I am noticing that it’s starting to get a shade lighter in the morning. No wait, I just started later than usual today. 
I felt pretty good, first mile the fastest at 8:55, then 9:33, then 9:47. But the key is my hip flexor pain wasn’t as bad. My plan is to run 7 on Saturday, then next Monday and Wednesday, run 3 each day. Then next Saturday, up the long run to 8, building up one mile each week till I get to 13. Then I will just do alternating long runs every Saturday of 10 and 6, all the way up until the mini. Here’s to strategic planning!
Garmin numbers for today:
| Total Time (h:m:s) |
0:28:24 |
9:30 pace |
| Distance (mi ) |
2.99 |
|
| Moving Speed (mph) |
6.3 avg. |
8.8 max. |
| Elevation Gain (ft) |
+213 / -211 |
|
| Temperature (F) |
42.8 F avg. |
42.8 F high |
This morning I ran again. It was chilly. Motionbased’s weather numbers put it at 24.8 degrees, but my temperature reading was around 21. Either way, it’s chilly but I can’t really call this cold. I remember my brother telling me about his first winter in Edmonton, Canada. He said he left his apartment one morning and he heard a cracking sound near his face. It turned out to be water on his beard left over from his shower, freezing instantly. So, this is not anywhere close to being cold.
I have come so far in running this year, in a short time. I started out at the end of the summer, huffing and puffing, chugging along, taking frequent and long walk breaks, thinking that my knees were just going to break they hurt so bad. I slowly progressed as I lost weight and improved my cardio output. Finally I felt free. I could really do it! I could run! I felt as if I could just run forever and ever. Visions of all kinds of running scenarios flashed in my head. It was going to take me places I have been wanting to go for awhile. I began to feel good about myself again.
All the while, I knew that running and injury go hand-in-hand. Still, it’s a bit depressing going from around 22 miles a week down to nine. But hey, you know what? Nine miles sounds a whole lot better than no miles to me right now.
| Total Time (h:m:s) |
0:32:45 |
10:30 pace |
| Moving Time (h:m:s) |
0:32:46 |
10:30 pace |
| Distance (mi ) |
3.12 |
|
| Moving Speed (mph) |
5.7 avg. |
7.8 max. |
| Elevation Gain (ft) |
+237 / -227 |
|
| Temperature (F) |
24.8F avg. |
24.8F high |
| Wind Speed (mph) |
E 4.6 avg. |
E 4.6 max. |
Today I ran for the first time since Tuesday (five days ago). I saw a Physical Therapist yesterday who examined me, analyzed my running and put me on a stretching program (link to PDF of his recommended stretches here). He also had me do a little bit of Pilates, which I had never done before. While I was doing the Pilates stuff, it didn’t feel like it was working me that much. I am used to breaking a sweat at the Y, and also when I run. I figure if you don’t at least break a sweat, it isn’t worth it. Well, this morning I could definitely feel it. So maybe there is something to it.
Anyway, normally I would do 10 miles on my “long run” day, but he said for me to just do a little, and while I still have pain, it’s tolerable at the moment. While on the run, I could feel some discomfort, but I was not concentrating on it. In fact, I felt elated just to be running again. I grabbed the iPod before I went out the door and put it on shuffle. The song of the run, as hokey as it may sound, was “Dancin’ On The Ceiling.” The sun was out, and I was running again! Oh yeah, baby. For historical and selfish reasons I want to keep track of what I do as I try to heal, so here are my numbers for today:
| Total Time (h:m:s) |
0:29:55 |
10:00 pace |
| Moving Time (h:m:s) |
0:29:56 |
10:00 pace |
| Distance (mi ) |
2.99 |
|
| Moving Speed (mph) |
6.0 avg. |
7.7 max. |
| Elevation Gain (ft) |
+237 / -227 |
|
| Temperature (F) |
32 deg. F avg. |
32 deg. F high |
| Wind Speed (mph) |
E 5.8 avg. |
E 5.8 max. |
