Brain-freeze. That must be what it was. Like when you eat ice cream too fast. I must have had a brain-freeze that momentarily stopped logical decision-making. That’s the only explanation I can come up with for going out for a run last night...in the dark...with it snowing...and a 14-degree windchill factor.
Saying that I don’t like the cold is like saying a polar bear doesn’t like the desert. I not only don’t like it, I tend to abhor it, hate it, and curse it. I got frostbite as a kid, so cold has never been a welcome guest at my house. I’m the only person I know who wears socks – indoors – when the temperature dips below 72.
So imagine my surprise when I watch myself dressing in layers to head out into the night cold for a run. It’s like an out-of-body experience.
“Wait, what are you doing? Put that long-sleeve technical shirt away. You don’t need that to ride the stationary bike. What? Why are you putting on your running tights? Where are our bike shorts? No, no, please not, not the running shoes. Oh God!! She’s really thinking of going outside?!”
Apparently, yes.
I know everyone says you should dress for the second half of the run. But as cold as I get, I won’t see the second half of the run – or the first half for that matter – if I’m freezing at the start. So I dress for the first half and live with the more-than-toasty-feeling. (I swear I am like the anti-runner. I do everything opposite of the norm.)
But you know what? 14 degrees can be very comfortable with the right clothes. The cold was bearable and the air was clean and crisp. I actually enjoyed, well “enjoyed” would be an exaggeration, but I survived my Arctic run. Maybe the polar bear should give the desert a try.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Nothing special
So I didn't get out of bed this morning to run. But the good news is I got my run in last night instead. And I'm glad I did. It was mild, about 45 degrees, and still sunny, at least for most of the run. Ran a 5K. Nothing special about it. Just starting to build the miles back up after the hip blip. Boy, this post is boring. Hopefully, I'll have something better to write about tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
What's up with feeling down?
I’m not feeling so good. Stayed in bed an extra hour this morning. Just felt like crap. Maybe too much sugar from munching on Kissables during OSU game (or maybe the OSU game itself) or the potato chips or, well, name a junk item and I probably ate it. Plus not drinking enough water but drinking enough Diet Coke to flood my house. This drives me crazy. Why can’t I be as disciplined with nutrition as I am with my running? Oh wait, not so good there either this week.
Ran on Saturday and Sunday, but took a rest day Monday. Planned to run last night but then got delayed because I got home from work late, then I needed to update my web site for ChiRunning and then by the time I got that done, it was pouring down rain. Now I don’t mind the rain so much as rain and darkness together. So I opted for the indoor running track, BUT the track was closed for a basketball game. Oh brother.
So I headed home and then realized there is another indoor track across town and although smaller, it would do the trick. I started to drive there and realized that maybe the rain and closed track were a sign to go home and rest since I haven’t been feeling so good lately. So I did just that. Had a number of things I could have done but instead vegged out. Now, of course, I feel lousy about not working out.Plus resting didn’t seem to help. Neither did a full night’s sleep. I still feel off center. And all I want is more Kissables -- and Diet Coke.
The rest of the week isn’t much better either. Something going on every night after work. OK, so here’s my first real opportunity in a while to dig deep and get my butt out of bed tomorrow and Friday. Even a short run of a couple miles would be better than nothing. But we’ll see. I am the world’s champion at being able to roll over and go back to sleep – even after a marathon sleep. Plus, it’ll be cold again – and dark – tomorrow, and my electric blanketed bed sounds so nice and cozy. Wish me luck.
Ran on Saturday and Sunday, but took a rest day Monday. Planned to run last night but then got delayed because I got home from work late, then I needed to update my web site for ChiRunning and then by the time I got that done, it was pouring down rain. Now I don’t mind the rain so much as rain and darkness together. So I opted for the indoor running track, BUT the track was closed for a basketball game. Oh brother.
So I headed home and then realized there is another indoor track across town and although smaller, it would do the trick. I started to drive there and realized that maybe the rain and closed track were a sign to go home and rest since I haven’t been feeling so good lately. So I did just that. Had a number of things I could have done but instead vegged out. Now, of course, I feel lousy about not working out.Plus resting didn’t seem to help. Neither did a full night’s sleep. I still feel off center. And all I want is more Kissables -- and Diet Coke.
The rest of the week isn’t much better either. Something going on every night after work. OK, so here’s my first real opportunity in a while to dig deep and get my butt out of bed tomorrow and Friday. Even a short run of a couple miles would be better than nothing. But we’ll see. I am the world’s champion at being able to roll over and go back to sleep – even after a marathon sleep. Plus, it’ll be cold again – and dark – tomorrow, and my electric blanketed bed sounds so nice and cozy. Wish me luck.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Go Ohio State Buckeyes!
No running entry today. Just a big OH-IO! We may be ranked No. 1 but Buckeye fans know we are really a HUGE underdog in the BCS Championship game tonight. It's like my high school coach always said, "Any team can be beaten on any given night."
Go Bucks!
Go Bucks!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Maybe I'm starting to learn
There are no "bad runs" only "good lessons," according to Danny Dreyer. If that's true, I should be a freakin' genius by now.
Today was supposed to be a long, slow, distance run of only 6 miles. (I've had to cut back on my mileage since jamming my leg funny during a run on snow and ice three weeks ago.) This morning I woke and checked my RHR (resting heart rate) and it was surprisingly high. I recently read an article that said if you're RHR is 5% above your average, do an easy workout; if it's 10% over, take the day off. According to that forumla, I should've bagged my run. But hey it was 53 degrees here after 4 inches of snow earlier this week, and no Ohio runner in their right mind would blow off a January day in the 50s.
Even though I did a hard hill workout yesterday, my body felt good this morning. No calf tightness. My hip was feeling a little tender from yesterday but not bad at all. So I headed out in a light mist and lots of clouds. Within a half mile, I knew the article had been right. I didn't feel bad, but I spent the run working on trying to relax my calves and just relax in general.
I really wanted to do all 6 miles. Why? Because I said I would. But finally I'm learning that it's more important to listen to my body than my ego. So I turned around at 2 miles and took my time getting home for a total of 4 miles.
Now a few hours later, I'm slightly disappointed at not completing the workout I planned, but my legs (calves and the injured hip in particular) feel great. I have a scheduled day off tomorrow, which my body clearly needs. While my legs feel fine, my body is achey.
Lessons learned
1. Don't do a long, slow, distance run the day after a hard hill workout.
2. Pay attention to that RHR and take a day off when it's 10% high than normal.
Today was supposed to be a long, slow, distance run of only 6 miles. (I've had to cut back on my mileage since jamming my leg funny during a run on snow and ice three weeks ago.) This morning I woke and checked my RHR (resting heart rate) and it was surprisingly high. I recently read an article that said if you're RHR is 5% above your average, do an easy workout; if it's 10% over, take the day off. According to that forumla, I should've bagged my run. But hey it was 53 degrees here after 4 inches of snow earlier this week, and no Ohio runner in their right mind would blow off a January day in the 50s.
Even though I did a hard hill workout yesterday, my body felt good this morning. No calf tightness. My hip was feeling a little tender from yesterday but not bad at all. So I headed out in a light mist and lots of clouds. Within a half mile, I knew the article had been right. I didn't feel bad, but I spent the run working on trying to relax my calves and just relax in general.
I really wanted to do all 6 miles. Why? Because I said I would. But finally I'm learning that it's more important to listen to my body than my ego. So I turned around at 2 miles and took my time getting home for a total of 4 miles.
Now a few hours later, I'm slightly disappointed at not completing the workout I planned, but my legs (calves and the injured hip in particular) feel great. I have a scheduled day off tomorrow, which my body clearly needs. While my legs feel fine, my body is achey.
Lessons learned
1. Don't do a long, slow, distance run the day after a hard hill workout.
2. Pay attention to that RHR and take a day off when it's 10% high than normal.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Getting my calves to relax
We got about four inches of the S-word Wednesday. I no longer run in snow and ice not after misstepping over some snow two weeks ago and jamming my hip. The muscle spasms have finally started to relax after after two trips to the chiro, a massage and a trip to the PT.
So on Thursday, I considered my options. There’s always a treadmill at the local fitness center, but I HATE treadmills. I have refused to even try them since returning to running. So that was out. But wait – there’s the local indoor track attached to the fitness center above the high school arena.
Yep, you read that right. The people in this school district – my alma mater – voted to build a 4,000-seat arena and put a track around the top of the arena. Eight laps equal a mile. Now, I’m not crazy about the track either because I get bored running in circles, but it was the lesser of two evils – or three if you count the snow and ice.
I went to the track with equal amounts of gratitude and grumpiness about having to run indoors, but the run was a blessing in disguise. I’ve been struggling with my calves tightening up after a couple of miles lately. At first, I thought it might be something with my ChiRunning technique but I kept checking things and that seemed to be right on. But still the tightness.
In ChiRunning we always try to body sense and feel different sensations in the body and make small changes before they turn in to twinges, discomfort or pain. So after umpteen laps, I began to notice that my heels were sliding around in my shoes. In CR, we relax the lower legs completely, so I realized that maybe my calves were working to stabilize my heel in the shoe.
Tonight I tightened up my shoes just a bit – just the first two eyelets and retied the shoe just a bit and voila, no problems. I’ve been running with my shoes a lot looser ever since my first CR workshop and heard CR creator Danny Dreyer say your shoes should fit like slippers (you should be able to slide them on and off without untying them). If your shoes are too tight, they can act like a corset. Loosening them lets your feet breathe a bit.
I remembered tonight that when I bought my last two pair of shoes (I like to rotate them), I had thought I left them a little too loose but decided to run in them and see what happened. Dumb. Then I totally forgot about them being too loose.
Hopefully, this will clear up the tight calves once and for all.
As for the run, it was great. The snow is melting here with temps in the 40s. Ran a slow mile out, 1 mile of hill work and a mile back home. Total: 3.1 miles 33:17
So on Thursday, I considered my options. There’s always a treadmill at the local fitness center, but I HATE treadmills. I have refused to even try them since returning to running. So that was out. But wait – there’s the local indoor track attached to the fitness center above the high school arena.
Yep, you read that right. The people in this school district – my alma mater – voted to build a 4,000-seat arena and put a track around the top of the arena. Eight laps equal a mile. Now, I’m not crazy about the track either because I get bored running in circles, but it was the lesser of two evils – or three if you count the snow and ice.
I went to the track with equal amounts of gratitude and grumpiness about having to run indoors, but the run was a blessing in disguise. I’ve been struggling with my calves tightening up after a couple of miles lately. At first, I thought it might be something with my ChiRunning technique but I kept checking things and that seemed to be right on. But still the tightness.
In ChiRunning we always try to body sense and feel different sensations in the body and make small changes before they turn in to twinges, discomfort or pain. So after umpteen laps, I began to notice that my heels were sliding around in my shoes. In CR, we relax the lower legs completely, so I realized that maybe my calves were working to stabilize my heel in the shoe.
Tonight I tightened up my shoes just a bit – just the first two eyelets and retied the shoe just a bit and voila, no problems. I’ve been running with my shoes a lot looser ever since my first CR workshop and heard CR creator Danny Dreyer say your shoes should fit like slippers (you should be able to slide them on and off without untying them). If your shoes are too tight, they can act like a corset. Loosening them lets your feet breathe a bit.
I remembered tonight that when I bought my last two pair of shoes (I like to rotate them), I had thought I left them a little too loose but decided to run in them and see what happened. Dumb. Then I totally forgot about them being too loose.
Hopefully, this will clear up the tight calves once and for all.
As for the run, it was great. The snow is melting here with temps in the 40s. Ran a slow mile out, 1 mile of hill work and a mile back home. Total: 3.1 miles 33:17
Thursday, January 3, 2008
So What's This ChiRunning?
ChiRunning (CR) is only the best thing for running since gel, fuel belts, body glide and maybe even shoes. CR is the only reason I’m able to run again after a myriad of life and sports (running, volleyball, softball, basketball) injuries. It’s for everyone from beginners to elite athletes. It’s for the 13-minute miler and the 5-minute miler. In fact, the winner of the 2006 Air Force Marathon is a ChiRunner who is an M.D. He took up CR because he’d had surgery on his big toes for severe arthritis and had to find a way to run without pushing off on his toes.
CR is all about postural alignment along with muscle relaxation. It combines running with elements of the martial art T’ai Chi (no, you don’t have to know T’ai Chi to do ChiRunning and no, you won’t look goofy doing it; you’ll just look more fluid than ever before).
We make minor but powerful adjustments to your posture like leveling your pelvis to hold your body in a straight line as you run. Then we have you lean slightly from the ankles and you run from your core. When your body is lined up shoulders over hips over ankles in a straight line (we call this your “column”), your body weight is supported by your structure – bones, ligaments and tendons, not your muscles. When the muscles don’t have to work so much, they don’t fatigue as fast and you can run farther with less effort. Plus, when you lean slightly forward from the ankles, gravity becomes your friend and takes some of the workload.
Efficiency and injury prevention are two mainstays of CR. Leveling the pelvis helps runners with back aches and IT band problems. A mid-foot landing helps eliminate heel strike – stopping those nagging knee pains – as well as pushing off with the toes, helping you heal those pesky shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and a myriad of other issues.
Anyone struggling with an injury – or wanting to run farther with less effort – might want to look into CR. Go to the chirunning.com website. Read other people’s experiences. Check out the community bulletin board where folks post their successes and ask questions.
There’s a book written by the creator, Danny Dreyer. It’s called – surprise, surprise – ChiRunning. You can get it at local bookstores or online at chirunning.com. See if it doesn’t make total sense to you as it did for me. Say goodbye to many of the usual aches and injuries and enjoy every run.
Run relaxed.
CR is all about postural alignment along with muscle relaxation. It combines running with elements of the martial art T’ai Chi (no, you don’t have to know T’ai Chi to do ChiRunning and no, you won’t look goofy doing it; you’ll just look more fluid than ever before).
We make minor but powerful adjustments to your posture like leveling your pelvis to hold your body in a straight line as you run. Then we have you lean slightly from the ankles and you run from your core. When your body is lined up shoulders over hips over ankles in a straight line (we call this your “column”), your body weight is supported by your structure – bones, ligaments and tendons, not your muscles. When the muscles don’t have to work so much, they don’t fatigue as fast and you can run farther with less effort. Plus, when you lean slightly forward from the ankles, gravity becomes your friend and takes some of the workload.
Efficiency and injury prevention are two mainstays of CR. Leveling the pelvis helps runners with back aches and IT band problems. A mid-foot landing helps eliminate heel strike – stopping those nagging knee pains – as well as pushing off with the toes, helping you heal those pesky shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and a myriad of other issues.
Anyone struggling with an injury – or wanting to run farther with less effort – might want to look into CR. Go to the chirunning.com website. Read other people’s experiences. Check out the community bulletin board where folks post their successes and ask questions.
There’s a book written by the creator, Danny Dreyer. It’s called – surprise, surprise – ChiRunning. You can get it at local bookstores or online at chirunning.com. See if it doesn’t make total sense to you as it did for me. Say goodbye to many of the usual aches and injuries and enjoy every run.
Run relaxed.
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