Differing results from the weekend, trying to be patient, not as easy as it sounds

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

Converting my schedule was easy as far as running. I was able to get up Sunday and have a very successful 4 mile run. A run that I could probably have gone on longer. It felt real good, and I think taking the time to drive to the trail and run on gravel made a big difference.

Getting a little frustrated with the sit ups though, after a week I still couldn't do any on Saturday. Although I was able to keep up with my push ups. I guess the key is to just be patient there, keep trying, and it will come.

The down side is that after the run on Sunday I was on my feet the rest of the day, cleaning and preparing for Emily's party, then on my feet helping to make sure the party went well. So by the evening my legs were dead tired, so much so that when my alarm went off to run this morning my legs were still cramped up and tired, so I had to give it a pass.

Boy this is getting so tiresome, one step forward, one step back. I am so looking forward to seeing the doctor next week to get his input. Although one thing that I am thinking may be the case is shoes. Both pairs are now well past 250 miles, and while the conventional wisdom is that you should be able to get 300 miles I am wondering if the wear & tear of road running is causing them to lose their life early. One of the reason I think this was the difference when I did the incline, I mean if my knees and/or legs were actually damaged in some way you would have thought I would have felt the same soreness from something as strenuous as that climb, but that wasn't the case.

For financial reasons I have to wait a couple of weeks before I get new shoes, which puts me after the Dr. appointment. So we will see what he has to say. Until then I have to remain conservative and not push it too far, which is hard for me to accept, I wouldn't have thought I needed to gear so far back after completing a half marathon.

It was cold, below freezing, but the sidewalks were clear, time to run!

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's workout

It was definitely chilly, I was in my layers, including the full running hat. I was determined to run however, so out I went. The thing is, while I wait to see the Doctor and wait to see what he says, I am not going to just lay around and mope, and let the downward spiral of eating too much and not exercising take hold. So I will run, maybe not as much or as long as I might like but I will run.

I will make a point to change up my schedule a little. On my schedule long Sunday runs I will take it slow, and mix in some strenuous hikes instead, like the Incline I did last weekend. Because doing that did not have any affect on my knees. The other thing, is I will take the time on my long runs to drive to a trail and run on dirt instead of concrete and asphalt, and make a point on my speed workouts to do the same: go to the track instead of road. 

That does change my days for sit ups and push ups, but that should not be a problem. And to be honest, the first day of sit ups wiped me out so I could not do one yesterday anyway so an extra day of rest won't hurt.

Today should be a good test for the new work set up with the jerry rigged standing desk. Since my knees are pretty sore, it will be good to see if the standing and stretching help the recovery more than just sitting.

Keep trying new things until I find what works

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

Trying new desk configuration at work today, testing a standing desk setup. The goal is to get my legs more stretching, less pressure on the hamstrings. We'll see how it goes, and if it works today then keep it going tomorrow after a run.

Saturday I finally got out and did the Manitou Incline hike. Wow, that was a real workout, I hiked it, took my time, kept hydrated, and walked down the Barr trail. I was glad I finally did it, I had planned to do it on my birthday but the boys illness prevented it, but Kim swapped shifts so she was home Saturday morning, which gave me a window. I would like to get back and do it again, make it a regular part of my fitness routine. Not sure how I will do so, but I definitely don't plan on letting that be the only time I go up it.

The funny thing was that as strenuous that was, bot the uphill and downhill, my legs didn't really bother me, they were sore but not overly so, and my knee pain was not present. I'm not sure what to attribute that to for sure. Part of it may have been that I wasn't running, partly I was not on concrete/asphalt. I can only test the second part of that on weekends, but I plan to do just that. On Sundays at least, get up and drive to where I will walk/run, and do so on a trail instead of the road. And limit the road running to shorter distances during the week.

Also today I returned to the sit up & push up routine, along with stretching. All of this is in search of that elusive return to form, and return to training. SO that next year I can start training for the marathon in earnest. I figure that doing some strenuous trail runs and mountain hikes will help build the leg strength I will need next year.

dammit dammit dammit, I guess I have no choice

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's run was going so well, reached 3 miles at a good pace. Stopped when my leg twinged, just like I promised myself. And I made it home and everything with no problems. But when I dropped off Emily at school and was play chasing her my knee just tightened up big time. By the time I was walking to the car I was practically having to limp. And the pain is not going away (which is not all that surprising considering I am glued to a chair).

I guess I have no choice, it is time to contact the doctor about this. Again, I can walk fine, up and down hills. I can run for short distances, but if I try to get much beyond 3 miles the pain kicks in. I am not sure what it is, but I am afraid I tore something and it is just not healing properly. So it is time to do the smart thing and get a doctor appointment. It's the best thing to do if I want to keep running and achieve my future fitness goals.

Realizing it is time for a change, and what I am going to do about it

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

As I lay in the nice warm bed this morning, and chose not to get up and take a walk in the freezing dark I realized that it had gotten time to make a change in my exercise routine. I have really been fighting (and losing to some extent) to get started in the mornings lately. And when I reach that point that means it is time to make some changes, and as I willingly embrace change this should not be a problem.

First, I am going to drop the off day morning walks. One, because the timing has changed along with the weather and while I can get out and run in the darkness and cold, it is harder to just walk in those conditions. Two, since I am having such a hard time getting my leg strength back it might be best to actually make sure that my off days I really rest my legs.

Second, instead of the morning walks I do need to find something to do on those off days. So I decided it would be a good idea to return to my push ups and sit ups. I will start slow, making sure not to push it, and also return to my stretching routine as well. But that worked for me last winter, and allowed me to keep fit, even when it is dark and cold outside and hard to get motivated to go out in the cold.

Bottom line, I realize that I was not ready for the change in seasons. I was not ready for it to be so cold and dark every morning. And while I don't mind running in those conditions (I can always layer up, and the cold keeps me moving) I am not excited to be walking (even a brisk walk when I am layered up). That's my new plan, a change, but as I have mentioned in the past, I am comfortable with change. And I read some where that it is actually good for your body to change up your workout routine from time to time.

Refreshing weekend of accomplishments, plus an admission

Dear James, Daniel and Emily, First, I had a good weekend fitness wise. I didn't run Friday, chose to rest & sleep in with a full day with the kids on tap. But that was okay. Saturday I was able to get out and comfortably run 3 miles, with no soreness. Sunday I dragged myself out of bed and embarked on the first back to back run I had done since the half marathon. It wasn't easy, I was slower than I would have liked, but I hit 40 minutes and 3+ miles. So overall it was a success in my book. I did choose not to wal today, needing a day of rest, but back into it tomorrow. The Saturday run had the effect of giving me energy and helping me feel really good about some things. Including making the decision to end our Y membership as it has been sitting unused for sometime now. If I had more time to devote to other exercise routines it might be different, but all I am doing is running these days, and I don't need a gym for that! So I will be ending that soon. I also decided to accept that I am a soda drinker, I can reduce the intake, and try to drink more water and tea, but the bottom lines I really like soda. And when I accept that I have to realize that while it might not be healthy for me to drink so much aspartame, it is unhealthy for me to consumeso much sugar & empty calories. Given that I will revert to drinking the diet soda when I do drink soda. I can try to drink less, but I have to be realistic. Blog written listening to Muse on my iPhone

Nothing like a good run to remind you how good #fitwinning feels

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

Yesterday's walk/run felt good, but today's run, with the mixed sprint intervals reminded how good a run can make me feel! It just brings it all back to where I want to be. Over the weekend all of my exercise plans failed: the kids were sick, it was raining & cold, I just wasn't up for it. The first 2 were basically valid excuses, but the last was probably a cumulative effect of the skipping the first 2. But this week I got back on the horse. And it is very satisfying to do so.

It's all good as I approach a milestone, definitely #fitwinning

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's workout

Nearly hit 4.5 miles running today! No pain in the joints, yeah my legs are sore now, and will probably be a little sore the rest of the day, but that's part of the recovery process. I am feeling really good about the recovery process now. I think that it is progressing. And more important I am getting in the groove with the improved running gait so I can make more progress & become a better runner.

Sweating the little things so the big thing: #fitwinning, is better

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's workout

After the success on Saturday I decided to focus on some small things now. First, returned to a pre-run stretch. I had been skipping that because my legs were in really good condition so it wasn't as noticeable or a stretch to run. But I realized that it would be a good idea to return to that practice and it has helped.

Second, I have become focused on trying to change/improve my running style. After doing some reading about shoes I came to a realization that one of the things that might have been causing my leg problems was I was over striding. Stretching my legs out and doing a full stride when I ran. Which is okay for a short sprint, and for walking, but not when doing the repetitive motion of long runs. So I have started focusing on taking shorter steps and using my forefeet rather than heel. The general idea is to let my foot spring into the next step instead of relying solely on my leg muscles to pull the foot along. And it has made a real difference to run like that, I have not experienced the pain, even when running a hill, or adding in some speed training before I hit the 3+ mile mark.

So 2 little things: stretching & changing my style have made a big difference.

Good run today, helped make some decisions and ready to embrace change

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

Today's workout

Had a real good run today, focused less on pace and more on form. Running straight up, head up, back straight, using my knees and legs, not my back. And it went real well, I managed nearly 3.5 miles, with some hills, with no pain. I could have done more, but I want to run tomorrow, and the plan for Saturday's is easy runs, not killers. 

I did decide that I will probably be heading back to the Y for my Saturday mornings here soon. With the focus on just an easy 30 minute run there's no reason not to do that on a treadmill. And it will get me down there so the kids can get signed up for swim lessons for the winter.

Diet

Well the easy care free days of not really worrying about this are done. I realized yesterday that my actual weight had gone up to an unacceptable number. I can't blame lack of exercise, since I have been getting that virtually every day. Instead it is clearly what I have been eating. One of the culprits is soda, I still feel good about breaking the diet soda habit, but I have slipped into a habit of drinking 2 -3 Coke's a day, and that's also not good. Plus I have not done as good a job on my will power when it comes to the occasional second breakfast, or grabbing some cookies or candy from the vending machines. 

It is back to calorie counting, watching what I eat, and focusing on drinking my tea, water or flavored water instead of so much soda. The evening are actually not bad so long as I am painting or doing something on the computer, it's only bad if I am just sitting watching TV. So that shouldn't be as hard to break. Really it's all about willpower and reducing the appetite, things I know I can do, I just have to energize myself to do them. And that number on the scale should be enough to provide that energy.