I am now convinced that I am sufferring from a possible gallbladder problem. The same pain after eating has been around since Thursday evening. Thursday! And it is now Tuesday!
Oh well - I need to get myself a doctor and make an appointment upon my return from Edmonton on Sunday.
Yesterday's run turned into a "OMG THIS SUCKS" session really quickly and was therefore shortened considerably. Instead of distance, I concentrated on getting around my mile and a quarter course as quickly as possible (turned out to be about 18 minutes including walk breaks)
DAY 27 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.25 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.75 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.75 miles
Legs - good
Feet - fine
Lungs - wheezy
Stomach - painful
Sweat level - medium
UPDATED Goal: Run 72 miles - 24 X 3 - by November 3, 2007 (My 24th Birthday!)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Excuse me while I writhe in pain...
What I call the "pangs" of indigestion/acid reflux/gallstones have lasted far past their welcome.
I should NEVER have had that burger on Thursday night. Ever since then, there has been a pretty constant (and unfortunately familiar) feeling of discomfort in my upper abdomen - trending towards my back and shoulder blades.
All the same, today was a run day and, in the end, moving and feeling aches in other parts of my body were a welcome relief of sorts.
I have to go to Edmonton with my sister later this week to help her find a place to live so I will be adding an extra run day tomorrow.
DAY 27 REPORT
start time: 9:00pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - a little weak here and there
Feet - fine
Lungs - wheezy
Stomach - uncomfortable from heartburn, not running
Sweat level - high
I should NEVER have had that burger on Thursday night. Ever since then, there has been a pretty constant (and unfortunately familiar) feeling of discomfort in my upper abdomen - trending towards my back and shoulder blades.
All the same, today was a run day and, in the end, moving and feeling aches in other parts of my body were a welcome relief of sorts.
I have to go to Edmonton with my sister later this week to help her find a place to live so I will be adding an extra run day tomorrow.
DAY 27 REPORT
start time: 9:00pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - a little weak here and there
Feet - fine
Lungs - wheezy
Stomach - uncomfortable from heartburn, not running
Sweat level - high
Friday, July 27, 2007
20 mile mark!
I officially am 1/5 of the way through my goal of running 100 miles by by 24th birthday on November 3.
Huzzah!
Tonight's was a fairly uneventful run... 22 degrees with 85% humidity for a humidex rating around 30 degrees. So sweat coursing down my face was a bit of a problem.
I'm now off to watch Episode 6 of HBO's Flight of the Conchords... I am obsessed with this show. Two New Zealand guys in a folk band go to New York and hijincks ensue. The fact that their music and lyrics are so hilarious while they portray being absolutely serious about their music careers... gets me everytime.
One of my favourite songs of theirs is a satiric version of Puff the Magic Dragon. The humour is dry so be warned!
Albi the Rascist Dragon
DAY 26 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - good
Feet - fine
Lungs - good
Stomach - more acid reflux related pangs
Sweat level - soaking
Huzzah!
Tonight's was a fairly uneventful run... 22 degrees with 85% humidity for a humidex rating around 30 degrees. So sweat coursing down my face was a bit of a problem.
I'm now off to watch Episode 6 of HBO's Flight of the Conchords... I am obsessed with this show. Two New Zealand guys in a folk band go to New York and hijincks ensue. The fact that their music and lyrics are so hilarious while they portray being absolutely serious about their music careers... gets me everytime.
One of my favourite songs of theirs is a satiric version of Puff the Magic Dragon. The humour is dry so be warned!
Albi the Rascist Dragon
DAY 26 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - good
Feet - fine
Lungs - good
Stomach - more acid reflux related pangs
Sweat level - soaking
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Puppy! (oh... and another run too)
Tonight was just as hot and muggy as last night... but somehow the jog improved tenfold.
Go figure.
It also included a fairly lengthy break about 1 mile in when I was accosted by the cutest 4 month old golden lab puppy EVER. It's owner didn't appear to be in much of a rush and let me fawn over the dog for at least two minutes.
Tomorrow night should be when I break the 20 mile mark in my 100 mile odyssey. OA has been notified to put confetti on standby.
DAY 25 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - good
Feet - fine
Lungs - better!
Stomach - meh... some non-running related digestive distress
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - yea adequacy... and puppies!
Go figure.
It also included a fairly lengthy break about 1 mile in when I was accosted by the cutest 4 month old golden lab puppy EVER. It's owner didn't appear to be in much of a rush and let me fawn over the dog for at least two minutes.
Tomorrow night should be when I break the 20 mile mark in my 100 mile odyssey. OA has been notified to put confetti on standby.
DAY 25 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 miles [improvement after yesterday's debacle!]
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - good
Feet - fine
Lungs - better!
Stomach - meh... some non-running related digestive distress
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - yea adequacy... and puppies!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Worse yet
That really sucked.
Sucked x 1000.
Suck to the power of infinite.
I had to skip yesterday's planned run because OA invited the neighbours for dinner unexpectedly. These are the same neighbours who, when OA brought up the fact that she and I are now running regularly, mentioned that last year both of them signed up for a completed an ultra-marathon.
That started in Toronto. And ended in Hamilton (that's about 50-60 miles...) When you are running to an area that is a pretty darn far CAR COMMUTE from your starting point, you must be crazy.
So tonight. 23 degrees. Not all that sunny. What the heck - I've run in hotter conditions.
I must have forgot to look at the data that would show that running tonight would involve moving through a greenhouse. Needless to say, it was the uber humidity that did me in.
I changed course halfway through to something shorter.
I ran no further than 0.25 miles at a time.
I actually stopped to hang over a street sign at one point in exhaustion.
It was not pretty.
DAY 24 REPORT
start time: 8:30pm
1.35 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.8 miles [EWWWWWWWWWW]
Total Walked (approx): a lot (okay, okay... 0.55 miles)
Legs - ow ow ow ow
Feet - fine
Lungs - wheezey
Stomach - adequate
Sweat level - at one point, I am sure people on the street thought I was crying from the amount of sweat pouring off my brow
Overall impression - really horrible... I was looking forward to tonight and yet I felt terrible throughout the whole ordeal
Sucked x 1000.
Suck to the power of infinite.
I had to skip yesterday's planned run because OA invited the neighbours for dinner unexpectedly. These are the same neighbours who, when OA brought up the fact that she and I are now running regularly, mentioned that last year both of them signed up for a completed an ultra-marathon.
That started in Toronto. And ended in Hamilton (that's about 50-60 miles...) When you are running to an area that is a pretty darn far CAR COMMUTE from your starting point, you must be crazy.
So tonight. 23 degrees. Not all that sunny. What the heck - I've run in hotter conditions.
I must have forgot to look at the data that would show that running tonight would involve moving through a greenhouse. Needless to say, it was the uber humidity that did me in.
I changed course halfway through to something shorter.
I ran no further than 0.25 miles at a time.
I actually stopped to hang over a street sign at one point in exhaustion.
It was not pretty.
DAY 24 REPORT
start time: 8:30pm
1.35 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.8 miles [EWWWWWWWWWW]
Total Walked (approx): a lot (okay, okay... 0.55 miles)
Legs - ow ow ow ow
Feet - fine
Lungs - wheezey
Stomach - adequate
Sweat level - at one point, I am sure people on the street thought I was crying from the amount of sweat pouring off my brow
Overall impression - really horrible... I was looking forward to tonight and yet I felt terrible throughout the whole ordeal
Sunday, July 22, 2007
You Can't Stop the Beat
After a day of loungeing around in my bed, wearing pajamas, eating sushi and reading the entire final Harry Potter book, I knew I would have to face it eventually.
Another run.
Blerch.
I ran the course I intended. It was hotter than normal, but I know from the weather report today that tonight is probably the coolest it will be for the next 7 days at least.
Double Blerch.
Good news was that neither of my feet went numb tonight... progress!
Also good news was that just as I was going to fade tonight, my omniscient mp3 player decide to shuffle to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray. That definitely got my feet moving.
Give me Harvey Fierstein over John Travolta any day of the week :)
DAY 23 REPORT
start time: 9:00pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1.05 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.8 miles
Legs - shins had some issues here and there
Feet - fine
Lungs - The "wheeze cough cough wheeze cough cough" returned with a vengeance
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - soaking
Overall impression - I'm too tired to recall much about tonight... and I have to go to work in the morning. Ewwwww.
Another run.
Blerch.
I ran the course I intended. It was hotter than normal, but I know from the weather report today that tonight is probably the coolest it will be for the next 7 days at least.
Double Blerch.
Good news was that neither of my feet went numb tonight... progress!
Also good news was that just as I was going to fade tonight, my omniscient mp3 player decide to shuffle to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray. That definitely got my feet moving.
Give me Harvey Fierstein over John Travolta any day of the week :)
DAY 23 REPORT
start time: 9:00pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1.05 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.8 miles
Legs - shins had some issues here and there
Feet - fine
Lungs - The "wheeze cough cough wheeze cough cough" returned with a vengeance
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - soaking
Overall impression - I'm too tired to recall much about tonight... and I have to go to work in the morning. Ewwwww.
Friday, July 20, 2007
A Great Friday Evening
Because I work for a University with a very powerful Quebec-based union (please don't ask why I am in Toronto, it's a long story), I get every Friday from St. Jean Baptiste Holiday (June 24) to Labour Day as a paid holiday.
It is lurvely.
I spent this "Summer Friday" - as they are known - sleeping in until 11 and then puttering about in my pajamas until 5pm. 5pm!!! The best day ever.
I then made homemade falafel for OA, OAelder and OAjunior, and for payback, required they watch the PBS Live from Lincoln Centre performance of Broadway's "The Light in the Piazza". This show simply makes me happy. Plain and simple. Joy.
The joy extended into my evening run. I was only supposed to run 1 mile today, but was able to stretch in an extra 0.15 of a mile - my longest jog ever!
My right foot went numb again, but this time much further into my session... really only with one tiny bit left to go.
Oh well.
It was nice and cool - only 18 degrees celcius, with a very firm breeze that cooled me off the whole way.
DAY 22 REPORT
start time: 9:45pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1.15 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.7 miles
Legs - not much of a problem
Feet - right foot numb for last quarter mile
Lungs - good
Stomach - some momentary stitches
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - a great way to start the weekend!
It is lurvely.
I spent this "Summer Friday" - as they are known - sleeping in until 11 and then puttering about in my pajamas until 5pm. 5pm!!! The best day ever.
I then made homemade falafel for OA, OAelder and OAjunior, and for payback, required they watch the PBS Live from Lincoln Centre performance of Broadway's "The Light in the Piazza". This show simply makes me happy. Plain and simple. Joy.
The joy extended into my evening run. I was only supposed to run 1 mile today, but was able to stretch in an extra 0.15 of a mile - my longest jog ever!
My right foot went numb again, but this time much further into my session... really only with one tiny bit left to go.
Oh well.
It was nice and cool - only 18 degrees celcius, with a very firm breeze that cooled me off the whole way.
DAY 22 REPORT
start time: 9:45pm
1.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1.15 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.7 miles
Legs - not much of a problem
Feet - right foot numb for last quarter mile
Lungs - good
Stomach - some momentary stitches
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - a great way to start the weekend!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
And now for something slightly different...
I tried something new today. Instead of taking my teeny tiny 1.25 mile course, I trimmed my existing jog legs and added two whole new long quarter mile blocks.
Now, if I had done it exactly as I planned, I would have run 1.25 miles and walked 0.6 miles. That didn't happen because of a number of issues including:
1) it was humid as hell
2) my mp3 player broke down halfway through my course
3) I had a sudden desperate urge to use the washroom at several different instances while running which caused me to stop to avoid any embarrassing situations (tmi again?)
4) it was so dark in spots on my new blocks that I was afraid I would accidentally land in a crevice and hurt myself
... and the clincher
5) at the exact mile mark, my right foot went numb
Now the big news is that my shin issues were not rearing their ugly heads this run. The numb right foot - which wasn't caused by shoes which were too tight or anything similar - is worrisome.
Hopefully it is a one off event.
In other news, this is my first full mile run. Huzzah and Hooray! Broken up as it is by numerous walking sessions, it is still a mini-milestone!
DAY 21 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.85 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 mile
Legs - nothing
Feet - right foot dead
Lungs - gaspy
Stomach - stitchy for a bit
Sweat level - medium-high
Overall impression - a run that left me (well almost all of me except the foot) feeling good. Tomorrow will be another attempt!
Now, if I had done it exactly as I planned, I would have run 1.25 miles and walked 0.6 miles. That didn't happen because of a number of issues including:
1) it was humid as hell
2) my mp3 player broke down halfway through my course
3) I had a sudden desperate urge to use the washroom at several different instances while running which caused me to stop to avoid any embarrassing situations (tmi again?)
4) it was so dark in spots on my new blocks that I was afraid I would accidentally land in a crevice and hurt myself
... and the clincher
5) at the exact mile mark, my right foot went numb
Now the big news is that my shin issues were not rearing their ugly heads this run. The numb right foot - which wasn't caused by shoes which were too tight or anything similar - is worrisome.
Hopefully it is a one off event.
In other news, this is my first full mile run. Huzzah and Hooray! Broken up as it is by numerous walking sessions, it is still a mini-milestone!
DAY 21 REPORT
start time: 9:30pm
1.85 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.85 miles
Total Ran (approx): 1 mile
Legs - nothing
Feet - right foot dead
Lungs - gaspy
Stomach - stitchy for a bit
Sweat level - medium-high
Overall impression - a run that left me (well almost all of me except the foot) feeling good. Tomorrow will be another attempt!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Morning Run
My first morning run in a long time.
Mornings are officially not for me. They should not exist. From now on, there is no such thing as a 5:45 wakeup time.
According to Environment Canada it is only 18 degrees outside... there must be a storm on the way because it is awfully humid out.
Oh... have I mentioned recently my love of cricket? ;)
DAY 20 REPORT
start time: 6am
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.5 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - shin issues again! I am going to have to start researching this
Lungs - back to wheeziness
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - another merely adequate run... tomorrow will be an attempt at something bigger
Mornings are officially not for me. They should not exist. From now on, there is no such thing as a 5:45 wakeup time.
According to Environment Canada it is only 18 degrees outside... there must be a storm on the way because it is awfully humid out.
Oh... have I mentioned recently my love of cricket? ;)
DAY 20 REPORT
start time: 6am
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.5 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.85 miles
Legs - shin issues again! I am going to have to start researching this
Lungs - back to wheeziness
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - another merely adequate run... tomorrow will be an attempt at something bigger
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Not Huge in Japan
I finally got around to checking out my blog's stats on Google Analytics. Overall readership (or, as I like to think of it, the number of people who have accidentally fallen on this page) is impressive - over 334 individual visits!
Okay... so given the world's population of approximately 6 billion and discounting any issues relating to people who have visited the site multiple times.... 1 x 10 to the -10 power percent of the world have seen my whinings. I think. It's been a while since I've had to deal with 10s to the power of blah.
Huzzah!
World domination is imminent.
What is especially fascinating about Google Analytics is that it shows where all you people are coming from...
I'm huge in just about every corner of the world EXCEPT Japan. Clearly, there is no wheezing nor whining in Japan.
Okay... so given the world's population of approximately 6 billion and discounting any issues relating to people who have visited the site multiple times.... 1 x 10 to the -10 power percent of the world have seen my whinings. I think. It's been a while since I've had to deal with 10s to the power of blah.
Huzzah!
World domination is imminent.
What is especially fascinating about Google Analytics is that it shows where all you people are coming from...
I'm huge in just about every corner of the world EXCEPT Japan. Clearly, there is no wheezing nor whining in Japan.
| Canada | ||
| 63 | Toronto | |
| 37 | Etobicoke | |
| 3 | Edmonton | |
| 2 | Calgary | |
| 1 | Milton | |
| 1 | Abbotsford | |
| 1 | London | |
| 1 | Ottawa | |
| 1 | Scarborough | |
| 1 | Burnaby | |
| US | ||
| 35 | Wisconsin | |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | |
| 13 | Nebraska | |
| 10 | Indiana | |
| 10 | Illinois | |
| 9 | North Carolina | |
| 6 | Alabama | |
| 6 | Maryland | |
| 5 | Texas | |
| 5 | California | |
| 4 | New York | |
| 4 | Florida | |
| 4 | Tennessee | |
| 4 | Michigan | |
| 4 | Oregon | |
| 4 | Georgia | |
| 3 | Colorado | |
| 3 | Arizona | |
| 2 | Kentucky | |
| 2 | Massachusetts | |
| 2 | Ohio | |
| 2 | Missouri | |
| 2 | Oklahoma | |
| 1 | Mississippi | |
| 1 | Iowa | |
| 1 | West Virginia | |
| 1 | New Jersey | |
| 1 | Washington | |
| 1 | Idaho | |
| South America | ||
| 1 | Chile | |
| 1 | Argentina | |
| UK | ||
| 7 | England | |
| 2 | Scotland | |
| Ireland | ||
| 6 | Kilorglin | |
| Northern Europe | ||
| 1 | Denmark | |
| Southern Europe | ||
| 1 | Portugal | |
| 1 | Italy | |
| West Europe | ||
| 3 | Germany | |
| Eastern Europe | ||
| 1 | Poland | |
| 1 | Ukraine | |
| Africa | ||
| 3 | South Africa | |
| Western Asia | ||
| 1 | Georgia | |
| 1 | UAE | |
| Southern Asia | ||
| 4 | India | |
| Eastern Asia | ||
| 1 | Macao | |
| South East Asia | ||
| 1 | Thailand | |
| 1 | Malaysia | |
| Oceania | ||
| 4 | Australia | |
| 3 | New Zealand |
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Salsa (dancing), Salsa (condiment), Jogging
The annual "Salsa on St. Clair Avenue" street festival took place this weekend. It was a soggy, cold and generally weather miserable two days for the latin community in my neighbourhood, but that didn't stop a few hundred people from getting together.
Oh... it also didn't stop me from eating two wonderful chicken and chorizo sausage tacos with great salsa verde AND two churros.
World peace can be attained by having ever nationality and religion share their ethnic deep-fried dough dish with their enemies. Seriously. I should contact the UN with this proposal.
Peace by doughnuts is the way to go!
It was also yet another running day. Today was much less painful than Friday's. Those days off really help.
The problem today was mental fortitude. I know how long I can jog for... why then do I suddenly find myself losing track of what my feet are doing and come to an abrupt stop in my forward momentum? It's like a switch gets turned off in my head.
A few seconds of walking after this "turn off" and I am able to start up again. It just kills any sense of progress I have.
Oh well.
Tomorrow I get to see a press preview of the Hairspray movie with OA, OAelder and OAjunior and am very excited. In preparation, we sang along to youtube karaoke tracks of the OBCR (that's Original Broadway Cast Recording for all you non-musical theatre geeks!)
DAY 19 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.35 miles (more than normal... made up for the sudden tiny walk breaks here and there)
Total Walked (approx): 0.4 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.95 miles
Legs - twinges in my shins here and there - the first leg of the course was fine
Lungs - no big issues... my wheezing is definitely improving
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - medium
Overall impression - a good, adequate jog. I must break through my mental/physical 1 mile block... let's hope the music from Hairspray helps on Tuesday!
Oh... it also didn't stop me from eating two wonderful chicken and chorizo sausage tacos with great salsa verde AND two churros.
World peace can be attained by having ever nationality and religion share their ethnic deep-fried dough dish with their enemies. Seriously. I should contact the UN with this proposal.
Peace by doughnuts is the way to go!
It was also yet another running day. Today was much less painful than Friday's. Those days off really help.
The problem today was mental fortitude. I know how long I can jog for... why then do I suddenly find myself losing track of what my feet are doing and come to an abrupt stop in my forward momentum? It's like a switch gets turned off in my head.
A few seconds of walking after this "turn off" and I am able to start up again. It just kills any sense of progress I have.
Oh well.
Tomorrow I get to see a press preview of the Hairspray movie with OA, OAelder and OAjunior and am very excited. In preparation, we sang along to youtube karaoke tracks of the OBCR (that's Original Broadway Cast Recording for all you non-musical theatre geeks!)
DAY 19 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.35 miles (more than normal... made up for the sudden tiny walk breaks here and there)
Total Walked (approx): 0.4 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.95 miles
Legs - twinges in my shins here and there - the first leg of the course was fine
Lungs - no big issues... my wheezing is definitely improving
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - medium
Overall impression - a good, adequate jog. I must break through my mental/physical 1 mile block... let's hope the music from Hairspray helps on Tuesday!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Lacklustre but something
My lungs were willing but my legs were not tonight.
Go figure.
I managed a puny 0.75 mile run/0.5 mile walk. Very disappointing. There were so many mini-walk breaks I lost count.
Oh well - it's nothing that a ton of stretching and a much deserved day off won't help (I hope)!
DAY 18 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.5 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.75 miles
Legs - very tense and painful shins and upper legs... probably a result of two nights of running in a row
Lungs - fine for the first time!
Stomach - no problems
Sweat level - medium-low
Overall impression - bleh, but not a complete waste
Go figure.
I managed a puny 0.75 mile run/0.5 mile walk. Very disappointing. There were so many mini-walk breaks I lost count.
Oh well - it's nothing that a ton of stretching and a much deserved day off won't help (I hope)!
DAY 18 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.5 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.75 miles
Legs - very tense and painful shins and upper legs... probably a result of two nights of running in a row
Lungs - fine for the first time!
Stomach - no problems
Sweat level - medium-low
Overall impression - bleh, but not a complete waste
Thursday, July 12, 2007
A Run in the Rain
It was perfectly clear and relatively cool all day. Then, about 15 minutes before my now traditional 9pm jog time, the heavens opened and it rained fairly heavily.
Running in the rain, as I discovered early in June on the only other day my run day and time coincided with a shower, is a lot of fun.
Coupled with the light breeze and really pleasant 20 degree celcius temperature, I was a very happy camper.
The only problem today was that I got about halfway through my course and suddenly had a tremendous urge to... er... use the washroom.
Yikes!
I made it home a little faster than normal after that (and without any accidents to boot!)
TMI? :)
DAY 17 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.35 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.9 miles
Legs - a little twingey at the very beginning but any pain cleared up quickly
Lungs - my throat felt sore again, but nothing compared to Tuesday night
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - medium (the rain washed most of it away)
Overall impression - back to good old adequate runs... yea!
Running in the rain, as I discovered early in June on the only other day my run day and time coincided with a shower, is a lot of fun.
Coupled with the light breeze and really pleasant 20 degree celcius temperature, I was a very happy camper.
The only problem today was that I got about halfway through my course and suddenly had a tremendous urge to... er... use the washroom.
Yikes!
I made it home a little faster than normal after that (and without any accidents to boot!)
TMI? :)
DAY 17 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.35 miles
Total Ran (approx): 0.9 miles
Legs - a little twingey at the very beginning but any pain cleared up quickly
Lungs - my throat felt sore again, but nothing compared to Tuesday night
Stomach - fine
Sweat level - medium (the rain washed most of it away)
Overall impression - back to good old adequate runs... yea!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Goal Setting Time
This week marks my 6 week jogging anniversary.
When I started back on May 29, I had no idea I could keep up with something this long and, quite frankly, exactly what everyone says would happen happened - I started to look forward to my running days. Shock.
I'm still wheezy. My distance is still puny. But there's progress. And I have come to the realization that small amounts of progress are enough.
So I have reviewed my goals in the last few days. My first one was simply to be able to run one lap of a quarter mile track without stopping. Check.
The next one was to be able to run the equivalent of two laps. Check.
Still, the fact that both of those accomplishments have taken me so long makes me think I need to have a larger goal to be looking forward to/pushing me faster along my small goal checkpoints.
So as of today I have made a new goal. My 100 mile plan.
I want to have run 100 miles by my 24th birthday on November 3. Starting from my May 29th get off my ass date, that makes 22 weeks and 4 days, or the equivalent of approximately 4.35 miles per week.
So far, I have run 10.61 miles - or approximately 10.5% of my goal in approximately 25% of my available time.
Clearly, I need to start aiming for higher mileage totals on a weekly basis. Last week - one of my best so far - I ran only 2.5 miles.
Despite this, I think the goal is realistic - especially as I start adding more and more distance each week.
Plus, now I have a very cute little ticker to update! What more could a girl ask for?
When I started back on May 29, I had no idea I could keep up with something this long and, quite frankly, exactly what everyone says would happen happened - I started to look forward to my running days. Shock.
I'm still wheezy. My distance is still puny. But there's progress. And I have come to the realization that small amounts of progress are enough.
So I have reviewed my goals in the last few days. My first one was simply to be able to run one lap of a quarter mile track without stopping. Check.
The next one was to be able to run the equivalent of two laps. Check.
Still, the fact that both of those accomplishments have taken me so long makes me think I need to have a larger goal to be looking forward to/pushing me faster along my small goal checkpoints.
So as of today I have made a new goal. My 100 mile plan.
I want to have run 100 miles by my 24th birthday on November 3. Starting from my May 29th get off my ass date, that makes 22 weeks and 4 days, or the equivalent of approximately 4.35 miles per week.
So far, I have run 10.61 miles - or approximately 10.5% of my goal in approximately 25% of my available time.
Clearly, I need to start aiming for higher mileage totals on a weekly basis. Last week - one of my best so far - I ran only 2.5 miles.
Despite this, I think the goal is realistic - especially as I start adding more and more distance each week.
Plus, now I have a very cute little ticker to update! What more could a girl ask for?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
That... was a disaster
After not running for three days straight (two legitimate rest days + one heat related day off), I knew I had to get back out on the road tonight.
When I left the house at 9 pm, it was still over thirty degrees.
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
This was as close to a full-on disaster, step-backward jog as I have in the last three weeks.
Everything hurt. My legs. My stomach. Even my throat felt sore.
It didn't help that today was day one of my monthly visit from Aunt Flow either.
DAY 16 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.5 mile (YIKES!)
Total Ran (approx): 0.75 mile (DOUBLE YIKES!)
Legs - very, very pained shins
Lungs - wheezy, and my throat felt super sore - probably smog related
Stomach - really stitchy... I felt like an idiot holding my arms above the head to get rid of the cramp during one of my many walk breaks
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - the most craptastic run I have had so far
When I left the house at 9 pm, it was still over thirty degrees.
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
This was as close to a full-on disaster, step-backward jog as I have in the last three weeks.
Everything hurt. My legs. My stomach. Even my throat felt sore.
It didn't help that today was day one of my monthly visit from Aunt Flow either.
DAY 16 REPORT
start time: 9:00 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 0.5 mile (YIKES!)
Total Ran (approx): 0.75 mile (DOUBLE YIKES!)
Legs - very, very pained shins
Lungs - wheezy, and my throat felt super sore - probably smog related
Stomach - really stitchy... I felt like an idiot holding my arms above the head to get rid of the cramp during one of my many walk breaks
Sweat level - high
Overall impression - the most craptastic run I have had so far
Crumpled in the Heat
At 9am yesterday morning I told myself I would be running twelve hours later.
At noon yesterday I went outside, hit a wall of 33+ degree heat, came back inside my office building and told myself I would be running later that night when it cooled down.
At five pm yesterday I sufferred through an entire streetcar ride home next to a man who smelled like the inside of my running shoes. I told myself that the dark clouds approaching would cool things down and I would be running as of 9pm.
At seven pm yesterday, I sat outside in the sun while sweating profusely and turned down OA's invitation of a glass of wine because I would be running two hours later.
At eight pm, I drank a glass of wine and gave up as the temperature was still over 30 degrees and it was definitely not going to rain.
It is now 10:45 am. I will be running in 10 hours and 15 minutes :)
At noon yesterday I went outside, hit a wall of 33+ degree heat, came back inside my office building and told myself I would be running later that night when it cooled down.
At five pm yesterday I sufferred through an entire streetcar ride home next to a man who smelled like the inside of my running shoes. I told myself that the dark clouds approaching would cool things down and I would be running as of 9pm.
At seven pm yesterday, I sat outside in the sun while sweating profusely and turned down OA's invitation of a glass of wine because I would be running two hours later.
At eight pm, I drank a glass of wine and gave up as the temperature was still over 30 degrees and it was definitely not going to rain.
It is now 10:45 am. I will be running in 10 hours and 15 minutes :)
Monday, July 9, 2007
Adventure in Southern Hickville Ontario + Holy Crap it's Hot!
I went to a suburb of St. Catharines, Ontario on Saturday to celebrate my friend, A's, birthday. Last year, she moved from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to the town whose motto is officially "Where Ships Climb Mountains". Unofficially, the motto should be "Thorold - a town so boring even you can't find ways to spend money here"
We spent the afternoon swimming and eating and playing endless rounds of Catchphrase until about 10 when, it being July 7, 2007 (07-07-07), we decided to high-tail it over to the Niagara casino.
About 20 minutes into our journey my friend S stopped her car at a red light while waiting to turn onto the QEW. Twenty seconds after that we heard a giant squeal and were plowed into by some idiot who was a) clearly speeding and b) clearly idiotic since he admitted to having his head down to look for something on the floor of the car.
Two hours after the crash - in which no one was hurt - the St. Catharines police finally showed up.
We stayed the night at A's condo but were seriously cranky the whole remaining time of our trip.
In other news, it is now officially monstrously hot and humid. Stuffy, as my mother calls it. That lovely mix of horrible heat combined with air like that which you would find in a bathroom right after taking a hot shower.
OA went running this morning by herself. I am going to attempt to go this evening when the hourly forecast is showing a temp of at least 27 degrees celcius and humidity levels in the low 50% range.
Ew.
We spent the afternoon swimming and eating and playing endless rounds of Catchphrase until about 10 when, it being July 7, 2007 (07-07-07), we decided to high-tail it over to the Niagara casino.
About 20 minutes into our journey my friend S stopped her car at a red light while waiting to turn onto the QEW. Twenty seconds after that we heard a giant squeal and were plowed into by some idiot who was a) clearly speeding and b) clearly idiotic since he admitted to having his head down to look for something on the floor of the car.
Two hours after the crash - in which no one was hurt - the St. Catharines police finally showed up.
We stayed the night at A's condo but were seriously cranky the whole remaining time of our trip.
In other news, it is now officially monstrously hot and humid. Stuffy, as my mother calls it. That lovely mix of horrible heat combined with air like that which you would find in a bathroom right after taking a hot shower.
OA went running this morning by herself. I am going to attempt to go this evening when the hourly forecast is showing a temp of at least 27 degrees celcius and humidity levels in the low 50% range.
Ew.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Warning... Battery Low
Was all ready to leave for my first back-to-back run (I went yesterday evening as well), turned on my MP3 player and saw "Warning - Battery Low".
I must have left the darn thing on all last night and today and completely drained it's power. Ooops...
30 minutes later and a quick emergency charge, I was back out on the road.
I actually felt pretty good again despite the relative heat - it had been very warm all day (low 30s) and the sun had been beating down pretty well. Luckily, once the sun set, it was fairly cool with a bit of a breeze steadily pushing me along.
The only difficulty I had tonight was with my shins which were definitely voicing their concern by the end of the jog.
Oh well - I am taking tomorrow off for sure and will probably wait until either Sunday (if I feel particularly enthusiastic) or Monday (much more likely!) for my next jog.
DAY 15 REPORT
start time: 9:30 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 3/10 (0.30) mile
Total Ran (approx): 19/20 (0.95) mile
Legs - definite soreness in the fronts of my shins... pavement still sucks
Lungs - wheezy, but far less gasping than yesterday
Stomach - again some small stitchiness as I ran the last corner
Sweat level - less than yesterday's, still enough to leave me feeling soaked
Overall impression - less dog walkers than at 9... probably because it's a Friday night. My noticeable improvement in my enjoyment of these runs is making me think good things are on the horizon in terms of beefing my mileage/stretching out those run-walk intervals to greater distances.
I must have left the darn thing on all last night and today and completely drained it's power. Ooops...
30 minutes later and a quick emergency charge, I was back out on the road.
I actually felt pretty good again despite the relative heat - it had been very warm all day (low 30s) and the sun had been beating down pretty well. Luckily, once the sun set, it was fairly cool with a bit of a breeze steadily pushing me along.
The only difficulty I had tonight was with my shins which were definitely voicing their concern by the end of the jog.
Oh well - I am taking tomorrow off for sure and will probably wait until either Sunday (if I feel particularly enthusiastic) or Monday (much more likely!) for my next jog.
DAY 15 REPORT
start time: 9:30 pm
1.25 miles
Total Walked (approx): 3/10 (0.30) mile
Total Ran (approx): 19/20 (0.95) mile
Legs - definite soreness in the fronts of my shins... pavement still sucks
Lungs - wheezy, but far less gasping than yesterday
Stomach - again some small stitchiness as I ran the last corner
Sweat level - less than yesterday's, still enough to leave me feeling soaked
Overall impression - less dog walkers than at 9... probably because it's a Friday night. My noticeable improvement in my enjoyment of these runs is making me think good things are on the horizon in terms of beefing my mileage/stretching out those run-walk intervals to greater distances.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
A teeny tiny mini microscopic milestone
Today, 1 month and 7 days after starting running from an absolute comatose state I finally managed to break my semi-physical semi-mental hurdle of the 1 mile mark.
So here's how this milestone broke down:
RUN - 0.25 mile
Walk - 0.15 mile
RUN - 0.35 mile (the most I have ever run without stopping... mock me if you must - I'm proud at least!)
Walk - 0.15 mile
RUN - 0.2 mile (I hoped to do at least another 0.25 but completely ran out of steam at the end!)
Walk - 0.05 mile
RUN - 0.05 mile (the last corner of my street and up my driveway... the neighbour had seen me leave walking and I wanted to make it clear to him that I was not just a walker... I'm a walker/runner!)
DAY 14 REPORT
start time: 9 pm
1.2 miles total (+walking to starting point)
HUZZAH HOORAY WHOOPEE
Total Walked (approx): 1/3 (0.33) mile
Total Ran (approx): 6/7 (0.86) mile
Legs - fine (yea progress!)
Lungs - wheezier than Sunday which sucked... I was so looking forward to having finally progressed sounding like a dying seal
Stomach - minute stitchiness at the very end
Sweat level - can be measured only in buckets... it was hot
Overall impression - mock me if you will for my very short distances... but progress feels great no matter how small the number increased is!
*happy dance*
I think I am beginning to like jogging at night. Seeing all the neighbours walking their dogs makes me happy, and several of them even waved and said hello to me. In Toronto! Imagine! I would have been happy if no one tasered me!So here's how this milestone broke down:
RUN - 0.25 mile
Walk - 0.15 mile
RUN - 0.35 mile (the most I have ever run without stopping... mock me if you must - I'm proud at least!)
Walk - 0.15 mile
RUN - 0.2 mile (I hoped to do at least another 0.25 but completely ran out of steam at the end!)
Walk - 0.05 mile
RUN - 0.05 mile (the last corner of my street and up my driveway... the neighbour had seen me leave walking and I wanted to make it clear to him that I was not just a walker... I'm a walker/runner!)
DAY 14 REPORT
start time: 9 pm
1.2 miles total (+walking to starting point)
HUZZAH HOORAY WHOOPEE
Total Walked (approx): 1/3 (0.33) mile
Total Ran (approx): 6/7 (0.86) mile
Legs - fine (yea progress!)
Lungs - wheezier than Sunday which sucked... I was so looking forward to having finally progressed sounding like a dying seal
Stomach - minute stitchiness at the very end
Sweat level - can be measured only in buckets... it was hot
Overall impression - mock me if you will for my very short distances... but progress feels great no matter how small the number increased is!
Nothing to see here...
Yep.... so much for yesterday's run. Tonight is the night. I promise. I swear!eep.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Tonight's New Route with an Extra Quarter Mile
Please don't mock me for the punyness of the distance I jog/walk (i.e. 1 mile for the last month). It has been very difficult to do even my now standard 0.25 mile run-0.10 walk-0.25 run-0.15 walk-0.25 run but I feel comfortable enough to now be adding to my mileage...
So behold the new route in all its glory.
Essentially, it will be the following:
RUN, Benson/Alberta -> Benson/Arlington 0.25 miles
WALK, Benson/Arlington -> Benson/Christie 0.15 miles
RUN, Benson/Christie -> Tyrell/Christie via Wychwood Avenue 0.35 miles
WALK, Tyrell/Christie -> Tyrell/Turner 0.15 miles
RUN, Tyrell/Turner -> My homebase on Alberta Avenue 0.35 miles
Total to be Run: 0.95 mile
Total to be Walked: 0.30 miles
Total Distance: 1.25 miles
It is going to be nice and cool this evening with a light drizzle helping me out in this first attempt.
After Sunday night's great experience, I may be turning into an evening jogger!
So behold the new route in all its glory.
Essentially, it will be the following:
RUN, Benson/Alberta -> Benson/Arlington 0.25 miles
WALK, Benson/Arlington -> Benson/Christie 0.15 miles
RUN, Benson/Christie -> Tyrell/Christie via Wychwood Avenue 0.35 miles
WALK, Tyrell/Christie -> Tyrell/Turner 0.15 miles
RUN, Tyrell/Turner -> My homebase on Alberta Avenue 0.35 miles
Total to be Run: 0.95 mile
Total to be Walked: 0.30 miles
Total Distance: 1.25 miles
It is going to be nice and cool this evening with a light drizzle helping me out in this first attempt.
After Sunday night's great experience, I may be turning into an evening jogger!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Wow... that felt great!
I was very, very, very bad all of last week and skimped out on OA for our planned Thursday morning run. There was simply no way I was getting out of bed for anything... insert guilt here.
The next time I ran was Sunday night - the first time I have ever jogged outside of the morning hours. It was surprisingly cool temperature wise and my weekend lethargy allowed me to get excited to be moving. Also, it was the first time I was trying out my new MP3 armband.
The combination of all of these factors led to the absolute best running session I have had since starting five weeks ago. I was exhausted and sweaty and gross by the end... but still felt an incredible high.
Gardening for 5 hours straight yesterday completely knocked me out though. I am so very, very weak. Gardening is for little old ladies! Why am I unable to move today???
DAY 13 REPORT
start time: 8:45pm
1 mile total (+walking to starting point)
Total Walked (approx): 1/4 mile
Total Ran (approx): 3/4 mile
Legs - fine (yea progress!)
Lungs - wheezy, but the advantage of listening to music while jogging is that I couldn't hear my own wheezing and get freaked out by the horrible sounds I produce while exerting myself in any way
Stomach - fine except for a little nausea after the jog... probably this is a result of having drunk a large glass of water an hour before starting out and the liquid not having been fully processed in my stomach
Sweat level - medium-high... more from exertion than from any heat. Which is good.
Overall impression - the best run so far... I want more and more and more like this one!
The next time I ran was Sunday night - the first time I have ever jogged outside of the morning hours. It was surprisingly cool temperature wise and my weekend lethargy allowed me to get excited to be moving. Also, it was the first time I was trying out my new MP3 armband.
The combination of all of these factors led to the absolute best running session I have had since starting five weeks ago. I was exhausted and sweaty and gross by the end... but still felt an incredible high.
Gardening for 5 hours straight yesterday completely knocked me out though. I am so very, very weak. Gardening is for little old ladies! Why am I unable to move today???
DAY 13 REPORT
start time: 8:45pm
1 mile total (+walking to starting point)
Total Walked (approx): 1/4 mile
Total Ran (approx): 3/4 mile
Legs - fine (yea progress!)
Lungs - wheezy, but the advantage of listening to music while jogging is that I couldn't hear my own wheezing and get freaked out by the horrible sounds I produce while exerting myself in any way
Stomach - fine except for a little nausea after the jog... probably this is a result of having drunk a large glass of water an hour before starting out and the liquid not having been fully processed in my stomach
Sweat level - medium-high... more from exertion than from any heat. Which is good.
Overall impression - the best run so far... I want more and more and more like this one!
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