I tried two new things today. First, in order to attempt to solve my achilles tendon/calf issues on my right side, I tried putting a makeup pad underneath my insole in my right running shoe. The thinking is that my calf muscle might be a bit too short. Time will tell if this does any good.
The second thing is that I switched from static stretching to dynamic stretching prior to the run. I used a series of stretches found at www.runnersworld.com. The link is www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-287--13442-0,00.html. What I will say is that I felt ready to run a whole lot sooner than when I did my static stretching. I think I will stick with this routine for a while and see how it goes.
An update from my previous post: After my last run, I tried eating three Oreo cookies along with my protein shake. This is to boost the insulin response and help the muscles take in more protein. It seemed to work - I had very little soreness in my hamstrings and glutes that time around. (I did feel a bit nauseous after eating all of that though). So this time I added two teaspoons of sugar to my protein shake (the same amount of sugar in TWO Oreo cookies). Each teaspoon has 15 calories, so I added 30 calories to my shake. This makes my current concoction one scoop of protein powder (100 calories), one serving of powdered milk (90 calories), one serving of L-Glutamine (zero calories), and two tsp. sugar (30 calories) - total 220 calories. I figure my burn rate while running is about 125 calories per mile, so if I run 2.5 miles, that's a bit over 300 calories - so I'm still running a calorie deficit.
All I need to do now is up my mileage. Only if I can figure out why my right leg continues to get pounded for some reason...
Mile splits: 10:15, 10:25 - the last 0.4 miles in 4:00. Weather: 45 and sunny, breezy. Clothing: polyester running cap, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, running gloves, exercise pants, polyester socks. Pre run beverage: Water. Post Run: Protein powder with powdered milk, L-Glutamine, and two tsp. sugar.
5k
My First 5k!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
11-26-2010 Run
Coldest run yet! 23 degrees and windy - wind chill was 6. Was planning on running at about 6:00 am, but decided to wait an hour because I don't have the proper reflective gear to wear in this cold. I also ran 2.34 miles instead of the normal 2.6; I eliminated the cool down walk because, well, I didn't want to stop running until I got back to my house! I did feel sore in the first couple of hours after the run. I think this is because the lack of cool-down prevented the lactic acid from clearing as fast. So I did some stretching after my shower.
It took about 1.5 miles to warm up, but once I was warmed up, I was quite comfortable and would have liked to go longer, except that my right leg is still giving me issues. I have decided to see a physical therapist about it. I only get pains and extreme stiffness in my right side only.
When I got back, I took my normal protein shake with L-Glutamine - but this time ate three Oreo cookies to spike the blood sugar and create an insulin response. The insulin is supposed to help the muscles take in more of the protein.
Mile splits: 10:15, 10:30 - last .34 miles in 4:05. Average mile in 10:36. Still facing a slowdown issue after two miles. Weather: 23 degrees with wind chill of 6. Clothing: Baseball cap, polyester ear warmer, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, hooded sweatshirt, two layers of exercise pants, running gloves, cotton socks. Kept the hood up for most of the run, with the exception of venting some heat on one occasion for a couple of minutes. Pre-run: Water. Post run: Protein powder with 16 ounces of milk, one serving of L-Glutamine, and three Oreo cookies.
It took about 1.5 miles to warm up, but once I was warmed up, I was quite comfortable and would have liked to go longer, except that my right leg is still giving me issues. I have decided to see a physical therapist about it. I only get pains and extreme stiffness in my right side only.
When I got back, I took my normal protein shake with L-Glutamine - but this time ate three Oreo cookies to spike the blood sugar and create an insulin response. The insulin is supposed to help the muscles take in more of the protein.
Mile splits: 10:15, 10:30 - last .34 miles in 4:05. Average mile in 10:36. Still facing a slowdown issue after two miles. Weather: 23 degrees with wind chill of 6. Clothing: Baseball cap, polyester ear warmer, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, hooded sweatshirt, two layers of exercise pants, running gloves, cotton socks. Kept the hood up for most of the run, with the exception of venting some heat on one occasion for a couple of minutes. Pre-run: Water. Post run: Protein powder with 16 ounces of milk, one serving of L-Glutamine, and three Oreo cookies.
11-23-2010 Run - Times are Getting Better
It was a bit cold and breezy today, but I went out anyway. The first mile was a bit brutal; after that I warmed up nicely. My times are improving. I almost broke 10 minutes in my first mile today. For some reason, that last half mile or so was a bit slower.
Not much to write today.
Mile Splits: 10:10, 10:15 - the last 0.6 mile in 7:15. Average mile was 10:38. Weather: 29 and breezy. Clothing: Baseball cap, polyester ear band, Nike pullover jacket, long sleeve exercise shirt, short sleeve exercise shirt, exercise pants, cotton socks. I was perfectly dressed. If I got a bit warm, I just pulled off my baseball cap to vent some heat and put it right back on. Pre run beverage: water. Post run: After-Glow. Had some muscle soreness, but not as bad as usual. I attribute it to the After Glow. I reached for that because I had a job interview the next day and did not want to have anything affect that.
Not much to write today.
Mile Splits: 10:10, 10:15 - the last 0.6 mile in 7:15. Average mile was 10:38. Weather: 29 and breezy. Clothing: Baseball cap, polyester ear band, Nike pullover jacket, long sleeve exercise shirt, short sleeve exercise shirt, exercise pants, cotton socks. I was perfectly dressed. If I got a bit warm, I just pulled off my baseball cap to vent some heat and put it right back on. Pre run beverage: water. Post run: After-Glow. Had some muscle soreness, but not as bad as usual. I attribute it to the After Glow. I reached for that because I had a job interview the next day and did not want to have anything affect that.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
11-20-2010 Run in Erie, PA
We went to visit Julie's brother, Marc, and his wife, Natalie in Erie, PA over the weekend. After taking the week of of running and the massage on Thursday, I felt good enough to go for a run. I drove to Presque Isle State Park and ran a little ways down the trail, which went along Lake Erie. It was very quiet and pleasant. I would like to go back some time when it is warmer and there are leaves on the trees.
My plan was to find a parking place, walk for five minutes down the trail, run for 13 minutes down and 13 minutes back, then walk for five minutes back to the car. I felt really good for the run, even with my heartbeat over 175 bpm. I could still hold somewhat of a conversation at that level. This is telling me that my lactic threshold is increasing. After the first 13 minute run, my heartbeat was at 182, and I had to walk for about 45 seconds to bring it down a bit. When I turned around, I realized why my heartrate was so high - the whole run was just a slight bit uphill.
After turning around, the run downhill was of course, easier. And rather than stopping at the point I started running at, I kept running all the way back to the car, for a total of 30 minutes. This would be the longest run, time wise, that I have done so far! I don't know how far I ran.
When I got back to the car, I stretched for a bit, had a nice conversation with a lady who was walking her dog, then drove back to my brother-in-law's house. I drank my normal protein shake, took a hot shower, and was a little stiff later on in the evening. The next day I was fine with very little stiffness, except for the fact that we were driving 10 hours in pouring rain. But I did not need ice, nor did I need an NSAID.
It seems like this is what has to happen: I increase my mileage, I get some sort of excess stiffness or pain, I back off, then I come back stronger than before. I feel like I'm on pace to run my 5K in December.
Weather: 46 and overcast. Clothing: baseball cap, long sleeve running shirt, short sleeve running shirt over the top, exercise pants, cotton socks, running gloves. Pre run beverage: Water. Post run: Protein shake with powdered milk and L-Glutamine.
My plan was to find a parking place, walk for five minutes down the trail, run for 13 minutes down and 13 minutes back, then walk for five minutes back to the car. I felt really good for the run, even with my heartbeat over 175 bpm. I could still hold somewhat of a conversation at that level. This is telling me that my lactic threshold is increasing. After the first 13 minute run, my heartbeat was at 182, and I had to walk for about 45 seconds to bring it down a bit. When I turned around, I realized why my heartrate was so high - the whole run was just a slight bit uphill.
After turning around, the run downhill was of course, easier. And rather than stopping at the point I started running at, I kept running all the way back to the car, for a total of 30 minutes. This would be the longest run, time wise, that I have done so far! I don't know how far I ran.
When I got back to the car, I stretched for a bit, had a nice conversation with a lady who was walking her dog, then drove back to my brother-in-law's house. I drank my normal protein shake, took a hot shower, and was a little stiff later on in the evening. The next day I was fine with very little stiffness, except for the fact that we were driving 10 hours in pouring rain. But I did not need ice, nor did I need an NSAID.
It seems like this is what has to happen: I increase my mileage, I get some sort of excess stiffness or pain, I back off, then I come back stronger than before. I feel like I'm on pace to run my 5K in December.
Weather: 46 and overcast. Clothing: baseball cap, long sleeve running shirt, short sleeve running shirt over the top, exercise pants, cotton socks, running gloves. Pre run beverage: Water. Post run: Protein shake with powdered milk and L-Glutamine.
11-15-2010 Run Cut Short
Woke up this morning with a bit of achilles tendonitis and a sore calf in the right leg. Stretched it out a couple of times throughout the day; it did get better, so I decided to go for a run. I managed to make it 1.5 miles before my leg said "no more". I cut it short and went home.
I took Tuesday 11-16 off. Went to the gym Wednesday the 17th and scheduled a massage with Regina, the massage therapist. She is a student that is going to graduate soon. I had the massage on Thursday the 18th.
I told Regina that the main issues were my calf and IT band on the right leg. I got a 30 minute deep tissue with her. She noted how my left leg was nice and loose, but the right leg was extremely tight. Of course she suggested a few more sessions with her, and also that I see a physical therapist about my leg length discrepancy.
I took Tuesday 11-16 off. Went to the gym Wednesday the 17th and scheduled a massage with Regina, the massage therapist. She is a student that is going to graduate soon. I had the massage on Thursday the 18th.
I told Regina that the main issues were my calf and IT band on the right leg. I got a 30 minute deep tissue with her. She noted how my left leg was nice and loose, but the right leg was extremely tight. Of course she suggested a few more sessions with her, and also that I see a physical therapist about my leg length discrepancy.
Monday, November 15, 2010
11-13-2010 Run
Since I am unhappy with my time on the 2.5 mile course near my house, I decided to run my 1 mile loop twice with the 0.6 mile extension once. Total time was 27:40, average 10:38 per mile. So the time was better, and I did feel SOMEWHAT better after the run. Still had some significant soreness in the calves and smaller muscles in the shins. Still not sure what to about that. I do know that the "After Glow" recovery drink works, but at three bucks a serving, I'm not taking that any more. So I'm looking at the ingredients list and comparing it to my current protein powder. Here is what the After Glow has that my protein powder does not: Taurine, phosphatidylserine, R-ALA (R Lipoic Acid), and glutamine. These are the four I'm going to concentrate on.
Taurine keeps potassium and magnesium inside cells, and keeps excess sodium out. That's good. I also tends to increase the force and effectiveness of heart muscle contraction, as tested on people with congestive heart failure. I assume it will have similar effects on healthy people. So that's good. The problem is that it is a glycation inhibitor, so the muscles won't store glycogen as well. That's bad. But the issue is soreness; and Taurine does not address that.
Next up is phosphatidylserine. This one looks more promising. It has been shown to reduce exercise soreness by decreasing exercise-induced cortisol. I need to do some more research on that one.
R Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) mimics insulin, which will enhance the absorption of proteins after a workout. Exercise decreases insulin, which is the hormone that causes the muscles to absorb blood sugar and protein. So after the workout, protein absorption is minimized. R-ALA will mimic insulin and reverse that effect. I could, however, simulate this by eating a couple of cookies along with my protein powder; the cookies (refined sugar) will cause an insulin spike. Yeah, extra calories, but it's a whole lot cheaper than buying a supplement.
Glutamine has been recommended by many others. It is thought to be a non-essential amino acid, meaning the body makes enough of its own. Therefore, it is not normally included in protein powders. However, recent research shows that the body does not make enough. So I'm going to give that a try as well.
After Glow also has Kre Alkalyn, which is supposed to be a better form of creatine; Cissus Quadrangularis, some plant found in Asia; and grape seed extract (whatever). I don't want to take creatine because that is associated with increased muscle mass. I'm a runner, I don't want increased muscle mass. I want decreased fat mass, and lean, flexible muscles. And I am NOT going to take the other two items seriously.
Split times: 10:10, 10:15, and 7:15 for the last 0.6 miles. Average 10:38 per mile. Weather: 52 degrees, breezy, and damp/kinda raining. Clothing: baseball cap, long sleeve shirt, long pants, Feetures running socks. The clothing was perfect. Wished I had something on my hands, but the running gloves I have would have been way too much. I should invest in something a little lighter.
Taurine keeps potassium and magnesium inside cells, and keeps excess sodium out. That's good. I also tends to increase the force and effectiveness of heart muscle contraction, as tested on people with congestive heart failure. I assume it will have similar effects on healthy people. So that's good. The problem is that it is a glycation inhibitor, so the muscles won't store glycogen as well. That's bad. But the issue is soreness; and Taurine does not address that.
Next up is phosphatidylserine. This one looks more promising. It has been shown to reduce exercise soreness by decreasing exercise-induced cortisol. I need to do some more research on that one.
R Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) mimics insulin, which will enhance the absorption of proteins after a workout. Exercise decreases insulin, which is the hormone that causes the muscles to absorb blood sugar and protein. So after the workout, protein absorption is minimized. R-ALA will mimic insulin and reverse that effect. I could, however, simulate this by eating a couple of cookies along with my protein powder; the cookies (refined sugar) will cause an insulin spike. Yeah, extra calories, but it's a whole lot cheaper than buying a supplement.
Glutamine has been recommended by many others. It is thought to be a non-essential amino acid, meaning the body makes enough of its own. Therefore, it is not normally included in protein powders. However, recent research shows that the body does not make enough. So I'm going to give that a try as well.
After Glow also has Kre Alkalyn, which is supposed to be a better form of creatine; Cissus Quadrangularis, some plant found in Asia; and grape seed extract (whatever). I don't want to take creatine because that is associated with increased muscle mass. I'm a runner, I don't want increased muscle mass. I want decreased fat mass, and lean, flexible muscles. And I am NOT going to take the other two items seriously.
Split times: 10:10, 10:15, and 7:15 for the last 0.6 miles. Average 10:38 per mile. Weather: 52 degrees, breezy, and damp/kinda raining. Clothing: baseball cap, long sleeve shirt, long pants, Feetures running socks. The clothing was perfect. Wished I had something on my hands, but the running gloves I have would have been way too much. I should invest in something a little lighter.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
11-10-2010 Run - It's five A.M. Do you know where your running shoes are?
Today I did it. I awoke at 5:00 am and went running. It was different running in the dark. And I ran my course backwards. I didn't have any reflective running gear, except for the little reflective patch on my Fuel Belt, and the fact that running shoes are inherently reflective. But I think I'm going to have to get something if I am going to run in the dark more often. I felt safe on the sidewalks, but running on the bike path made me uneasy. Some biker could come up behind me and run me over.
As I said after Monday's run, I was going to try today's run backwards, so instead of going UP the long shallow grade, I would go DOWN. I was disappointed that my time was no faster; 2.5 miles in 27:30, average 11 minutes per mile. I was hoping for 10. Perhaps that time will come down as I continue running.
However, my heartrate was quite a bit lower. At no time did it go above 170, and my breathing was easier. And I did not have to walk - except for the time when I was putting my bottle back in the Fuel Belt and it slipped through and fell on the ground. So that was victory.
I am still quite sore after the run. I did not use the bucket of ice water on my right foot - I just iced the outside portion of it. But my medial gastrocnemius on both legs feels quite sore, with a bit of acute pain on the right leg. Icing did not help. As soon as I took the ice off, it went right back to hurting. So this is not an inflammation problem - it's outright muscle soreness. I did not take the After Glow recovery drink; I just took the normal protein powder. More experimentation will be necessary to figure out how to get around this muscle soreness without paying the three bucks per serving for After Glow.
Time: 2.5 miles in 27:30 - 11:00 per mile. Weather: 51 degrees and dark, slight breeze. Clothing: baseball cap, long sleeve shirt, shorts, cotton socks. Pre run beverage: Water. During run: Accelerade. Post run: dry cereal with protein powder and milk. I knew my running gloves would be too heavy, but I do wish I had something covering my hands. Perhaps a lighter pair of gloves?
As I said after Monday's run, I was going to try today's run backwards, so instead of going UP the long shallow grade, I would go DOWN. I was disappointed that my time was no faster; 2.5 miles in 27:30, average 11 minutes per mile. I was hoping for 10. Perhaps that time will come down as I continue running.
However, my heartrate was quite a bit lower. At no time did it go above 170, and my breathing was easier. And I did not have to walk - except for the time when I was putting my bottle back in the Fuel Belt and it slipped through and fell on the ground. So that was victory.
I am still quite sore after the run. I did not use the bucket of ice water on my right foot - I just iced the outside portion of it. But my medial gastrocnemius on both legs feels quite sore, with a bit of acute pain on the right leg. Icing did not help. As soon as I took the ice off, it went right back to hurting. So this is not an inflammation problem - it's outright muscle soreness. I did not take the After Glow recovery drink; I just took the normal protein powder. More experimentation will be necessary to figure out how to get around this muscle soreness without paying the three bucks per serving for After Glow.
Time: 2.5 miles in 27:30 - 11:00 per mile. Weather: 51 degrees and dark, slight breeze. Clothing: baseball cap, long sleeve shirt, shorts, cotton socks. Pre run beverage: Water. During run: Accelerade. Post run: dry cereal with protein powder and milk. I knew my running gloves would be too heavy, but I do wish I had something covering my hands. Perhaps a lighter pair of gloves?
Monday, November 8, 2010
11-8-2010 Run
Who knew a 0.3% grade could give a new runner such an issue? I feel crappy two-thirds of the way into this 2.5 mile route. The only difference between this route and the 2 mile route is the long uphill grade from mile 0.5 to mile 1.4. Yes, nine-tenths of a mile (4752 feet) with a 19 foot rise. 0.3% grade. Who knew? I could not keep my heart rate below 170 bpm, and had to walk twice to bring my heartrate back down. It only takes about 45 seconds to lower my heart rate below 160, but still... Next time I think I will try running the route backwards to see if it makes any difference.
When I started the run, the weather widget on my computer said 37 degrees. So I dressed accordingly - long sleeve shirt, long pants, running jacket and gloves, baseball cap. I stepped outside and knew instantly it was not 37. Or perhaps my body grew accustomed to the colder weather. So I ditched the jacket. But I've never been able to step outside in 37 degrees with only a shirt. Towards the end of the run, my hands were too warm with the gloves on, and the cap was making me sweat like a pig. The long sleeves and the running pants did feel about right.
I also tried wearing my new Fuel Belt. I was quite impressed. Not much bounce at all - it was quite comfortable. The bottles were easy to pull out, but a bit hard to put back in. Hopefully the straps loosen up a bit over time and it becomes easier to use. I took one bottle with Accelerade and one with water. Not that it means much - the short distances I'm running so far do not call for hydration. My purpose was to try it out and see how it feels.
I also used one full serving (two scoops) of After Glow recovery drink to see if that helps muscle soreness. As of 8 hours after the run, so far, so good.
Split times: Unknown. 2.5 miles in 27:30. Average 11 minute miles. Weather: the weather widget said 37, but I don't think so. Probably more like 45. Sunny, no breeze. Clothing: Baseball cap, sunglasses, long sleeve shirt, long pants, running gloves, cotton socks. (Next time, ditch the gloves at 45 degrees, and switch from baseball cap to visor). Pre run beverage: Water. Post run: Two scoops of "AfterGlow" recovery drink.
When I started the run, the weather widget on my computer said 37 degrees. So I dressed accordingly - long sleeve shirt, long pants, running jacket and gloves, baseball cap. I stepped outside and knew instantly it was not 37. Or perhaps my body grew accustomed to the colder weather. So I ditched the jacket. But I've never been able to step outside in 37 degrees with only a shirt. Towards the end of the run, my hands were too warm with the gloves on, and the cap was making me sweat like a pig. The long sleeves and the running pants did feel about right.
I also tried wearing my new Fuel Belt. I was quite impressed. Not much bounce at all - it was quite comfortable. The bottles were easy to pull out, but a bit hard to put back in. Hopefully the straps loosen up a bit over time and it becomes easier to use. I took one bottle with Accelerade and one with water. Not that it means much - the short distances I'm running so far do not call for hydration. My purpose was to try it out and see how it feels.
I also used one full serving (two scoops) of After Glow recovery drink to see if that helps muscle soreness. As of 8 hours after the run, so far, so good.
Split times: Unknown. 2.5 miles in 27:30. Average 11 minute miles. Weather: the weather widget said 37, but I don't think so. Probably more like 45. Sunny, no breeze. Clothing: Baseball cap, sunglasses, long sleeve shirt, long pants, running gloves, cotton socks. (Next time, ditch the gloves at 45 degrees, and switch from baseball cap to visor). Pre run beverage: Water. Post run: Two scoops of "AfterGlow" recovery drink.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
11-6-2010 Run
Ran two miles today in less than 21 minutes! That is a good time for me. I stayed on the one mile loop I plotted around Case-Harmon field by my house, so my mile splits were easy to track - 10:15 and 10:30. I ran the whole way with no walking. Again, that is good for me. Overall, a great run. And it was one of those days where I really didn't feel like running.
I noticed that my heart rate is not dropping, but it is becoming easier to breathe at rates up to 170 bpm. Even when going up hill, and the heart rate tops 174, my breathing is tolerable. (I can't talk at that rate, but after the hill my rate will drop down into the high 160's and I can go back to conversation). Someday I would like to get my VO2 max checked out; the math tells me my VO2 max occurs at about 180 bpm, so there is no way I should be able to hold a conversation at 169. But VO2 max can vary considerably. A recent study of Olympic rowers in their early 20's showed VO2 max varying from 160 to 220. I'm guessing mine is closer to 220.
I've been experiencing some pretty bad muscle soreness over the last few runs, ever since I upped my mileage to 2.5. Today I went back to two miles to see how it would be. But I also made another change - I tried a new recovery drink called "AfterGlow". The guy at Elite Nutrition in Mequon recommended it to me. I thought I would give it a try because I hate this muscle soreness. Only time will tell.
Today I'm also experiencing muscle soreness in my middle back along the outsides. This should be my Lats. I did feel tight in my upper body during the run - I tried to loosen up by shaking my hands and shoulders, but that did not seem to do the trick like it normally does. Perhaps the cold? Except I felt a bit warm in the upper body today. Cold air into the lungs? Not sure. Gotta keep an eye on this.
Mile splits: 10:15, 10:30. Weather: 29 degrees and sunny, no breeze. Clothing: Baseball cap, hooded sweatshirt, long sleeve exercise shirt, long pants, cotton socks, running gloves. I felt a bit cool on my legs, and a bit warm in my upper body. Next time I may try two shirts and a running jacket. There was definite moisture inside my hoodie when I took it off.
I noticed that my heart rate is not dropping, but it is becoming easier to breathe at rates up to 170 bpm. Even when going up hill, and the heart rate tops 174, my breathing is tolerable. (I can't talk at that rate, but after the hill my rate will drop down into the high 160's and I can go back to conversation). Someday I would like to get my VO2 max checked out; the math tells me my VO2 max occurs at about 180 bpm, so there is no way I should be able to hold a conversation at 169. But VO2 max can vary considerably. A recent study of Olympic rowers in their early 20's showed VO2 max varying from 160 to 220. I'm guessing mine is closer to 220.
I've been experiencing some pretty bad muscle soreness over the last few runs, ever since I upped my mileage to 2.5. Today I went back to two miles to see how it would be. But I also made another change - I tried a new recovery drink called "AfterGlow". The guy at Elite Nutrition in Mequon recommended it to me. I thought I would give it a try because I hate this muscle soreness. Only time will tell.
Today I'm also experiencing muscle soreness in my middle back along the outsides. This should be my Lats. I did feel tight in my upper body during the run - I tried to loosen up by shaking my hands and shoulders, but that did not seem to do the trick like it normally does. Perhaps the cold? Except I felt a bit warm in the upper body today. Cold air into the lungs? Not sure. Gotta keep an eye on this.
Mile splits: 10:15, 10:30. Weather: 29 degrees and sunny, no breeze. Clothing: Baseball cap, hooded sweatshirt, long sleeve exercise shirt, long pants, cotton socks, running gloves. I felt a bit cool on my legs, and a bit warm in my upper body. Next time I may try two shirts and a running jacket. There was definite moisture inside my hoodie when I took it off.
Monday, November 1, 2010
11-1-2010 - Driving Versus Running
Today I ran 2.5 miles again. I plotted out a different course near my house that is relatively flat. I don't know what my split times were because I don't know exactly where the one mile and two mile marks were. But the run was 27 minutes.
But I did notice something - running through a somewhat questionable neighborhood gives you a totally different perspective than driving through the same neighborhood. When driving, I see crummy houses. When running, I see houses that could really look nice if they got some needed attention.
When driving, I see criminals and unruly children. When running, I see people who are a lot like me - just trying to put food on the table and buy new shoes for their kids. Yeah, some of them may be criminals - but not all.
When driving, I see unsafe neighborhoods that I should not be in. When running, I felt totally safe.
When driving, I look at the schools and say "that's where the bad kids go". When running, I watch the kids in the playground and realize that they are no different than me when I was that age.
When driving, I try to rush through. When running, I can't rush through.
I now realize that running can be humbling.
Split times: Unknown. 2.5 miles in 27 minutes. Temp: 46 degrees and partly sunny. Clothing: long sleeve shirt, running jacket, workout pants, baseball cap, running gloves, and cotton socks. The jacket came off after about 1.5 miles and got tied around my waist. Pre run beverage: Water. Post run: protein powder and milk. Had to ice the right ankle in a bucket of water again. I plan on keeping my mileage at 2.5 until I don't have to do that any more. I am getting to be a little more comfortable with my heart rate at 170 bpm.
But I did notice something - running through a somewhat questionable neighborhood gives you a totally different perspective than driving through the same neighborhood. When driving, I see crummy houses. When running, I see houses that could really look nice if they got some needed attention.
When driving, I see criminals and unruly children. When running, I see people who are a lot like me - just trying to put food on the table and buy new shoes for their kids. Yeah, some of them may be criminals - but not all.
When driving, I see unsafe neighborhoods that I should not be in. When running, I felt totally safe.
When driving, I look at the schools and say "that's where the bad kids go". When running, I watch the kids in the playground and realize that they are no different than me when I was that age.
When driving, I try to rush through. When running, I can't rush through.
I now realize that running can be humbling.
Split times: Unknown. 2.5 miles in 27 minutes. Temp: 46 degrees and partly sunny. Clothing: long sleeve shirt, running jacket, workout pants, baseball cap, running gloves, and cotton socks. The jacket came off after about 1.5 miles and got tied around my waist. Pre run beverage: Water. Post run: protein powder and milk. Had to ice the right ankle in a bucket of water again. I plan on keeping my mileage at 2.5 until I don't have to do that any more. I am getting to be a little more comfortable with my heart rate at 170 bpm.
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