Running on empty

I really need to start eating better. I ran 3 miles yesterday and felt like crap the whole way. I took the 1-minute walk breaks at .5 and 1.0 plus 2.0. Still my heart rate went way too high. It's a little tough to run well when you're running on a steady diet of chocolate, sugar, Diet Coke and some fast food.

I know all the right things to do -- I know how to eat better; I just don't know how to make it happen. I feel totally addicted to Diet Coke and sugar. It doesn't help that most of my eating happens at the office - stress easting.

Any suggestions?

Lap 1: 11:21; 163 ave. hrt rate; 174 max heart rate
Lap 2: 10:52; 169 ave. hrt rate; 175 max heart rate
Lap 3: 10:49; 171 ave hrt rate; 181 Max hrt rate

Heart rates and walk breaks

So I talked with an exercise physiologist about my heart rate the other day. He suggested I go out when the weather breaks and do a max heart rate test by running a couple of easy miles, then do an 800 meter run with all-out effort the last 200 meters. Then walk for 5 to 7 minutes and repeat. The heart rate at the end of each 800 should be close to each other and that will be my max heart rate. He thinks my heart rate may be higher than anyone has suggested and that's why I train in the 160s. I'll give it a try soon.

I tried a couple of walk breaks on my last run (Sunday). Went 4 miles and took a 1-minute walk break after a half-mile then again after another half and then after each full mile from then on. I felt better than I have recently, but that could also be because I'm trying to eat a little better. We'll see after my next run or two how it goes.

Interesting thing, though, even with the walk breaks, my time stayed pretty much where it's been.
I'm not a big fan of walk breaks -- I hate starting back up again, but if it keeps my heart rate in better check and allows me to run longer distances, I'll work with it

Lap 1: 11:35
Lap 2: 11:05
Lap 3: 11:04
Lap 4: 11:14

Working at it

I ran 2 miles Wednesday but hit the wrong button when I started the Garmin, so no heart rate info for the first mile. And even though I wently slowly the second mile, the heart rate numbers were no better. How frustrating.

We've had 14-plus inches of snow since Friday morning along with blizzard conditions. It's finally stopped and thank goodness it's March, so we know the snow won't stay long. I am SO glad this happened in early March rather than January.

Today (Saturday), I opted to ride the spinner at home -- everyplace else was closed and there was no running obviously. I did 50 minutes and worked up a nice sweat.

Here's the thing: My heart rate never got higher than 130 -- even after 50 minutes of spinning at 85 to 90 cadence. Yet when I run, my heart rate jumps to 155 in the first 2 minutes even if I run an 11:30 or 12-minute mile. This is crazy. I returned to running -- after an 8-year absence -- two years ago, so I know it's not about waiting for my body to adjust to running. The cardiologist offers no explanation (all the tests are normal), so I keep trying to work it out on my own.

I realize I might have a higher heart rate than the average (even though my RHR is usually 60), but my max would have to be like 200 for me to stay within my training zones. And I'm all but sure that isn't happening.

Well, I'll just keep working at it and trying to go slowly to slow my heart rate. And I'll keep riding the bike at a really low heart rate to build more aerobic capacity.

Anyone else have any suggestions?