Because I was running late, I ran only about 1.8 miles on a sun-filled, warm (about 66 degrees!), but windy, afternoon this past Friday. I ran pretty quickly up the hill, thinking that I might be able to squeeze in the two miles in the 20 minutes I had. Of course that hill that left me pretty breathless, and it took me a few minutes to recover. Ultimately, I decided to cut it short; I just could not take a chance and risk getting back into the parking lot, neither cooled down nor stretched at the same time my kid was walking to my empty car.
Fortunately, I also swam 15 or so laps an hour later, so I did get a pretty good workout in. The very next day, the kid and I walked about a mile in 30-some degree temps. (C'mon, did we really need to lose over 30 degrees in under 24 hours?!)
And on Sunday, I swam about 25 laps, which I thought was the most ground (well, water) I had covered since I started swimming again. But then I realized I did that last weekend. I am now trying to swim three or four laps at a time instead of two, to try to increase my stamina. Hopefully, I can keep that up.
Unfortunately, I developed a slight cold Friday evening. Again. After only about a month and a half of being healthy. Grr.
I am still trying to exercise. And fortunately, I have felt better after I have done something physical. But I have a feeling I will neither swim nor run today. Just can't motivate myself.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
I'm running on sunshine!
I ran yesterday, a day that was mostly sunny and about 50 degrees. According to the (rarely correct) weather forecast, it was supposed to be around 40-some degrees during my run, but the temps were happily almost 10 degrees higher than that. I ran in a long-sleeve t-shirt and a jacket slightly thicker than a windbreaker, and I was kind of warm on the way back. Yeah, sun! Yeah, temps that are quite a bit above freezing!
My times were almost identical to what I did last week. Right about 10:10 for the mile up and around 8:30 for the mile back. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the first hill was tough, but I felt pretty good coming back, and I was practically sprinting (which is why it was a little surprising that my second mile was not quicker, although I accidentally exited out of my stopwatch, so I am going by memory).
A few hours after the run and a couple of errands later, I went swimming, managing about 15 laps. So I definitely had a good workout day. Since I did nothing on Monday or Tuesday, I felt as if I need to do a little more. On Sunday, though, I did swim about 25 laps, my most ever. And I actually swam 12 consecutive laps, followed by another 8 after a short break. Yeah, stamina!
My times were almost identical to what I did last week. Right about 10:10 for the mile up and around 8:30 for the mile back. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the first hill was tough, but I felt pretty good coming back, and I was practically sprinting (which is why it was a little surprising that my second mile was not quicker, although I accidentally exited out of my stopwatch, so I am going by memory).
A few hours after the run and a couple of errands later, I went swimming, managing about 15 laps. So I definitely had a good workout day. Since I did nothing on Monday or Tuesday, I felt as if I need to do a little more. On Sunday, though, I did swim about 25 laps, my most ever. And I actually swam 12 consecutive laps, followed by another 8 after a short break. Yeah, stamina!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Not as cold but rainy
I am happy to report I ran two miles again today. The temps were about 37 while I was running, and fortunately, there was not that crazy wind as there was last week when I ran. On the other hand, it was raining lightly but steadily the entire time, which was a bit annoying considering I did not have a windbreaker to keep dry.
Oddly enough, running up the first killer hill seemed more difficult than it was last week (which had marked over 60 days since I had last run up that hill). No idea why. But I did run a little faster today, so there is that.
Mile one: 10:10
Mile two: 8:29
I swam yesterday, completing about 15 laps. I decided running was the lesser of two evils today. It just made more sense to run in the rain, surrounded by gray skies, after that Steelers loss.
Oddly enough, running up the first killer hill seemed more difficult than it was last week (which had marked over 60 days since I had last run up that hill). No idea why. But I did run a little faster today, so there is that.
Mile one: 10:10
Mile two: 8:29
I swam yesterday, completing about 15 laps. I decided running was the lesser of two evils today. It just made more sense to run in the rain, surrounded by gray skies, after that Steelers loss.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Back on the road again
I finally ran outside again yesterday, running my "usual" route. Even more important is that I ran at all, as it had been over 40 days since I had last done so (not counting jogging in the water one day last month).
The temps were about 29 degrees, and it was windy; in fact, several times during the run, snow flurries were blowing in my face. Probably not the best day to get back in the saddle, but after about 70 days since my last outdoor run, I figured if I was motivated, I should just go with it.
Before I took my first stride, I had pretty much decided to run about 10 to 15 minutes/to at least get one mile in, God willing. But after I ran up the killer hill, and it actually was not that bad, I figured I might as well run to the last uphill near the end of my first mile. I had about 25 minutes to run, so I reasoned that if it took 10 minutes to get to that point (it takes me around 7 or 8 minutes when I am in good running shape), I should have time to spare. When I reached the bottom of the hill, I saw that I had been running for about 8:30 or so, so I decided to throw caution to the wind (and fight the wind, in general!) and do the whole mile, which meant I would be doing the second mile back.
All in all, it was not that bad. I was cold; the thin shirt underneath a thick hoodie left me a little chilly during the first mile, but I was feeling okay during the second/last mile. I kept my hands in my sleeves the whole time, so I was not missing gloves too much.
My stats?
First mile completed in 10:23
Second mile completed in 8:37
Obviously this is nowhere close to my best time, but is pretty much where it was before I really started pushing myself and becoming what I consider "good." Taking the weather and the layoff from running into account, I am quite pleased. I had been concerned that when I finally ran outside again, I would only be able to complete one mile and that it would take me something like 12 minutes. But that did not happen, and I felt pretty good the whole time, which leads me to believe that swimming has done its job of keeping me in shape. I also have to consider that on Sunday, I swam 22 laps, and on Tuesday, I swam about 18 laps, so I definitely have worked my body out this week.
I am taking the day off!
The temps were about 29 degrees, and it was windy; in fact, several times during the run, snow flurries were blowing in my face. Probably not the best day to get back in the saddle, but after about 70 days since my last outdoor run, I figured if I was motivated, I should just go with it.
Before I took my first stride, I had pretty much decided to run about 10 to 15 minutes/to at least get one mile in, God willing. But after I ran up the killer hill, and it actually was not that bad, I figured I might as well run to the last uphill near the end of my first mile. I had about 25 minutes to run, so I reasoned that if it took 10 minutes to get to that point (it takes me around 7 or 8 minutes when I am in good running shape), I should have time to spare. When I reached the bottom of the hill, I saw that I had been running for about 8:30 or so, so I decided to throw caution to the wind (and fight the wind, in general!) and do the whole mile, which meant I would be doing the second mile back.
All in all, it was not that bad. I was cold; the thin shirt underneath a thick hoodie left me a little chilly during the first mile, but I was feeling okay during the second/last mile. I kept my hands in my sleeves the whole time, so I was not missing gloves too much.
My stats?
First mile completed in 10:23
Second mile completed in 8:37
Obviously this is nowhere close to my best time, but is pretty much where it was before I really started pushing myself and becoming what I consider "good." Taking the weather and the layoff from running into account, I am quite pleased. I had been concerned that when I finally ran outside again, I would only be able to complete one mile and that it would take me something like 12 minutes. But that did not happen, and I felt pretty good the whole time, which leads me to believe that swimming has done its job of keeping me in shape. I also have to consider that on Sunday, I swam 22 laps, and on Tuesday, I swam about 18 laps, so I definitely have worked my body out this week.
I am taking the day off!
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