If you're used to running outside: where the scenery changes constantly....yet you suddenly find yourself stuck running inside on a treadmill, with nothing but the images on a TV screen in front of you (a channel you didn't get to pick), the man who wears his spandex swim trucks on the stairmaster in front of you, or the gaggle of women on the Arc trainers one row over who are talking so loudly you have to turn up the sound on your iPod to an eardrum-shattering level just so you can hear the people talking on the TV in front of you (a channel you didn't get to pick).
Mental toughness to the rescue.
If you're used to running outside: where lilac bushes, bar-b-q grills and freshly mown grass fill your sinuses....yet you suddenly find yourself stuck inside running on a treadmill, with nothing but the smells of farts from the dude on the elliptical to your left, body odor from the person to your right (who I swear works out every day and hasn't showered in 17 years), and the 14 different perfumes and hair products in the locker room (none of which smell like lilac, bar-b-q or grass).
Mental toughness to the rescue.
3 miles....30 minutes.....it doesn't seem like a very long time.
But once I get on that machine, it seems like a lifetime.
A long, smelly, annoying lifetime.
:-)
_________________________________________
45:34 (5 min warm up, 8 min cool down), 502 calories, Max HR 196, Avg HR 156
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
08/08/11: Becomming one with the yoga...
08/08/11
I think I'm really going to get into this whole yoga thing.
I've always been intrigued by it. I've always enjoyed it, in the class I would take once a twice a year, here and there, at the gym. But now that I'm going (somewhat) regularly, I'm really starting to like it. Really like it.
The class on Monday morning starts at 5:30. At 5:25 I was the only one there. I was secretly hoping that no one else would show...free private lesson! But 4 others trickled in right at the 5:30. Darn. :-)
It's not, technically, a "hot yoga" class....but she does turn the heat up to around 80F (27C) or so. Plenty warm enough for me. (hehehe)
I'm a pretty flexible person. Well...most of me.
My hamstrings, not so much. But hopefully these classes will help a little with that.
One can only hope, right?!?!?!
Last time I took the class, I grabs hand weights (the class is called yoga strength, she incorporates weights with the poses) that were a slight bit too heavy for my still weak right shoulder. This week I grabbed weights that were much too light.
Next week...jjjuuuussssst right. :-)
The sweat was rolling, the muscles were burning....felt great!
_______________________________________
58:57, 483 calories, Max HR 166, Avg HR 133
***I found this image on another blog...not sure of the original source of the picture.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
08/07/11: Checking in quick....
Keystone Trail North. Flat, no hills.
Legs hurt...bad.
Frustration level...defcon 2.
_____________________________
3 miles, overall average pace 11:41, 346 calories
Legs hurt...bad.
Frustration level...defcon 2.
_____________________________
3 miles, overall average pace 11:41, 346 calories
Friday, August 5, 2011
08/05/11: Dehydration anyone??
Holy smokes!!!!
My legs were still pretty sore from my attempt at a run (on the treadmill Tuesday morning), so instead of running again on Thursday, I waited another day.
(yes, I can learn!)
I sent Mot a text Friday afternoon and told him that I wanted to go run a little at Standing Bear Lake. He could take Sam for a swim while I was out running. So, when I got home, both him and Sam were ready to go.
Sam's a sucker for a good swim in the lake, makes her little black lab heart go pitter patter.....and Mot loves to see all the time he's spent training and working her come to life.
We drove into the parking lot...picked a spot that wasn't too steep down to the lake. Mot is still recovering from multiple stress fractures to his spine - an injury he suffered at work (he's a fireman/paramedic). They took off with throwing dummies in hand, while I took off down the trail.
Things actually felt good for a little while, probably the first mile. The second mile was brutal. My legs were screaming....but whether I was walking or running, it didn't change much....and I was 1.5 miles from the truck....so I had to keep going.
After two miles, the legs actually started to quiet down a little....but really, it was only because my lower abs were screaming louder. I'm not quite sure how to describe the "sensation" without scaring off all the dudes reading this.
Oh heck, we all know the human body is the most annoying machine around...right?
By the time I was .25 miles from the Jeep, I had to actually stop running, stop walking, and sit on the trail.
Sit. Right there in the middle of the trail.
Holy cow!!!
I had this hit me a couple of times last summer as well, so I wasn't as freaked out this time around. Dehydration cramps. They actually, at least to me, feel like monthly cramps. No lie.
How completely uncool is that????
Well anyway, I eventually stood back up and just muscled through it back to the car. What else could I do? :-)
On the way home I hit a whole new stage of this whole "recovering from a running injury" journey I'm on. I've done depression, I've done the tears....now I'm mad.
Really, really mad.
No, not about the dehydration. I mean, yes, I was mad at myself for not drinking as much as I should be, but that's easily fixable.
Nope, on the way home I got to thinking about how much my legs hurt. I've done everything I've been told. I've seen all kinds of professionals. And a three mile run had my legs throbbing.
I ran a half marathon this spring, and got a PR. Yet now, anything more than 3 miles seems like the impossible dream.
I can hear the people I've talked to over the last year. The ones that say "why do you keep doing it? why don't you just stop? maybe you should try something else. maybe running isn't for you."
I have a 10K in Sept, a half in Sept and a half (that was supposed to be a full) in October.
I think, if I miss those, I won't be able to keep the "I think I can, I think I can" attitude going.
That idea, more than anything, is what scares me most.
___________________________
3 miles, 11:42 overall average pace (including sitting on the trail), 342 calories
My legs were still pretty sore from my attempt at a run (on the treadmill Tuesday morning), so instead of running again on Thursday, I waited another day.
(yes, I can learn!)
I sent Mot a text Friday afternoon and told him that I wanted to go run a little at Standing Bear Lake. He could take Sam for a swim while I was out running. So, when I got home, both him and Sam were ready to go.
Sam's a sucker for a good swim in the lake, makes her little black lab heart go pitter patter.....and Mot loves to see all the time he's spent training and working her come to life.
We drove into the parking lot...picked a spot that wasn't too steep down to the lake. Mot is still recovering from multiple stress fractures to his spine - an injury he suffered at work (he's a fireman/paramedic). They took off with throwing dummies in hand, while I took off down the trail.
Things actually felt good for a little while, probably the first mile. The second mile was brutal. My legs were screaming....but whether I was walking or running, it didn't change much....and I was 1.5 miles from the truck....so I had to keep going.
After two miles, the legs actually started to quiet down a little....but really, it was only because my lower abs were screaming louder. I'm not quite sure how to describe the "sensation" without scaring off all the dudes reading this.
Oh heck, we all know the human body is the most annoying machine around...right?
By the time I was .25 miles from the Jeep, I had to actually stop running, stop walking, and sit on the trail.
Sit. Right there in the middle of the trail.
Holy cow!!!
I had this hit me a couple of times last summer as well, so I wasn't as freaked out this time around. Dehydration cramps. They actually, at least to me, feel like monthly cramps. No lie.
How completely uncool is that????
Well anyway, I eventually stood back up and just muscled through it back to the car. What else could I do? :-)
On the way home I hit a whole new stage of this whole "recovering from a running injury" journey I'm on. I've done depression, I've done the tears....now I'm mad.
Really, really mad.
No, not about the dehydration. I mean, yes, I was mad at myself for not drinking as much as I should be, but that's easily fixable.
Nope, on the way home I got to thinking about how much my legs hurt. I've done everything I've been told. I've seen all kinds of professionals. And a three mile run had my legs throbbing.
I ran a half marathon this spring, and got a PR. Yet now, anything more than 3 miles seems like the impossible dream.
I can hear the people I've talked to over the last year. The ones that say "why do you keep doing it? why don't you just stop? maybe you should try something else. maybe running isn't for you."
I have a 10K in Sept, a half in Sept and a half (that was supposed to be a full) in October.
I think, if I miss those, I won't be able to keep the "I think I can, I think I can" attitude going.
That idea, more than anything, is what scares me most.
___________________________
3 miles, 11:42 overall average pace (including sitting on the trail), 342 calories
Thursday, August 4, 2011
08/04/11: Yoga for Runners, week 2
Class was great...again!
A few of the high points....
1) It wasn't my first time trying to find the place, so I was on time. (for those of you who don't know me, 5 minutes early is late for me....so being 10 minutes late was a little frustrating)
2) Since I wasn't late, I was able to set up in the back of the class.....and the instructor called me on it. "Ah-ha...on time today so you can sit in the back." Another reason I really like her, her sense of humor fits perfectly with mine!
3) Yoga, while sometimes makes those muscles burn, and gets the heart a pumpin'....feels great! It really does. There are no judgements. If you need to bend your legs in downward dog, bend 'em. Etc, etc....
A few low (no, not low - just not high) points....
1) I'm still, 5 years after my shoulder reconstructive surgery, terrified of doing things like side planks, that require all of your body weight to be placed on the fixed shoulder. But....I did them. The whole time....without stopping. Woohoo!!
2) Mental note: do NOT wear my compression running capris to yoga. Can we all say horrendous muffin top??
3) While there are no judgements made by others in the class....there WAS judgement coming from myself. Yes, I'm fairly flexible, in some regards. But when it comes to hamstrings - ha! Mine are about 7 miles shorter than everyone else, I swear! :-)
So, this weeks' topic...the core.
I have so much work to do.
When we lived in MV, I used to keep a core ball beside the bed....I'd do situps every night. We've lived here for 4 years now....and my core is sad! She added to our "homework" assignment for the week. We're still to do 4 each of Sun Salutation A and B....but now we're to add sets of modified boat pose situps.
Ugh! :-)
Not a huge calorie burn (433), but 90 minutes of information and relaxation...mixed in with the brutalness yoga is good at delivering....win/win!
A few of the high points....
1) It wasn't my first time trying to find the place, so I was on time. (for those of you who don't know me, 5 minutes early is late for me....so being 10 minutes late was a little frustrating)
2) Since I wasn't late, I was able to set up in the back of the class.....and the instructor called me on it. "Ah-ha...on time today so you can sit in the back." Another reason I really like her, her sense of humor fits perfectly with mine!
3) Yoga, while sometimes makes those muscles burn, and gets the heart a pumpin'....feels great! It really does. There are no judgements. If you need to bend your legs in downward dog, bend 'em. Etc, etc....
A few low (no, not low - just not high) points....
1) I'm still, 5 years after my shoulder reconstructive surgery, terrified of doing things like side planks, that require all of your body weight to be placed on the fixed shoulder. But....I did them. The whole time....without stopping. Woohoo!!
2) Mental note: do NOT wear my compression running capris to yoga. Can we all say horrendous muffin top??
3) While there are no judgements made by others in the class....there WAS judgement coming from myself. Yes, I'm fairly flexible, in some regards. But when it comes to hamstrings - ha! Mine are about 7 miles shorter than everyone else, I swear! :-)
So, this weeks' topic...the core.
I have so much work to do.
When we lived in MV, I used to keep a core ball beside the bed....I'd do situps every night. We've lived here for 4 years now....and my core is sad! She added to our "homework" assignment for the week. We're still to do 4 each of Sun Salutation A and B....but now we're to add sets of modified boat pose situps.
Ugh! :-)
Not a huge calorie burn (433), but 90 minutes of information and relaxation...mixed in with the brutalness yoga is good at delivering....win/win!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
08/03/11: You spin me right round, baby, right round.....
My alarm went off this morning at 4:30 this morning.
4:30 am
On purpose.
I must have been deep in sleep, because at first I couldn't find my alarm clock (the one right there beside the bed) to shut it off.
I got up, let the dogs out, brushed my teeth, stared blankly at my workout clothes sitting on the shelf in the bathroom, turned the light off, and went back to bed.
I laid there for maybe a minute or two, tops...before my inner guilt trip started yelling at me!
"What are you doing? You're already awake! All of your clothes are laid out, your gym bag is packed, your water bottle is filled. Get UUUUPPPPPPP"
(she really bugs the crap out of me sometimes!)
I get BACK out of bed, stumble back to the bathroom, change into my spin clothes, and head out the door.
"Who schedules these things for 5:15 in the morning anyway?"
I'm actually getting quite fond of the classes though, I have to admit. My heart rate is up....my breathing is labored....and the sweat rolls off of me.
There was an actual puddle of sweat on the floor around my bike today.
It takes a certain person to think that a puddle of sweat is awesome...and not disgusting.
Don't get me wrong, the idea of it gross...but knowing it's yours and knowing how hard you worked to get it...that's the awesome part.
____________________________________________
1:03:20 time, 705 calories burned, Max HR 180, Avg HR 156
4:30 am
On purpose.
I must have been deep in sleep, because at first I couldn't find my alarm clock (the one right there beside the bed) to shut it off.
I got up, let the dogs out, brushed my teeth, stared blankly at my workout clothes sitting on the shelf in the bathroom, turned the light off, and went back to bed.
I laid there for maybe a minute or two, tops...before my inner guilt trip started yelling at me!
"What are you doing? You're already awake! All of your clothes are laid out, your gym bag is packed, your water bottle is filled. Get UUUUPPPPPPP"
(she really bugs the crap out of me sometimes!)
I get BACK out of bed, stumble back to the bathroom, change into my spin clothes, and head out the door.
"Who schedules these things for 5:15 in the morning anyway?"
I'm actually getting quite fond of the classes though, I have to admit. My heart rate is up....my breathing is labored....and the sweat rolls off of me.
There was an actual puddle of sweat on the floor around my bike today.
It takes a certain person to think that a puddle of sweat is awesome...and not disgusting.
Don't get me wrong, the idea of it gross...but knowing it's yours and knowing how hard you worked to get it...that's the awesome part.
____________________________________________
1:03:20 time, 705 calories burned, Max HR 180, Avg HR 156
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
08/02/11: Still sweating.....
I went to the gym this morning. My heart wasn't into it. Neither was my head.
Or my legs.
After 1 stinkin' mile on the treadmill, I didn't want to push it any more. My calves were screaming. Not the normal place in my legs...now the backs.
I think they were still sleeping too. :-)
So, in order to keep any new injury at bay (shoot me now if that were to happen), I jumped on the elliptical for the remainder of my time.
Those of you who know me, know that the elliptical if FAR from my favorite piece of gym equipment. Especially THIS one. Mot uses it all the time and seems to love it....so I've done my best to put my elliptical feelings behind me, and use it when necessary.
At 6:45 I stopped and went to the locker room to get ready for work.
I showered, washed my hair, shaved my legs....all the normal stuff.
But it was so humid in there today that at 11:05 am, I feel as though I might still be sweating.
OK, maybe not still sweating...but I do feel like the smelly kid in school.
Do you ever feel as though the shower you just took was a silly waste of time??? That's what I feel like today. :-)~
This hot and muggy summer is about to do me in.
I laid down in bed to read last night at 8:00 pm...the weather app on my phone said it was still in the upper 90's...NOT counting the heat index.
This is nuts! I swear I start sweating just by looking at the window. :-)
_____________________________
36:19, 381 calories....only 381 in 40 minutes? really???? (high calorie counts burned during running, oh how I want you back - now!!!), Max HR 171, Avg HR 152
Or my legs.
After 1 stinkin' mile on the treadmill, I didn't want to push it any more. My calves were screaming. Not the normal place in my legs...now the backs.
I think they were still sleeping too. :-)
So, in order to keep any new injury at bay (shoot me now if that were to happen), I jumped on the elliptical for the remainder of my time.
Those of you who know me, know that the elliptical if FAR from my favorite piece of gym equipment. Especially THIS one. Mot uses it all the time and seems to love it....so I've done my best to put my elliptical feelings behind me, and use it when necessary.
At 6:45 I stopped and went to the locker room to get ready for work.
I showered, washed my hair, shaved my legs....all the normal stuff.
But it was so humid in there today that at 11:05 am, I feel as though I might still be sweating.
OK, maybe not still sweating...but I do feel like the smelly kid in school.
Do you ever feel as though the shower you just took was a silly waste of time??? That's what I feel like today. :-)~
This hot and muggy summer is about to do me in.
I laid down in bed to read last night at 8:00 pm...the weather app on my phone said it was still in the upper 90's...NOT counting the heat index.
This is nuts! I swear I start sweating just by looking at the window. :-)
_____________________________
36:19, 381 calories....only 381 in 40 minutes? really???? (high calorie counts burned during running, oh how I want you back - now!!!), Max HR 171, Avg HR 152
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