Despite feeling down and tired earlier, I was ready to run this afternoon. It was a bit challenging trying to figure out how to cook dinner and workout and all the fun that accompanies all that. I started cutting potatoes, not knowing exactly what time Mr. F would get home. I figured that even if I didnt have time to cook before our workout, at least the prepwork would be done.
When I checked the temp earlier in the day, it said 41 degrees with 34 degree windchill temp. I was expecting it to feel much colder than it did. Mondays workout, I almost felt too hot with my layering, so I went with one less layer today. I elected to ditch the 3/4 quarter sleeve cotton shirt. That worked out great, I was plenty warm and not too chilled in the beginning.
I tend to walk slower than Mr. F for our warmup walk. I figure its okay, since I speed up my pace when I run. So I trailed behind him a bit as we started. I started out with a stocking cap and leather gloves. It wasnt more than 3 or 4 minutes that I ditched the gloves. The hat quickly followed.
The beginning and middle of the run felt great! I had a little pain going down my right leg. It disapeared about as quickly as it appeared. At points I could just feel the difference in my stride. My feet hit the ground lighter as I was able to speed up the pace. Other times I definitely felt the slog of the run. My feet felt heavy and like I was shuffling the leaves along the trail. I reached the end of the trail, turned around and met mr F again. I then reran the way to the end of the trail and took the street to a side path and ran back to our orginal trail. This allowed Mr. F to get further along on the trail before I caught up to him again.
I had attempted to borrow a watch from my son and promptly left it in the car. I wanted it with to give me a better idea of how to pace myself. Its hard when you hit that wall, not knowing then how much time you have left.I suppose it could be worse too, if you check the watch and find you have 24 of the 25 minutes left -- lol!
The end of the run, roughly about the last 8 or 10 minutes were hard. I started developing a minor sideache in the right, thus my pace slowed. And as I slowed, it increased my desire to walk. I did keep plugging away but the mental battle was much harder at that point. I tried to concentrate on taking slow deep breaths( kinda impossible when you are already breathing hard). The side ache would come and go as I tried to work my way thru the trail. As I neared a corner in our trail, I heard Mr. F whistle. So I turned around and ran back to him at that point. So we were running together for a little while. I pulled ahead and tried to find my stride again. Once I reached our beginning point of the trail and turned around and headed back to Mr. F .
I should know by this point that I cant do things as Mr. F does. Today reminded me of the time in college when I tried to study as Mr. F does. He can just go to class and listen and get A's on the tests. Well to make a long story short, it didnt work and I majorly failed. I learned the hard way, that I need to actually study! Well today I tried to sprint with Mr. F during the last minute. He has a wicked fast sprint!!! I may run faster during the workout but I cannot keep up with him during the last minute sprint. I did try today and kept pace with him for 20 seconds and then I thought I might just die right there on the trail. I forced myself to keep running but my side was killing me and I could barely breathe! I can speed up at the end. I tend to be more strong and steady and slowly increasing my pace rather than a major jump in speed to a sprint. This is good to know about oneself.
No problems with shin splints as I thought might be starting last time. Leg muscles are sore as are my shoulders and arms. They are sore like I just had a good workout, kind of sore.
I am still amazed that I can run for 25 minutes and that I made it thru 7 weeks of this!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Day 45 (week 7) - evening run
It has been one crazy evening! I got off work about 4:30 PM, an hour later than I had hoped. Getting home, I took in the quick news from the home front, including the updates on the sick ones, got changed, and managed to get out the door at just about 5 PM.
After our run, we stopped at the local grocery store and grabbed a couple of items, only to realize that neither of us had our cards with us (I only carry my license when I run). As we headed out the door, we realized that we needed to get our eldest son to the area high school for pep band. So, I dropped Mrs. F. at home, drove our son to the high school. When he came out to the car, he had my wallet with him, so I headed back to the grocery store after dropping him off. I picked up the items we set aside on our earlier visit, grabbed some bags of softener salt, and headed home.
As soon as I got through the door, Mrs. F informed me that our eldest son had called--pep band had been cancelled. So, back into the car I went; back to the local high school where I picked up our son and took him home. When I got home, I set about trying to unclog the kitchen sink, and I took over finishing off supper. With everything going on around here, I'm just amazed that we get out and run at all, morning or evening.
Okay, now that I got today's melodrama out of the way, let me get to reviewing today's run. It seems that the afternoon runs have been a little easier, at least as far as my legs being ready for them. Perhaps it's being more awake, or just the fact that I've been up and moving and that my body is warm. Even so, the first eight or so minutes of the run were hard. Almost immediately upon setting out I was fighting my internal dialogue that just wanted me to take a pass and go home. After all, I had already put in a full day of work... If you've ever tried to do something really hard, or something after a busy day, you probably know how that internal dialogue progresses.
So, I managed to tell that other part of me to "Sit on it!" and I kept going. I wrapped my leg a little differently today, since it had been bothering me less, and it seemed to be adequate when we began. Right off the bat, I was much happier with my pace today. Mrs. F was still able to pull ahead of me, but I didn't feel like I was fighting just to move at a decent pace, at least at the onset.
The first eight minutes were probably the hardest of the day, at least as far as the mental battle is concerned. After about the eight minute mark (I was listening to the podcast, so the time is just a guess--it might have been a little earlier or a little later), it was still hard, but it felt better. It was the one stretch where I got to relax a bit, mentally and perhaps physically. I remember looking to the lake, at the leaves on the ground, and at the trail ahead of me. Mrs. F was now way ahead, but it didn't bother me so much right then--I was running and all was good with the world.
We were back to our regular segment of trail today, so I was excited that I got to the far end and a good distance back before I heard the half-way point announced. It felt much more like last Friday (W6D3). Mrs. F had turned around and looped back to me once, and when we reached the end of the trail she took off to the side to make a loop through the park while I turned around and started back.
The half-way point came and went. I could tell it was getting a bit harder, and my left knee was starting to hurt, but I was still feeling pretty good.
Over the next few minutes, I really started to feel fatigue in my legs and my left really started to give me some grief. I concetrated on my stride. I was able to do a little to minimize the strain, but it was simply clear that the way I wrapped it was woefuly inadequate. I soon found myself fighting not to slip into that limping jog I had experienced two weeks ago. My pace slowed even more. I whistled and waved to Mrs. F so that she would loop back again. We were getting close to the point in the trail where I typically lose sight of her on the return, and that's a point that is always tough for me.
Her presence helped, but I was slogging so much that I was barely lifting my feet as I lurched forward in each stride. I asked her if I was even still running--it's almost as if my feet wanted to switch to walking, but my legs kept pushing them too far ahead--and she said that I was. I concentrated on lifting my feet more, and I forced myself to kick my heels further back. My pace improved slightly. I knew that our starting end of the trail would soon appear. While I was amazed that I had gone so far without hearing the final minute warning (we did not double back together today as we had done on Friday), I was also getting desperate to hear that final minute announcement.
It came right as we hit our starting point. Mrs. F was only a few steps ahead of me here, and we both quickened our pace a bit. After counting out approximately 15 seconds in my head, I pushed into a sprint--not as fast or free as the one I experienced on Monday, but a sprint all the same. I was tyring to hold a bit back, because I wanted to finish the last minute without slowing down. I picked a spot on the trail ahead of me and made it my finish line. As I reached it, there was no announcement, so I picked another spot ahead of me, and tried to push even more. As I reached it, the announcement came, my arms shot into the air, and I annouced the end to Mrs. F.
I knew I had pulled ahead of her, but I did not realize by how much until I turned around. She was, perhaps 10-15 meters behind me, her hand on her side, obviously from a side ache. I had pulled ahead of her, and I had finished the final minute in a sprint!
Our cool-down walk was slightly abbreviated, because we got back to our car before the time was up, but we were both happy with having finished another 25 minute run. As we began our drive home, we realized that we had run more than 75 minutes in less than a week (Friday through Wednesday)! That's just so amazing!
Because of the sickness going through the house and some other considerations, my plans for the weekend were cancelled. That means Mrs. F and I will be running together again on Friday morning. Since I will have the day off, we're planning to go out about an hour later, perhaps 6:30 AM, to benefit from the pending sunrise. I'll be back to wrapping my knee the other way, and I'm just glad I didn't seem to make it much worse (in how it feels now, a few hours later) with what I tried today.
I may never be able to run a seven minute mile, but I'm out there, being active, and working to lose a lot of weight. I hope that running becomes easier as my weight does go down, but I also hope that I'll have the perseverance required to get me that far. Weight check will be Friday morning, and I'm hoping to see a fair loss (perhaps a couple of pounds).
Well, that's it for now. We're going to sit down together and watch Heroes, and then, perhaps a little Eureka. Apart from that, I have a date with an ice pack and perhaps a cool bath.
After our run, we stopped at the local grocery store and grabbed a couple of items, only to realize that neither of us had our cards with us (I only carry my license when I run). As we headed out the door, we realized that we needed to get our eldest son to the area high school for pep band. So, I dropped Mrs. F. at home, drove our son to the high school. When he came out to the car, he had my wallet with him, so I headed back to the grocery store after dropping him off. I picked up the items we set aside on our earlier visit, grabbed some bags of softener salt, and headed home.
As soon as I got through the door, Mrs. F informed me that our eldest son had called--pep band had been cancelled. So, back into the car I went; back to the local high school where I picked up our son and took him home. When I got home, I set about trying to unclog the kitchen sink, and I took over finishing off supper. With everything going on around here, I'm just amazed that we get out and run at all, morning or evening.
Okay, now that I got today's melodrama out of the way, let me get to reviewing today's run. It seems that the afternoon runs have been a little easier, at least as far as my legs being ready for them. Perhaps it's being more awake, or just the fact that I've been up and moving and that my body is warm. Even so, the first eight or so minutes of the run were hard. Almost immediately upon setting out I was fighting my internal dialogue that just wanted me to take a pass and go home. After all, I had already put in a full day of work... If you've ever tried to do something really hard, or something after a busy day, you probably know how that internal dialogue progresses.
So, I managed to tell that other part of me to "Sit on it!" and I kept going. I wrapped my leg a little differently today, since it had been bothering me less, and it seemed to be adequate when we began. Right off the bat, I was much happier with my pace today. Mrs. F was still able to pull ahead of me, but I didn't feel like I was fighting just to move at a decent pace, at least at the onset.
The first eight minutes were probably the hardest of the day, at least as far as the mental battle is concerned. After about the eight minute mark (I was listening to the podcast, so the time is just a guess--it might have been a little earlier or a little later), it was still hard, but it felt better. It was the one stretch where I got to relax a bit, mentally and perhaps physically. I remember looking to the lake, at the leaves on the ground, and at the trail ahead of me. Mrs. F was now way ahead, but it didn't bother me so much right then--I was running and all was good with the world.
We were back to our regular segment of trail today, so I was excited that I got to the far end and a good distance back before I heard the half-way point announced. It felt much more like last Friday (W6D3). Mrs. F had turned around and looped back to me once, and when we reached the end of the trail she took off to the side to make a loop through the park while I turned around and started back.
The half-way point came and went. I could tell it was getting a bit harder, and my left knee was starting to hurt, but I was still feeling pretty good.
Over the next few minutes, I really started to feel fatigue in my legs and my left really started to give me some grief. I concetrated on my stride. I was able to do a little to minimize the strain, but it was simply clear that the way I wrapped it was woefuly inadequate. I soon found myself fighting not to slip into that limping jog I had experienced two weeks ago. My pace slowed even more. I whistled and waved to Mrs. F so that she would loop back again. We were getting close to the point in the trail where I typically lose sight of her on the return, and that's a point that is always tough for me.
Her presence helped, but I was slogging so much that I was barely lifting my feet as I lurched forward in each stride. I asked her if I was even still running--it's almost as if my feet wanted to switch to walking, but my legs kept pushing them too far ahead--and she said that I was. I concentrated on lifting my feet more, and I forced myself to kick my heels further back. My pace improved slightly. I knew that our starting end of the trail would soon appear. While I was amazed that I had gone so far without hearing the final minute warning (we did not double back together today as we had done on Friday), I was also getting desperate to hear that final minute announcement.
It came right as we hit our starting point. Mrs. F was only a few steps ahead of me here, and we both quickened our pace a bit. After counting out approximately 15 seconds in my head, I pushed into a sprint--not as fast or free as the one I experienced on Monday, but a sprint all the same. I was tyring to hold a bit back, because I wanted to finish the last minute without slowing down. I picked a spot on the trail ahead of me and made it my finish line. As I reached it, there was no announcement, so I picked another spot ahead of me, and tried to push even more. As I reached it, the announcement came, my arms shot into the air, and I annouced the end to Mrs. F.
I knew I had pulled ahead of her, but I did not realize by how much until I turned around. She was, perhaps 10-15 meters behind me, her hand on her side, obviously from a side ache. I had pulled ahead of her, and I had finished the final minute in a sprint!
Our cool-down walk was slightly abbreviated, because we got back to our car before the time was up, but we were both happy with having finished another 25 minute run. As we began our drive home, we realized that we had run more than 75 minutes in less than a week (Friday through Wednesday)! That's just so amazing!
Because of the sickness going through the house and some other considerations, my plans for the weekend were cancelled. That means Mrs. F and I will be running together again on Friday morning. Since I will have the day off, we're planning to go out about an hour later, perhaps 6:30 AM, to benefit from the pending sunrise. I'll be back to wrapping my knee the other way, and I'm just glad I didn't seem to make it much worse (in how it feels now, a few hours later) with what I tried today.
I may never be able to run a seven minute mile, but I'm out there, being active, and working to lose a lot of weight. I hope that running becomes easier as my weight does go down, but I also hope that I'll have the perseverance required to get me that far. Weight check will be Friday morning, and I'm hoping to see a fair loss (perhaps a couple of pounds).
Well, that's it for now. We're going to sit down together and watch Heroes, and then, perhaps a little Eureka. Apart from that, I have a date with an ice pack and perhaps a cool bath.
A down day - Mrs. F
I'm feeling rather down today. Im not sure if its that I havent worked out yet, lack of sleep or stresses of life. Most likely, a comibination of all the factors is the culprit.
At around 2 am, we had a hamster cagebreak. So we were looking for some baby hamsters and the momma. Thankfully by morning, all but one have been found. That definitely impacted my sleep though.
And a busy plate of activities for yesterday has left me drained as well.
Im hoping todays workout will perk up my mood and encourage my spirits some.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
At around 2 am, we had a hamster cagebreak. So we were looking for some baby hamsters and the momma. Thankfully by morning, all but one have been found. That definitely impacted my sleep though.
And a busy plate of activities for yesterday has left me drained as well.
Im hoping todays workout will perk up my mood and encourage my spirits some.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 45 - morning (pre-workout)
As noted last night, we'll be running late today. I'm just taking a moment to post a bit of news on the clothing front. This morning, I grabbed a pair of trousers I picked up a couple of years ago that didn't fit me at the time. I found them at a bargain price, and grabbed them thinking that I could use them as motivation toward losing some weight. Well, as time has shown, they did not serve to be much of a motivation. The size of those pants: 42.
When I started this program, I could comfortably wear pants with a 46" waist. I could wear some 44s below my belly, on my hips, but they were not very comfortable. Today, I looked at the tag in those trousers and said, "What the heck." After all, I noted that they had a stretchy expansion panel on the side. The worst that could happen was that I would need to grab another pair of pants, and that my hopes would have been diminished.
As it turns out, the pants slid on without any trouble. There was no binding in the legs, the seat felt fine, and the clasp closed on my waist. I checked the expansion panels. To my surprise, the were pulling a bit but still had plenty of give. I really have dropped 4" from my waist!
Feeling good about the trousers, I reached in and grabbed a mock turtleneck that I typically only wear under a sweater. I pulled it on and noticed that it actually hung off my shoulders and was not stretched tight around my chest and abdomen. What a feeling!
So, I'm headed off to work in my "new" outfit. I'm longing for the day when I'll be able to wear trousers in the 30s again (even 38 would be fine), because that means I'll finally be able to go into any store and be able to find my size in just about every style. That will be a grand day.
So, for now, it's off to work and then on to running this afternoon. I think I'm going to have a little extra spring in my step today.
When I started this program, I could comfortably wear pants with a 46" waist. I could wear some 44s below my belly, on my hips, but they were not very comfortable. Today, I looked at the tag in those trousers and said, "What the heck." After all, I noted that they had a stretchy expansion panel on the side. The worst that could happen was that I would need to grab another pair of pants, and that my hopes would have been diminished.
As it turns out, the pants slid on without any trouble. There was no binding in the legs, the seat felt fine, and the clasp closed on my waist. I checked the expansion panels. To my surprise, the were pulling a bit but still had plenty of give. I really have dropped 4" from my waist!
Feeling good about the trousers, I reached in and grabbed a mock turtleneck that I typically only wear under a sweater. I pulled it on and noticed that it actually hung off my shoulders and was not stretched tight around my chest and abdomen. What a feeling!
So, I'm headed off to work in my "new" outfit. I'm longing for the day when I'll be able to wear trousers in the 30s again (even 38 would be fine), because that means I'll finally be able to go into any store and be able to find my size in just about every style. That will be a grand day.
So, for now, it's off to work and then on to running this afternoon. I think I'm going to have a little extra spring in my step today.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Day 44 - update and plans for Day 45
Our flu-stricken son won't be getting any medications. He was sent home with typical instructions of rest and fluids, despite the risk to our special needs child (not to mention the fact that our clinic sent us there specifically so he could get treated with Tamiflu). Well, we'll do the best we can with what we have.
I also need to be in to work early (i.e., before 7 AM) tomorrow, so we are postponing our Wednesday run until later in the day--likely sometime in the evening after our eldest son returns from cross country practice, since our eldest daughter is going on a trip with one of her friends.
There was good news on the cross country front: our eldest son qualified as an all-conference runner by placing in the top ten runners at tonight's conference meet. What was really exciting, however, was that two of his teammates (the same ones with which he had a near photo finish at an earlier meet) also placed in the top ten. The team did a fantastic job, and ranked as the second place team in the conference. Some of the boys were disappointed, however, because they missed taking the first place spot by two points! Had any two of their first five runners (the ones used for scoring) moved ahead just one position (or had one runner moved up two positions), they would have been the first place team. I'm pretty sure the guys who will be back next year will remember that lesson. Even so, they all ran a great race!
I also need to be in to work early (i.e., before 7 AM) tomorrow, so we are postponing our Wednesday run until later in the day--likely sometime in the evening after our eldest son returns from cross country practice, since our eldest daughter is going on a trip with one of her friends.
There was good news on the cross country front: our eldest son qualified as an all-conference runner by placing in the top ten runners at tonight's conference meet. What was really exciting, however, was that two of his teammates (the same ones with which he had a near photo finish at an earlier meet) also placed in the top ten. The team did a fantastic job, and ranked as the second place team in the conference. Some of the boys were disappointed, however, because they missed taking the first place spot by two points! Had any two of their first five runners (the ones used for scoring) moved ahead just one position (or had one runner moved up two positions), they would have been the first place team. I'm pretty sure the guys who will be back next year will remember that lesson. Even so, they all ran a great race!
Day 44 (week 7) - dull ache and family illness
It's still hard to believe we're in Week 7. Overall, I feel pretty good, other than my left knee. It has gone from being something that pained me when walking, rising, or sitting to being a steady, dull ache.
That's not the main issue in the house, today, however. We had one boy come down with mild cold or flu symptoms last week, and he has fully recovered. Another son, however, started to get ill on Sunday and has steadily gotten worse. His fever has topped 103°F, has no appetite, and is lethargic. We called the local clinic, but they referred us to the emergency room. Mrs. F is headed there with him now. She's also taking along our special needs toddler, who just started developing a fever, but has a history of going from healthy to extremely ill in a matter of hours. We're hoping that both will be given Tamiflu, but we have no guarantees.
If kids are still sick as we approach Thursday, I will cancel my plans for the weekend. That may allow Mrs. F and me to run together on Friday, but even that will depend on how well everyone is around here.
That's not the main issue in the house, today, however. We had one boy come down with mild cold or flu symptoms last week, and he has fully recovered. Another son, however, started to get ill on Sunday and has steadily gotten worse. His fever has topped 103°F, has no appetite, and is lethargic. We called the local clinic, but they referred us to the emergency room. Mrs. F is headed there with him now. She's also taking along our special needs toddler, who just started developing a fever, but has a history of going from healthy to extremely ill in a matter of hours. We're hoping that both will be given Tamiflu, but we have no guarantees.
If kids are still sick as we approach Thursday, I will cancel my plans for the weekend. That may allow Mrs. F and me to run together on Friday, but even that will depend on how well everyone is around here.
Day 44 - Mrs. F
I'm feeling pretty drained today. I really hope Im not getting sick. A couple of the kids are down with fevers and flu-like symptoms.
Body is doing okay, although my lower back is giving me trouble this morning. Muscles feel okay and the shin split on the left leg feels fine right now.
Its harder for me to get excited to run in the cold weather. I really dont enjoy being cold. Its harder to get moving and going, even though I know once IM running, ill feel warm.
I am still on the hunt for a treadmill. The plan is to run outside as long as possible until the snow/ice/weather forces us indoors. Then, we are hoping to have found a treadmill that will be able to continue our workouts.
It was exciting yesterday to go into our local pharmacy and talk with our pharmacist. She is doing the couch to 5k, after being inspired by our doing this as well as another worker there. I love seeing the effects stretching far beyond our circle of people! I am still amazed that indeed in 7 weeks, I can run 25 minutes.
Looking forward to my sons conference meet this evening. I changed my bet to him, that if he beats his personal best (18:55) I will run 2 minutes with him. And if he beats it by 30 seconds or more, I will run 5!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Body is doing okay, although my lower back is giving me trouble this morning. Muscles feel okay and the shin split on the left leg feels fine right now.
Its harder for me to get excited to run in the cold weather. I really dont enjoy being cold. Its harder to get moving and going, even though I know once IM running, ill feel warm.
I am still on the hunt for a treadmill. The plan is to run outside as long as possible until the snow/ice/weather forces us indoors. Then, we are hoping to have found a treadmill that will be able to continue our workouts.
It was exciting yesterday to go into our local pharmacy and talk with our pharmacist. She is doing the couch to 5k, after being inspired by our doing this as well as another worker there. I love seeing the effects stretching far beyond our circle of people! I am still amazed that indeed in 7 weeks, I can run 25 minutes.
Looking forward to my sons conference meet this evening. I changed my bet to him, that if he beats his personal best (18:55) I will run 2 minutes with him. And if he beats it by 30 seconds or more, I will run 5!
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Monday, October 12, 2009
Day 43 Week 7 Day 1 (Mrs. F)
I was tired, it was cold, it was snowing and I did not want to get up and run today. In the past, days like today would have been the ones where I put it off until another day. And then keep putting it off until the habit was firmly dead. Im pleased to say with Mr. F's help, I did not put off todays run!
I could feel the effects of too little sleep and too much junk food from this weekend. So it was hard to start and hard to get moving. For the first five minutes, the desire to walk was really really strong! It took every once of willpower I had to not walk and to deliberatly up my pace. If I run too slowly, it increases my desire to walk. So I need to be at a reasonable pace. And Im not running very fast by far but I need to be moving.This morning, I just didnt have the energy to get moving.
Slowly I increased my pace and the run was better. Still hard but better. Mr. F's announcement that we were more than halfway really surprised me. The first part had drug on so slowly that I figured I had tons of running yet to do.
I spent some time doubling back, per Mr. F's request. I would run ahead of him aways and then turn around, run back toward him and when I reached him, turn back the direction he was going. So I may have covered a bit more distance this way and it encouraged Mr. F -- a win win.
When Mr. F announced the last minute, I was super surprised. Since we had started further along the trail, we were nowhere near the same distance point we normally are at this juncture. So I sped up steadily. Mr. F whizzed on by me (he has a wicked sprint) and then slowed down again. So since i had kept my increased pace steady I was able to finish ahead of him still.
All in all a good run. I have a bit of shin splints starting on my left leg and my muscles are sore. But Im just going to try and take it easy on the rest days and let my body recooperate.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
I could feel the effects of too little sleep and too much junk food from this weekend. So it was hard to start and hard to get moving. For the first five minutes, the desire to walk was really really strong! It took every once of willpower I had to not walk and to deliberatly up my pace. If I run too slowly, it increases my desire to walk. So I need to be at a reasonable pace. And Im not running very fast by far but I need to be moving.This morning, I just didnt have the energy to get moving.
Slowly I increased my pace and the run was better. Still hard but better. Mr. F's announcement that we were more than halfway really surprised me. The first part had drug on so slowly that I figured I had tons of running yet to do.
I spent some time doubling back, per Mr. F's request. I would run ahead of him aways and then turn around, run back toward him and when I reached him, turn back the direction he was going. So I may have covered a bit more distance this way and it encouraged Mr. F -- a win win.
When Mr. F announced the last minute, I was super surprised. Since we had started further along the trail, we were nowhere near the same distance point we normally are at this juncture. So I sped up steadily. Mr. F whizzed on by me (he has a wicked sprint) and then slowed down again. So since i had kept my increased pace steady I was able to finish ahead of him still.
All in all a good run. I have a bit of shin splints starting on my left leg and my muscles are sore. But Im just going to try and take it easy on the rest days and let my body recooperate.
Keep on running
Mrs. F
Day 43 (week 7) - 25 minutes midst downy flake
Well, it's not as if I can claim that today was my first 25 minute run, since that's what we did last Friday. We can, however, note that it was our first run in the snow. We have a full winter weather advisory in effect here, and are likely to have up to 4" by the end of the day. It started snowing during the pre-dawn hours, and by the time we hit the trail, there was already an inch or more on the grassy areas and on some parts of the trail.
This was also my first morning out in my new moisture-wicking polyester and spandex leggings. Isn't it amazing that a fabric tht was so maligned during the 1970s, polyester, has become a primary component in many modern tech-friendly garments? Even more amazing was that I was able to buy a men's XL garment rather than an XXL one, and that's the first time I've been able to do that in about 14 years!
In the aftermath of the morning run, I feel pretty good. The run itself, however, was difficult for me. The shock of the cold during the first few moments was hard to overcome, and I just could not muster the same sustained pace as I had on Friday. For some reason, when we arrived at the trailhead, I was thinking that we were increasing our run time, so we started our warm-up walk headed the other direction down the trail. When it ended, we reversed directions and began our run.
As has been the case on these longer runs, Mrs. F spent most of the time well ahead of me. Only during the first five minutes or so, while she was warming up, was I able to keep pace with her. My double-wrapped knee held out pretty well until near the end, but I'll touch on that in a bit.
Running in the snow presented some challenges. As someone who wears eyeglasses, the precipitation caused them to become unusable not long into the run. As the glasses cooled, and I exhaled into the low, cold breeze, my breath also fogged them up. I ended up taking them off and carrying them in my hand for the rest of the run.
The second challenge had to do with my feet. There was just enough of the wet, sticky snow on the trail for some of it to end up on the top of my shoes on the toe-end. Of course, some of it melted and got my feet wet. Thankfully, I was wearing the socks the folks at Asiscs sent me, and they seemed to wick away most of the moisture. My toes did not begin to feel really cold until after our run was done.
Even though going the other direction for our warm-up walk meant we ran back that distance before starting along our regular path, I could still tell that I covered much less ground. I was going at a very labored pace much earlier, and the half-way announcement came while I still had much trail left ahead of me. Pushing past the half-way point, the front of my left leg, just above my ankle started to cramp up a bit. I played with my pace and pushed on. It stayed like that until I caught sight of Mrs. F, who doubled back for me after reaching the end of this segment of trail. She did much doubling back this time at my request. I just have a much harder time continuing on when she is completely out of sight.
Although I knew I should probably turn around at that point, I was determined to make it to that end of the trail. I slogged on, eventually reaching it before turning back around. We were probably only half-way back along the trail when the final minute announcement came. Mrs. F was well-ahead of me again, but I wanted to finish strong. Whereas I felt exhausted just seconds before, I suddenly found myself flush with adrenaline. I sped up to a full sprint, feeling myself now running only on the balls of my feet and on my toes. I was surprised by how quickly I caught and overcame her, especially since she was pushing hard, too. I sprinted a distance ahead of her and then had second thoughts about being able to maintain the pace through the whole of the final minute. I slowed my pace again, and she soon came by me. Seconds later, the podcast announced the end of the run. I could have kicked myself. I was afraid I had most of that final minute left, when, in reality, I had sprinted for about 45 seconds. Perhaps next time I'll be able to finish that final minute in a full sprint. The feeling of the run while sprinting is so different from the rest of the run. It almost feels like flying.
As soon as we resumed walking, we realized how far we yet had to go to get back to our car. My decision to start going the other direction today cost us an extra five minutes of running during a cold morning snowfall. We quickly re-donned our hats, and Mrs. F put her gloves back on. I zipped my vest shut. Now that we had slowed, we would lose our heat more quickly. Now I noticed that the toes of my right foot were cold. As we continued along, they began to feel colder. At one point, to help shorten the time it would take us to get back to the car, I sped back to a run for a few moments, and the burst of activity helped me to feel warmer again. I could really feel how breathable the shoes really are, however, as those light, meshed surfaces quickly had me feeling the cold again.
I'm hoping that we get a bit of a thaw before Wednesday morning. If it stays cold, our tracks in the trail will freeze (along with any others who are out and about on it while it it still wet). Having frozen track on the trail would make it much more treacherous than just a coating of snow. I've done some looking at treadmills online, but we're still not sure if we want to take that plunge. Neither of us really likes the idea of running on the road, but that might be our only real option once winter really settles in.
Well, I need to get changed so I may bike to work. I'll soon need to swap my tires out for a set of studded ones I got for my birthday. I should be fine for today, however, as the snow is not sticking much to the roads right now.
This was also my first morning out in my new moisture-wicking polyester and spandex leggings. Isn't it amazing that a fabric tht was so maligned during the 1970s, polyester, has become a primary component in many modern tech-friendly garments? Even more amazing was that I was able to buy a men's XL garment rather than an XXL one, and that's the first time I've been able to do that in about 14 years!
In the aftermath of the morning run, I feel pretty good. The run itself, however, was difficult for me. The shock of the cold during the first few moments was hard to overcome, and I just could not muster the same sustained pace as I had on Friday. For some reason, when we arrived at the trailhead, I was thinking that we were increasing our run time, so we started our warm-up walk headed the other direction down the trail. When it ended, we reversed directions and began our run.
As has been the case on these longer runs, Mrs. F spent most of the time well ahead of me. Only during the first five minutes or so, while she was warming up, was I able to keep pace with her. My double-wrapped knee held out pretty well until near the end, but I'll touch on that in a bit.
Running in the snow presented some challenges. As someone who wears eyeglasses, the precipitation caused them to become unusable not long into the run. As the glasses cooled, and I exhaled into the low, cold breeze, my breath also fogged them up. I ended up taking them off and carrying them in my hand for the rest of the run.
The second challenge had to do with my feet. There was just enough of the wet, sticky snow on the trail for some of it to end up on the top of my shoes on the toe-end. Of course, some of it melted and got my feet wet. Thankfully, I was wearing the socks the folks at Asiscs sent me, and they seemed to wick away most of the moisture. My toes did not begin to feel really cold until after our run was done.
Even though going the other direction for our warm-up walk meant we ran back that distance before starting along our regular path, I could still tell that I covered much less ground. I was going at a very labored pace much earlier, and the half-way announcement came while I still had much trail left ahead of me. Pushing past the half-way point, the front of my left leg, just above my ankle started to cramp up a bit. I played with my pace and pushed on. It stayed like that until I caught sight of Mrs. F, who doubled back for me after reaching the end of this segment of trail. She did much doubling back this time at my request. I just have a much harder time continuing on when she is completely out of sight.
Although I knew I should probably turn around at that point, I was determined to make it to that end of the trail. I slogged on, eventually reaching it before turning back around. We were probably only half-way back along the trail when the final minute announcement came. Mrs. F was well-ahead of me again, but I wanted to finish strong. Whereas I felt exhausted just seconds before, I suddenly found myself flush with adrenaline. I sped up to a full sprint, feeling myself now running only on the balls of my feet and on my toes. I was surprised by how quickly I caught and overcame her, especially since she was pushing hard, too. I sprinted a distance ahead of her and then had second thoughts about being able to maintain the pace through the whole of the final minute. I slowed my pace again, and she soon came by me. Seconds later, the podcast announced the end of the run. I could have kicked myself. I was afraid I had most of that final minute left, when, in reality, I had sprinted for about 45 seconds. Perhaps next time I'll be able to finish that final minute in a full sprint. The feeling of the run while sprinting is so different from the rest of the run. It almost feels like flying.
As soon as we resumed walking, we realized how far we yet had to go to get back to our car. My decision to start going the other direction today cost us an extra five minutes of running during a cold morning snowfall. We quickly re-donned our hats, and Mrs. F put her gloves back on. I zipped my vest shut. Now that we had slowed, we would lose our heat more quickly. Now I noticed that the toes of my right foot were cold. As we continued along, they began to feel colder. At one point, to help shorten the time it would take us to get back to the car, I sped back to a run for a few moments, and the burst of activity helped me to feel warmer again. I could really feel how breathable the shoes really are, however, as those light, meshed surfaces quickly had me feeling the cold again.
I'm hoping that we get a bit of a thaw before Wednesday morning. If it stays cold, our tracks in the trail will freeze (along with any others who are out and about on it while it it still wet). Having frozen track on the trail would make it much more treacherous than just a coating of snow. I've done some looking at treadmills online, but we're still not sure if we want to take that plunge. Neither of us really likes the idea of running on the road, but that might be our only real option once winter really settles in.
Well, I need to get changed so I may bike to work. I'll soon need to swap my tires out for a set of studded ones I got for my birthday. I should be fine for today, however, as the snow is not sticking much to the roads right now.
Day 43 - Waking
Well, it's snowing right now. I have a few moment to type before I run this morning because my sugar levels were too low this morning--I was feeling hypoglycemic. I toasted a piece of bread and slathered some peanut butter on it, and took it down with some water. I'm hoping that bit in my stomach won't make for a tough run this morning.
I'll be back later to post after our run in the snow.
I'll be back later to post after our run in the snow.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Day 42 - Getting ready for Week 7
I'll echo what Mrs. F wrote. While it was great to catch up with an old friend, I'm feeling the impact of shorter nights of rest, too. My left knee still hints at the trouble I had over the past couple of weeks, but it's not too bad. I'll still wrap it in the morning, just to play it safe.
The forecast for tonight and into the morning is actually for the first winter storm of the season. We're expecting up to 1"-2" of snow by morning, and perhaps 3" by the afternoon. We're still planning to run outside. I picked up a set of wicking compression leggings this afternoon, to help keep my legs warmer. I'm hoping that warmer legs will translate to a little less muscle strain as we run. Anyway, here is the plan for this week:
Week 7
Things are a little too crazy here for me to write any more right now. We'll see what the morning brings.
The forecast for tonight and into the morning is actually for the first winter storm of the season. We're expecting up to 1"-2" of snow by morning, and perhaps 3" by the afternoon. We're still planning to run outside. I picked up a set of wicking compression leggings this afternoon, to help keep my legs warmer. I'm hoping that warmer legs will translate to a little less muscle strain as we run. Anyway, here is the plan for this week:
Week 7
- 5 minute warm-up walk
- 25 minute run
Things are a little too crazy here for me to write any more right now. We'll see what the morning brings.
Day 42 (Mrs. F)
Im tired. Late nights with company in town are fast catching up to me. No real pain just some minor muscle aches. Im hoping to hit bed early tonite. Its really easy to increase your sleep debt and really hard to get caught back up!
I still cannot believe that I have completed 6 full weeks of this program. I hated running and now I find myself "wanting" to run. How crazy is that! I find myself telling anyone and everyone who will listen to my story. Im excited and i love sharing how this really has changed my outlook on running.
Its even more amazing to me that I have inspired others to start this journey. I couldnt even have dreamed of that occuring from something I started.
This will be the first week that Mr. F and I will be running apart on one day. He will be out of town on Friday, so we will both complete our workout on our own. The good part is its a timed run rather than intervals, so it shouldnt be hard to keep track of time with a borrowed watch. Although it just seems harder to accomplish on my own.
Week 7, here I come~
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
I still cannot believe that I have completed 6 full weeks of this program. I hated running and now I find myself "wanting" to run. How crazy is that! I find myself telling anyone and everyone who will listen to my story. Im excited and i love sharing how this really has changed my outlook on running.
Its even more amazing to me that I have inspired others to start this journey. I couldnt even have dreamed of that occuring from something I started.
This will be the first week that Mr. F and I will be running apart on one day. He will be out of town on Friday, so we will both complete our workout on our own. The good part is its a timed run rather than intervals, so it shouldnt be hard to keep track of time with a borrowed watch. Although it just seems harder to accomplish on my own.
Week 7, here I come~
Keep on running,
Mrs. F
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Day 41 (week 6) - Chain of events.
I'm glad today is a resting day. My legs don't feel too bad, even my troublesome left knee. I have a bit of muscle ache in the biceps behind my legs (biceps femorus if my memory of anatomical terms is correct), but that's just a good ache from using those muscles yesterday.
Mrs. F ran into someone we know from the pharmacy today while out picking up a few grocer items. She asked about our progress, and then told us that the pharacist started the Couch to 5k program this week. Others there were considering it, too. One of Mrs. F's hometown friends started after learning about our secret plan, and some of her other online friends are considering it, too. I have people at the office who have expressed an interest, because they can see the positive impact it has had on me. All of this because we started the program and told others about it, and we only started it because one of our friends in town had started it. As it turns out, her husband didn't start the program with her. He only started after he heard about our progress, and figured that if we can do it, then he can do it, too. I yet have a long way to go toward being fit and healthy, but it is just amazing to realize that our actions--our slow, struggling attempts to do this, have encouraged others to give it a try, too. Our efforts to be better stewards of our bodies and health have moved others to take action, too! That is a powerful lesson.
So, we're not alone in this by any means. Not only have we found a supporting community online, both here and at Active.com, but we've started to realize that we are now just links in a chain that is linking many lives together, a chain that represents a journey toward healthier living.
That, my friends, is a humbling thought.
Mrs. F ran into someone we know from the pharmacy today while out picking up a few grocer items. She asked about our progress, and then told us that the pharacist started the Couch to 5k program this week. Others there were considering it, too. One of Mrs. F's hometown friends started after learning about our secret plan, and some of her other online friends are considering it, too. I have people at the office who have expressed an interest, because they can see the positive impact it has had on me. All of this because we started the program and told others about it, and we only started it because one of our friends in town had started it. As it turns out, her husband didn't start the program with her. He only started after he heard about our progress, and figured that if we can do it, then he can do it, too. I yet have a long way to go toward being fit and healthy, but it is just amazing to realize that our actions--our slow, struggling attempts to do this, have encouraged others to give it a try, too. Our efforts to be better stewards of our bodies and health have moved others to take action, too! That is a powerful lesson.
So, we're not alone in this by any means. Not only have we found a supporting community online, both here and at Active.com, but we've started to realize that we are now just links in a chain that is linking many lives together, a chain that represents a journey toward healthier living.
That, my friends, is a humbling thought.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Day 40 (week 6) - Two-thirds through!
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.
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.
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 49ยบF, 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 45ยบ 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.
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