Today I decided to really mix it up. For one thing, I think my body is in need of lots of different things right now and, two, I wasn't sure I could mentally handle the monotony of three miles on the treadmill. I'm no trainer and certainly didn't consult with anyone before my workout, but here's what I decided to do...
I started with a mile on the treadmill. I began with a 6.0 mph pace, increased it to 6.1 a third of the way through and to 6.2 at two-thirds. At the 1 mile mark, I jumped off the treadmill and did a few of my favorite exercises: an exercise ball favorite - holding a position for as long as I possibly can (rest chest on ball and roll forward walking hands out in front of you, keeping back and legs straight, until only your shins are touching the ball and the rest of your weight is supported by your arms, shoulders lined up over hands), 20 leg raises on each side (lying on my left side, left arm stretched out for a place to rest my head, right hand flat on the floor in front of me for balance, left knee slightly bent for balance and raise right leg up and back down without touching the ground 20 times - flip to other side and start again), 50 crunches (because what woman doesn't want perfect abs?) and 5 push-ups (because I'm seriously lacking in the upper body strength department). Then I hopped back on the treadmill and picked up where I left off - the first third of a mile was at 6.2 mph, the second was at 6.3 and the third was at 6.4. After my second mile, I repeated the exercises above and jumped back on the treadmill for my last mile - first third at 6.4, second at 6.5 and finished at 6.6. And, as much as I wanted to call it a day there, I proceeded to repeat all of the aforementioned exercises one last time for good measure.
The best part about the whole thing was that I felt I'd found a way to get in a great workout without overdoing it with the hip. I consistently pushed myself harder without doing more than I should and was able to push myself in new ways... I've never been particularly interested in different kinds of exercise, so I'm really trying to step out of my comfort zone a little... and it's feeling pretty darn good so far.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Day 80 (12/27): 2 miles / 19:03
I'm on the 6th and last day of my Christmas vacation and I seriously contemplated taking this last day off to relax and continue to recover. But, fact of the matter is, I've been pain free for some time now and it's started to feel more like laziness than recovery time. And, while I haven't been a complete couch potato these last several days, I did finally decide that it was time to get back to my regular routine... and I'm so very glad I did.
The truth is, as good as running is for me physically, I personally feel it's even better for me mentally. No matter how much down time I have during the week, nothing compares to the 'me time' that results from logging a few miles. And today's run offered so much more than a little alone time... it was a perfect time to reflect on what an amazing holiday season it's been. There's no question that, as a child, Christmas is something special... a time of wonder and anticipation. Of course, as children, we don't quite understand the concept of what it is that we should be so appreciative of, but nonetheless, it is an exciting time. As an adult, this season brings a whole new understanding of what giving is all about and the true significance of Christmas. It's as a parent, however, that you can really appreciate both aspects of the holiday season... the importance of giving of yourself for the betterment of those around you and the joy of a child who is still learning what this wonderful time of year is all about. My brief stint on the treadmill today allowed me the time I needed to revisit all of the amazing moments from my long holiday weekend giving me a whole new appreciation for my limited 'me time'. And I believe there's something to be said for spending my 'me time' thinking of family and friends and the wonderful memories made over the past few days :)
The truth is, as good as running is for me physically, I personally feel it's even better for me mentally. No matter how much down time I have during the week, nothing compares to the 'me time' that results from logging a few miles. And today's run offered so much more than a little alone time... it was a perfect time to reflect on what an amazing holiday season it's been. There's no question that, as a child, Christmas is something special... a time of wonder and anticipation. Of course, as children, we don't quite understand the concept of what it is that we should be so appreciative of, but nonetheless, it is an exciting time. As an adult, this season brings a whole new understanding of what giving is all about and the true significance of Christmas. It's as a parent, however, that you can really appreciate both aspects of the holiday season... the importance of giving of yourself for the betterment of those around you and the joy of a child who is still learning what this wonderful time of year is all about. My brief stint on the treadmill today allowed me the time I needed to revisit all of the amazing moments from my long holiday weekend giving me a whole new appreciation for my limited 'me time'. And I believe there's something to be said for spending my 'me time' thinking of family and friends and the wonderful memories made over the past few days :)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Day 79 (12/22): 2 miles / 22:55
In my quest to mix up my workouts to build strength for the long road ahead, I've changed a few things about my daily routine. For example, today I had to make a stop at Crocker Park for a few items. Although there were a few spaces available on levels 2 and 3, I instead opted to park on the 5th floor and take the stairs. Of course, the way down was no challenge at all, but getting back to the car gave me a small sense of accomplishment - not only did I find what I needed, but I got in a mini workout in the process. I instantly felt that I had earned my small splurge on a new shirt for Christmas. I highly recommend this simple step to anyone looking to be a little healthier in the New Year. You don't have to start with major goals to lose tons of weight. I felt really good about those 5 flights of stairs and, even though I would have purchased the same shirt regardless of where I parked, it did make me feel like I'd done a little something extra to deserve it. Park further away at the grocery store and treat yourself to a little something extra in your cart while you shop (not anything too unhealthy, of course). When you get back to your car, you'll really feel like you earned it.
Anyway, back to today's workout...
Man, it feels good to sweat again! Not including, of course, the nervous sweat that happens for no discernible reason, or the sweat the comes from wearing too many layers planning ahead for a typical winter day in Cleveland when it miraculously reaches 60 (I can make this comparison because I actually had the privilege of experiencing all three in just the last week). I mean the kind of sweat you work for... the kind that proves you're working hard to reach your goals... the kind you can be proud of, even though you look like you just took a quick dip in Lake Erie... and probably smell like it too.
Today's workout included two easy miles on the treadmill, 10 minutes of yoga, and, of course, a few flights of stairs. My run felt good and, I'm pleased to report, was still pain-free. In many ways I feel like I'm starting all over again, but at least I feel like I'm doing so with a lot more knowledge than I started out with this past summer. The yoga was really difficult and it occurs to me that the problem might be the fact that the only yoga dvd I have is the p90x version. I don't have any idea how this compares to other yoga workouts, but I may have to get my hands on another dvd to see if something else might be more in line with my yoga fitness level... or lack thereof, for that matter.
Next on today's agenda is a cheesy Christmas movie... and, taking some tips from a magazine article I recently read, I plan to spend the commercial breaks doing a few simple exercises... well, the first few anyway... after that I may move on to Christmas Ale :)
Anyway, back to today's workout...
Man, it feels good to sweat again! Not including, of course, the nervous sweat that happens for no discernible reason, or the sweat the comes from wearing too many layers planning ahead for a typical winter day in Cleveland when it miraculously reaches 60 (I can make this comparison because I actually had the privilege of experiencing all three in just the last week). I mean the kind of sweat you work for... the kind that proves you're working hard to reach your goals... the kind you can be proud of, even though you look like you just took a quick dip in Lake Erie... and probably smell like it too.
Today's workout included two easy miles on the treadmill, 10 minutes of yoga, and, of course, a few flights of stairs. My run felt good and, I'm pleased to report, was still pain-free. In many ways I feel like I'm starting all over again, but at least I feel like I'm doing so with a lot more knowledge than I started out with this past summer. The yoga was really difficult and it occurs to me that the problem might be the fact that the only yoga dvd I have is the p90x version. I don't have any idea how this compares to other yoga workouts, but I may have to get my hands on another dvd to see if something else might be more in line with my yoga fitness level... or lack thereof, for that matter.
Next on today's agenda is a cheesy Christmas movie... and, taking some tips from a magazine article I recently read, I plan to spend the commercial breaks doing a few simple exercises... well, the first few anyway... after that I may move on to Christmas Ale :)
Day 78 (12/21): 1 mile / 12:30
It's been a frustrating couple of weeks! I was pretty sure of it at the time, but I pretended that I didn't overdo it during my first few days back. Unfortunately, my hip let me know shortly after I finished that it wasn't particularly happy with my decision to push it as hard as I did. So, there I was, back where I started and needing to let my hip recover before doing any further running.
So, instead of logging miles on the treadmill, I spent a lot of my free time reading. Between blogs, magazines and online articles, I found a wealth of knowledge that I might otherwise not have stumbled upon during my seriously limited free time. So, while it was important to acknowledge that my body simply wasn't in the kind of shape it was 12 years ago, I also found that there is so much about the sport that I never knew. I decided it was time to do things differently.
My first discovery was that I really need to do something other than just run. While running is certainly great for my health, both physically and mentally, there are so many other things that need to be factored in when it comes to being strong enough to tackle something as challenging as the marathon. After 12 years of mastering the art of being a couch potato, it's time to challenge myself to try a few new things. One of those new things is yoga. I've always acknowledged that yoga was likely harder than it looked, but now I can honestly say that it's one of the harder things I've done in a long time. Running has always come easily to me, but yoga is in a class all its own. And while I still haven't truly pushed myself when it comes to a good yoga workout, I am also unwilling to injure myself in some other way by trying something my body isn't ready for. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed it and look forward to making it a regular part of my training. Thus far, I've only made it 20 minutes into the hour and a half video, but much like anything else, I know it will take some time and effort to get to the point where I can actually handle the whole thing. I'm looking forward to that challenge.
I've also created a space in the basement for those cold winter days when I won't be running outdoors. I certainly can't call it a home gym at this point, but after Christmas, I intend to treat myself to a few new things to complete the space. I have my treadmill and exercise ball, as well as some key exercises posted on the wall. I'm looking forward to adding a few weights, a dvd player and possibly a Zumba dvd. At this point, the only place I'm willing to give something like that a try will be in the seclusion of my own basement. I already imagine feeling like a fool, but at least I will know that none of my neighbors can laugh at me about it in the process. Beyond that, I'm on the lookout for some motivational posters to surround myself with. Most of my 'home gym' ideas came from a fellow runner who was able to surround herself with her many running awards and medals. To date, I only have 2 in my own collection, so until I have a few more items to showcase, I figure the posters will have to do.
So, all I can really say about today's run was that it was slow and steady and felt great. As much as I wanted to speed up the treadmill, I believe I've finally learned that I need to slow things down a bit and let my body catch up physically to where I am mentally. I'm a firm believer that you can do anything you put your mind to, but sometimes your mind is a little further ahead than the rest of you. I'm hoping these next few months will bring the results I'm hoping for and, in the meantime, I believe all I really want for Christmas is the patience to do what needs to be done to reach the goals I've set for the future.
So, instead of logging miles on the treadmill, I spent a lot of my free time reading. Between blogs, magazines and online articles, I found a wealth of knowledge that I might otherwise not have stumbled upon during my seriously limited free time. So, while it was important to acknowledge that my body simply wasn't in the kind of shape it was 12 years ago, I also found that there is so much about the sport that I never knew. I decided it was time to do things differently.
My first discovery was that I really need to do something other than just run. While running is certainly great for my health, both physically and mentally, there are so many other things that need to be factored in when it comes to being strong enough to tackle something as challenging as the marathon. After 12 years of mastering the art of being a couch potato, it's time to challenge myself to try a few new things. One of those new things is yoga. I've always acknowledged that yoga was likely harder than it looked, but now I can honestly say that it's one of the harder things I've done in a long time. Running has always come easily to me, but yoga is in a class all its own. And while I still haven't truly pushed myself when it comes to a good yoga workout, I am also unwilling to injure myself in some other way by trying something my body isn't ready for. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed it and look forward to making it a regular part of my training. Thus far, I've only made it 20 minutes into the hour and a half video, but much like anything else, I know it will take some time and effort to get to the point where I can actually handle the whole thing. I'm looking forward to that challenge.
I've also created a space in the basement for those cold winter days when I won't be running outdoors. I certainly can't call it a home gym at this point, but after Christmas, I intend to treat myself to a few new things to complete the space. I have my treadmill and exercise ball, as well as some key exercises posted on the wall. I'm looking forward to adding a few weights, a dvd player and possibly a Zumba dvd. At this point, the only place I'm willing to give something like that a try will be in the seclusion of my own basement. I already imagine feeling like a fool, but at least I will know that none of my neighbors can laugh at me about it in the process. Beyond that, I'm on the lookout for some motivational posters to surround myself with. Most of my 'home gym' ideas came from a fellow runner who was able to surround herself with her many running awards and medals. To date, I only have 2 in my own collection, so until I have a few more items to showcase, I figure the posters will have to do.
So, all I can really say about today's run was that it was slow and steady and felt great. As much as I wanted to speed up the treadmill, I believe I've finally learned that I need to slow things down a bit and let my body catch up physically to where I am mentally. I'm a firm believer that you can do anything you put your mind to, but sometimes your mind is a little further ahead than the rest of you. I'm hoping these next few months will bring the results I'm hoping for and, in the meantime, I believe all I really want for Christmas is the patience to do what needs to be done to reach the goals I've set for the future.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Day 77 (12/13): 3 miles / 27:54
After a little hip discomfort following Sunday's long run, I decided to play it safe today with an easy 3 miles. And, even though I did time my run, I made a conscious effort not to check my watch until I was done. It was my goal to take it easy and run based on how I was feeling and not focus on my time. I imagined I was probably running about a 10 minute mile pace, so I was pretty excited to see it was closer to a 9:20 pace... I guess it just shows how far I've come since my first day of training.
Of course, I imagine one other factor played a role in how I ran and how I was feeling. Several days ago my husband bought me some new running gear as a kind of 'congratulations' for my Turkey Trot finish (which I believe I failed to post about since getting the results - I ended up 88th overall and 2nd in my age group - a finish I am most definitely proud of). My new gear included an arm band to hold my ipod (which I'd previously been carrying along with me - like the true non-professional runner that I am), and Nike Dri-Fit jacket and pants. Of course, he was cool enough to buy them to match my black and purple shoes, and when I left the house, I felt like I might appear to know what I'm doing out there. It's funny how a new outfit can make you feel so much more confident. I mean, I certainly knew that could be true for something worn to work or out for the evening, but I never imagined the same could be true for running attire. I imagined that everyone that saw me was thinking I was one cool chick. Of course, it was more likely something like "that chick is nuts - doesn't she know it's 30 degrees out here?" To which I could confidently reply "Nope - I feel toasty warm in my Nike Dri-Fit running gear." :)
Of course, I imagine one other factor played a role in how I ran and how I was feeling. Several days ago my husband bought me some new running gear as a kind of 'congratulations' for my Turkey Trot finish (which I believe I failed to post about since getting the results - I ended up 88th overall and 2nd in my age group - a finish I am most definitely proud of). My new gear included an arm band to hold my ipod (which I'd previously been carrying along with me - like the true non-professional runner that I am), and Nike Dri-Fit jacket and pants. Of course, he was cool enough to buy them to match my black and purple shoes, and when I left the house, I felt like I might appear to know what I'm doing out there. It's funny how a new outfit can make you feel so much more confident. I mean, I certainly knew that could be true for something worn to work or out for the evening, but I never imagined the same could be true for running attire. I imagined that everyone that saw me was thinking I was one cool chick. Of course, it was more likely something like "that chick is nuts - doesn't she know it's 30 degrees out here?" To which I could confidently reply "Nope - I feel toasty warm in my Nike Dri-Fit running gear." :)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Day 76 (12/11): 6 miles / 50:34
Wow - that felt amazing!
I originally set out to run 4 miles, but as I reached the 2 mile mark, I knew that I could easily add another mile to that by turning another way and I was feeling good enough to give it a shot. When I reached the turn around point for a 5 mile run, I just couldn't do it... I kept on going straight, committing to the 6 mile route instead. As I completed my fifth mile, I wondered if that was the smartest decision, but, I have to admit, I still felt really good. And I was amazed at where my time was. I knew that if I continued pushing myself, I could easily beat my previous 6 mile times.
And beat those times I did... with an average per mile pace of just under 8:26, I definitely felt good about my second day back after a little over 2 weeks off.
Of course, I'm exhausted and might be a little sore tomorrow... but I definitely feel I've earned tomorrow's scheduled day off and have no doubt I'll be ready to push myself again by Tuesday. And since tomorrow is my birthday, even if I am a little sore, it'll just be a nice reminder of what I have to be proud of as I start another year. I can certainly begin tomorrow feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Cleveland Marathon, here I come!
I originally set out to run 4 miles, but as I reached the 2 mile mark, I knew that I could easily add another mile to that by turning another way and I was feeling good enough to give it a shot. When I reached the turn around point for a 5 mile run, I just couldn't do it... I kept on going straight, committing to the 6 mile route instead. As I completed my fifth mile, I wondered if that was the smartest decision, but, I have to admit, I still felt really good. And I was amazed at where my time was. I knew that if I continued pushing myself, I could easily beat my previous 6 mile times.
And beat those times I did... with an average per mile pace of just under 8:26, I definitely felt good about my second day back after a little over 2 weeks off.
Of course, I'm exhausted and might be a little sore tomorrow... but I definitely feel I've earned tomorrow's scheduled day off and have no doubt I'll be ready to push myself again by Tuesday. And since tomorrow is my birthday, even if I am a little sore, it'll just be a nice reminder of what I have to be proud of as I start another year. I can certainly begin tomorrow feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Cleveland Marathon, here I come!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Day 75 (12/10): 3 miles / 28:26
Man, it feels good to be back! I was so looking forward to running again and it felt wonderful! No pain at all!
I decided to take it easy the first two miles, so I stuck with a ten minute mile pace. After that, I just wanted to get a feel for what kind of shape I was really in. My last mile was 8:16 and, as much as I would like to improve upon that, I have to admit that I'm not at all disappointed after two full weeks off.
It feels good to be back at it... looking forward to what tomorrow brings :)
I decided to take it easy the first two miles, so I stuck with a ten minute mile pace. After that, I just wanted to get a feel for what kind of shape I was really in. My last mile was 8:16 and, as much as I would like to improve upon that, I have to admit that I'm not at all disappointed after two full weeks off.
It feels good to be back at it... looking forward to what tomorrow brings :)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Day 74 (12/6): 1 mile / 17:32
I'm back, baby! Well, sort of...
After completely overdoing it on Thanksgiving, I promised myself a little rest before continuing on with my training. I vowed not to run until I was pain-free. After ten very long days of slowly recovering, day 11 was finally free of any discomfort and I decided it was time to get back in the race (pun intended). Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to jump right back in where I was, I figured I'd play it safe instead. As much as I wanted to run, I decided to walk a mile at a comfortable pace and see how I felt before doing any more. I'm thrilled to report that it felt really good to be moving again and I'm looking forward to getting back to running this weekend. I'll probably still limit how much I do just to make sure the injury is, indeed, gone, but the idea of getting back to my training is pretty darn exciting.
After completely overdoing it on Thanksgiving, I promised myself a little rest before continuing on with my training. I vowed not to run until I was pain-free. After ten very long days of slowly recovering, day 11 was finally free of any discomfort and I decided it was time to get back in the race (pun intended). Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to jump right back in where I was, I figured I'd play it safe instead. As much as I wanted to run, I decided to walk a mile at a comfortable pace and see how I felt before doing any more. I'm thrilled to report that it felt really good to be moving again and I'm looking forward to getting back to running this weekend. I'll probably still limit how much I do just to make sure the injury is, indeed, gone, but the idea of getting back to my training is pretty darn exciting.
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