Another week... running week of 2/2

[Crankin]

I'm starting the running thread????
Well, it's been 2 weeks since my last attempt. Despite the fact it's 40 out, I decided not to go x country skiing or ride. Most of the streets by me are still full of ice. Anyway, went to the gym and decided to run before yoga (I really wanted to wear the nice Nike running pants and top I got at TJ Max for a song How stupid is that?)!
I wonder if I will ever feel good when running? I warmed up for 5 full minutes, walking and then ran for 5 @ 5.2, w/a 2 min. walk after, 5@ 5.5, 2 min. walk, 5@ 5.8, 2.5 min. walk, then 2 @ 6.0, 2 @5.8, and the rest @ 5.5, for a total of 30 minutes. The whole time I was saying to myself, "HTFU."
I have a blister on my left foot now, not bad, but it's from my small bunion. Will try to make the shoes looser next time. Max HR was again at 167, so I'm consistent. Although I cooled down for a few minutes, I was still sweating like a pig when I got to yoga and the room was crowded. It sure felt good, though; a very easy class. However, when I left, my right knee felt a little "jacked," as my son says, going down the stairs. It's OK now, but I think I will ice it later. Need to stretch my piriformis, too.

[Grog]

Sounds to me like you had a good run, Crankin. (But I'm not sure that 5.8 or 5.5 means. Speed in MPH?)

My goal for the week is to go out three times before the weekend's long run. Just short runs, 20 min to half an hour, and only one day with some intervals. Just to show myself that I can actually go running on my own around my house.

[Crankin]

I meant speed in mph. Trying to feel like I am not dying at a 10 min. mile pace. I don't need to go faster than that, for the kind of running I want to do. Really, it's just an adjunct to cycling. I feel great at 5.5 mph, OK, but on the way to torture at 5.8, and 6 mph is still pretty hard for me. I don't think I was born to run, but it's a time efficient way to exercise. I do a lot of fitness walking/hiking, which I love, but in order for me to burn the calories I need to burn to maintain my weight, I'd have to walk for at least an hour... that's OK some of the time, but I am determined.

[eclectic]

Crankin I feel like you are telling my story! and Yes a new outfit is a perfectly good reason to run - and if that is all the motivation you need . . . . more power to you!

I ran on the indoor track Sat and did a very slow 4.5 miles. I was slogging along miserably at 3 miles until a lady at the Y who is small, w/ short legs and older than me got on the track and was power walking faster than I was running I sped up and realized I wasn't going to die. BUT I could NOT get ahead of her and kept hoping she would quit soon. FINALLY after a mile she dropped back and I thought "WHEW now I can slow back down"

This body is just NOT a runner's body but I am determined. At least now I can do 4.5 miles w/o stopping if I go slow enough

We too have had some beautiful weather days but w/ all the snow we have it is now all ice so it is still inside for awhile longer.

I ran off a beginner running program from runners world, I am on week 3 - It seems doable except for the tempo training and intervals. They didn't ask how old I was and how many extra days recovery I needed

[emily_in_nc]

I meant speed in mph. Trying to feel like I am not dying at a 10 min. mile pace. I don't need to go faster than that, for the kind of running I want to do. Really, it's just an adjunct to cycling. I feel great at 5.5 mph, OK, but on the way to torture at 5.8, and 6 mph is still pretty hard for me. I don't think I was born to run, but it's a time efficient way to exercise. I do a lot of fitness walking/hiking, which I love, but in order for me to burn the calories I need to burn to maintain my weight, I'd have to walk for at least an hour... that's OK some of the time, but I am determined.

Just another thing we're very similar on! I can run at 5.5 mph on the treadmill all day (if my lunch break from work could last that long ), but at 6.0, I start fading before too long. The most I've done at 6.0 is 2 miles straight, and I've done shorter intervals at 6.2, but that's my max (and I've been running for a year now, so I'll never be a speed demon, tho my endurance has improved a lot). What I started doing on the treadmill for about a month before Christmas was 5.5 mph flat/hill intervals every .25 miles. I'd do flat, then 1% grade, then flat, then 1.5% grade, then flat, then 2.0% grade on up to 3.0% grade, then back down. After doing that, running 6.0 mph on the flat actually felt pretty easy! Slow climbs are harder than moderate flats...kinda like on a bike!

I ran outside today! Just about 1.5 miles, plus another mile of walking. It was in the upper 50s and sunny but quite windy so felt a little cooler than the temp, but still nice to be outside for the first time since my tendinitis. After two fairly long, hilly hikes over the weekend, I felt that my knee would hold up, and it did. Yippee!

[Crankin]

I used Nu Skin once when i had x country boots that were just not right for me. I will try it, if this gets to be an issue. My bunion is only from wearing high heels, though I did do figure skating for years as a kid, since girls of my era weren't allowed to do any sports except that and ballet, which I was much too klutzy for.
Thanks for all of the feedback everyone. Emily, I still can't run straight for 30 minutes without doing some walking. Of course, I haven't been doing this very long. And, we'll see when I get outside. There's not much flat around here. I am sort of afraid this will kill my legs for cycling, so I envision that I will run maybe 2 days a week.
Eclectic, I need lots of recovery time from everything! I'm 55 and I've been exercising for 30 years, the first half of which I was pounding my body doing high impact aerobics on concrete floors. I am paying for it now. And then there's my so called Fibromyalgia, which comes and goes at will and no one is that sure that is really what I have. But I keep saying, "I'm still here."

[Jolt]

Good job Crankin! Don't be too hard on yourself, it can be tough getting started with running. I went to the Y (the one where I got kicked out of the gym on Friday for being barefoot) and did 20 minutes again on the indoor track. This time I wore my Vibram Five Fingers, first time I ran in them. They're going to work nicely for running when I'd like to go barefoot but can't do so for whatever reason; I will likely end up running outside in them when the weather warms up enough. No blisters or anything from them so far. And nobody gave me a hard time. And here's the shocker: I decided to time myself on a couple of laps to see what my pace was, and I was almost down to 8.5 minute miles!!! That has NEVER happened--usually I have been doing well to be at a 10:00. Granted, this was on an indoor track and outside with hills etc. will be a different story but that speed is still darn good for me! Not sure if it's from being barefoot/almost barefoot or what, but I was quite happy about that. Maybe I'm becoming more efficient. And so far no more IT band twinges (just slightly sore calves still since I am getting used to this barefoot stuff, but that's normal muscle soreness). All in all, not too shabby.

[Deborajen]

Did 5 miles of easy running yesterday. Temps were in the mid 30's with a cold wind. I tried out a new pair of micro fleece pants from the John "The Penguin" Bingham store. Boy, were they warm and comfy! (Not bad for $30!)

Deb

[colby]

I know it's not technically this week, but Saturday I did 9 or 10 miles for the first time in months. I don't think I was fast, but it wasn't hard. It was one of those "forever" runs. My knees/hamstrings were a little tight afterward, but my hip didn't feel bad. My right leg still feels... heavy. I think maybe I need acupuncture.

Sunday I did 2 hours on the elliptical (it was a planned cross-train day) and after the two, my hamstrings definitely needed some stretching. Even today after a 45 minute ride (admittedly with intervals), I still needed stretching. Note to self, more stretching right after the run, rather than feeling sore later.

Tomorrow, 4-5 miles, Thursday, hill repeats at 10-15%, and Sunday is another 4-6 miles. Easy weekend after a long one last weekend.

Keep it up everyone

[Aggie_Ama]

Did intervals for the first time ever last night. Wow that sucked. It was 1 minute hard, 2 minutes easy, 10 sets. I think I did 5 full sets and 5 sets where the easy was 30 seconds fast tempo walk. Then came home and did core workout. I felt exhausted when I went to bed.

[eclectic]

Eclectic, I need lots of recovery time from everything! I'm 55 and I've been exercising for 30 years, the first half of which I was pounding my body doing high impact aerobics on concrete floors. I am paying for it now. And then there's my so called Fibromyalgia, which comes and goes at will and no one is that sure that is really what I have. But I keep saying, "I'm still here."

You really are telling my story except for the aerobics part. I tried a couple of times to do those classes and hated them so I just walked and swam.

I have Fibromylagia too, officially diagnosed. And yes it comes and goes and I need more rest than the average person.

Well let's keep cheering each other on! I figure now that I am over 50 (I'm 52) I am doing a lot more than a lot of people by just getting out there and attempting it!

[teigyr]

I'm still doing the same stuff. I got my 400 time down to 1:45 on the track but that is the exception and not the rule. I'm building back up on my long run day and my first "real" race is in May.

Colby, are you doing the Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon?

Eclectic, I saw you signed up for the half! Congrats. I know you will love it, 13 miles is a great distance. It's far enough to feel tired and you won't feel icky.

I have bunions on both feet. Between shoes that fit not as bad as other shoes and orthotics, my feet are mostly ok. Oh and I also use body glide on the bits that get really blistered.

I'm doing a lot of PT exercises still because I'm lopsided. Each time one bit gets straightened out, other bits hurt just because they aren't used to being used in a non-lopsided manner. It's kind of funny though because I always knew I don't walk or run in a straight line. Being non-lopsided doesn't feel right and really, I almost don't trust myself to do the exercises on my own because the proper form doesn't feel right so hopefully it'll all come out ok.

I laugh and laugh to myself because if I was ever pulled over and asked to take a field sobriety test (I work until the wee hours so I'm on the road when the drunk people are) I wonder if I could just say "hey, I'm lopsided and I CAN'T walk in a straight line!"? I'm easily entertained though.

[OakLeaf]

I did about 4 on Sunday but kept it really easy because I was trying to catch a cold. I didn't get the cold but instead I've been in bed with stomach flu for the last two days. 102 fever, and the rest of it which would be entirely TMI. So I was glad I got out for a little bit before that ordeal. Going to try yoga today I think. Not quite ready for cardio.

[emily_in_nc]

Aw, oakleaf, what a bummer. Hope you feel much better soon! I'm planning on doing yoga today myself. I'm working from home, and it's far too cold to run outside!

[Crankin]

Hope you feel better, Oakleaf.
My body still hurts from running . I took yesterday off, did nothing except snow shoveling for 30 minutes. I am going to go x country skiing today (fresh powder), spin class tomorrow. So, Friday I will run again. I never thought of trying Body Glide on the blister/bunion; will pull that out of the drawer on Friday.