Posted: June 13, 2009 | Author: bqx40 | Filed under: workout commentary | Tags: streak, thoughts | Comments Off on Using a crutch? Beating limitations #twit2fit
14 mile long run (14.58) in 2:20:20 (9:38 / mile)
A crutch fails:
I had yet another crutch fail on me for part of my run: My Garmin Forerunner 305 lost signal in a low-lying area in the dense fog this morning. It was less than 2 miles into my planned 14 mile long run, and I actually considered ditching the run because of my GPS.
Of course, I didn’t. Instead, I let the watch continue to run, assuming that I was just going to have to assume 10 minutes per mile, and run the run that way. After about 1/2 mile of not having signal, I was back on one of my “normal” routes, and turned the GPS on and off, which enabled it to acquire GPS signal almost instantaneously. For the next few miles, my watch was showing 5-6 minutes more than a 10 minute/mile pace for that distance would require, so I had to “let go” of where I really was with my run and just run.
I’ve already been trying to avoid using the watch for feedback during my runs the last week or so, and this experience just reinforces my interest in letting go, at least for planned routes–I need a basic wristwatch/stopwatch instead.
Other crutches of mine:
- MP3 player (let go, at least for outdoors, due to having dead batteries in the middle of a run, and my wanting to run on more roads)
- shoes – probably a permanent crutch, but I may barefoot run on a treadmill for extremely short distances to stengthen the muscles causing my feet to be so picky
No excuses:
My summer of running last year was challenging, but some of my worst moments involved blowing up on midday runs in July and August. Wilting under excessive heat is one thing, but these meltdowns were on reasonably warm days. My problem? I had been doing either 6AM runs or running inside on the treadmill just because it was “too hot.” I’ve decided to tackle this problem head on by making an outdoor run for lunch time runs the primary option. I not necessarily going to run outside if the temperature is near 100 or storms are approaching, but Louisville is temperate enough to run at midday for at least half of the summer.
Other excuses:
- Kids (I take my son in the jogging stroller occasionally now, or run on the treadmill in the basement)
- Time (I dropped out most of what little gaming I did.
RunningAHEAD – Strings_n_88keys’s log: View Workout.
Posted: February 9, 2009 | Author: bqx40 | Filed under: injury | Tags: sacroiliac, SI joint, thoughts | Comments Off on Reflecting on injury
Here I am, for the second time in about 6 months. My sacroiliac joint is messed up, and I’m fighting the urge to run.
Okay. I’m not fighting the urge at all. I’m trying to pretend that everything is okay, and going out anyway. That’s the way it was on the treadmill this morning. I set out to run 7 miles at a 9’13” pace. When I started tightening up, I started speeding up (to 9’05”, then 8’57”, etc…). I had to stop at 3.43 miles because of the pain… Pain in my hip, pain in my piriformis muscle, pain in my right shin, pain in my back (L3?). Sadly, 9’13” is as hard as 7’55” was 10 months ago.
I’m sitting here wondering if I have a stress fracture in my hip (rather than an SI joint injury). I’m also sitting here wondering if I have a stress fracture in either of my shins. I’m probably suffering mainly from 5+ mile ramp ups, which I thought I was in shape for, but I’ve probably been lying to myself.
What does this mean for me? I’m going to have to eat like a normal human being and not like some ultramarathoner. I’m going to have to get on the treadmill and walk at an incline or get on the elliptical. Maybe I need to walk with the family some. I’m thinking that I need to write off the spring racing season and take 6 weeks off from running.
Running is such an intense, simple exercise. All my other options are either more complex or less intense. I did this for less time than needed in September and about went crazy from the time off from running.
Using a crutch? Beating limitations #twit2fit
Posted: June 13, 2009 | Author: bqx40 | Filed under: workout commentary | Tags: streak, thoughts | Comments Off on Using a crutch? Beating limitations #twit2fit14 mile long run (14.58) in 2:20:20 (9:38 / mile)
A crutch fails:
I had yet another crutch fail on me for part of my run: My Garmin Forerunner 305 lost signal in a low-lying area in the dense fog this morning. It was less than 2 miles into my planned 14 mile long run, and I actually considered ditching the run because of my GPS.
Of course, I didn’t. Instead, I let the watch continue to run, assuming that I was just going to have to assume 10 minutes per mile, and run the run that way. After about 1/2 mile of not having signal, I was back on one of my “normal” routes, and turned the GPS on and off, which enabled it to acquire GPS signal almost instantaneously. For the next few miles, my watch was showing 5-6 minutes more than a 10 minute/mile pace for that distance would require, so I had to “let go” of where I really was with my run and just run.
I’ve already been trying to avoid using the watch for feedback during my runs the last week or so, and this experience just reinforces my interest in letting go, at least for planned routes–I need a basic wristwatch/stopwatch instead.
Other crutches of mine:
No excuses:
My summer of running last year was challenging, but some of my worst moments involved blowing up on midday runs in July and August. Wilting under excessive heat is one thing, but these meltdowns were on reasonably warm days. My problem? I had been doing either 6AM runs or running inside on the treadmill just because it was “too hot.” I’ve decided to tackle this problem head on by making an outdoor run for lunch time runs the primary option. I not necessarily going to run outside if the temperature is near 100 or storms are approaching, but Louisville is temperate enough to run at midday for at least half of the summer.
Other excuses:
RunningAHEAD – Strings_n_88keys’s log: View Workout.