Oops, I forgot to blog yesterday. I went for a run and was nervous about how my shins would hold up. They were a bit uncomfortable, but didn't give me any serious pain like they did on the last run.
I was also nervous about this run because the running interval was set to increase from three minutes to five. Five whole minutes of running. Yikes!
Well, I did it. And, truth be told, it wasn't that bad - once I got "over the hump," it was good to be in a rhythm. I was pretty impressed with myself for finishing.
And bonus: the dog slept like a log the rest of they day. :)
Monday, November 5, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Post-Hurricane Run
The hurricane blew through yesterday and last night. Honestly, it wasn't as big of a deal here in DC as I expected. We never lost power (although it did flicker a lot and I thought we'd lose it), and had no damage to our condo. I feel badly for folks that got it worse than we did. One of hubby's coworkers had a tree fall on his house and it ripped off half his roof - yikes!
One nice thing was that I didn't have to work yesterday or today. Hubby even had most of the last two days off, although spent a good amount of time on the phone and went in to the office for a few hours each day. It was fun having him home - we did a puzzle and got some projects done around the house. Back to the grind tomorrow...
I went for a run today, and it was the first one that I really didn't think I'd complete. I had awful shin splits - something I haven't dealt with for years and years. It got so painful that I could barely keep going and I was almost in tears (and about to call Hubby to come pick me up). I made it through, although I'm still debating whether that was the right choice or not. I've got ice on my shins now and am hoping that helps.
Other than the pain, it was a cool run. It was like I was alone in the world. I didn't see another living soul (unless you count a squirrel and a heron). It was still raining (and it was a COLD) rain. The sidewalks were littered with leaves - to the point that at times, I couldn't tell where the sidewalk began and ended. There were small sticks and limbs down everywhere, and I splashed through my fair share of puddles.
All in all, I survived another day and had a cool experience doing so.
One nice thing was that I didn't have to work yesterday or today. Hubby even had most of the last two days off, although spent a good amount of time on the phone and went in to the office for a few hours each day. It was fun having him home - we did a puzzle and got some projects done around the house. Back to the grind tomorrow...
I went for a run today, and it was the first one that I really didn't think I'd complete. I had awful shin splits - something I haven't dealt with for years and years. It got so painful that I could barely keep going and I was almost in tears (and about to call Hubby to come pick me up). I made it through, although I'm still debating whether that was the right choice or not. I've got ice on my shins now and am hoping that helps.
Other than the pain, it was a cool run. It was like I was alone in the world. I didn't see another living soul (unless you count a squirrel and a heron). It was still raining (and it was a COLD) rain. The sidewalks were littered with leaves - to the point that at times, I couldn't tell where the sidewalk began and ended. There were small sticks and limbs down everywhere, and I splashed through my fair share of puddles.
All in all, I survived another day and had a cool experience doing so.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Jello
Note to self: Don't go on two hard runs two days in a row. Man, my legs are like jello. It was fun, though, and even better, I finished. Barely, but still a finish!
Yesterday I ran on a paved path around a lake in a nearby neighborhood. Today I went back to the park I referenced in last Monday's post. Here's a picture:
Right now I'm trying to work through the mental block of feeling silly for being excited over small accomplishments. For instance, earlier this week, my training program increased to 3 minute running intervals (up from 1.5 minute intervals). I was pretty proud of myself for making it through the first interval. Until I realized how pathetic it was to be excited about being able to run for three minutes. Am I that out of shape that THAT is an accomplishment? Is it really an accomplishment considering that I run so slowly that Jason can keep up with me at a fast walk?
But hey, it's more than I could do three weeks ago, right? Right. It's better than being too scared to try, right? Right. It's better than being lazy, right? Uhhhhh.... right.... I suppose. :)
Yesterday I ran on a paved path around a lake in a nearby neighborhood. Today I went back to the park I referenced in last Monday's post. Here's a picture:
Right now I'm trying to work through the mental block of feeling silly for being excited over small accomplishments. For instance, earlier this week, my training program increased to 3 minute running intervals (up from 1.5 minute intervals). I was pretty proud of myself for making it through the first interval. Until I realized how pathetic it was to be excited about being able to run for three minutes. Am I that out of shape that THAT is an accomplishment? Is it really an accomplishment considering that I run so slowly that Jason can keep up with me at a fast walk?
But hey, it's more than I could do three weeks ago, right? Right. It's better than being too scared to try, right? Right. It's better than being lazy, right? Uhhhhh.... right.... I suppose. :)
Friday, October 26, 2012
I ran today.
Well, I ran today. I'm not really inspired to say much more than that...
This weekend, I'm looking forward (am I crazy?) to going back to my adventure described in my last post to give it another try - maybe from the opposite direction this time.
This weekend, I'm looking forward (am I crazy?) to going back to my adventure described in my last post to give it another try - maybe from the opposite direction this time.
Monday, October 22, 2012
I should have known...
A few days ago, hubby and I were driving and passed a regional park near us. I said, "I should go run there sometime." Hubby said, "Yeah, you'd like it." I should have known.
I asked, "Are there a lot of hills?" Hubby answered, "Not really - a few but they are pretty minor." I should have known.
I even went so far as to say, "Great. Speaking of hills, I decided that this time [my second time training for a 5K] I'm not going to avoid hills in my training. I figure I need to train on some hills so that I'm ready for anything in a 5K." I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
I got my hills, that's for sure.
The 3.5 mile loop was absolutely beautiful. I ran through the woods in the late afternoon/early evening setting sun, and the light filtered in, making the already colorful trees glow with yellows, oranges, and red. I even saw some deer.
But...
It was NOT flat. There were hills. Lots of them. And they were steep. And my training app (which alternates between telling me to walk and run) told me to RUN each time I was at the bottom of a huge hill. Or at the top of a really steep hill strewn with rocks and littered with tree roots sticking out at all angles (I quickly discovered that this was equally as difficult).
Did I mention that I also had to ford three creeks? You know - running through water because the trail stopped at the creek and continued on the other side. And there were no bridges. Or rocks on which to teeter as I worked my way across. Which - of course - left my poor feet soaking wet and my still-new-enough-to-look-nice shoes a muddy mess.
All that said, though, it was completely exhilarating. Despite the hills, the running itself wasn't that hard. Sure, I was panting and barely breathing at points. But my mind was so focused on not wiping out - or getting run over by a mountain biker - that I didn't really notice. I kept thinking about my friend Rebecca, who is really into trail running. I understand now why she's totally hooked on it. And I understand why they make shoes specifically for trail running.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
New Beginnings
As promised in my last post, I went for a run today. It's a beautiful fall day here in MD and I decided to go out along the C&O canal - my favorite weekend spot.
It was... errrrrr... rough. By the time I finished, I was doing alright. But I'll tell you - those first few running intervals were awful. Not necessarily physically hard - just horribly-not-fun-at-all. I felt like a total clutz, couldn't get into a rhythm, and wanted to crawl into a hole. I pushed through it, though, and finished, and am glad I did it - I think.
I guess that's what it's like getting back into things, eh? Tough to get started, tough and awkward for a bit in the beginning, but eventually starts to get back to normal. Let's hope so, at least, because I've got a lot of that coming up in the next few weeks!
It was... errrrrr... rough. By the time I finished, I was doing alright. But I'll tell you - those first few running intervals were awful. Not necessarily physically hard - just horribly-not-fun-at-all. I felt like a total clutz, couldn't get into a rhythm, and wanted to crawl into a hole. I pushed through it, though, and finished, and am glad I did it - I think.
I guess that's what it's like getting back into things, eh? Tough to get started, tough and awkward for a bit in the beginning, but eventually starts to get back to normal. Let's hope so, at least, because I've got a lot of that coming up in the next few weeks!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Confession
Confession: The last time I went running was 9/23. I got really sick right after that. Then I had the week from hell. Then I was on vacation. Truthfully, I planned to get back on track during vacation. Then I got relaxed (read: lazy).
Now, I'm back home and planning to get back on track by going for a run tomorrow. Really. I promise. (Seriously - someone ask me tomorrow evening if I got it done.)
PS: I rode a Harley today. It was the most terrifying and thrilling experience of my life. I'm hooked. :)
Now, I'm back home and planning to get back on track by going for a run tomorrow. Really. I promise. (Seriously - someone ask me tomorrow evening if I got it done.)
PS: I rode a Harley today. It was the most terrifying and thrilling experience of my life. I'm hooked. :)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Colors of Fall
Today was a beautiful early fall day, with the sun shining brightly and a cool breeze blowing. I ran along the C&O canal, which runs along the Maryland side of the Potomac River. I wish I had taken a picture, but it probably wouldn't have done it justice anyway.
The river was flowing to my right and I saw the occasional canoe and kayak out in the distance. Closer to shore, geese meandered in and out of the shadows along the bank. On my left, the canal was crystal clear. I saw schools of fish scooting back and forth between patches of algae. The sky was reflected in the water of the canal, giving it a shimmery, ethereal look. If it hadn't been for the fallen leaves strewn on the ground, I would have guessed it was spring. It was so colorful - the green of the trees, the yellow of the leaves that had fallen early, the blue of the sky, the brown of the path stretching out ahead of me.
With surroundings like that, I found that my run passed far too quickly. I'm as shocked as you are. How is that possible?!? Who AM I?!?
The river was flowing to my right and I saw the occasional canoe and kayak out in the distance. Closer to shore, geese meandered in and out of the shadows along the bank. On my left, the canal was crystal clear. I saw schools of fish scooting back and forth between patches of algae. The sky was reflected in the water of the canal, giving it a shimmery, ethereal look. If it hadn't been for the fallen leaves strewn on the ground, I would have guessed it was spring. It was so colorful - the green of the trees, the yellow of the leaves that had fallen early, the blue of the sky, the brown of the path stretching out ahead of me.
With surroundings like that, I found that my run passed far too quickly. I'm as shocked as you are. How is that possible?!? Who AM I?!?
Friday, September 21, 2012
A Rough One
Today was a rough one. My run was rough - lungs burning, calves hurting, far more hills than I would have liked, and generally arduous. Tougher, though, was the mental aspect. When I run, I either process my thoughts or escape from them (I'm really not sure which yet - I've been thinking about that for a later blog post). Today, though, I just couldn't get through (or around?) my thoughts durning my run, which was frustrating. My disappointment, anger, and anxiety over events of the day wouldn't leave me. Maybe I just needed to run longer, but I don't think my legs - or lungs - could have handled it!
Ah well, there's always the next run, right?
Ah well, there's always the next run, right?
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Like a dog...
My friend Beth once said, "I think the feeling of running in the rain must be like what dogs feel when they ride in the car with their heads out the window."
Indeed. There's just something about the feeling of the rain hitting my bare arms, my feet splashing through puddles, and the breeze blowing the misty air in my face. Every once in a while a giant drop splashes right on my nose, surprising me and pulling me out of my reverie.
Of course, my running partner (my dog) and I come home soaked and track rain and mud all through the house. Eh - minor details, right?
Indeed. There's just something about the feeling of the rain hitting my bare arms, my feet splashing through puddles, and the breeze blowing the misty air in my face. Every once in a while a giant drop splashes right on my nose, surprising me and pulling me out of my reverie.
Of course, my running partner (my dog) and I come home soaked and track rain and mud all through the house. Eh - minor details, right?
Sunday, September 16, 2012
A Series of Mundane Steps
What to write? What to write? What to write? The words kept running through my mind in a steady cadence with my feet. I was getting stressed because nothing was coming to me. Well, all sorts of things were coming to me - but nothing I considered "blog-worthy." Nothing insightful. Nothing clever or catchy.
Maybe that's what life's like. It's made up of a series of mundane moments, most of which don't have any real "weight" to them. You can't force a moment to be meaningful beyond what it is. It just is.
That's what I like about running. You put one foot in front of the other, over and over. Some steps are hard. Some are easy. Some make you cry out in pain. Some make you cry out in joy. Some steps are weightless. Some have profound meaning. You look back at the end, though, and see what all those individual steps created, and think, "it was worth it."
Maybe that's what life's like. It's made up of a series of mundane moments, most of which don't have any real "weight" to them. You can't force a moment to be meaningful beyond what it is. It just is.
That's what I like about running. You put one foot in front of the other, over and over. Some steps are hard. Some are easy. Some make you cry out in pain. Some make you cry out in joy. Some steps are weightless. Some have profound meaning. You look back at the end, though, and see what all those individual steps created, and think, "it was worth it."
Friday, September 14, 2012
Go, Jeannine, Go!
When I was a kid, I was on a swim team. I wasn't very good; I was always in Lane 6 - the "slow lane." That's not what I remember most about swim team, though. I remember my dad's enthusiasm at swim meets. By enthusiasm, I mean ENTHUSIASM. He would walk along the side of the pool while I swam, using his booming voice to cheer, "go, Jeannine, go!" the entire way. Humiliating, right?
That was the voice in my head today when I went running - and I loved it. It spurred me on. I'm working through the Couch to 5K program again. I did it last year around this time and ran my first-ever 5K on January 1st, 2012. After that, I took a few days off. Which turned into a few weeks. Which turned into 8.5 months.
So here I am, ready to improve my fitness again. If it's anything like the last time, it will be more of a mental exercise than a physical one. My hope is to use this blog to capture my thoughts through the experience - some related to running and some related to my life in general.
PS - I'm terrified of blogging. What was I thinking, starting a blog?
That was the voice in my head today when I went running - and I loved it. It spurred me on. I'm working through the Couch to 5K program again. I did it last year around this time and ran my first-ever 5K on January 1st, 2012. After that, I took a few days off. Which turned into a few weeks. Which turned into 8.5 months.
So here I am, ready to improve my fitness again. If it's anything like the last time, it will be more of a mental exercise than a physical one. My hope is to use this blog to capture my thoughts through the experience - some related to running and some related to my life in general.
PS - I'm terrified of blogging. What was I thinking, starting a blog?
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