All summer, I happily worked on building muscle mass and weight training at a fantastic class at my gym. Literally called “Muscle,” it was a 45-minute, instructor-led strength training workout using free weights. I felt myself getting noticeably stronger, and started to realize what an important part strength training plays in overall fitness.
But since September, when my life got turned upside down, I have had very little time for strength training. I could no longer attend muscle class at the gym (something I’ve mentioned in earlier blog posts), and then I went and quit that gym and joined the Y. I’ve been running five days a week with the 10K clinic. Combine that with 60-hour work weeks, the crazy volunteer work as president of the preschool, and there’s not a lot of time left.
The other problem is that I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to weights. I loved the muscle class for that very reason. I could let the instructor think of the plan, and then just go to the class and be told what to do. No thinking on my part – a nice change! But since my schedule is such that I’ve been unable to go to a class, strength training has fallen by the wayside.
When I joined the Y, I was given the opportunity to get one free personal training session. And, time being what it is, I only got around to doing that today. Mike did his session the second we joined. (Okay, two days later, but you catch the drift). They gave him a really basic plan, including some cardio on the treadmill, and a weight-training circuit on the machines.
I really wasn’t interested in that. For one thing, I certainly don’t need to improve my cardio training. Since November 1st, I’ve already run 115 kilometers. Getting into “shape” really isn’t my problem.
I also don’t love doing weight machines. I know they tend to isolate the muscles, and I prefer using free weights and combining exercises so the body works in sync. That’s what muscle class used to do, and that’s what I want to do.
But once I realized I couldn’t make it to any strength training classes at the Y, I knew I had to do something. After all, wouldn’t doing a machine circuit be better than no strength training at all? I rationalized that it would, and ended up signing up for a session with a personal trainer.
My session was originally supposed to be last Monday, but since Andrew spent Sunday night throwing up, he wasn’t going to school – and I certainly couldn’t take him to the Y in that shape. I had to postpone the training session until today.
Mike is on holiday today, so once we dropped Andrew off at school, we took Chris and headed for the gym. I waited for the trainer while Mike got started on his own workout. The trainer sat down with me at first to discuss what I hoped to get out of meeting with her.
It was great. She is also a runner, and really knew exactly where we should be focusing. She agreed with me that a simple machine circuit wouldn’t be right for someone of my fitness level, particularly since my cardio strength is so strong. She gave me a great routine of planks, push-ups, lunges, squats, free weights, barbells and just a few machines. If I can get a full-body workout in once or twice a week, I should see improvement.
It will also help prevent injuries. By strengthening the muscles in my legs, it will help prevent knee injuries. And core strength training will not only make me run faster, it might help me lose the little pouch I carry in front after having the boys. (When your kids were born at 9lbs. 4 oz. and 8 lbs. 13 oz., your stomach gets a little stretched out!)
What I’m hoping is that by this summer, I’ll see a difference in both muscle tone and strength. It should improve my running times, making me faster and stronger. That may be a tall order, but it’s certainly worth a shot.
In the meantime, I’ll keep up with my 10K training schedule. Only a few more weeks to go until the race. Yesterday, I ran 11K with my group, and made it through the run. We’ll get up to 13K before this clinic is over.
Happy trails…
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
The hills have legs
I have a new enemy, and its name is “the hill at La Salle” park. Okay, I don’t know if that’s its official name or anything. But I’ve chosen to nickname it “Hell.”
Yes, I’ve entered a new stage of training commonly known as hill training, or hill repeats. It’s been part of the schedule for our 10K running clinic for two weeks now. I, unfortunately, had to miss the first week, so I e-mailed the instructor for directions to do it on my own.
He gave me some guidance, telling me to go down to La Salle Park (a park in Aldershot – a lovely area of Burlington right on the Hamilton border), and run for about 18 minutes at an easy pace to warm up. Then, pick one of the big hills down there (the area going down to the lake is quite hilly), and run up it three times, at about 85 per cent of my maximum heart rate. Then, cool down by running another 18 minutes.
Off I went to the park, which is actually a good 20-25 minute drive from my house. I dutifully followed the instructions, choosing what I THOUGHT was a good hill. It was probably about 100 meters or so, and very steep. I ran my 18 minutes, did my three hill repeats, and did the cool down. I happily reported back to the instructor that I had finished!
So this week, it was time for hills again – only this time, we were to do four repeats. I was very, very close to skipping the class. I hadn’t been feeling the greatest, I’d just had my flu shot that day and I found myself making excuses.
I decided to go anyway – if for no other reason than I really didn’t feel like going all the way down to the park by myself for more hill training. I met the rest of the class in the parking lot, and the instructor gave us our little weekly talk. (This time, it was on goal setting.)
Then he said, “Okay, for those of you who missed last week, here’s where we’re running.” He proceeded to map out the route.
Uh oh. It turns out, I did that hill training completely wrong. The “hill” I chose? NOTHING compared to Mt. Everest on the other side of the park. It was at least 400 meters long – almost ½ a kilometer!
I was terrified. I did the warm up run with the people in the clinic I enjoy running with (we call ourselves the “slow” group!) Then, it was unavoidable. It was time for the hill.
I knew we were supposed to push ourselves, and, quite frankly, on our “easy” group runs, I don’t push myself that hard. Our instructor tells us that for the easy distance runs, we should be able to hold a conversation while running. I take that advice to heart. Last Sunday, we did our first 10K group run, and it was fantastic. I chatted with another girl in my group the whole way, and we took the 10K nice and easy.
But hill training is different. It’s meant to strengthen your legs, and boost your cardio performance. And since I haven’t been spinning much lately, I haven’t been pushing my heart rate up there like I should.
So I started my hill at a speed to get my heart rate up. (It turns out, I’m a bit faster than I think, as I quickly pulled away from the slow group.) It killed. My legs were burning, my breathing was heavy and it took every ounce of effort to get up that hill. The instructor was halfway up the hill, and he ran up to the top with me, shouting advice.
“Head up! Shorten your stride!” he bellowed. (Easy for him to say… he’s something like 5’5”. At 5’11”, with long legs, your stride’s always going to be pretty long.) “That’s it… you can do it… go right to the stop sign!”
Really? Right to the stop sign? But that’s so far away! Finally, I made it to the sign. I felt like puking. I’ve never been much for sprinting or speed work (I know I’m more of an endurance runner than a speed runner), and I felt awful.
“Good job!” the instructor chortled. “Now get back down that hill – three more to go!”
I made it through all four repeats. The good news is, they didn’t get any harder after that first one. The bad news? They didn’t get easier either. But I finished it, and set out on my cool down run. I actually took that run a lot faster than my warm up run – mostly because I really, really wanted to finish my run!
Finish it I did – and I will go back for another round next week. We’re moving up to five repeats next week, so let’s hope I can make it through that.
I’m really enjoying this clinic. I’m learning a lot about running, and getting some great exercise. For one thing, I’ve learned how one can live off Halloween candy for two weeks and still LOSE a pound. Just run 30-35 kilometers a week! (And I’m not kidding… so far, I’ve run 27K this week, and I still have a 6K run left today.)
What is ahead for training? The distances are steadily increasing. We do another 10K practice run tomorrow, and one of our weekly runs moves up to 8K. In the next few weeks, will increase our hill repeats, introduce speed repeats (somehow, I don’t like the sound of that…) and increase our longest distance to 13K. (Yes, I know this is a 10K clinic, but apparently that’s how they do this.)
We also haven’t chosen a goal race yet. There is no 10K race in Burlington in December, so we have to make some decisions. Our instructor thinks they might just do one for our class at the Running Room, but time us and make it official and everything. I hope they decide soon – I’d like to plan the month of December!
Happy trails…
Yes, I’ve entered a new stage of training commonly known as hill training, or hill repeats. It’s been part of the schedule for our 10K running clinic for two weeks now. I, unfortunately, had to miss the first week, so I e-mailed the instructor for directions to do it on my own.
He gave me some guidance, telling me to go down to La Salle Park (a park in Aldershot – a lovely area of Burlington right on the Hamilton border), and run for about 18 minutes at an easy pace to warm up. Then, pick one of the big hills down there (the area going down to the lake is quite hilly), and run up it three times, at about 85 per cent of my maximum heart rate. Then, cool down by running another 18 minutes.
Off I went to the park, which is actually a good 20-25 minute drive from my house. I dutifully followed the instructions, choosing what I THOUGHT was a good hill. It was probably about 100 meters or so, and very steep. I ran my 18 minutes, did my three hill repeats, and did the cool down. I happily reported back to the instructor that I had finished!
So this week, it was time for hills again – only this time, we were to do four repeats. I was very, very close to skipping the class. I hadn’t been feeling the greatest, I’d just had my flu shot that day and I found myself making excuses.
I decided to go anyway – if for no other reason than I really didn’t feel like going all the way down to the park by myself for more hill training. I met the rest of the class in the parking lot, and the instructor gave us our little weekly talk. (This time, it was on goal setting.)
Then he said, “Okay, for those of you who missed last week, here’s where we’re running.” He proceeded to map out the route.
Uh oh. It turns out, I did that hill training completely wrong. The “hill” I chose? NOTHING compared to Mt. Everest on the other side of the park. It was at least 400 meters long – almost ½ a kilometer!
I was terrified. I did the warm up run with the people in the clinic I enjoy running with (we call ourselves the “slow” group!) Then, it was unavoidable. It was time for the hill.
I knew we were supposed to push ourselves, and, quite frankly, on our “easy” group runs, I don’t push myself that hard. Our instructor tells us that for the easy distance runs, we should be able to hold a conversation while running. I take that advice to heart. Last Sunday, we did our first 10K group run, and it was fantastic. I chatted with another girl in my group the whole way, and we took the 10K nice and easy.
But hill training is different. It’s meant to strengthen your legs, and boost your cardio performance. And since I haven’t been spinning much lately, I haven’t been pushing my heart rate up there like I should.
So I started my hill at a speed to get my heart rate up. (It turns out, I’m a bit faster than I think, as I quickly pulled away from the slow group.) It killed. My legs were burning, my breathing was heavy and it took every ounce of effort to get up that hill. The instructor was halfway up the hill, and he ran up to the top with me, shouting advice.
“Head up! Shorten your stride!” he bellowed. (Easy for him to say… he’s something like 5’5”. At 5’11”, with long legs, your stride’s always going to be pretty long.) “That’s it… you can do it… go right to the stop sign!”
Really? Right to the stop sign? But that’s so far away! Finally, I made it to the sign. I felt like puking. I’ve never been much for sprinting or speed work (I know I’m more of an endurance runner than a speed runner), and I felt awful.
“Good job!” the instructor chortled. “Now get back down that hill – three more to go!”
I made it through all four repeats. The good news is, they didn’t get any harder after that first one. The bad news? They didn’t get easier either. But I finished it, and set out on my cool down run. I actually took that run a lot faster than my warm up run – mostly because I really, really wanted to finish my run!
Finish it I did – and I will go back for another round next week. We’re moving up to five repeats next week, so let’s hope I can make it through that.
I’m really enjoying this clinic. I’m learning a lot about running, and getting some great exercise. For one thing, I’ve learned how one can live off Halloween candy for two weeks and still LOSE a pound. Just run 30-35 kilometers a week! (And I’m not kidding… so far, I’ve run 27K this week, and I still have a 6K run left today.)
What is ahead for training? The distances are steadily increasing. We do another 10K practice run tomorrow, and one of our weekly runs moves up to 8K. In the next few weeks, will increase our hill repeats, introduce speed repeats (somehow, I don’t like the sound of that…) and increase our longest distance to 13K. (Yes, I know this is a 10K clinic, but apparently that’s how they do this.)
We also haven’t chosen a goal race yet. There is no 10K race in Burlington in December, so we have to make some decisions. Our instructor thinks they might just do one for our class at the Running Room, but time us and make it official and everything. I hope they decide soon – I’d like to plan the month of December!
Happy trails…
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Running on empty
It’s good to know that although in my last post, I lamented over not blogging enough, I proceeded to go a full month without blogging again! I’m starting to sound like a broken record, whining “I’m busy!”
So let’s focus on what’s been going on. I started the Running Room 10K clinic on October 10th, which is 20 days ago. The hectic training schedule has us running five times per week – ouch! At first, the distances were pretty small. A 5K, a couple of 6Ks, and mostly 3Ks. Pretty manageable, right?
But now we’re starting to get into the real work. On Sunday, I went for my first 8K run – my longest run yet. I’m happy to say it was relatively easy. I’ve been going to the Running Room for their group runs, and it’s really helping. Not only am I meeting new people, I’m also getting a good idea of pace and timing. I’m running with a group that runs a little bit slower than my normal pace (I’m usually a little too out of breath, which I think means I run too fast when I’m alone). But now we’re running a long run on Sundays, and at least two 6K runs each week – plus another two to three 3K runs.
Next week, we’re also starting on hill training, which I hear is killer. You have to run up a hill at around 85 percent of your maximum speed – several times in a row. I’m not quite sure I’m ready for that, but I guess I will be whether I want to or not! It’s apparently a great way to improve your time.
So how is everything else going? One big change since last month is that I’ve quit my gym and the whole family has joined the YMCA. It’s been pretty good so far. My schedule has made it tough to get to the gym, but on Saturday mornings, we’ve been going. The kids are in a program, Mike works out, and I do a spinning class and then a 3K run on the treadmill. At 11, I pick up Chris and take him to swimming, and Andrew’s in the pool then as well. I’m anxious to try more of the classes at the Y, which I’m hoping to do starting in November.
I’ve also been struggling a bit with my first injury! That little pulled muscle in my leg kept getting worse. Finally, my chiropractor discovered it was actually a pulled muscle in my glute that was causing the pain. I’ve been stretching it out and going to athletic massage therapy to fix it. It’s still ever-so-slightly sore, but much better.
I also discovered that my running shoes – now nine months old – had given out. The Running Room recommends changing your shoes every three to six months, and now that I’m running distances, it’s even more important. I went to the Running Room last night to get evaluated and fitted for new shoes – and, oddly enough, ended up getting exactly the same pair I got last time! I did a 6K in the new shoes this morning, and I sure could tell the difference. I guess the shoe thing isn’t just a marketing gimmick after all.
So I’m pledging right now to try and update my blog more frequently – once a week, if possible. There’s so much for me to discover, and write about, and read about, when it comes to running. I know I’m busy with work, but I’m planning to make a few simple changes next month (like letting go of a small – but time consuming – client) to free up a bit more time and eliminate some stress. Let’s hope it works!
Happy trails…
So let’s focus on what’s been going on. I started the Running Room 10K clinic on October 10th, which is 20 days ago. The hectic training schedule has us running five times per week – ouch! At first, the distances were pretty small. A 5K, a couple of 6Ks, and mostly 3Ks. Pretty manageable, right?
But now we’re starting to get into the real work. On Sunday, I went for my first 8K run – my longest run yet. I’m happy to say it was relatively easy. I’ve been going to the Running Room for their group runs, and it’s really helping. Not only am I meeting new people, I’m also getting a good idea of pace and timing. I’m running with a group that runs a little bit slower than my normal pace (I’m usually a little too out of breath, which I think means I run too fast when I’m alone). But now we’re running a long run on Sundays, and at least two 6K runs each week – plus another two to three 3K runs.
Next week, we’re also starting on hill training, which I hear is killer. You have to run up a hill at around 85 percent of your maximum speed – several times in a row. I’m not quite sure I’m ready for that, but I guess I will be whether I want to or not! It’s apparently a great way to improve your time.
So how is everything else going? One big change since last month is that I’ve quit my gym and the whole family has joined the YMCA. It’s been pretty good so far. My schedule has made it tough to get to the gym, but on Saturday mornings, we’ve been going. The kids are in a program, Mike works out, and I do a spinning class and then a 3K run on the treadmill. At 11, I pick up Chris and take him to swimming, and Andrew’s in the pool then as well. I’m anxious to try more of the classes at the Y, which I’m hoping to do starting in November.
I’ve also been struggling a bit with my first injury! That little pulled muscle in my leg kept getting worse. Finally, my chiropractor discovered it was actually a pulled muscle in my glute that was causing the pain. I’ve been stretching it out and going to athletic massage therapy to fix it. It’s still ever-so-slightly sore, but much better.
I also discovered that my running shoes – now nine months old – had given out. The Running Room recommends changing your shoes every three to six months, and now that I’m running distances, it’s even more important. I went to the Running Room last night to get evaluated and fitted for new shoes – and, oddly enough, ended up getting exactly the same pair I got last time! I did a 6K in the new shoes this morning, and I sure could tell the difference. I guess the shoe thing isn’t just a marketing gimmick after all.
So I’m pledging right now to try and update my blog more frequently – once a week, if possible. There’s so much for me to discover, and write about, and read about, when it comes to running. I know I’m busy with work, but I’m planning to make a few simple changes next month (like letting go of a small – but time consuming – client) to free up a bit more time and eliminate some stress. Let’s hope it works!
Happy trails…
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Worst blogger ever
I’m officially the worst blogger ever. Wasn’t the whole point to the running/blogging journey to chronicle my efforts in attempt to one day publish the whole story? If I keep this up, there won’t be any story to publish!
I blame work. My friend Michelle and I have talked about this at length. When you’re a professional writer (particularly in the trade magazine business, where we both work), by the end of a long day, you’re far too burnt out to write anymore. I’ve spent the last few weeks writing copy for my first issue of a 12-page newsletter (on the ever-exciting topic of warehousing), and starting the copy for my first issue of a manufacturing magazine. By the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write!
And yet, paradoxically, it’s the very thing that makes me not want to write that will one day (hopefully) get my book published. By having real writing credentials (however lame they may be), I’m ever-so-slightly more likely to get a publisher or agent to talk to me.
Ooops… this blog entry is on hold while I go deal with a screaming toddler.
Now I’m back. Chris decided to get himself tangled up in his toy car in the basement. And, like his dad, when Chris gets hurt, he gets very, very mad. Both kids are quiet now, as is their dad, who’s working on his computer right now.
But back to the purpose of the blog… how’s the running going? September has been a very strange, in-between sort of month. I’m not training for anything specific, as my 10K clinic doesn’t start until October. Our schedules have been completely up in the air, as Andrew adjusts to JK, Chris adjusts to pre-school, and I adjust to having them in daycare. It’s all starting to work itself out, but it’s also highlighted where I need to make changes.
Let’s start with the running. Technically, I guess the running is going far better than anything else. With the kids in daycare and the crazy drop-off times, most weeks it seems like all I can do is run! I’ve been running anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week, about 5K per run.
I do need to get back on a specific training schedule to increase the length of my runs, but I figure that will come with the clinic. For the next week and a half before the clinic starts, I’ll just keep steady. You’re supposed to start the 10K training with a good base of 5K training, and I really think I’m there.
But there are two other areas of fitness that need some changing. The first is the gym. It looks like it’s time to switch gyms. While I really like running, I also love spinning, and doing muscle classes, and just generally cross-training. And my gym is fantastic, and I had a blast all summer getting to know some women who went there. Andrew got to know their kids in the gym’s daycare, and we all had fun. (We even went to a birthday part for one of the kids!)
The problem is our new schedule. Andrew is in school Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday. Chris is in school Tuesday and Thursday. And with drop off-times of either 9:10 or 9:00, I simply can’t make it across town to a 9:15 or even 9:30 class. The gym is just too far away. I find I’m roaring into the classes incredibly late, and it’s disruptive to the class, it’s hard on me, and I’m stressed whenever I get to the gym. Sooner or later, I’m going to end up with a speeding ticket or getting into an accident on my way to the gym. And I don’t want that to happen.
That means we’re on the hunt for a new gym after all. Now that the kids have settled down, I think we might be going to look at the YMCA after all. My friends who go there say it’s fantastic, and the kids can do their swimming lessons there. Mike can also get into shape there, which is helpful! We may go have a look today.
Finally, there’s one other tiny issue that’s cropping up these days. I may have my very first injury! (And no, I’m not as happy about that as I sound) I recently started seeing a new chiropractor. For 7 years, I had seen the same chiropractor and the same massage therapist. Together, they helped with my neck and shoulder pain (basically caused by poor posture – when you’re 5’11” at 13, you’re bound to have posture issues!) and were great.
Last spring, my chiropractor had a baby and basically closed her practice. My massage therapist moved away to Waterloo. I decided to see if I really did need their help, or was I just being crazy.
I really needed the help. By this fall, I was a mess. So I found a new chiropractor, at a clinic that also offers massage therapy. The new chiropractor is very thorough, and has been working to adjust my hips – something the old chiropractor never did. But in putting my hips “right,” my body can’t seem to adjust and I’ve pulled my inner thigh muscle. It’s an area that’s never bothered me before, but boy is it bothering me now.
It’s actually not stopping the exercise though. It hurts when I move the muscle, particularly after sitting for a while. But it doesn’t hurt as much when I run, and I can’t even feel it at all when spinning. So the chiropractor’s advice is to keep doing what I’m doing, and she is trying to work it out. (Unbeknownst to her, I’m also taking anti-inflammatories, and I think that’s what’s really doing the trick.) But it is an area to watch in the future.
So what’s on the schedule for the next few weeks? I’m leaving tomorrow morning to go to Houston for work, where I will evidently be insanely busy for a few days. It’s a boring trade show, and it appears a thousand PR people want nothing more than to be my best friend so I’ll write something about their sensor (or other “fantastic” product.) The hotel where I’m staying is supposed to have a gym, so hopefully I will get to do a run or two on the treadmill while I’m away. It’s certainly better than nothing!
When I get back, it will be Thanksgiving weekend (and our wedding anniversary, and Chris’ birthday….) and I will soon start the 10K clinic. So I’ll just keep holding it steady until the 10K training begins.
Happy trails…
I blame work. My friend Michelle and I have talked about this at length. When you’re a professional writer (particularly in the trade magazine business, where we both work), by the end of a long day, you’re far too burnt out to write anymore. I’ve spent the last few weeks writing copy for my first issue of a 12-page newsletter (on the ever-exciting topic of warehousing), and starting the copy for my first issue of a manufacturing magazine. By the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write!
And yet, paradoxically, it’s the very thing that makes me not want to write that will one day (hopefully) get my book published. By having real writing credentials (however lame they may be), I’m ever-so-slightly more likely to get a publisher or agent to talk to me.
Ooops… this blog entry is on hold while I go deal with a screaming toddler.
Now I’m back. Chris decided to get himself tangled up in his toy car in the basement. And, like his dad, when Chris gets hurt, he gets very, very mad. Both kids are quiet now, as is their dad, who’s working on his computer right now.
But back to the purpose of the blog… how’s the running going? September has been a very strange, in-between sort of month. I’m not training for anything specific, as my 10K clinic doesn’t start until October. Our schedules have been completely up in the air, as Andrew adjusts to JK, Chris adjusts to pre-school, and I adjust to having them in daycare. It’s all starting to work itself out, but it’s also highlighted where I need to make changes.
Let’s start with the running. Technically, I guess the running is going far better than anything else. With the kids in daycare and the crazy drop-off times, most weeks it seems like all I can do is run! I’ve been running anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week, about 5K per run.
I do need to get back on a specific training schedule to increase the length of my runs, but I figure that will come with the clinic. For the next week and a half before the clinic starts, I’ll just keep steady. You’re supposed to start the 10K training with a good base of 5K training, and I really think I’m there.
But there are two other areas of fitness that need some changing. The first is the gym. It looks like it’s time to switch gyms. While I really like running, I also love spinning, and doing muscle classes, and just generally cross-training. And my gym is fantastic, and I had a blast all summer getting to know some women who went there. Andrew got to know their kids in the gym’s daycare, and we all had fun. (We even went to a birthday part for one of the kids!)
The problem is our new schedule. Andrew is in school Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday. Chris is in school Tuesday and Thursday. And with drop off-times of either 9:10 or 9:00, I simply can’t make it across town to a 9:15 or even 9:30 class. The gym is just too far away. I find I’m roaring into the classes incredibly late, and it’s disruptive to the class, it’s hard on me, and I’m stressed whenever I get to the gym. Sooner or later, I’m going to end up with a speeding ticket or getting into an accident on my way to the gym. And I don’t want that to happen.
That means we’re on the hunt for a new gym after all. Now that the kids have settled down, I think we might be going to look at the YMCA after all. My friends who go there say it’s fantastic, and the kids can do their swimming lessons there. Mike can also get into shape there, which is helpful! We may go have a look today.
Finally, there’s one other tiny issue that’s cropping up these days. I may have my very first injury! (And no, I’m not as happy about that as I sound) I recently started seeing a new chiropractor. For 7 years, I had seen the same chiropractor and the same massage therapist. Together, they helped with my neck and shoulder pain (basically caused by poor posture – when you’re 5’11” at 13, you’re bound to have posture issues!) and were great.
Last spring, my chiropractor had a baby and basically closed her practice. My massage therapist moved away to Waterloo. I decided to see if I really did need their help, or was I just being crazy.
I really needed the help. By this fall, I was a mess. So I found a new chiropractor, at a clinic that also offers massage therapy. The new chiropractor is very thorough, and has been working to adjust my hips – something the old chiropractor never did. But in putting my hips “right,” my body can’t seem to adjust and I’ve pulled my inner thigh muscle. It’s an area that’s never bothered me before, but boy is it bothering me now.
It’s actually not stopping the exercise though. It hurts when I move the muscle, particularly after sitting for a while. But it doesn’t hurt as much when I run, and I can’t even feel it at all when spinning. So the chiropractor’s advice is to keep doing what I’m doing, and she is trying to work it out. (Unbeknownst to her, I’m also taking anti-inflammatories, and I think that’s what’s really doing the trick.) But it is an area to watch in the future.
So what’s on the schedule for the next few weeks? I’m leaving tomorrow morning to go to Houston for work, where I will evidently be insanely busy for a few days. It’s a boring trade show, and it appears a thousand PR people want nothing more than to be my best friend so I’ll write something about their sensor (or other “fantastic” product.) The hotel where I’m staying is supposed to have a gym, so hopefully I will get to do a run or two on the treadmill while I’m away. It’s certainly better than nothing!
When I get back, it will be Thanksgiving weekend (and our wedding anniversary, and Chris’ birthday….) and I will soon start the 10K clinic. So I’ll just keep holding it steady until the 10K training begins.
Happy trails…
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The 31K and other assorted tales
Where do I begin this update? First of all, I realize I haven’t written about my training since I ran my 5K at the end of August – and it’s already almost mid-September. I knew September, with all its changes, was going to be hectic. What I didn’t realize was just how hectic it would be.
Even exercise has taken a bit of a backseat these past few weeks as our family struggles to adjust to a whole new world. Andrew, who’s 4 ½, is starting Junior Kindergarten. Chris, who is almost 2, is starting pre-school. They have started three days a week at a new daycare. I’m lucky that the daycare is run by two fantastic moms from our pre-school, so at least the boys have friends and know their caregivers. But it’s been hard on two boys who have been home with mom practically forever. (Including a trip to the doctor on Andrew’s first day for what appeared to be a panic attack.) And even harder on their mom, who’s used to caring for them herself.
What else about mom? Well, mom finds she may have bitten off more than she can chew at the moment. Going back to editing a bi-monthly magazine. A newsletter contract for a new industry she’s never written about. Taking over as president of the pre-school. Finishing up a few other writing assignments. Wrangling with clients over late payments. Trying to get the house organized. Trying to stay sane.
But this blog is supposed to be about running, not me whining about being busy! Let’s face it: everyone is busy these days. I don’t know too many people who aren’t juggling a thousand things. The real question is, how’s the running going?
The honest answer is, it’s going, but not as much as before. Since I’m not specifically training, I haven’t been getting out as much as I’d like (or to the gym as much as I’d like). Right now I’m looking on any training as a victory. I managed to get out for a short 3K jaunt this morning after dropping the kids off in various places, and I might actually get to the gym in time for spinning tomorrow! I think in a few weeks, I’ll have it all figured out.
I also decided to stick with my existing gym for a little while longer. While we debated joining the Y as a family, I feel like it’s just too many changes and too much to pile on to an already overloaded schedule. We may decide to join in January, or even later, but for now, why mess with something that’s working?
The good news is that I signed up for the 10K clinic at the Running Room! It starts on October 10th (my little niece’s first birthday!), and goes until December. This way, I can figure out what works with the new schedule, and get my trip to Houston (for work – my first time traveling on business in five years!) out of the way before that starts. It’s also after Thanksgiving weekend, which will be busy at it happens to include my sixth wedding anniversary and Chris’ second birthday. I’m really looking forward to the clinic, and I know it’s just my next step of running a marathon.
Which brings me to one more thing… the 31K Walk for Grace. Last Sunday, I embarked on a 31K walk through Bronte Creek to raise money for pediatric brain tumour research at Sick Kids. The event was in honour of Grace Stanley, a little girl who passed away last year from this dreadful disease. (I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating.) The 31 kilometers represented each month of Grace’s all-too brief life on earth.
My heart aches constantly for Grace’s mother and father, having to live the rest of their lives without their little girl. I don’t know how they feel – I can’t even begin to fathom the depths of their grief. I’m wracked with a sympathy for them that I can’t possibly express. All I can do is try to help them honour their daughter and raise funds for this cause – and hope that no other family has to go through what they have gone through.
So I walked. With two other people I had just met that morning, I walked for a total of six hours in the pouring rain. And those of us who participated in the event (which also had a 5K and 1K walk) raised more than $20,000 for Grace’s fund! It was physically demanding, but, as one of my walking partners put it, walking 31 kilometers is nothing compared to the 31 months that Grace lived. (She fought the cancer for almost half of her life, being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 15 months.)
When I got home (after a hot bath), I stumbled down the stairs to the couch. I then hugged my babies so tight, and told them a little about what I had done at the walk. I told them I walked not only for Grace and all the other kids at the hospital, but I walked for them too. I walked to ensure the phenomenal doctors at Sick Kids have the funds they need to continue their life-saving research.
And for now, that’s about it. I’m still piled with work, and I’m in the process of trying to re-organize my office and deal with the mounds of paper that’s collected over the summer. I’m surrounded by piles as I write this, so I guess it’s time to get back to work. Tomorrow, I’m off to the gym for a spinning class, and then will run on both Friday and Saturday. What will next week’s training bring? Well, that’s another story…
Happy trails…
Even exercise has taken a bit of a backseat these past few weeks as our family struggles to adjust to a whole new world. Andrew, who’s 4 ½, is starting Junior Kindergarten. Chris, who is almost 2, is starting pre-school. They have started three days a week at a new daycare. I’m lucky that the daycare is run by two fantastic moms from our pre-school, so at least the boys have friends and know their caregivers. But it’s been hard on two boys who have been home with mom practically forever. (Including a trip to the doctor on Andrew’s first day for what appeared to be a panic attack.) And even harder on their mom, who’s used to caring for them herself.
What else about mom? Well, mom finds she may have bitten off more than she can chew at the moment. Going back to editing a bi-monthly magazine. A newsletter contract for a new industry she’s never written about. Taking over as president of the pre-school. Finishing up a few other writing assignments. Wrangling with clients over late payments. Trying to get the house organized. Trying to stay sane.
But this blog is supposed to be about running, not me whining about being busy! Let’s face it: everyone is busy these days. I don’t know too many people who aren’t juggling a thousand things. The real question is, how’s the running going?
The honest answer is, it’s going, but not as much as before. Since I’m not specifically training, I haven’t been getting out as much as I’d like (or to the gym as much as I’d like). Right now I’m looking on any training as a victory. I managed to get out for a short 3K jaunt this morning after dropping the kids off in various places, and I might actually get to the gym in time for spinning tomorrow! I think in a few weeks, I’ll have it all figured out.
I also decided to stick with my existing gym for a little while longer. While we debated joining the Y as a family, I feel like it’s just too many changes and too much to pile on to an already overloaded schedule. We may decide to join in January, or even later, but for now, why mess with something that’s working?
The good news is that I signed up for the 10K clinic at the Running Room! It starts on October 10th (my little niece’s first birthday!), and goes until December. This way, I can figure out what works with the new schedule, and get my trip to Houston (for work – my first time traveling on business in five years!) out of the way before that starts. It’s also after Thanksgiving weekend, which will be busy at it happens to include my sixth wedding anniversary and Chris’ second birthday. I’m really looking forward to the clinic, and I know it’s just my next step of running a marathon.
Which brings me to one more thing… the 31K Walk for Grace. Last Sunday, I embarked on a 31K walk through Bronte Creek to raise money for pediatric brain tumour research at Sick Kids. The event was in honour of Grace Stanley, a little girl who passed away last year from this dreadful disease. (I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating.) The 31 kilometers represented each month of Grace’s all-too brief life on earth.
My heart aches constantly for Grace’s mother and father, having to live the rest of their lives without their little girl. I don’t know how they feel – I can’t even begin to fathom the depths of their grief. I’m wracked with a sympathy for them that I can’t possibly express. All I can do is try to help them honour their daughter and raise funds for this cause – and hope that no other family has to go through what they have gone through.
So I walked. With two other people I had just met that morning, I walked for a total of six hours in the pouring rain. And those of us who participated in the event (which also had a 5K and 1K walk) raised more than $20,000 for Grace’s fund! It was physically demanding, but, as one of my walking partners put it, walking 31 kilometers is nothing compared to the 31 months that Grace lived. (She fought the cancer for almost half of her life, being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 15 months.)
When I got home (after a hot bath), I stumbled down the stairs to the couch. I then hugged my babies so tight, and told them a little about what I had done at the walk. I told them I walked not only for Grace and all the other kids at the hospital, but I walked for them too. I walked to ensure the phenomenal doctors at Sick Kids have the funds they need to continue their life-saving research.
And for now, that’s about it. I’m still piled with work, and I’m in the process of trying to re-organize my office and deal with the mounds of paper that’s collected over the summer. I’m surrounded by piles as I write this, so I guess it’s time to get back to work. Tomorrow, I’m off to the gym for a spinning class, and then will run on both Friday and Saturday. What will next week’s training bring? Well, that’s another story…
Happy trails…
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The 5K
27:35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I felt that deserved some exclamation points. This morning, I ran the 5K race I’ve been training for – and lamenting over – all summer. My friend Val told me not to worry about my time. She said the adrenaline of the race and running with all those people would make me run faster. Was she ever right! As I approached the finish line, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes – I was still in the 27 minute range!
I crossed the finish line at 27:35, beating my previous best time by almost two minutes!! I know I was only competing with myself, but boy, did I ever whoop my own ass!
The race was down on the waterfront trail in Burlington, which is a beautiful run. The weather was hot and humid, with a steady rain for most of the run. Actually, I think the rain really helped, because it kept me pretty cool.
Mike and the boys ventured down with me to cheer me on. He took them to the playground at Spencer Smith Park while I ran. They waved to me as I trotted by, and when I was running back, about to cross the finish line, they cheered me on. It was enough of a push to keep going – I didn’t want them to see me slow down!
I was, however, struggling, particularly toward the end of the run. I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard, since I’d been running 5K for a few weeks now. Once I saw my time, though, I figured it out! I was averaging about 32:30-ish on my 5Ks this summer – which means today, I was running faster than I’ve ever run in my life. Maybe I’m not as sluggish as I think. And maybe I can do this marathon thing after all.
I know there’s still a long road ahead of me. On Monday, it’s time for me to reevaluate my training and start moving toward the next goal. I still need to conquer nutrition, I need to settle on a new training schedule and I need to figure out what I’m going to do about the gym/YMCA conundrum.
But for today, I’m just going to bask in the glory of my “victory.” I had a goal (to run my best-ever 5K), and I achieved it. I’m going to have a nice supper, a glass of wine, and take this time to relax. There’s plenty of time to get back to training on Monday.
Happy trails…
Yes, I felt that deserved some exclamation points. This morning, I ran the 5K race I’ve been training for – and lamenting over – all summer. My friend Val told me not to worry about my time. She said the adrenaline of the race and running with all those people would make me run faster. Was she ever right! As I approached the finish line, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes – I was still in the 27 minute range!
I crossed the finish line at 27:35, beating my previous best time by almost two minutes!! I know I was only competing with myself, but boy, did I ever whoop my own ass!
The race was down on the waterfront trail in Burlington, which is a beautiful run. The weather was hot and humid, with a steady rain for most of the run. Actually, I think the rain really helped, because it kept me pretty cool.
Mike and the boys ventured down with me to cheer me on. He took them to the playground at Spencer Smith Park while I ran. They waved to me as I trotted by, and when I was running back, about to cross the finish line, they cheered me on. It was enough of a push to keep going – I didn’t want them to see me slow down!
I was, however, struggling, particularly toward the end of the run. I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard, since I’d been running 5K for a few weeks now. Once I saw my time, though, I figured it out! I was averaging about 32:30-ish on my 5Ks this summer – which means today, I was running faster than I’ve ever run in my life. Maybe I’m not as sluggish as I think. And maybe I can do this marathon thing after all.
I know there’s still a long road ahead of me. On Monday, it’s time for me to reevaluate my training and start moving toward the next goal. I still need to conquer nutrition, I need to settle on a new training schedule and I need to figure out what I’m going to do about the gym/YMCA conundrum.
But for today, I’m just going to bask in the glory of my “victory.” I had a goal (to run my best-ever 5K), and I achieved it. I’m going to have a nice supper, a glass of wine, and take this time to relax. There’s plenty of time to get back to training on Monday.
Happy trails…
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Panic on the streets of Burlington…
As race day approaches, I find myself panicking more and more. Try as I might, I can’t seem to improve my time on the 5K. I can’t even break 32 minutes, although I came in just over the 32 minute mark last night.
Part of the problem is I just feel like I can’t run that fast. When I push myself really hard, I run out of breath and am forced to slow down. Then I slow down too much, which affects my time. I know I need to do some more research on this, but with being away in Montreal last week, it’s been difficult. My best bet would be to go to one of the group runs at the Running Room, but since Mike has hockey tonight (when there’s a run), it’s not an option. And the next group run isn’t until Sunday – a day too late. The race is on Saturday morning.
So what do I do? First, I am going to give myself a bit of a break. I’m only competing with myself, after all, so who cares if I can’t beat me? I know that’s not really a “winning” attitude, but I only care about my time because I want to beat my own personal best time. It’s not like I even care if I come in last! (If I ran that 5K in 28 minutes, I’d be so happy, I wouldn’t care if I was 10 minutes behind everyone else!) I already know there are millions (billions?) of people in this world who can run faster than I can. (There are also billions who are smarter, better looking, make more money and have better behaved kids! If I cared about all those things, I’d never leave the house in the morning.)
I guess what I’m figuring out is that if I don’t beat my best time, it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. I know I’ll have sucky times on the 10K, the half marathon and the marathon too. The point is that I’m going to finish this race and continue working my way up to running a marathon.
Well, there’s probably a lot more for me to talk about today, but I’m overloaded with work and shouldn’t procrastinate any more. (I know… wasn’t I supposed to cut back on work this summer? Just wait until September!) I only wanted to fit in one more update before the race on Saturday.
Happy trails…
Part of the problem is I just feel like I can’t run that fast. When I push myself really hard, I run out of breath and am forced to slow down. Then I slow down too much, which affects my time. I know I need to do some more research on this, but with being away in Montreal last week, it’s been difficult. My best bet would be to go to one of the group runs at the Running Room, but since Mike has hockey tonight (when there’s a run), it’s not an option. And the next group run isn’t until Sunday – a day too late. The race is on Saturday morning.
So what do I do? First, I am going to give myself a bit of a break. I’m only competing with myself, after all, so who cares if I can’t beat me? I know that’s not really a “winning” attitude, but I only care about my time because I want to beat my own personal best time. It’s not like I even care if I come in last! (If I ran that 5K in 28 minutes, I’d be so happy, I wouldn’t care if I was 10 minutes behind everyone else!) I already know there are millions (billions?) of people in this world who can run faster than I can. (There are also billions who are smarter, better looking, make more money and have better behaved kids! If I cared about all those things, I’d never leave the house in the morning.)
I guess what I’m figuring out is that if I don’t beat my best time, it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. I know I’ll have sucky times on the 10K, the half marathon and the marathon too. The point is that I’m going to finish this race and continue working my way up to running a marathon.
Well, there’s probably a lot more for me to talk about today, but I’m overloaded with work and shouldn’t procrastinate any more. (I know… wasn’t I supposed to cut back on work this summer? Just wait until September!) I only wanted to fit in one more update before the race on Saturday.
Happy trails…
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