I am learning the dynamics of running are complex at best and downright baffling at worst. The upside to this is everyone who is a runner that I talk to tells me the things that are happening to my body are pretty normal when one adjusts to the rigors of running. The odd thing to me is that despite the pain and frustration of the past week I am still anxious to hit the treadmill tonight. My motivation is a combination of a few things: 1. My endurance continues to grow, 2. I lost two pounds last week, 3. My pants are getting looser.
A recap for you. I got my new shoes last Monday night and hit the gym on Tuesday evening to give them a trial run. They passed with flying colors -- a little residual soreness in my knees but nothing to complain about. On to Wednesday night and running class. The shoe issues had put me behind a bit on the training schedule - I was running three to four sets of 3 minutes run, 2 minutes walk. My group's trainer announced our group would be doing six sets of 4 minutes run, 1 minute walk. Oh ugh. The first set was really hard but after that somehow I made it through the next five -- even running up a steep hill on the fourth set. I left class that night tired but ready to tackle the week and be up to four sets of five minutes run, 1 minute walk by class this week.
Thursday was a busy day and I had a haircut after work. Bill was at Scouts with the kids when I got home so I grabbed a quick snack and headed to the club to get my run in. If I hadn't been so focused on getting there it might have dawned on me that I hadn't drank nearly enough water that day. This was a recipe for impending disaster. I arrived at the club, quickly went through my warm ups and hopped on a treadmill. By the end of the second set of 4 run/1 walk I noticed my legs feeling what I thought was fatigue. I figured I could just push through it. I got through my third set but by then my quads felt very odd indeed. Still not realizing that in fact what was happening was that my quads were spasming in preparation for complete tightening up in protest to the water shortage in my body, I jumped off the treadmill for a minute and attempted to stretch my quads. I then hopped back on and cranked it up for my last 4 minutes of running. I barely made it through one minute and the pain was unbearable. I was cursing under my breath because I didn't understand what was happening and I was frustrated because I just wanted to finish. My quads tightened by the second and I had to flat out shut off the treadmill. I limped over to an area and tried my darndest to stretch things out. My quads would have none of it -- no matter what I did. I vacillated between cursing myself in anger for being so stubborn and not stopping sooner and and for the incredible pain I was in. I changed my shoes and called Bill and told him "something is really wrong and I seriously need help." I am sure he was chuckling under his breath but he sympathetically told me to get some Gatorade and head home.
I limped into Walgreen's and grabbed a couple bottles and headed home. I was naive enough to think once I started drinking this magic potion that my legs would miraculously loosen up. Um nope. I got home and someone managed to get up the stairs to the living room. It was hours - literally - before my muscles loosened enough so I could go to bed. I drank a TON of watered down Gatorade. On Friday I woke up and at least my muscles were loose but the residual pain I was left with down my entire quad and around my knees was humbling to say the least.
I have said in past posts that I am amazed what you can ask of your body and what it will do. On that same note you have to be good to your body and it will in turn be good to you. Hydration is key.
I haven't run since Thursday -- call me a big chicken. Tonight I run. Today I drink -- lots and lots and lots of water. :-)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
If The Shoe Fits . . .
Wear it. Or so the saying goes. But what happens when you thought the shoe fit but in fact it really doesn't and it is causing pain in your IT band and knees?
WARNING - if you are tired of my running posts skip this read.
It seems that after going to a running store early last year and being fit for a shoe, in the end it wasn't the right kind of shoe for my foot. Go figure. Because I wasn't partaking in intense cardio exercise the lovely $110 Asics I purchased worked for my feet and had caused no problems until recently. Fast forward to the beginning of this month and factor in three to four 30 or more minute run/walk sessions both on a treadmill and outdoors a week + the wrong shoes and you have a recipe for pain. One of my trainers last week alluded to the possibility that the shoes I was wearing might not be the right ones for my feet. See for running there are generally three types of shoes: Motion Control (for people with little to no arch -- yours truly), Stability (for "normal" feet) and Cushioning (for high arches). Seems I was in a stability shoe but with no arch to speak of my feet have been anything BUT stable.
So last night Bill and I and the kids headed to a great store by Lake Harriet called Marathon Sports. They have been around for about 20 years and are a locally owned shop. All the staff is highly trained and in fact most are over qualified to work there. I had a great guy help me who took one look at my feet and then at my shoes and said, "I don't know why they ever put you in these shoes." Ugh. He brought out three shoes for me to try -- Asics, Brooks and Mizunos. I tried the Asics first and thought they were the shoe. The Mizunos felt hard and uncomfortable on my foot. Then I put on the Brooks. Now mind you when it comes to running shoes you throw fashion and favorite colors OUT the door. The Brooks while UGLY with a lime green, silver and white color scheme, felt incredibly wonderful on my feet. A short run on the store's treadmill sealed the deal for me. The ugly green Brooks it is! Really they are ugly -- I should take a picture and post it! So it appears I really must be growing up -- I sacrificed fashion for comfort. However don't look for me to be ditching my high-heels any time soon -- hey a girl's still gotta look good right?
WARNING - if you are tired of my running posts skip this read.
It seems that after going to a running store early last year and being fit for a shoe, in the end it wasn't the right kind of shoe for my foot. Go figure. Because I wasn't partaking in intense cardio exercise the lovely $110 Asics I purchased worked for my feet and had caused no problems until recently. Fast forward to the beginning of this month and factor in three to four 30 or more minute run/walk sessions both on a treadmill and outdoors a week + the wrong shoes and you have a recipe for pain. One of my trainers last week alluded to the possibility that the shoes I was wearing might not be the right ones for my feet. See for running there are generally three types of shoes: Motion Control (for people with little to no arch -- yours truly), Stability (for "normal" feet) and Cushioning (for high arches). Seems I was in a stability shoe but with no arch to speak of my feet have been anything BUT stable.
So last night Bill and I and the kids headed to a great store by Lake Harriet called Marathon Sports. They have been around for about 20 years and are a locally owned shop. All the staff is highly trained and in fact most are over qualified to work there. I had a great guy help me who took one look at my feet and then at my shoes and said, "I don't know why they ever put you in these shoes." Ugh. He brought out three shoes for me to try -- Asics, Brooks and Mizunos. I tried the Asics first and thought they were the shoe. The Mizunos felt hard and uncomfortable on my foot. Then I put on the Brooks. Now mind you when it comes to running shoes you throw fashion and favorite colors OUT the door. The Brooks while UGLY with a lime green, silver and white color scheme, felt incredibly wonderful on my feet. A short run on the store's treadmill sealed the deal for me. The ugly green Brooks it is! Really they are ugly -- I should take a picture and post it! So it appears I really must be growing up -- I sacrificed fashion for comfort. However don't look for me to be ditching my high-heels any time soon -- hey a girl's still gotta look good right?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
My In-House Fashion Adviser
I have something in my home never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have. I have my very own fashion adviser . . . o.k. sometimes dictator. At just over three feet and about 35 pounds Anna has taken on this role very seriously. Now mind you she seems to have set her sights on just one subject so far - read ME. If at 4 3/4 she is playing a role in my daily attire what might my life be like in say 8-10 years and she is a teenager? Will she still want to have a say in what I wear or will I be such an embarrassment that she just simply won't even want to be seen with me? Time will tell.
Now this weekend Anna played dictator. I was in my shower Sunday morning with my chosen "undergarments" lying on the toilet. I heard Anna wander in and say something about "pink" but couldn't make out what she said. I figured she was inquiring about her clothes which are pretty much pink, pink and pink (you see a pattern here right?) As soon as I emerged from my shower it quickly became clear she wasn't talking about her clothes. She had swiped the underwear I had chosen for the day and replaced them with a pink pair from my drawer. Um thank you???
Today Anna played my adviser and I rather enjoyed it. I had got dressed for work and because I had a meeting with a potential client I was dressed up a bit. I had my black sling back pump on one foot and my high-heeled mule on the other and was walking around trying to determine which shoe was the better choice. I was leaning toward the sling back when Anna inquired as to why I was wearing two different shoes and walking from bedroom to bedroom looking in the full-length mirrors. Now just for the record -- what is it about the female species that when trying to determine if we look o.k. we look in not one but three or more mirrors?? I mean honestly do I really think I might look different in one?? Well um actually yes I do think one mirror might reflect me differently. Don't ask -- unless you are a female you just won't understand. Anyway back to the two shoes. I explained that I was trying to chose which one to wear and I could see this immediately interested her. So on a whim I said -- which one looks better. She took a step back looked at both feet and without hesitation pointed to the foot with the sling back on it. Isn't that great?
Now if I could just get her to stop asking my "why my tissimo is so soft and is that why I am running and exercising all the time" then I would really have it made. :-)
Now this weekend Anna played dictator. I was in my shower Sunday morning with my chosen "undergarments" lying on the toilet. I heard Anna wander in and say something about "pink" but couldn't make out what she said. I figured she was inquiring about her clothes which are pretty much pink, pink and pink (you see a pattern here right?) As soon as I emerged from my shower it quickly became clear she wasn't talking about her clothes. She had swiped the underwear I had chosen for the day and replaced them with a pink pair from my drawer. Um thank you???
Today Anna played my adviser and I rather enjoyed it. I had got dressed for work and because I had a meeting with a potential client I was dressed up a bit. I had my black sling back pump on one foot and my high-heeled mule on the other and was walking around trying to determine which shoe was the better choice. I was leaning toward the sling back when Anna inquired as to why I was wearing two different shoes and walking from bedroom to bedroom looking in the full-length mirrors. Now just for the record -- what is it about the female species that when trying to determine if we look o.k. we look in not one but three or more mirrors?? I mean honestly do I really think I might look different in one?? Well um actually yes I do think one mirror might reflect me differently. Don't ask -- unless you are a female you just won't understand. Anyway back to the two shoes. I explained that I was trying to chose which one to wear and I could see this immediately interested her. So on a whim I said -- which one looks better. She took a step back looked at both feet and without hesitation pointed to the foot with the sling back on it. Isn't that great?
Now if I could just get her to stop asking my "why my tissimo is so soft and is that why I am running and exercising all the time" then I would really have it made. :-)
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Sun Came Out Today
Thank goodness. I think Spring may finally be here to stay in MN. The forecast for this week calls for sun with a few clouds and steadily rising temps with a high near 70 towards the end of the week. Of course this is MN so that is always subject to change but I have decided to be optimistic and think positive (although I am not putting our boots away yet . . . ).
The sun was a welcome day brightener as it was a bit sad to venture into work this morning. Two of my co-workers were let go late last Friday as a result in the business strategy direction at my company shifting and their positions being eliminated. I have been through this several times at my former job but I don't think you ever get used to the feelings of sadness, fear and vulnerability that come with the abrupt departure of a co-worker. We spend so much time with these people that they often become some what of an extended family. We share stories about our families with them, they see us at our best AND our worst and we also share many meals together (food really seems to bring us together at my office - thus the extra pounds gained since I started working here nearly four years ago!). So as we gathered for our weekly Monday morning company meeting this morning there were two spots noticeably empty.
Both people let go are very talented and I am sure will bounce back from this but I still have great empathy for them and the situation. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. And also be thankful that I did have a job to come to this morning.
The sun was a welcome day brightener as it was a bit sad to venture into work this morning. Two of my co-workers were let go late last Friday as a result in the business strategy direction at my company shifting and their positions being eliminated. I have been through this several times at my former job but I don't think you ever get used to the feelings of sadness, fear and vulnerability that come with the abrupt departure of a co-worker. We spend so much time with these people that they often become some what of an extended family. We share stories about our families with them, they see us at our best AND our worst and we also share many meals together (food really seems to bring us together at my office - thus the extra pounds gained since I started working here nearly four years ago!). So as we gathered for our weekly Monday morning company meeting this morning there were two spots noticeably empty.
Both people let go are very talented and I am sure will bounce back from this but I still have great empathy for them and the situation. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. And also be thankful that I did have a job to come to this morning.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Hurts So Good???
Running class on Wednesday night was challenging for me to say the least. I had a late afternoon work meeting that ran long so didn't embark for home until 5:20. On an average day it takes me 15-18 minutes to get home and I was praying for 15 as I needed to stop home, feed and let out the dog, change, grab a snack, fill my water bottle and make it to the high school several miles away by 6:00. Luckily since Bill was working and I had mom duty I did have the foresight to arrange for our sitter to pick up the kids from Bill's sister's house and bring them home rather than me trying to do that too. Next week I am gonna one up that and bring my clothes to work, change here and head straight to class.
I gave it my best shot but I still ended up sliding into my seat at 6:05. I flashed back to my first period "Know Your Car" shop class my senior year of high-school. It was my first period class and I am embarrassed to say I was late to it more than I was on time. Fortunately since we are all adults in the class they are a bit more forgiving as everyone can relate to job and home life demands delaying you.
Our guest speaker was from Marathon Sports and talked about proper shoes for foot types, running attire and last but not least Body Glide (a lubricant for the skin to prevent blisters and chaffing). It sounds a bit odd but I consulted with Bill and he is the proud owner of a container of it.
After the speaker wrapped up we headed outside for warm ups and were broke up into groups dependent on our mile time the previous week. We took off like a herd of antelopes (this was our name by the way -- the antelopes) and were instructed to do 3 - 5 minutes of brisk walking and then do our 2 minute run/3 minute brisk walk for a total of 15 minutes. I noticed a few things immediately:
1. When running in a group it is hard not to feel sort of competitive in that if you are in the walking portion of your run and a classmate runs by you, you have to fight the urge to run after them! I had to keep telling myself "this isn't a race Carol, there are no winners or losers, listen to YOUR body." It was an internal struggle for me the entire 30 minutes!
2. It is tough to run in a big group particularly when friends are in the class together because they walk/run side by side and fill up the entire width of the track and some are just downright oblivious to faster runners/walkers coming up behind them. There were several times I had to detour off the path and on to the grass which at this point is still a bit treacherous with patches of snow, water and ice. Lesson for me was just like you drive defensively and are frequently checking your mirrors and blind spots so do you need to do this in running both for the safety of you and your fellow runners and also out of politeness.
3. Last but NOT least -- running outside is HARDER (for me) than the treadmill at the club. It was hilly, curvy and the cold air made my lungs burn. No one told me this would be easy but it came as a bit of surprise for me how different an outside run felt from an inside one. Bill tells me this too shall pass as I spend more time outside running rather than in.
It seems running has awakened a muscle in my right hip area I didn't know I had -- my "IT Band." While it doesn't hurt when I run it sure hurts right now when I am cooled down and my muscles are tight. All the sitting I do at work makes me really stiff and sitting with my feet reclined at home makes it stiff too. I learned some good stretches for it and it may get worse before it gets better but I will forge forward. As long as it doesn't hurt while I run I am told it is o.k.
My summary of running so far then -- hurts so good -- oh heck yeah the physical gain and rush you feel from running way outweighs the pain in my leg right now.
Tomorrow (Saturday morning) we are supposed to have a run around Lake Harriet. The weather here however is pretty wintry so I am not sure I will partake in it -- I don't want to risk slipping and getting injured more than anything.
I gave it my best shot but I still ended up sliding into my seat at 6:05. I flashed back to my first period "Know Your Car" shop class my senior year of high-school. It was my first period class and I am embarrassed to say I was late to it more than I was on time. Fortunately since we are all adults in the class they are a bit more forgiving as everyone can relate to job and home life demands delaying you.
Our guest speaker was from Marathon Sports and talked about proper shoes for foot types, running attire and last but not least Body Glide (a lubricant for the skin to prevent blisters and chaffing). It sounds a bit odd but I consulted with Bill and he is the proud owner of a container of it.
After the speaker wrapped up we headed outside for warm ups and were broke up into groups dependent on our mile time the previous week. We took off like a herd of antelopes (this was our name by the way -- the antelopes) and were instructed to do 3 - 5 minutes of brisk walking and then do our 2 minute run/3 minute brisk walk for a total of 15 minutes. I noticed a few things immediately:
1. When running in a group it is hard not to feel sort of competitive in that if you are in the walking portion of your run and a classmate runs by you, you have to fight the urge to run after them! I had to keep telling myself "this isn't a race Carol, there are no winners or losers, listen to YOUR body." It was an internal struggle for me the entire 30 minutes!
2. It is tough to run in a big group particularly when friends are in the class together because they walk/run side by side and fill up the entire width of the track and some are just downright oblivious to faster runners/walkers coming up behind them. There were several times I had to detour off the path and on to the grass which at this point is still a bit treacherous with patches of snow, water and ice. Lesson for me was just like you drive defensively and are frequently checking your mirrors and blind spots so do you need to do this in running both for the safety of you and your fellow runners and also out of politeness.
3. Last but NOT least -- running outside is HARDER (for me) than the treadmill at the club. It was hilly, curvy and the cold air made my lungs burn. No one told me this would be easy but it came as a bit of surprise for me how different an outside run felt from an inside one. Bill tells me this too shall pass as I spend more time outside running rather than in.
It seems running has awakened a muscle in my right hip area I didn't know I had -- my "IT Band." While it doesn't hurt when I run it sure hurts right now when I am cooled down and my muscles are tight. All the sitting I do at work makes me really stiff and sitting with my feet reclined at home makes it stiff too. I learned some good stretches for it and it may get worse before it gets better but I will forge forward. As long as it doesn't hurt while I run I am told it is o.k.
My summary of running so far then -- hurts so good -- oh heck yeah the physical gain and rush you feel from running way outweighs the pain in my leg right now.
Tomorrow (Saturday morning) we are supposed to have a run around Lake Harriet. The weather here however is pretty wintry so I am not sure I will partake in it -- I don't want to risk slipping and getting injured more than anything.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Baby I Was Born To Run
As some of you already know, I started a women's running class last week. The response from most of you when told I was taking this class -- that I actually signed myself up and PAID to take this class -- was "are you nuts?" One runner I told questioned why I needed a class to essentially "put one foot in front of the other." And a few of you applauded me for my efforts.
Tonight is Class #2 (of 8) and I can honestly and with conviction say that deciding to take this class was one of the best decisions I have made for myself in quite some time. Aside from the humbling realization last week after running a timed mile (I came in at 14:05) that I have my work cut out for me I also quickly realized the rush of euphoria you get after having a good run. Bill has been encouraging me for quite some time to give running a try (with two marathons under his belt he is a seasoned runner) as he felt it was a well-suited form of exercise for me. Clearly he recognized the head clearing properties that I need to rid myself of work and home stresses and he saw how running was "just what the doctor ordered" to take care of that. He also warned me to "be careful because running can become addicting just like a drug." I think I already see what he means.
This past week I have looked forward to my homework assignments and without hesitation headed to the health club to run on the treadmill (still a little too dark a little too early here for me to run alone outside in the evenings). And believe it or not, in just a week I feel myself getting a little stronger and my endurance growing. Wow - it is amazing the paces you can put your body through and how quickly it responds.
Tonight will be another personal challenge as I will get assigned to my leveled group and we will embark on an hour-long run after listening to a guest speaker talk about running attire and shoes. Lucky for me we are having a spring day today with sun and temps near 50. Thank goodness tomorrow's forecasted weather (snow yet again) isn't coming today. We were told last week we run outside rain, shine OR snow.
Check back to see how tonight's class goes.
Tonight is Class #2 (of 8) and I can honestly and with conviction say that deciding to take this class was one of the best decisions I have made for myself in quite some time. Aside from the humbling realization last week after running a timed mile (I came in at 14:05) that I have my work cut out for me I also quickly realized the rush of euphoria you get after having a good run. Bill has been encouraging me for quite some time to give running a try (with two marathons under his belt he is a seasoned runner) as he felt it was a well-suited form of exercise for me. Clearly he recognized the head clearing properties that I need to rid myself of work and home stresses and he saw how running was "just what the doctor ordered" to take care of that. He also warned me to "be careful because running can become addicting just like a drug." I think I already see what he means.
This past week I have looked forward to my homework assignments and without hesitation headed to the health club to run on the treadmill (still a little too dark a little too early here for me to run alone outside in the evenings). And believe it or not, in just a week I feel myself getting a little stronger and my endurance growing. Wow - it is amazing the paces you can put your body through and how quickly it responds.
Tonight will be another personal challenge as I will get assigned to my leveled group and we will embark on an hour-long run after listening to a guest speaker talk about running attire and shoes. Lucky for me we are having a spring day today with sun and temps near 50. Thank goodness tomorrow's forecasted weather (snow yet again) isn't coming today. We were told last week we run outside rain, shine OR snow.
Check back to see how tonight's class goes.
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