Thanks to Indian summer (wait, is it politically correct to say that?), I ran in 60-degree weather yesterday. I could not bring myself to run in shorts since it is November and all, but it was still nice, and most likely my last 60-degree run until March.
As for the new insoles, they definitely helped. My feet did not have the "walk on clouds" feeling I had when I first put on my Enduro 5s in 2010 or whenever I got them, but I hardly noticed foot pain, so I call it a success.
As for the actual run, I did pretty well. Not my best time as of late, but enough to keep me satisfied and motivated, particular since yesterday marked four weeks until I turn the big 40.
Mile one: 10:00
Mile two: 8:36
After I ran my two miles, I ran around the outside of the gym, which includes about 20-some steps, for about eight or nine minutes, so I got in almost a third mile.
And now, for something I rarely say: I really need to get back in the pool!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A shorter trip up the steps
As pathetic as this sounds, after my four-mile run on Tuesday, I was afraid to run again this week, for fear of it not going so well. On Friday, I instead planned to run up and down the 64ish steps my usual 20 times. Unfortunately, I ended up talking to someone beforehand, so I had only about 13 minutes, which was not enough time for 20 trips.
I ended up running up and down the steps 10 times, for a total time of 8:11. Technically, that is less than half of what it takes me to run up and down 20 times, which makes it sound somewhat impressive. But my guess is had I kept going, it would have taken me over 17 minutes. I am thinking all the Halloween candy is catching up to me.
As an aside, I did replace my original Asics insoles with Dr. Scholl's sports insoles (not sure exactly what they are called). I hardly noticed pain in my left foot, but I was pushing myself, determined to go at a pretty good pace since I was doing only half as many trip. That coupled with my overly sugared body may have been enough to block out pain. The real test will come when I run this week.
As another aside: I will be 40 in 30 days. Here's hoping I can get in at least four more runs before then. And laying off the candy would be good too.
I ended up running up and down the steps 10 times, for a total time of 8:11. Technically, that is less than half of what it takes me to run up and down 20 times, which makes it sound somewhat impressive. But my guess is had I kept going, it would have taken me over 17 minutes. I am thinking all the Halloween candy is catching up to me.
As an aside, I did replace my original Asics insoles with Dr. Scholl's sports insoles (not sure exactly what they are called). I hardly noticed pain in my left foot, but I was pushing myself, determined to go at a pretty good pace since I was doing only half as many trip. That coupled with my overly sugared body may have been enough to block out pain. The real test will come when I run this week.
As another aside: I will be 40 in 30 days. Here's hoping I can get in at least four more runs before then. And laying off the candy would be good too.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Finally, a long run
Today I ran 40 minutes! I had scraped the back of my heel pretty badly last evening and was thinking about forgoing anything more strenuous than walking to and from my car, but when I walked for 10 minutes this morning without any problems, I figured I had no excuses. And considering the day was sunny and the temps were decent (about 50), how could I not take advantage?
Since I had extra time, I decided I should see if I was able to run more than my usual two miles. It helped that I started near the top of the killer hill, and I kept my pace slightly slower than normal, since I was going for distance, not time. I kept mostly to my main route, going less than a half a mile past where I normally turn around and adding side streets on the way back.
This time when I ran, I forced myself to really pay attention to my feet, since the new Asics seem to always bother me. I noticed that it was only my left foot that hurt and that was not until about a mile in. The pain was confined to the bottom of my foot, so I am wondering if replacing my insole will help. It does not appear that my shoes are too small, as I wondered, since my smaller (left) foot is the one that hurts.
The foot annoyance aside, it was a pretty good run. I felt good, and I probably could have run even longer. Considering I have been averaging just over a nine-minute mile during my two-mile runs and I skipped the killer hill at the beginning, which adds the extra time to my mile, I had to have run about 4 miles. So yeah, me!
Today, turning 40 in just over one month does not seem so bad. :-)
Since I had extra time, I decided I should see if I was able to run more than my usual two miles. It helped that I started near the top of the killer hill, and I kept my pace slightly slower than normal, since I was going for distance, not time. I kept mostly to my main route, going less than a half a mile past where I normally turn around and adding side streets on the way back.
This time when I ran, I forced myself to really pay attention to my feet, since the new Asics seem to always bother me. I noticed that it was only my left foot that hurt and that was not until about a mile in. The pain was confined to the bottom of my foot, so I am wondering if replacing my insole will help. It does not appear that my shoes are too small, as I wondered, since my smaller (left) foot is the one that hurts.
The foot annoyance aside, it was a pretty good run. I felt good, and I probably could have run even longer. Considering I have been averaging just over a nine-minute mile during my two-mile runs and I skipped the killer hill at the beginning, which adds the extra time to my mile, I had to have run about 4 miles. So yeah, me!
Today, turning 40 in just over one month does not seem so bad. :-)
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I'll take it.
Since yesterday was most likely going to be the only warmish, sunny day we will have all week, I decided to stop making excuses and get out there and run.
As with some recent previous times, the first hill was not awful. Not great, mind you, and I was still left somewhat breathless, but I did it, and I did not think my lungs were going to burst.
As usual, my feet started out hurting a bit, but after about five or so minutes, I had forgotten about them. I am seriously considering contacting customer service at Asics. What have I got to lose, really? For the record, I have tried on about a half dozen running shoes over the past month or so, but nothing seems quite right.
Anyway, to the best of my recollection, I felt little to no pain anywhere else (maybe a slight knee thing for a bit), and I enjoyed the sun and slight breeze, so all in all, a good run.
Mile one: 9:53
Mile two: 8:15
I have been pretty consistent with my times the last few times out, which I consider a good thing. Since I will be 40 in just over a month, I think I am almost ready to give up the dream of doing this run again in under 18 minutes. If I can manage to run once a week, to go along with my swimming and running up and down the steps, that will be great. But I think I can be happy if I can run a couple times a month, considering my track record this year.
Until next time...
As with some recent previous times, the first hill was not awful. Not great, mind you, and I was still left somewhat breathless, but I did it, and I did not think my lungs were going to burst.
As usual, my feet started out hurting a bit, but after about five or so minutes, I had forgotten about them. I am seriously considering contacting customer service at Asics. What have I got to lose, really? For the record, I have tried on about a half dozen running shoes over the past month or so, but nothing seems quite right.
Anyway, to the best of my recollection, I felt little to no pain anywhere else (maybe a slight knee thing for a bit), and I enjoyed the sun and slight breeze, so all in all, a good run.
Mile one: 9:53
Mile two: 8:15
I have been pretty consistent with my times the last few times out, which I consider a good thing. Since I will be 40 in just over a month, I think I am almost ready to give up the dream of doing this run again in under 18 minutes. If I can manage to run once a week, to go along with my swimming and running up and down the steps, that will be great. But I think I can be happy if I can run a couple times a month, considering my track record this year.
Until next time...
Friday, October 21, 2011
Maybe I need running shoes for the pool?
I was able to get in only about a dozen laps at the pool yesterday, so I went back this morning, not really feeling it. I knew from the get-go there was no way I was going to be doing 40 or 50 laps; I decided to shoot for around 25 or 30. As I have done before, I broke things up a bit.
First I did 13 laps, which took just over 15 minutes. Then I followed it up with 15 minutes of jogging in the pool. When I am jogging in 3', I can get a pretty good pace going, but as soon as I get into 4' and especially 5', it is like running through molasses (not that I have ever done that). I never realized how much I used my arms or at least how important they are when it comes to pool jogging. Considering the water is almost up to the top of my shoulders in 5', my arms are not moving fast with all that water. On top of that, I realized that when I am in the pool, I run on the balls of my feet. I need to look into that to see if this is going to hurt my feet (beyond the irritation I feel).
After I did the 15 minutes of jogging, I swam 17 more laps (technically it was 16.5), and then I jogged for another 10 minutes. I rounded out the workout with about seven or eight minutes of leg and arm exercises.
The slight foot pain aside, it went pretty well. I was also a bit tired, so it took my longer to swim the second 13 laps than it did the first, but what can you do. Keep swimming, I guess!
First I did 13 laps, which took just over 15 minutes. Then I followed it up with 15 minutes of jogging in the pool. When I am jogging in 3', I can get a pretty good pace going, but as soon as I get into 4' and especially 5', it is like running through molasses (not that I have ever done that). I never realized how much I used my arms or at least how important they are when it comes to pool jogging. Considering the water is almost up to the top of my shoulders in 5', my arms are not moving fast with all that water. On top of that, I realized that when I am in the pool, I run on the balls of my feet. I need to look into that to see if this is going to hurt my feet (beyond the irritation I feel).
After I did the 15 minutes of jogging, I swam 17 more laps (technically it was 16.5), and then I jogged for another 10 minutes. I rounded out the workout with about seven or eight minutes of leg and arm exercises.
The slight foot pain aside, it went pretty well. I was also a bit tired, so it took my longer to swim the second 13 laps than it did the first, but what can you do. Keep swimming, I guess!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
I did, in fact, wimp out of the 5k.
When I woke up Saturday morning, at around 7:30, I knew if I jumped in the shower right away, I could make it to the Race for Pace in time for the late registration. But the weather and my aching thighs had a different idea.
When I ran steps on Thursday, although it went well, for some reason, it left my thighs extra sore for a few days. I could not see putting my nearly 40-year-old body through a three-mile run, with hills. On top of that, it was quite windy on Saturday, and the temps were in the mid to upper 40s. I was just not ready to face my November run in the middle of October. So that was that.
As for recent exercise, I swam on Friday, though only about 15 laps, thanks to my soreness. On Monday, the kid and I took an almost 30-minute walk, and then yesterday I ran the steps. Feeling a bit pathetic about wimping out on the race, I decided to push myself on the steps and try to beat my time from last week. Time to complete 20 trips: 16:41. So, yes, I did beat last week's time. And my thighs actually feel pretty good today.
Now if only I could motivate myself to run three miles and actually run in a race. If only...
When I ran steps on Thursday, although it went well, for some reason, it left my thighs extra sore for a few days. I could not see putting my nearly 40-year-old body through a three-mile run, with hills. On top of that, it was quite windy on Saturday, and the temps were in the mid to upper 40s. I was just not ready to face my November run in the middle of October. So that was that.
As for recent exercise, I swam on Friday, though only about 15 laps, thanks to my soreness. On Monday, the kid and I took an almost 30-minute walk, and then yesterday I ran the steps. Feeling a bit pathetic about wimping out on the race, I decided to push myself on the steps and try to beat my time from last week. Time to complete 20 trips: 16:41. So, yes, I did beat last week's time. And my thighs actually feel pretty good today.
Now if only I could motivate myself to run three miles and actually run in a race. If only...
Friday, October 14, 2011
I think I may bag the 5k.
Yesterday, I managed to run up and down the 64ish steps, my usual (well, preferred) 20 times. It went pretty well, and I felt pretty. good. I also managed a pretty respectable time, 16:54, but to be fair, I did stop twice to take a swig of water. It was quite humid out there.
But the more I think about it, the more I am not sure I have it in me to run the 5k on Saturday. I still have not run three miles in months. And I know how disappointed I will be if I run it in over 30 minutes. I realize that sounds silly, but that is the way I am. When I get something in my head...
I may change my mind when I get up tomorrow morning, but I highly doubt. Still, I don't plan to give up running in general or another 5k. At least not yet.
But the more I think about it, the more I am not sure I have it in me to run the 5k on Saturday. I still have not run three miles in months. And I know how disappointed I will be if I run it in over 30 minutes. I realize that sounds silly, but that is the way I am. When I get something in my head...
I may change my mind when I get up tomorrow morning, but I highly doubt. Still, I don't plan to give up running in general or another 5k. At least not yet.
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