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Here’s to you, Gladys Knight…I really gotta use my imagination…for a better blog post title! 
Friends, I ran today, and though I felt completely sluggish the entire time, I did a good distance with a decent pace. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t get 20 minutes down yet. It’s going to be a while. So, instead of trying to run until I get the 20 minutes down, I’m going to finish out the days of Couch to 5k that are interval runs…and then try to run 20…then 25…then 28…the finally 30 minutes straight. I know I can do it…I just need to do it in a manner that my body will let me.
SO, I found out that I’m going to be a dad TOMORROW. Like, yes, we’re going to the hospital and Ms. Fat Guy (who is, not-so-ironically, neither fat, nor a guy) will be induced and hopefully our little boy (whom we sometimes lovingly refer to as Chico) will arrive quickly and without too much discomfort. Wish us luck!
Since we’re not going to have our last date like we had hoped for, we’re going to choose one of our favorite teenage girl, soccer movies…either Bend It Like Beckham or She’s The Man…to watch tonight (JohnT if you’re reading this, remember I told you my man card was taken from me a long time ago…slowly, but surely, I’ll get it back).
I know everyone who reads this might not be religious (or a Christian for that matter), but I hope you’ll indulge me in sharing something with you that has kept me going all these weeks…
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. –Isaiah 40:31
Here’s to running and not being weary!!
OK, guys…this post was replete with my ADD, so I’ll stop here. Hope your weeks are off to great starts and I’ll be back as soon as the little guy is here!
Energy has not been my friend lately. I don’t know what it is, but the past few days have seen a sharp decline in my overall energy. Once we returned from vacation, my internal clck got all screwed up and for the past week, I wasn’t able to run in the mornings, so I ran in the evenings instead. For a few days it seemed to prove worthwhile as it seemed that I had more energy, however, it’s not been constant.
Friday was a big milestone for me…or at least it was supposed to be. Friday was the day I was supposed to run 20 minutes straight without a walking break. From the very beginning, I knew it was going to be difficult because I was so blasted tired. Even my music didn’t help. I lasted a paltry 9.5 minutes before I broke down and took a walking break. My energy was totally gone.
Plus, in hindsight it probably didn’t help that I decided to try a paved running trail that ran in a loop nearby. I thought it would be fun to try, but I knew my entire course after just .65 mile. It got boring and hard all at the same time.
Sleep has been shaky, and I’ve realized fast how important it is to keep a good running regimen going. I came home from church this afternoon and literally slept all day.
Something is clearly up.
Tomorrow, I’m going to do my best to get up and get that 20 minutes in. It’s going to be hard, but I’m going to do it.
I’ve been bad on responding to comments lately and I apologize for that!! I WILL get to them…that’s one of the things I wanted to do most when I started this blog…respond to every one.
WEEK 8 starts tomorrow…and I’m supposed to weigh in. Hoping for something good!!
MizFit, pinkcowgirl, Andrew, and Elle — you guys are amazing commentators. Thanks so much for all you said in my last post. Folks like you make this blogging-for-health gig worth it!
So, a few things to follow-up from yesterday…
I am slowly realizing that Jeff Galloway is not the only supreme being of the running world. I do like a lot of what he says, but I don’t think that some of it is meant for a lard-jogger akin to myself (yes, I really did just write ‘lard-jogger’). No doubt, he definitely seems to be more than adequate for highly competetive runners, but he might not be for me. Though, since I don’t live that far from Atlanta, maybe I can track him down one of these days and ask him some questions (unlikely, but a thought no less). I had heard of Hal Higdon before, but not of John Bingham (thanks for that, pinkcowgirl). I’ll definitely have to read more of what they say.
MizFit probably hit the nail on the head with me when she said it is probably best to do what works for me in terms of ‘fueling-up’ or carbo-loading before a race or intense workout. Thinking over all of your comments, I have probably reached the point to where I would definitely want to improve the things I eat before the workout or race at hand, and as you all seemed to infer, perhaps eat in relation to the length of the race…that is, not that much for a 5k. Truly, though, you all gave invaluable insight, and for that I’m most appreciative. Thanks!
One thing I do need to work on, however, is fluids. Since moving from a dry, hot Southwestern state to a humid, hot Southeastern state, I have realized that I sweat much more than I ever have in my life. I used to think I was good at replenishing my fluids…but I may have thought wrong. After yesterday’s jog, I drank my usual water and felt pretty good. However, I went an played 18 holes of golf with a friend, and by the end of it, I was dying. Bad me. I need to learn my lesson.
On Andrew’s advice, I checked out the Garmin Forerunner 305 for my heart rate monitor. I love it. However, I’m going to have to save for it as my paltry graduate assistant salary would take a major hit. The great part about being a full-timer with my Ph.D. is that I can make time to exercise…the bad part is that it’s self-inflicted poverty.
Thanks again for your comments everyone. Kepp them coming when it’s convenient for you…they really do help!
Hope everyone had a splendid weekend.
Today started week two of my Couch-to-5k program. It was a good workout…a bit longer and further, but I must admit that I still have some doubts to my ability. When I “ran” on Saturday evening, I did 1.75 miles and my pace was nearly 16:00. However, this morning, I went 2.25 miles and had a pace of 15:09. Am I getting delusional or am I just slowly improving? Anyway, I also realized that I probably should invest in a decent heart rate monitor and watch to help me with timing and to optimize these workouts. Any suggestions for a good buy?
So, lately I’ve been reading snippet’s of Galloway’s Book on Running. I have found it to be helpful for the most part, though there’s some antiquated stuff in there that should probably be updated (I don’t know…I’m reading the 2nd edition – is there a newer one?) Thanks to Andrew and all the nifty online tools he uses, I doubt I’ll ever necessitate a handwritten runner’s log. All that aside, I was surprised to read that Jeff Galloway does not do the somewhat ritualistic “loading up of the carbs” the night before a race. In fact, he said that it might be best to eat nothing. Is he serious?
I know he’s Mr. All-American Runner, and obviously I value his advice (else why pay $14.95 for the book), but I can’t, for the life of me, fathom not having some sort of fuel to burn off. The race I did with my family in April, we definitely ‘carbed’ it up the night before. Whether or not it made or broke the race for me, I don’t know, but I do want to know what others think…
- What should one be eating before a race?
- What should one be eating before a regular workout?
- When and how much should be eaten?
The past two weeks I’ve eaten a little energy ‘cube’ with who knows what mixed with pistachios from a local store and a couple of pieces of dried fruit to give me a little boost before I start. It seems to be somewhat effective, despite the taste of the cube.
Bear in mind, I am a large man…I am almost 6′3″ and am pushing 365…maybe I’m nuts, but it just seems slightly asinine for someone of my stature to ever run on an empty stomach.
Can anyone give me their take on it?
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