Monday, May 4, 2009

Week 3.1 - Day 2 & 3; Week 4 - Day 1 & 2

I'm sad I didn't have time until now to post a running update. The details from each run have a tendancy to blur together.


Week 3.1 - Day 2 & 3

These were on 4/25 and 4/27. Both days were really hot and both nights were much warmer than I had been used to - day 2 hotter than day 3. They were the first days that I had jogged when it wasn't fairly chilly out (I only go out at night). Day 3 was tough and I was sweating. I don't usually sweat a lot - just how I am - and since I have been jogging in cold temps, I didn't sweat much at all. Day 3 was SWEATY! :) I didn't mind, it was just a lot different than I had been used to so far.

I took River with me on the warm up walk on day 2 but left him home for the rest since he was still sick. I took him with me on day 3. Sometimes I think he is completely bored and unhappy on our runs. I wish I could ask him whether he'd prefer to come with or stay home. He is getting better and better at staying right with me (he knew how to "heel" before I started running but it's different to behave on a leash, going varying speeds, in traffic, etc.) but still is jumpy when he hears weird noises. One day I know he's going to bolt at an unexpected sound, trip me, and cause me to fall on my face. Not looking forward to that...

Both days I worked on going a bit longer distance than I did the day before. I wasn't really struggling to hit the 3 min jog mark so I figured I'd work in a little more speed. I ended the last 3 min walk right at my driveway on day 2 and passed my driveway completely on day 3. I went 6 loops / 1.8 miles on both days. On day 3 I was doubting my ability to jog for the 5 min interval for the next week, so I decided to push on that last 3 min jog to see how long I could go - I got to a little over 4 mins with some struggle. That gave me hope that I'd be able to go on to week 4.


Week 4 - Day 1 & 2

Holy crap I can jog for 5 mins straight!! :) Seriously, it still seems silly to say stuff like that but it's so far from what I was doing 7 weeks ago, that it's hard to believe.

Week 4 is:
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes); Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds); Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes); Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes); Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes); Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds); Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

I took River on day 1 and really tried to pace myself. It went really well and I never thought about giving up. The beginning is definitely tough but by the end I get more energy back and really start to enjoy it. Well, I should clarify, it still sucks the entire time, I'd rather be eating a yummy dinner in front of the TV, but I don't feel like I'm going to die by the end. And, if I don't feel like I'm going to keel over, then I'm happy to be out there and proud of myself (which, for me, equals enjoyment).

On day 2, C came with me and I left River in the house. C hasn't been with me since the week 2 instruction so she did not complete all the jogging intervals. This is not a stab at her or anything - she did great for not having gone out for a couple weeks. It did make me feel good though that all my running has actually been doing something for me. She got a cramp in her side - I don't want her to get hurt because of me - so I told her she should just walk. I jog slow enough that she can keep up if she walks fast (hah I'm so slow...). I haven't ever gotten side cramps, not sure what causes those or if you can just push through them.

Week 4 starts to increase the total time out walking/running. I get well into the 6th loop at the end of the second 5 min interval with this new week. Both weeks were 7 loops total / 2.1 miles. Still having to push myself to actually get out there but am still so happy I went, every time.


A few more updates
I got so tired of my one pair of sweat pants falling down during my runs that I went out and bought some new exercise clothes. I found 2 pairs of pants, one grey and one black, and a pair of capri type pants that are black with a pink racing stripe down the leg. Yay for "petite" length pants that I don't have to roll up! (I'm about 5'4" and have a hard time finding the correct length pants). I also found a hooded, zip-up sweat shirt that I can wear if it's raining or too cold for just a t-shirt. I wore my new clothes for the first time on week 4 - day 2 (the grey pants) and they are so much better than what I was wearing before!

My legs have been hurting a little more lately. Not my knee - which I'm still so grateful for - but my shins and most notibly my left thigh. My shins aren't too bad, mostly just tender to the touch, getting better the more time passes from my last run. I figure the shin thing is just normal muscle pain. My thigh however has hurt for at least a week now and does not seem to be getting better. It's not normal muscle pain as I know it - it's deep in there, under the muscle(s) that I can manipulate if I were to rub my thigh. It's not tender to the touch but instead makes me wince if I move my leg in a certain way. Walking in high heels (today) makes it hurt as well. I'm just going to keep running through it but I wanted to note it here in case it gets worse.

Someone has mentioned (without prompting) that I look like I'm losing weight. I hope I do but really I haven't lost much. I think I feel like I have but I can't tell if it's all in my head or not. My clothes aren't any looser or anything.

So far, so good though! Tonight will be week 4 - day 3. :)

4 comments:

  1. I am impressed with your running. Also the fact that you're keeping it up. I always find after a few weeeks, or just when I start not to feel like an asthmatic big bad wolf that something pops and I'm out of commmission.

    g

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  2. Eck! Running with the dog. I don't do that. Buddy wont heel when running. He thinks it's a race, and he has to win at any cost. Hub found that one out after Buddy tripped him and he ended up chasing him for about an hour. Geuss he thought Hub wasn't working hard enough. lol. Keep up the good work!

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  3. Tender to the touch could be the beginnings of shin splints. Make sure you're warming up and stretching. Don't increase to fast or try big inclines.
    I had a terrible case of shin splints, mine were worsened by really tight calf muscles. Try to ice them if you can and use some ibuprofen. Most people can heal them while they continue, I had to stop.
    Great progress!

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  4. Look at you go!! Don't feel silly for celebrating the little milestones! 5 minutes straight is AMAZING! I am so proud of you! Makes me want to run... but I won't! So keep it up so I can do it vicariously through you!

    I got a lot of my work out clothes at a thrift store! Then I don't feel bad about trashing them!

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