This morning I got up and ran early, but both my Scuttlebutts were out of town so I was alone. I took to the streets of Tribune for the first day of Week 2 of the Couch To 5K Podcasts. I only did one day of Week 1 (instead of 3), but I didn't want to get behind and I figured I could handle it. Today's was run 90 seconds, walk 2 minutes. Again, I'm doing this more as a speed-interval workout to try to up my pace a bit. I figure I ought to be jogging the "walk" intervals, but right now it's really working me hard to keep up a strong pace for the short "run" intervals.
It struck me today how the advice that Robert (Ullrey, author of the podcasts) gives about running form is exactly the opposite of Christopher McDougall's: Keep your arms loose vs. Pump your elbows. Run on your heels, not your toes; vs. Kick your heels to your butt and practice a mid-foot strike. I will say that McDougall's is more challenging, naturally, since it's hard to run slowly and kick your heels to your rear.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Copycat copycat
I don't know, it just seemed like a nice night for a run.
My attempt to re-join the Scuttlebutts on Wednesday morning this week proved disastrous - I only got about 2 minutes of running in before my vision started to go black and I got completely dizzy. Later that day I developed what I'm quite sure was my second-ever-in-my-life migraine headache. I spent Wednesday afternoon and much of Thursday consuming mass quantities of various pharmaceutical agents and groaning. I'm not sure what tripped it, but even by this morning (Friday) I was wary of trying again. Then, tonight, it just sounded like fun.
So here's the current plan: Start C25K over again, with my "new" rules of running gleaned from the "Born To Run" book that no, I will not shut up about. If I count this as week 1, I've got just enough time to complete the 9-week program before the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure in Colorado Springs. I ran in my flat shoes again, and no, my knee doesn't hurt at all. Instead of holding my "easy" pace that I normally maintain, I am trying to actually RUN. I'm using the pointers I recall from Christopher McDougall -- heels up to the butt, pump the elbows, mid-foot strike -- and it's actually really FUN. Whenever I felt my energy flagging, I checked in on those three points and got going again.
Granted, I just did a Week One run, so it was 8 sets of 60 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, but hey, it's a start, right?? And at the end I felt refreshed and alive, not beat-down (and let's pray for no more migraines).
My attempt to re-join the Scuttlebutts on Wednesday morning this week proved disastrous - I only got about 2 minutes of running in before my vision started to go black and I got completely dizzy. Later that day I developed what I'm quite sure was my second-ever-in-my-life migraine headache. I spent Wednesday afternoon and much of Thursday consuming mass quantities of various pharmaceutical agents and groaning. I'm not sure what tripped it, but even by this morning (Friday) I was wary of trying again. Then, tonight, it just sounded like fun.
So here's the current plan: Start C25K over again, with my "new" rules of running gleaned from the "Born To Run" book that no, I will not shut up about. If I count this as week 1, I've got just enough time to complete the 9-week program before the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure in Colorado Springs. I ran in my flat shoes again, and no, my knee doesn't hurt at all. Instead of holding my "easy" pace that I normally maintain, I am trying to actually RUN. I'm using the pointers I recall from Christopher McDougall -- heels up to the butt, pump the elbows, mid-foot strike -- and it's actually really FUN. Whenever I felt my energy flagging, I checked in on those three points and got going again.
Granted, I just did a Week One run, so it was 8 sets of 60 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, but hey, it's a start, right?? And at the end I felt refreshed and alive, not beat-down (and let's pray for no more migraines).
Reboot
So, last night I went out for my first run since the half-marathon in April. It was a nice evening out, so after the kids were in bed I put on my old Nike Frees, plugged in my new-used-iPod Nano, and set out for a run. I ran our old 2-mile loop in somewhere around 15 minutes (3.5 Ace of Base songs) and felt pretty good. My biggest problem was the breathing--I felt out of breath pretty early on and just tried to keep going anyway. Afterward my legs felt fine except when I was coming down the stairs--then I felt a little weird.
I also recently finished reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. My review of it is here on my books blog. It's a great read, but the biggest thing I got out of it was that I should have read it before I bought some new Nikes. I got some Lunatrainers right before the half-marathon to wear for future runs. Robyn convinced me that my old Nikes really needed to be replaced, even though they still felt okay, and we were at a running store in Lawrence, so I might as well get them. The staff watched me walk back and forth in my sock feet, and suggested these as something with a little more cushioning but still pretty lightweight and flexible. Well, after reading Born to Run, I'm thinking I should have just stuck with the Frees. In fact, now Robyn and I are both considering getting Vibram Five Fingers instead.
Well, I don't know if I'll be ready for the Space Coast Half Marathon (after Thanksgiving) unless I find more time to get some running in. I've been pretty busy lately with a whole lot of other things, and running isn't always a high priority. But after reading about all these amazing runners, I'm eager to give it another shot.
I also recently finished reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. My review of it is here on my books blog. It's a great read, but the biggest thing I got out of it was that I should have read it before I bought some new Nikes. I got some Lunatrainers right before the half-marathon to wear for future runs. Robyn convinced me that my old Nikes really needed to be replaced, even though they still felt okay, and we were at a running store in Lawrence, so I might as well get them. The staff watched me walk back and forth in my sock feet, and suggested these as something with a little more cushioning but still pretty lightweight and flexible. Well, after reading Born to Run, I'm thinking I should have just stuck with the Frees. In fact, now Robyn and I are both considering getting Vibram Five Fingers instead.
Well, I don't know if I'll be ready for the Space Coast Half Marathon (after Thanksgiving) unless I find more time to get some running in. I've been pretty busy lately with a whole lot of other things, and running isn't always a high priority. But after reading about all these amazing runners, I'm eager to give it another shot.
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