I couldn't wait to run tonite. I had quite the day at work and was feeling a little on the grumpy side. I wonder if it had anything to do with my not running Saturday or Sunday.
I gardened and cleaned the basement on Saturday so I thought I would run on Sunday. I woke up later than normal on Sunday. (9:30 am is like totally sleeping in for me!!) It was really hot on Sunday with a heat index of 114 degrees. Needless to say, I opted not to run in that kind of heat. I need to find an alternative if the weather or temperature prevents me from running. Maybe Pilates or Yoga.
I ran on the Mopac again tonite. My husband and my friends, Randy & Ronda all rode their bikes in support of me. That was so sweet! Thanks you guys!! They didn't even complain at riding slow to stay with me. Thankfully, no creepers to freak me out on the trail like last Wednesday.
It felt amazing to be back on the Mopac. The terrain is so much better and the shade of the trees and the sounds of nature are great.
I was running really great in the beginning but the humidity was so high that I found myself wheezing and gasping for breath. I had my hubby ride back to the truck for my inhaler. I think I have Exercise induced asthma from all those years of smoking. One of the reasons I want to quit. I haven't needed the inhaler while running in over a week.
By the time he found it in my monster size purse and rode back to us, I was at A street already. I had run 1.1 miles. I used the inhaler and went a little further and turned around to run back. I'm still doing the run/walk thing only on the way out, I ran more than I walked but after working so hard to breathe, I feel like I walked more than ran on the way back. I continued to jog when necessary to keep my heart rate up and the calories burning and I continued to sweat like a pig. (I think I lost a small child in sweat weight. LOL)
Probably my biggest problem tonite, besides the breathing was the chaffing. All that sweat and my polyester "gym" shorts and my thighs rubbing together definitely was uncomfortable. I have a painful rash that I think will be a bruise tomorrow. Those shorts are going into the not for running pile. :/ And I may look into some sort of athletic butter to put on my thighs before running.
I gotta say though.....I absolutely LOVE stretching after a good run. I am most flexible then and it feels so good! I am uber happy that I have extended my distance some more tonite!! 2.99 miles!
I will run again on Wednesday only I think I'll only go 2+ miles and try to run more than walk to build up more stamina before the 5K. I am really surprised at how much better and faster the first 1.1 miles went than last Wednesday. I improved my time by almost 40 seconds a mile! (Think of the improvement if I had been able to run more than walk on the way back?)
Still, it is a victory!!!! (Is it bad that I came home and had a adult beverage with my hubby on the deck? :-D)
Until Wednesday...
Roni
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Health & Weight Update
Tons of people who run told me that once I started running, the weight would just fall off. I must say, that up until this week, I was seriously doubting their sanity.
I gained 2 pounds in the first month. Then I read an article about running and weight loss. It said to not get discouraged if you gain some or maintain your weight at first. Muscle weighs more than fat and you're using muscles you weren't before. I thought.....ok, that makes sense.
I weighed today and I've now lost 6 pounds!! Whoo hoo!! (Don't blink or you'll miss my rapidly shrinking butt) lol Ok, I know......I have a long way to go. I'm ok with that.
Of course, I am still smoking. :/ But I have cut back on my intake of cigarettes. All in good time, all in good time. We're getting there, even if we're traveling by babysteps. :D
I gained 2 pounds in the first month. Then I read an article about running and weight loss. It said to not get discouraged if you gain some or maintain your weight at first. Muscle weighs more than fat and you're using muscles you weren't before. I thought.....ok, that makes sense.
I weighed today and I've now lost 6 pounds!! Whoo hoo!! (Don't blink or you'll miss my rapidly shrinking butt) lol Ok, I know......I have a long way to go. I'm ok with that.
Of course, I am still smoking. :/ But I have cut back on my intake of cigarettes. All in good time, all in good time. We're getting there, even if we're traveling by babysteps. :D
Friday, July 8, 2011
I wanted another Wednesday night but....I'll take it anyway.
I had a helluva day at work today. I was busy from the get go. Insanely busy with only 15 minutes to eat lunch. I was really looking forward to running, I couldn't wait!
I got home at 5:25 and had a large glass of wine on the deck with hubby and ranted about my day. I knew that if I wanted to run, I needed to do it right away or I would finish this bottle of wine and start another. I didn't want to be running Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Three days in a row with no break couldn't be a good thing. Not at this point.
I knew the route I wanted to take. It was 1.83 miles and I had mapped it out about two weeks ago. I thought that I would expand it some so that I would be running at least 2+ miles tonite. I couldn't wait to feel that exhiliration I felt on Wednesday night.
I left the house and ran to 66th street and then from X street to N. Cotner. My plan was to run to Holdrege and then run up to 69th and back to X and then to my house at 68th.
I did purchase a Dr. Scholl's athletic orthotic yesterday and put it in the Left Running Shoe.
I started out pretty good. I didn't feel alot of strain in my Left lower leg, which is good. It was so incredibly hot. It was 90 degrees at 6pm and the route I took was intermittently shady and sunny. Lots of traffic and I was running on sidewalk and paved bike trails. It felt so good to be running and unbearably uncomfortable at the same time. I couldn't wait for it to be over. Ugh!
Needless to say, I cut the run short and ran up Starr (which is 1 block South of Holdrege) and turned on 68th and ran home. I ran a total of 1.43 miles tonite.
I felt equal strain in both legs tonite. I'm sure that's a result of the orthotic in my left shoe. I guess it must be working so far.
I was disappointed to not experience the "high" I did on Wednesday but I felt victorius at the same time because I could've sat on the deck and finished that bottle of wine and not ran......but I didn't. I followed through.
I will however either run early tomorrow morning, or later in the evening to avoid the heat.....and I'm thinking of going back to the trail, to the lush shade of the trees , the soft give of the dirt trail below my feet, the quiet swish of my ponytail and the beauty that is the Mopac all around me.
I got home at 5:25 and had a large glass of wine on the deck with hubby and ranted about my day. I knew that if I wanted to run, I needed to do it right away or I would finish this bottle of wine and start another. I didn't want to be running Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Three days in a row with no break couldn't be a good thing. Not at this point.
I knew the route I wanted to take. It was 1.83 miles and I had mapped it out about two weeks ago. I thought that I would expand it some so that I would be running at least 2+ miles tonite. I couldn't wait to feel that exhiliration I felt on Wednesday night.
I left the house and ran to 66th street and then from X street to N. Cotner. My plan was to run to Holdrege and then run up to 69th and back to X and then to my house at 68th.
I did purchase a Dr. Scholl's athletic orthotic yesterday and put it in the Left Running Shoe.
I started out pretty good. I didn't feel alot of strain in my Left lower leg, which is good. It was so incredibly hot. It was 90 degrees at 6pm and the route I took was intermittently shady and sunny. Lots of traffic and I was running on sidewalk and paved bike trails. It felt so good to be running and unbearably uncomfortable at the same time. I couldn't wait for it to be over. Ugh!
Needless to say, I cut the run short and ran up Starr (which is 1 block South of Holdrege) and turned on 68th and ran home. I ran a total of 1.43 miles tonite.
I felt equal strain in both legs tonite. I'm sure that's a result of the orthotic in my left shoe. I guess it must be working so far.
I was disappointed to not experience the "high" I did on Wednesday but I felt victorius at the same time because I could've sat on the deck and finished that bottle of wine and not ran......but I didn't. I followed through.
I will however either run early tomorrow morning, or later in the evening to avoid the heat.....and I'm thinking of going back to the trail, to the lush shade of the trees , the soft give of the dirt trail below my feet, the quiet swish of my ponytail and the beauty that is the Mopac all around me.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Up & Down, Up & Down, Up & Up!!!!
What a long Holiday weekend it was!
Two funny things before I begin.
1. To my friend and fellow runner Lori Loos, I had my first runners spit tonite!!! LOL (She told me that runners do alot of spitting. Tonite was my first spit!) :)
2. Lori also told me at the beginning of the class that I would want to buy running shorts with built in underwear in them. I thought....what? Why? Now...I know why. I was over a mile into my run tonite when my underwear started slipping down below my butt cheeks. I like to think that it was because I was losing so much weight during my run.....OR, my husband was undressing me with his eyes as he walked the trail and I ran ahead.
The reality is, I was sweating like a pig and my underwear was drenched and gravity was taking over.
I'm sure I looked lovely reaching in my shorts to pull up my underwear on the Mopac Trail....3 different times. :-D The visual is so scary ain't it? lmao
We went camping last weekend at Branched Oak Lake. The running schedule they gave us at the beginning of class suggests running on Mon, Wed, Fri. and Sat. I try to adhere to that schedule as much as possible but I modified it for the Holiday. No time to run Friday while we were getting out to the lake and setting up.
Saturday, July 2 I ran/walked for 1 mile in about 16 minutes or so. It felt good, no pain or problems. My plan was to walk on Sunday, skip Monday and then run Tuesday with Casey, my 18 year old daughter.
Sunday, July 3rd, I mapped out a 1.53 mile run/walk. Within minutes of my run, I felt my left leg cramping up, so I walked and stretched it out and tried running again. Again that left leg was cramping in the shin, calf and into the hip. UGH! I ended up walking most of the 1.53 miles instead of running. I was very disappointed.
Tuesday, July 5th, I ran/walked the same 1.53 mile course I attempted on Sunday. My daughter Casey ran with me. It was a really good run. I wanted to cut it short twice, but I decided to do the whole thing instead. Yay for me!!! I was rather surprised while talking with Casey to find that she isn't surprised in the least that I'm running. She said that she knows I'll stick with it. She told me, "You wanted to cut it short but you went ahead and finished the whole thing." I think I'm more surprised at my running than my kids are.
Needless to say that all that running on the asphalt this weekend at the lake was killing my knees and feet. I continue to believe that I'm much younger than I am.
This week, I am listening to my body and I knew there is no way I could run with the class on Wednesday. I can't pound that pavement so soon. I had another plan.
So the whole weekend was Up & Down, Up & Down until tonite.
I went to the class to hear the speaker. Chris and I planned to run on the Mopac Trail after the class. That way I'm running on dirt and fine gravel and I thought it might be easier on my joints.
The class speaker tonite was a Physical Therapist and talked about lower leg pain and foot pain. (This is right up my alley! Maybe I will learn something.)
He talked about orthotics in the shoes and about how the bones in the feet and leg work, pronation and supination and why we have leg pain. Now....I'm a thinkin'....(scary huh?) lol When I bought my running shoes at The Lincoln Running Co. for this class, the young man helping me told me that my left foot is one full size smaller than my right. I can often feel the slip of my left foot in that shoe, even though he laced it different to tighten it. So I'm thinking that if I buy a Dr. Scholl's orthotic and put it in the left shoe, maybe it will fit better and I won't have all this left leg pain. Mmm....stay tuned to see how that works.
So....at the end of each class, they draw for clothing and a free pair of running shoes. As she was getting ready to draw for the shoes, I could hear her say over the microphone....."Let me dig down to the bottom." I thought to myself....shit! (Yes I actually said "shit" in my mind.) If she's digging to the bottom, I have a surefire shot at these shoes. After all.....it's been Up & Down for me since the class started and the last run I had left me down.
YEP! Sure as shit....she drew my name! HOLY BUCKETS! I couldn't believe it. Once again....I was up! And then.....
I ran/walked tonite for 2.24 miles!!!! My farthest distance yet, and it felt great! This was the first run where I wasn't exhausted and ready for a nap afterward. The change in terrain was just what I needed. I feel like a million bucks right now and I have tons of energy!!! I'm thinkin' that the 5K doesn't sound like such a reach right about now!
P.S. A huge thanks to my hubby for going with me tonight. I know it's a shorter distance than he would usually hike on that trail but I was especially glad to have him close by keeping me safe from the creepers out there. And yes....there were a few of them.
Two funny things before I begin.
1. To my friend and fellow runner Lori Loos, I had my first runners spit tonite!!! LOL (She told me that runners do alot of spitting. Tonite was my first spit!) :)
2. Lori also told me at the beginning of the class that I would want to buy running shorts with built in underwear in them. I thought....what? Why? Now...I know why. I was over a mile into my run tonite when my underwear started slipping down below my butt cheeks. I like to think that it was because I was losing so much weight during my run.....OR, my husband was undressing me with his eyes as he walked the trail and I ran ahead.
The reality is, I was sweating like a pig and my underwear was drenched and gravity was taking over.
I'm sure I looked lovely reaching in my shorts to pull up my underwear on the Mopac Trail....3 different times. :-D The visual is so scary ain't it? lmao
We went camping last weekend at Branched Oak Lake. The running schedule they gave us at the beginning of class suggests running on Mon, Wed, Fri. and Sat. I try to adhere to that schedule as much as possible but I modified it for the Holiday. No time to run Friday while we were getting out to the lake and setting up.
Saturday, July 2 I ran/walked for 1 mile in about 16 minutes or so. It felt good, no pain or problems. My plan was to walk on Sunday, skip Monday and then run Tuesday with Casey, my 18 year old daughter.
Sunday, July 3rd, I mapped out a 1.53 mile run/walk. Within minutes of my run, I felt my left leg cramping up, so I walked and stretched it out and tried running again. Again that left leg was cramping in the shin, calf and into the hip. UGH! I ended up walking most of the 1.53 miles instead of running. I was very disappointed.
Tuesday, July 5th, I ran/walked the same 1.53 mile course I attempted on Sunday. My daughter Casey ran with me. It was a really good run. I wanted to cut it short twice, but I decided to do the whole thing instead. Yay for me!!! I was rather surprised while talking with Casey to find that she isn't surprised in the least that I'm running. She said that she knows I'll stick with it. She told me, "You wanted to cut it short but you went ahead and finished the whole thing." I think I'm more surprised at my running than my kids are.
Needless to say that all that running on the asphalt this weekend at the lake was killing my knees and feet. I continue to believe that I'm much younger than I am.
This week, I am listening to my body and I knew there is no way I could run with the class on Wednesday. I can't pound that pavement so soon. I had another plan.
So the whole weekend was Up & Down, Up & Down until tonite.
I went to the class to hear the speaker. Chris and I planned to run on the Mopac Trail after the class. That way I'm running on dirt and fine gravel and I thought it might be easier on my joints.
The class speaker tonite was a Physical Therapist and talked about lower leg pain and foot pain. (This is right up my alley! Maybe I will learn something.)
He talked about orthotics in the shoes and about how the bones in the feet and leg work, pronation and supination and why we have leg pain. Now....I'm a thinkin'....(scary huh?) lol When I bought my running shoes at The Lincoln Running Co. for this class, the young man helping me told me that my left foot is one full size smaller than my right. I can often feel the slip of my left foot in that shoe, even though he laced it different to tighten it. So I'm thinking that if I buy a Dr. Scholl's orthotic and put it in the left shoe, maybe it will fit better and I won't have all this left leg pain. Mmm....stay tuned to see how that works.
So....at the end of each class, they draw for clothing and a free pair of running shoes. As she was getting ready to draw for the shoes, I could hear her say over the microphone....."Let me dig down to the bottom." I thought to myself....shit! (Yes I actually said "shit" in my mind.) If she's digging to the bottom, I have a surefire shot at these shoes. After all.....it's been Up & Down for me since the class started and the last run I had left me down.
YEP! Sure as shit....she drew my name! HOLY BUCKETS! I couldn't believe it. Once again....I was up! And then.....
I ran/walked tonite for 2.24 miles!!!! My farthest distance yet, and it felt great! This was the first run where I wasn't exhausted and ready for a nap afterward. The change in terrain was just what I needed. I feel like a million bucks right now and I have tons of energy!!! I'm thinkin' that the 5K doesn't sound like such a reach right about now!
P.S. A huge thanks to my hubby for going with me tonight. I know it's a shorter distance than he would usually hike on that trail but I was especially glad to have him close by keeping me safe from the creepers out there. And yes....there were a few of them.
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