When I went swimming on Thursday (which, by the way, was only my second day of exercise for the week), I felt pretty good doing laps. I did about 25 total, broken into 15 and then two smaller sets. A number of my laps came at a good speed. In fact, for about three or four laps I felt challenged by a boy swimming next to me who appeared to be about 10. I was not about to let that kid swim faster than I could, so I swam pretty quickly.
When I went swimming again today, the laps did not come as easily. I felt slow and sluggish almost the entire time. I started off with 15 again, then did a few smaller sets, eventually ending up with 30. I also jogged in the water a few times, probably for about 20 minutes total. And I did some lunges, squats, push-ups, and dips while in the water. I definitely had a good workout, but I was just not "feeling it." I pushed myself to swim fast a few times, but it was a struggle. I could barely do two fast laps in a row.
I am blaming this on the four to five pounds I have gained the past three weeks, which is related to my poor eating, which probably hinders me even more. Hopefully I can get on the right track soon...
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
No, weather people, it does NOT feel like 73 degrees!
My second run in as many weeks. Look at me go!
When I went to bed last night, amidst the windy, stormy weather, I was convinced my morning run would be in 70-degree and low humidity weather. I figured I would take the same route as last week, and see if my time had improved. But when I started my run around 9:50 a.m., the temps felt about 80 degrees and the sun was blazing, I was pretty sure that was not happening.
When I was halfway through my water bottle and only 1/3 of the way through my run, I, once again, considered cutting in short. But I decided even if I could not beat last week's time, I could at least come close to it. So I soldiered on.
Because of the sun, heat and humidity (I cannot believe it was only 73 degrees, but I can believe the humidity was 100 percent), I hardly noticed any pains. I was, however, cursing the sweat that kept running down my face. The ponytail holder kept my hair off my face and neck, but what I was really missing was a hairband to keep the sweat on my brow. Oh, well.
When it was all said and done and my lukewarm water was down to its last few rationed drops, I ended up coming in at 29:16. I have no idea how I bested my time from last week by almost two minutes. And I really felt it at the end (as did my rapidly beating heart which took quite a few minutes to slow down). But I did it.
Not sure when I will get my next run in (just last week I said it would probably take me a month or two), but if I can keep up with swimming and/or Zumba a couple times a week, hopefully I can stay in decent shape.
When I went to bed last night, amidst the windy, stormy weather, I was convinced my morning run would be in 70-degree and low humidity weather. I figured I would take the same route as last week, and see if my time had improved. But when I started my run around 9:50 a.m., the temps felt about 80 degrees and the sun was blazing, I was pretty sure that was not happening.
When I was halfway through my water bottle and only 1/3 of the way through my run, I, once again, considered cutting in short. But I decided even if I could not beat last week's time, I could at least come close to it. So I soldiered on.
Because of the sun, heat and humidity (I cannot believe it was only 73 degrees, but I can believe the humidity was 100 percent), I hardly noticed any pains. I was, however, cursing the sweat that kept running down my face. The ponytail holder kept my hair off my face and neck, but what I was really missing was a hairband to keep the sweat on my brow. Oh, well.
When it was all said and done and my lukewarm water was down to its last few rationed drops, I ended up coming in at 29:16. I have no idea how I bested my time from last week by almost two minutes. And I really felt it at the end (as did my rapidly beating heart which took quite a few minutes to slow down). But I did it.
Not sure when I will get my next run in (just last week I said it would probably take me a month or two), but if I can keep up with swimming and/or Zumba a couple times a week, hopefully I can stay in decent shape.
Monday, June 25, 2012
I ran!
After almost 2.5 months without a run, I finally got one in, in Indiana County. I originally planned to run for 20 minutes, since I knew it had been a couple of months since I last run. But after about 10 minutes into it, I decided to try to run my usual route to see how long it would take.
I need to verify that I ran 3.1 miles (it might have been a tenth or two more or less). But knowing it was at least close to 3 miles and doing it in just over 31 minutes, I am calling it a success. It is good to know that Zumba and swimming keep me in pretty good shape.
Literally two steps into the run, my left knee hurt. Soon after my right foot hurt. Not long after that, my calves started to bother me, and during the last mile, my left foot hurt. Even though it sounds like a lot of pain, nothing hurt me too badly, and I completed the run in the sun without stopping, so yeah, me! I really need to get a new pair of shoes, however. I am thinking I have been running with these for about a year (I need to check the old posts), but considering how infrequently I have been running, I would think they still have some life left in them.
My guess is I won't be writing a running post again for another month or two, but you never know. I have been swimming 1 to 3 times per week as well as doing Zumba once a week, so I have not been completely lazy. :-)
I need to verify that I ran 3.1 miles (it might have been a tenth or two more or less). But knowing it was at least close to 3 miles and doing it in just over 31 minutes, I am calling it a success. It is good to know that Zumba and swimming keep me in pretty good shape.
Literally two steps into the run, my left knee hurt. Soon after my right foot hurt. Not long after that, my calves started to bother me, and during the last mile, my left foot hurt. Even though it sounds like a lot of pain, nothing hurt me too badly, and I completed the run in the sun without stopping, so yeah, me! I really need to get a new pair of shoes, however. I am thinking I have been running with these for about a year (I need to check the old posts), but considering how infrequently I have been running, I would think they still have some life left in them.
My guess is I won't be writing a running post again for another month or two, but you never know. I have been swimming 1 to 3 times per week as well as doing Zumba once a week, so I have not been completely lazy. :-)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Getting back into the swing of things
I cannot believe that I last wrote a post at the end of April. I ended that post hoping I would get in at least one swim that following week. Unfortunately, I don't think I did that. And if I did, that was my last swim for over a month. Work gets in the way, sometimes!
But the last week in May, I did get in two Zumba classes. The next week I did Zumba and swam once each. This week, I swam on Sunday and today. I am planning to do Zumba on Thursday and then another day of swimming. On a positive note, after swimming every other day for the past five days, I actually feel close to my "swimming shape." I did almost 30 laps, (12, 14, and 6), and I could have easily done more.
Running seems to be a distant memory at this point, but I am not giving up hope that I will jog-run a mile in the not-too-distant future.
Here's hoping!
But the last week in May, I did get in two Zumba classes. The next week I did Zumba and swam once each. This week, I swam on Sunday and today. I am planning to do Zumba on Thursday and then another day of swimming. On a positive note, after swimming every other day for the past five days, I actually feel close to my "swimming shape." I did almost 30 laps, (12, 14, and 6), and I could have easily done more.
Running seems to be a distant memory at this point, but I am not giving up hope that I will jog-run a mile in the not-too-distant future.
Here's hoping!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
I am getting out of swimming shape
For months I was swimming pretty regularly, typically three times per week, and every once in awhile I got in a fourth day. Then March came and the weather turned nice (actually, we had quite a few nice February days as well), so the indoor poor fell by the wayside. And when I started working about six weeks ago, the pool was almost forgotten. This week, however, thanks to bad weather and good timing, I managed to hit the water on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Because I did not have a lot of time and I was out of swimming shape, I managed to swim no more than 15 laps earlier this week. In fact, one day I think I completed only 12. But today, I was alone, the pool was empty, which is rare for a Saturday, so I got in a pretty full workout. I swam 20 laps, jogged in the pool for 10 minutes, swam 10 more laps, jogged in the pool for another 10 minutes, and finished with about six or eight minutes of leg and arm exercises.
It was a tough swim week for me; I can no longer swim 10 laps at a good pace and feel just fine. But the sort-of-good-news is because I have been exercising less in general over the past six weeks because I have been working, I don't feel obligated to push myself like crazy. I would have been happy to have gotten in 20 laps today, particularly considering how full I felt from lunch hours earlier. But since I had the time, I did what I could. And that meant going slower than I used to. But I was fine with that.
And even if I get in only a day next week, I think I will be okay with that too.
After all, anything is better than nothing.
Because I did not have a lot of time and I was out of swimming shape, I managed to swim no more than 15 laps earlier this week. In fact, one day I think I completed only 12. But today, I was alone, the pool was empty, which is rare for a Saturday, so I got in a pretty full workout. I swam 20 laps, jogged in the pool for 10 minutes, swam 10 more laps, jogged in the pool for another 10 minutes, and finished with about six or eight minutes of leg and arm exercises.
It was a tough swim week for me; I can no longer swim 10 laps at a good pace and feel just fine. But the sort-of-good-news is because I have been exercising less in general over the past six weeks because I have been working, I don't feel obligated to push myself like crazy. I would have been happy to have gotten in 20 laps today, particularly considering how full I felt from lunch hours earlier. But since I had the time, I did what I could. And that meant going slower than I used to. But I was fine with that.
And even if I get in only a day next week, I think I will be okay with that too.
After all, anything is better than nothing.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Slow and steady finished the run
After over a month of not really running, I finally laced up my shoes this morning, two counties over. As I first set out in the cloudy, 55-degree morning, I decided I would try to run for about 20 minutes. But the more I ran (and by ran, I really mean jogged), I figured I might as well keep up my slower pace and go for 30 minutes.
About three minutes into the run (jog), I noticed a slight pain in my left foot and calf, but nothing unmanageable. Soon after, I realized I should have gone with a short-sleeved tee and shorts, rather than my long sleeves and yoga pants, but there was not much I could do at that point. I also ran with a bottle of water, something I do whenever I am at my mom's, probably because she uses bottled water and it helps. For whatever reason, I noticed I prefer to keep the bottle in my left hand and would often switch it back to that hand without realizing it. As my mind wandered, I tried to make a connection between my left-hand preference and my left foot hurting.
About 20 or so minutes into the run, I noticed my right foot and calf hurting, but they could have hurt before that and I just never noticed. Fortunately, the pain was minor.
All in all, I call it a good run (jog). I am glad I got out there and can still do it, even if doing it means doing it slowish.
About three minutes into the run (jog), I noticed a slight pain in my left foot and calf, but nothing unmanageable. Soon after, I realized I should have gone with a short-sleeved tee and shorts, rather than my long sleeves and yoga pants, but there was not much I could do at that point. I also ran with a bottle of water, something I do whenever I am at my mom's, probably because she uses bottled water and it helps. For whatever reason, I noticed I prefer to keep the bottle in my left hand and would often switch it back to that hand without realizing it. As my mind wandered, I tried to make a connection between my left-hand preference and my left foot hurting.
About 20 or so minutes into the run, I noticed my right foot and calf hurting, but they could have hurt before that and I just never noticed. Fortunately, the pain was minor.
All in all, I call it a good run (jog). I am glad I got out there and can still do it, even if doing it means doing it slowish.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
I continue to slack off
Having started a part-time, temp job, I have less time than I used to (duh!). As much as I hate to slack off exercising, I am afraid I have done just that. The week leading up to Easter I managed to swim in addition to the steps I last blogged about. But I am pretty sure that was it.
This week, which is nearly over, has not been any better. At the park on Monday, I ran around with my kid off and on for about 10 to 15 minutes, but that pretty much left me winded. I have no idea why I can run a few miles (not fast of course, but I manage some speed), but yet when I am trying to tag my kid or run away from her, I am so out of breath that I have to take a break after only a minute or two.
Yesterday, we went swimming, where I managed about 18 laps and some arm exercises. Again, nothing to brag about, but at least I was moving. This afternoon I will be Zumba-ing, after not having class last week. Since I work tomorrow, I guess that will be the end of my exercising. Admittedly, since late winter has returned, I am not that disappointed that I have not gone running this week. Getting some exercise is better than none.
This week, which is nearly over, has not been any better. At the park on Monday, I ran around with my kid off and on for about 10 to 15 minutes, but that pretty much left me winded. I have no idea why I can run a few miles (not fast of course, but I manage some speed), but yet when I am trying to tag my kid or run away from her, I am so out of breath that I have to take a break after only a minute or two.
Yesterday, we went swimming, where I managed about 18 laps and some arm exercises. Again, nothing to brag about, but at least I was moving. This afternoon I will be Zumba-ing, after not having class last week. Since I work tomorrow, I guess that will be the end of my exercising. Admittedly, since late winter has returned, I am not that disappointed that I have not gone running this week. Getting some exercise is better than none.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
