Rats, I was trying another 5-mile run this morning, when I was stopped by a back spasm before I made it to 2 miles! I never had one of those before, running or otherwise, and it ended my run on the spot. I tried walking it out for a while, stretching, whatever, then running again, but it was no-go. Ugh, it was still a 2-mile walk around the loop back
to the car. This is an upper back spasm, while most of what I read about online was lower back. When I got home I took some vitamin I, Candy rubbed it, we put on bengay, and now I'm taking it easy. I can still feel it, but later today I'll get in the hot tub which should help. I'm really hoping I can retry that 5-miler tomorrow morning after more bengay and ibuprofen tonight.
I did all my runs this week, but had flaked out on the cross-training that I'm supposed to do on the off days. This was the first week I let that slip so much, and I wonder if there's any connection.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
5 miles
On Sunday I ran 5 miles. I was away for the weekend, so considered just running on the hotel's fitness room treadmill. Candy says it's better on my knees, and I'm sure she's right. However, there's a lot to be said for interesting (or at least new) scenery when I'm running. MapMyRun.com makes it so easy to chart out a new route, with Google Map's street, photo, and hybrid views. It even has an elevation plot so I can avoid big hills.
It was tough, but not horribly so. I finished in 52:30, which is a 10:30 pace on the button. I felt great for having finished it. Now I have some shorter runs during the week, before another 5-miler on Sunday.
I have two trips for work during this time, right now to San Francisco, and next week to Houston. The SF trip gives me the chance to run across the GG Bridge, while Houston has nothing but humidity! I don't know, maybe it's better than that.
My weight stays the same, no doubt because I'm exercising well but eating poorly. For the moment, I'm ok with that. The next 5k is about three weeks away, but it's the 10k beyond that looks like the challenge. Of course, I'm still concerned about the huge increase to 13.1 miles for that half-marathon in just 2.5 months...
At least I'm starting to see some improvement. This morning I noticed some better definition in my legs.
-Mark
Monday, August 18, 2008
Am I a runner now?
I'm a runner right now in the sense that I'm running regularly. But am I a runner? I'm not sure. I ordered John Bingham's book, the Courage to Start, about the "penguin chronicles." That sounded like me, until I read the intro of the actual book, and Bingham talks about always feeling the joy of running, from when he was a young kid.
That's not me. I was never a runner. I was slow, and never had good form. Then for years I had problems with my feet. Though I dabbled in running throughout my adult life (i.e. taking it up & dropping again once every five years), it was always something I did to try to get in shape, lose weight, etc.
That's my motivation now, too. I'd wanted to run the 5k in my own town before I turned 40. Then that shifted into running it when I was 40. Which I did! That was in 2006, and despite the pride of the accomplishment, I stopped running after that. This year I turned 42, and have been growing increasingly concerned about my health. In particular, my cholesterol was hovering in the border zone, and I knew I was overweight. Particularly as the sole wage-earner, I want to take responsibility for my own well-being for my own sake and that of my family.
So with a gulp I decided on my birthday to run the half-marathon this year. And I started running. Does that make me a runner?
It definitely helps to have a defined training plan. I didn't have that when I did the 5k, but now I've got one. I don't think that makes me a runner by itself, but it gives me focus and measured progress that I didn't have before. It also pushed me to sign up for two more 5k's and a 10k on the way to the half-marathon.
I still don't feel a joy to get out there and run, but I do feel a drive to keep progressing along my training plan. I can even feel a little restless after a couple days of not running, anxious to attempt the next increment. It's also been fun to look forward to new runs in new cities, like when I'm on some sort of trip.
Yesterday I picked up Runner's World magazine, and today I discovered running podcasts. In all of my hobbies, I've enjoyed studying up on it. It happens all the time with games, it happened with model rockets, with travel... It's a good sign that I want to "study" running. Maybe if this keeps up I will really be a runner!
That's not me. I was never a runner. I was slow, and never had good form. Then for years I had problems with my feet. Though I dabbled in running throughout my adult life (i.e. taking it up & dropping again once every five years), it was always something I did to try to get in shape, lose weight, etc.
That's my motivation now, too. I'd wanted to run the 5k in my own town before I turned 40. Then that shifted into running it when I was 40. Which I did! That was in 2006, and despite the pride of the accomplishment, I stopped running after that. This year I turned 42, and have been growing increasingly concerned about my health. In particular, my cholesterol was hovering in the border zone, and I knew I was overweight. Particularly as the sole wage-earner, I want to take responsibility for my own well-being for my own sake and that of my family.
So with a gulp I decided on my birthday to run the half-marathon this year. And I started running. Does that make me a runner?
It definitely helps to have a defined training plan. I didn't have that when I did the 5k, but now I've got one. I don't think that makes me a runner by itself, but it gives me focus and measured progress that I didn't have before. It also pushed me to sign up for two more 5k's and a 10k on the way to the half-marathon.
I still don't feel a joy to get out there and run, but I do feel a drive to keep progressing along my training plan. I can even feel a little restless after a couple days of not running, anxious to attempt the next increment. It's also been fun to look forward to new runs in new cities, like when I'm on some sort of trip.
Yesterday I picked up Runner's World magazine, and today I discovered running podcasts. In all of my hobbies, I've enjoyed studying up on it. It happens all the time with games, it happened with model rockets, with travel... It's a good sign that I want to "study" running. Maybe if this keeps up I will really be a runner!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
4 miles!
This morning I ran 4 miles, farther than I've ever run before. I made it, but beyond that I made it pretty easily. It wasn't EASY, but I thought I could've gone even farther if I would've had to. These four miles felt a little easier than the 3.1 miles (5K) I ran last week.
This morning I got up early, starting my run by 6am when it was still cool and not yet bright. That must've helped.
-Mark
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The start of half-marathon training
I'm now a couple days into the 12 weeks of half-marathon training. Mondays are now Strengthen & Stretch, which I did. Partway through I started to feel like I had a clue what I was doing. It'll get more productive with repetition.
Then tonite was a 3 mile run, something that will ramp up on Tuesdays. I tried using the Freestyle MP3 player on an armband instead of the Treo. Between that & no water bottle I was running with nothing in my hands. Which was good.
It's still pretty hot in the evenings, but at least I made it.
-Mark
Sunday, August 3, 2008
My first 5K
Today I ran my first 5K, and that's a good a note as any to start my personal training blog on. Almost two years ago I ran/walked the Santa Clarita 5K, but this one (the Free To Breathe run in Los Angeles) was the first time I ran the whole way. That's an accomplishment I can be proud of.
Even better it what it means: I'm progressing on my plan to run a half-marathon in Santa Clarita this November. That was a commitment I made to myself on my 42nd birthday this year. With some trepidation, I could add. Not knowing much of anything about it, I just typed "half marathon training" into a Google search a few days after that commitment, and was lucky to find a lot of good material. I had no idea! I ended up following what Hal Higdon had to say about novice runners training for various distances, including a half-marathon.
That was pretty fortunate, because I learned later that Hal Higdon isn't just some hack, but instead he's one of the leading authorities on the subject. I just put his intro, 5K, and half-marathon training schedules back-to-back-to-back, and ended up with something that had me run this Free To Breathe 5K this morning. Although the goal of that half-marathon is VERY intimidating, I'm trying to maintain confidence in the training program, which I've been successfully following since the end of April. If it's got me this far, I can go the rest of the way, right?
Still, looking at the final 12 weeks of my training gives me the impression of jumping off a cliff. I think it takes a significant step up in intensity, and I just hope I can make it.
Even better it what it means: I'm progressing on my plan to run a half-marathon in Santa Clarita this November. That was a commitment I made to myself on my 42nd birthday this year. With some trepidation, I could add. Not knowing much of anything about it, I just typed "half marathon training" into a Google search a few days after that commitment, and was lucky to find a lot of good material. I had no idea! I ended up following what Hal Higdon had to say about novice runners training for various distances, including a half-marathon.
That was pretty fortunate, because I learned later that Hal Higdon isn't just some hack, but instead he's one of the leading authorities on the subject. I just put his intro, 5K, and half-marathon training schedules back-to-back-to-back, and ended up with something that had me run this Free To Breathe 5K this morning. Although the goal of that half-marathon is VERY intimidating, I'm trying to maintain confidence in the training program, which I've been successfully following since the end of April. If it's got me this far, I can go the rest of the way, right?
Still, looking at the final 12 weeks of my training gives me the impression of jumping off a cliff. I think it takes a significant step up in intensity, and I just hope I can make it.
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