Here I am, at the beginning of Week 3 of the Team Vegan Challenge. A few things are clear -- sedentary habits are hard to break, my stamina has increased tremendously, and I do, in fact, enjoy running.
On the last point, that I enjoy running. Yesterday I ran for four miles in Bidwell Park and I became one of those people who you see running the trails along the edge of Vallombrosa. The significance of this for me is incalculable, since for years I have been driving along Vallombrosa and seeing these lovely runners of all shapes and sizes. Every time I see these runners, I am driven slightly bonkers by a mad dissatisfaction with my own life that I am not running free along a lovely park trail.
A mad dissatisfaction with my own life. That instead of being outdoors, I am in an office. It's a lovely office with lovely people, but an office nevertheless. Sitting in a chair that fits my backside all too well. And so, yesterday's run was a watershed moment in my life. I can't wait to repeat it as the year progresses, since I know the park in all its seasons and I know that soon the park will start raising up showy and not-so-showy wildflowers for my enjoyment, followed by butterflies and birds raising their young. I will walk through the park many times this year, no doubt, but I will also run through the park.
The Garmin acted up on me (read: I couldn't figure out which buttons to push), so I wasn't able to download the data from my run, but I figured I was running at a good clip for me, maybe 5.5 mph. Because that pace was a little too fast for the long run, I had to take a couple of short walk breaks (1-2 minutes). It seems that at this point, I can only run in two speeds, "too fast" and "too faster". I can't seem to master the easy pace, the one they say you're supposed to run for most of your running, the one where you can talk. Finding my first, second, and third running gear is going to be a challenge, once that I must solve or else I will be sure to run myself into an injury. As it is, I am experiencing some post-run soreness in my hamstrings and as well as a little tenderness in my left knee. Nothing is bothering me during the run. My left hamstring is bothering me the day after the run, but nothing else. I am concerned.
The subject of injury brings me to the third thing that I know about myself: sedentary habits are hard to break. Proof: I have done zero cross-training in Week 2 AND also skipped my Thursday easy run. Why did I skip them? Because the sofa is comfortable habit that is hard to break. I recall clearly my feelings on Thursday when I was supposed to run an easy three miles. I planned to run at lunch time at work...which I missed. Then I said I could take off at 4:30pm and still run in the park after work...which I missed. Then I brought my gear bag home, and planned to run on the treadmill...which I also missed. I didn't forget, but rather I deliberately chose to sit on the sofa.
The mind knows what to do, but the body refuses. Why? And does thinking about it solve anything? Does blogging about it? Where is the stranger within who started me running in the first place?
On to Week 3!
Showing posts with label Team Vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Team Vegan. Show all posts
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Team Vegan Week 2
How about that? I get to jump to week 2 already because the San Francisco kickoff was technically week 1!
The trip to San Francisco was a little iffy because of the forecast of rain...but the night before the skies were clear and I could see stars, so I was pretty sure that the rain would hold off. I set the alarm for 5:15am and hoped for the best. On Saturday morning I woke up, made myself some oatmeal, packed my gear and by 6:15am Daniel and I hit the highway en route to the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Mason Center. Thank to the iPod and This American Life podcasts, we made it through drizzle and a bit of rain (no fog! yay!) to meet up with the group right at 9:15am.
And what a group it was! Everyone was so nice! And so young! And so fit. Marathon Matt is a cool guy -- he thought it was great that I decided to go for the 2-mile run instead of the 1-mile workout. I thought it was pretty cool, too. That I voluntarily ran for twice the distance that I had been asked to is a pretty big deal.
We learned some stretches and got some pointers on form and cadence. (Did you know that it's more efficient and easier on your body to take many small steps than fewer long steps? The magic pace is 180-190 steps per minute, I discovered. The average person's pace is 140 steps per minute.) So we ran and I survived. My Garmin says I ran a pace of a little under 10 minutes per mile, which is, like, screaming fast for me. I kept up with the group is all I know, though I was huffing and puffing more than was appropriate for an "easy" run.
My reward for all that was a lovely lunch at Greens Restaurant at Fort Mason Center, about which I'll post separately.
So, I survived the workout. We survived the pouring rain that accompanied us all the way back to Chico, too -- three hours of nonstop driving rain. Ugh! We were glad to be home again, that's for sure. Poor Daniel drove all the way!
Which brings me to today...Week 2 of Team Vegan training. Today's run was an easy 3 mile run. (I can hardly believe that I can think of an easy 3-mile run, but there you go...bless the C25K program is all I can say.) I practiced my cadence and took tiny steps on the treadmill -- and discovered much to my surprise that many fast small steps are far easier than fewer long steps. They are easier on my stamina, that's for sure. I can't tell for sure whether it's easier on my joints. Right now my left knee is complaining a little bit, but not too bad.
I can't wait for my Thursday run!
The trip to San Francisco was a little iffy because of the forecast of rain...but the night before the skies were clear and I could see stars, so I was pretty sure that the rain would hold off. I set the alarm for 5:15am and hoped for the best. On Saturday morning I woke up, made myself some oatmeal, packed my gear and by 6:15am Daniel and I hit the highway en route to the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Mason Center. Thank to the iPod and This American Life podcasts, we made it through drizzle and a bit of rain (no fog! yay!) to meet up with the group right at 9:15am.
And what a group it was! Everyone was so nice! And so young! And so fit. Marathon Matt is a cool guy -- he thought it was great that I decided to go for the 2-mile run instead of the 1-mile workout. I thought it was pretty cool, too. That I voluntarily ran for twice the distance that I had been asked to is a pretty big deal.
We learned some stretches and got some pointers on form and cadence. (Did you know that it's more efficient and easier on your body to take many small steps than fewer long steps? The magic pace is 180-190 steps per minute, I discovered. The average person's pace is 140 steps per minute.) So we ran and I survived. My Garmin says I ran a pace of a little under 10 minutes per mile, which is, like, screaming fast for me. I kept up with the group is all I know, though I was huffing and puffing more than was appropriate for an "easy" run.
My reward for all that was a lovely lunch at Greens Restaurant at Fort Mason Center, about which I'll post separately.
So, I survived the workout. We survived the pouring rain that accompanied us all the way back to Chico, too -- three hours of nonstop driving rain. Ugh! We were glad to be home again, that's for sure. Poor Daniel drove all the way!
Which brings me to today...Week 2 of Team Vegan training. Today's run was an easy 3 mile run. (I can hardly believe that I can think of an easy 3-mile run, but there you go...bless the C25K program is all I can say.) I practiced my cadence and took tiny steps on the treadmill -- and discovered much to my surprise that many fast small steps are far easier than fewer long steps. They are easier on my stamina, that's for sure. I can't tell for sure whether it's easier on my joints. Right now my left knee is complaining a little bit, but not too bad.
I can't wait for my Thursday run!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Week 9 Day 2
So, today's lesson is...prepare mentally for your run during the day, be well hydrated, don't eat dinner beforehand...and you, too, can run for 36 minutes without feeling bad. As a matter of fact, you'll feel pretty darn good. The hardest part was getting on the treadmill in the first place. Once on it, well, I just kept going. It helped to be listening to an interesting episode of This American Life. I love that show.
On Saturday, I'm heading over to San Francisco to run with Team Vegan and Marathon Matt! Afterwards there will be a team brunch with Vegan Outreach at Greens Restaurant. Woohoo. I hope it doesn't rain, because if it's too rainy we might not go.
On Saturday, I'm heading over to San Francisco to run with Team Vegan and Marathon Matt! Afterwards there will be a team brunch with Vegan Outreach at Greens Restaurant. Woohoo. I hope it doesn't rain, because if it's too rainy we might not go.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Week 9 Day 2
OK, so I was lazy and did not do my run on Wednesday as I had planned. I was very very lazy and let other stuff, like baking failure cookies (I made peanut butter cookies that never firmed up and chocolate chip cookies that were way too crispy -- it was an odd double failure recipe night for me), deter my from my run.
I have to be in the Bay Area for work today and tomorrow (that's Thursday and Friday), so...I got up at 5:00am today and wound up getting on the treadmill at 6:00am. How's that for dedication? And then I got in the car by 8:20am and drove to Berkeley.
Because it was so early in the morning, I decided to simply run for 30 minutes, plus the usual C25K warmup/cooldown. I could have run for the alternative 3 miles had I not been strapped for time. Or if I had started running at 5:00am or shortly thereafter instead of frittering away the early morning until it was almost 6:00am. I am SO good at frittering!
It would have been a whole lot easier had I simply deferred my cookie baking until after a run.
BUT, I have had the most wonderful feeling of wellness and accomplishment all day at my work meeting. It's like my legs are sending waves of "you did it! you can do it!" chemicals to my brain. I understand how and why folks arrange their lives so they can go running in the morning, just for the lingering feel-good aspect of it. I may stay on schedule and run tomorrow when I get back from San Francisco because I won't really have a chance to run on Saturday.
I have to be in the Bay Area for work today and tomorrow (that's Thursday and Friday), so...I got up at 5:00am today and wound up getting on the treadmill at 6:00am. How's that for dedication? And then I got in the car by 8:20am and drove to Berkeley.
Because it was so early in the morning, I decided to simply run for 30 minutes, plus the usual C25K warmup/cooldown. I could have run for the alternative 3 miles had I not been strapped for time. Or if I had started running at 5:00am or shortly thereafter instead of frittering away the early morning until it was almost 6:00am. I am SO good at frittering!
It would have been a whole lot easier had I simply deferred my cookie baking until after a run.
BUT, I have had the most wonderful feeling of wellness and accomplishment all day at my work meeting. It's like my legs are sending waves of "you did it! you can do it!" chemicals to my brain. I understand how and why folks arrange their lives so they can go running in the morning, just for the lingering feel-good aspect of it. I may stay on schedule and run tomorrow when I get back from San Francisco because I won't really have a chance to run on Saturday.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Week 9 Day 1
Hey, this post is not a mistake...I'm re-doing Week 9 because I never finished it last week. Today I was back on the treadmill doing my usual run, a lot like last week!
I am really happy that my stamina has increased so that I can run for 36 minutes straight to complete a full three-mile run. I'm going into new territory here. Not just longer distances and longer running times, but also the discipline to keep going, even though the sedentary arms of the sofa nearly grabbed me back and held me prisoner. I had planned to run several times last week, starting on Thursday night. Then Friday, Saturday, well...you get the picture. That old inertia is still lurking in my psyche, that's for sure.
That's why this week is critical. I don't want to fall into a pattern of excuses following my Monday run. I have to do some traveling this week for work, which means that it will be very easy for me to skip running. My very short-term goal is to complete Wednesday's run as scheduled. If I can do that, I will be very happy with myself.
I am really happy that my stamina has increased so that I can run for 36 minutes straight to complete a full three-mile run. I'm going into new territory here. Not just longer distances and longer running times, but also the discipline to keep going, even though the sedentary arms of the sofa nearly grabbed me back and held me prisoner. I had planned to run several times last week, starting on Thursday night. Then Friday, Saturday, well...you get the picture. That old inertia is still lurking in my psyche, that's for sure.
That's why this week is critical. I don't want to fall into a pattern of excuses following my Monday run. I have to do some traveling this week for work, which means that it will be very easy for me to skip running. My very short-term goal is to complete Wednesday's run as scheduled. If I can do that, I will be very happy with myself.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Week 9 Day 1
I haven't been too consistent this week, I'm afraid. I didn't run on Monday like I planned, so I ran on Tuesday morning outside. We were leaving for MacWorld in San Francisco at 10am, so I started at 9am. Outside, in the real world.
I felt really good in the first part of the run, but then got too tired toward the end and stopped running before I made my 30-minute mark. When I downloaded the data from the Garmin (which is the fun part about running outdoors!), it turned out that I was running way too fast. When I'm on the treadmill I run a steady 12-minute mile (5mph), but when I ran outside my average pace was about 10:30-mile, so no wonder I was tired!
I also gave myself a case of shin splints, I think. My shins were really sore -- the first real soreness I've experienced since I started C25K. I used this soreness to postpone my Wednesday run from Wednesday to now Friday.
Carry on!
I felt really good in the first part of the run, but then got too tired toward the end and stopped running before I made my 30-minute mark. When I downloaded the data from the Garmin (which is the fun part about running outdoors!), it turned out that I was running way too fast. When I'm on the treadmill I run a steady 12-minute mile (5mph), but when I ran outside my average pace was about 10:30-mile, so no wonder I was tired!
I also gave myself a case of shin splints, I think. My shins were really sore -- the first real soreness I've experienced since I started C25K. I used this soreness to postpone my Wednesday run from Wednesday to now Friday.
Carry on!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Week 8 - DONE!
C25K Week 8 is complete! I can hardly believe that I am almost done with this program. Monday's run was weird because I had to run at the gym -- the power was out at the house because of Friday's storm. It was very noisy and there were so many people around! Blech. But...I was one of those people who I used to admire -- you know, the person working out next to you who just keeps going and and going at a faster pace or steeper incline than you are!
Wednesday's run was back at home -- our power came back on Tuesday night. (Thank you and bless you PGE!!) I postponed and postponed, but I finally started my run at 9:00 pm or so.
Friday's run was a challenge -- I decided to try the distance recommendation rather than the time recommendation for the C25K program. So, instead of running for 28 minutes, I decided to try to run 2.75 miles, which I did in about 33 minutes. Which amazed me. It is like having a stranger within (a la John Bingham in last month's Runner's World) who is motivated to go running and do other good things for herself. This stranger, oddly enough, has the stamina and mental concentration to run for 33 minutes straight.
Anyway, I felt really good afterwards--not out of breath, legs not tired, just sweaty and happy. And the next day, Saturday, I felt great also, especially my legs. It was wonderful.
I'm on the trail of a cheap rowing machine that I am looking forward to using for my upcoming cross-training days. Wish me luck on Craigslist!
The stranger within says bring on Week 9.
Wednesday's run was back at home -- our power came back on Tuesday night. (Thank you and bless you PGE!!) I postponed and postponed, but I finally started my run at 9:00 pm or so.
Friday's run was a challenge -- I decided to try the distance recommendation rather than the time recommendation for the C25K program. So, instead of running for 28 minutes, I decided to try to run 2.75 miles, which I did in about 33 minutes. Which amazed me. It is like having a stranger within (a la John Bingham in last month's Runner's World) who is motivated to go running and do other good things for herself. This stranger, oddly enough, has the stamina and mental concentration to run for 33 minutes straight.
Anyway, I felt really good afterwards--not out of breath, legs not tired, just sweaty and happy. And the next day, Saturday, I felt great also, especially my legs. It was wonderful.
I'm on the trail of a cheap rowing machine that I am looking forward to using for my upcoming cross-training days. Wish me luck on Craigslist!
The stranger within says bring on Week 9.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Week 7 Day 3
Well, the power went out on Friday. The Chico area had high winds (40-60 miles per hour). The morning started okay -- rainy and windy but within normal bounds. This was at 6:00 am, when my alarm went off. As I lay in bed, contemplating getting up and starting my day (I don't really have to get out of bed till 7:00 am), the wind started to increase and my will to get up decreased even more. By 7:15 am or so the lights were flickering. By 8:00am it was clear that the power was going out for sure. And so they did. And they did not come back on. About 60,000 people in Butte County, California lost power.
Because I do my running on a treadmill, a power failure puts a major crimp in that activity. In skipped my scheduled run on Friday, but tried to run outside on Saturday. The weather was cold and windy, but not raining, so I gave it a try. And I discovered that running on real pavement is really hard! I wasn't able to run the 25 minutes straight that I had hoped to, but I did what I could and called it a day. It was a good inkling of what I'll be up against when I actually run in Santa Cruz!
Note to self: Schedule at least one outside run a week.
Because I do my running on a treadmill, a power failure puts a major crimp in that activity. In skipped my scheduled run on Friday, but tried to run outside on Saturday. The weather was cold and windy, but not raining, so I gave it a try. And I discovered that running on real pavement is really hard! I wasn't able to run the 25 minutes straight that I had hoped to, but I did what I could and called it a day. It was a good inkling of what I'll be up against when I actually run in Santa Cruz!
Note to self: Schedule at least one outside run a week.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Week 7 - Day 2
Ta-da! I have completed another 25 minute run, much to my amazement. How is it at the age of 44 I can amaze myself?
Today I used a Podrunner podcast to run with, since I didn't need Robert Ullrey's podcast cues for when to start and stop running. I used a 143-bpm techno track to run with and found that it kept my feet moving, and moving, and moving. It was great.
Other news...I saw a pheasant in our backyard this morning. And I didn't run outside in the fresh air yesterday as I had thought I might. The couch potato rises again.
Today I used a Podrunner podcast to run with, since I didn't need Robert Ullrey's podcast cues for when to start and stop running. I used a 143-bpm techno track to run with and found that it kept my feet moving, and moving, and moving. It was great.
Other news...I saw a pheasant in our backyard this morning. And I didn't run outside in the fresh air yesterday as I had thought I might. The couch potato rises again.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Week 7 - Day 1
I successfully completed Week 7 / Day 1 of C25K today, which is a 25-minute run, the same as last Friday. Having completed last week's run made it much more difficult to come up with a good excuse to not complete today's run, so I just kept running even though I thought about quitting.
Even with that, it was much easier to get started and keep running this time than last time. The last 8 minutes or so were hard because I kept thinking, "Geez, when is this run over?" I'm still using the Robert Ullrey podcast, but because these are straight runs now, I can conceivably start running to my own music.
I've been running exclusively on the treadmill since starting C25K. It's winter: the days are short, it's cold (to me, anyway) and I'm shy about running outside. Then I see these blogs from other people who are running in the snow, for heaven's sake, and loving it, which makes me feel like such a wimp. Well, so be it.
So I think I will try a short run outside tomorrow. On level ground and if the weather is nice. To commemorate the New Year. The new me. This stranger inside me who can run 25 minutes straight and not complain.
Even with that, it was much easier to get started and keep running this time than last time. The last 8 minutes or so were hard because I kept thinking, "Geez, when is this run over?" I'm still using the Robert Ullrey podcast, but because these are straight runs now, I can conceivably start running to my own music.
I've been running exclusively on the treadmill since starting C25K. It's winter: the days are short, it's cold (to me, anyway) and I'm shy about running outside. Then I see these blogs from other people who are running in the snow, for heaven's sake, and loving it, which makes me feel like such a wimp. Well, so be it.
So I think I will try a short run outside tomorrow. On level ground and if the weather is nice. To commemorate the New Year. The new me. This stranger inside me who can run 25 minutes straight and not complain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)