On, man! I had no game tonight.
I was too busy at work to go for a run in the morning, so I should have at least been fresh, but between my cold and my starvation diet, I just could not move it. By the second half, I couldn't even keep up a 5 min/km pace. Since I got back I have been blowing my nose about twice a minute, and I am worried that I will run through all the Kleenex in the house.
On the up side, I lost a pound and a half, but it's pretty cold consolation.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Two Days Off
This two days off things seems to be becoming a habit.
I went out for my long run on Sunday with the start of a cold (mostly just a sore throat and a stuffy nose) but it disappeared during the run. By the evening I was really stuffed up and Monday was pretty awful. I did all my usual voodoo (Echinacea, zinc, vitamin C) and still felt like crap. I skipped yoga on Monday. Yesterday I felt a little better, but far from 100%. I have also been worried about that pain in my foot that came on at the end of my long run. It's right around where the heel and the arch meet, pretty deep inside and pretty dull, which is not typical of plantar fasciitis, but it gets my attention nonetheless. I'm actually guessing it has more to do with posterior tibial tendinitis (PTT), which I always have a bit of and therefore worries me less.
I'll go to track tonight. It will be my first run since Sunday. Even though I'm not completely cold free, I don't want to take any more time off. I'm also kind of hoping to see that I can go out there and not come home with a sore foot. I am going to wear different shoes (Nike Frees, instead of my usual Merrill Barefoots) with the thinking that it's probably best not to replicate the exact same stresses that made it hurt on my long run.
Wish me luck.
----------Follow Up-------------
Man that felt good! The foot is fine and the whole I'm-a-poor-sick-guy-with-a-cold feeling is gone too.
I went out for my long run on Sunday with the start of a cold (mostly just a sore throat and a stuffy nose) but it disappeared during the run. By the evening I was really stuffed up and Monday was pretty awful. I did all my usual voodoo (Echinacea, zinc, vitamin C) and still felt like crap. I skipped yoga on Monday. Yesterday I felt a little better, but far from 100%. I have also been worried about that pain in my foot that came on at the end of my long run. It's right around where the heel and the arch meet, pretty deep inside and pretty dull, which is not typical of plantar fasciitis, but it gets my attention nonetheless. I'm actually guessing it has more to do with posterior tibial tendinitis (PTT), which I always have a bit of and therefore worries me less.
I'll go to track tonight. It will be my first run since Sunday. Even though I'm not completely cold free, I don't want to take any more time off. I'm also kind of hoping to see that I can go out there and not come home with a sore foot. I am going to wear different shoes (Nike Frees, instead of my usual Merrill Barefoots) with the thinking that it's probably best not to replicate the exact same stresses that made it hurt on my long run.
Wish me luck.
----------Follow Up-------------
Man that felt good! The foot is fine and the whole I'm-a-poor-sick-guy-with-a-cold feeling is gone too.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
That felt OK
So the 38K was pretty comfortable.
The first half was great. Kept a steady pace just under 5:30/km and managed not to get lost. There was a part where I thought I would be smart and run along this road next to the water, which didn't look too busy on Google Maps, but turned out to be narrow and used by trucks, so I ended up running on the train tracks next to it, which were covered in moss, which was slippery because of the rain, so that wasn't super excellent. But that was only for a couple of kilometers.
There was an elevation gain of about 130 meters (450 ft) starting at km 22, which I have actually run many times, but it kind of bugged me as the hill just kept going on forever.
But all in all it was a nice run. There wasn't more than a smattering of rain and my body felt good all the way along. The last three kilometers were once again a bit hard. This time I didn't have any soreness in my thighs, but I definitely found my legs getting heavy, and at about 36.5 I got what I hope was a cramp in my left foot. It wasn't excruciating or anything, but it was surprising in a ow!-where-did-that-come-from? kind of way. It gave out about a half a dozen cries of distress, but I just changed my stride a bit and it was OK.
And when I got home, in my glycogen free state, I had shed that pound. Now for the next one.
Like last time with the 34K, I was a bit tired afterward and for about two hours I just took a bath and spent some time watching Netfix on the couch. Then I stretched some (got to pay attention to those IT bands) and went back to work.
Two weeks until I try the whole enchilada.
The first half was great. Kept a steady pace just under 5:30/km and managed not to get lost. There was a part where I thought I would be smart and run along this road next to the water, which didn't look too busy on Google Maps, but turned out to be narrow and used by trucks, so I ended up running on the train tracks next to it, which were covered in moss, which was slippery because of the rain, so that wasn't super excellent. But that was only for a couple of kilometers.
There was an elevation gain of about 130 meters (450 ft) starting at km 22, which I have actually run many times, but it kind of bugged me as the hill just kept going on forever.
But all in all it was a nice run. There wasn't more than a smattering of rain and my body felt good all the way along. The last three kilometers were once again a bit hard. This time I didn't have any soreness in my thighs, but I definitely found my legs getting heavy, and at about 36.5 I got what I hope was a cramp in my left foot. It wasn't excruciating or anything, but it was surprising in a ow!-where-did-that-come-from? kind of way. It gave out about a half a dozen cries of distress, but I just changed my stride a bit and it was OK.
And when I got home, in my glycogen free state, I had shed that pound. Now for the next one.
Like last time with the 34K, I was a bit tired afterward and for about two hours I just took a bath and spent some time watching Netfix on the couch. Then I stretched some (got to pay attention to those IT bands) and went back to work.
Two weeks until I try the whole enchilada.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Carb Day
I've been starving myself for the past week. I find it really annoying that I have only lost three and a half pounds since the end of October and sat at a flat, flat, flat 150 all through December, so I have spent the past week and a half without rice or bread or potatoes or meat or any of those sorts of things, basically living off vegetables, tofu, protein shakes and a bit of fruit. I'm not sure if it is working, since I usually weight myself after a long run, but it looks like it might be. Hell, I'm only asking to loose a single pound! But a pound is a minute of marathon time, and I intend to take advantage of all the freebie minutes I can get.
Anyway, tomorrow is my 38K long run, and as I'm not so into weight loss that I am willing to risk hitting the wall, I have been fueling up today (potatoes AND toast at lunch, pasta for dinner, and corn chips in between). Let me tell you, if you are bored by eating, this is an easy way to make ho-hum things like a piece of toast with peanut butter seem like a kings feast.
Anyway, tomorrow is my 38K long run, and as I'm not so into weight loss that I am willing to risk hitting the wall, I have been fueling up today (potatoes AND toast at lunch, pasta for dinner, and corn chips in between). Let me tell you, if you are bored by eating, this is an easy way to make ho-hum things like a piece of toast with peanut butter seem like a kings feast.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
To run or not to run....
It's raining. I hurt my back at yoga this morning. But then, it will be raining tomorrow too, and as I can't the the chiropractor until Thursday, my back might be sore tomorrow too.
I thought about running on a treadmill, but then it's probably no less unpleasant than running in the rain, and it costs six dollars (while the rain is free) and this being the beginning of January, there would probably be a line up of people making good on resolutions.
Follow up
-------
I didn't run. I felt a bit stupid and wimpy at the time, but today my back felt fine and I was super fresh when I went to the track tonight.
I thought about running on a treadmill, but then it's probably no less unpleasant than running in the rain, and it costs six dollars (while the rain is free) and this being the beginning of January, there would probably be a line up of people making good on resolutions.
Follow up
-------
I didn't run. I felt a bit stupid and wimpy at the time, but today my back felt fine and I was super fresh when I went to the track tonight.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
First Run
A perfect run to start the year. Twenty kilometers of flat, wide trail. I set out a little after 8:00, which is when the sun came up. That's earlier than I usually run, but I wanted to be back early enough that I would not to keep my family waiting for our traditional Japanese New Year's breakfast (fortunately, they are not early risers).
I wanted to stick between a 5:30 and 5:40/km pace: easy but not sloppy, heart rate at a little under 70% of maximum. I did it with an average pace of 5:29, with my fastest km at 5:20 and my slowest at 5:36. My average heart rate was exactly 70%. So I erred very slightly on the fast side. That's the best way to err.
The whole thing was very quiet and comfortable. There were virtually no cars on New Years Morning, so I never had to stop at any of the road crossings. I saw three other runners, a handful of cyclists and few dog walkers.
Ten years or so back, when I was still a drinking man, the idea of heading out for a two hour run at first light on New Years Day would have seemed ridiculous, or impossible. I'm so glad I'm not that man anymore.
I wanted to stick between a 5:30 and 5:40/km pace: easy but not sloppy, heart rate at a little under 70% of maximum. I did it with an average pace of 5:29, with my fastest km at 5:20 and my slowest at 5:36. My average heart rate was exactly 70%. So I erred very slightly on the fast side. That's the best way to err.
The whole thing was very quiet and comfortable. There were virtually no cars on New Years Morning, so I never had to stop at any of the road crossings. I saw three other runners, a handful of cyclists and few dog walkers.
Ten years or so back, when I was still a drinking man, the idea of heading out for a two hour run at first light on New Years Day would have seemed ridiculous, or impossible. I'm so glad I'm not that man anymore.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Fresher
Man, I was tired yesterday. Fridays are usually a day off, with just a yoga class for movement. Yesterday there was no yoga because the studio is closed for the holidays, and I was glad. I was tired all Thursday night after that second run and it suck with me into Friday. I also had a moderate amount of Achilles pain. Now, I generally feel quite a few more aches and twinges on a day off (I think my body is under repairs on those days) but yesterday they felt ominous and disappointing. I was having one of those "I'm not going to be able to keep this up" days.
This morning I felt great. I went out for a speedy 11K with the VanRun club, and left the fast kids behind, with energy to spare. I guess that why we take days off.
This morning I felt great. I went out for a speedy 11K with the VanRun club, and left the fast kids behind, with energy to spare. I guess that why we take days off.
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