I completed today's 5-mile course in about 80 minutes. That pace is much slower than what I have been doing but I felt like I was going as fast as I could. I'm a little disappointed, but some days are like that I guess. I went to bed with a sore throat and woke up with a sore throat, so I'll give myself some grace. The important thing is, I finished the full 5 miles and didn't turn around at the early turn back point.
Before the workout, Coaches Noah and Jennifer taught a clinic on proper running and walking form. Summary: head up, neck relaxed, shoulders back, chest up to take in maximum air, arms relaxed at a 90 degree angle as if gliding on drawer rails, hands held loosely. For running, the goal is for the foot to strike the ground under the body's center of gravity -- better many short strides than a too-long one. For walking, the heel strikes the ground first.
After the workout, a physical therapist taught a clinic on stretches and keeping muscle pairs in balance in terms of flexibility and strength to prevent injury. I asked her about the pain on the insides of my knees that have been troubling my attempts to jog rather than walk. She suggested that the trouble actually stems from weak hip and outer thigh muscles and suggested some body mechanics and strengthening exercises to build up those muscles.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
June 11th Workout
So last night the back of my baby girl's skull collided with my nose. I was able to go back to sleep, but when I woke up felt like I had a severe sinus headache, and didn't do my workout in the morning. After reading up on nose injuries, I decided I should call the doctor. She wanted to see me to make sure it wasn't broken and there weren't any complications. I had a 2:00 p.m. appointment and left work early. The nurse took my blood pressure, which was very low: 65/40! The doctor confirmed that my nose is just bruised and gave some tips for pain relief. She also looked at my thumb which I injured on Monday trying to open a coconut with a butcher knife and advised that I get a tetanus shot, which I did.
When I got home from the appointment around 3:00, I was exhausted and Charlotte was asleep in the back of the car, so we both slept in the car for about 30 minutes. When she woke up, we went inside and continued resting, me with a dose of Tylenol and a cold pack wrapped in a towel on my face. Just before 6:00 I felt a little better so I decided to get out and move even if I couldn't do a very intense workout.
We walked to Staples on 17th Street and got some ink for my printer so I can finish printing my fundraising letters. From Staples, we headed down Tustin Avenue, right on Fruit, explored a condo complex, continued on Fruit to Cabrillo where we turned right and headed up to Monterey Villas where we live.
I stopped to switch the front wheel of the stroller to swivel mode so we could better navigate the sidewalks in our complex. I must have stood up too fast, because after a few steps, I felt lightheaded, my vision started darkening and I felt weak in the knees. I decided to sit down in the middle of the sidewalk to avoid falling.
When I felt better, we slowly continued to the mailboxes and then on home.
Do my recent fatigue, today's low blood pressure and this little episode add up to anything serious? I hope not.
Today's stats:
Total course registers at 2.1 miles in Google maps; I checked out at Staples at 6:04 and we were back in the house by 6:43; not sure how long I was sitting on the sidewalk.
When I got home from the appointment around 3:00, I was exhausted and Charlotte was asleep in the back of the car, so we both slept in the car for about 30 minutes. When she woke up, we went inside and continued resting, me with a dose of Tylenol and a cold pack wrapped in a towel on my face. Just before 6:00 I felt a little better so I decided to get out and move even if I couldn't do a very intense workout.
We walked to Staples on 17th Street and got some ink for my printer so I can finish printing my fundraising letters. From Staples, we headed down Tustin Avenue, right on Fruit, explored a condo complex, continued on Fruit to Cabrillo where we turned right and headed up to Monterey Villas where we live.
I stopped to switch the front wheel of the stroller to swivel mode so we could better navigate the sidewalks in our complex. I must have stood up too fast, because after a few steps, I felt lightheaded, my vision started darkening and I felt weak in the knees. I decided to sit down in the middle of the sidewalk to avoid falling.
When I felt better, we slowly continued to the mailboxes and then on home.
Do my recent fatigue, today's low blood pressure and this little episode add up to anything serious? I hope not.
Today's stats:
Total course registers at 2.1 miles in Google maps; I checked out at Staples at 6:04 and we were back in the house by 6:43; not sure how long I was sitting on the sidewalk.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
21% of Fundraising Goal Reached!
Thanks to my generous friends, Tim and Katie Jacoby, I've now reached $1,050, or 21% of my $5,000 goal!
Can you spare $25, $50, or $100?
Can you trade :
Can you spare $25, $50, or $100?
Can you trade :
- One night out at the movies?
- A new pair of jeans?
- One nice dinner out?
- Getting your car detailed?
- Increased federal funding for biomedical research
- Collaborative public-private sector research efforts
- New blood cancer medications
- Ensuring patients access to high quality healthcare
Please use the link at right to make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June 9th Workout
I had planned on doing today's workout this afternoon, but Charlotte was awake at 6:30 so I figured I might as well get out there rather than trying to squeeze in a few more minutes shuteye and worry about not getting up on time. I quickly dressed, put my precious girl in our new (to us) jogging stroller tucked in with a blanket, and away we went.
The training plan calls for a 35 minute workout today. My course took me east on Wellington to Tustin, south to First Street, back up Tustin to Fruit and west to Cabrillo Park, where I headed north back to my front door. According to Google Maps, this was a 2.2 mile course. I left home at about 6:50 and returned just after 7:25, putting my pace at ~16 minutes a mile. I've gone faster before, but that time does include stopping for the light to cross 4th street both directions.
The training plan calls for a 35 minute workout today. My course took me east on Wellington to Tustin, south to First Street, back up Tustin to Fruit and west to Cabrillo Park, where I headed north back to my front door. According to Google Maps, this was a 2.2 mile course. I left home at about 6:50 and returned just after 7:25, putting my pace at ~16 minutes a mile. I've gone faster before, but that time does include stopping for the light to cross 4th street both directions.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 6th Training
Today I met up with Team in Training at Heritage Park in Irvine. After a clinic on proper running clothes and gear, we headed out in pace groups for a 4-mile course. I chose the 14-15 minute/mile pace group and finished right around the middle of my pack. I forgot to bring water to the course, and was glad that they had plastic cups and a water cooler at the end. I did stretch before going out this time, and did not experience any cramping. I had some minor twinges in my lower calfs/ankles early in the course but they went away by the first mile mark.
Today we also worked on proper breathing. I tend to breathe along to whatever song is stuck in my head, which I notice is not always efficient once I get going. Coach Noah instructed us to breathe in rhythm to our steps, which helped a lot. At one point in the course there were cones set up for a breathing drill. Between the first two cones, we were to inhale for four steps and exhale for four steps. That felt like too long between breaths for me. Between the next two cones, we did a 3/3 pattern, then a 2/2 pattern and finally a 1/1 pattern. The 3/3 and 2/2 felt the most comfortable to me.
Today we also worked on proper breathing. I tend to breathe along to whatever song is stuck in my head, which I notice is not always efficient once I get going. Coach Noah instructed us to breathe in rhythm to our steps, which helped a lot. At one point in the course there were cones set up for a breathing drill. Between the first two cones, we were to inhale for four steps and exhale for four steps. That felt like too long between breaths for me. Between the next two cones, we did a 3/3 pattern, then a 2/2 pattern and finally a 1/1 pattern. The 3/3 and 2/2 felt the most comfortable to me.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 4 Workout
I woke up at 6:00 as planned, got dressed and finished stretching by 6:05. I realized after I was down the block that I had neglected nutrition.
My course took me from Wellington down Cabrillo Park Drive, left on Fourth Street, left on Tustin, left on Wellington back to my complex (about 2 miles). I did short runs throughout and kept up a brisk walking pace otherwise. I ran between Fruit and a driveway into a condominimum community. I ran from one fire hydrant to the next. I ran from a tree to the corner. I was back by 6:35. According to Google Maps, at a walking pace the course should have taken 37 minutes.
When I was out there, I thought about my attitude toward running. I used to think that running feels like flying. How fun it was to speed along. But at some point between then and now (5th grade?), I began to think of running as a chore or even a punishment. I want to restore my childlike attitude and enjoy running once more.
My course took me from Wellington down Cabrillo Park Drive, left on Fourth Street, left on Tustin, left on Wellington back to my complex (about 2 miles). I did short runs throughout and kept up a brisk walking pace otherwise. I ran between Fruit and a driveway into a condominimum community. I ran from one fire hydrant to the next. I ran from a tree to the corner. I was back by 6:35. According to Google Maps, at a walking pace the course should have taken 37 minutes.
When I was out there, I thought about my attitude toward running. I used to think that running feels like flying. How fun it was to speed along. But at some point between then and now (5th grade?), I began to think of running as a chore or even a punishment. I want to restore my childlike attitude and enjoy running once more.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2nd Workout
I had planned to get up at 6:00 this morning and go out by myself while my husband and baby slept (or at least while Adam watched Charlotte since she is usually in sync with mommy and wakes when I do), but you know what they say about plans.
When I was getting Charlotte ready for bed last night I noticed a small pus-filled blister on her left index finger. Her whole finger was slightly swollen too. At 4:30 in the morning, I woke up with a start. Charlotte was burning up with fever. I took her temperature and it was 103! Her poor finger was twice the size and the blister took up most of her finger pad and was stretched to the limit with bloody pus. Adam called the advice nurse who told us to try to get her fever down with a sponge bath, and if it didn't go down within the hour to take her to urgent care or the ER. The sponge bath did reduce her fever in the short-term, but by the time an hour had passed it was back up to 102.7. With that combined with how awful her finger looked, a rash she had developed and her rapid breathing, we decided to take her to the ER.
At the ER they did minor surgery on her finger. First I was told they were just going to lance it to let out the pus, but the PA ended up needing to cut away a bunch of tissue. Her finger was dressed in gauze and wrapped in tape. I've had a hard time keeping it out of her mouth and keeping her from trying to rip off the bandage.
We got home from the ER around 8:00 with prescriptions for two antibiotics, Cephalex and Sulfameth. About 10 minutes after her first dose of each, she vomited all over my lap.
Needless to say, I didn't go into work.
In the afternoon, Charlotte's fever broke and she started showing signs of feeling better. We have to change the dressing on her wound tonight and I didn't have any gauze or tape. There is a Walgreens 0.8 miles from my house (about 15 minutes walking) so I thought I would do my 30 minute workout for today and do an errand at the same time.
Pushing the stroller with a 17 lb baby and a who-knows-how-heavy diaper bag and purse made for a great workout even while walking at a brisk pace, and it got even more intense as I walked up Cabrillo due to the tree roots that push up the sidewalk and make steep little hills every few feet.
I feel good if a little tired from my early morning and all-day marathon nursing to comfort and heal Charlotte.
When I was getting Charlotte ready for bed last night I noticed a small pus-filled blister on her left index finger. Her whole finger was slightly swollen too. At 4:30 in the morning, I woke up with a start. Charlotte was burning up with fever. I took her temperature and it was 103! Her poor finger was twice the size and the blister took up most of her finger pad and was stretched to the limit with bloody pus. Adam called the advice nurse who told us to try to get her fever down with a sponge bath, and if it didn't go down within the hour to take her to urgent care or the ER. The sponge bath did reduce her fever in the short-term, but by the time an hour had passed it was back up to 102.7. With that combined with how awful her finger looked, a rash she had developed and her rapid breathing, we decided to take her to the ER.
At the ER they did minor surgery on her finger. First I was told they were just going to lance it to let out the pus, but the PA ended up needing to cut away a bunch of tissue. Her finger was dressed in gauze and wrapped in tape. I've had a hard time keeping it out of her mouth and keeping her from trying to rip off the bandage.
We got home from the ER around 8:00 with prescriptions for two antibiotics, Cephalex and Sulfameth. About 10 minutes after her first dose of each, she vomited all over my lap.
Needless to say, I didn't go into work.
In the afternoon, Charlotte's fever broke and she started showing signs of feeling better. We have to change the dressing on her wound tonight and I didn't have any gauze or tape. There is a Walgreens 0.8 miles from my house (about 15 minutes walking) so I thought I would do my 30 minute workout for today and do an errand at the same time.
Pushing the stroller with a 17 lb baby and a who-knows-how-heavy diaper bag and purse made for a great workout even while walking at a brisk pace, and it got even more intense as I walked up Cabrillo due to the tree roots that push up the sidewalk and make steep little hills every few feet.
I feel good if a little tired from my early morning and all-day marathon nursing to comfort and heal Charlotte.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
