Lately I feel like every day when I wake up, something on me hurts. Some days it's my lower back, some days it's my ankles, other days it's my neck. Kind of frustrating. Luckily, my Achilles has felt a lot better lately. I guess my form is better when I run quicker. Some days, like on Monday, after doing 100 body weight squats, I woke up and felt that good kind of muscle ache. Where I was using muscles in a way that I hadn't in a long time.
But my lower back, ankles and neck pain have been nagging and not a good feeling. The past few days, I feel like someone is stabbing me in between my shoulder blades. I can't turn my neck and when I turn in my sleep, the shooting pain wakes me up. Im hoping that as my body gets stronger, these aches and pains go away. I know Im no spring chicken anymore, but Im only turning 38. I see people in their 50's and 60's running half marathons and full marathons. So I just have to believe that after years of inactivity, that this is just my bodies way of getting stronger.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Gonna Fly Now...
The last couple of weeks, I was really struggling. The more I struggled, the slower I would try to run. This didn't seem to help. So the other night, I ran as hard as I could to start out and you know what? I finished my first mile in about 9:30. I slowed up a bit as my breathing became more labored, but I tried to run at a quick pace. I ended up doing 2 miles in 19:37. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't as hard as when I was trying to run at 10:30 or 11:00 minute pace. My best guess is that I was running tight when I tried to throttle things back. This "epiphany" hit me on Friday night. There was a rain delay in the Yankees playoff game against the Tigers, so I went for a run.
I tried the same with my next run on Tuesday night. I wanted to run a 5k to get ready for my upcoming 5k on the 16th. So I started out with a quick pace again and finished my first mile in 9:22. I waled for a minute then finished mile 2 in 10:11. This makes sense since I walked for a minute. My pace actually quickened a bit. Then I really ran out of gas on the last 1.11 miles. I ended up walking 90 seconds so I could catch my breath. I also had to take about a 10 second breather just before hit mile 3. I finished 3.15 miles in 32.03 which I thought was pretty good. If I could learn to push past more of the pain and labored breathing I think I could get my time down to right around 30:00. I plan on running again Thursday night, Sunday night and next Tuesday. They I will shut things down for 4 days to get my body ready for the 5k at the USPTO.
I tried the same with my next run on Tuesday night. I wanted to run a 5k to get ready for my upcoming 5k on the 16th. So I started out with a quick pace again and finished my first mile in 9:22. I waled for a minute then finished mile 2 in 10:11. This makes sense since I walked for a minute. My pace actually quickened a bit. Then I really ran out of gas on the last 1.11 miles. I ended up walking 90 seconds so I could catch my breath. I also had to take about a 10 second breather just before hit mile 3. I finished 3.15 miles in 32.03 which I thought was pretty good. If I could learn to push past more of the pain and labored breathing I think I could get my time down to right around 30:00. I plan on running again Thursday night, Sunday night and next Tuesday. They I will shut things down for 4 days to get my body ready for the 5k at the USPTO.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Distance Personal Best
So yesterday I posted about how I wanted to kick things up and start running farther. So last night I did Week 1 Day 1 of Bridge to 10k. This called for me to run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 10 minutes. I thought I would only end up running around 3.5 miles. I was pleasantly surprised that I totalled 4.15 miles, which was almost a full mile longer than any of my previous runs.
As with other runs, I felt like it got easier as I got further in. When I finished mile 1, I felt pretty good. It was fairly easy. By the time I got to mile 2, I was gassed, and didn't think I would be able to do 2 more 10 minute intervals. But once I did my 1 minute walk break, the next two intervals went pretty easy. When I finished my 4th interval, I felt like I could have kept going and like I could have finished at least another mile maybe a full 10k. Very encouraging. The plan is to continue with the Bridge to 10k until my 5K next month. I should be up to about week 4 or 5 by then, so Im hoping a 5k will seem easy once I am running 4+ miles on a regular basis. At least I hope so.
One other thing I have been doing differently is listening to Howard Stern/Opie & Anthony instead of music. It seems to take my mind off of running and makes it a bit easier.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Distance Run: 4.15
1st Mile: 10:42
2nd Mile: 11:35
3rd Mile: 10:51
4th Mile: 11:10
Calories Burned: 430
Total Time: 45:40
Total Time: 19:45
Calories Burned: 212
As with other runs, I felt like it got easier as I got further in. When I finished mile 1, I felt pretty good. It was fairly easy. By the time I got to mile 2, I was gassed, and didn't think I would be able to do 2 more 10 minute intervals. But once I did my 1 minute walk break, the next two intervals went pretty easy. When I finished my 4th interval, I felt like I could have kept going and like I could have finished at least another mile maybe a full 10k. Very encouraging. The plan is to continue with the Bridge to 10k until my 5K next month. I should be up to about week 4 or 5 by then, so Im hoping a 5k will seem easy once I am running 4+ miles on a regular basis. At least I hope so.
One other thing I have been doing differently is listening to Howard Stern/Opie & Anthony instead of music. It seems to take my mind off of running and makes it a bit easier.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Distance Run: 4.15
1st Mile: 10:42
2nd Mile: 11:35
3rd Mile: 10:51
4th Mile: 11:10
Calories Burned: 430
Total Time: 45:40
Total Time: 19:45
Calories Burned: 212
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Stepping it up...
Now that I have signed up for my first official 5k on October 16th, I need to step things up a bit. I want to be able to finish the 3 miles as easily as possible. I am going to try Bridge to 10k. Run 10 min/walk 1 min Repeat x 4. I think I will probably end up running about 3.5 miles in that time which will be more than I have been doing. Going to try a more leisurely pace so that I don't burn out after 2 or 3 intervals. I figure that if I get used to running closer to 4 miles, running 3.1 will feel easy. At least that is my hope.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13
100 miles. Wow, never thought I would see the day when I ran 100 miles. Very proud of myself. The real kicker is that I've burned over 10,000 calories in the process. I was very excited when I saw that I had finally reached the 100 mile mark.
I think I may have also found my first 5K. Rachel mentioned that the USPTO is having a 5K in October right around my birthday. So I think I will give it a try. Jonathan has mentioned that he may run in the event as well. Would be nice to have another persons time to compare against. There is also an online "Virtual 5K" that I found the other night. That is scheduled for the end of October. May give that one a try as well so I can knock off two 5K's. Still considering the Manassas duathlon as well.
The last two nights when I ran, I've done 3.1 miles each time. I think I'll continue to run 3 miles at least twice a week from now until the first 5K. Last night I struggled from the start. I didn't hydrate really well all day, so I think that played part. Plus I was up late the night before (4AM) doing an upgrade for work. It was much easier doing the 3 miles on Sunday than it was last night. My times weren't dramatically different, but it was much harder to finish last night.
I thought when I started out that as I loosened up I would settle into a groove. That never really happened. One of those nights when it felt like I was constantly running up hill. I finished 3.1 miles in 32:30 on Sunday with average pace of 10:24. Last night, I finished in 33:13 with an average pace of 10:40. Would really like to get my time as close to 30:00 as I can before the first 5k.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday September 5, 2011
Yes, you read that right, I ran on a Monday. Was going to run on Sunday, but got home late and wanted to watch a movie with Rachel, so I put it off till Monday.
When I started out, it was raining lightly. The leading edge of moisture from what was left of Tropical Storm Lee had moved into Northern Virginia. I originally started out with a plan to run 3.1 miles to see if I could maintain a sub 10 minute mile pace for 5k distance. Being able to finish a 5k in under 30 minutes would be awesome.
Well after mile 1, which I ran at a pace of 9:21, I was gassed. I took a 90 second walk break and started mile two. I made it about half a mile, and again felt winded, and walked for about 20 seconds. The rest of the run, I kept checking my phone hoping the mileage would miraculously jump up to 2 miles so I could stop. I eventually hit 2 miles and decided to stop. One because I was tired and winded and the thought of grinding through another mile didn't sound like it was something I was up to. And second, the rain had become more steady and I didn't want my iPhone to get too wet.
It was extremely humid when I ran (duh, hence the rain). It's supposed to be a soggy week here, so I may have the same sort of conditions when I run again on Wednesday. Decided to try to do Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week. Depending on the weather, we'll see how that goes. If it's not raining tonight, I may do another 2 mile run. Maybe 2.25 just to build up some more distance.
On a side note, my neck has been hurting for the better part of a week now. At first it felt like a stiff neck from sleeping funny. That usually goes away in a day or two. This has lingered for more than a week. It felt pretty good on Sunday when I went to play golf, but by evening it was hurting again. I have a feeling it's stress related. Nervous about Max starting school and freaking out about my current situation at work. Hoping once Max starts school and I know he is having fun, my neck feels better. Situation at work may take a little while longer to sort out. Luckily Max starts school next Monday, so hopefully that goes well and my neck starts to feel better.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Distance Run: 2 miles
1st Mile: 9:21
2nd Mile: 10:17
Total Time: 19:45
Calories Burned: 212
When I started out, it was raining lightly. The leading edge of moisture from what was left of Tropical Storm Lee had moved into Northern Virginia. I originally started out with a plan to run 3.1 miles to see if I could maintain a sub 10 minute mile pace for 5k distance. Being able to finish a 5k in under 30 minutes would be awesome.
Well after mile 1, which I ran at a pace of 9:21, I was gassed. I took a 90 second walk break and started mile two. I made it about half a mile, and again felt winded, and walked for about 20 seconds. The rest of the run, I kept checking my phone hoping the mileage would miraculously jump up to 2 miles so I could stop. I eventually hit 2 miles and decided to stop. One because I was tired and winded and the thought of grinding through another mile didn't sound like it was something I was up to. And second, the rain had become more steady and I didn't want my iPhone to get too wet.
It was extremely humid when I ran (duh, hence the rain). It's supposed to be a soggy week here, so I may have the same sort of conditions when I run again on Wednesday. Decided to try to do Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week. Depending on the weather, we'll see how that goes. If it's not raining tonight, I may do another 2 mile run. Maybe 2.25 just to build up some more distance.
On a side note, my neck has been hurting for the better part of a week now. At first it felt like a stiff neck from sleeping funny. That usually goes away in a day or two. This has lingered for more than a week. It felt pretty good on Sunday when I went to play golf, but by evening it was hurting again. I have a feeling it's stress related. Nervous about Max starting school and freaking out about my current situation at work. Hoping once Max starts school and I know he is having fun, my neck feels better. Situation at work may take a little while longer to sort out. Luckily Max starts school next Monday, so hopefully that goes well and my neck starts to feel better.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Distance Run: 2 miles
1st Mile: 9:21
2nd Mile: 10:17
Total Time: 19:45
Calories Burned: 212
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Getting Faster
Since I had my epiphany a few weeks back about my running form, or lack there of, I have made some nice speed improvements. That trend continued on my last run. I ran another 2 miles, and when I say run, my form was much closer to running than it was before. I also remembered to pump my arms a little slower (tried to time it with my arms), and pumped straight out and in, instead of side to side.
I finished my first mile in 9:46. I was very surprised. I felt a little winded at times, but nothing terrible. I did get a bit of a stich in my side at one point as well, but nothing terrible. I walked for about a minute and then continued my 2nd mile. I looked down when I started running again and I think I had only walked for about tenth of a mile. I finished mile 2 in 10:18. Pretty close to my first mile time, probably the main difference was the little bit of walking I did.
When I run tonight I may try to add another 1.1 miles so that I can get up to 5k distance. Not sure if I will be able to maintain a sub 10 minute pace for a 3rd mile, but I will try. I'll do a minute walk after the 1st and 2nd mile and see how it goes. Even if it takes me 11 or 12 minutes that will still beat my previous 5k best of 34:38 by over 2 minutes.
Distance Run: 2 miles
1st Mile: 9:46
2nd Mile: 10:18
Total Time: 20:19
Calories Burned: 213
I finished my first mile in 9:46. I was very surprised. I felt a little winded at times, but nothing terrible. I did get a bit of a stich in my side at one point as well, but nothing terrible. I walked for about a minute and then continued my 2nd mile. I looked down when I started running again and I think I had only walked for about tenth of a mile. I finished mile 2 in 10:18. Pretty close to my first mile time, probably the main difference was the little bit of walking I did.
When I run tonight I may try to add another 1.1 miles so that I can get up to 5k distance. Not sure if I will be able to maintain a sub 10 minute pace for a 3rd mile, but I will try. I'll do a minute walk after the 1st and 2nd mile and see how it goes. Even if it takes me 11 or 12 minutes that will still beat my previous 5k best of 34:38 by over 2 minutes.
Distance Run: 2 miles
1st Mile: 9:46
2nd Mile: 10:18
Total Time: 20:19
Calories Burned: 213
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