For once I wasn’t tired when I got home to run but still had a bit of trouble getting out the door. I don’t know what’s up with me. I look forward to running all day and then when it’s time, I just want to lie down. And I’m not even tired. There’s a pattern here. When I’m at work, I want to be running. When I’m supposed to go running, I want to lie down. When I’m meditating, I can’t stop the chatter in my head. When I’m writing, my brain is empty of ideas -- much less actual words. It’s like whatever activity I’m set to do, my brain goes in the opposite direction. What’s up with that?
4 miles yesterday. Sunny skies, temps in the upper 50s. Just beautiful. Felt great throughout the run. No walk breaks lately. Lovin' it all -- weather, foliage, running, breath rate
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Cold Snap
Two weeks ago, I was enjoying a warm autumn, still wearing T-shirts and shorts. Oh what a difference a week or two makes in the Midwest. Today, with the windchill, it was 35 degrees at 4 p.m. OK, it could be worse. I could be in Vermont where they just got 9 inches of snow! In. October. You poor, poor people.
I already miss my shorts and T-shirts. But I was lovin' the run. Four miles and it felt great. I had to keep trying to slow myself for fear I was going out too quickly.
I'm really trying to slow down for the first mile and then let myself open it up a bit -- all relative terms since I'm very slow. But less slow today. I really don't want to get caught up with my times because I'll start to care about them. And I need to keep my ego out of this and just enjoy the run. That's why I just deleted my times.
The run in a word: Awesome!
I already miss my shorts and T-shirts. But I was lovin' the run. Four miles and it felt great. I had to keep trying to slow myself for fear I was going out too quickly.
I'm really trying to slow down for the first mile and then let myself open it up a bit -- all relative terms since I'm very slow. But less slow today. I really don't want to get caught up with my times because I'll start to care about them. And I need to keep my ego out of this and just enjoy the run. That's why I just deleted my times.
The run in a word: Awesome!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Lovin' It
Today's run was a lot like a great drive off the 18th tee -- it keeps you coming back for more. It was an awesome run! I can't say it any other way.
I'd been feeling pretty punk (female stuff) and even had taken a 90-minute nap. I really debated heading out to try to run, but it was sunny and 60 degrees and since the high later this week is supposed to be 40, I figured it was now or never.
The whole run from beginning to end was so amazing. It was pretty much effortless. A great 4 miles. I felt like I was smokin' but I'll never know since the Garmin died in the first half mile. No matter. I'm just happy it felt soooo good. I just felt like I was cruisin'. Even my heart rate felt great.
This was definitely an Even the Russian Judge Liked It run.
I'd been feeling pretty punk (female stuff) and even had taken a 90-minute nap. I really debated heading out to try to run, but it was sunny and 60 degrees and since the high later this week is supposed to be 40, I figured it was now or never.
The whole run from beginning to end was so amazing. It was pretty much effortless. A great 4 miles. I felt like I was smokin' but I'll never know since the Garmin died in the first half mile. No matter. I'm just happy it felt soooo good. I just felt like I was cruisin'. Even my heart rate felt great.
This was definitely an Even the Russian Judge Liked It run.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Moving forward again
Last time I wrote about heading back to the basics of ChiRunning to break a couple of bad habits. Well, it's been worth it. After spending almost a week's worth of runs at the track do drills and a few laps, I headed back to the street on Sunday and had good results.
Well, Tuesday's and Thursday's runs were even better. My times are getting better, but more importantly, I'm not working nearly has hard. In fact, the last two runs I haven't had to take any walk breaks. I don't know if that's from the improved technique or my inappropriate sinus tachycardia has calmed down. Who know? Who cares?
I did have one odd thing happen on Thursday. I was planning a 4-miler and was running comfortably when at 1.5 miles, it felt like a knife stabbed me in the right hip/butt cheek. I tried to make a microchange or two, but nothing helped. It didn't happen with each step, but that was part of the problem. It was intermittent so I couldn't figure out what was causing it.
Even though I was about as far from home as I could get, I knew I had a choice -- I could stop and walk or I could keep pressing it and probably hurt myself and not run for a week or two (something I know all too well from experience with other pains.)
As much as I hate the idea of walking home, I decided to to exactly that. Actually, I tried to stretch out first to see if I could get rid of the stabbing pain. No luck.
So I started walking. I gave it a half-mile and decided to try running slowly again. I shortened my stride more than usual and gave it a little test. Hmm...no pain. So I kept going -- gently at first and then a little faster. I even managed a big hill (big for me) and now problems.
Got my 4 miles in and never felt the stabbing pain again. Still don't know what it was. I only know it's gone except for a little stab earlier today when I was teaching. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'd like to get 4 in again tomorrow, but we'll see.
Maybe finally, I am working with my body. Instead of mind over body, it's mind with body. I have the rest of my life to increase my mileage. And I'm now realizing it will all come a lot faster if I pay attention to what feels right.
Well, Tuesday's and Thursday's runs were even better. My times are getting better, but more importantly, I'm not working nearly has hard. In fact, the last two runs I haven't had to take any walk breaks. I don't know if that's from the improved technique or my inappropriate sinus tachycardia has calmed down. Who know? Who cares?
I did have one odd thing happen on Thursday. I was planning a 4-miler and was running comfortably when at 1.5 miles, it felt like a knife stabbed me in the right hip/butt cheek. I tried to make a microchange or two, but nothing helped. It didn't happen with each step, but that was part of the problem. It was intermittent so I couldn't figure out what was causing it.
Even though I was about as far from home as I could get, I knew I had a choice -- I could stop and walk or I could keep pressing it and probably hurt myself and not run for a week or two (something I know all too well from experience with other pains.)
As much as I hate the idea of walking home, I decided to to exactly that. Actually, I tried to stretch out first to see if I could get rid of the stabbing pain. No luck.
So I started walking. I gave it a half-mile and decided to try running slowly again. I shortened my stride more than usual and gave it a little test. Hmm...no pain. So I kept going -- gently at first and then a little faster. I even managed a big hill (big for me) and now problems.
Got my 4 miles in and never felt the stabbing pain again. Still don't know what it was. I only know it's gone except for a little stab earlier today when I was teaching. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'd like to get 4 in again tomorrow, but we'll see.
Maybe finally, I am working with my body. Instead of mind over body, it's mind with body. I have the rest of my life to increase my mileage. And I'm now realizing it will all come a lot faster if I pay attention to what feels right.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Two steps back
Every once in a while, we have to take a step backward to move forward. Or in my case two steps back.
I had the chance to work with a ChiRunning instructor for a short time the other week. I'd been feeling like my running wasn't as light as it should be. Turns out, I picked up a bad habit or two like bending slightly at the waist and a bit of an overstride when I first start to run.
So I backed way off my mileage and headed the track to practice drill after drill until I could feel the changes in my form. I'm always surprised how hard it is to be a beginner again, leave a watch or Garmin behind, and focus only on form rather than achievements (meaning time, speed, distance). I have absolutely no reason to have any kind of running ego, and yet I have trouble reigning in the monster.
After three track workouts, I ventured to the road yesterday and it all started to come together. I'm still slower than usual, but it's coming -- and I expect to be able to add back my mileage quickly.
Here's hoping the step backward is done and it's onward from here.
I had the chance to work with a ChiRunning instructor for a short time the other week. I'd been feeling like my running wasn't as light as it should be. Turns out, I picked up a bad habit or two like bending slightly at the waist and a bit of an overstride when I first start to run.
So I backed way off my mileage and headed the track to practice drill after drill until I could feel the changes in my form. I'm always surprised how hard it is to be a beginner again, leave a watch or Garmin behind, and focus only on form rather than achievements (meaning time, speed, distance). I have absolutely no reason to have any kind of running ego, and yet I have trouble reigning in the monster.
After three track workouts, I ventured to the road yesterday and it all started to come together. I'm still slower than usual, but it's coming -- and I expect to be able to add back my mileage quickly.
Here's hoping the step backward is done and it's onward from here.
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