A Non-Update Update

I really don't have anything to update because I haven't run since my last post. I've had some issues, not much health wise, but more work wise. Work has been stressful, causing some anxiety for me. It has kind of drained me and I found myself in a bit of a funk. I know that exercise, running in particular, can help with that, but the motivation just hasn't been there. I've felt so tired that some nights I have actually crawled into bed before it even got dark. It's pretty bad when I stay home from work sick but I spent almost the entire day working! The only time I wasn't working that day was the few hours I was at the doctor's office.

One positive thing that's happened is that I started the allergy shots. I go twice a week on my lunch break. I'll have to do this for at least ten weeks then once a week for several months. I've only had two injections, but so far so good.

Even though I haven't felt like posting or running, I've been trying to keep up with all of the bloggers that I follow. If someone mentions another blog, I go check it out too. There are a lot of friendly, knowledgeable people out here in blog land. Some of them make me laugh, others make me cry, but all are inspirational. I just wish I lived closer to some of you; it would be easier to stay motivated, or at least to get back on track. It seems there aren't many bloggers from Nebraska.

Anyway, here's hoping I get out of this funk soon and find my motivation again.

Just a few questions, if you don't mind

I've spent the last several months reading everyone’s great running blogs about your awesome races and intense training programs, looking at the fantastic pictures a lot of you have posted, and even started a running program (for new runners) myself.

Through your blogs and other running sites I learned the importance of having the right kind of running shoes for my feet and gait (which I bought last fall), found some good references and resources for great running socks, the best type of material for running clothes (even cute running skirts), and read a lot of very valuable reviews and opinions on which Garmin was the best (I just bought the 305 and love it).

 However, the more I run the more questions I have about some things related to running. A few of these things are:

• What do you use to keep things in, such as cell phone, personal identification, insurance card, tissues, and car key?
• If you carry water with you, how do you carry it?
• How do you keep your hair out of your face – you know, after pulling it back into a pony tail and putting a few bobby pins along the sides, there are always those around the face or on top that escape and get right in your eyes.
• If running alone, do you carry anything like mace for protection?
• How do you manage to take pictures of yourself when out running and how do you carry a camera.

These questions always cross my mind as I get ready to head out the door for a run so I thought I would just ask all you experts out here in blog land. I hope you don't think I'm a complete dork for asking such trivial questions.

Now for my running report ;-)

Last Sunday I had entered an interval training program for Week 2 in my Garmin and loved how easy it was to do the intervals and not have to keep track on my watch or wear my MP3 to listen to the program that gives the cues.

Tonight I was all excited to get home from work, head out the door and just hit the start button to begin the intervals. Well, I had forgotten that I was to begin W3D1 of my training tonight and the intervals are different from week 2. I quickly programmed in the correct intervals and headed up the street to the trails at the lake. I had programmed the target speed for a Slow Jog, but it kept beeping at me, displaying that I was going at the speed of a Fast Walk! So I increased my speed until I was doing an actual slow jog. This weeks intervals are suppose to be 90 second run/90 second walk, then a three minute run/three minute walk, two repetitions of each. After the first 90 second run I noticed I had forgotten to enter in the walks between the runs. Bummer! Oh well, I decided to just repeat W2D3 so I would still get the training in.

It was a perfect evening to be out running. Even though it was quite windy, I worked up a nice sweat and I felt great. The best part is my lungs felt really good, no chest tightness at all. Taking up running is proving to be the best thing I could do for myself.

It’s True, Running Makes You Feel Better

This morning I was in a bit of a funk, one that carried over from last week and I did a rambling post about it. Well, shortly after that last post, I decided I needed to get myself out of the house, do a little bit of shopping (in my running attire) for a few items that I need for running (which I didn’t find), get out into the sunshine amongst people, and finish off week two of the running program I’ve been half-heartedly doing. I also needed to test out my new toy/running mate.

I got myself a Garmin 305! I originally looked at the 405, but decided I couldn’t quite afford another two hundred dollars for it (I’m still paying doctor bills from having pneumonia in February). I’m so glad I bought it. I just programmed in the interval training for W2D3 (run 90 seconds/walk 2 minutes x 6) and off I went. Now I don’t have to listen to the training podcast on my MP3 player to cue me when to run and walk. I really don’t like wearing headphones, I like to hear what’s going on around me. I love the sounds of being outside, hearing people talking, the trees rustling with the breeze, and especially the birds chirping. Besides, I can’t hear people announce when they’re passing me on the trail and I literally jump when they suddenly appear in my peripheral view.

The Garmin was actually delivered last week on a day that I was feeling really tired and I did something stupid that night. I turned it on to check it out but I was just too tired to focus on it. I put it on the coffee table and went to bed. The next morning, as I was getting ready for work, I heard a funny beeping noise. I realized the source of the beeping was the Garmin. I forgot to turn it off and the battery was low. It has a battery life of 10 hours and had been on for nine! I’m much more careful with it now and keep it on the charger all the time.

Anyway, the run was great! It was around 70 degrees, very sunny with a slight breeze. Today I went to Lake Zorinsky since I was out that way shopping. The run was challenging because of the small inclines, but not too much. I just kept concentrating on my breathing and, on the last run interval, challenged myself just a little to run a little faster. Afterwards, I felt tired and was breathing hard, but didn’t feel the need to stop and catch my breath.

Windsurfers on the lake

After completing my run, I continued walking for a while and did some people watching. I saw a young couple walking what looked like a small grizzly bear (that’s exactly what the guy said when I asked what kind of dog it was). The young woman holding its leash said it was a Newfoundland. I found an old tree log along the lake shore where I sat and watched some guys windsurfing on the lake and other people running and biking on the trails. It was a very busy place. I felt great and was in a much better mood.

Yep, running can improve your mood and is a great stress reliever. I need to keep that in mind the next time I feel the blahs coming on.

Sunday Morning Ramblings

This morning I've just been sitting here at my computer reading email and blogs, just feeling kind of blah. This past week, for some reason, I haven't felt very motivated to do much. I've actually felt pretty exhausted and I'm not sure why. It could be from a medication (not for asthma) that I'm on. I have to monitor it because too much makes me extremely tired, but too little and I get a bit agitated and toss and turn all night. It can also be due to work. Things have been a bit stressful at work for several reasons. One being the economy affects the industry I work in, another is that we're in the middle of implementing a new information system and this is a crucial time of year for us. We're currently working in two systems, the old and new. I'm a programmer, which means I'm programming in both systems and we're flying by the seat of our pants learning the new one. Plus, the demands from the top administrators for statistic reports from both systems have been relentless this past week. There were a few nights that I either stayed up late working and getting up early and days where I could barely stay awake at work, even had difficulty driving home because I was so tired, and crawled into bed by 8:00. Hopefully, this week will be better.

Last Saturday, the day before Easter, I ran W2D1 of my running program at the lake again. I think it was my third time running outside and it was a bit easier this time. I kept focused on the music and on my breathing. Because I have asthma (exercised and allergy induced), I've been reading about breathing techniques. A good book I found is Reversing Asthma by Richard N. Firshein, D.O. After reading that book and several articles online, I discovered that I don't breathe from the abdomen, I breathe from the chest, which is not an effective way of breathing. Anyway, to make a long story short, I've learned some breathing techniques that have helped me breathe and feel better. I've been using some of the techniques while running and they have helped. I make sure I breathe deep from the abdomen and fully exhale. And, since I'm concentrating on breathing, the runs are easier and go faster.

I didn't run again until Thursday. I did W2D2 on the treadmill. It was drizzly outside and I was feeling blah and tired. I didn't feel motivated to run, but somehow, I managed to talk myself into putting my shoes on and just do it. I did feel much better afterward, so I started up my work laptop and worked until 11:30. So far this weekend I haven't done any kind of exercising, unless you count going to my granddaughters fifth birthday party yesterday at the bowling alley and helping six four and five year olds bowl. Today my legs sure feel like I've done a lot of squats.

I think one reason I have a difficult time staying motivated is because I'm doing this all by myself. I know that it's really up to us to push ourselves to do things, but it sure helps if you have supportive people in your life. As I read other blogs, I notice that everyone has at least one person to talk to and share their goals with. I don't really have that. Sure, I have two grown daughters that you would think I could share with and get support from, but they're both so wrapped up in their own lives (husband, kids) and working hard on establishing their careers (one is a photographer and co-owner of a car repair shop and the other is a personal trainer at the YMCA and has her own personal training business) that they don't have time to fit in anything else. In fact, I help them out if they need it. As far as friends go, I don't have any close friendships and presently no significant other. I guess all I do is work. Hmmm, I really need to get a social life. But, at this age, it's more difficult than you think.

Anyway, those are my thoughts so far today. I think I’ll make myself a Sunday To Do list and put W2D3 at the top.

Running Outside For the First Time

Monday’s weather was absolutely gorgeous and I couldn’t wait to leave work so I could go running outside for the first time. I had been reading on different blogs and running forums that the transition from running on a treadmill to running outside was, for quite a few new runners, unexpectedly difficult. One person said something about the treadmill doing most of the work by moving under our feet, making it easier to run, and running outside we have to do the work of trying to move the earth under our feet. Well, I found out just what he meant!

I ran W1D3 outside in my neighborhood, on the flat concrete sidewalk, and was very surprised at how difficult it was for me. Running on the treadmill felt pretty good and fairly easy. I definitely had a false sense of how well I was doing. I thought I should probably run that particular day of training again on Wednesday.

While running, I listen to a training podcast that a young woman (Suz) created using hip hop music. I couldn’t wait for her cue telling me it was time to walk, and I actually groaned when I was cued to begin running again. I’m sure I went at quite a slower pace than I had been doing on the treadmill (which is pretty slow). This workout definitely made me huff and puff.

After I had completed all eight of the walk/run intervals and the five minute cool down, I walked an extra 10 minutes just to enjoy being outside in the sun and the slightly cool breeze. I did feel it was a good work out, and my lungs felt pretty good after (not immediately after!).

Wednesday, surprisingly, I wasn’t feeling very sore from Monday’s tough run and decided to run W2D1 around the lake by my house. I did the five minute warm-up walking to the lake from home. The trail (concrete walk) I chose to run on had some slightly hilly parts that I had forgotten about and were possibly the equivalent of an incline of three on the treadmill.

I tried not to think about the hills by focusing on the music I was listening to. Half way through the intervals, when a particular song came on, I realized I was running to the training session for W1D3 again! I guess my sub-conscious decided I needed to repeat it after all.

Friday (or possibly Saturday) I’ll really start Week Two of my training.