When I got home from work yesterday, I decided to do a workout video I found on Hulu Plus a while back. I know. A workout video. It sounds so cheesy to me. I should be wearing a bright turquoise leotard with super high-cut leg openings, hose underneath and leg warmers. And white Reeboks.
There is an entire season 1 of Self videos meant to tone and slim, yadda yadda. I didn't have much hope for it, but just wanted to move around a little more. I was pleasantly surprised. The video was simple. The music was very faint and simple in the background, just enough to provide rhythm for counts. And there were three women outside on a wood platform in front of the ocean. No cheesy carpeted studio room.
I think the title of this episode was Bikini Slim and Trim or something like that. It started with normal warmups and then weights were used for the rest of it until plyometrics. It totally kicked my butt! There were plenty of arm exercises and legs and standing ab exercises as well.
My legs were a bit shot from spinning. And today, my hip is kind of wonky. I'm going to walk at lunch rather than run.
I can see doing these videos in the morning or after work. So easy to fit in, and if they are all like this first one, definitely worth the time. Weakling that I am, it is pretty clear that I can really benefit from these isolated kinds of exercises. I am glad I did this before going to the strength class at the gym next Monday...yikes. It's going to be rough! :)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Spinning after quite a break
This morning I went spinning for the first time in .... hmmm.... it's probably been over a month! It was great to be back there. I got a bike next to this girl who I see regularly in class and really enjoy talking to. She is so nice and also really good! When I'm next to her, or can see her, I really push in the class. We talked a little afterwords and she suggested I go to a great class on Mondays at 9:40 called Triple Fit. The description is: "A true interval class. Intervals consist of 4 minutes of cardio, 3 minutes of legs, 2 minutes of upper body." She said it's awesome, so I'm going to check it out.
45 minute Spinning Class
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Instructor: Linda
Breakfast: a biscuit and applesauce
Previous Night:
- Stretched for about a half hour while I watched Top Gear. Rolled on the Evil Foam Roller.
Pre-Spin:
- Walked for 10 minutes on a treadmill.
- Lower legs tightened up pretty good. Pain scale: 2 out of 10.
- Spinned on a bike for about 10 - 15 minutes before class started
Spin:
- No pain, but could feel my muscles. Not sure that's abnormal. No lower leg pain.
- Pushed cardio and at times my muscles.
Post-Spin:
- Typical class cooldown stretching.
45 minute Spinning Class
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Instructor: Linda
Breakfast: a biscuit and applesauce
Previous Night:
- Stretched for about a half hour while I watched Top Gear. Rolled on the Evil Foam Roller.
Pre-Spin:
- Walked for 10 minutes on a treadmill.
- Lower legs tightened up pretty good. Pain scale: 2 out of 10.
- Spinned on a bike for about 10 - 15 minutes before class started
Spin:
- No pain, but could feel my muscles. Not sure that's abnormal. No lower leg pain.
- Pushed cardio and at times my muscles.
Post-Spin:
- Typical class cooldown stretching.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Figuring this out...
OK. So since I'm at a loss for what is causing my leg pain, which is negatively impacting my running enjoyment, I've decided to track the hell out of myself for a few weeks and see if anything comes to light. Hopefully it does, or it just gets better with consistency. If not, I will have details for a doc. :/
3 mile run
Time: 1:15 pm.
Surface: mostly brick sidewalk
Terrain: gently rolling hills, no big climbs
Shoes: Brooks F'uglies ;)
Overall pace: 10:43 min/mi
Breakfast: English muffin with egg and cheese, coffee, water
Pre-run:
- Walked briskly a few minutes. Both lower legs started to hurt immediately with that.
- Before running, I rubbed a little and felt how tight they were. Outside tight, especially on right leg.
Run:
- First 1.5 I took very easy, over 11 min/mile pace.
- Breathing was light, but the run didn't feel easy.
- First 1.5 miles was painful, lower right leg only. 5 out of 10 on pain scale (10 worst).
- At 1.5 miles I stopped and walked a few minutes. Stretched calves and hamstrings.
- Last 1.5 miles I picked up the pace. Leg still tight but stopped hurting.
Post-run:
- Walked for cool down.
- Right leg still tight, but barely any pain. Just the remnant that hurt really bad a few minutes ago.
- Stretching: hamstrings, glutes, hips, quads
3 mile run
Time: 1:15 pm.
Surface: mostly brick sidewalk
Terrain: gently rolling hills, no big climbs
Shoes: Brooks F'uglies ;)
Overall pace: 10:43 min/mi
Breakfast: English muffin with egg and cheese, coffee, water
Pre-run:
- Walked briskly a few minutes. Both lower legs started to hurt immediately with that.
- Before running, I rubbed a little and felt how tight they were. Outside tight, especially on right leg.
Run:
- First 1.5 I took very easy, over 11 min/mile pace.
- Breathing was light, but the run didn't feel easy.
- First 1.5 miles was painful, lower right leg only. 5 out of 10 on pain scale (10 worst).
- At 1.5 miles I stopped and walked a few minutes. Stretched calves and hamstrings.
- Last 1.5 miles I picked up the pace. Leg still tight but stopped hurting.
Post-run:
- Walked for cool down.
- Right leg still tight, but barely any pain. Just the remnant that hurt really bad a few minutes ago.
- Stretching: hamstrings, glutes, hips, quads
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Windy Day...Sucky Run
This morning I started out with Greg to do a 3 mile run. I was hoping for a good run but the leg pain was back in full force, both legs and really bad. At a mile, I stopped to stretch. When I started running again, my legs and feet felt like paddles. Biomechanically everything felt wrong. So I bagged it and turned around while Greg continued to get his 3 in.
On the way back I stopped a few more times to stretch, but nothing worked. The pain was so bad I was wincing. The pain with whatever is going on in my lower legs is always very bad. It feels like my legs are trying to rip open, starting on the outer sides. Today's was a 9 out of 10 on the pain scale, while usually it's probably a 6 or 7.
I picked it up at the very end, trying to stretch things out. I was happy to be done at 2.3 and hobbled through my cool down walk until eventually I could walk normal.
So frustrating. I have no explanation. This just happens or doesn't happen for no reason I can yet see.
For the next three weeks starting now, I'm just going to focus on 3 mile runs, and cross-training, and consistency...and we'll see if that gets me anywhere.
On the way back I stopped a few more times to stretch, but nothing worked. The pain was so bad I was wincing. The pain with whatever is going on in my lower legs is always very bad. It feels like my legs are trying to rip open, starting on the outer sides. Today's was a 9 out of 10 on the pain scale, while usually it's probably a 6 or 7.
I picked it up at the very end, trying to stretch things out. I was happy to be done at 2.3 and hobbled through my cool down walk until eventually I could walk normal.
So frustrating. I have no explanation. This just happens or doesn't happen for no reason I can yet see.
For the next three weeks starting now, I'm just going to focus on 3 mile runs, and cross-training, and consistency...and we'll see if that gets me anywhere.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Time Change
The time change is really messing with me this year. I am having a hard time not wanting to go to bed at 8. Here it is Friday night, only 7:15 and I feel like it's 10. I've enjoyed the lighter mornings. But I think I'll take dark mornings over early dark evenings!
I didn't manage to run or spin any more this week except Wednesday's run. Not happy about it, but it's OK. I'm going to go out in the brisk morning tomorrow and run a while. Not sure how far yet, but just run a while.
I didn't manage to run or spin any more this week except Wednesday's run. Not happy about it, but it's OK. I'm going to go out in the brisk morning tomorrow and run a while. Not sure how far yet, but just run a while.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Traffic Assessment Run
I had planned to run at lunch today, but it kept pouring rain intermittently. And I knew that the afternoon was going to clear up, so I waited...and was treated to a lovely, breezy, warm fall run. And, I was able to see that the traffic on the way home is already bad...so highway it is! :)
The route I went was out the studio and north on Montgomery Road. It's hilly. The hills got me, like they do. I should plan to do regular runs at Sharon Woods this winter. Seems like a perfect "get your hills in" place, though it is a bit scary in the winter. Not many people.
I took it easy. My right leg seized up, which doesn't seem to have anything to do with speed, but who knows. I had to walk a couple of times because it hurt so bad. I stretched at the 1.5 mile turn around and started running back. It gradually stopped hurting and I ran the entire way back. My over all pace was 10:27. Obviously not what I want, but I'm starting here!! :)
So, woohoo! First run after the half... I'll go ahead and label challenging, but a success!
The route I went was out the studio and north on Montgomery Road. It's hilly. The hills got me, like they do. I should plan to do regular runs at Sharon Woods this winter. Seems like a perfect "get your hills in" place, though it is a bit scary in the winter. Not many people.
I took it easy. My right leg seized up, which doesn't seem to have anything to do with speed, but who knows. I had to walk a couple of times because it hurt so bad. I stretched at the 1.5 mile turn around and started running back. It gradually stopped hurting and I ran the entire way back. My over all pace was 10:27. Obviously not what I want, but I'm starting here!! :)
So, woohoo! First run after the half... I'll go ahead and label challenging, but a success!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Mason Half Marathon Race Report
Sunday I "ran" my 6th half marathon. And, while it wasn't the worst half I've ever done, it was pretty horrendous :) But I'm not at all surprised, since I didn't train properly for it.
Greg ran the 5K. Casey, Elizabeth and I ran the half. Saying I ran the half is a bit misleading. I ran about half of it and then went into survival mode :) Completed is accurate. I did finish.
I am very happy with my first 7 miles. I was clipping along around 10:30 pace, and it felt very easy...
Mile 1- 9:52
Mile 2- 10:34
Mile 3- 10:20
Mile 4- 10:28
Mile 5- 10:34
Mile 6- 10:19
Mile 7- 10:37...
After Mile 7, the wheels fell off. I was so very tired, very unmotivated and even bored. I tried to keep pushing, staying behind a group of 4 very chatty friends running together, a man and three women. They were my entertainment. But my breathing got worse and I felt out of gas. As soon as it became hard to keep up with them, I was discouraged too. I started walking hills and just told myself I was just going to have to get through it.
Mile 8- 11:37 (ug!)
Mile 9- 12:33
Mile 10- 13:08 (yikes!)
Mile 11- 12:01
Mile 12- 13:16 (survival...)
Mile 13- 13:15
.1- 9:24 pace...I was trying hard.
And that I did. I walked hills, took my last gel, hoped my IT bands would behave, and couldn't wait to be done. I walked a bit before the end where the race finished so that I could be sure I was running across the finish line :) A part of me hoped Casey, Greg, Elizabeth, Jannelle, Roman and David would be inside staying warm and I could slip across the finish line with no fanfare. My time was sooo horrible, it was embarrassing. But, with about 75 yards to go, Elizabeth's voice rang out through the very quiet parking lot: "GOOOOO STEPHANIEEEE!!!!!" I forgot that she is a cheerer! :) It was awesome. It didn't matter about my sucky running time. The enthusiasm I heard matched the enthusiasm I had in me despite the fact that my body couldn't produce it in running performance. It felt fantastic.
I crossed the line and then sat down, pretty exhausted. After half a banana and some questionable pancakes, we all reconvened for Skyline... YUM.
So...overall, I am very happy about my first 6 miles. My legs only hurt a little bit, for probably not even a mile, so that makes 2 runs in a row with no pain!! And my breathing and gait felt strong for those 6 miles. I'm not surprised I got tired when I did because I simply didn't train enough. Today I am extremely sore. My knees feel like they have thick fluid in them and ache. My ankle hurts (around mile 1 something popped and hurt for a while but ended up being ok, though maybe it's not). I think my quads are sore, but the pain in my knees and IT bands is trumping any muscle pain. Again: Soooo not prepared for this race. I had no business running it, but I'm glad I did. Something that crossed my mind while I was out there slogging along is how much I enjoy running well and doing well at it for myself. It makes me feel so confident and just me, if that makes any sense. It is hard to explain. There I was, barely running, feeling like crap, doing terribly...but somehow I was so happy and pleased with myself. There wasn't a negative thought, and I have been having so many of them lately. Some crazy running euphoria I guess. Maybe it was because I didn't have expectations and just still liked being out there? Or that this was bottom and all I can do from here now is go up? I don't know. Confusing.
Next up: recovering, then back to training, eating better, losing some weight, and finding some motivation (which I think this race performance helped to provide a start). The next half marathon will be lucky number 7, and I'm determined to break my 2:09:49 PR...maybe even by a lot.
Greg ran the 5K. Casey, Elizabeth and I ran the half. Saying I ran the half is a bit misleading. I ran about half of it and then went into survival mode :) Completed is accurate. I did finish.
I am very happy with my first 7 miles. I was clipping along around 10:30 pace, and it felt very easy...
Mile 1- 9:52
Mile 2- 10:34
Mile 3- 10:20
Mile 4- 10:28
Mile 5- 10:34
Mile 6- 10:19
Mile 7- 10:37...
After Mile 7, the wheels fell off. I was so very tired, very unmotivated and even bored. I tried to keep pushing, staying behind a group of 4 very chatty friends running together, a man and three women. They were my entertainment. But my breathing got worse and I felt out of gas. As soon as it became hard to keep up with them, I was discouraged too. I started walking hills and just told myself I was just going to have to get through it.
Mile 8- 11:37 (ug!)
Mile 9- 12:33
Mile 10- 13:08 (yikes!)
Mile 11- 12:01
Mile 12- 13:16 (survival...)
Mile 13- 13:15
.1- 9:24 pace...I was trying hard.
And that I did. I walked hills, took my last gel, hoped my IT bands would behave, and couldn't wait to be done. I walked a bit before the end where the race finished so that I could be sure I was running across the finish line :) A part of me hoped Casey, Greg, Elizabeth, Jannelle, Roman and David would be inside staying warm and I could slip across the finish line with no fanfare. My time was sooo horrible, it was embarrassing. But, with about 75 yards to go, Elizabeth's voice rang out through the very quiet parking lot: "GOOOOO STEPHANIEEEE!!!!!" I forgot that she is a cheerer! :) It was awesome. It didn't matter about my sucky running time. The enthusiasm I heard matched the enthusiasm I had in me despite the fact that my body couldn't produce it in running performance. It felt fantastic.
I crossed the line and then sat down, pretty exhausted. After half a banana and some questionable pancakes, we all reconvened for Skyline... YUM.
So...overall, I am very happy about my first 6 miles. My legs only hurt a little bit, for probably not even a mile, so that makes 2 runs in a row with no pain!! And my breathing and gait felt strong for those 6 miles. I'm not surprised I got tired when I did because I simply didn't train enough. Today I am extremely sore. My knees feel like they have thick fluid in them and ache. My ankle hurts (around mile 1 something popped and hurt for a while but ended up being ok, though maybe it's not). I think my quads are sore, but the pain in my knees and IT bands is trumping any muscle pain. Again: Soooo not prepared for this race. I had no business running it, but I'm glad I did. Something that crossed my mind while I was out there slogging along is how much I enjoy running well and doing well at it for myself. It makes me feel so confident and just me, if that makes any sense. It is hard to explain. There I was, barely running, feeling like crap, doing terribly...but somehow I was so happy and pleased with myself. There wasn't a negative thought, and I have been having so many of them lately. Some crazy running euphoria I guess. Maybe it was because I didn't have expectations and just still liked being out there? Or that this was bottom and all I can do from here now is go up? I don't know. Confusing.
Next up: recovering, then back to training, eating better, losing some weight, and finding some motivation (which I think this race performance helped to provide a start). The next half marathon will be lucky number 7, and I'm determined to break my 2:09:49 PR...maybe even by a lot.
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