Friday: I left work early Friday, so I was home doing nothing for about 5 hours before we made an 8pm dinner reservation and it was 7pm and I had to hustle down to run. Given the time constraints there was no room for messing around -- no breaks, no nothing. This pressure actually worked to my benefit, and I wound up being able to run the whole time without slowing down (except the last minute, which doubled as a cool down, again given time constraints). So yay! Run!
Saturday: Nothing. Boyfriend was in town and chose to amuse him instead, and we had a great day around the city :)
Sunday: Probably too hung over to attempt a run today. Oh well!
24 January 2010
22 January 2010
Day Two
So today I was pretty exhausted -- I had 3 classes and had to get up at 8am after having stayed up until about 3am playing geography quizzes on www.sporcle.com (whose fault is that, right, but oh well). I was in class until 4pm, lazed about, and eventually fell asleep. Upon waking I ate a huge quantity of food and retreated back into bed to digest, assuming I'd blown it and wouldn't run today.
Not so! I found the motivation at 11:15ish pm (after waiting the recommended 1 1/2 hours after eating) to go down to the gym and run. I put the incline on 1% so it would feel like running outside, which was tiring too because in the past I always ran without even thinking of tinkering with the incline. I ran 2 miles at a 9:40 pace, got SO tired, took a short walking break, then ran the final mile, which was unpleasant because I was so out of breath. Then the gym closed so I had to leave, but my work was done.
I'm happy I've become more mature about knowing my limits as a runner and working with them to develop myself into a better one. In the past I would never, ever allow myself to take even a minute break to walk if I felt tired. Further, on a day like today where I was physically tired unrelated to running -- so it was possible if I went down to the treadmill I wouldn't be able to get the whole run under my belt with easy -- I'd opt not to run and pursue a different form of exercise. Anxiety about an impending imperfection would actually preclude me from even trying!
In short, I was tired, but ran anyway.
An additional note: It has been called to my attention that I sound crazy in the first entry. Allow me to clarify: it's likely my physical condition is acceptable, and more than likely that someone who wasn't me wouldn't think I was overweight. The result of some recent, stubborn weight gain and childhood struggles with weight and general largeness, I probably have body image problems, of which I regret indulging publicly via this blog. But anyway -- I ran today!
An additional additional note: I read today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jan/18/running-brain-memory-cell-growth) that running causes neurogenesis in runners' brains -- good deal!
Not so! I found the motivation at 11:15ish pm (after waiting the recommended 1 1/2 hours after eating) to go down to the gym and run. I put the incline on 1% so it would feel like running outside, which was tiring too because in the past I always ran without even thinking of tinkering with the incline. I ran 2 miles at a 9:40 pace, got SO tired, took a short walking break, then ran the final mile, which was unpleasant because I was so out of breath. Then the gym closed so I had to leave, but my work was done.
I'm happy I've become more mature about knowing my limits as a runner and working with them to develop myself into a better one. In the past I would never, ever allow myself to take even a minute break to walk if I felt tired. Further, on a day like today where I was physically tired unrelated to running -- so it was possible if I went down to the treadmill I wouldn't be able to get the whole run under my belt with easy -- I'd opt not to run and pursue a different form of exercise. Anxiety about an impending imperfection would actually preclude me from even trying!
In short, I was tired, but ran anyway.
An additional note: It has been called to my attention that I sound crazy in the first entry. Allow me to clarify: it's likely my physical condition is acceptable, and more than likely that someone who wasn't me wouldn't think I was overweight. The result of some recent, stubborn weight gain and childhood struggles with weight and general largeness, I probably have body image problems, of which I regret indulging publicly via this blog. But anyway -- I ran today!
An additional additional note: I read today (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jan/18/running-brain-memory-cell-growth) that running causes neurogenesis in runners' brains -- good deal!
20 January 2010
So it begins.
Once upon a time (for 6 months of the glorious year 2008), I was thin and physically attractive. I looked like this:
This was a happy time. I proudly sported shorts, bikinis and other revealing garments in public. I felt light and airy, and could run up to 4 miles in a row at about an 8 minute/mile pace. Unfortunately, time caused 2009 to dawn, the sun set on my running abilities and my physical condition -- athletic, aesthetic and otherwise -- consequently deteriorated.
Things are different now. I have grown considerably in size, and will not disclose photographically the current state of my body. It is not good. So, after a year of attempting to revive my former interest in running that yielded little more than a few huffing-and-puffing-then-stopping visits to the treadmill, I decided things must change.
One day about 2 weeks ago I decided the time was now and it would be cool to force the issue and run really fast for as long as possible. I kept this up for about 4.5 miles. In a row. To me this fortuitous event seemed to call out to me, what better time than now to sign up for the soonest possible 5K race? And start an intermediate training plan in the middle, because pshh, I'm clearly in great shape already, seeing as I can run 4.5 miles in a row and all -- why not go for the gold?
Because, I found out the hard way, people who have been running for 1 day are not "intermediate" runners. Clearly (in hindsight) my initial tack was too vigorous, and after 3 days of elated, dedicated training I injured my leg and unfortunately (the kind of "unfortunately" that really makes one secretly thrilled and relieved, like being able to avoid an annoying family function because you couldn't request off work that day, DAMN) was out of workout commission for 3 days. I'm pretty sure I've recuperated now, so I've started up again -- this time at the beginner level of an "Advanced Beginner" 5K program designed for someone like me, who has some running experience but has not been running for a while.
My workouts this week have been consistent with the training instructions. Instead of pushing myself to uncomfortable extremes in the name of progress, as I tend to do because I am an insanely competitive perfectionist, I reluctantly accepted the advice of a few experts in some running articles I read which told me to run at a "conversation pace," where one is not too out of breath, as the name implies, to carry on a conversation while running. I discovered for me in my current state this is about a 9:40/mile:
Wish me luck!
This was a happy time. I proudly sported shorts, bikinis and other revealing garments in public. I felt light and airy, and could run up to 4 miles in a row at about an 8 minute/mile pace. Unfortunately, time caused 2009 to dawn, the sun set on my running abilities and my physical condition -- athletic, aesthetic and otherwise -- consequently deteriorated.
Things are different now. I have grown considerably in size, and will not disclose photographically the current state of my body. It is not good. So, after a year of attempting to revive my former interest in running that yielded little more than a few huffing-and-puffing-then-stopping visits to the treadmill, I decided things must change.
One day about 2 weeks ago I decided the time was now and it would be cool to force the issue and run really fast for as long as possible. I kept this up for about 4.5 miles. In a row. To me this fortuitous event seemed to call out to me, what better time than now to sign up for the soonest possible 5K race? And start an intermediate training plan in the middle, because pshh, I'm clearly in great shape already, seeing as I can run 4.5 miles in a row and all -- why not go for the gold?
Because, I found out the hard way, people who have been running for 1 day are not "intermediate" runners. Clearly (in hindsight) my initial tack was too vigorous, and after 3 days of elated, dedicated training I injured my leg and unfortunately (the kind of "unfortunately" that really makes one secretly thrilled and relieved, like being able to avoid an annoying family function because you couldn't request off work that day, DAMN) was out of workout commission for 3 days. I'm pretty sure I've recuperated now, so I've started up again -- this time at the beginner level of an "Advanced Beginner" 5K program designed for someone like me, who has some running experience but has not been running for a while.
My workouts this week have been consistent with the training instructions. Instead of pushing myself to uncomfortable extremes in the name of progress, as I tend to do because I am an insanely competitive perfectionist, I reluctantly accepted the advice of a few experts in some running articles I read which told me to run at a "conversation pace," where one is not too out of breath, as the name implies, to carry on a conversation while running. I discovered for me in my current state this is about a 9:40/mile:
- On Sunday, I ran 3 miles at this pace, and it felt absolutely great!
- The training program stated Monday was to be a rest day, but I rode the recumbent bike for 45 minutes instead, and lifted a couple of weights a few times each.
- On Tuesday, I was supposed to run 2.5 miles, but resources were scarce in the Fordham gym and each of the two treadmills was occupied. I did the elliptical for 20 minutes, then hopped on the treadmill, ran 1 mile, was too winded to go on, took a break, then ran another slightly slower one. I also played considerable amounts of DDR, if that's good for anything.
- Today does not look promising. I am supposed to run 3 miles, but it is already 9:52, and I ate a lot today. I am also tired. We'll see!
Wish me luck!
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