Life has been pretty hectic lately, and I've been taking it easy with running because the tendonitis across the top of my foot has been very painful this past week. I'm trying to rest and ice it periodically so I can get back out on the roads, but it's hard to be patient. All I can think about is how hard it'll be when I do start back up again! Aaaaahhhh!!! I just hope I don't lose a ton of progress. :o/ But then I have to remind myself that permanent injury isn't worth the risk....right???
So in my not-so-spare time, I've been reading about the benefits of strength training for runners. Turns out that strength training isn't just beneficial to runners but is actually almost necessary to help prevent injury! And all this time, I've been strength training very little. Oops.
I ran across a fun challenge in my reading on another blogger's site - she'd been doing a plank every day and recording how long she could hold it and how she improved over time. That got me thinking - it was a plank - not something time consuming, but still a fun challenge. And a great way to see yourself improve and make progress - what a great motivator to keep you going! And possibly an awesome gate-way to get me into more strength training. I decided to give it a try myself. I'd do a plank a day for 30 days and see where I was on day 30 compared to day 1.
I had no idea how long I could hold a plank for, so for day 1 I set a goal of 1 minute for myself. I got in plank position, hit my stopwatch timer, and settled in. "This isn't so bad," I thought. But that was only about 12 seconds in. 10 seconds later I had already changed my mind! Haha! I couldn't give up at 25 seconds though. I just couldn't! Why was this so hard?!?!?! I took a deep breath, relaxed, and closed my eyes, trying not to think about the fact that I was starting to shake already around the 35 second mark. How pathetic.
I opened my eyes to check the timer, determined to make it a minute. Was it over yet? 15 more seconds, 10 more seconds.... My abs and back were starting to burn now, along with the shaking. Finally, finally, finally, the timer reached the blessed 1 minute mark, and I collapsed on the floor. What an eye-opener that was. I could barely hold a plank for a minute.
But it was only Day 1, right? Lots of room for improvement then! :o) Days 2 and 3 were very similar - 1 minute each, but not so pretty. I'm bound and determined to keep going though. I can't accept the fact that I can only hold a plank for a minute - barely - and I am determined to see that change. 27 days left to go!!!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
New Shoes and a PR - But Not Like You Think...
After my disappointment with my run on Wednesday in all the gross fall weather, Thursday proved to be a much nicer day, and I was excited to get back out and run in the warmer temps and sunshine. I decided to throw on my new kicks this time too and try them out. I'd read several places that you should break in new shoes slowly - wear them a couple times here and there in between wearing your regular shoes until they're broken in. So today was the day to start breaking them in. I was actually really excited, because these new shoes were a pair of Asics, and I'd heard (from several people) that this brand was particularly good for runners. I'd been wearing Nike shoes since I started running and had always been pretty faithful to the brand, even before I started running. I just liked the way they felt on my feet. But why not try something else, especially if I might be missing out on something more comfortable for me?
I hit the trail, feeling pretty spiffy in my new shoes, excited to see what I could do. But wait - what was happening????? I wasn't even a quarter of a mile into my 5k route I'd planned for the day, and everything from my knees downward was suddenly and completely on fire. My shins were in so much pain! I had NEVER ever felt pain in my shins from running, even when I first started out. Shin splints weren't my thing. My knees started to ache, my calf muscles tightened, and the tendonitis in the top of my foot was severely aggravated. Again - keep in mind I was only a quarter of a mile out. Could this really be from the shoes?!?!?!?!? I decided to keep going and see if the pain subsided. After all, I'm assuming there was a reason I was supposed to slowly break in my new shoes.
In reality, my positive spin on things was too optimistic - but a least I tried. The further I ran, the worse it felt. The pain even migrated up to my thighs and hamstrings. Running had never been so uncomfortable in my entire life. Even my first attempt at running in the very very beginning of this adventure felt better. I was trying to ignore all of it and keep going. I didn't want to make excuses to give up just because it was hard. I didn't make this much progress by giving in when things got hard.
So around 1.5 miles, I had to make a decision. I've been the person in the past who lets injuries, illnesses, weird pains, etc. go too long before doing something about them. I ignore them, tell myself I'm fine, and just keep pushing through them, certain it'll just get better on its own. A lot of the time, this works for me - and I avoid a TON of wasted time in doctor's offices - but on occasion I'm wrong and wait too long to seek help. This thought was nagging at me. What if I was wrong this time too? What if I didn't stop and ended up injuring myself? Then I'd probably need to take quite a bit of time off from running. All my hard work and all the endurance I'd built up would start to dwindle in that time off. I'd risk falling off the wagon completely, gaining all the weight back, and returning to my old lifestyle. "Sorry," I told myself - but that was too big of a risk for me. As much as I HATED to stop short of the distance I'd planned for the day, I had to listen to what my body was telling me.
I felt a bit like I'd failed, but I stopped at 2 miles anyway. It wasn't one of my better runs by any means, but I guess a bad run (and a short run) is better than no run at all - at least that's what I told myself. To make up for stopping short, I at least walked another mile if I wasn't going to run it. I also made sure to stretch out my legs extra long that night to avoid injury even more.
I went to bed disappointed, but I felt pretty good the next morning. I was determined to get back out there Friday evening (in my regular shoes) and hit it hard. I needed to redeem myself. And redeem myself I did! I planned another 5k route - and totally killed it! I came in at 30:32 - another personal best! I couldn't believe it. I guess I need to stick with Nike running shoes! Everyone has their favorites, and it's obvious what I'm comfortable with. After such a disappointing day the day before, I certainly wasn't expecting to crush my personal best again. I had been stuck in a rut so long, and now all of a sudden, I've been blowing away my personal records in both the 2 mile and 3.1 mile routes. Come on - if I can run 3.1 miles in under 31 minutes on more than one occasion, I can do anything. This girl is out to conquer the world - watch out! :oD
I hit the trail, feeling pretty spiffy in my new shoes, excited to see what I could do. But wait - what was happening????? I wasn't even a quarter of a mile into my 5k route I'd planned for the day, and everything from my knees downward was suddenly and completely on fire. My shins were in so much pain! I had NEVER ever felt pain in my shins from running, even when I first started out. Shin splints weren't my thing. My knees started to ache, my calf muscles tightened, and the tendonitis in the top of my foot was severely aggravated. Again - keep in mind I was only a quarter of a mile out. Could this really be from the shoes?!?!?!?!? I decided to keep going and see if the pain subsided. After all, I'm assuming there was a reason I was supposed to slowly break in my new shoes.
In reality, my positive spin on things was too optimistic - but a least I tried. The further I ran, the worse it felt. The pain even migrated up to my thighs and hamstrings. Running had never been so uncomfortable in my entire life. Even my first attempt at running in the very very beginning of this adventure felt better. I was trying to ignore all of it and keep going. I didn't want to make excuses to give up just because it was hard. I didn't make this much progress by giving in when things got hard.
So around 1.5 miles, I had to make a decision. I've been the person in the past who lets injuries, illnesses, weird pains, etc. go too long before doing something about them. I ignore them, tell myself I'm fine, and just keep pushing through them, certain it'll just get better on its own. A lot of the time, this works for me - and I avoid a TON of wasted time in doctor's offices - but on occasion I'm wrong and wait too long to seek help. This thought was nagging at me. What if I was wrong this time too? What if I didn't stop and ended up injuring myself? Then I'd probably need to take quite a bit of time off from running. All my hard work and all the endurance I'd built up would start to dwindle in that time off. I'd risk falling off the wagon completely, gaining all the weight back, and returning to my old lifestyle. "Sorry," I told myself - but that was too big of a risk for me. As much as I HATED to stop short of the distance I'd planned for the day, I had to listen to what my body was telling me.
I felt a bit like I'd failed, but I stopped at 2 miles anyway. It wasn't one of my better runs by any means, but I guess a bad run (and a short run) is better than no run at all - at least that's what I told myself. To make up for stopping short, I at least walked another mile if I wasn't going to run it. I also made sure to stretch out my legs extra long that night to avoid injury even more.
I went to bed disappointed, but I felt pretty good the next morning. I was determined to get back out there Friday evening (in my regular shoes) and hit it hard. I needed to redeem myself. And redeem myself I did! I planned another 5k route - and totally killed it! I came in at 30:32 - another personal best! I couldn't believe it. I guess I need to stick with Nike running shoes! Everyone has their favorites, and it's obvious what I'm comfortable with. After such a disappointing day the day before, I certainly wasn't expecting to crush my personal best again. I had been stuck in a rut so long, and now all of a sudden, I've been blowing away my personal records in both the 2 mile and 3.1 mile routes. Come on - if I can run 3.1 miles in under 31 minutes on more than one occasion, I can do anything. This girl is out to conquer the world - watch out! :oD
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
"Fall"-ing Victim to the Challenge
I am a total lover of summer time. In my mind, there is no better season. I will take 95 degrees and sun any day. Unfortunately, I live in Northeast Ohio - which means summer is about 12 weeks of the year (if we're lucky), and the other 9 months are gross. (And no, I'm not a teacher - I work all summer long, so that's not why I'm infatuated with summer.) So every year around this time I go into denial / rebellion mode and refuse to accept the fact that fall is coming (notice I said coming - because I won't say it's here). It's getting harder and harder to deny though, as the temps keep dropping (along with my heart), the leaves start to fall, and the daylight gets shorter and shorter. Yesterday was a particularly good example of this - highs only in the low 60's, rain and clouds all day, and overall dreariness. All the reasons I hate the invasion of fall into my summer party.
So I got home from work and headed out for my run around 7:00pm. It was already getting dark, especially with all the clouds. My run was a quick lesson in adapting to different conditions if I'm going to be a runner. And it was not fun. I came to the conclusion that I like running in the summer better. I had already learned that extreme heat and humidity were factors I had to adapt to during the summer, and had found ways around them or learned to adjust my running. Yesterday was the opposite. Not only was it getting dark already, but it was also colder than I was used to (only in the upper 50's by the time I got out there). I have read and been told that you should always dress for running as if it's warmer than it really is. So instead of throwing on sweat pants and a hoodie, I opted for a tshirt and some dri-fit yoga pants/capris. I was freezing when I walked out the door, but as I started to run, I realized that this temperature created a phenomenon. I was sweating, but my face, nose, and hands were cold. Not cool. Because this meant that not only did I have to worry about wiping the sweat off that was dripping down my face, but I had to alternate that with blowing my nose that was running because it was cold. I'm pretty sure that by the time I was done, I was trying to dry my face off with the same parts of a paper towel I'd blown my nose on. I know - gross.
In addition to my juggling act, I also got to experience the potential danger of wet leaves caked onto the pavement and piles of pine needles spread across the bike path. Good thing yesterday was supposed to be my short run. My legs were already tired out from three days in a row of (very) hard running and setting new personal bests, and all of this just slowed me down even more. I couldn't even make the 2 miles in under 20 minutes.
Great - just another reason for me to dislike fall. I'm hoping that I can actually learn to adjust a bit. I can't let myself use the weather I don't like as an excuse to quit. I've been telling myself all summer long that I'm going to keep this going through the whole winter so I don't have to start all over next summer. But if the impending fall is this hard, what is winter going to be like?!?!?!? I was already skeptical of whether or not I'd be able to run outside in the winter in Northeast Ohio, especially since the bike path I run on doesn't get plowed of snow or ice, and this experience is REALLY making me nervous. The hubby and I are brainstorming ideas now, and I'm going to check out the local running specialty store for advice/ideas...and as much as I hate running inside, we're trying to figure out how we can afford a used or refurbished treadmill. I'd join a gym - but not only are they expensive, I just don't like them. Even the all-female gyms. I've tried it before and I just feel so uncomfortable. Sure there are people of all fitness levels and ages - it's not that. And it's not the inevitable existence of germs, sweat, and grossness all over the machines and weights (although that's total gross too). It's just not the atmosphere I like. I don't like TV and music when I run. I don't like other things going on around me. I don't like comparing myself to the people around me. I like to run with just me and my thoughts (and the beauty and sounds of nature if I can). It's the mentally therapeutic and relaxing side of running and I can't get that in a gym.
I'm really going to have to start doing some serious research and come up with a plan. Apparently I'm also going to have to learn to suck it up and just do what needs to be done no matter what the circumstances! :o) Run run run!
So I got home from work and headed out for my run around 7:00pm. It was already getting dark, especially with all the clouds. My run was a quick lesson in adapting to different conditions if I'm going to be a runner. And it was not fun. I came to the conclusion that I like running in the summer better. I had already learned that extreme heat and humidity were factors I had to adapt to during the summer, and had found ways around them or learned to adjust my running. Yesterday was the opposite. Not only was it getting dark already, but it was also colder than I was used to (only in the upper 50's by the time I got out there). I have read and been told that you should always dress for running as if it's warmer than it really is. So instead of throwing on sweat pants and a hoodie, I opted for a tshirt and some dri-fit yoga pants/capris. I was freezing when I walked out the door, but as I started to run, I realized that this temperature created a phenomenon. I was sweating, but my face, nose, and hands were cold. Not cool. Because this meant that not only did I have to worry about wiping the sweat off that was dripping down my face, but I had to alternate that with blowing my nose that was running because it was cold. I'm pretty sure that by the time I was done, I was trying to dry my face off with the same parts of a paper towel I'd blown my nose on. I know - gross.
In addition to my juggling act, I also got to experience the potential danger of wet leaves caked onto the pavement and piles of pine needles spread across the bike path. Good thing yesterday was supposed to be my short run. My legs were already tired out from three days in a row of (very) hard running and setting new personal bests, and all of this just slowed me down even more. I couldn't even make the 2 miles in under 20 minutes.
Great - just another reason for me to dislike fall. I'm hoping that I can actually learn to adjust a bit. I can't let myself use the weather I don't like as an excuse to quit. I've been telling myself all summer long that I'm going to keep this going through the whole winter so I don't have to start all over next summer. But if the impending fall is this hard, what is winter going to be like?!?!?!? I was already skeptical of whether or not I'd be able to run outside in the winter in Northeast Ohio, especially since the bike path I run on doesn't get plowed of snow or ice, and this experience is REALLY making me nervous. The hubby and I are brainstorming ideas now, and I'm going to check out the local running specialty store for advice/ideas...and as much as I hate running inside, we're trying to figure out how we can afford a used or refurbished treadmill. I'd join a gym - but not only are they expensive, I just don't like them. Even the all-female gyms. I've tried it before and I just feel so uncomfortable. Sure there are people of all fitness levels and ages - it's not that. And it's not the inevitable existence of germs, sweat, and grossness all over the machines and weights (although that's total gross too). It's just not the atmosphere I like. I don't like TV and music when I run. I don't like other things going on around me. I don't like comparing myself to the people around me. I like to run with just me and my thoughts (and the beauty and sounds of nature if I can). It's the mentally therapeutic and relaxing side of running and I can't get that in a gym.
I'm really going to have to start doing some serious research and come up with a plan. Apparently I'm also going to have to learn to suck it up and just do what needs to be done no matter what the circumstances! :o) Run run run!
Monday, September 17, 2012
3.1 in Under 31:00!!!
Not a ton of time today, but I just had to share: I completed my 5k route in under 31 minutes for the first time EVER!!!! 30:44 to be exact! (I know the picture of my GPS app below says 30:51, but it took me a few seconds to recover enough to hit the stop button!) All smiles here today :oD
There really is something to setting small goals for yourself along the way as you go. It feels so good to achieve them! And all of a sudden, when you look back on all the little goals you've reached, you realize how far you've truly come. This was pretty obvious to me tonight when I thought back on the first few weeks or month of my running adventure, when I was running 2 miles in 28:30. And now, after a bunch of little goals tackled along the way.....I just ran 3.1 miles in 30:44. That's crazy! A whole mile more, and only 2 and a half minutes more??!?!? That's what I'm talking about! :oD Who ever thought I'd be where I am today? Because I certainly didn't! Haha! Have a good night - and keep on going strong - it's all worth it on days like today!
There really is something to setting small goals for yourself along the way as you go. It feels so good to achieve them! And all of a sudden, when you look back on all the little goals you've reached, you realize how far you've truly come. This was pretty obvious to me tonight when I thought back on the first few weeks or month of my running adventure, when I was running 2 miles in 28:30. And now, after a bunch of little goals tackled along the way.....I just ran 3.1 miles in 30:44. That's crazy! A whole mile more, and only 2 and a half minutes more??!?!? That's what I'm talking about! :oD Who ever thought I'd be where I am today? Because I certainly didn't! Haha! Have a good night - and keep on going strong - it's all worth it on days like today!
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