Thurs, April 7
5:30am - 6:30am Bootcamp class
Today's class was not that challenging, but part of that I'm thankful for. After Troy discovered that even squats were painful for me he encouraged me to do calve raises whenever the other woman had to do jumping stuff or squats. So that was helpful. We worked on shoulders today mostly. We did not do any lunge circuits (again, thankfully!). I used 8 and 10 pounders depending on the exercise. I especially enjoyed the last thing we did. The other woman had to do a certain arm exercise for one minute while I did calve raises. Then we switched and she did squats or whatever while I had to either meet or beat the number of arm exercises she did in a minute. Okay, that is all I need is a little competition. I totally beat her on all of them except for the sit-ups (she did 39 and I did 32 - crap). It was really fun. I can definitely do more when I'm competing against someone. I just want to win. Is that so wrong?! Maybe I'll ask Charlie Sheen.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Do the Math Part 2
In an effort to keep myself motivated for training, I thought I would record my training, "by the numbers", if you will, now that another month has passed since the first recording. Last Saturday I completed week 8 so this report covers weeks 5 - 8.
In weeks 5 - 8 I have:
Worked out 24 times (6 days a week, but missed one workout on the schedule to prevent injury, plus added one additional yoga class)
Done 7 Bootcamp classes at Life Center
Done 1 Bosu/Step class at Life Center
Done 2 Yoga classes at John Carroll
Run a total of 64.13 miles
Add this running total to the one from the first four weeks (56.74) and it totals: 120.87
No wonder I'm tired and sore!!
In weeks 5 - 8 I have:
Worked out 24 times (6 days a week, but missed one workout on the schedule to prevent injury, plus added one additional yoga class)
Done 7 Bootcamp classes at Life Center
Done 1 Bosu/Step class at Life Center
Done 2 Yoga classes at John Carroll
Run a total of 64.13 miles
Add this running total to the one from the first four weeks (56.74) and it totals: 120.87
No wonder I'm tired and sore!!
Never Give Up!
Wed, April 6
5:30am
50 min - running for 30 and walking for 20 at the indoor track at LifeCenter
Distance: 4 miles; Average Pace: 12'32"
Well, I was not sure what today would bring with my leg/calve situation. My training schedule said 50 minutes of running, but I just wasn't sure I'd be able to do it after Monday's experience. But, I went. I ran 10 minutes and gave up and started walking. It just hurt too much to keep going. I felt really defeated, but decided I would at least walk for the rest of the time. Hey, I was already there - I had gotten up to do this, I was doing it! I didn't cry, but I felt close to it. So, I walked. I told myself that I wanted to try to run a bit more...maybe with 10 minutes left to go or something. After 20 minutes more minutes went by and I only had 20 minutes to go I decided that I had had enough and I was going to run. I just kept thinking to myself. "I refuse to accept this", "I refuse to accept this", "I refuse to accept this". I was saying this mantra to the pain, the feeling of defeat, whatever. I just refused to give up and walk. Not that walking is bad, but for me at this point it would mean giving up. I have worked too hard to not give this training 110% of my effort. And guess what?! It didn't hurt as bad as the first mile! I mean I was sore, but I worked it out. Maybe there is something "mental" about this after all.
Then on the way to work I heard this inspiring story on the radio of a 92-year-old woman who completed a marathon in just over 9 hours. 92. Seriously? Wow. She lost her husband of 69 years in 2008 and had to quit training, had health issues in 2009 and had to quit, but completed it in 2010. I can totally do this.
5:30am
50 min - running for 30 and walking for 20 at the indoor track at LifeCenter
Distance: 4 miles; Average Pace: 12'32"
Well, I was not sure what today would bring with my leg/calve situation. My training schedule said 50 minutes of running, but I just wasn't sure I'd be able to do it after Monday's experience. But, I went. I ran 10 minutes and gave up and started walking. It just hurt too much to keep going. I felt really defeated, but decided I would at least walk for the rest of the time. Hey, I was already there - I had gotten up to do this, I was doing it! I didn't cry, but I felt close to it. So, I walked. I told myself that I wanted to try to run a bit more...maybe with 10 minutes left to go or something. After 20 minutes more minutes went by and I only had 20 minutes to go I decided that I had had enough and I was going to run. I just kept thinking to myself. "I refuse to accept this", "I refuse to accept this", "I refuse to accept this". I was saying this mantra to the pain, the feeling of defeat, whatever. I just refused to give up and walk. Not that walking is bad, but for me at this point it would mean giving up. I have worked too hard to not give this training 110% of my effort. And guess what?! It didn't hurt as bad as the first mile! I mean I was sore, but I worked it out. Maybe there is something "mental" about this after all.
Then on the way to work I heard this inspiring story on the radio of a 92-year-old woman who completed a marathon in just over 9 hours. 92. Seriously? Wow. She lost her husband of 69 years in 2008 and had to quit training, had health issues in 2009 and had to quit, but completed it in 2010. I can totally do this.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Oh, Yoga....
Tues, April 5
Yoga at noon at JCU
So I did my second yoga class ever today and really loved it! First, the music was much better (no Madonna)...it had some cool drums (think African) and some songs in different languages and it just seemed more yoga-esque to me. I also found it easier to keep pace with the teacher now that I'm learning the names of the different poses, etc. And my whole entire body felt so good afterwards. Really good stretches. Today we even did crunches, planks and push-ups - yoga style, but good!
Then at the end when the instructor turns the lights off I had a moment. The John Denver song, "Sunshine on My Shoulders" came on and all I could do was think about my Homer dog. I have no idea why it hit me just then, but it did. I guess my stream of consciousness went from gee, I love that song to...what a shame that he died...to I miss my Homer dog laying in the sunshine. There was no need for kleenex, I just let myself have a little moment during the song and then I was fine. I think that must be how it works. You have those moments every now and then...they get less and less, until finally you can just think of them fondly without crying.
Meanwhile, my calves still hurt and I'm not sure that I'm up for running tomorrow. Not sure if I should wait until Friday or try it. I'll just see how it goes, I guess...supposed to be 50 minutes...we'll see what happens.
Yoga at noon at JCU
So I did my second yoga class ever today and really loved it! First, the music was much better (no Madonna)...it had some cool drums (think African) and some songs in different languages and it just seemed more yoga-esque to me. I also found it easier to keep pace with the teacher now that I'm learning the names of the different poses, etc. And my whole entire body felt so good afterwards. Really good stretches. Today we even did crunches, planks and push-ups - yoga style, but good!
Then at the end when the instructor turns the lights off I had a moment. The John Denver song, "Sunshine on My Shoulders" came on and all I could do was think about my Homer dog. I have no idea why it hit me just then, but it did. I guess my stream of consciousness went from gee, I love that song to...what a shame that he died...to I miss my Homer dog laying in the sunshine. There was no need for kleenex, I just let myself have a little moment during the song and then I was fine. I think that must be how it works. You have those moments every now and then...they get less and less, until finally you can just think of them fondly without crying.
Meanwhile, my calves still hurt and I'm not sure that I'm up for running tomorrow. Not sure if I should wait until Friday or try it. I'll just see how it goes, I guess...supposed to be 50 minutes...we'll see what happens.
Left, Right, Left...
Tues, April 5
5:30am - 6:30am, Bootcamp
So I modified the class again today. I did everything except no jumping stuff. Still got a good workout and worked up a good sweat. We did mostly chest and back exercises and I used the 10 pounders so that was good! Doing lunges across the gym was a little difficult on the calves. We ended with an ab/push-up circuit. Lots of planks. Then I did some calve raises and a good stretch on the calve-stretcher thing machine.
Not sure about running tomorrow...we shall see...
5:30am - 6:30am, Bootcamp
So I modified the class again today. I did everything except no jumping stuff. Still got a good workout and worked up a good sweat. We did mostly chest and back exercises and I used the 10 pounders so that was good! Doing lunges across the gym was a little difficult on the calves. We ended with an ab/push-up circuit. Lots of planks. Then I did some calve raises and a good stretch on the calve-stretcher thing machine.
Not sure about running tomorrow...we shall see...
Monday, April 4, 2011
Hitting the Wall
Mon, April 4
Ran/Mostly walked for 42 minutes around the indoor track at JCU during lunch
Distance: 3 miles; Pace: 14'08"
Well, the calves beat me today. I slept in and planned to either run outside or at the indoor track (ugh) during lunch instead. Since it was thundering and lightening, I opted for the indoor track. I mean it was only 40 minutes, how bad could it be, right? Bad. I only got 5 minutes in when my calves were killing me. I mean, bad. Usually I can talk myself out of it and push through, and I'm okay, but it just didn't feel right at all and I decided that listening to my body is probably a good thing at this juncture. I don't want to risk major injury and jeopardize my race next month. So, I decided to walk. I walked for 40 minutes and then added a few just so I could get to 3 miles. I felt good that I did it, but truth be told, I felt like a big failure. This is the first time in all of my training that I've had to walk. One acquaintance of mine who is a marathon runner tried to tell me a week ago, that it is all in my head; that this running thing is all mental. While I can understand how you can psych yourself out and have a positive or negative experience during your run, I also know that this problem is not mental...it is in my friggin' legs. I stretched before I ran today, but could only afford about 5 minutes since it was during lunch.
Maybe it was just too much after the long run on Saturday. I'm hoping that is it. I'm just trying to be so diligent about following my training schedule. I mean, I agree with this "listen to your body" stuff, but I also know that my mind can also provide excuses too that let my body off the hook. They just need to be in better sync with each other...gotta work on that.
Ran/Mostly walked for 42 minutes around the indoor track at JCU during lunch
Distance: 3 miles; Pace: 14'08"
Well, the calves beat me today. I slept in and planned to either run outside or at the indoor track (ugh) during lunch instead. Since it was thundering and lightening, I opted for the indoor track. I mean it was only 40 minutes, how bad could it be, right? Bad. I only got 5 minutes in when my calves were killing me. I mean, bad. Usually I can talk myself out of it and push through, and I'm okay, but it just didn't feel right at all and I decided that listening to my body is probably a good thing at this juncture. I don't want to risk major injury and jeopardize my race next month. So, I decided to walk. I walked for 40 minutes and then added a few just so I could get to 3 miles. I felt good that I did it, but truth be told, I felt like a big failure. This is the first time in all of my training that I've had to walk. One acquaintance of mine who is a marathon runner tried to tell me a week ago, that it is all in my head; that this running thing is all mental. While I can understand how you can psych yourself out and have a positive or negative experience during your run, I also know that this problem is not mental...it is in my friggin' legs. I stretched before I ran today, but could only afford about 5 minutes since it was during lunch.
Maybe it was just too much after the long run on Saturday. I'm hoping that is it. I'm just trying to be so diligent about following my training schedule. I mean, I agree with this "listen to your body" stuff, but I also know that my mind can also provide excuses too that let my body off the hook. They just need to be in better sync with each other...gotta work on that.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Running is a Contact Sport!
Sat, April 2
8:45am, Ran 9 miles at in door track at Life Center
Time: 1:38:56; Pace: 10'59"
So overall today's run felt pretty good. I did two things to minimize my sore calve situation. I decided to stretch for 15 minutes before the run rather than my normal 5 minutes (thanks Sharon!) and then I iced (well with frozen veg) for 15 minutes after. At the beginning it was rough - probably until I got about 3 miles in it was tough on the old calves. Then between mile 4 and 6 I was in the zone and kinda on autopilot. Mile 7 and 8 was tough and mile 9 was the end so that always feels hard, but doable - end is in sight!
Now to explain the title of this blog entry. After a really rough week emotionally, I was in no mood to deal with people just standing in the middle of the track. Not today people. So for the last three miles I decided I was going to take no prisoners...no more Mrs. Nice Gal. I started singing, pretty loudly with my iPod, hoping this would not only motivate me to keep going, but also let people know I was coming and thereby strongly encouraging them to get the hell out of the way. Well, it did work for some. A few people were startled I think by this crazy sight, but they did move, so score. However, huge-workout-bag lady was not that lucky. This woman with a bag that maybe held a week's worth of work out clothes was standing on the track, by the edge talking with another woman who was off the track (I like her). Even though she might have thought she was out of the way, her gianormous bag was sticking into the middle of the track. At first I just went around them, singing my happy tunes, but after a few trips around unsuccessfully getting my message across, I finally made up my mind to take matters in my own hands, literally. I sorta felt like Kathy Bates in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes", when she calls herself "Nowanda" or something like that after having a confrontation with some bitchy ladies over a parking space. I accidentally/on purpose bumped/pushed into her giant bag and said "oh, excuse me" as I flew by. I vaguely heard her mutter, "oh, I'm so sorry, pardon me" as I went by. Yes! Score! I might have had an evil grin on my face for at least one lap of the 81 laps I ran today. Was it mean? Maybe, but ya know what? Everyone has their limits and I had hit mine...again.
Oh, and I might have been the cause of a crash of a stack of aerobic steps that I heard crash down behind me as I happen to be running by the ladies who were in the middle of the track waiting to put their steps away. But I'll never tell. I'll let you decide. ;-)
8:45am, Ran 9 miles at in door track at Life Center
Time: 1:38:56; Pace: 10'59"
So overall today's run felt pretty good. I did two things to minimize my sore calve situation. I decided to stretch for 15 minutes before the run rather than my normal 5 minutes (thanks Sharon!) and then I iced (well with frozen veg) for 15 minutes after. At the beginning it was rough - probably until I got about 3 miles in it was tough on the old calves. Then between mile 4 and 6 I was in the zone and kinda on autopilot. Mile 7 and 8 was tough and mile 9 was the end so that always feels hard, but doable - end is in sight!
Now to explain the title of this blog entry. After a really rough week emotionally, I was in no mood to deal with people just standing in the middle of the track. Not today people. So for the last three miles I decided I was going to take no prisoners...no more Mrs. Nice Gal. I started singing, pretty loudly with my iPod, hoping this would not only motivate me to keep going, but also let people know I was coming and thereby strongly encouraging them to get the hell out of the way. Well, it did work for some. A few people were startled I think by this crazy sight, but they did move, so score. However, huge-workout-bag lady was not that lucky. This woman with a bag that maybe held a week's worth of work out clothes was standing on the track, by the edge talking with another woman who was off the track (I like her). Even though she might have thought she was out of the way, her gianormous bag was sticking into the middle of the track. At first I just went around them, singing my happy tunes, but after a few trips around unsuccessfully getting my message across, I finally made up my mind to take matters in my own hands, literally. I sorta felt like Kathy Bates in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes", when she calls herself "Nowanda" or something like that after having a confrontation with some bitchy ladies over a parking space. I accidentally/on purpose bumped/pushed into her giant bag and said "oh, excuse me" as I flew by. I vaguely heard her mutter, "oh, I'm so sorry, pardon me" as I went by. Yes! Score! I might have had an evil grin on my face for at least one lap of the 81 laps I ran today. Was it mean? Maybe, but ya know what? Everyone has their limits and I had hit mine...again.
Oh, and I might have been the cause of a crash of a stack of aerobic steps that I heard crash down behind me as I happen to be running by the ladies who were in the middle of the track waiting to put their steps away. But I'll never tell. I'll let you decide. ;-)
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