel like I can hang.
On another note, I got a great donation from someone close that put me a little closer to my fund-raising goal. This week, I'm sending out letters and emails to really begin raising money for this worthy cause. Thanks everyone for the support!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Cold Feet
...No, really. We have had six days (seriously six days straight) of snow and rain. My house has been buried in snow and I've spent a lot of time shoveling out cars and pulling friends out of ditches in their cars.
I drove down to lower ground on Saturday for a wonderful, but wet, run with my Wife and Father-in-Law. Today, I went alone. Carolyn dropped me off at a trail-head and I took off running. I met back up with her an hour later, much happier, very wet, and extremely cold. I love running in nasty weather. I'm not sure why, but it seems like more of an adventure. I ran through puddles that I couldn't avoid, through a creek that overflowed the banks, I stood and watched a waterfall. I slipped around in the mud and stumbled around fallen debris from the storms. After 3.2 miles, I felt good, except for a nagging little pain in my heel.
I've been noticing the irritation more as my runs get longer, but the pain goes away soon after running. I decided to stop into Auburn Running Company (a local proprietor) and ask for some advice. The staff was great and they helped me figure out that the problem had an easy fix. I needed new shoes. Normally, I would have thought that they were just trying to get me to spend some money in their store, but there was a lot of evidence to the contrary. The new shoes feel great and wholly different from my last pair. I cannot wait to try them out tomorrow night; which is convenient, because it is probably going to take my old pair a week to dry out. :))
I drove down to lower ground on Saturday for a wonderful, but wet, run with my Wife and Father-in-Law. Today, I went alone. Carolyn dropped me off at a trail-head and I took off running. I met back up with her an hour later, much happier, very wet, and extremely cold. I love running in nasty weather. I'm not sure why, but it seems like more of an adventure. I ran through puddles that I couldn't avoid, through a creek that overflowed the banks, I stood and watched a waterfall. I slipped around in the mud and stumbled around fallen debris from the storms. After 3.2 miles, I felt good, except for a nagging little pain in my heel.
I've been noticing the irritation more as my runs get longer, but the pain goes away soon after running. I decided to stop into Auburn Running Company (a local proprietor) and ask for some advice. The staff was great and they helped me figure out that the problem had an easy fix. I needed new shoes. Normally, I would have thought that they were just trying to get me to spend some money in their store, but there was a lot of evidence to the contrary. The new shoes feel great and wholly different from my last pair. I cannot wait to try them out tomorrow night; which is convenient, because it is probably going to take my old pair a week to dry out. :))
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Firsts
Last night was the first time I ran with my Team. We met at a park near my job and spent a few minutes chatting before we warmed up and went out for a run. I nearly choked when the coach said that she wanted us to go out for at least an hour, but I calmed myself down by deciding to walk a significant portion of the time.
I set out with everyone and was clearly at the back of the pack within a few hundred meters, but I plodded along. One of the alumni, from Team in Training, caught up with me (I think she started about 5 minutes after me) and we spent about half a mile chatting. Actually she spent half a mile chatting, I spent it sputtering and gasping for air, while interjecting a few, "Yeah," and "Huh." comments. I was struggling deeply.
We were fifteen minutes into the run when she excused herself and took off on her real pace. I was alone again and debating this whole half-marathon thing. But I knew that I had to finish the loop I was on. I figured it would take me about half an hour. I've run that far before and I decided that no matter what, I would make it back to the start.
I was turning the last corner when another group of runners (not with out team) passed by and greeted me. As I watched them run ahead, I started to feel better about myself. I passed the starting line and looked at my watch. 30 minutes. I decided to go for a few more and then walk a little bit. As I ran, Carol (the woman who was running with me before) lapped me. She asked me how I was doing and I told her that I was finally feeling good. She told me to keep up my pace and I did. 28 minutes later I ran across the finish. I was the last team-member back. But as I ran in, I felt great. One of the other alumni asked me how far I went. I told him that I had gone two laps and he said, "Wow, five miles on your first Team run." I didn't believe him, so I drove it after the fact and sure enough...5 miles.
Last night I had four firsts: 1.) It was my first official Team Training run, 2.) I ran 5 miles in one workout, 3.) I ran for an hour, 4.) I felt like a REAL runner, for the first time. It was a good night.
I set out with everyone and was clearly at the back of the pack within a few hundred meters, but I plodded along. One of the alumni, from Team in Training, caught up with me (I think she started about 5 minutes after me) and we spent about half a mile chatting. Actually she spent half a mile chatting, I spent it sputtering and gasping for air, while interjecting a few, "Yeah," and "Huh." comments. I was struggling deeply.
We were fifteen minutes into the run when she excused herself and took off on her real pace. I was alone again and debating this whole half-marathon thing. But I knew that I had to finish the loop I was on. I figured it would take me about half an hour. I've run that far before and I decided that no matter what, I would make it back to the start.
I was turning the last corner when another group of runners (not with out team) passed by and greeted me. As I watched them run ahead, I started to feel better about myself. I passed the starting line and looked at my watch. 30 minutes. I decided to go for a few more and then walk a little bit. As I ran, Carol (the woman who was running with me before) lapped me. She asked me how I was doing and I told her that I was finally feeling good. She told me to keep up my pace and I did. 28 minutes later I ran across the finish. I was the last team-member back. But as I ran in, I felt great. One of the other alumni asked me how far I went. I told him that I had gone two laps and he said, "Wow, five miles on your first Team run." I didn't believe him, so I drove it after the fact and sure enough...5 miles.
Last night I had four firsts: 1.) It was my first official Team Training run, 2.) I ran 5 miles in one workout, 3.) I ran for an hour, 4.) I felt like a REAL runner, for the first time. It was a good night.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A Bad Day Running...
Today was not what I had hoped for; it hurt bad. My calves were so tight that I spent a lot of time walking. I'm sure that it has to do with the cold I've been fighting, but it is a little disappointing. Today was the first "Bad" running day, I've had in a while.
With the "Bad" there usually comes some good though. Today was no different. It is raining and not too cold, so even though I was walking a lot, I had some quality time in the beauty of the great outdoors. That is always good for my soul. I also was able to do a lot of thinking about my training. I realized that I've been approaching this journey like a test. Cram and conquer. I guess it's not that way. Running is an endurance sport and I guess it needs an endurance approach to training as well.
I've been really busy training my body, but I need to spend some time training my mind and disciplining myself in pursuit of this goal. So I'm going to be a bit more diligent in my sleep and eating habits, as well as my running schedule. I've also decided that I need to find a few new routes to break up the monotony. I cannot wait to look back on this time and laugh at how newbie I was. :))
With the "Bad" there usually comes some good though. Today was no different. It is raining and not too cold, so even though I was walking a lot, I had some quality time in the beauty of the great outdoors. That is always good for my soul. I also was able to do a lot of thinking about my training. I realized that I've been approaching this journey like a test. Cram and conquer. I guess it's not that way. Running is an endurance sport and I guess it needs an endurance approach to training as well.
I've been really busy training my body, but I need to spend some time training my mind and disciplining myself in pursuit of this goal. So I'm going to be a bit more diligent in my sleep and eating habits, as well as my running schedule. I've also decided that I need to find a few new routes to break up the monotony. I cannot wait to look back on this time and laugh at how newbie I was. :))
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Quick Post
I've been off of my feet with a cold and some seriously sore muscles for the past two days. It's raining like crazy here though and I love to run in the rain, so tomorrow morning, I'm going to add a few miles to the tally.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ouch!
Well, now I have a coach. I've never really had a coach before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. My experience with sports is limited to a ranting High School Gym Teacher who frightened small children and most grown men and left a disdain for all things athletic buried deep in my gut. Oh yeah, her husband, the guys coach, was almost as bad. But, now that I'm preparing to run a marathon (they're slowly talking me into the full marathon; they have no idea how stubborn I can be) I guess they don't want me to embarrass them, so they gave us/me a coach, two coaches actually. They seem cool, but I'm reserving judgement for the moment.
I got a training schedule for the month of February from said coaches. HOLY CRAP! (Sorry, was that out loud?) Let's just say, I'm a wee bit terrified. There are a lot of miles on that calendar. I did my first workout today and spent a good part of the evening on ice. I'm sure things will get worse before they get better, but I've been assured that they've, "Done this before.","They know what they're doing.","You probably won't die." So, I going to bed. I've got a date with the treadmill in the morning.
Psst, DONATE, please.
I got a training schedule for the month of February from said coaches. HOLY CRAP! (Sorry, was that out loud?) Let's just say, I'm a wee bit terrified. There are a lot of miles on that calendar. I did my first workout today and spent a good part of the evening on ice. I'm sure things will get worse before they get better, but I've been assured that they've, "Done this before.","They know what they're doing.","You probably won't die." So, I going to bed. I've got a date with the treadmill in the morning.
Psst, DONATE, please.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
