Twice, maybe three or four times, in the past few weeks, I have run in clothes that are better suited for temps that are 10 to 20 degrees cooler. Who in their right mind would run in a long-sleeved t-shirt when it is almost 70 degrees? Yep, that would be I. The black polyester pants that work well in 50-degree temps also were making me rue the day that I wore them (which was yesterday).
But it is more than just the recent memory of two feet of snow that keeps me pretty well covered. I am just not a fan of shorts. Particularly ones that I can run in. I like my legs just fine. When they are covered up. Hopefully I can get over that soon.
But this is Pittsburgh, so we should be fully prepared for several dozen more 40-degree days. Then those polyester pants and long sleeves won't be so bad.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Hill avoidance
A couple of days I go, I was beset by a cough, only a day after I made the comment that I had been healthy for such a long time. Figures. This cough presented a dilemma, thanks to the beautiful weather yesterday. But sunshine and wanting to keep alive my two-days-per-week runs won out.
Not wanting my lungs to give out at the beginning of the run, I decided to walk up the killer hill. Turns out, that was a good plan. I still had to contend with a (less daunting) hill at the end of mile one, but I made it through the entire run with nary a cough and lungs still intact. And it was nice, for once, not to be huffing and puffing so soon into my run. For the record, that hill is a challenge even when you briskly walk it.
This afternoon, I plan to take a leisurely walk, including my favorite hill and knowing I got in my runs for the week. Go me.
Not wanting my lungs to give out at the beginning of the run, I decided to walk up the killer hill. Turns out, that was a good plan. I still had to contend with a (less daunting) hill at the end of mile one, but I made it through the entire run with nary a cough and lungs still intact. And it was nice, for once, not to be huffing and puffing so soon into my run. For the record, that hill is a challenge even when you briskly walk it.
This afternoon, I plan to take a leisurely walk, including my favorite hill and knowing I got in my runs for the week. Go me.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Stinkin' knee
Maybe the asphalt is catching up to me. My right knee has been hurting quite a bit the last week or so, mostly just when I walk up steps.
For almost two years, back at the beginning of this century, I worked out a lot. Most days, I spent about two hours in the gym between cardio and weight-lifting. I was in great shape. I had low body fat. But my knees started to hurt at some point. Back in August of 2001, I finally made an appointment to see a physical therapist. My first appointment was scheduled a day or two after 9/11. I never went.
Eventually the pain mostly went away. I am sure it helped that I stopped running in 2002, other than that brief period in 2006, which was spent mostly on a treadmill. However, I do recall my knee starting to really bother me late last winter. I remember walking up the 44 steps to the office and deciding that I was going to have to take the stairs. I was laid off that week, so that dilemma was solved!
I really don't want to give up running. I do it only twice a week and for not much more than two miles. But I also don't want to ruin my knee.
I am going to try to tough it out for at least another month or two, so I can get a 5k in.
Wish me luck.
For almost two years, back at the beginning of this century, I worked out a lot. Most days, I spent about two hours in the gym between cardio and weight-lifting. I was in great shape. I had low body fat. But my knees started to hurt at some point. Back in August of 2001, I finally made an appointment to see a physical therapist. My first appointment was scheduled a day or two after 9/11. I never went.
Eventually the pain mostly went away. I am sure it helped that I stopped running in 2002, other than that brief period in 2006, which was spent mostly on a treadmill. However, I do recall my knee starting to really bother me late last winter. I remember walking up the 44 steps to the office and deciding that I was going to have to take the stairs. I was laid off that week, so that dilemma was solved!
I really don't want to give up running. I do it only twice a week and for not much more than two miles. But I also don't want to ruin my knee.
I am going to try to tough it out for at least another month or two, so I can get a 5k in.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The tale of two miles
On Monday, I finally managed to successfully time each mile of my two-mile run.
Mile one: 10:24
Mile two: 8:36
I consider that a pretty stark contrast, though I am not too surprised considering the first mile has the killer hill at the beginning and then another, longer, though not as steep, hill at the end. I also pushed myself harder on the way back/down, just knowing it took me over 10 minutes to run the first mile.
Based on my 19-minute run, I feel as if I should be able to run a 5k in the next few months, and I may even be able to do it in about 30 minutes. However, because I have run three miles only a couple of time since I started running again this past fall, and I doubt I will run three miles too many times before I actually run a 5k, I will be satisfied finishing a 5k in about 32 or 33 minutes.
Of course, once I get closer to an actual race, I may change my goal. The type of course, naturally, will also affect my time. And this also assumes I don't throw in the towel. I have kept up with running for six months, but I can be fickle about this sort of thing.
Stay tuned.
Mile one: 10:24
Mile two: 8:36
I consider that a pretty stark contrast, though I am not too surprised considering the first mile has the killer hill at the beginning and then another, longer, though not as steep, hill at the end. I also pushed myself harder on the way back/down, just knowing it took me over 10 minutes to run the first mile.
Based on my 19-minute run, I feel as if I should be able to run a 5k in the next few months, and I may even be able to do it in about 30 minutes. However, because I have run three miles only a couple of time since I started running again this past fall, and I doubt I will run three miles too many times before I actually run a 5k, I will be satisfied finishing a 5k in about 32 or 33 minutes.
Of course, once I get closer to an actual race, I may change my goal. The type of course, naturally, will also affect my time. And this also assumes I don't throw in the towel. I have kept up with running for six months, but I can be fickle about this sort of thing.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
I love a Monday run
Since I have pretty much decided I will be running only two days per week and not on consecutive days, I always try to run on Mondays. That way I have three other days during the week to get my second run in. I wish I knew if my various pains from last fall were caused by my running on consecutive days or by my running three days in one week. I am too wimpy, at least in winter, to add a third, non-consecutive day to test the theory. I don't want to mess up my groove.
I am happy to report that I ran twice last week, although my second run was for only a mile. I figure one mile is better than 0 miles! Yesterday I got a late start, so I managed about a mile and a half, maybe a little more. As pretty much always, I struggled up the hill, wondering how I would ever make it. It was made worse by knowing a guy I see and say hi to during my runs was right behind me. I could not run slowly and risk his thinking I was out of shape or something, so I was really huffing (as inconspicuously as possible, of course).
The temps were great, just above freezing, and no snow was falling. I did have to work to avoid puddles on the road; could not take the chance there was ice underneath. The only real downside of the run was avoiding getting run over by cars. Unfortunately, the road has not been completely cleared; each side is missing about a foot or more of road due to the snow. I notice drivers glaring at me as I run in the road. I would love to tell them to yell at the people who live on the street who have not shoveled the sidewalks in front of their houses. It would be dangerous and counterproductive for me to keep going back and forth between semi-cleared sidewalks and the road.
Ah, winter.
I am happy to report that I ran twice last week, although my second run was for only a mile. I figure one mile is better than 0 miles! Yesterday I got a late start, so I managed about a mile and a half, maybe a little more. As pretty much always, I struggled up the hill, wondering how I would ever make it. It was made worse by knowing a guy I see and say hi to during my runs was right behind me. I could not run slowly and risk his thinking I was out of shape or something, so I was really huffing (as inconspicuously as possible, of course).
The temps were great, just above freezing, and no snow was falling. I did have to work to avoid puddles on the road; could not take the chance there was ice underneath. The only real downside of the run was avoiding getting run over by cars. Unfortunately, the road has not been completely cleared; each side is missing about a foot or more of road due to the snow. I notice drivers glaring at me as I run in the road. I would love to tell them to yell at the people who live on the street who have not shoveled the sidewalks in front of their houses. It would be dangerous and counterproductive for me to keep going back and forth between semi-cleared sidewalks and the road.
Ah, winter.
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