My iRiver armband has finally arrived... and it came with a nice smattering of 34+ degrees celcius heat and humidity to boot.
That's hot for we weak Canadian folks in case you were wondering.
So hot, in fact, that OA (who promptly went out and purchased a mini-MP3 player of her own last night) and I decided to postpone today's morning jog (which would have been done in a minium of 25 degree heat... ew) to tomorrow morning. It is supposed to cool off dramatically overnight. Huzzah.
Tomorrow is also my last day EVER of my puny single mile course. Next week, with the new month, comes the new plan of adding an extra 1/2 mile to my route.
So the session will now look like this:
Run 0.25 mile
Walk 0.15 mile
Run 0.25 mile
Walk 0.15 mile
Run 0.25 mile
Walk 0.15 mile (new!)
Run 0.25 mile (new!)
That extra 0.4 mile of running... looks scary. I hope the music helps!
UPDATED Goal: Run 72 miles - 24 X 3 - by November 3, 2007 (My 24th Birthday!)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Brush with fame...
We were back on the road again and used the same route as on Friday. I know I must start increasing my mileage, but I need to get back into a comfortable routine like that I was creating on the local track before I can start branching out again.
I = a major creature of habit.
One more week of my little tiny 1 mile run and then I will start adding to it beginning next Monday.
On my return trip, I passed by my first minor-celebrity fellow jogger in the form of my fellow graduate of McGill University and CBC Television Host Evan Solomon. Turns out he lives in my neighbourhood... and now he has the joy of seeing me huffing and puffing down his street every second morning. I'm pretty sure the real estate agent didn't notify him of that perk :)
OA and I both managed to make it up the seemingly monstrous hill on Benson Avenue without stopping - small bits of progress like this make me very happy.
DAY 12 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45
1 mile total (+walking to starting point)
Total Walked (approx): 1/4 mile
Total Ran (approx): 3/4 mile
Legs - very sore... the pavement does something to make my upper thighs feel very weak while running
Lungs - wheezy, but not as bad as Friday's
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - high. When I sat down on my front steps following the jog, I left a bum-sweat print on the concrete. How lovely.
Overall impression - I still miss my track, but am getting over the disappointment of having lost it.
The MP3 armband STILL has not arrived and now I am getting kinda pissed.
I = a major creature of habit.
One more week of my little tiny 1 mile run and then I will start adding to it beginning next Monday.
On my return trip, I passed by my first minor-celebrity fellow jogger in the form of my fellow graduate of McGill University and CBC Television Host Evan Solomon. Turns out he lives in my neighbourhood... and now he has the joy of seeing me huffing and puffing down his street every second morning. I'm pretty sure the real estate agent didn't notify him of that perk :)
OA and I both managed to make it up the seemingly monstrous hill on Benson Avenue without stopping - small bits of progress like this make me very happy.
DAY 12 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45
1 mile total (+walking to starting point)
Total Walked (approx): 1/4 mile
Total Ran (approx): 3/4 mile
Legs - very sore... the pavement does something to make my upper thighs feel very weak while running
Lungs - wheezy, but not as bad as Friday's
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - high. When I sat down on my front steps following the jog, I left a bum-sweat print on the concrete. How lovely.
Overall impression - I still miss my track, but am getting over the disappointment of having lost it.
The MP3 armband STILL has not arrived and now I am getting kinda pissed.
Friday, June 22, 2007
A Roadrunner I'm Not... But Progress!
Did the road thing with a plan this time (yea Google maps!) which made things a little easier and less "OH MY GOD WHERE AM I/I HATE NOT BEING ON A FUCKING TRACK/CAN I STOP NOW?/SURE I'LL STOP NOW!"
I think I managed to do the equivalent of 3 full quarter mile laps of running for the first time... I think. Unfortunately, exact distance measuring is a challenge without the benefits of the tried and true quarter mile track...
OA wanted to kill me first thing this morning when we got to the first running leg of our jog and stared up on fairly long, kinda-steep incline. Ooops. We were gasping and wheezing so much by the end of the first leg (sad really) that I thought for sure I wasn't going to be able to do the full three-quarters of a mile. Luckily, most of the rest of the running legs were on either flat terrain or declining hills.
My ankles hurt more today than they ever did running on my track... grrr. I hope they'll strengthen the more that we run on pavement.
DAY 11 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45
1 mile total (+walking to starting point)
Total Walked (approx): 1/4 mile
Total Ran (approx): 3/4 mile
Legs - owwwwwww
Lungs - very wheezy
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - low
Overall impression - I don't like other joggers passing me by on the street. They are totally saying "you'll quit in a few weeks" in their perfectly toned heads. I can tell. They look particularly fit, evil and judgemental at 6:30 am.
Still no MP3 armband either...
I think I managed to do the equivalent of 3 full quarter mile laps of running for the first time... I think. Unfortunately, exact distance measuring is a challenge without the benefits of the tried and true quarter mile track...
OA wanted to kill me first thing this morning when we got to the first running leg of our jog and stared up on fairly long, kinda-steep incline. Ooops. We were gasping and wheezing so much by the end of the first leg (sad really) that I thought for sure I wasn't going to be able to do the full three-quarters of a mile. Luckily, most of the rest of the running legs were on either flat terrain or declining hills.
My ankles hurt more today than they ever did running on my track... grrr. I hope they'll strengthen the more that we run on pavement.
DAY 11 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45
1 mile total (+walking to starting point)
Total Walked (approx): 1/4 mile
Total Ran (approx): 3/4 mile
Legs - owwwwwww
Lungs - very wheezy
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - low
Overall impression - I don't like other joggers passing me by on the street. They are totally saying "you'll quit in a few weeks" in their perfectly toned heads. I can tell. They look particularly fit, evil and judgemental at 6:30 am.
Still no MP3 armband either...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Day 10 Disaster
They took our track away! My lovely little, very close by to my house, nicely shaded, not crowded track has been shut down!
Well technically it isn't shut down - more like "temporarily closed for repairs for the summer" - but still...
The "closed" sign and padlock staring OA and I in the face was very unsettling at 6am on the morning when I was *finally* going to do a 3/4 mile run... OA bucked up instantly because she was getting bored with the whole "running around in circles" thing, but it really disappointed me.
So instead of doing my perfectly measured and paced jog around my comfy, cozy track, we embarked on a bit of a journey of discovery up and down neighbourhood streets. According to Google P-Maps, the whole course was approximately 1 1/4 miles... and I walked a good chunk of it. In total, I would have to estimate that I ran 5/8 of a mile and walked the same distance...
OA was in 7th heaven... she disappeared into the distance early on after I stopped for my first walk break. It made me very unhappy to be all by myself, tired, sweaty and with sore knees and thinking of ways we could break the padlock on Friday.
Le sigh. It is going to be a long summer methinks.
DAY 10 REPORT (DAY 10! DAY 10! WHAT A HORRIBLE DAY FOR SUCH A MILESTONE!)
wake-up time 5:45
1.25 miles total (plus walking to track)
Total Walked (approx): 5/8 mile
Total Ran (approx): 5/8 mile
Legs - sore... pavement sucks the big one
Lungs - wheezy
Stomach - uneasy as a result of another night of acid reflux (not running related)
Sweat level - high despite the chill
Overall impression - *weeps* I want my track back!
Oh... and my stupid MP3 arm band didn't show up in yesterday's mail either. *double sob*
Well technically it isn't shut down - more like "temporarily closed for repairs for the summer" - but still...
The "closed" sign and padlock staring OA and I in the face was very unsettling at 6am on the morning when I was *finally* going to do a 3/4 mile run... OA bucked up instantly because she was getting bored with the whole "running around in circles" thing, but it really disappointed me.
So instead of doing my perfectly measured and paced jog around my comfy, cozy track, we embarked on a bit of a journey of discovery up and down neighbourhood streets. According to Google P-Maps, the whole course was approximately 1 1/4 miles... and I walked a good chunk of it. In total, I would have to estimate that I ran 5/8 of a mile and walked the same distance...
OA was in 7th heaven... she disappeared into the distance early on after I stopped for my first walk break. It made me very unhappy to be all by myself, tired, sweaty and with sore knees and thinking of ways we could break the padlock on Friday.
Le sigh. It is going to be a long summer methinks.
DAY 10 REPORT (DAY 10! DAY 10! WHAT A HORRIBLE DAY FOR SUCH A MILESTONE!)
wake-up time 5:45
1.25 miles total (plus walking to track)
Total Walked (approx): 5/8 mile
Total Ran (approx): 5/8 mile
Legs - sore... pavement sucks the big one
Lungs - wheezy
Stomach - uneasy as a result of another night of acid reflux (not running related)
Sweat level - high despite the chill
Overall impression - *weeps* I want my track back!
Oh... and my stupid MP3 arm band didn't show up in yesterday's mail either. *double sob*
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tunes Tomorrow?
Tomorrow, when I will *finally* complete a run consisting of three full quarter mile laps of actual to goodness jogging, I hope to have some of my favorite showtunes blasting in my ear and pushing me along to achieve this mini-goal.
I bought an iRiver mp3 player last spring which has served me well except for the fact that finding accessories for it outside of South-East Asia is a challenge. Hence, while I would have loved to have had some music accompanying me each morning when OA and I jog (given that conversation is still out for me), it has been impossible to find a exercise clip for the player...
... impossible, that is, until I finally gave in and paid the $0.49 to buy a custom made holder for my iRiver on eBay and followed that up with $14 (!!!) of shipping to get the darn thing from Seoul to my possession. Yes you calculated that the shipping of the holder officially is more than 28 times the actual cost of the item.
Online tracking appears to be showing it in the actual confines of the City of Toronto. Tomorrow is a running day. Cross your fingers that I will be able to actually listen to Andrea McArdle singing "Tomorrow", tomorrow! :)
I bought an iRiver mp3 player last spring which has served me well except for the fact that finding accessories for it outside of South-East Asia is a challenge. Hence, while I would have loved to have had some music accompanying me each morning when OA and I jog (given that conversation is still out for me), it has been impossible to find a exercise clip for the player...
... impossible, that is, until I finally gave in and paid the $0.49 to buy a custom made holder for my iRiver on eBay and followed that up with $14 (!!!) of shipping to get the darn thing from Seoul to my possession. Yes you calculated that the shipping of the holder officially is more than 28 times the actual cost of the item.
Online tracking appears to be showing it in the actual confines of the City of Toronto. Tomorrow is a running day. Cross your fingers that I will be able to actually listen to Andrea McArdle singing "Tomorrow", tomorrow! :)
Monday, June 18, 2007
Family-Be-Gone
The clan was in Toronto for the weekend for my cousin's wedding. My sisters, brother-in-law and 7 month old niece stayed with me from Friday through to this morning.
Dealing with visiting family is more exhausting than jogging - that's for sure!
I also had my job's big annual luncheon on Friday... lunch for 450 cranky, hungry, humourless people is fun in an express train straight to hell kind of way.
So on Friday morning, knowing that I would be undergoing severe stress (and coupled with a nasty case of acid reflux from the burrito I HAD to eat the night before from Burrito Boys on Adelaide Street) running was definitely off the schedule. The gigantic amounts of food and alcohol consumed on Friday with my immediate family, Saturday with the full clan and bride's family and then yesterday with just my dad's folks left me almost dead this morning. I definitely should have worked harder to get more (non-adult) beverages into my system... I was guzzling water post-jog like a desert bedouin reaching an oasis.
I went four full days without jogging. And I missed it... to the point where it actually felt GOOD to wake up at an ungodly hour this morning and strap on my shoes.
Shock.
Regardless, four days are four days and I didn't think that attempting my first 3/4 mile run was the best plan. Instead, I reverted back to my comfortable 5/8 run, 3/8 walk routine which left me tired but happy.
My heart rate (checked with my brand-spaking new Speedo Heart Rate Monitor Watch) peaked at 183 (yikes). My first quarter-mile took me 2:12.
I think I need to slow down...
Oh well.
DAY 9 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45am
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 1 half circuit running (1/8 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - first lap went really well legs-wise, very loose. Second, third and fourth laps had a bit of pain/tightness
Lungs - definitely not as wheezy as on other days, but not conversation-ready yet either
Stomach - stitchy after the second full running lap, but it improved with some stretching during the walking half-lap which following
Sweat level - medium
Overall Impression: I need to break this plateau I've created and start adding a third full running lap ASAP
Dealing with visiting family is more exhausting than jogging - that's for sure!
I also had my job's big annual luncheon on Friday... lunch for 450 cranky, hungry, humourless people is fun in an express train straight to hell kind of way.
So on Friday morning, knowing that I would be undergoing severe stress (and coupled with a nasty case of acid reflux from the burrito I HAD to eat the night before from Burrito Boys on Adelaide Street) running was definitely off the schedule. The gigantic amounts of food and alcohol consumed on Friday with my immediate family, Saturday with the full clan and bride's family and then yesterday with just my dad's folks left me almost dead this morning. I definitely should have worked harder to get more (non-adult) beverages into my system... I was guzzling water post-jog like a desert bedouin reaching an oasis.
I went four full days without jogging. And I missed it... to the point where it actually felt GOOD to wake up at an ungodly hour this morning and strap on my shoes.
Shock.
Regardless, four days are four days and I didn't think that attempting my first 3/4 mile run was the best plan. Instead, I reverted back to my comfortable 5/8 run, 3/8 walk routine which left me tired but happy.
My heart rate (checked with my brand-spaking new Speedo Heart Rate Monitor Watch) peaked at 183 (yikes). My first quarter-mile took me 2:12.
I think I need to slow down...
Oh well.
DAY 9 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45am
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 1 half circuit running (1/8 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - first lap went really well legs-wise, very loose. Second, third and fourth laps had a bit of pain/tightness
Lungs - definitely not as wheezy as on other days, but not conversation-ready yet either
Stomach - stitchy after the second full running lap, but it improved with some stretching during the walking half-lap which following
Sweat level - medium
Overall Impression: I need to break this plateau I've created and start adding a third full running lap ASAP
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Thank you blogosphere!
So despite all my earlier whining about not being able to follow the "conversation" test while jogging, the blogosphere has come through and two readers of my lowly little blog have assuaged my fears.
Thanks Benjamin and Helen!
So I totally babied out yesterday post running and skipped work for the day because of "illness". I haven't had a sick day in at least three months and was feeling kind of under the weather. So instead of slaving away at the office, I enjoyed a wonderful day of lounging in front of the tv and debating the merits of cleaning (sloth won out in the end as I knew it would, of course!)
Another running day tomorrow which will be followed by a weekend of debauchery at my cousin's wedding... tomorrow is lap, half lap, lap, half lap, lap day. So far I have been able to do on lap, half lap, lap, half lap, three quarter lap, quarter lap.
Tomorrow is L-cubed day. I am shaking in my socks...
Thanks Benjamin and Helen!
So I totally babied out yesterday post running and skipped work for the day because of "illness". I haven't had a sick day in at least three months and was feeling kind of under the weather. So instead of slaving away at the office, I enjoyed a wonderful day of lounging in front of the tv and debating the merits of cleaning (sloth won out in the end as I knew it would, of course!)
Another running day tomorrow which will be followed by a weekend of debauchery at my cousin's wedding... tomorrow is lap, half lap, lap, half lap, lap day. So far I have been able to do on lap, half lap, lap, half lap, three quarter lap, quarter lap.
Tomorrow is L-cubed day. I am shaking in my socks...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Slowly... slowly...
The goal for today was to try my first attempt at running three full quarter mile laps with a single 1/8 mile half lap inbetween the first-second and second-third running laps.
It was close but I had to give up and walk for the last quarter of the third lap. Still it was definite progression.
OA didn't do much better - she only ran three laps before stopping to walk a final fourth (she normally goes at least 5 quarter mile laps... she was really weak too)
DAY 8 REPORT
wake-up time 6am (boo lateness!)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
2 half circuits walking (1/4 mile), 1 quarter circuit walking (1/16 mile), 1 three-quarter circuit running (3/16 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 5/16 mile
Total Ran: 11/16 mile
Legs - very weak today, I was having issues on my first lap with a slightly sore knee and it built from there
Lungs - it was hot and humid... the lungs were definitely wheezy
Stomach - perfectly okay
Sweat level - high... the sun was beating down on us towards the end, we need to get up EARLY...
Generally, I felt absolutely nauseous and gross throughout the whole of this morning. Almost like food poisoning or the flu.
Overall Impression: this run sucked the big one - Friday can only be better.
It was close but I had to give up and walk for the last quarter of the third lap. Still it was definite progression.
OA didn't do much better - she only ran three laps before stopping to walk a final fourth (she normally goes at least 5 quarter mile laps... she was really weak too)
DAY 8 REPORT
wake-up time 6am (boo lateness!)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
2 half circuits walking (1/4 mile), 1 quarter circuit walking (1/16 mile), 1 three-quarter circuit running (3/16 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 5/16 mile
Total Ran: 11/16 mile
Legs - very weak today, I was having issues on my first lap with a slightly sore knee and it built from there
Lungs - it was hot and humid... the lungs were definitely wheezy
Stomach - perfectly okay
Sweat level - high... the sun was beating down on us towards the end, we need to get up EARLY...
Generally, I felt absolutely nauseous and gross throughout the whole of this morning. Almost like food poisoning or the flu.
Overall Impression: this run sucked the big one - Friday can only be better.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Thank God Today is a Rest Day...
Last night with dinner (yummy flax + shallot burgers on the old broilmaster grill!) OA and I decided to whip up a batch of Manhattans from the ingredients leftover from our Tony Awards party.
Vermouth + Bourbon + Bitters = very loopy elkerette
When I finally cracked open my eyes this morning at 7:30 am (!!!yikes!!!) I could only thank each and every higher being I have ever heard of that today was a rest day and that I didn't have to run.
Yikes.
Manhattans... the cocktail that starts off kind of gross and ends being delicious by the time you finish your glass/collapse.
Vermouth + Bourbon + Bitters = very loopy elkerette
When I finally cracked open my eyes this morning at 7:30 am (!!!yikes!!!) I could only thank each and every higher being I have ever heard of that today was a rest day and that I didn't have to run.
Yikes.
Manhattans... the cocktail that starts off kind of gross and ends being delicious by the time you finish your glass/collapse.
Monday, June 11, 2007
I am officially bad at math
So it turns out that despite having run two full 1/4 mile laps on Friday, my actual distance run versus walked didn't change... instead of 3/4 mile run and 1/4 walked, I actually ran 5/8 mile and walked 3/8.
Which is the same exact proportion ran/walked when I run one full lap! Grrrr.
So from my calculations, the only way to increase my mileage run would be to increase to three full 1/4 mile running laps with only a half lap each of walking in between. Yikes.
But now to less depressing news.
This morning OA and I woke up on time and made it to the track for the first time since Friday. It actually felt great to be back out there moving.
After last night's Tony Awards Manhattans (a MUCH stronger drink then I am used to), it was tough to get up out of bed. But we managed.
I sang along (in my head) to the "Bitch of Living" from the Best New Musical Tony Winner Spring Awakening for much of the run. Very good workout song (such angst!)
DAY 7 REPORT
wake-up time 5:30 (woo hoo!)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 1 half circuit running (1/8 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - definite tightness in my upper legs - odd given that I normally feel jogging in my calves
Lungs - a little wheezy but definitely nothing too bad
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - low except for chest area... I need to get a good sweat wicking running bra
Overall Impression: Mathematical miscalculation is the "Bitch of Running"
Which is the same exact proportion ran/walked when I run one full lap! Grrrr.
| With Three Laps Run | ||
| Ran | 1/4 | |
| Walk | 0 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/4 | |
| Walk | 0 | |
| With Two Laps Run | ||
| Ran | 1/4 | |
| Walk | 0 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| With 1 Lap Run | ||
| Ran | 1/4 | |
| Walk | 0 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
| Walk | 1/8 | |
| Ran | 1/8 | |
So from my calculations, the only way to increase my mileage run would be to increase to three full 1/4 mile running laps with only a half lap each of walking in between. Yikes.
But now to less depressing news.
This morning OA and I woke up on time and made it to the track for the first time since Friday. It actually felt great to be back out there moving.
After last night's Tony Awards Manhattans (a MUCH stronger drink then I am used to), it was tough to get up out of bed. But we managed.
I sang along (in my head) to the "Bitch of Living" from the Best New Musical Tony Winner Spring Awakening for much of the run. Very good workout song (such angst!)
DAY 7 REPORT
wake-up time 5:30 (woo hoo!)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 1 half circuit running (1/8 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - definite tightness in my upper legs - odd given that I normally feel jogging in my calves
Lungs - a little wheezy but definitely nothing too bad
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - low except for chest area... I need to get a good sweat wicking running bra
Overall Impression: Mathematical miscalculation is the "Bitch of Running"
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Another first...
... the first day I planned to run, woke up completely exhausted and then feel back asleep.
Oops.
OA is happy about this - she wasn't particularly keen to ruin her traditional Sunday morning of sloth with a jog anyway.
We will see what happens tomorrow.
Oops.
OA is happy about this - she wasn't particularly keen to ruin her traditional Sunday morning of sloth with a jog anyway.
We will see what happens tomorrow.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Who said walking is easier than jogging?
It is official. Walking 3/4 mile up a steep incline with two heavy bottles in your hand in 35 degree celcius heat is tougher than jogging 1 mile while carrying no weight around a flat track in cool morning temps.
For my Tony Awards party tomorrow night (yes I am a musical theatre uber-geek... make fun of me now) I am going to be making Manhattans as our pre-dinner cocktail. Unfortunately, this meant I had to run to the LCBO (province-owned liquor store) to purchase bourbon and vermouth. Given that the LCBO flagship store is seemingly just down the block from my office, I decided to pick up the necessary booze over yesterday's lunch hour. Bad move... it was absolutely broiling outside and I was in a suit. Sweat city. Climbing up the very, very steep incline in that heat after having done my first half mile jog a few hours earlier nearly killed me.
The suffering I endure for the Tony Awards!
Tomorrow is definitely going to be another jogging day... the French Open Men's final between Nadal and Federer goes tomorrow at 9am EST. I want to be up and alert enough to appreciate what should be a great match. Go Federer!
Luckily, it should also be way cooler tomorrow morning.
For my Tony Awards party tomorrow night (yes I am a musical theatre uber-geek... make fun of me now) I am going to be making Manhattans as our pre-dinner cocktail. Unfortunately, this meant I had to run to the LCBO (province-owned liquor store) to purchase bourbon and vermouth. Given that the LCBO flagship store is seemingly just down the block from my office, I decided to pick up the necessary booze over yesterday's lunch hour. Bad move... it was absolutely broiling outside and I was in a suit. Sweat city. Climbing up the very, very steep incline in that heat after having done my first half mile jog a few hours earlier nearly killed me.
The suffering I endure for the Tony Awards!
Tomorrow is definitely going to be another jogging day... the French Open Men's final between Nadal and Federer goes tomorrow at 9am EST. I want to be up and alert enough to appreciate what should be a great match. Go Federer!
Luckily, it should also be way cooler tomorrow morning.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Progress, Sweet Progress
I ran two full 1/4 mile laps today for the first time, with only a short 1/8 mile walk in between!
Hoo and Ray!
This brings my total running vs. walking to 3/4 of a mile running (includes two half laps) and1/4 mile of walking.
The sense of accomplishment I felt when I finished the second of the two full laps was incomparable...
Last night OA, OA's daughters and I carbo-loaded on spaghetti with fresh grape tomatoes, bococinni cheese, basil and TONS of raw garlic. Yum.
Then we splurged on top of that by going for ice cream at Dutch Dreams - a quirky, local creamery that really knocked my socks off. We walked the 2k there and back which kind of made up for the calories. Kinda :)
DAY 6 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45 (better than Wednesday!)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
2 half circuits walking (1/4 mile), 2 half circuits running (1/4 mile), 2 full circuits running (1/2 mile)
Total Walked: 1/4 mile
Total Ran: 3/4 mile
Legs - tight in my thighs... nothing major
Lungs - not too bad considering it was hot and humid
Stomach - very stitchy at the end!
Sweat level - more than Wednesday's for sure... it was already above 20 degrees celcius when we left the house... and humid as all get out
Overall impression - managed to achieve my goal of running two full 1/4 mile laps in one training session which makes me very happy. Next stop will be to add in a third:
- 1 full lap running - 1/4 mile
- 1/2 lap walking - 1/8 mile
- 1 full lap running - 1/4 mile
- 1/2 lap walking - 1/8 mile
- 1 full lap running - 1/4 mile
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Am I Doing This Right???
After reading various online articles about proper running techniques and programs for beginners, I am becoming concerned that I am not on the right course.
In particular, the seemingly universal "if you can't hold a conversation because you are too out of breath slow down rule" is a major worry.
I can walk forever without any problems other than slightly sore feet. In fact, I often walk more than 20km at one go and hardly break a sweat.
On the other hand, very slow jogging of even a quarter mile leaves me huffing and puffing like the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood - nowhere near being able to talk about the weather to my jogging buddy.
The general message of the "easy conversation" rule seems to be to stick to walking if you are breathing with too much labour when you jog.
But I don't WANT to just walk - it would be like going backwards and would have much less of an effect on my overall positive feeling of this running routine.
Plus, it isn't like I am feeling - other than the huffing and puffing - like the running is all too hard. My body is not particularly sore post-routine... in fact I generally feel great after finishing a morning's training session.
Should I be concerned about being a Ms. Huffalot?
In particular, the seemingly universal "if you can't hold a conversation because you are too out of breath slow down rule" is a major worry.
I can walk forever without any problems other than slightly sore feet. In fact, I often walk more than 20km at one go and hardly break a sweat.
On the other hand, very slow jogging of even a quarter mile leaves me huffing and puffing like the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood - nowhere near being able to talk about the weather to my jogging buddy.
The general message of the "easy conversation" rule seems to be to stick to walking if you are breathing with too much labour when you jog.
But I don't WANT to just walk - it would be like going backwards and would have much less of an effect on my overall positive feeling of this running routine.
Plus, it isn't like I am feeling - other than the huffing and puffing - like the running is all too hard. My body is not particularly sore post-routine... in fact I generally feel great after finishing a morning's training session.
Should I be concerned about being a Ms. Huffalot?
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
"Oh are we done already?"
Those were the words from my not-so-lovely-at-that-particular-moment housemate, OA, today after, huffing and puffing, I finished my 4th lap and she completed her 5th.
Whatever.
Good news is that I ran another full lap, this time without suffering nearly as much as I did on Monday. Bad news is that I didn't repeat this full lap in my workout and stayed at the same distance as Monday.
OA managed to run for two, two-lap circuits plus a lap of walking in between which made me incredibly jealous. We may be coming to a point where she will be lapping me (boo!)
When we woke up this morning, the air temperature was 8 degrees celcius with a clear blue sky overhead. Lovely running conditions - if only every morning could be like this!
I am not looking forward to days of heat and humidity. Even under only slightly stuffy conditions on Saturday I completely wilted... temps can only start getting hotter as the summer progresses.
DAY 5 REPORT
wake-up time 6 am (bad bad bad... we left the house at the outrageous time of 6:15 and must get up earlier next time)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 3 half circuits running (3/8 mile), 1 full circuit running (1/4 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - sorer than on Monday
Lungs - a little puffy
Stomach - stitchy at the end, the thumb trick I read about somewhere on the web did not work!
Sweat level - miniscule
Overall impression - didn't achieve my goal of running two full laps today, will try again on Friday or Saturday (still depends on when we decide to run...)
Whatever.
Good news is that I ran another full lap, this time without suffering nearly as much as I did on Monday. Bad news is that I didn't repeat this full lap in my workout and stayed at the same distance as Monday.
OA managed to run for two, two-lap circuits plus a lap of walking in between which made me incredibly jealous. We may be coming to a point where she will be lapping me (boo!)
When we woke up this morning, the air temperature was 8 degrees celcius with a clear blue sky overhead. Lovely running conditions - if only every morning could be like this!
I am not looking forward to days of heat and humidity. Even under only slightly stuffy conditions on Saturday I completely wilted... temps can only start getting hotter as the summer progresses.
DAY 5 REPORT
wake-up time 6 am (bad bad bad... we left the house at the outrageous time of 6:15 and must get up earlier next time)
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 3 half circuits running (3/8 mile), 1 full circuit running (1/4 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - sorer than on Monday
Lungs - a little puffy
Stomach - stitchy at the end, the thumb trick I read about somewhere on the web did not work!
Sweat level - miniscule
Overall impression - didn't achieve my goal of running two full laps today, will try again on Friday or Saturday (still depends on when we decide to run...)
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Cool little Google Maps Application
I just discovered this cool little Google maps pedometer over at the Jog Blog.
It shows how far you have run in miles based on tracking your course on a street map.
The distance between my home and Bathurst and back (OA's former favourite course when she used to run) using a relatively straight route is 1.8 miles.
Considering I have yet to even attempt to run/walk more than 1 mile, I should be able to tackled running this full course sometime by next year :)
Scary thought though - this full 1.8 miles at an assumed constant jog rate would burn only approximately 245 calories. Yikes!
Good to know all the same!
It shows how far you have run in miles based on tracking your course on a street map.
The distance between my home and Bathurst and back (OA's former favourite course when she used to run) using a relatively straight route is 1.8 miles.
Considering I have yet to even attempt to run/walk more than 1 mile, I should be able to tackled running this full course sometime by next year :)
Scary thought though - this full 1.8 miles at an assumed constant jog rate would burn only approximately 245 calories. Yikes!
Good to know all the same!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Today was my first day of running a full quarter-mile! Huzzah! Hooray!
Unlike Saturday, which was my first day running without the slowing force of a 7 year old companion with short legs, I purposely tried to maintain a slow steady pace. My stride has also becoming more gliding and less like a dressage horse.
(the image above is a random Google Image Search of what I thought I looked like on Saturday morning with my high kicking knees!)
OA, my housemate, thinks that I should be pushing myself more which got me a little peeved given that this was the first day I ran a full lap of the track. I figure I have to go on what my own body tells me and just ignore what others say... I feel like I'm getting a good workout each morning!
The one HUGE advantage of today was the steady spritzing of rain combined with cooler temperatures... it was like running in a pleasant shower. Wednesday (the next scheduled run day) should be cloudy in the morning and cool as well. I'm looking forward to that as well!
DAY 4 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45 am
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 3 half circuits running (3/8 mile), 1 full circuit running (1/4 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - okay
Lungs - better than Saturday, but not as good as earlier last week
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - it was hard to tell if I was sweaty or just wet from the rain
Overall impression - I'm very happy about the one full circuit but next time want to try to cut back on the walking a big by adding an extra full circuit. That way, I will have walk a quarter kilometre in total and ran 3 quarters.
Unlike Saturday, which was my first day running without the slowing force of a 7 year old companion with short legs, I purposely tried to maintain a slow steady pace. My stride has also becoming more gliding and less like a dressage horse.
(the image above is a random Google Image Search of what I thought I looked like on Saturday morning with my high kicking knees!)
OA, my housemate, thinks that I should be pushing myself more which got me a little peeved given that this was the first day I ran a full lap of the track. I figure I have to go on what my own body tells me and just ignore what others say... I feel like I'm getting a good workout each morning!
The one HUGE advantage of today was the steady spritzing of rain combined with cooler temperatures... it was like running in a pleasant shower. Wednesday (the next scheduled run day) should be cloudy in the morning and cool as well. I'm looking forward to that as well!
DAY 4 REPORT
wake-up time 5:45 am
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
3 half circuits walking (3/8 mile), 3 half circuits running (3/8 mile), 1 full circuit running (1/4 mile)
Total Walked: 3/8 mile
Total Ran: 5/8 mile
Legs - okay
Lungs - better than Saturday, but not as good as earlier last week
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - it was hard to tell if I was sweaty or just wet from the rain
Overall impression - I'm very happy about the one full circuit but next time want to try to cut back on the walking a big by adding an extra full circuit. That way, I will have walk a quarter kilometre in total and ran 3 quarters.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Woke up at 8am and then remembered the possibility of our track area being overrun by early morning soccer players.
Luckily, we were the only ones at the track when we showed at 8:30. It was very tough going, smoggy, humid as hell and I didn't have a 7 year old running partner to use an excuse to go slowly.
I was gasping for air like an asthmatic after only half of the 4 rotations. Something told me I wouldn't be able to complete the full mile unless I added an extra half lap of walking in lieu of jogging. Good idea, because I think I was slightly hallucinatory at the end.
My cotton Vision TV t-shirt which I have been wearing at the track was soaked by the end of the morning and I think my earlier purchase of sweat wicking pants earlier this week should have been replaced by shorts or a skirt or something less hot.
DAY 3 REPORT
wake-up time 8 am
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
Half circuit of track walking, half circuit of jogging
3 revolutions of track like this
1 revolution walking only :(
Legs - a little tense
Lungs - the worst thus far
Stomach - stitchy towards the end - no wine the night before jogging ever again
Sweat level - it was less sweat and more like more pores opened and every glass of water I hadever drunk in my life pored out at once
Overall impression - not too bad for someone who felt like taking a hammer to her alarm clock this morning.
Luckily, we were the only ones at the track when we showed at 8:30. It was very tough going, smoggy, humid as hell and I didn't have a 7 year old running partner to use an excuse to go slowly.
I was gasping for air like an asthmatic after only half of the 4 rotations. Something told me I wouldn't be able to complete the full mile unless I added an extra half lap of walking in lieu of jogging. Good idea, because I think I was slightly hallucinatory at the end.
My cotton Vision TV t-shirt which I have been wearing at the track was soaked by the end of the morning and I think my earlier purchase of sweat wicking pants earlier this week should have been replaced by shorts or a skirt or something less hot.
DAY 3 REPORT
wake-up time 8 am
1 mile total (plus walking to and from track)
Half circuit of track walking, half circuit of jogging
3 revolutions of track like this
1 revolution walking only :(
Legs - a little tense
Lungs - the worst thus far
Stomach - stitchy towards the end - no wine the night before jogging ever again
Sweat level - it was less sweat and more like more pores opened and every glass of water I hadever drunk in my life pored out at once
Overall impression - not too bad for someone who felt like taking a hammer to her alarm clock this morning.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Overslept but happy
I woke up today at 7:50. Quite the change in quality of rest when you have slowly gotten used to 5:45 wake ups.
My body feels really good - no soreness or anything like Wednesday.
I also told my parents today that I am running. The pressure is officially on to keep up with this now!
Big test is tomorrow... will I be able to wake up early on a Saturday?!?
At least the French Open will be on tv which is a pretty good impetus to get up out of bed!
My body feels really good - no soreness or anything like Wednesday.
I also told my parents today that I am running. The pressure is officially on to keep up with this now!
Big test is tomorrow... will I be able to wake up early on a Saturday?!?
At least the French Open will be on tv which is a pretty good impetus to get up out of bed!
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