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At what point did I think 2 miles was going to be a long distance to run? Two years ago, I would have been ‘Pshaw! 2 miles! That’s nothing!’. Now I’m thinking “Woo Hoo! I ran 2 miles!
That’s what I did last night. We went to the Cooper Aerobics Center for a presentation, and so we did our run at 6:15 pm instead of 7 pm. There’s a track that winds around the facility. For some reason, I was the only one from my group that showed up on time (one girl came later for the presentation), so I had my coach all to myself. I hope he wasn’t too frustrated with me. Except for last Thursday’s run which was a really good run for me, I’ve been having a horrible time with my calves cramping up and my ankles hurting. It’s probably the extra weight I have on my ass, which, despite working out and eating better, doesn’t seem to be budging. Hellooo…fat butt go away! I don’t like you and don’t want you anymore. Buh bye.
My frustration last night almost led to tears, but I didn’t think my coach would appreciate it. It also makes today’s Daily Kick in the Butt more fortuitous.
“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.”
Fred Lebow, Romanian, racing pioneer in American and abroad
So, as good as last Thursday’s run was, last night wasn’t so great. My calves were taut, and not in a good way. I tried to push through it, but my legs felt like lead. And to top it off, when I got home, I got all dizzy and sick feeling. I haven’t felt the room spin in a good long while, and I can do without that feeling for a good long while more.
Marathoning can be dangerous. Proper nutrition is essential, and should be as much a part of the training as running.
“No doubt a brain and some shoes are essential for marathon success, although if it comes down to a choice, pick the shoes. More people finish marathons with no brains than with no shoes.”
Don Kardong, 1976 Olympic marathoner
Tonight we added 5-30 second pick-ups to our 20 minute run. It was the last scheduled 20 minute run of the class. We actually ended up doing 25 minutes. Instead of running on the street, we ran on the track. My Garmin croaked, so I don’t have an accurate count of the number of miles we did, but based on our previous pace and the increased pace tonight, I think we did about 1.8 miles.
On Monday night, my legs were hurting from my ankles about up to mid-calf. Tonight during the first part of the run, they got sore again. Then, when we started the pick-ups on the track and I ran faster, they didn’t hurt as much! That’s a strange solution…run faster. Whatever works…
“If you race merely for the tributes from others, you will be at the mercy of their expectations.”
Scott Tinley, triathlete and author
“Sweat cleanses from the inside. It comes from places a shower will never reach.”
Dr. George Sheehan, writer and philosopher
I went to my runnng class again tonight. A 20 minute run, probably about the same distance as last Thursday. But I hurt. From my ankles to the middle of my shins was cramping and stiff. So I stretched during and afterwards. I know it’s all due to building back up to a level of activity. So I just have to keep at it, building up strength.
My foot still hurts. I can’t decide if it’s strain or something else. Some days it feels better than others. In fact, this morning I thought “Wow, it’s really feeling better.” We’ll see how it feels tomorrow after tonight’s run.
Several people I know ran the Boston Marathon today. Despite weather conditions, they all did very well. Great job!
Quote Today:
“I just run as hard as I can for 20 miles, and then race.”
Steve Jones, (when asked about his race plan, after he had won the “Chicago Marathon” in the then world’s best time)
That’s my group. Several nice ladies are in my group. Last night we did a 20 minute run, 4:1 (run 4, walk 1). We’ll build up our running time each week. Our average pace was 15:42. My foot hurt like hell when I got home. I iced it down and it feels somewhat better this morning.
“Perseverance: is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.”
Walter Elliott, Catholic priest
“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years that they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance is merely the demonstration of their championship character.”
T. Alan Armstrong
I managed to get a lot accomplished. Ran/walked for 34:29. More walk than run, but it was exercise. Ate dinner with Nick. Attended 1 hour of knitting group.
Something weird though. Yesterday I got on the scale and was horrified (it ruined my whole day). Today I got on the scale and was like “oh”. I was 6 pounds lighter this morning. I wonder if there’s something wrong with the scale. Monday is my official ‘weigh day’ though. But I forgot to jump on.
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
– Steve Prefontaine
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. ~Confucius
Tonight was night 1 of my running 101 class. One step in front of the other. That’s how. We had the standard intro – no dogs, bring water, be on time, don’t skip a workout just because you’ll be a little late. Then we went and ran for 20 minutes to put us in our pacing groups. I’ll be in the slow-mo group please. Thank you very much. I have no problem with that. It is what it is. Have to start (over) somewhere!
I saw this article today on MSN. Oh if only it were that easy. And the thing that gets me, is this whole article is an oxymoron. Those who are overweight, however, tend to be preoccupied by it. Yes! And if I follow the 8 tips in this article, I’m still preoccupied by it! But hey, if I’m preoccupied by it anyway, why not be preoccupied over these 8 tips. Sheesh.
I am going to the Run On store on my way home and registering for the Running 101 class.
My foot is still sore. Just the outside part of it. I’ve done some reading, and I think it may have been a slight ankle sprain, but also possibly a slight tendon strain. So, I will continue to wrap, ice, and heat. If it gets worse I will rest a bit more. But I am not going to not train.
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