At Least it's Windy Outside

Pre Run

Just getting ready to head out my my lunch time 40 minute run. According to my Garmin I am in a strained state because I have been sleeping like rubbish the past week. I have also not been very consistent, which is a struggle. I was supposed to get out for my run yesterday, but ended up not getting it in. So I am doing it today, and doing my biking tomorrow. I'm just getting ready to head out for 40 minutes at a 1:1 run/walk. I've done 30 minutes like this, but this will be my first time past that. My long run Saturday didn't happen, I really need a better night sleep tonight. Saturday was a few days into my bad sleeping, and it was hard to do anything. I was just so tired.

Post Run

After 40 minutes I'm back. It was a steady run/walk. I only missed one notification to run, so got 3 minutes of walking in at the beginning of my outing. It was a good run, I'm feeling better than I was when I left. It was a windy 80° outside as I ran the path next to a somewhat busy road. The wind was strong enough to make it so I couldn't hear my book I was listening to for a while but it cooled it off some as it blew in my face.

The Day After

I didn't finish my post yesterday, but wanted to get something up. It took a bit for my heart rate to come down after my run, it was a bit high during and after. My legs ached a bit afterward as well, so I think I went a little too hard, but it was a good feeling. I'm happy with my effort yesterday in spite of being as tired as I was. Today will be the stationary bike at the gym after work, I might try the elliptical instead to see if it goes better than my biking attempts, but I'll make that decision later.

It's taken me long enough to post this. Thanks for reading.

-Riley

Not Wanting to Run and Cloud Cover

Before the Run

It's Thursday morning and I'll be candid, I am not feeling like running today. I'll still be running and my goal is to reach the 55 minute run that I have planned. I will be stepping out to lunch a little early so I can get it in and have time to change and hydrate when I get back. To help get me out on my run today I have my running clothes right behind me for easy access and a consistent reminder of what I'll be doing today.

With the training I signed up for I will be going to a meeting about it Sunday night to review training plans and what not. So that's exciting that it's moving forward.

Post Run

It was humid outside with a lot of cloud cover today during my run. The temperature wasn't as high as it was on Tuesday which was nice. I was just shy of 5k for the run. I was reminded of the first 3/4 mile is rough, my body was yelling at me, legs were burning, heart rate was good though. I just kept focused on my heart rate and getting one foot in front of the other and I made it out to where running was feeling better.

I'm nervous about running as far as I can nonstop. I'm just progressively increasing my run time with my walk run in steady increments. I look forward to see what my training plan will look like for my 10k.

I'm still struggling nutrition wise, eating out too much. It's a hard habit to break. But when I cook dinner at home it have been better for us (I think). I have lots of snacks that are better for me around the house too. Speaking of which, I'm off to have one of those snacks.

Thanks for reading.

-Riley

Decided to Run Today

Pre-Run

Not running on Saturday got me thinking about today's workout. It was originally going to be a strength training day, but I decided to change it to a running day. It's also supposed to be a bit milder today than tomorrow when it comes to the weather. I will be trying my hot weather get up (my normal running clothes but just a lighter colored shirt). I will be doing a repeat of last weeks runs, so it should be about 46-50 minutes total time.

Today's Run

Today was my furthest distance yet for any of my runs. I will be doing the same run on Thursday. As I was running today, my back really was bothering me. I stopped and walked a couple of times because of it. I think it was the impact as I was on the cement for the first part of my run. By the time I passed the halfway mark it was doing a bit better and I was able to finish my run.

Running in the lighter colored shirt today was a big help. It was overcast and breezy for my of my run, when I got to the last leg without any shade I could really feel the difference from my typical dark shirt. So I know what shirt I will be in next week when I do my 5k.

Overall it was a good run, with ups and downs, but good. It was a really nice lunch run.

I think that's it for today. Thanks for reading.

-Riley

Tricking th Brain, The Run, and Running Long Term

I made it out, and only had to use two mind tricks to do it. First one was having all of my running clothes laid out for myself so when I stood up at my desk I saw them. Which led to me changing into them at the beginning of lunch. Second I committed to 10 minutes of running, 5 minute warm up then 5 minutes of running. By the time I got to the 10 minute mark I just kept going. I was really struggling to get out today. It's right around 78° outside. So a little on the warm side for my liking when running. I like closer to 50° and a bit of rain. Since I produce so much heat while running it's helps to keep me cool, causing me to sweat less.

The run was good, I ran more today than I did on Tuesday. Of the 4 six minute runs Number 1 was no stop, 2 was a 30 second walk, 3 was a 1 minute walk, and 4 was a 3 minute walk. My legs just gave out on that 4th leg of running. I'm a little under a month out from the Firecracker 5k, and know I will be able to finish, I just want to run as much of it as I can. I think that means more lower heart rate runs like today was. I did try to focus on form today, like standing up taller and leaning into the run. It's just so different than what I'm doing now that it's hard to maintain. I will try to do it for longer on Saturday. Saturdays run will be 5 sets of 6 minute run / 1 minute walk.

I've been watching a lot of running videos on the YouTube lately. It's been giving me a lot of thoughts on making sure I keep running as part of my life even if my goal isn't a race and is just feeling better. I want to make sure it is part of my life. When I was running while I was working on my undergrad it helped me with creativity and handling the stress of trying to get into my program officially. I want that back. So my long term goal with running is to keep doing it. Races help me have something to focus on, so I will use those to trick myself into running more and more.

I tried out my other new pair of socks today. They passed the test. It's official I have started the running sock collection again.

Thanks for reading.

-Riley

Cross Training, New Socks, and Just Over a Month

Cross Training 6/5/23

I will start by saying afternoons and evenings are not my most productive time for exercise, or I am just starting from ground zero with cross training as well. It's probably a combination of both. I made it for 20 minutes of cross training. I did a body weight circuit I got from Nerd Fitness, and it was supposed to have been done 3 times. 

• 5 minute warm up (Jump Rope and Stretches)
  
• Squats - 20
  
• Pushups - 10
  
• Lunges - 10 each side
  
• Dumbbell Row - 10 each side
  
• Plank - 15 sec.
  
• Jumping Jacks - 30
  

It seemed easy enough when I looked at it. I have done all of these before and would be able to do them again no problem... is what I thought going into it. It was much harder than expected after not having done any of them over the past who knows how long. I made it through all of them one time, then all the way to jumping jacks the second time and my body said, "No more jumping jacks, I've had it!" So I stopped. Next week I will be doing it earlier in the day, and not having a heavy lunch. For about half an hour afterward I was holding back being sick, my lunch was delicious but was coming back to haunt me.

So a few important takeaways are, make sure my meals are lighter and work out earlier in the day. I will be signing up for a training program later this month (for a race in October I really want to do) and one of the runs is on Tuesday evenings, hopefully it goes well.

The Run (just over a month in)

On Saturday after the issue with the socks I picked up two new pairs of running socks (still can't find my other socks) off of Amazon. I have run in both brands and did a little research and got the highest rated pair off of multiple sites the Balega Silver Compression and a pair I have liked in the past the Swiftwick Aspire Zero. Today I ran in the Balega socks. They performed wonderfully. Running socks are pricey, and I'm happy I had an Amazon credit and only paid for one pair of the two pairs of socks.

I've been running for a month. It's been good. Today I didn't want to run but was able to make it out and run further than I have in any previous runs this month. Today was 4 sets of 6 minute run / 2 minute walk. So the increased time translates to increased distance as well. It's comforting to look back to a month ago and see the progress I'm making. On July 4th is the Firecracker Run 5k, that will mark my 2 months back into running.

As always, thanks for reading.

-Riley