I worked from home today which meant that I got to run outside (and have pho for lunch).
It was very windy today. The kind of gusts that make your hair bitch-slap you in the face, if you had long enough hair.
I ran up, and walked back down, the block that our house is on. It's about a 10th of a mile long with a gradual but definite slope up. The wind blew at me sideways, hard, so I had to fight it going up and got no benefit coming down.
I did the run up 10 times and am proud that I powered up the last one. The wind was so strong at times that I didn't feel like I was moving at times.
Today's workout falls into the what-doesn't-kill-you-helps-you category because it was not fun. Not even with "Fresh Air" for company.
Hm. Maybe that's why...
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Ho-hum
No "Family Feud" because the treadmill TV channels only played CNN, MSNBC and ESPN. How do you run to Lou Dobbs or hockey?
Tummy was growling because salads don't fill me up.
Tired before I started the run because I got four hours of sleep the night before.
It all lead a ho-hum treadmill run. Am glad that I worked out though because I'd probably feel even more out of it without the exercise.
I'm going to need to talk to the gym people about making sure they have my "Family Feud" fix ready for me.
Tummy was growling because salads don't fill me up.
Tired before I started the run because I got four hours of sleep the night before.
It all lead a ho-hum treadmill run. Am glad that I worked out though because I'd probably feel even more out of it without the exercise.
I'm going to need to talk to the gym people about making sure they have my "Family Feud" fix ready for me.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
1377 steps climbed
Jean, Lee and I did the 62-floor climb yesterday and while we don't have the official times yet, I'm sure we rocked it. By that I mean that I don't think we were the last ones to finish.
Actually, we may be last. All the other climbers seemed young, fit and athletic. We were definitely in LA.
Leland finished first, as he usually does at physical events with me. He is motivated by the desire to get it over with as soon as possible. He may not train for it and is pained afterwards, but his willpower to finish is impressive!
Jean powered up the steps in front of me. I think she was giving me the thumbs up sign whenever we passed each other but I was a bit oxygen-deprived so she might have been giving me the middle finger for roping her in on the climb.
I much prefer running to stair climbing. However, if anyone wants to climb the Empire State Building, CALL ME!
Actually, we may be last. All the other climbers seemed young, fit and athletic. We were definitely in LA.
Leland finished first, as he usually does at physical events with me. He is motivated by the desire to get it over with as soon as possible. He may not train for it and is pained afterwards, but his willpower to finish is impressive!
Jean powered up the steps in front of me. I think she was giving me the thumbs up sign whenever we passed each other but I was a bit oxygen-deprived so she might have been giving me the middle finger for roping her in on the climb.
I much prefer running to stair climbing. However, if anyone wants to climb the Empire State Building, CALL ME!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A step forward
I made it to the gym the last two days, happy to be breaking out a sweat again! I think my Monday post of despair was caused by lack of exercise and a PMS outbreak.
Yesterday, I 'laddered' about 4 miles. Today, about 2 miles.
My right calf continues to be leaden through the first 2 miles of every run but the pain eventually works itself out. No residual issue that I know of but I'm on the lookout for any weird pains.
I think I'm addicted to sweating. I don't get that runner's high (I tend to fall asleep on the bus ride home after every workout) but I definitely feel different emotionally when I haven't worked out in a while.
Yesterday, I 'laddered' about 4 miles. Today, about 2 miles.
My right calf continues to be leaden through the first 2 miles of every run but the pain eventually works itself out. No residual issue that I know of but I'm on the lookout for any weird pains.
I think I'm addicted to sweating. I don't get that runner's high (I tend to fall asleep on the bus ride home after every workout) but I definitely feel different emotionally when I haven't worked out in a while.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A step back
Was suppose to go for a long run (still at 3 miles until mid-May) this weekend but with no running partner (Shannon was busy getting ready for Austin's 3rd birthday party) and achy calves, I flaked.
I am nagged by thoughts of how little progress I've made in the last five years since I've started running. I know that what progression I've made is due to hard work and dedication. I also know that what progression I wanted (and still want) to make is due to the lack of more hard work and dedication.
But how much more is necessary to make a significant change in my running, body, health? I tell myself to be optimistic but the reality is that I'm bummed with how little I've improved.
Tomorrow is the start of another training week. Am feeling, for the first time in a long time, like "who cares?".
I am nagged by thoughts of how little progress I've made in the last five years since I've started running. I know that what progression I've made is due to hard work and dedication. I also know that what progression I wanted (and still want) to make is due to the lack of more hard work and dedication.
But how much more is necessary to make a significant change in my running, body, health? I tell myself to be optimistic but the reality is that I'm bummed with how little I've improved.
Tomorrow is the start of another training week. Am feeling, for the first time in a long time, like "who cares?".
Thursday, April 17, 2008
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 192, 238, ...
The sunny, bright day had given way to misty fog when I went out for a run + stairs workout.
The plan: run 3 miles to the stadium and complete a full round of stadium stairs then MUNI back home to a takeout dinner that Lee was going to order for me.
The reality: ran 1 mile to the stairs on 16th, completed 700 steps up (and more harrowing down...I dislike going down much more than going up) and ran the 1 mile back.
It wasn't the easiest workout but I didn't feel like I was going to kneel over in agony. A tight back and very heavy calf; if those pains are all I'm going to feel on Saturday then my body is a rock star!
After today's workout, I'm not worried about next week's stair climb. Just have to be careful not to overwork the back.
Still have not sunk my teeth into a lemon square and I'm having a wicked craving for sugar + butter + eggs right now. Will some kind soul out there deliver a dessert item of some sort?
The plan: run 3 miles to the stadium and complete a full round of stadium stairs then MUNI back home to a takeout dinner that Lee was going to order for me.
The reality: ran 1 mile to the stairs on 16th, completed 700 steps up (and more harrowing down...I dislike going down much more than going up) and ran the 1 mile back.
It wasn't the easiest workout but I didn't feel like I was going to kneel over in agony. A tight back and very heavy calf; if those pains are all I'm going to feel on Saturday then my body is a rock star!
After today's workout, I'm not worried about next week's stair climb. Just have to be careful not to overwork the back.
Still have not sunk my teeth into a lemon square and I'm having a wicked craving for sugar + butter + eggs right now. Will some kind soul out there deliver a dessert item of some sort?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Denied
Me at the cafe: A lemon square and Earl Grey tea, please.
Cafe guy: Okay.
...
Cafe guy: Tea! $1.75.
Me: Ah...okay, thanks. (thinking, where's my lemon square? I NEED that lemon square.)
Cafe guy: Thanks.
Me: Grmpf. (thinking, wow, I was just denied my sugar rush of the afternoon.)
Sure, I could have asked again for my sugar fix but I didn't want to seem desperate (which I was) and didn't want to hold up the line. I walked away with my tea and 200 calories lighter for not inhaling the yummy dessert.
I fared better at the gym. I did a ladder workout on the treadmill.
15 minute / mile pace: half mile
13 minute / mile pace: one mile
12 minute / mile pace: half mile
11 minute / mile pace: half mile (WOOT!)
20 minute / mile pace: half mile
Tomorrow, I'm going to get me a lemon square.
Cafe guy: Okay.
...
Cafe guy: Tea! $1.75.
Me: Ah...okay, thanks. (thinking, where's my lemon square? I NEED that lemon square.)
Cafe guy: Thanks.
Me: Grmpf. (thinking, wow, I was just denied my sugar rush of the afternoon.)
Sure, I could have asked again for my sugar fix but I didn't want to seem desperate (which I was) and didn't want to hold up the line. I walked away with my tea and 200 calories lighter for not inhaling the yummy dessert.
I fared better at the gym. I did a ladder workout on the treadmill.
15 minute / mile pace: half mile
13 minute / mile pace: one mile
12 minute / mile pace: half mile
11 minute / mile pace: half mile (WOOT!)
20 minute / mile pace: half mile
Tomorrow, I'm going to get me a lemon square.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Super quads
It was an amazingly beautiful and hot weekend, even in the Sunset where the powers that be normally deem us immigrants unworthy of decent weather.
I did a short run with Shannon on Saturday. Bless her heart, she walked with me when I pooped out towards the end of the 3-mile run. It's amazing how soon my body forgets how to move; it was only a week off!
Did about an hour on the elliptical machine today as prep for next weekend's LA climb. Definitely got a workout. I felt my quads expand, like a cartoon character's, with each step.
Am enjoying the workouts but haven't been able to kick this latest bout of illness entirely. I'm still coughing, with phlem (globs of it...glad you're reading this?) and a sore throat. What gives?
I did a short run with Shannon on Saturday. Bless her heart, she walked with me when I pooped out towards the end of the 3-mile run. It's amazing how soon my body forgets how to move; it was only a week off!
Did about an hour on the elliptical machine today as prep for next weekend's LA climb. Definitely got a workout. I felt my quads expand, like a cartoon character's, with each step.
Am enjoying the workouts but haven't been able to kick this latest bout of illness entirely. I'm still coughing, with phlem (globs of it...glad you're reading this?) and a sore throat. What gives?
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
How time flies
It was good to get back into the gym today. Finished a 2.5 mile run on the treadmill. Was surprised that the 12 minute / mile felt...well, not slow but not as fast and difficult as it did a few weeks ago.
I pushed to a 11 minute / mile pace for a half mile. It was not bad. We'll have to see how well my back reacts to that pace. I have had problems with running so fast before; it resulted in back spasms and weeks of rehab time on the couch.
I pushed to a 11 minute / mile pace for a half mile. It was not bad. We'll have to see how well my back reacts to that pace. I have had problems with running so fast before; it resulted in back spasms and weeks of rehab time on the couch.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bean bag
It has been one heck of a week. I succumbed to a hacking cough, dangerous amounts of mucus that almost drowned me and all-around achiness this last week. I got this second cold from Lee just as I was free of the first one.
After a week of giving over my body to the cold demons, I am finally feeling better. I don't think the copious amounts of drugs I inhaled helped me get better but it was fun to be just out of it for a few days.
Today, I was able to put in a short 1.5 miler. I jogged really slowly, up and down the hills of the Inner Sunset. I jogged slow enough to have walkers pass me and enjoyed the fact that I wasn't clogged up or achy or coughing violently.
Am looking forward to getting back to the workout regiment again. My body feels/looks like a beaten up bean bag.
OH, one really good thing that happened last week: I won a lottery spot to this year's Nike Half Marathon race! I will be running it on my 36th birthday!
After a week of giving over my body to the cold demons, I am finally feeling better. I don't think the copious amounts of drugs I inhaled helped me get better but it was fun to be just out of it for a few days.
Today, I was able to put in a short 1.5 miler. I jogged really slowly, up and down the hills of the Inner Sunset. I jogged slow enough to have walkers pass me and enjoyed the fact that I wasn't clogged up or achy or coughing violently.
Am looking forward to getting back to the workout regiment again. My body feels/looks like a beaten up bean bag.
OH, one really good thing that happened last week: I won a lottery spot to this year's Nike Half Marathon race! I will be running it on my 36th birthday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)