Today was the final workout day of Week 6. I have mixed feelings about having postponed our run. I certainly did not want to do it this morning, but realized that I like the relative solitude of running the trail in the early morning hours. Also, I think that coming off a night's rest seems to leave me more prepared than trying to run after a full day at work, like I did today. That said, it was nice, however, that my muscles were already a bit more limber and warmed up from being active during the day. I guess there are benefits and drawbacks to running at any time of the day.
For today, at least, it was really nice to be running during the warmest part of the day. Forty-nine degrees may not seem warm to you, but it sure beat 25°F this morning. Since most of our trail lies on an east-west trail, I swapped my fleece had for a ball cap and grabbed my sunglasses. I figured it would be bright, with the sun low in the southwestern sky.
After noting how miserable my first set was on Wednesday, another runner told me that the first 10 or so minutes of any run may feel like that. Armed with that knowledge, I set out to begin today's run.
The pain in my knee had decreased to a dull ache, but I decided to wrap it anyway. I wraped it and pulled the brace on, just as I did on Wednesday. I did not stretch as much today, in part because I had already been up and was active, but also because I knew a friend was coming in from out of town and I felt hurried to get this workout done. The walk was okay. As we had driven over, I had noticed numerous people using the trail. I just hoped that none of our kids' classmates (or their parents) would see us and potentially expose our secret plan. The podcast announced the run--the only run of this day--and we began. We were to run for 25 minutes. I know we did 20 last Friday, but 25 just seemed like such a long time. From the onset, it was pretty clear to me that I would be running the full length of our segment of trail, from the point where we started walking, to the end at the park in town, and then back to where the car was parked--all without stopping or walking. That would be a big change. I've grown used to spots along the trail where we had transitioned during our intervals. Today, however, there would be no stopping.
That's not to say there would be no change of pace. I started out strong, but was sure to hold back a bit, so I would have energy to get me through to the end. Mrs. F began to pull ahead after the first minute or so, and she kept that lead the entire time, even circling back a couple of times to run along and past me again before moving on ahead again. That was fine. She had to run this at her pace, and I needed to run it at mine. Earlier, I felt a little discouraged by the thought--it even crossed my mind this evening--but I reminded myself that Marie is running 110 lbs lighter than am I, and that likely accounts for our difference in pacing.
The first portion was really tough. The same nagging self-doubts came to mind, and I found myself wanting to quit. "No one would blame you," the tried to tell me, "they'll know that you tried!" I really had to fight so as not to give in today. On the way out, we came up behind two walkers. I found myself wanting to slow to a walk, so as not to pass them. I'm not sure if it was embrassment about myself--someone of my size daring to run--or if it was that I did not want to embarass them by passing them. Mrs. F was ahead and went around with a smile and a wave. The walkers waved back. I, too, went around. Was it really possible that I was actually running fast enough that I had to pass someone? I guess so.
Before we got to the 10 minute mark, we had reached the end of the trail and we turned around. Mrs. F had already reached the end and had turned toward me, so when she got to where I was, she turned again and finished that segment with me before we both turned and she was off again. Confusing? Perhaps for the reader. For me, it was nice--a reminder that, though we could not run at the same speed, she was in this with me. In the first few moments of the return run, we passed by the walkers again, this time coming at them head-on. I can't be sure if it was a trick of my eyes, but it seemed as if the one lady smiled as we passed--almost as if she was glad to see us out there and working at it.
Mrs. F pulled further ahead on this stretch. By the time the half-way point was announced, she was well ahead. Soon, she was so far ahead that I could not see her, and it stayed that way until about five minutes from the end of the run. My pace had become dreadfully slow at some points. I almost slowed to walking, too, but kept pushing on. I swung my arms more deliberately and tried to pick up my feet more with each step. Suddenly, I might get 20m of a good boost, only to slow back down again. Another announcement told me that we had only about six minutes left. I wondered if Mrs. F had made it to the road and whether or not she crossed it.
Five minutes: now my body was ready to stop completely. I had to force myself just to continue slogging on. I was past the point where we started running now, so I knew the end of the trail was coming soon.
Approximately four minutes: I was relieved to see Mrs. F running towards me. She seemed to be moving at the same pace at which she started, and that seemed amazing to me. Knowing I would run to the end of the trail if I kept on ahead, I turned and ran back the other way as she caught up to me. Soon she was ahead again, but this time she pulled ahead much faster. When she reached the point whereabout we started our run originally, I called for her to turn again, and she reversed and headed toward me. As she neared, I turned as well.
A few more paces down the trail, and the final minute was announced. I pushed as hard as I could, but she still gained on me and overcame me. I grunted aloud as I strained to finish that final minute strong. I pushed. My body protested. I pushed some more. Finally, I heard the words I so wanted to hear, announcing that the run was over. I cried out, "Yes!" as I ran further on with my arms in the air. I allowed myslef to slow to a walk and I staggered from side to side. I took some deep breaths and slowed some more. I had done it--we had done it. We completed 25 minutes of running!
Including our warm-up walk, I covered about two miles during the 30 minute session. Mrs. F, who doubled back a few times, likely completed two and a half miles. While nowhere near stellar performances, they were stellar to us, and we both were pleased with the outcome. The main point is that we ran for 25 minutes without stopping or walking. I guess that's a really good thing, too, since that's what's on the schedule for all of next week!
Today's session also marks our completion of two-thirds of the Couch to 5k program. I could not have imagined that I would ever make it this far. This has been an amazing journey. Thanks for taking it with me!
Listening to the podcast announcement for the other days' runs, I noticed I was feeling a bit better at the 10 minute mark. It's not that I was any less tired--in fact, my legs were already feeling somewhat fatigued--but I did not have the despairing desire to quit that beset me at the onset. There was something about this that felt good--getting past the first ten minutes, and having that bit of confidence well up that said, "I can finish this." It seemed to be the same good feeling I had experienced on other days, but it was not as strong today.
As we reached the half-way point, I was even more tired, and I had to concentrate a bit more on my breathing. My pace slowed greatly.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Day 40 (Week 6, Day 5) - Mrs. F
As this morning rolled around, and I had about 4 hrs of sleep when the alarm went off, we made the executive decision to postpone the run til the afternoon. I was a bit nervous that with company coming and things to do, we would put it off and not run. But we did it!!
It certainely was different running in the afternoon in full sunlight versus the early morning darkness. The nice part about going at this time was the temp was fabulous! It was in the low 50s and great running weather. I found myself more self conscious than I am in the dark morning light. Everyone was polite and said good day or hi, so it was mostly just me. It just was different. I think I like the dark lol!
I was very unsure how this run would come out. I was coming off too little sleep, and a busy busy day cleaning the house for company. So my muscles were already warmed up but I worried that I would be sore as I did lots of scrubbing and mopping and washing windows. That didnt seem to be a problem. Although keeping my mental battle in the positive realm was harder. I was tired, the sun was bright and my body wanted to just give up at times.
The first 5-7 minutes was tough, finding the rhythm and getting going. The middle part of the run was fabulous -- I found my stride and I was going! I reached the end of our trail segment, turned around and ran back until I ran into Mr. F again. At that point, I turned around again and was running with Mr. F to the end of the trail again. Since I run faster than he does right now, this is one of the ways we can stick closer together.\
The last part of the run was hard! Really really hard! I found myself slowing down and just wanting to give up. I really had to give myself some good pep talks to keep going. I had no watch, so I had no real way to gage how much of the run I had left. I got to the beginning point of our trail and turned around again to run back to MR. F. That was a bit discouraging. Usually at that point, I am ready to walk to the car. So I really had to encourage myself to not give up yet, it wasnt time! I;m pretty sure I ran 2 full miles in the 25 minutes today!
So I continued on the trail, until I encountered Mr. F and then began running his direction once again. I believe at this point, we had 3 and a half minutes left. I made it almost back to the point, that my orginal 5 minute warm up walk took me.
Making more strides in the distance today felt really good but the run itself was far more challenging than I was prepared for. My legs and muscles are sore but nothing really to write about. And it was a good way to work off some of the stress I was feeling earlier today. It really helped improve my mood!
It was cold yesterday for my sons cc match. So he didnt beat his time but came in with a very respectable 19:02. So I changed my challenge to him, that if he beats his personal best (18:55), I will run two minutes with him. If he breaks 18:30, Ill run five. He really thinks I cant even do one. It amuses me greatly to know that not only can I do one but I can run 25 minute straight!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
It certainely was different running in the afternoon in full sunlight versus the early morning darkness. The nice part about going at this time was the temp was fabulous! It was in the low 50s and great running weather. I found myself more self conscious than I am in the dark morning light. Everyone was polite and said good day or hi, so it was mostly just me. It just was different. I think I like the dark lol!
I was very unsure how this run would come out. I was coming off too little sleep, and a busy busy day cleaning the house for company. So my muscles were already warmed up but I worried that I would be sore as I did lots of scrubbing and mopping and washing windows. That didnt seem to be a problem. Although keeping my mental battle in the positive realm was harder. I was tired, the sun was bright and my body wanted to just give up at times.
The first 5-7 minutes was tough, finding the rhythm and getting going. The middle part of the run was fabulous -- I found my stride and I was going! I reached the end of our trail segment, turned around and ran back until I ran into Mr. F again. At that point, I turned around again and was running with Mr. F to the end of the trail again. Since I run faster than he does right now, this is one of the ways we can stick closer together.\
The last part of the run was hard! Really really hard! I found myself slowing down and just wanting to give up. I really had to give myself some good pep talks to keep going. I had no watch, so I had no real way to gage how much of the run I had left. I got to the beginning point of our trail and turned around again to run back to MR. F. That was a bit discouraging. Usually at that point, I am ready to walk to the car. So I really had to encourage myself to not give up yet, it wasnt time! I;m pretty sure I ran 2 full miles in the 25 minutes today!
So I continued on the trail, until I encountered Mr. F and then began running his direction once again. I believe at this point, we had 3 and a half minutes left. I made it almost back to the point, that my orginal 5 minute warm up walk took me.
Making more strides in the distance today felt really good but the run itself was far more challenging than I was prepared for. My legs and muscles are sore but nothing really to write about. And it was a good way to work off some of the stress I was feeling earlier today. It really helped improve my mood!
It was cold yesterday for my sons cc match. So he didnt beat his time but came in with a very respectable 19:02. So I changed my challenge to him, that if he beats his personal best (18:55), I will run two minutes with him. If he breaks 18:30, Ill run five. He really thinks I cant even do one. It amuses me greatly to know that not only can I do one but I can run 25 minute straight!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Friday weight check (week 6)
FatManRunning
Last Friday: 288.5
Today: 286.5
Gain/Loss: -2.0
Goal: 210.0 lbs.
Last Friday: 288.5
Today: 286.5
Gain/Loss: -2.0
Goal: 210.0 lbs.
Cumulative loss: 13.9 lbs.
Pounds to lose: 76.5
Comment: I'm relieved to see a loss. It wasn't my best week. The cool thing is that we haven't run yet today. I wonder if that would shed another half pound or so...
Mrs. F
Last Friday: 177.9
Today: 176.3
Gain/Loss: -1.6
Goal: 150.00
Cumulative loss: 6.5 lbs.
Pounds to lose: 26.3
Comment: [no comment]
Day 40 (week 6) - Workout delayed to later today
Going to bed last night, it was official: we were going to see our first hard frost. That meant I was running outside after 9 PM to collect the last of the vegetables that were supposed to have been harvested by our eldest daughter. I came in with about 25 lbs. of tomatoes, mostly green, some green peppers, jalepenos, and three small honeydew melons. As such, and because Mrs. F and I ended the day in a bit of a row and I know that she was up three hours longer than was I, we decided to postpone this morning's workout until this afternoon. Hopefuly, we'll get to run at about 4 PM, when the projected high is 49ºF, and that provides some time for us to sort things out a bit, too.
Oh, well! Life happens. I'm not looking forward to my weigh-in today, as I don't believe I've been very dilligent this week on watching my portions and extra intake. My knee is a little sore today, but it is not giving me trouble while walking. I'll still wrap it, but I hope the worst of it is behind me.
Oh, well! Life happens. I'm not looking forward to my weigh-in today, as I don't believe I've been very dilligent this week on watching my portions and extra intake. My knee is a little sore today, but it is not giving me trouble while walking. I'll still wrap it, but I hope the worst of it is behind me.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Day 39 (week 6)
Well, Mrs. F and I didn't see that movie on Tuesday night because we had to be up early to run. So we decided to go out last night. It was a nice evening. It did keep us up a little later than our regular bed time, but that's not what kept me from getting rest. There were problems at the office again. Someone did something that took the computer network down, and I found myself going in to work after coming home from the movie--sometime after 11 PM--to take care of the problem. I was at the office until 1 AM, went home, and then was fighting the alarm clock at 6 AM. No wonder why I'm tired today.
The good news is that my left knee feels quite a bit better, but it is still a bit wonky. I plan to wrap and brace it again tomorrow morning. I can't say I'm looking forward to the run, but I'm not petrified of it, either.
The only potential hitch in our plan for the morning is that I need to go back into work again tonight after 7 PM, to make sure that the circuit with some overhead lighting that will be replaced is not one that will affect our computer systems. The breaker boxes were labeled years ago when the computer area of the building served another purpose, and the company never put forward the funds to properly wire the computer room to be on a set of isolated circuits. I'm hoping I'll only need to be in for about 30 minutes, but things don't always go as planned.
Anyway, we're off to watch our eldest boy run cross country again today. Our other runner is down with a fever, mild cough, and other potential flu-like symptoms, so we've quarantined him to his room and moved his other brothers elsewhere in the house. Hopefully, we can minimize the number of kids that get sick. Otherwise, we'll just end up prolonging the misery.
The good news is that my left knee feels quite a bit better, but it is still a bit wonky. I plan to wrap and brace it again tomorrow morning. I can't say I'm looking forward to the run, but I'm not petrified of it, either.
The only potential hitch in our plan for the morning is that I need to go back into work again tonight after 7 PM, to make sure that the circuit with some overhead lighting that will be replaced is not one that will affect our computer systems. The breaker boxes were labeled years ago when the computer area of the building served another purpose, and the company never put forward the funds to properly wire the computer room to be on a set of isolated circuits. I'm hoping I'll only need to be in for about 30 minutes, but things don't always go as planned.
Anyway, we're off to watch our eldest boy run cross country again today. Our other runner is down with a fever, mild cough, and other potential flu-like symptoms, so we've quarantined him to his room and moved his other brothers elsewhere in the house. Hopefully, we can minimize the number of kids that get sick. Otherwise, we'll just end up prolonging the misery.
Day 39 - Mrs. F
Thankfully, no injuries to report! I'm looking forward to meeting the challenge of 25 minutes tommorrow. I have no doubt, it will be hard and very much a mental battle. I believe the weather is not slated to be favorable -- cold again -- but thus is life.
I challenged my cross country runner last evening. I told him that if he broke 18:10 so he ran faster than that time, I'd run 2 minutes with him. I made it a significant goal off of his fastest time of 18:55. 45 seconds is a lot in cross country races! His dad did this earlier in the season and made good on his promise. My son knows that I detest running and has no clue that not only can I run 2 minutes, but 20!
It shall be fun to surprise him!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
I challenged my cross country runner last evening. I told him that if he broke 18:10 so he ran faster than that time, I'd run 2 minutes with him. I made it a significant goal off of his fastest time of 18:55. 45 seconds is a lot in cross country races! His dad did this earlier in the season and made good on his promise. My son knows that I detest running and has no clue that not only can I run 2 minutes, but 20!
It shall be fun to surprise him!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Day 38 (Week 6, Day 3) - Mrs. F
Monday was hard, today was much better~! It was still challenging, dont get me wrong but much better run than Mondays torture. I made a conscious effort to wage a mental battle. I told myself yesterday and last night that it was going to be a good run. That and getting some decent sleep really made a difference I believe.
Although I briefly hoped this morning, Mr. F would agree to postponing our run til tonight,I found myself a bit excited to run today again. 5 am comes too early even if I get to bed at a decent hour!
The first set went well, the 5 minute mark came before I thought it would. The 2nd half of that first set -- I found my stride. I got to the end of the trail and turned around running back to meet Mr. F. It just felt good today. The 2nd 10 minute set was a bit harder to find that stride. I found that I was repeating "I can do this" a bit. It just seemed longer. And at the end, I wasnt sure if Mr. F called out the last minute warning or if he had called time. So I ended up stopping, trying to call out to him and then running back toward him. It did turn out to be time lol.
It supposedly was the same temp (40 degrees) as Monday but it didnt feel as cold. I added an extra layer by wearing a light windbreaker. That could have made the difference. Its a bit big on me, so I found it sliding up around my neck more than I liked but I made it work. Overall I was warm enough. I ended up taking off my cotton jersy gloves about halfway through again. I find I need them in the beginning but my hands quickly get too warm.
After Mondays workout, I was fearing Fridays 25 minute run again. Todays workout reinforced the fact I can do this. It wont be easy but its not quite as scary as I thought it might be!
Muscles are feeling worked but not bad! No real pain to report --woohoo!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Although I briefly hoped this morning, Mr. F would agree to postponing our run til tonight,I found myself a bit excited to run today again. 5 am comes too early even if I get to bed at a decent hour!
The first set went well, the 5 minute mark came before I thought it would. The 2nd half of that first set -- I found my stride. I got to the end of the trail and turned around running back to meet Mr. F. It just felt good today. The 2nd 10 minute set was a bit harder to find that stride. I found that I was repeating "I can do this" a bit. It just seemed longer. And at the end, I wasnt sure if Mr. F called out the last minute warning or if he had called time. So I ended up stopping, trying to call out to him and then running back toward him. It did turn out to be time lol.
It supposedly was the same temp (40 degrees) as Monday but it didnt feel as cold. I added an extra layer by wearing a light windbreaker. That could have made the difference. Its a bit big on me, so I found it sliding up around my neck more than I liked but I made it work. Overall I was warm enough. I ended up taking off my cotton jersy gloves about halfway through again. I find I need them in the beginning but my hands quickly get too warm.
After Mondays workout, I was fearing Fridays 25 minute run again. Todays workout reinforced the fact I can do this. It wont be easy but its not quite as scary as I thought it might be!
Muscles are feeling worked but not bad! No real pain to report --woohoo!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Day 38 (week 6)
Well, I made it through today's workout--two 10-minute runs separated by a 3-minute walk.
Today was a bit of a roller coaster. It began as I expected (self-fulfilling prophecy?)--I did not want to get up. I did not want to run. It's finally been cold enough that Mrs. F pulled the down comforter out of storage yesterday, and I was enjoying the additional warmth and the additional weight. Oh, how I love a heavy stack of blankets (when it's cold enough to warrant them)!
I did not want to get dressed, but I did. I stepped outside, and the force of the cold air hit me square in the chest. I pivoted on my heels and went back inside, nearly knocking down Mrs. F, who simply went past me and out the door to the car she had started earlier. I wanted to run--to the bedroom--but, instead, I grabbed my fleece vest and headed out to the car.
I did not want to run. My knee felt surprisingly good when I woke, perhaps due to the extra warmth provided by our extra layer of covers, but I knew it would bother me soon after placing weight on it. I decided to double my efforts to wrap the knee. I began with a 3" elastic wrap, and then I pulled the brace over the top. It felt more snug, but it did not immediately collapse behind my knee as the brace alone had done on Monday. We arrived near the lake, but I did not want to get out of the car.
I was greeted by a sound we had not hear during our first five weeks--water rushing over the little dam where we park. We had heard it on Monday, but I was too miserable to mention it after that day's workout. It was a loud rush, and a welcome sound. I've always loved the sound of rushing water. It reminds me of all of the time I've spent in a canoe, but that's another story.
I did not even want to walk the warm-up walk. As we began, I stated aloud that I did not want to be there. I was tired and uncomfortable, and I knew the run would be miserable. Mrs. F replied with some kind words, but I didn't hear them clearly. All I could hear was the podcast, and I just wanted the voice to shut up and the music to fade. The wrap/brace combination seemed to be working. It had not yet slid down, and my walk was fairly comfortable.
I began the run. Immediately it was clear that my pace was slow. Mrs. F began to pull ahead fairly early. My legs were sore, and my hands and the back of my neck were cold. It was 40°F this morning, but there was no rain, and the stars were clear in the sky. We were running with Orion once again. I just wanted to collapse on the trail. I exclaimed, "I'm a fat man, and I've been a fat man most of my life." Something stopped me from continuing with my thought, "and I'm going to be a fat man until the day I die." I pushed on.
The 10 minute run seemed near an eternity. We started the run about the same place we've began for weeks, a five-minute walk down the trail, but the run today--even at my slowed pace--took me to the end of the trail where we would normally turn around. Mrs. F had already reached the end, turned aound, and run back to me, so we were again running together. As we turned to take a little loop through a part at that end of the trail, the end of the first run was announced.
As has been true on other days, my breathing was fine. It was the rest of my body that was simply spent. I announced that I could not take it any more. "It's just so hard," I cried. Then I literally cried. "It's just so hard."
I could not imagine going on. Had we been on the track we used on Friday, I might have gone down the stairs and left the building at that point. Here, outside in the brisk morning air, I knew I was still about a mile from our car. I had to walk in either case, so I walked. I had a few creaks in my left knee, and the wrap had clearly moved down some, but it seemed to be holding out better than I had expected.
That emotional outburst helped. I don't understand why, but I felt better for having said what I said, and having cried as I did, even though I was still walking.
When the next run began, I obliged and picked up the pace. That's when I got this morning's surprise. As my feet struck, one after another, and my arms swung, I suddenly realized that I felt pretty good. I was still sore and a little stiff, but I no longer felt so dead tired. In fact, I found myself feeling pretty good. Instead of letting Mrs. F pull ahead, I found myself keeping up with her, just a few steps behind. The run felt good until about the half-way point. That's when the sense of physical fatigue hit me again, I began to slow down, and I let Mrs. F pull ahead.
Those final five minutes were difficult, though not in the same way as it had been at the start of today's session. Now it was true fatigue in my legs. In addition, my wrap had slumped even more, and now I was feeling more discomfort in that left knee. I sped up...and slowed down...and sped up...and slowed down. It did nothing to help my legs, but it did give me something to occupy my mind. When we got into the final few minutes, I did my best to speed up. At one point I thought I was catching up to Mrs. F, but then she was beyond my line of sight in a slight curve. When the run ended, I called out loudly, since I knew she was again far ahead of me. She heard me, but wasn't sure if I had sounded the end, so she was still running when she came into view as she ran back toward me. Together, we walked out our cool-down, and then we drove home.
I don't know how things will go Friday, but they went better today than I had feared. I can't say that I'm looking forward to Friday, but I'm committed to making it happen.
Today was a bit of a roller coaster. It began as I expected (self-fulfilling prophecy?)--I did not want to get up. I did not want to run. It's finally been cold enough that Mrs. F pulled the down comforter out of storage yesterday, and I was enjoying the additional warmth and the additional weight. Oh, how I love a heavy stack of blankets (when it's cold enough to warrant them)!
I did not want to get dressed, but I did. I stepped outside, and the force of the cold air hit me square in the chest. I pivoted on my heels and went back inside, nearly knocking down Mrs. F, who simply went past me and out the door to the car she had started earlier. I wanted to run--to the bedroom--but, instead, I grabbed my fleece vest and headed out to the car.
I did not want to run. My knee felt surprisingly good when I woke, perhaps due to the extra warmth provided by our extra layer of covers, but I knew it would bother me soon after placing weight on it. I decided to double my efforts to wrap the knee. I began with a 3" elastic wrap, and then I pulled the brace over the top. It felt more snug, but it did not immediately collapse behind my knee as the brace alone had done on Monday. We arrived near the lake, but I did not want to get out of the car.
I was greeted by a sound we had not hear during our first five weeks--water rushing over the little dam where we park. We had heard it on Monday, but I was too miserable to mention it after that day's workout. It was a loud rush, and a welcome sound. I've always loved the sound of rushing water. It reminds me of all of the time I've spent in a canoe, but that's another story.
I did not even want to walk the warm-up walk. As we began, I stated aloud that I did not want to be there. I was tired and uncomfortable, and I knew the run would be miserable. Mrs. F replied with some kind words, but I didn't hear them clearly. All I could hear was the podcast, and I just wanted the voice to shut up and the music to fade. The wrap/brace combination seemed to be working. It had not yet slid down, and my walk was fairly comfortable.
I began the run. Immediately it was clear that my pace was slow. Mrs. F began to pull ahead fairly early. My legs were sore, and my hands and the back of my neck were cold. It was 40°F this morning, but there was no rain, and the stars were clear in the sky. We were running with Orion once again. I just wanted to collapse on the trail. I exclaimed, "I'm a fat man, and I've been a fat man most of my life." Something stopped me from continuing with my thought, "and I'm going to be a fat man until the day I die." I pushed on.
The 10 minute run seemed near an eternity. We started the run about the same place we've began for weeks, a five-minute walk down the trail, but the run today--even at my slowed pace--took me to the end of the trail where we would normally turn around. Mrs. F had already reached the end, turned aound, and run back to me, so we were again running together. As we turned to take a little loop through a part at that end of the trail, the end of the first run was announced.
As has been true on other days, my breathing was fine. It was the rest of my body that was simply spent. I announced that I could not take it any more. "It's just so hard," I cried. Then I literally cried. "It's just so hard."
I could not imagine going on. Had we been on the track we used on Friday, I might have gone down the stairs and left the building at that point. Here, outside in the brisk morning air, I knew I was still about a mile from our car. I had to walk in either case, so I walked. I had a few creaks in my left knee, and the wrap had clearly moved down some, but it seemed to be holding out better than I had expected.
That emotional outburst helped. I don't understand why, but I felt better for having said what I said, and having cried as I did, even though I was still walking.
When the next run began, I obliged and picked up the pace. That's when I got this morning's surprise. As my feet struck, one after another, and my arms swung, I suddenly realized that I felt pretty good. I was still sore and a little stiff, but I no longer felt so dead tired. In fact, I found myself feeling pretty good. Instead of letting Mrs. F pull ahead, I found myself keeping up with her, just a few steps behind. The run felt good until about the half-way point. That's when the sense of physical fatigue hit me again, I began to slow down, and I let Mrs. F pull ahead.
Those final five minutes were difficult, though not in the same way as it had been at the start of today's session. Now it was true fatigue in my legs. In addition, my wrap had slumped even more, and now I was feeling more discomfort in that left knee. I sped up...and slowed down...and sped up...and slowed down. It did nothing to help my legs, but it did give me something to occupy my mind. When we got into the final few minutes, I did my best to speed up. At one point I thought I was catching up to Mrs. F, but then she was beyond my line of sight in a slight curve. When the run ended, I called out loudly, since I knew she was again far ahead of me. She heard me, but wasn't sure if I had sounded the end, so she was still running when she came into view as she ran back toward me. Together, we walked out our cool-down, and then we drove home.
I don't know how things will go Friday, but they went better today than I had feared. I can't say that I'm looking forward to Friday, but I'm committed to making it happen.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Day 37 (week 6, day 2) - a down day
I don't know if it's the gloomy weather (it's been rainy and cloudly most of the time since last week), shorter days, family stresses, or the fact that my left leg still doesn't feel right, but it is just a down day for me. I have little energy, and tremendous cravings for junk food (I'd trade almost anything for a plate of brownies right now). Why is it that junk food cravings are so much stronger when you are having a down day? I know that the food can make me feel good for a while, but I'm going to try to avoid that path this evening.
Even though I can already tell that my body won't want to run tomorrow, I'll be going out anyway. I'm not giving myself a choice. Oh, but I still want something sweet to nash on...
Ugh! I hate feeling like this. I can't fall back into old habits now, or it's all over for me.
I really want some peace and quiet, but with a house full of kids at home, I know that's not a realistic expectation. My wife and I had talked about sneaking out for a bargain movie one night this week. Perhaps tonight is the night. If we do go, I promise to be good at the snack counter.
Even though I can already tell that my body won't want to run tomorrow, I'll be going out anyway. I'm not giving myself a choice. Oh, but I still want something sweet to nash on...
Ugh! I hate feeling like this. I can't fall back into old habits now, or it's all over for me.
I really want some peace and quiet, but with a house full of kids at home, I know that's not a realistic expectation. My wife and I had talked about sneaking out for a bargain movie one night this week. Perhaps tonight is the night. If we do go, I promise to be good at the snack counter.
Day 37- Mrs. F
I got a good amount of sleep last night, so Im hoping for a repeat tonite! Overall feeling okay. My left leg calf, from behind the knee, down into the leg is tight and a bit sore. Im not sure if thats strain or just the muscle working itself out.
I am going to try to do more stretching tonight.
Its raining again today and cold. It makes me really glad to not be running this morning. The cold is a challenge onto itself without adding rain to the mix!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
I am going to try to do more stretching tonight.
Its raining again today and cold. It makes me really glad to not be running this morning. The cold is a challenge onto itself without adding rain to the mix!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Monday, October 5, 2009
Day 36 (week 6, day 1) - Mrs. F
I thought today would be easy after managing the 20 minute run. Boy was I wrong! Today was absolutely miserable. I only managed to keep going out of sheer determination. It was cold (40 degrees) and I just couldnt find my stride. It wasnt until the 3rd set that I found a minute of my stride and then it went back to the slow pitiful run I did today.
I remember waking up this morning and thinking bout pushing todays workout off til Tuesday. It was the thought of having to run on Saturday morning that got me out of bed! I much prefer the MWF option.
I hope that my body learns to adjust to running in the cold. I dont have a lot of other feasible options rather than running with the weather. My chest hurt again today, although not as burning as the first few weeks. My muscles were sore this morning after the workout. I almost felt like I was back at week 3 again!! It certainely wasnt the high I felt after Friday's workout.
My body acted like it just wanted to stop and walk. It was hard!! I wonder about Wednesday, whether the longer 10 minutes stretch will help keep us moving better. And I'm once again frightened of the 25 minute Friday run. Good thing Im very stubborn!
keep on running,
Mrs. F
I remember waking up this morning and thinking bout pushing todays workout off til Tuesday. It was the thought of having to run on Saturday morning that got me out of bed! I much prefer the MWF option.
I hope that my body learns to adjust to running in the cold. I dont have a lot of other feasible options rather than running with the weather. My chest hurt again today, although not as burning as the first few weeks. My muscles were sore this morning after the workout. I almost felt like I was back at week 3 again!! It certainely wasnt the high I felt after Friday's workout.
My body acted like it just wanted to stop and walk. It was hard!! I wonder about Wednesday, whether the longer 10 minutes stretch will help keep us moving better. And I'm once again frightened of the 25 minute Friday run. Good thing Im very stubborn!
keep on running,
Mrs. F
Day 36 (week 6, day 1)
After making it through Friday, I thought this morning would be fairly easy (aside from knee pain, which is an issue unto itself). I was wrong. I don't know if it was yesterday's family turmoil, getting to bed late, or the 40°F reading that made it so hard this morning. In reality, it was likely a combination of the three.
My knee brace did not work out as well as I had hoped. It kept working down from the top and bunching up at the knee. It might have provided some support, but definately not that for which I was hoping. In reality, the knee only bothered me during the walking segments, but once it was agitated, it affected my run. I really need to figure out what's going on with it.
Between my legs feeling fatigued, almost from the start of the session, and the pain in my knee, it was a miserable workout this morning. I got through it, but I wanted to quit on more than one occasion. In fact, that was probably my prevalent train of thought, "I just want to give up."
Thankfully, I made it through, though it was really tough today. It wasn't my breathing. It was just my legs and feeling fatigued.
While out picking up that knee brace yesterday, we ran into some friends. I'm amazed by how you can know someone for a while and still learn more things about them. As it turns out, he's a veteran of four marathons. He was excited to learn about our secret plan. We talked a bit about how hard it was for us during the first few weeks, and how there are still some days where we feel like quitting. He mentioned that, should we ever feel fatigued, we should just consider stopping and trying again later in the day or later in the week. While I appreciated what he was trying to convey, I let him know that doing that was not an option for me because, once I stop doing something, I find it very hard to ever start doing it again. For me, missing one day would jeopardize ending the whole effort.
Yet today I seriously considered it. During the warm-up walk and the first run, I was so uncomfortable that I wondered about trying it again later in the day, when it would be warmer, and brighter, and when I would be more ready. I know myself, however, so I know that "later today" would become "tomorrow," and that "tomorrow" would become "we'll try again next week." At that point, "next week" might as well be "next year."
It's on days like today I just wish I could wake up thin, or at least with a 50lb. head start on my weight loss. I've always been big, and I've most always hated it. So many people assume that people are fat because they are lazy. When I reached my peak, I tried exercising to lose weight, but at that time even walking was painful for more than short distances. Everyone says "exercise," but that's hard to do when you have no energy and no endurance. This Couch to 5k program has been great in that is has allowed me a way to step into things, but given as had as it was during the first week, I'm pretty sure there are many out there who would have trouble completing Week 1. I'm not going to fault them, or point fingers at them. I've been there.
I'm hoping my knee settles down. I can't imagine continuing on it during the rest of the week if it continues to feel the way it does now. Yet I know I need to continue--I cannot give up. Giving up would negate everything I've gained (and lost!) thus far. I don't want to go back to being that way. I want to keep moving forward. Why must it all be so hard?
My knee brace did not work out as well as I had hoped. It kept working down from the top and bunching up at the knee. It might have provided some support, but definately not that for which I was hoping. In reality, the knee only bothered me during the walking segments, but once it was agitated, it affected my run. I really need to figure out what's going on with it.
Between my legs feeling fatigued, almost from the start of the session, and the pain in my knee, it was a miserable workout this morning. I got through it, but I wanted to quit on more than one occasion. In fact, that was probably my prevalent train of thought, "I just want to give up."
Thankfully, I made it through, though it was really tough today. It wasn't my breathing. It was just my legs and feeling fatigued.
While out picking up that knee brace yesterday, we ran into some friends. I'm amazed by how you can know someone for a while and still learn more things about them. As it turns out, he's a veteran of four marathons. He was excited to learn about our secret plan. We talked a bit about how hard it was for us during the first few weeks, and how there are still some days where we feel like quitting. He mentioned that, should we ever feel fatigued, we should just consider stopping and trying again later in the day or later in the week. While I appreciated what he was trying to convey, I let him know that doing that was not an option for me because, once I stop doing something, I find it very hard to ever start doing it again. For me, missing one day would jeopardize ending the whole effort.
Yet today I seriously considered it. During the warm-up walk and the first run, I was so uncomfortable that I wondered about trying it again later in the day, when it would be warmer, and brighter, and when I would be more ready. I know myself, however, so I know that "later today" would become "tomorrow," and that "tomorrow" would become "we'll try again next week." At that point, "next week" might as well be "next year."
It's on days like today I just wish I could wake up thin, or at least with a 50lb. head start on my weight loss. I've always been big, and I've most always hated it. So many people assume that people are fat because they are lazy. When I reached my peak, I tried exercising to lose weight, but at that time even walking was painful for more than short distances. Everyone says "exercise," but that's hard to do when you have no energy and no endurance. This Couch to 5k program has been great in that is has allowed me a way to step into things, but given as had as it was during the first week, I'm pretty sure there are many out there who would have trouble completing Week 1. I'm not going to fault them, or point fingers at them. I've been there.
I'm hoping my knee settles down. I can't imagine continuing on it during the rest of the week if it continues to feel the way it does now. Yet I know I need to continue--I cannot give up. Giving up would negate everything I've gained (and lost!) thus far. I don't want to go back to being that way. I want to keep moving forward. Why must it all be so hard?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Day 35
I'm getting this post out late. It was a long day. Mrs. F and I ran into a larger town today to find a knee support I could wear. I've had it on throughout the evening, and it seems to help some. We had a minor family crisis tonight with our teens that simply drained us physically and emotionally. I'm not sure I'm ready for the morning, since my knee is still somewhat sore, even with the brace.
Here's the plan for the week:
Monday
Wednesday
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
Friday
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 25 minutes with no walking
Here's the plan for the week:
Monday
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
- Jog 5 minutes
- Walk 3 minutes
- Jog 8 minutes
- Walk 3 minutes
- Jog 5 minutes
Wednesday
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
- Jog 10 minutes
- Walk 3 minutes
- Jog 10 minutes
Friday
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 25 minutes with no walking
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Day 34
I still am riding the high from yesterdays run! I feel great. I looked outside today and lamented that it was rainy and cold. I had thought of going for a run. It sounds absolutely crazy to me that I even am thinking such a thought.
My muscles and legs feel great. I am much looking forward to mondays workout. I looked at it -- it seems strange to go back to the intervals after the 20 minute run. The intervals take us back to 5 minutes jogging, 3 minutes walking, 8 minutes jogging, 3 minutes walking and 5 minutes jogging. It seems like a piece of cake after Fridays run. I wonder though if it will be harder than I anticipate. Only time will tell.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
My muscles and legs feel great. I am much looking forward to mondays workout. I looked at it -- it seems strange to go back to the intervals after the 20 minute run. The intervals take us back to 5 minutes jogging, 3 minutes walking, 8 minutes jogging, 3 minutes walking and 5 minutes jogging. It seems like a piece of cake after Fridays run. I wonder though if it will be harder than I anticipate. Only time will tell.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 34 - injury update
When I saw the doctor last evening, we discussed my progress so far, and had a look at my left knee. My doctor was very excited to see the level of weight loss I experienced this past month, and was also pleased with my blood sugar levels. In fact, she reduced the dosage of one of the medications to reduce the risk of my getting hypoglycemic. That's fantastic news.
As to the knee, I described what I was feeling and pointed out the painful location. It turns out that my self-assessment of the cause was right on: it has to do with my leg trying to rotate out as I run. She prescribed an elastic bandage (or a pull-on brace) for used during my runs. I'm also to rest it and ice it this weekend. It should clear up as my leg muscles strengthen. It definately became much more sore--even painful--later in the day.
I'm still riding fairly high from having completed the third workout of Week 5. I surprised myself.
We have no specific plans for this weekend, though I likely need to take some of the boys out for some door-to-door fundraising (I'll stay in the car). We got all of our shopping done earlier in the week, so that eliminated one major chore to which we usually attend on the weekend.
Somehow I beat most of the kids up this morning, so I'm going to enjoy the quiet.
As to the knee, I described what I was feeling and pointed out the painful location. It turns out that my self-assessment of the cause was right on: it has to do with my leg trying to rotate out as I run. She prescribed an elastic bandage (or a pull-on brace) for used during my runs. I'm also to rest it and ice it this weekend. It should clear up as my leg muscles strengthen. It definately became much more sore--even painful--later in the day.
I'm still riding fairly high from having completed the third workout of Week 5. I surprised myself.
We have no specific plans for this weekend, though I likely need to take some of the boys out for some door-to-door fundraising (I'll stay in the car). We got all of our shopping done earlier in the week, so that eliminated one major chore to which we usually attend on the weekend.
Somehow I beat most of the kids up this morning, so I'm going to enjoy the quiet.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Friday weight check (week 5)
FatManRunning
Mrs. F
- Last Friday: 287.9
- Today: 288.5
- Gain/Loss: +0.6
- Goal: 210.0 lbs.
- Pounds to lose: 78.5
Mrs. F
- Last Friday: 178.9
- Today: 177.9
- Gain/Loss: -1.0
- Goal: 150.00
- Pounds to lose: 27.9
Day 33 ( week 5, day 5) - Mrs. F
I did it! I really really did it! I wasnt really sure I could and I found the strength to do it. Although the earlier wakeup time wasnt fun, it wasnt all that bad either. Im thankful though that Mr. F drove, I was tired!
My anticipation of this workout was great -- I really was looking forward to seeing what I could do. I did a few stretches and then we began our warmup walk. Mr. F was off to a brisk pace right away. I did my best to keep pace with him. After about 5 laps on the track, it was time to run!
I took the beginning laps at a slow pace knowing full well I had lots of running ahead of me. I began pulling ahead of Mr. F after about 6 laps. I felt really good. I soon realized that I was doing about a lap a minute. This particular track was small, so it was 14 laps to a mile. That was encouraging to me, I quickly figured out this set then would take me around 20 laps. I really concentrated on counting the laps and not tripping over the cord on the track that was left there(as well as a table and two chairs).
I was very pleased to note that when Mr. F called out 10 minutes, I had no need to take a walking break. It felt really good and Im thinking, halfway done! I figured out by this point, that I was not going to make 2 miles running in 20 minutes. So I concentrated on getting to 21 laps which was a mile and half.
It was helpful to get the minute timings called out by Mr. F. When he called the last two minutes, I booked it a little faster as i had 3 laps to go to get to my goal. I did lap Mr. F twice since i was going at a different pace then he was. When Mr. F called time, I was halfway thru lap 21. I finished it up, since I really wanted to get the mile and half distance.
I was breathing heavy by end of the 20 minutes but my chest didnt burn. My endurance really has increased! My legs and feet felt good as well. I still cannot believe I ran for 20 minutes and not only lived but enjoyed it as well! I am so looking forward to being able to surprise our kids by running a 5k!!!
Keep on Running
Mrs. F
Ps check back later for our weight checks!
My anticipation of this workout was great -- I really was looking forward to seeing what I could do. I did a few stretches and then we began our warmup walk. Mr. F was off to a brisk pace right away. I did my best to keep pace with him. After about 5 laps on the track, it was time to run!
I took the beginning laps at a slow pace knowing full well I had lots of running ahead of me. I began pulling ahead of Mr. F after about 6 laps. I felt really good. I soon realized that I was doing about a lap a minute. This particular track was small, so it was 14 laps to a mile. That was encouraging to me, I quickly figured out this set then would take me around 20 laps. I really concentrated on counting the laps and not tripping over the cord on the track that was left there(as well as a table and two chairs).
I was very pleased to note that when Mr. F called out 10 minutes, I had no need to take a walking break. It felt really good and Im thinking, halfway done! I figured out by this point, that I was not going to make 2 miles running in 20 minutes. So I concentrated on getting to 21 laps which was a mile and half.
It was helpful to get the minute timings called out by Mr. F. When he called the last two minutes, I booked it a little faster as i had 3 laps to go to get to my goal. I did lap Mr. F twice since i was going at a different pace then he was. When Mr. F called time, I was halfway thru lap 21. I finished it up, since I really wanted to get the mile and half distance.
I was breathing heavy by end of the 20 minutes but my chest didnt burn. My endurance really has increased! My legs and feet felt good as well. I still cannot believe I ran for 20 minutes and not only lived but enjoyed it as well! I am so looking forward to being able to surprise our kids by running a 5k!!!
Keep on Running
Mrs. F
Ps check back later for our weight checks!
Day 33 (week 5, day 5) - the 20 minute run
We just returned from this morning's session. We both survived.
It rained through the night as expected. Anticipating this, we set our alarm for 4:30 AM (yech!) and got moving. It wasn't raining when we got into the car, but that was okay--we figured the trail would be a mud pit this morning. We drove 30 minutes to a college a few towns over. I'm in a degree program there, so my student ID gave us access to the building and the walking track. The track itself is just a concrete balcony above the gymnasium, with a layer of the utility carpeting often seen in churches and other comercial structures. If there was any padding at all, it was minimal.
My left knee was sore when I went to bed last night. I took some Ibuprofen before bedding down, and I wrapped the knee in an elastic bandage. Wrapping it did have it feeling pretty good through the night, but I could tell it was still sore when I got up and got moving.
The drive to the college passed fairly quickly. I used to commute to a nearby city, and it reminded me that I was glad that the commute was no longer part of my routine.
Thankfully, we had no problems entering the building. The track area was dark, illuminated only by lights from the hall and the windowed cafeteria that spilled light into the gymnasium. There was enough light to see an extension cord, a table, and a couple of chairs that were on one side--likely used for filming or monitoring various games in the gym.
It was a fairly small track area, with fourteen laps totalling one mile. We did some stretching, and then began our warm-up walk. It's been a very long time since we've used an indoor track. Having enjoyed a trail, however, I don't understand how people can stomach using a track every day. At least with a treadmill, you can watch television, but I guess not everyone cares much about the scenery.
When our warmup walk finished, I paused the podcast for a moment. I realized I had not removed the warm-up pants I wore on the drive over. I took them off and thought a moment about the seeming absurdity of what I was about to attempt. I'm a nearly-300 lb. guy and I'm going to try running for 20 minutes? What was I thinking?
Okay, so, perhaps I could get through 10 minutes. After all, that would be two minutes longer than our previous workout. I started running. My knee was pretty sore now, and I found myself concentrating on my stride so much that it wasn't easy to count my laps. The desire to quit came early today, around the second lap. My calves were already sore, my knee hurt, and I could feel how much harder my landings were on the track versus the trail. As has come to be my habit, however, I continued on. I wasn't joking when I told Mrs. F that I planned to run this session or die trying.
The five minute mark came and went. I asked Mrs. F is she wanted me to announce those times, and she did. So, I set about announcing each transition on the podcast, and relating it to our time (if not already made clear for us in the podcase). The eight minute mark came and went.
I was surprised by the ten-minute annoucement, the half-way point for today's run. It meant that I already had surpassed my previous runs by two minutes, and my body was not in shut down mode. Don't get me wrong: my legs were still paining me and I could feel myself slowing down, but my breathing was not hard and I sensed I had some endurance still in me. Mrs F and I were even through the first six or so laps, but from there on out she pulled ahead.
Even though I knew my breathing and body in general had the wherewithall to make it through the session, my legs were a different story. I tried a slower, longer stride; I tried a faster, shorter stride. Each of the changes brought temporary relief, but the discomfort persisted.
Mrs. F lapped me on about my 9th lap, and again on my 17th. The thirteen minute mark came and went. There was another one at the sixteenth minute--only four minutes left. I don't remember if there was another announcement before the end. I had no energy to sprint. I had asked Mrs. F what lap she was on. She was trying to reach 21 before the end. She was ahead by two laps, so I knew where I was. When time was called, I was just finishing my 18th lap. Mrs. Fhad just started on was halfway through her 21st, so she ran the rest of the way through it. I covered 1-2/7 miles (just over 2k) in 20 minutes. Mrs. F had completed 1.5 miles (just over 2.4k) in slightly over 20 minutes.
We took one cool down lap together at a walk, then walked to find the financial aid office so I could drop off some paperwork for the current turn (there's nothing like killing two birds with one stone).
Although I'm disappointed I was not able to cover more distance, the significance of my accomplishement did not settle in for me until we were in the middle of our drive home. "I just ran for 20 minutes straight," I exclaimed! Just five weeks ago, I could sprint a block or two if I had to, but I would have been in pain and desperate for breath for a long time after that. I remember how hard the first weeks were, and I remember how often I just wanted to quit. I know I'm only half-way through this program, but I've come so far! I'm a fat man! My highest weight was 348 lbs., and I started this program after years of yo-yoing below 300 lbs and back up to it. I was 302 lbs. on August 28. Last Friday, I was 287 lbs.--lower than I've been in a long time. What was I thinking when I agreed to try running? Wouldn't water aerobics have been a better choice? Yet, here I am, five weeks into this program, and I ran for 20 minutes! Sure, I'm not the fastest train on the tracks, but I was hauling freight! As I'm writing this, my emotions are overflowing.
I don't know what next week will bring. Having made it this far, I can't help but imagine that I'll be able to finish the whole thing. I do plan to book an appointment with a sports medecine doctor at the clinic, however. I figure that I should get this knee looked at before I do something that will really damage it. I'll ask my doctor about that this afternoon.
Because that appointent will be late today, our weight checks won't be posted until this evening. We did it. We really did it. We got through the final workout of Week 5.
It rained through the night as expected. Anticipating this, we set our alarm for 4:30 AM (yech!) and got moving. It wasn't raining when we got into the car, but that was okay--we figured the trail would be a mud pit this morning. We drove 30 minutes to a college a few towns over. I'm in a degree program there, so my student ID gave us access to the building and the walking track. The track itself is just a concrete balcony above the gymnasium, with a layer of the utility carpeting often seen in churches and other comercial structures. If there was any padding at all, it was minimal.
My left knee was sore when I went to bed last night. I took some Ibuprofen before bedding down, and I wrapped the knee in an elastic bandage. Wrapping it did have it feeling pretty good through the night, but I could tell it was still sore when I got up and got moving.
The drive to the college passed fairly quickly. I used to commute to a nearby city, and it reminded me that I was glad that the commute was no longer part of my routine.
Thankfully, we had no problems entering the building. The track area was dark, illuminated only by lights from the hall and the windowed cafeteria that spilled light into the gymnasium. There was enough light to see an extension cord, a table, and a couple of chairs that were on one side--likely used for filming or monitoring various games in the gym.
It was a fairly small track area, with fourteen laps totalling one mile. We did some stretching, and then began our warm-up walk. It's been a very long time since we've used an indoor track. Having enjoyed a trail, however, I don't understand how people can stomach using a track every day. At least with a treadmill, you can watch television, but I guess not everyone cares much about the scenery.
When our warmup walk finished, I paused the podcast for a moment. I realized I had not removed the warm-up pants I wore on the drive over. I took them off and thought a moment about the seeming absurdity of what I was about to attempt. I'm a nearly-300 lb. guy and I'm going to try running for 20 minutes? What was I thinking?
Okay, so, perhaps I could get through 10 minutes. After all, that would be two minutes longer than our previous workout. I started running. My knee was pretty sore now, and I found myself concentrating on my stride so much that it wasn't easy to count my laps. The desire to quit came early today, around the second lap. My calves were already sore, my knee hurt, and I could feel how much harder my landings were on the track versus the trail. As has come to be my habit, however, I continued on. I wasn't joking when I told Mrs. F that I planned to run this session or die trying.
The five minute mark came and went. I asked Mrs. F is she wanted me to announce those times, and she did. So, I set about announcing each transition on the podcast, and relating it to our time (if not already made clear for us in the podcase). The eight minute mark came and went.
I was surprised by the ten-minute annoucement, the half-way point for today's run. It meant that I already had surpassed my previous runs by two minutes, and my body was not in shut down mode. Don't get me wrong: my legs were still paining me and I could feel myself slowing down, but my breathing was not hard and I sensed I had some endurance still in me. Mrs F and I were even through the first six or so laps, but from there on out she pulled ahead.
Even though I knew my breathing and body in general had the wherewithall to make it through the session, my legs were a different story. I tried a slower, longer stride; I tried a faster, shorter stride. Each of the changes brought temporary relief, but the discomfort persisted.
Mrs. F lapped me on about my 9th lap, and again on my 17th. The thirteen minute mark came and went. There was another one at the sixteenth minute--only four minutes left. I don't remember if there was another announcement before the end. I had no energy to sprint. I had asked Mrs. F what lap she was on. She was trying to reach 21 before the end. She was ahead by two laps, so I knew where I was. When time was called, I was just finishing my 18th lap. Mrs. F
We took one cool down lap together at a walk, then walked to find the financial aid office so I could drop off some paperwork for the current turn (there's nothing like killing two birds with one stone).
Although I'm disappointed I was not able to cover more distance, the significance of my accomplishement did not settle in for me until we were in the middle of our drive home. "I just ran for 20 minutes straight," I exclaimed! Just five weeks ago, I could sprint a block or two if I had to, but I would have been in pain and desperate for breath for a long time after that. I remember how hard the first weeks were, and I remember how often I just wanted to quit. I know I'm only half-way through this program, but I've come so far! I'm a fat man! My highest weight was 348 lbs., and I started this program after years of yo-yoing below 300 lbs and back up to it. I was 302 lbs. on August 28. Last Friday, I was 287 lbs.--lower than I've been in a long time. What was I thinking when I agreed to try running? Wouldn't water aerobics have been a better choice? Yet, here I am, five weeks into this program, and I ran for 20 minutes! Sure, I'm not the fastest train on the tracks, but I was hauling freight! As I'm writing this, my emotions are overflowing.
I don't know what next week will bring. Having made it this far, I can't help but imagine that I'll be able to finish the whole thing. I do plan to book an appointment with a sports medecine doctor at the clinic, however. I figure that I should get this knee looked at before I do something that will really damage it. I'll ask my doctor about that this afternoon.
Because that appointent will be late today, our weight checks won't be posted until this evening. We did it. We really did it. We got through the final workout of Week 5.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Friday's forecast
Well, I'm not looking forward to our run tomorrow morning. The forecast calls for a low of 42°F and a high of 52°F, and there will be rain.
The rain started this morning, a cold, mild rain that is desperately needed in our area (where we've had draught conditions most of this year). Showers are expected to turn to heavy downpours this afternoon, and the rain is expected to continue through the night, all day Friday, and into the day on Satruday as well.
Mrs. F and I are trail runners. We have no access to a gym in our town, and we do not own a treadmill. The trail bed is some sort of crushed aggregate material. From the color left and some of the particles left on my shoes, I'm guessing it is a mixutre of sand, gravel, and clay. With 24 hours of rain preceding our next run, I'm afraid that the trail will be a mud pit in places. While I'm not looking forward to soiling my shoes, that's the least of my concerns.
My good old Boy Scout training made me very aware of the dangers of hypothermia (a dangerous drop of the body's core temperature). If it were just cold, we could layer, but with the combination of the rain and the cold temperatures, the risk will be very real. We could, conceivably, run in our rain suits, but my experience hiking in them tell me that they'd just cause us to sweat and feal hot after the first few moments.
We could run without any rain gear. I don't know enough about the science of heat loss to know if our bodies would lose heat more rapidly than we'd generate it by running, but I do know that we would cool down rapidly during the cool-down walk at the end. If the forecast for Saturday were not also calling for rain, I would suggest putting it off for a day.
Running along a road would be one option to avoid mud and muck, but I figure that running on pavement would be even harder on our feet and knees, so I think we'll pass on that option.
Does anyone have any suggestions? There's a college about 30 minutes from us that has an indoor track. I just don't know if we can fit in the extra hour of driving that would be required to get us there and back.
The rain started this morning, a cold, mild rain that is desperately needed in our area (where we've had draught conditions most of this year). Showers are expected to turn to heavy downpours this afternoon, and the rain is expected to continue through the night, all day Friday, and into the day on Satruday as well.
Mrs. F and I are trail runners. We have no access to a gym in our town, and we do not own a treadmill. The trail bed is some sort of crushed aggregate material. From the color left and some of the particles left on my shoes, I'm guessing it is a mixutre of sand, gravel, and clay. With 24 hours of rain preceding our next run, I'm afraid that the trail will be a mud pit in places. While I'm not looking forward to soiling my shoes, that's the least of my concerns.
My good old Boy Scout training made me very aware of the dangers of hypothermia (a dangerous drop of the body's core temperature). If it were just cold, we could layer, but with the combination of the rain and the cold temperatures, the risk will be very real. We could, conceivably, run in our rain suits, but my experience hiking in them tell me that they'd just cause us to sweat and feal hot after the first few moments.
We could run without any rain gear. I don't know enough about the science of heat loss to know if our bodies would lose heat more rapidly than we'd generate it by running, but I do know that we would cool down rapidly during the cool-down walk at the end. If the forecast for Saturday were not also calling for rain, I would suggest putting it off for a day.
Running along a road would be one option to avoid mud and muck, but I figure that running on pavement would be even harder on our feet and knees, so I think we'll pass on that option.
Does anyone have any suggestions? There's a college about 30 minutes from us that has an indoor track. I just don't know if we can fit in the extra hour of driving that would be required to get us there and back.
Day 32 - Mrs. F
Its very rainy and cold out today which makes me very glad to have this be a rest day! Unfortunely the weather is predicting rain tommorrow too! Im so hoping it will be a break in the weather pattern around the time we have to run.
My body feels great, no pain or pulled muscles. I am very excited bout that. It certainely makes it more challenging when somthing hurts. My leg/knee area feels fantastic. I only took ibuprofen at lunch yesterday and didnt even have to do any icing. Its perfectly fine today. Time will tell what tommorrows 20 minute challenge will bring.
I decided my primary goal is to run 10 minutes straight and if at that point, Im at the end of me, then allow 2 minutes of walking, then runnign again. Im hoping that as I have proved to myself in the past, my body is more capable of doing this than I think and Im able to run the whole 20 minutes. It just seems like such a big jump from running 8 minutes straight to 20 minutes straight. I realize on wednesday we did do 16 minutes of running, so Im telling myself that I should be able to do at least 18 minutes of running if I have to walk the two! Im not giving up, I just want to allow myself the grace if I need it!!!
Mr. F on the other hand is more dramatic, he said and i quote, " Im going to run the 20 minutes or die trying!" LOL, and if hes running, Im sure not stopping! Thats the benefit of running together, when one wants to quit, the other is usually there encouraging.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
My body feels great, no pain or pulled muscles. I am very excited bout that. It certainely makes it more challenging when somthing hurts. My leg/knee area feels fantastic. I only took ibuprofen at lunch yesterday and didnt even have to do any icing. Its perfectly fine today. Time will tell what tommorrows 20 minute challenge will bring.
I decided my primary goal is to run 10 minutes straight and if at that point, Im at the end of me, then allow 2 minutes of walking, then runnign again. Im hoping that as I have proved to myself in the past, my body is more capable of doing this than I think and Im able to run the whole 20 minutes. It just seems like such a big jump from running 8 minutes straight to 20 minutes straight. I realize on wednesday we did do 16 minutes of running, so Im telling myself that I should be able to do at least 18 minutes of running if I have to walk the two! Im not giving up, I just want to allow myself the grace if I need it!!!
Mr. F on the other hand is more dramatic, he said and i quote, " Im going to run the 20 minutes or die trying!" LOL, and if hes running, Im sure not stopping! Thats the benefit of running together, when one wants to quit, the other is usually there encouraging.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Day 31 (late)
Well, here it is at almost 11:30 PM. We needed to run in to a bigger town to get some shopping done tonight as we were out of just about everything (it was payday today). It took a long time today, because we were checking out a different grocery store and trying to stretch every penny. At least, now, we won't need to run out over the weekend.
My legs were a bit sore while walking about, but that's my only nagging complaint from today's run. I'll ask my doctor about the pain on Friday, when I go in for a checkup. Sugar levels have been good, even a bit low. We have a big, old-fashioned scale at my workplace, and I snuck on to it earlier, just to see how it read (since I know what I weighed last Friday). If it's needle pointed true, I'm looking at another good drop of weight this week. That's still two days from now, so I'll try not to count my chickens before they hatch.
I'll likely not check my weight midday this week, since I will be in for an appointment later in the afternoon. If I can survive the Friday workout, I'll be looking forward to my weight check.
My legs were a bit sore while walking about, but that's my only nagging complaint from today's run. I'll ask my doctor about the pain on Friday, when I go in for a checkup. Sugar levels have been good, even a bit low. We have a big, old-fashioned scale at my workplace, and I snuck on to it earlier, just to see how it read (since I know what I weighed last Friday). If it's needle pointed true, I'm looking at another good drop of weight this week. That's still two days from now, so I'll try not to count my chickens before they hatch.
I'll likely not check my weight midday this week, since I will be in for an appointment later in the afternoon. If I can survive the Friday workout, I'll be looking forward to my weight check.
Day 31 (week 5, Day 3) - Mrs. F
It was cold this morning. Just for the record, it was really cold this morning! My current workout attire is a pair of capri length yoga pants and then a wicking long sleeve shirt, a 3/4 quarter sleeve cotton shirt and then a cotton tshirt over that. I add in a fleece hat and cotton jersey gloves.
It was pretty chilly during the warm up walk but I knew that the running would soon warm me. It was sorta weird to want to run just to get warm , lol! My upper body and head were plenty warm enough but even with the running, my legs were cold. I will need to investigate long running pants soon!!
I took the first set slow, knowing full well that I had plenty of running ahead of me. So I kept pace with Mr. F most of that set. It felt long, even though I realize 8 minutes really isnt that long. Mr F is the one who carries his MP3 player and the podcast, so I have no good way to tell how far I am, other than his periodic announcements that he calls out. I wondered could I keep going at the end of this 8 minute set-- my thoughts drifting towards Fridays challenge of 20 minute running. I dont know but today felt good.
My leg/knee area felt fantastic this morning, so I was really looking forward to seeing how the run would go. I had a little tightness in the right calf muscle but that went away after I began running. My leg/knee area did hurt some after we were done but not enough that I was worried bout injuring it further. It seems to be getting better very slowly. Since it didnt hurt at all to start with, I'm not concerned much with it right now.
The 2nd set felt really really good. I found myself with the urge to go faster, so I did. I did feel bad for leaving Mr. F behind though. It just felt good to run! Then I thought I heard him call time, when in reality he was just calling the last minute mark. So I stopped and then figured out he was still moving and my mind figured out ohh we're not done yet. That was much harder, after stopping, to get moving quickly again. So I ran that last bit much slower than my previous pace of the set. And I heard a runner coming quickly -- I really thought it was the runner we encounter on the trail every morning because he was going so fast. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out it was my husband, Mr. F!!!!! He was booking it.
So all in all a very good workout day! Im still plenty nervous bout friday. Im hoping I can go further than I think I can. But Im also preparing myself mentally that if I need to walk, Im going to. As long as I start running again, after the walk, Ill be pleased. I am though determined to make it as far as I can!!! After Mr. F was having much trouble with his legs this morning, i mentioned perhaps repeating today on Friday instead. So far though, we are still leaning toward doing as written!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
It was pretty chilly during the warm up walk but I knew that the running would soon warm me. It was sorta weird to want to run just to get warm , lol! My upper body and head were plenty warm enough but even with the running, my legs were cold. I will need to investigate long running pants soon!!
I took the first set slow, knowing full well that I had plenty of running ahead of me. So I kept pace with Mr. F most of that set. It felt long, even though I realize 8 minutes really isnt that long. Mr F is the one who carries his MP3 player and the podcast, so I have no good way to tell how far I am, other than his periodic announcements that he calls out. I wondered could I keep going at the end of this 8 minute set-- my thoughts drifting towards Fridays challenge of 20 minute running. I dont know but today felt good.
My leg/knee area felt fantastic this morning, so I was really looking forward to seeing how the run would go. I had a little tightness in the right calf muscle but that went away after I began running. My leg/knee area did hurt some after we were done but not enough that I was worried bout injuring it further. It seems to be getting better very slowly. Since it didnt hurt at all to start with, I'm not concerned much with it right now.
The 2nd set felt really really good. I found myself with the urge to go faster, so I did. I did feel bad for leaving Mr. F behind though. It just felt good to run! Then I thought I heard him call time, when in reality he was just calling the last minute mark. So I stopped and then figured out he was still moving and my mind figured out ohh we're not done yet. That was much harder, after stopping, to get moving quickly again. So I ran that last bit much slower than my previous pace of the set. And I heard a runner coming quickly -- I really thought it was the runner we encounter on the trail every morning because he was going so fast. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out it was my husband, Mr. F!!!!! He was booking it.
So all in all a very good workout day! Im still plenty nervous bout friday. Im hoping I can go further than I think I can. But Im also preparing myself mentally that if I need to walk, Im going to. As long as I start running again, after the walk, Ill be pleased. I am though determined to make it as far as I can!!! After Mr. F was having much trouble with his legs this morning, i mentioned perhaps repeating today on Friday instead. So far though, we are still leaning toward doing as written!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 31 (week 5, day 3) - Workout 2
Well, we did it. We completed the second session of Week 5: two eight minute runs separated by a five minute walk.
This was, perhaps, one of the hardest days for me. My breath control and overall endurance have improved significantly since we started, but they were not the area of challenge today. It was my legs. I still struggled a bit with my left leg and knee, particular in the second run, but my right calf was the real stinker today (though both were sore by the end). I could tell it was a bit tight even during our warm-up walk, but it was really tight at the end of the first run.
That first run, otherwise, was not too bad. It surely felt long, but I noticed that my body had found its own breathing rhythm, and I was not desperate for breath. It was warmer than we expected, 39° F (we had expected frost), and there was little wind--a nice change from earlier this week. I found a pair of warm-up pants in one of my drawer, something I had on-hand for a back country trip a few years ago. I wasn't sure how they would fit me today. They were a bit long, back then, and I had to wear them tucked into my socks. Today, I was surprised to find that they fit quite well for length. You see, before, I had been wearing them below my belly, on my hips. Today, I was wearing them properly and they fit quite well. I did have to make one adjustment--I had to tighten the drawstring! I also had a nylon windbreaker overshirt. I was quite comfortable today, but Mrs. F was quite cold.
I knew the point on the trail where we finished our five minute runs, so that was, perhaps, the toughest part of the first one. I knew we had about three minutes yet to go (as was confirmed by the podcast), and when the run finished, we were almost out of trail. We started our walk and then turned around. When the next podcast announcement came, I was surprised to realize we still had three minutes of walking yet to go. I was already feeling rested (regarding my breathing) by that point, but my right calf was sore. My left knee also set about to remind me that it still had its own issues.
I could feel the desire to limp as we began the next (and final) run. I kept concentrating on my stride, and I kept the discomfort to a minimum. I may need to visit a running shop, a sports medicine practitioner, or a podiatrist, to have my stride examined. I think I may be landing more flat-footed on my left foot, while my right strikes more at the heel and rolls.
What can I say about those final eight minutes? I wanted to quit after the first 30 seconds. My calves were already sore, and now they started to burn and pain with every step. Oh, I just wanted to stop, but I couldn't face the idea of sitting down and posting that I gave up on this blog. I couldn't stomach the thought of repeating this week because I failed to complete a session. In my mind, repeating a week because I want to improve my endurance is one thing--repeating it because I gave up on myself would be another thing entirely.
So, I plodded on. I could tell that that my stride had slowed. At one point, I was convinced that my younger kids could have passed me had they been walking by. The slower I got, however, the harder it seemed. By the beginning of the second minute (by my best guess), Mrs. F was already far ahead of me. I forced myself to pick up the pace as much as I could, but I did not want to push too hard for fear of being unable to finish. I was reading a post on a discussion board yesterday, where one of the writers derided those who stop or collapse with the finish line in sight. They reasoned that such people were pitiful, to give up so close to the end, and felt that the adrenaline of seeing the finish line would give anyone the juice they needed to finish strong. My only reaction when I read that was that the writer must never have been out of shape (not out of shape as he or she conceived of it, but really out of shape--the way I experience it). My heart goes out to those who falter in those final steps, because I have an idea of how hard it must be for them.
Because the podcast for this week included announcements for all three different workouts, I knew that the announced end for one of the first day runs meant we had three minutes left. I pushed a bit more, bringing my pace closer to what it was at the beginning of the first set. My calves burned so much now that they started to feel numb. My left knee, which was giving me grief, however, seemed to improve slightly. I could not see Mrs. F ahead of me at all. I heard the announcement for the final minute, and I felt desperate not to end so far behind. I found myself doing something I would not have imagined--I sped up.
It was not the kind of accelleration I had done on the days last week, where the podcast encouraged us to push it. It was something different. It was like that one day, early in our program (during Week 1 or Week 2), where I tried to end with a full sprint because I knew that's what our son did during cross country races. Having just been to one last night, I saw my son, who usually led his teammates by a great distance, just a dozen meters ahead of two of his teammates. In the final stretch, he was trailing behind one of them, and just ahead of the other. Each of them went all-in during that last stretch, but the young man in the third position, who was trailing quite a bit, really poured it on. I saw him during that sprint, and could not help but urge him on. He wanted to get ahead of my son so much!--I saw it in his face. My son, too, was not wanting to be beaten by teammates he had led all season, so he pushed hard. He closed the gap on the one who was in the lead. The three finished the race, each one second behind the other, with my son the third of the three.
Seeing that trailing runner sprint came to my mind in that final minute, as I felt myself speeding ahead. I swung my arms far and rapidly as my pace increased. I noticed just how much my stride lengthened. I felt lighter, as if I were bounding down the trail like a deer. There she was! I could see Mrs. F's shape ahead of me. I could not tell if she was pushing it, too, but I continued to gain ground. She had been at least 50 meters ahead of me. Then 40... 30... 20. I could not believe how fast I was moving. Then 10... five... three... one... and then it ended.
I was so close. Had I another five or ten seconds, I would have overtaken her. My body, however, now obedient to the announced transitions on the podcast, shut down immediately. My legs stiffened, and that wonderful feeling of freedom and mobility that came in the sprint was replaced by pain and numbness and a desire to collapse. I was breathing harder from that final exertion. I forced myself to walk, feeling my left leg trying to lock with each step. I tried to keep the pace up, but the discomfort kept me in check. I felt like my right foot just wanted to extend fully, toes pointed out like some ballerina preparing for a pirouette, with my calf knotted in a ball. We walked to the car. I stretched, got in, and drove home.
It wasn't until we pulled into the driveway that I realized that I was already feeling much better. My legs still were as uncomfortable as they were moments before, but the rest of my body felt surprisingly good, even refreshed. It was, perhaps, the most difficult workout of my entire life, but it was also one of the most rewarding. I did, after all, complete the session. I ran for 16 minutes, with only a five minute walk in the middle. Today renewed my fears about completing this coming Friday's run--a 20 minute run with no walking--but it also proved, once again, that my body is capable of far more than I often believe it can accomplish.
Oh, and by the way, today's run puts us past the half-way point!
This was, perhaps, one of the hardest days for me. My breath control and overall endurance have improved significantly since we started, but they were not the area of challenge today. It was my legs. I still struggled a bit with my left leg and knee, particular in the second run, but my right calf was the real stinker today (though both were sore by the end). I could tell it was a bit tight even during our warm-up walk, but it was really tight at the end of the first run.
That first run, otherwise, was not too bad. It surely felt long, but I noticed that my body had found its own breathing rhythm, and I was not desperate for breath. It was warmer than we expected, 39° F (we had expected frost), and there was little wind--a nice change from earlier this week. I found a pair of warm-up pants in one of my drawer, something I had on-hand for a back country trip a few years ago. I wasn't sure how they would fit me today. They were a bit long, back then, and I had to wear them tucked into my socks. Today, I was surprised to find that they fit quite well for length. You see, before, I had been wearing them below my belly, on my hips. Today, I was wearing them properly and they fit quite well. I did have to make one adjustment--I had to tighten the drawstring! I also had a nylon windbreaker overshirt. I was quite comfortable today, but Mrs. F was quite cold.
I knew the point on the trail where we finished our five minute runs, so that was, perhaps, the toughest part of the first one. I knew we had about three minutes yet to go (as was confirmed by the podcast), and when the run finished, we were almost out of trail. We started our walk and then turned around. When the next podcast announcement came, I was surprised to realize we still had three minutes of walking yet to go. I was already feeling rested (regarding my breathing) by that point, but my right calf was sore. My left knee also set about to remind me that it still had its own issues.
I could feel the desire to limp as we began the next (and final) run. I kept concentrating on my stride, and I kept the discomfort to a minimum. I may need to visit a running shop, a sports medicine practitioner, or a podiatrist, to have my stride examined. I think I may be landing more flat-footed on my left foot, while my right strikes more at the heel and rolls.
What can I say about those final eight minutes? I wanted to quit after the first 30 seconds. My calves were already sore, and now they started to burn and pain with every step. Oh, I just wanted to stop, but I couldn't face the idea of sitting down and posting that I gave up on this blog. I couldn't stomach the thought of repeating this week because I failed to complete a session. In my mind, repeating a week because I want to improve my endurance is one thing--repeating it because I gave up on myself would be another thing entirely.
So, I plodded on. I could tell that that my stride had slowed. At one point, I was convinced that my younger kids could have passed me had they been walking by. The slower I got, however, the harder it seemed. By the beginning of the second minute (by my best guess), Mrs. F was already far ahead of me. I forced myself to pick up the pace as much as I could, but I did not want to push too hard for fear of being unable to finish. I was reading a post on a discussion board yesterday, where one of the writers derided those who stop or collapse with the finish line in sight. They reasoned that such people were pitiful, to give up so close to the end, and felt that the adrenaline of seeing the finish line would give anyone the juice they needed to finish strong. My only reaction when I read that was that the writer must never have been out of shape (not out of shape as he or she conceived of it, but really out of shape--the way I experience it). My heart goes out to those who falter in those final steps, because I have an idea of how hard it must be for them.
Because the podcast for this week included announcements for all three different workouts, I knew that the announced end for one of the first day runs meant we had three minutes left. I pushed a bit more, bringing my pace closer to what it was at the beginning of the first set. My calves burned so much now that they started to feel numb. My left knee, which was giving me grief, however, seemed to improve slightly. I could not see Mrs. F ahead of me at all. I heard the announcement for the final minute, and I felt desperate not to end so far behind. I found myself doing something I would not have imagined--I sped up.
It was not the kind of accelleration I had done on the days last week, where the podcast encouraged us to push it. It was something different. It was like that one day, early in our program (during Week 1 or Week 2), where I tried to end with a full sprint because I knew that's what our son did during cross country races. Having just been to one last night, I saw my son, who usually led his teammates by a great distance, just a dozen meters ahead of two of his teammates. In the final stretch, he was trailing behind one of them, and just ahead of the other. Each of them went all-in during that last stretch, but the young man in the third position, who was trailing quite a bit, really poured it on. I saw him during that sprint, and could not help but urge him on. He wanted to get ahead of my son so much!--I saw it in his face. My son, too, was not wanting to be beaten by teammates he had led all season, so he pushed hard. He closed the gap on the one who was in the lead. The three finished the race, each one second behind the other, with my son the third of the three.
Seeing that trailing runner sprint came to my mind in that final minute, as I felt myself speeding ahead. I swung my arms far and rapidly as my pace increased. I noticed just how much my stride lengthened. I felt lighter, as if I were bounding down the trail like a deer. There she was! I could see Mrs. F's shape ahead of me. I could not tell if she was pushing it, too, but I continued to gain ground. She had been at least 50 meters ahead of me. Then 40... 30... 20. I could not believe how fast I was moving. Then 10... five... three... one... and then it ended.
I was so close. Had I another five or ten seconds, I would have overtaken her. My body, however, now obedient to the announced transitions on the podcast, shut down immediately. My legs stiffened, and that wonderful feeling of freedom and mobility that came in the sprint was replaced by pain and numbness and a desire to collapse. I was breathing harder from that final exertion. I forced myself to walk, feeling my left leg trying to lock with each step. I tried to keep the pace up, but the discomfort kept me in check. I felt like my right foot just wanted to extend fully, toes pointed out like some ballerina preparing for a pirouette, with my calf knotted in a ball. We walked to the car. I stretched, got in, and drove home.
It wasn't until we pulled into the driveway that I realized that I was already feeling much better. My legs still were as uncomfortable as they were moments before, but the rest of my body felt surprisingly good, even refreshed. It was, perhaps, the most difficult workout of my entire life, but it was also one of the most rewarding. I did, after all, complete the session. I ran for 16 minutes, with only a five minute walk in the middle. Today renewed my fears about completing this coming Friday's run--a 20 minute run with no walking--but it also proved, once again, that my body is capable of far more than I often believe it can accomplish.
Oh, and by the way, today's run puts us past the half-way point!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Day 30 (late)
Well, my plans for a leisurely evening and early bedtime may be out the window. There are some problems at the office, and I'm the only one who has the skill set necessary to fix them. Becase of the nature of the problem, I can only work on it after hours, so I am headed in now to work on them.
The boys did well in their races, though our eldest is disappointed with his own time. He didn't rest well last night. Nothing like a little foreshadowing for my Wednesday workout, eh?
My left leg is still pretty sore. I'm wearing my running shoes in because I know I'll be doing a lot of walking.
(UPDATE: I was able to get things working again in a reasonable amount of time--under two hours. Mrs. F and I stayed up a bit to watch a short sitcom episode, and we're turning in at 9:45 PM)
The boys did well in their races, though our eldest is disappointed with his own time. He didn't rest well last night. Nothing like a little foreshadowing for my Wednesday workout, eh?
My left leg is still pretty sore. I'm wearing my running shoes in because I know I'll be doing a lot of walking.
(UPDATE: I was able to get things working again in a reasonable amount of time--under two hours. Mrs. F and I stayed up a bit to watch a short sitcom episode, and we're turning in at 9:45 PM)
Week 5, day 2
My legs feel fantastic today! I get a twinge here or there as i kneel or go down stairs but overall great! I havent had to take any ibuprofen since yesterday afternoon nor do any icing. Im estactic that it seems to be healing on its own and that i wont have to delay any trainings!!
I find myself getting excited gearing up for wednesday and Friday. I remember the beginning weeks, thinking week 5 looks really really scary! And now its here, it doesnt intimidate me nearly as much. Im still unsure if I can complete it but I sure am gonna try!!
Heading off to my sons cross country meet this afternoon!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
I find myself getting excited gearing up for wednesday and Friday. I remember the beginning weeks, thinking week 5 looks really really scary! And now its here, it doesnt intimidate me nearly as much. Im still unsure if I can complete it but I sure am gonna try!!
Heading off to my sons cross country meet this afternoon!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 30 (almost half-way there {Really!})
This is the second day of Week 5, a resting day. I got to bed late last night, but wasn't up dealing with bills or any household obligations--I was watching some TV online, and playing some online Scrabble. It was a good way to end a day for me--something relaxing amidst the stresses of life.
I went to bed late but slept in a bit, too, taking the edge off the shortened night. I dressed at a casual pace, sat down and enjoyed my breakfast, and headed in to work about 8 AM.
My left leg is still sore, but it now affects me most only when sitting or rising, and on the first step or two of a walk. I headed out the door this morning with a set of keys, planning to drive in, but biking is one habit that must be engained in me by now. I saw my bike in the driveway, with my helmet on the seat, and I turned around, went back inside, and hung the keys on the hook.
I biked in a lower gear today, both so as not to push too hard and also to keep my cadence up. My left leg muttered some protests at first, but it felt pretty good by the time I arrived. After dismounting, my first few steps were uncomfortable, but things are better than they could have been.
Mrs. F confirmed something I noticed last night--I'm a little thinner in the face. My ample double chin (a primary reason for my full beard) is receding. I still have belly fat, but I have lost much of it from the upper sides and front of my abdomen. I still cary it low on the sides and in the front, much like a full carpenter's apron, but it more clearly hangs on me now, rather than just being an indistinguishable part of my girth. She also noticed that my thighs are starting to thin--not a major change and certainly nothing someone other than my wife would notice, but I guess I had noticed it, too. Things are simply fitting better. Shirts are hanging on me again, rather than straining at the seams. When I breathe, I don't feel like I'm about to pop a button.
Don't get the wrong impression: I've not suddenly gone from fat to trim. It's just that I'm really starting to notice a difference when I see myself in the mirror in the morning. While I can't say that I yet like what I see there, I can say that I'm happy to be moving in the right direction.
I hope to be able to take a cool bath tonight, and I plan to take some Ibuprofen before I go to bed. Morning will come early, and the forecast is calling for frost. Before, I always thought runners were nuts, especially those who would run in very cold weather. Well, now I guess I can say that "it takes one to know one."
I went to bed late but slept in a bit, too, taking the edge off the shortened night. I dressed at a casual pace, sat down and enjoyed my breakfast, and headed in to work about 8 AM.
My left leg is still sore, but it now affects me most only when sitting or rising, and on the first step or two of a walk. I headed out the door this morning with a set of keys, planning to drive in, but biking is one habit that must be engained in me by now. I saw my bike in the driveway, with my helmet on the seat, and I turned around, went back inside, and hung the keys on the hook.
I biked in a lower gear today, both so as not to push too hard and also to keep my cadence up. My left leg muttered some protests at first, but it felt pretty good by the time I arrived. After dismounting, my first few steps were uncomfortable, but things are better than they could have been.
Mrs. F confirmed something I noticed last night--I'm a little thinner in the face. My ample double chin (a primary reason for my full beard) is receding. I still have belly fat, but I have lost much of it from the upper sides and front of my abdomen. I still cary it low on the sides and in the front, much like a full carpenter's apron, but it more clearly hangs on me now, rather than just being an indistinguishable part of my girth. She also noticed that my thighs are starting to thin--not a major change and certainly nothing someone other than my wife would notice, but I guess I had noticed it, too. Things are simply fitting better. Shirts are hanging on me again, rather than straining at the seams. When I breathe, I don't feel like I'm about to pop a button.
Don't get the wrong impression: I've not suddenly gone from fat to trim. It's just that I'm really starting to notice a difference when I see myself in the mirror in the morning. While I can't say that I yet like what I see there, I can say that I'm happy to be moving in the right direction.
I hope to be able to take a cool bath tonight, and I plan to take some Ibuprofen before I go to bed. Morning will come early, and the forecast is calling for frost. Before, I always thought runners were nuts, especially those who would run in very cold weather. Well, now I guess I can say that "it takes one to know one."
Monday, September 28, 2009
Day 29 (late)
Well, I'm starting to think my leg discomfort gets worse when I'm inactive. After sitting at my desk most of the day, I found my left let growing more sore and stiff throughout the day. When I got up to head home, it was particularly irksome. In fact, it was as sore and as stiff as it was at the end of our Friday session (day 26). Instead of sitting down when I got home, however (which is what I intended), I ended up helping to cook supper. Surprisingly, being on my feet for most of the past 90 minutes actually left my leg feeling pretty good. That helps explain why all of that hiking over the weekend didn't aggravate my leg as I thought it would. I guess I may need to work in some walking or other leg exercises tomorrow.
We have another cross country meet tomorrow evening. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the boys do. I'm getting to enjoy a Monday evening at home (I normally have a meeting), so I'm going to sit down and watch Heroes with the family, and plan to turn in early tonight.
We have another cross country meet tomorrow evening. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the boys do. I'm getting to enjoy a Monday evening at home (I normally have a meeting), so I'm going to sit down and watch Heroes with the family, and plan to turn in early tonight.
Week 5, Day 1 - Mrs. F
I was a little nervous today thinking bout whether my legs would cooperate. Overall I felt okay. The weather though was frigid -- 50 degree temps with 20+ hr winds -- to think its only going to get colder!! I knew that, although i was pretty chilly on the warm up walk, once I was running, I'd be warmer.
The first run felt okay, my leg/knee area was a little sore but nothing bad. Mr. F noted at some point that we were supposed to be walking more briskly during the walking sets -- oops -- guess we need to work on that. The 2nd set felt great and I just felt like running -- so I did. I did feel a bit bad for leaving Mr. F a bit behind but I did walk back to him on the walking set!
The 3rd set was good, although my knee/leg area was still sore but not super painful. Its sore and hurts some but not the sharp kind of hurt that you know you have an injury. I probably need to bite the bullet and have the doc check it out. Im loathe to do so, because Im sure the prescription will include resting and not running. If I ice it and rest on the days off, its well enough to run on the next running day. I had the same area pain on the left but not as much and that cleared up. So Im hoping it will just ease up still ... sigh ... probably not.
Im still plenty scared for the 20 minute run on Friday! I just need to keep reminding myself that I have been able to do all the sets the weeks before and that I can do this!!!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
The first run felt okay, my leg/knee area was a little sore but nothing bad. Mr. F noted at some point that we were supposed to be walking more briskly during the walking sets -- oops -- guess we need to work on that. The 2nd set felt great and I just felt like running -- so I did. I did feel a bit bad for leaving Mr. F a bit behind but I did walk back to him on the walking set!
The 3rd set was good, although my knee/leg area was still sore but not super painful. Its sore and hurts some but not the sharp kind of hurt that you know you have an injury. I probably need to bite the bullet and have the doc check it out. Im loathe to do so, because Im sure the prescription will include resting and not running. If I ice it and rest on the days off, its well enough to run on the next running day. I had the same area pain on the left but not as much and that cleared up. So Im hoping it will just ease up still ... sigh ... probably not.
Im still plenty scared for the 20 minute run on Friday! I just need to keep reminding myself that I have been able to do all the sets the weeks before and that I can do this!!!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 29 (week 5, day 1)
Well, we just got back from today's session. I'm glad to say that we both finished without any major issues. Mrs. F's legs are still troubling her just below the knee, and I still had to deal with the motion on my left leg. Still, with all done, it was a good morning.
This week's workouts are each different. Here's the plan for this week:
Week 5
Session 1 (Monday)
This week's workouts are each different. Here's the plan for this week:
Week 5
Session 1 (Monday)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
- Jog 5 minutes
- Walk 3 minutes
- Jog 5 minutes
- Walk 3 minutes
- Jog 5 minutes
Session 2 (Wednesday)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
- Jog 8 minutes
- Walk 5 minutes
- Jog 8 minutes
Session 3 (Friday)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking
On each of the three days, we are adding a five minute cool-down walk, to match the Couch to 5k podcast (and recommended best practices).
It was a brisk morning. It was about 45º F with winds in the 15-20 mph range (per the online weather station at a school in town). It felt fine when I first stepped outside, but when the first gust hit me, I went back in and grabbed my vest. Mrs. F went back in and threw on another layer. After the first week or so, I ditched my vest during the runs, because it was too hot. Today, with the wind, the vest was a welcome bit of warmth. When I finally did get hot, I ditched my fleece hat in exchange for a headband, and I unzipped the vest.
The warm-up walk was just fine--I don't think much about it anymore. The transition came about where I expected it on the trail. The first run wasn't too hard, but, I had to keep my mind on running the full five minutes. My body's clock must have sensed the three minute mark, or I must have recognized the end point on the trail from last week's runs. There was that moment where I wanted to stop, but I kept going. I was not pushing too hard, because I knew there was plenty of running ahead of me. This first part of the workout was running directly into the wind that was coming off of the lake. That made it feel even cooler than it was.
The recovery walk was certainly long enough--no problems regaining my breath. My left knee felt pretty good, though I could feel occasional twinges as I walked. Being heavy all of my adult life, I think I developed a habit of walking with my feet angled wide. While running, however, I notice that they tend to point straight ahead. I'm thinking that the discomfort I'm feeling is due to my body adjusting between those two leg positions. I definately felt it more if I tried to keep my feet pointed forward as I walked, but it was easier this week. I'm guessing that those inner-leg muscles are getting stronger and that they will eventually win the day.
At the start of the second run, I as ready for it, mentally, but my body did not want to continue. About a minute in, I found my body rejecting the thought of running any further. Then my mind came to play, and tried to tell me that we could alway repeat the whole week, or even just the day. I tried switching my thinking to something else and I found myself counting steps. I decided that the counting would make me think about how much time was left, so I did as best I could to simply stop thinking. I tried to focus only on the podcast music. If any of you know me or knew me, you'd know how hard it is for me to stop thinking. The first minute or so of the second run took us to the turnaround point on our trail. We made our turn and kept running. It seemed really, really long. By the end, Mrs. F was almost 50m ahead of me. She was so far ahead that I lost sight of her in the shadows of a wooded patch of the trail.
I was relieved when the next walk was announced. I was ready to be done for the day, but I knew we had one more set to go. I shouted out the end, and saw Mrs. F returning to my field of vision after a few seconds, seeing the white of her sleeves and her socks before anything else.
The funny thing here was the disconnect between my body and my thinking. When the next run was announced, my mind had already given up for the morning, but I found that my body kicked it in gear and began running. Both my stride and my pace were better, and I suddenly realized that everything felt pretty good. The discipline of following the Couch to 5k running plan had come to my rescue--my body acted to complete the routine because that's what we do on Mondays. It was a strange feeling for a man who often rates self-discipline as one of his weakest traits.
I can't say that the final segment was a walk in the park, but I found that I had the energy and new-found determination to finish it. When the final minute was announced, I pushed myself, hoping to close on Mrs. F who was about 10m ahead of me. She sped up as well, however, and I was only able to close the distance by a few yards before the end was announced.
That final push took some effort, so I drew some big breaths when we ended. Realizing that our recovery walks continue to be less brisk than they likely should be, we worked on keeping up our pace. Now, on the last stretch at the southeast end of the lake, we felt the full force of the wind again. Instead of making us feel chilled, however, it was a welcome friend, cooling us down was we walked back toward the dam and the parking area near the boat launch. We stopped and stretched when we reached the car, and I stood for a moment, letting the cold breeze wash past me in refreshing waves.
After a few moments, we got in the car and headed home. We made it! We finished the first workout of Week 5 without falling over dead! I can laugh at that last statement now, because I've learned that I have more endurance and ability than I ever knew. I now can run for five minutes at a shot, and do it three times over within 21 minutes. I'm sure Wednesday will be hard, with its eight minute sets, but I'm looking forward to surprising myself once again.
It's still early enough that I should be able to ride to work this morning (I skipped the bike rides during the last half of last week, in part to rest my left leg and in part because I had errands to run at different points during the day). I also managed to fit into a pair of pants that have been sitting and waiting in my closet for a couple of years. I'm a full two inches down in the waist, and I'm hoping to lose at least six more inches over the next year. It's a good start at any rate.
I ate my traditional egg sandwich today after the run. I had eaten a piece of peanut butter bread beforehand when I took some medication. I'm trying to keep my intake at or under what it was before the program started. I've lost over 13 lbs. since the start of the program, and I'm just hoping I can keep the progress going along that front (and middle and sides!).
Overall, it was a good morning session, and I'm looking forward to Wednesday. Friday intrigues me at this point, as I wonder if I really will be able to pull off that 20 minute run.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Day 28 (back from the campout)
Well, we got back into town just before noon today. I'm not quite sure how ready I will be for tomorrow. We hiked about four miles, plus incidental walking and plenty of standing. My leg was still giving me trouble at the end of the day on Friday. I was limping enough during the evening that some of the other volunteers noticed it. I got a night of rest, but it was still a bit sore in the morning.
If anything, the walking might have helped. My legs don't feel too bad today, but I am tired.
I ate well and light over the weekend, snacking on nuts throughout the day when hungry (beyond our planned meals). The second night was not as restful. It was colder, and my gear just wasn't well suited for it being that cool. I had a very interrupted sleep, and developed a migraine headache at about 5 AM. Since we were not far from town, I got dressed and drove in to pick up some Excedrin Migraine. It made for a rough morning, but I got to it before it got too bad.
I can still tell that my left leg feels a bit off, but it's not bad. I guess I will just need to be careful in the morning. I hope to get to bed early this evening, both to catch up on sleep and to rest my legs. I want to see if I'm up to the challenge in the morning.
If anything, the walking might have helped. My legs don't feel too bad today, but I am tired.
I ate well and light over the weekend, snacking on nuts throughout the day when hungry (beyond our planned meals). The second night was not as restful. It was colder, and my gear just wasn't well suited for it being that cool. I had a very interrupted sleep, and developed a migraine headache at about 5 AM. Since we were not far from town, I got dressed and drove in to pick up some Excedrin Migraine. It made for a rough morning, but I got to it before it got too bad.
I can still tell that my left leg feels a bit off, but it's not bad. I guess I will just need to be careful in the morning. I hope to get to bed early this evening, both to catch up on sleep and to rest my legs. I want to see if I'm up to the challenge in the morning.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Day 27 (Week 4, day 6)
Mr. F is off on a campout this weekend, I'm sure he will check in when he gets back tommorrow.
My knee/leg area feels okay today. I little sore here and there, so I took some preemptive ibuprofen and did some corn icing tonite. Im just hoping these couple of days of rest knocks the soreness out for good!
I havent been diligent bout stretching on the days off, so I need to work on that. I feel pretty good overall though!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
My knee/leg area feels okay today. I little sore here and there, so I took some preemptive ibuprofen and did some corn icing tonite. Im just hoping these couple of days of rest knocks the soreness out for good!
I havent been diligent bout stretching on the days off, so I need to work on that. I feel pretty good overall though!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday weight check (week 4)
FatManRunning
Last Friday: 292.1
Today: 287.9
Gain/Loss: -4.2
Goal: 210.0 lbs.
Pounds to lose: 77.9
Comment: It feels great to see that weight loss, and to feel my clothes getting baggy. Despite having a horribly difficult session this morning, this is a good bit of reinforcement to keep moving in the right direction. I did watch my portions this week, but I also allowed myself some sweet indulgences. All in all, I'm pleased. I'm sure my weight loss will slow in the weeks to come, but it feels so good to have lost in a month the same amount as I had been losing over the course of a year (prior to my recent long plateau).
Mrs. F
Last Friday: 179.4
Today: 178.9
Gain/Loss: -0.5
Goal: 150.00
Pounds to lose: 28.9
Comment: It's stort of discouraging that it's slow going, but that's how it goes.
Last Friday: 292.1
Today: 287.9
Gain/Loss: -4.2
Goal: 210.0 lbs.
Pounds to lose: 77.9
Comment: It feels great to see that weight loss, and to feel my clothes getting baggy. Despite having a horribly difficult session this morning, this is a good bit of reinforcement to keep moving in the right direction. I did watch my portions this week, but I also allowed myself some sweet indulgences. All in all, I'm pleased. I'm sure my weight loss will slow in the weeks to come, but it feels so good to have lost in a month the same amount as I had been losing over the course of a year (prior to my recent long plateau).
Mrs. F
Last Friday: 179.4
Today: 178.9
Gain/Loss: -0.5
Goal: 150.00
Pounds to lose: 28.9
Comment: It's stort of discouraging that it's slow going, but that's how it goes.
Day 26 (Week 4, training day 3) - Mrs. F
Today was hard -- both physically and mentally. The late night and not getting enough rest had a big impact on my energy leval. I will admit to considering sleeping right on the floor where I was trying to stretch.
I didnt ice(using my standard bags of corn, of course) nearly enough. I think I managed a little at lunch Wed and some last night. I defitnely paid for that today. While it didnt hurt much when I got up, I suspected it might give me trouble. The leg/knee area was hurting already during the first set, although not badly. Im thankful my left seems to have righted itself in that area, so I have hope that the right might just come around someday. It wasnt enough to stop me from doing the workout but it was enough to give me another piece that made it harder. By the last set, it was hurting a good bit and the area was swollen up some. Im really hoping being more diligent with the icing and resting it will help. Sometimes though with being a busy mom, its hard to find time to sit with my leg up and my frozen corn lol.
The sets felt long and hard and I found myself focusing on just getting to the walk segments so I could rest a little. The five minute segments were almost unbearably long. It was plain hard. The good news though is that I did finish it along with Mr. F! Though the difficulty of today makes next week seem almost insurmountable. Good thing Im stubborn :)
Im a little nervous bout the weight check today. I have been less active on the days off(no bike riding) with the leg/knee issue, so I wonder how much that will impact loss/gain. Plus I just feel bigger. Clothes fit the same, so who knows. Its a bit more discouraging than it is with Mr. F. Hes losing at a higher pace, so he can see and feel results quicker. I just dont see it in the mirror or in my clothes. I keep reminding myself, that its a long term weight loss and that a pound a week is sufficient.
Keep on Running
Mrs. F
I didnt ice(using my standard bags of corn, of course) nearly enough. I think I managed a little at lunch Wed and some last night. I defitnely paid for that today. While it didnt hurt much when I got up, I suspected it might give me trouble. The leg/knee area was hurting already during the first set, although not badly. Im thankful my left seems to have righted itself in that area, so I have hope that the right might just come around someday. It wasnt enough to stop me from doing the workout but it was enough to give me another piece that made it harder. By the last set, it was hurting a good bit and the area was swollen up some. Im really hoping being more diligent with the icing and resting it will help. Sometimes though with being a busy mom, its hard to find time to sit with my leg up and my frozen corn lol.
The sets felt long and hard and I found myself focusing on just getting to the walk segments so I could rest a little. The five minute segments were almost unbearably long. It was plain hard. The good news though is that I did finish it along with Mr. F! Though the difficulty of today makes next week seem almost insurmountable. Good thing Im stubborn :)
Im a little nervous bout the weight check today. I have been less active on the days off(no bike riding) with the leg/knee issue, so I wonder how much that will impact loss/gain. Plus I just feel bigger. Clothes fit the same, so who knows. Its a bit more discouraging than it is with Mr. F. Hes losing at a higher pace, so he can see and feel results quicker. I just dont see it in the mirror or in my clothes. I keep reminding myself, that its a long term weight loss and that a pound a week is sufficient.
Keep on Running
Mrs. F
Day 26 (week 4, day 5)
Our training for Week 4 is finished, but I feel like it just about finished me.
I figured it would be hard, but today was just miserable. We got to bed about an hour late last night due to the craziness of having to get about 3,000 things done before this weekend, so I'm sure that didn't help, but that wasn't my main problem. I wasn't tired this morning.
I decided not to eat anything before running today. That was okay. My sugar levels were fine both before and after.
One of the little kids got into my gear and one of my gloves went missing. It wasn't very cold this morning, but I like keeping my fingers warm. They were frostbitten once, years ago, and have been sensitive to cold since then.
Next, I got ambushed by mosquitos on the way to the car. I got two or three bites right around my ankle on my right foot. They were an annoying distraction as I started the warmup walk.
The first run wasn't too bad. I figured that, if the rest of the session went like it, I would do just fine. That's not how it went, however.
The run seemed fine, as did the first walk. Going into the second run, I could tell that something was wrong with how my left leg was moving. It wasn't bothering me too much, so I kept moving on. The announced halfway point came about where I expected it, but the final two-and-a-half minutes just seemed long. We finished about where we did on Wednesday. I needed some breath, but that was resolved with a few deep breaths.
During the next walk, I noticed my left leg seeming a bit off. As we started the third run, it was clear that I was almost running with a limp. I felt stiff around my left knee and I could feel the impacts in my left hip. My right leg felt fine. I watched my feet to see if the left was angled differently than the right (it was not). I concentrated on my posture and looked ahead on the trail. I let my mind monitor my footfalls. Was I landing more flat-footed on my left? Not that I could tell. As I landed with my right foot, everything felt smooth. What was going on? Then I noticed a small stone in my right shoe.
When I slowed for the next walk, it was clear that the left leg had problems. It seemed stiffer, almost as if it did not want to bend at the knee. The walk was far too short, and starting the final run was very hard. Yes, I would characterize it as running with a limp. My left leg didn't seem to be bending and compressing as much on each stride as was happening with my right leg. Each landing seemed to be transferring the impact up my tiba, through my knee, up my femur, and into my hip. I deliberately focused on bending that knee and kicking back. I told Mrs. F about my discomfort.
"Do you want to walk the rest of the way?" she asked.
"Not a chance," I replied. The one thing I knew for certain was that I did not want to repeat this week.
It wasn't the duration of the final run that nearly did me in, but the discomfort of running with my left leg as it was. Despite the discomfort, when I heard the announcement of the final minute on the podcast, I pushed as hard as I could. I sped my pace and shortened my stride. I concentrated on the motion of the left leg. While my strides were pitifully short, the motion felt better (albeit strained), and I found myself catching up to Mrs. F.
When the run was over, I was afraid my left leg would lock, and that I would need to drag it back to the car. Thankfully, it did not, and we finished our cool-down walk about a minute short of the car.
Getting up the three steps into the house was difficult and painful. I loathe getting up now that I've been sitting, but I must get in to work. Week 4 is finished. I just hope my leg will be a little better as we go into Week 5.
I figured it would be hard, but today was just miserable. We got to bed about an hour late last night due to the craziness of having to get about 3,000 things done before this weekend, so I'm sure that didn't help, but that wasn't my main problem. I wasn't tired this morning.
I decided not to eat anything before running today. That was okay. My sugar levels were fine both before and after.
One of the little kids got into my gear and one of my gloves went missing. It wasn't very cold this morning, but I like keeping my fingers warm. They were frostbitten once, years ago, and have been sensitive to cold since then.
Next, I got ambushed by mosquitos on the way to the car. I got two or three bites right around my ankle on my right foot. They were an annoying distraction as I started the warmup walk.
The first run wasn't too bad. I figured that, if the rest of the session went like it, I would do just fine. That's not how it went, however.
The run seemed fine, as did the first walk. Going into the second run, I could tell that something was wrong with how my left leg was moving. It wasn't bothering me too much, so I kept moving on. The announced halfway point came about where I expected it, but the final two-and-a-half minutes just seemed long. We finished about where we did on Wednesday. I needed some breath, but that was resolved with a few deep breaths.
During the next walk, I noticed my left leg seeming a bit off. As we started the third run, it was clear that I was almost running with a limp. I felt stiff around my left knee and I could feel the impacts in my left hip. My right leg felt fine. I watched my feet to see if the left was angled differently than the right (it was not). I concentrated on my posture and looked ahead on the trail. I let my mind monitor my footfalls. Was I landing more flat-footed on my left? Not that I could tell. As I landed with my right foot, everything felt smooth. What was going on? Then I noticed a small stone in my right shoe.
When I slowed for the next walk, it was clear that the left leg had problems. It seemed stiffer, almost as if it did not want to bend at the knee. The walk was far too short, and starting the final run was very hard. Yes, I would characterize it as running with a limp. My left leg didn't seem to be bending and compressing as much on each stride as was happening with my right leg. Each landing seemed to be transferring the impact up my tiba, through my knee, up my femur, and into my hip. I deliberately focused on bending that knee and kicking back. I told Mrs. F about my discomfort.
"Do you want to walk the rest of the way?" she asked.
"Not a chance," I replied. The one thing I knew for certain was that I did not want to repeat this week.
It wasn't the duration of the final run that nearly did me in, but the discomfort of running with my left leg as it was. Despite the discomfort, when I heard the announcement of the final minute on the podcast, I pushed as hard as I could. I sped my pace and shortened my stride. I concentrated on the motion of the left leg. While my strides were pitifully short, the motion felt better (albeit strained), and I found myself catching up to Mrs. F.
When the run was over, I was afraid my left leg would lock, and that I would need to drag it back to the car. Thankfully, it did not, and we finished our cool-down walk about a minute short of the car.
Getting up the three steps into the house was difficult and painful. I loathe getting up now that I've been sitting, but I must get in to work. Week 4 is finished. I just hope my leg will be a little better as we go into Week 5.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Day 25 (week 4, day 4)
Well, tomorrow is a big day--the final workout of Week 4. Mentally, I'm still a little bummed that we're not yet at the halfway point, but I'm adjusting. I can tell my legs have been getting a workout, but they have no particular aches or pains to mention. My lower back is a little sore, but I think that's due to having a crummy chair in my office (which replaced a broken chair a couple of weeks ago).
We made some good, homemade soup yesterday. We had it for dinner, and I'm glad there was some left for lunch today. I'm tired today, but I can't put a finger on why. I got a good amount of sleep, and my sugar levels are good. I had a mild cough on a couple of mornings this week, but it cleared up as the day moved on. Yesterday, I coughed a little bit throughout the day, starting mostly after our run. Today, I feel like a cough is waiting behind every breath. With H1N1 going around, I'm watching for a fever and any other symptoms, but otherwise am looking at the cough as a nuissance.
I got to leave a bit early today so I can watch our boys at a cross country meet. Our eldest son is going to letter this year (his freshman year!) and has already broken a team record. He's out to beat his own best time again this afternoon, hoping to come in below 18:55. Our other runner wanted to show me one of his ribbons last night. Seventeenth place out of a field of 50 or more is not bad at all for someone who didn't join until three weeks after practices started. I wish I had been able to run like that when I was a kid.
We made some good, homemade soup yesterday. We had it for dinner, and I'm glad there was some left for lunch today. I'm tired today, but I can't put a finger on why. I got a good amount of sleep, and my sugar levels are good. I had a mild cough on a couple of mornings this week, but it cleared up as the day moved on. Yesterday, I coughed a little bit throughout the day, starting mostly after our run. Today, I feel like a cough is waiting behind every breath. With H1N1 going around, I'm watching for a fever and any other symptoms, but otherwise am looking at the cough as a nuissance.
I got to leave a bit early today so I can watch our boys at a cross country meet. Our eldest son is going to letter this year (his freshman year!) and has already broken a team record. He's out to beat his own best time again this afternoon, hoping to come in below 18:55. Our other runner wanted to show me one of his ribbons last night. Seventeenth place out of a field of 50 or more is not bad at all for someone who didn't join until three weeks after practices started. I wish I had been able to run like that when I was a kid.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Followers
I just want to take a moment to thank those who have opted to follow this blog. I think it's pretty cool, and Mrs. F and I appreciate the sense of support it brings. Seeing that list of followers really reminds us that someone else is watching us, and I believe it helps keep us accountable.
Thanks!
[On a related note, it appears that the Followers list is broken today (9/23/09). I reported it to Google, only to find that others were reporting the same issue. I hope they fix it soon.]
Thanks!
[On a related note, it appears that the Followers list is broken today (9/23/09). I reported it to Google, only to find that others were reporting the same issue. I hope they fix it soon.]
Day 24 (week 4, day 3) - Mrs. F
I had been icing my leg/knee area and I took ibuprofen right before I went to bed last night. So this morning, my leg actually felt pretty good, a little twinge here or there. So I was encouraged that I might be able to complete todays training. My left leg was good, so no worries there.
I deliberatly took it slow and really made sure to stretch well this morning. The first two running sets were great! They both felt good and I was very pleased that my leg while a little sore seemed to be holding out. The last two runing sets were hard. My leg started hurting more(not enough that I felt the need to stop though) and I just felt like I had no energy.
I tried to get to bed early but even though I hit the sack at 945 pm, I couldnt fall asleep til well after 10 pm. So Im sure that affected the running too. The last set by far was the hardest. Mr. F voiced being ready to quit and I encouraged him to push on. I figured by that point, we only had at least 4 minutes left. I distinctly remember thinking at one point that we had to be at least halfway through the five minute set. Mr. F said that the podcast doesnt tell you that. I interpreted that to mean that it hadnt yet voiced the halfway point. Boy was I surprised when shortly thereafter he announced the 1 minute left warning! Mr. F during that last minute push seemed to have more energy left than I did. But I did my best to give some additional effort and push thru the last minute.
I was relieved to find my knee/leg area, while in some pain, not nearly as much as Monday's workout put on it. So I plan to continue my corn icing, ibuprofen and definite rest on days off. I do miss my bike rides though! Since the left leg has gotten a lot better, Im hoping its just simple muscle strain on the right. So I will continue what worked thus. far.
Im still amazed that I have been able to continue for 4 weeks~! I could barely run a lap in gym class and I just did a combined total of 16 minutes!!!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
I deliberatly took it slow and really made sure to stretch well this morning. The first two running sets were great! They both felt good and I was very pleased that my leg while a little sore seemed to be holding out. The last two runing sets were hard. My leg started hurting more(not enough that I felt the need to stop though) and I just felt like I had no energy.
I tried to get to bed early but even though I hit the sack at 945 pm, I couldnt fall asleep til well after 10 pm. So Im sure that affected the running too. The last set by far was the hardest. Mr. F voiced being ready to quit and I encouraged him to push on. I figured by that point, we only had at least 4 minutes left. I distinctly remember thinking at one point that we had to be at least halfway through the five minute set. Mr. F said that the podcast doesnt tell you that. I interpreted that to mean that it hadnt yet voiced the halfway point. Boy was I surprised when shortly thereafter he announced the 1 minute left warning! Mr. F during that last minute push seemed to have more energy left than I did. But I did my best to give some additional effort and push thru the last minute.
I was relieved to find my knee/leg area, while in some pain, not nearly as much as Monday's workout put on it. So I plan to continue my corn icing, ibuprofen and definite rest on days off. I do miss my bike rides though! Since the left leg has gotten a lot better, Im hoping its just simple muscle strain on the right. So I will continue what worked thus. far.
Im still amazed that I have been able to continue for 4 weeks~! I could barely run a lap in gym class and I just did a combined total of 16 minutes!!!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
My brain woke up
I was so excited this morning to think we had made it to the half-way point. While sitting at my desk and getting ready to grab a cup of coffee, however, I suddenly realized I was wrong--we reach the half-way point only after Week 4 is completed and we are half-way into Week 5.
I'm glad that little revelation didn't hit me at the start of our final run this morning. That might have done me in. That's part of the mental battle. I had best re-check any figures passed to this administration by its intelligence agency. ;)
I wonder, could it have been my subconscious mind trying to set me up for a failure? Naughty subconscious! Naughty!
I'm glad that little revelation didn't hit me at the start of our final run this morning. That might have done me in. That's part of the mental battle. I had best re-check any figures passed to this administration by its intelligence agency. ;)
I wonder, could it have been my subconscious mind trying to set me up for a failure? Naughty subconscious! Naughty!
Day 24 (week 4, day 3) - (Not) The Half-way Point
I psyched myself up for it to be hard today, and it was, but mostly toward the end. The warm-up walk felt fine. I had to stop at one point to get something out of my shoe. It was one of those sharp, annoying little things that seemed to move around and poke me only every few footfalls, but I definitely did not want something like that under foot during the running segments. We paused about 30 seconds for me to rectify the situation (I had Mrs. F help keep me stable so I would not set my foot down onto the trail) and then we were off again. My knee was still a bit sore this morning when I go up, and I could feel an occasional twinge of pain while I walked. I figured I'd find out pretty quick whether it would inhibit my run.
The first run felt fine. I didn't push too hard, and I noticed the everything felt about right. I concentrated on my breathing. It was cooler again this morning, around 50° F--definitely not the coldest we've had so far, but noticeable, especially with the damp air (current humidity in town as I write this is 91%). I wore my light fleece gloves this morning, and started out with a light fleece hat. Three minutes was no problem today. I can almost say it ended a bit too soon.
The recovery period was short (90 seconds) but just fine overall. I was thinking about my knee and the rest of my legs. Though it was bothering me a bit when I got up, and I noticed it during the warm-up walk, it wasn't bothering me during the run.
The first five minute walking segment just seemed long. I wasn't pushing too hard, but I wasn't letting myself drag. It seemed we went further during our first two runs, as there was little trail left before our turnaround point. It was hard, but good.
We slowed for out next walking segment, went a little way, and turned around. I was glad to be walking, and the two-and-a-half minutes was short, but welcome. My body felt fine during the run, but became hot as soon as we slowed to a walk. I took off my hat and stuffed it into my shorts pocket.
The next run was suprisingly good. The first minute or so didn't feel quite right, but then it all seemed to come together. Each footfall felt right. I didn't think of my arms or my legs. My eyes were fixed ahead of me on the trail, and I just began to think "I could keep going" when the voice told me to walk.
That all changed when I slowed. Everything ached, and I needed more breath. I was simply tired, and I wondered anew why I as bothering with something so crazy as a running program. This 90 second rest was way too short for me.
As the final run was announced, there was a mix of hope and dread. After all, it was the final run of the day, but then again, it was another run. The voice said to push it, especially in the last minute. Well, I was pushing it, but I'm not sure anyone would have noticed. It was definately the toughest of the day, mentally and physically. I wanted to quit, and said as much aloud, but Mrs. F was there to tell me to keep going. The lower part of each calf was sore, and that extended into the upper calf on my right leg. On my left, I could clearly feel each impact in my left knee and in my left hip socket--not to the point of pain, but enough to make me think about my nearly 300 lb. frame crashing down on my feet with each footfall. Had the last mibute announcement not come when it did, I might have pulled off my headphones and started walking anyway.
With that announcement, I pushed even more. To take my mind off my strain, I tried to count my steps, but found that my counting was not keeping in pace with my footfalls. [I don't like the final bit of music on the podcast for that running segment, so that probably does not help. I wondered if he programed it that way to sound like an audible walll--something to be overcome--but I know some really enjoy that style.] Thankfully, the end found us before we met the Reaper, and it came quicker than we expected. Mrs. F noted that, while we seemed to be a bit further on our way out, we ended our run at about the same place today.
That left only the cooldown walk. Am I the only one who, at this stage in the program, thinks it would be more accurately describes as "a cooldown stagger"? Those first few steps after slowing were misery. My knees felt like they wanted to lock up when I straightened them with each step, until I allowed my feet to angle out slightly. Yet despite it feeling horrible, we got back to the car precisely at the end of the podcast, so that meant we shaved a couple of minutes off our cooldown walk (it ended a minute or two before we got to the car on Monday if my memory serves me correctly).
I need to end this abruptly as I am already going to be late for work. One of the kids needed some final homework help this morning, and so my designated blogging time went away. I'm wondering how things will be on Friday and if my weight will have changed. I'm also starting to get apprehensive about next week, because I have a camping trip scheduled for the weekend that will include a lot of walking. Tomorrow will have trouble enough of its own, so I'll try to put it out of mind for now.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Day 23
My leg/knee area feels somewhat better today. Its still giving me grief but not the same leval of pain as workout day. I find myself really hoping this is just a simple muscle strain and not some "rest your leg for 2 weeks deal". Its weird but I really want to keep the forward momentum going. Part of it is the fear of stopping and never starting again. Part of it is not wanting to hold Mr. F back and not wanting to delay the completion of the program as a whole.
Ive been icing with frozen bags of corn. I know it sounds really funny but hey we were out of ice and corn can be refrozen lol! That has seemed to help. I iced both knee/leg areas last evening, again at lunch today and then some this evening. Now my left leg is feeling pretty good but my right is still touchy. I plan to get the corn bag out again tonite, take some ibuprofen right before bed and try to run tommorrow.
If the workout gives me a lot of pain, Ill just walk the rest of it, while Mr. F completes the set. Im really hoping and praying that my icing and trying to rest it helped! If it gives me some pain,(Im planning on really really slow) then Ill likely run thru it and ice and ibuprofen afterwards.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Ive been icing with frozen bags of corn. I know it sounds really funny but hey we were out of ice and corn can be refrozen lol! That has seemed to help. I iced both knee/leg areas last evening, again at lunch today and then some this evening. Now my left leg is feeling pretty good but my right is still touchy. I plan to get the corn bag out again tonite, take some ibuprofen right before bed and try to run tommorrow.
If the workout gives me a lot of pain, Ill just walk the rest of it, while Mr. F completes the set. Im really hoping and praying that my icing and trying to rest it helped! If it gives me some pain,(Im planning on really really slow) then Ill likely run thru it and ice and ibuprofen afterwards.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 23 (week 4, day 2)
Well, I came home after a meeting last night to find Mrs. F lying in bed with bags of frozen corn placed on each leg just below the knee. She's been popping Ibuprofen every six hours and has been icing (corning?) that area of her legs regularly to try and reduce any inflamation. She's hoping she'll be able to complete tomorrow morning's workout.
I had been feeling fine all day today, but shortly after I got home, I developed a pain in/below my right knee. I don't know if I twisted it in the kitchen getting ready for supper, or if I strained it at work today walking to the remote office and taking the stairs up and down. So, here I sit, with a bag of frozen corn on my right leg. We're a funny sight, the two of us, positioned across the room from each other, each with our own laptops, and each with a bag of corn on a leg.
I'm just hoping I turned it funny and that tonight's rest will clear it up. I've been looking forward to making another go of it tomorow.
If Mrs. F does have problems tomorrow, she's talked about taking the rest of the week off, or going back and repeating Week 3. I sure hope she doesn't feel the need to do that, however, because I'm not sure I can do this without her. If she does decide to take a break, or a repeat, I'd want to press on because I don't want to lose my forward momentum, but at the same time I would not want to leave Mrs. F without a partner and I'm not sure I could handle both workouts in the same day.
I'm going to hope and pray that Mrs. F's legs don't bother her tomorrow--for her sake and my own. I'm also hoping that my leg will be fine. Only the morning will tell. If the kids are done with their chores by 7:30 PM, we'll watch a family movie together, and be in bed by 9 PM.
I had been feeling fine all day today, but shortly after I got home, I developed a pain in/below my right knee. I don't know if I twisted it in the kitchen getting ready for supper, or if I strained it at work today walking to the remote office and taking the stairs up and down. So, here I sit, with a bag of frozen corn on my right leg. We're a funny sight, the two of us, positioned across the room from each other, each with our own laptops, and each with a bag of corn on a leg.
I'm just hoping I turned it funny and that tonight's rest will clear it up. I've been looking forward to making another go of it tomorow.
If Mrs. F does have problems tomorrow, she's talked about taking the rest of the week off, or going back and repeating Week 3. I sure hope she doesn't feel the need to do that, however, because I'm not sure I can do this without her. If she does decide to take a break, or a repeat, I'd want to press on because I don't want to lose my forward momentum, but at the same time I would not want to leave Mrs. F without a partner and I'm not sure I could handle both workouts in the same day.
I'm going to hope and pray that Mrs. F's legs don't bother her tomorrow--for her sake and my own. I'm also hoping that my leg will be fine. Only the morning will tell. If the kids are done with their chores by 7:30 PM, we'll watch a family movie together, and be in bed by 9 PM.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Pondering the weather
We had a chance of rain today for the first time in a while. Our home area has seen draught conditions most of this year, so our running efforts so far have been dry. I'm wondering what we should do if it does rain (or snow!) on one of our running mornings. Do we just run in rain gear? Do we just run in regular clothes and allow ourselves to get wet? Going to a gym isn't an option for us right now, and we don't have a treadmill at home.
Does anyone run in the rain? If you have experience running in the rain, any tips you can provide will be much appreciated.
Does anyone run in the rain? If you have experience running in the rain, any tips you can provide will be much appreciated.
Week 4, Day 1 - Mrs. F
Today wasnt as "hard" as I expected. Don't get me wrong, it certainely was not easy by any means and I had to work at completing it. The first few weeks were "hard", the kind of hard that I expected I might just die. My chest burned and it was difficult to imagine doing this for 8 more weeks!!! Todays workout was more challenging. I'm not sure if its my endurance thats gotten better or I'm winning more of the mental battle. It does feel good to say we have made it to week 4!!!
Looking ahead week 4 didnt feel as scary as week 3 did to me. But I will admit week 5 still scares the pants off me!!!
Bodywise was harder for me. The area below my knee, I believe, its tendons, really gave me trouble today. By the end of the workout, I was whimpering a bit, cause it hurt. Its not the knee itself, so Im still wondering if its just muscle strain. Im going to try more stretching and see if that makes any more difference. And the sideaches -- by the 3rd set -- my side was aching. I told myself though that if my son can run thru a sideache, so can I. Im a bit stubborn,which I think helps in working my way through this program. Im determined that Im going to do this!!
Im very encouraged getting this far. It gives me hope that I can complete this and that I can become a runner. After all, I doubled the minutes I ran from last week. Thats really a big deal if you think about it!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Looking ahead week 4 didnt feel as scary as week 3 did to me. But I will admit week 5 still scares the pants off me!!!
Bodywise was harder for me. The area below my knee, I believe, its tendons, really gave me trouble today. By the end of the workout, I was whimpering a bit, cause it hurt. Its not the knee itself, so Im still wondering if its just muscle strain. Im going to try more stretching and see if that makes any more difference. And the sideaches -- by the 3rd set -- my side was aching. I told myself though that if my son can run thru a sideache, so can I. Im a bit stubborn,which I think helps in working my way through this program. Im determined that Im going to do this!!
Im very encouraged getting this far. It gives me hope that I can complete this and that I can become a runner. After all, I doubled the minutes I ran from last week. Thats really a big deal if you think about it!
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Day 22 (week 4, day1)
I just got done with W4D1. It was hard. Mrs. F and I were just discussing how our first day was hard in a different way (in the "I think I'm going to die and can't believe I'm doing this" sort of way). Today was hard, too, but it was different: it was intense.
I was really surprised that I got through the whole thing. Coming into the weekend, I dreaded this morning, but as I got up this morning it was pretty simple: I was going to try it, and either I would finish it or I wouldn't. I did downloaded the podcast [Thanks, again, to Sherry for pointing me to the MP3 links!] and used it for the first time this morning. At some points, it was nice, but I missed the watch at other points. There were a few times I wanted to check our time, to see how far we were. Perhaps it was better that we didn't know, though. On the final five minute run, I was surprised that the "last minute" announcement came as early as it did. Of course, I was feeling pretty good during that part of the routine.
I was really surprised that I got through the whole thing. Coming into the weekend, I dreaded this morning, but as I got up this morning it was pretty simple: I was going to try it, and either I would finish it or I wouldn't. I did downloaded the podcast [Thanks, again, to Sherry for pointing me to the MP3 links!] and used it for the first time this morning. At some points, it was nice, but I missed the watch at other points. There were a few times I wanted to check our time, to see how far we were. Perhaps it was better that we didn't know, though. On the final five minute run, I was surprised that the "last minute" announcement came as early as it did. Of course, I was feeling pretty good during that part of the routine.
Week 4 Routine
- 5 minute brisk walk (warm-up)
Then, this pattern:
- Jog 3 minutes
- Walk 90 seconds
- Jog 5 minutes
- Walk 2-1/2 minutes
- Jog 3 minutes
- Walk 90 seconds
- Jog 5 minutes
We added a five minute cool-down walk to match what was in the podcast.
It was definately hard, but I'm surprised that it went so well and was relatively pain free. We deliberately kept our pace down in the beginng, since we knew the five minute sets would be hard. The first three minutes was much easier than I expected, and the 90 second recovery period was, surprisingly, long enough. A couple of times during the first five minute set, I wished I had a watch to check our progress (today was our first day without one), but there was an announced half-way point and we both finished it pretty well.
The following recovery period, two-and-a-half minutes, was adequate, but I would have enjoyed a longer one.
The next three minute run seemed long, but I made it through. It was the only point where I found my legs hesitating at the start of the run. I found myself counting steps, and I got a bit discouraged when it didn't end where I expected it to end. My mental math miscalculated my paces for the three minutes by a full third, however, so by the time I figured that out we came to the end of that run.
The next walking segment seemed really short, if only mentally--I had enough breath, and the music that came on during this time was a style I really liked. I was feeling better, but I don't know if that was the music, the running, or just being pleased that I made it that far. The good feeling carried over into the last run, and it allowed me to give more than I thought that I could give. I lengthened my stride--Mrs. F could tell I was moving faster, but she was being stubborn and wouldn't let me overtake her by more than a half-step--and I felt more like I was running than jogging. My shoes and my legs took the impacts well. My legs told me they were tired, but also told me that I could keep going. When the last minute announcement came, I gave everything I could (short of a full-blown sprint). The end came faster than I expected. I was exstatic that I finished!
I had a good burn in my calves after the final set, but no shin pain and I wasn't desperate for breath. During the final walk before the last 5 minute run, I started to feel pretty good. Of course, having some music helped (I can gett pretty involved in music and can let it transport me emotionally). That good feeling continued into the last run. My wife and I both pushed it during that last segment, especially the final minute, but she really sore when she finished (just below the knees again, to the inside--tendons?). After that final run (and I felt like I was really running this time), we also completed the 5 minute cool-down walk that is in the podcast but not officially part of the program. That means we walked for a total of 18 minutes and ran/jogged for 16 minutes!
Last week, having had a good Monday, I thought the other two days would go just as well, but the other two days were harder. So, I won't hold any misconceptions about the rest of the week. I'm sure they will be hard, but today proved that I can do it.
We'll see how the week progresses. I was the "bad" one yesterday who helped the boys make cookies! Thankfully, I kept my intake to a minimum. I'm going to take some into the office today, and I'll have one with coffee.
It's been just over an hour since we got back. I've had breakfast and am gearing up for my ride into work. My calves still have a bit of a burn, as I sit here, but not bad. I feel good for having gotten through the day's routine, and am just amazed by how much we've accompished so far.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Day 21 (getting ready for Week 4)
Well, this is our final day of rest before we begin Week 4. It looks like it will be a tough routine, for me, but I'll give it my best. I downloaded the Week 4 podcast that Robert Ullery recorded to let us go without a watch (http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/). He took some techno music, recorded a brief introduction, and then announces each transition. The only problem is that my MP3 player does not support the file format he used (M4A), so we're checking in with someone else on the program who may already have converted it to MP3 format.
Week 4 Routine
- 5 minute brisk walk (warm-up)
Then, this pattern:
- Jog 3 minutes
- Walk 90 seconds
- Jog 5 minutes
- Walk 2-1/2 minutes
- Jog 3 minutes
- Walk 90 seconds
- Jog 5 minutes
This week, the pattern omits a final walking segment. I don't know why they did that, other than to keep the total time nearer to 20 minutes. Had they kept the final walk segment, it would split evenly into two sets (jog 3min, walk 90s, jog 5min, walk 2.5min). We'll probably add that final walk segment anyway, since we know we'll need to cool down, and since our trail use means we need to turn around at the half-way point. By adding the walk at the end, we can turn around before the pattern starts to repeat itself (the 3min jog).
UPDATE (8:33 PM by FatManRunning)
Thanks go out to Sherry, who let me know about the link to the MP3 podcasts that I missed when looking at ullrey.com earlier. Here's the link if anyone wants it: http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page6/page6.html
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