This week has been very eventful so far.
I ran with TBO on Sunday. We went further than the plan said but we were feeling pretty good so we kept going. I know this isn't what I'm suppose to say but since I have already confessed my sins to John the Trainer all is good and I can post it. Ran about 1.5 miles and did about half a mile of rolling hills. All together we went 2.5 miles. I think the time was 43 minutes but I had some watch issues so I'm not sure. User error does happen every now and then.
Monday I had a special treat and took a Yoga class with 60sChild. That was extra special for me. First because I hadn't spent any quality time with her in over 6 months and second because this was my first Yoga class in about 8 or 9 months. It's been a long time.
We had an instructor that I've never had before. Her name was Molly. I like her style a lot and during the corpse pose portion of the class she played a guitar. Corpse portion is the last 15 minutes where you lay like a dead corpse and absorb all that you have done to your body. It's a restorative moment you give yourself for surviving class. The main objective is to not snore if you fall asleep. No this class was pretty mild. Mild is what I needed since it was like starting over. At the beginning of class we discussed what injuries we had and how we were feeling. Molly would then remind you of alignment and suggest alternatives when you did poses that might effect your condition. My knee held up pretty good. I only had problems with Child's Pose. She gave me modifications and that helped a lot. Towards the end we did Bow Pose. You are lying on your stomach and bend your knees, reach behind and grab your ankles. Then pull up your upper body and your lower body all from you center. It's a great stretch for the quads but you have to really listen to your body and not over do it. I didn't pull to far up with the legs since it's been a while. I had forgotten the stretch your body gets from a good Yoga class. I really enjoyed it.
On to Tuesday and time with John the Trainer.
He found a new use for the torture ball - shoulders! Yes I said shoulders. You know that spot in the back just outside of your shoulder blade that dips in a little bit at the joint. Yeah that one. Well stick the torture ball right there and roll around on it. OMG is the only thing I have to say. So after you've numb it to death. Yeah that's the feeling when you hit the right spot, your arm goes numb. You now get to try exercises with it. I say try because some of the stuff hurt so bad and all I was doing was lifting my arms. It's not suppose to hurt when you lift your arms.
It seems there are more areas of my body that have issues. He tells me that he has always wanted to do something with my shoulders but my legs were such a mess he had to wait. Now the wait it over. Lucky me.
If you see me in the next few days and I can't move my arms you will know why.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
...Now for a word from our sponsors
I want to thank all of you for the amazing encouragement you have provided me since I started this journey. This is the time of year to think about all you are thankful for and reflect on the year or years. Last week I had a pretty major birthday and it's got me to thinking.
I have known some of you for short time (like John the Trainer) and known others for more than half my life. Half is starting to become a significant number all be itself (like DC Man who tells me how much he likes my writing). The thing you all share is that I can't imagine my life without you being a part of it. Thanks so much for the friendship and the kind kicks in the butt when I need them.
You guys mean a lot to me. Thanks for being there.
I have known some of you for short time (like John the Trainer) and known others for more than half my life. Half is starting to become a significant number all be itself (like DC Man who tells me how much he likes my writing). The thing you all share is that I can't imagine my life without you being a part of it. Thanks so much for the friendship and the kind kicks in the butt when I need them.
You guys mean a lot to me. Thanks for being there.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Name that torture device
Today was mostly a good day. I ran a little this morning. Didn't go over so well.
Anyway, I worked out with John the Trainer this afternoon. That went much better. Well for a while anyway. He decided that I needed to stretch my ass. Stretching is not your friend. Yes I know it's good for you but it is not your friend.
He goes and gets this tool. It's looks like a cross between a softball and a golf ball. It's hard with just a little give. Take said thing, roll your body over so the side of your butt cheek is on the ball. Then take your left foot and put it across your right knee. If you manage to not fall off, your prize is you get to roll around on the ball until you find the spot that is going to make you cry. You will know the spot and it hits you quickly. I was told people either laugh or cry. On the left side I laughed or the right side it was somewhere between screaming and crying. It hurts so much. A pain shot through my leg and my toes went numb. I have done some crazy stretches before but this one was by far the worse. I was more tired doing this stretch than I was during the whole workout.
Now it's is my new best friend. I took it home with me. Lucky me.
Since this thing is now a part of my existence it needs a name. Therefore I name thee torture ball.
Anyway, I worked out with John the Trainer this afternoon. That went much better. Well for a while anyway. He decided that I needed to stretch my ass. Stretching is not your friend. Yes I know it's good for you but it is not your friend.
He goes and gets this tool. It's looks like a cross between a softball and a golf ball. It's hard with just a little give. Take said thing, roll your body over so the side of your butt cheek is on the ball. Then take your left foot and put it across your right knee. If you manage to not fall off, your prize is you get to roll around on the ball until you find the spot that is going to make you cry. You will know the spot and it hits you quickly. I was told people either laugh or cry. On the left side I laughed or the right side it was somewhere between screaming and crying. It hurts so much. A pain shot through my leg and my toes went numb. I have done some crazy stretches before but this one was by far the worse. I was more tired doing this stretch than I was during the whole workout.
Now it's is my new best friend. I took it home with me. Lucky me.
Since this thing is now a part of my existence it needs a name. Therefore I name thee torture ball.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
This is going to be more challenging than I thought
Everyone is worried about whether I can safely train for this race. It seems that I'm not the one they should be worried about. TBO is having hamstring issues that she has decided to ignore. I told her to take the rest of the week off and ice it and stretch it but she is determined to ignore me. So here is my plea.
TallBlondeOne please take some time and listen to your body. I need you for the long haul. This is just one of many races that I plan for us to enjoy. I don't want to lose my running partners again. I just got you back. Slow down for just a little bit. There is still time to get back on the wagon and still make the race.
On another note, I ran yesterday and felt great. I am finally starting to understand how the strength training will help my running. It was cool to feel the difference in my hips running now vs in the past. I am more stable with my upper body and there is a balance that I never had before. It's like I'm holding up my body weight myself and freeing my legs to do their thing. Instead of before my legs had to carry and load and try to move at the same time. It felt lighter or something.
It's amazing how it's all connected. I know that sounds lame it's your body of course it's all connected but it's different when you realize and can feel the parts working together instead of against each other.
This TBO is why you NEED to listen!
TallBlondeOne please take some time and listen to your body. I need you for the long haul. This is just one of many races that I plan for us to enjoy. I don't want to lose my running partners again. I just got you back. Slow down for just a little bit. There is still time to get back on the wagon and still make the race.
On another note, I ran yesterday and felt great. I am finally starting to understand how the strength training will help my running. It was cool to feel the difference in my hips running now vs in the past. I am more stable with my upper body and there is a balance that I never had before. It's like I'm holding up my body weight myself and freeing my legs to do their thing. Instead of before my legs had to carry and load and try to move at the same time. It felt lighter or something.
It's amazing how it's all connected. I know that sounds lame it's your body of course it's all connected but it's different when you realize and can feel the parts working together instead of against each other.
This TBO is why you NEED to listen!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
And we begin...
Today TBO and I started our 10K training. It was a gorgeous day about 50 degrees in the morning and not a cloud in the sky. We walked about 1/2 mile when we got to the flat part. The neighborhood is very hilly so finding flat ground was very important.
The actual running part went pretty well. We did a 1/1 since we are both starting over. We kept the pace slow and steady. It's what everybody needed and we were able to keep a conversation going the whole time. We ran a mile and the walked the rest of the way. In total we did 2.6 miles in about 49 minutes. You won't win with these times but it was a very respectful first showing.
After the run we did some Yoga and I showed TBO and the girls a few exercises that I learned from John the Trainer. TBO will need to workout some to remember how to use her core. That will help with the main goal which is learn to run again WITHOUT getting injured.
We are pretty well matched in the "I suck" category so this should be really good. It was good to be outside with my running buddy again.
Here is the run.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/55935079
The actual running part went pretty well. We did a 1/1 since we are both starting over. We kept the pace slow and steady. It's what everybody needed and we were able to keep a conversation going the whole time. We ran a mile and the walked the rest of the way. In total we did 2.6 miles in about 49 minutes. You won't win with these times but it was a very respectful first showing.
After the run we did some Yoga and I showed TBO and the girls a few exercises that I learned from John the Trainer. TBO will need to workout some to remember how to use her core. That will help with the main goal which is learn to run again WITHOUT getting injured.
We are pretty well matched in the "I suck" category so this should be really good. It was good to be outside with my running buddy again.
Here is the run.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/55935079
Saturday, November 6, 2010
It's that time of year again
Race season is upon us. So of course the running bug has been losing it's mind screaming in my head. Then TBO (Tall Blond One for those that don't remember) starts trying to get me to train for the half marathon. I haven't run in almost 2 years and she wants my return to be 13.2 miles! IS SHE CRAZY? The answer to that is no, but at the time I did have to wonder.
This dilemma seriously put me in problem solving mode. I know it was an imagined problem but a problem none the less. And I do love a good problem. It's what I do. Who am I kidding, it's WHO I AM!
Anyway, I came up with the perfect solution. Train to run Austin's Cap 10K. It's March 27, 2011. That's 20 weeks from now. The half training is only 13 weeks. I should be able to run 6 miles in 5 months. Piece of cake right.
TBO was on board, now all I had to do was convince John the Trainer. He wasn't as happy about the idea. Although he accepted it better than I thought.
Now that I have his blessing (I'm stretching that bit but he didn't say no) all I have to do is create the plan. That was part of the deal. I had to create the plan and he gets to make modifications. He also has veto power. I agreed that if he told me to slow down or stop I would. No questions asked.
So now that I have a new training project I guess you will be hearing from me more often. It was hard to write when I wasn't do to much. I felt like all I was doing was whining. And I didn't think any wanted to hear me whine. If you can't tell I'm excited about getting into this. We'll see how it goes. I'll let you know all about the adventure as it unfolds.
This dilemma seriously put me in problem solving mode. I know it was an imagined problem but a problem none the less. And I do love a good problem. It's what I do. Who am I kidding, it's WHO I AM!
Anyway, I came up with the perfect solution. Train to run Austin's Cap 10K. It's March 27, 2011. That's 20 weeks from now. The half training is only 13 weeks. I should be able to run 6 miles in 5 months. Piece of cake right.
TBO was on board, now all I had to do was convince John the Trainer. He wasn't as happy about the idea. Although he accepted it better than I thought.
Now that I have his blessing (I'm stretching that bit but he didn't say no) all I have to do is create the plan. That was part of the deal. I had to create the plan and he gets to make modifications. He also has veto power. I agreed that if he told me to slow down or stop I would. No questions asked.
So now that I have a new training project I guess you will be hearing from me more often. It was hard to write when I wasn't do to much. I felt like all I was doing was whining. And I didn't think any wanted to hear me whine. If you can't tell I'm excited about getting into this. We'll see how it goes. I'll let you know all about the adventure as it unfolds.
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