No intervals this weekend

Sunday, September 23, 2012

After Wednesday's episode of overdoing it, I planned to do more controlled walk/run intervals on Saturday.

That didn't happen. Saturday morning, the bad foot had twinges and reminded me while doing the morning light jog up and down the hallway that real running would be a Bad Idea. So I gave the foot another day of rest, kind of. I'm still logging 11K+ steps per day, they just aren't running steps. I managed to do my walking Saturday mostly when it wasn't raining.

More foot twinges overnight, and this morning's jog up and down the hallway was better; but there were still some bothersome twinges. The foot gets a lot of rest Sunday mornings in church, so I deferred the decision.

Come afternoon, I had sunshine and temps in the low 60s. The grass is growing almost like it's spring. Sigh. Got out and mowed the lawn before addressing exercise. Had a few minor foot twinges while doing so, and that solidified the decision to walk, not run.

I don't time every walk, but the last time I did it came out to about a 14 minute mile. I think that's close to what I was doing today, and early on the foot reminded me that this was okay . . . but running wouldn't be. Sigh.

It's hard to be patient. I want to run! But I want to be able to run consistently more than I want to run right now, so I walked.

Maybe I'll be up for some walk/run intervals on Tuesday. Just have to see how things go.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HEALTHIERKEN 9/24/2012 8:22PM

". . .I want to be able to run consistently more than I want to run right now,. . ." You are a model of self-discipline, MOBYCARP. Stay patient, your day's coming! Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 9/24/2012 7:26AM

Patience, my friend. The foot is sending you a message so time to listen and let it heal. Report Inappropriate Comment

NWFL59 9/23/2012 10:44PM

Way to listen to your body and let it tell you when its ready for a higher level of exertion. Report Inappropriate Comment

GREENGENES 9/23/2012 10:44PM

Your patience is impressive and is going to pay off in the long run. Report Inappropriate Comment

Wednesday Intervals

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

I took today off work to stay home for the contractors doing the air seal of basement and attic, plus some insulation work. In spite of it being a nominal day off, I got a decent amount of paid work done this morning.

The good news on the exercise front was that the contractors got done by 2 PM. Because I have the day off, I didn't feel at all guilty to go out for my walk/run intervals at 3 PM. My bad foot was still complaining a bit, but not as loudly as yesterday. And it's hard to pass up sunshine and variable light breeze at 63°F (17°C).

Because the foot had complained, I decided to hold the program steady at 12 cycles of walk 1, run 1:30. I varied the route a little on the small hills, and it turned out to be a bit longer. Mr. Testosterone managed to talk me into running for a 13th cycle, but I held firm and walked when the signal came for the 14th running cycle.

The effort mapped out to 4.04 miles in 35:09, for an average pace of 8:42 per mile. I'm okay with that not being as fast as last time. I'm less thrilled with the amount of complaining my foot did afterward. I'll definitely be doing no running till Saturday, and I'll have to think about what I'm doing then. Options are walk 1, run 1:30 and strictly limit to 12 cycles; or walk 1, run 1 and go for 15 to 18 cycles. I'll think it over between now and then.

I have to laugh at myself just a little over this. I had been building slowly, I thought. In light of the foot's complaint, I realize that the 5K Your Way program I was modeling on is primarily designed to build cardiovascular endurance. My cardiovascular endurance could handle a 5K right now; it's the foot that need to develop. And every article on running that mentions the subject tells me that muscles and ligaments develop more slowly than the cardiovascular system.

So . . . I think I'm at the point where I need to hold the workout steady at some level for a while, until the foot complains less afterward. I just don't know for sure what level I want to hold the workout steady at, or how long "a while" is.

At least this time past I'm recognizing it earlier than I did the first time. I have no decision on the October 28 5K at this point, but I'm leaning toward skipping it. I'm committed to the Thanksgiving Day 10K, and I might still be doing intervals at that point.

But I'm delighted that my daughter wants to do that 10K "with" me, even if she needs to walk and takes two hours to complete the course.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LEANJEAN6 9/21/2012 9:31PM

Well I laughed at your response to my Duct Tape Diet--'specially that it might "'stick to the ribs"--LOL Funny man!!! You made my day---Good luck with yer run! Lynda Report Inappropriate Comment

RG_DFW 9/20/2012 7:34AM

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GREENGENES 9/19/2012 11:50PM

It's great that you are listening so carefully to what your body is telling you. It is so easy to tune it out and then pay the price later. Keep it up! Report Inappropriate Comment

WATERMELLEN 9/19/2012 8:57PM

Guess you'll find out how long "a while" is in "a while"! Report Inappropriate Comment

NWFL59 9/19/2012 8:33PM

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MERRYMARY42 9/19/2012 7:45PM

your foot knows when you need to slow down, and happy that you and your daughter are doing the Thanksgiving Day 10K, sounds like a good time. Report Inappropriate Comment

ONEKIDSMOM 9/19/2012 6:49PM

Experiment of one continues. Good luck. And I applaud you and daughter doing your Turkey Trot together... walking is truly good exercise. If the foot decides it NEVER wants to run again, there is still that. Patience, patience... toughest thing for ME, and you, too, apparently. Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 9/19/2012 5:38PM

The mind is willing but the foot disagrees. Such is life. But you did do a workout and are pondering how best to handle the situation. Keeping your workouts steady would be the way to go. Report Inappropriate Comment

No intervals today

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Tuesday is a work at home day. Work at home is great for getting a run in on my lunch hour. The plan was to do some intervals of walk 1, run 1:30. It didn't happen.

This morning as I was doing some light jogging up and down my hallway, my bad foot told me it wasn't a good day to run. I probably *could* have done 30 minutes of walk 1, run 1:30; but I don't know how much worse the foot would be. I guess I walked a bit far, a bit too briskly yesterday before donating blood, and perhaps stayed on my feet too much after donating blood. Whatever. The answer is, I need to give the foot a day of relative rest.

This was a bit of a disappointment. I woke up to a light rain, with a forecast for it to continue all day long. Running in the rain is more enjoyable than walking in the rain; but if I can't run, I'm going to walk. It turned out that walking in the rain was fairly pleasant, as it wasn't terribly cold (low to mid 60s F) and there wasn't much wind.

Tomorrow I'll see how the foot feels. If it's up to intervals, that will mean adjusting the training schedule. If it's not, that will mean I skipped today's intervals and I'll see about resuming the regular schedule on Thursday.

"Listen to your body," they say. Okay, I'm listening. I just hope I'm correctly figuring out what to do about what I'm hearing.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RG_DFW 9/19/2012 6:36AM

I'm really sorry to hear of the problems, I hope it clears up soon for you Report Inappropriate Comment

Monday Maintenance

Monday, September 17, 2012

After Sunday's new low weight, Monday morning came in at 160.2. That looks more like the low end of my maintenance range, and the worries about whether I'm dropping too much weight faded.

Other than that, Monday was spent mostly on non-Spark stuff. I took a day off work because I had a scheduled blood donation, and that tends to go better when I don't have other hard obligations. I took a 5K walk in the morning, mindful of the fact that I'm not supposed to work hard after blood donation. Then I paid attention to hydration, and the blood donation was smooth and routine. So much for yesterday's concern that the sudden weight loss might have dehydrated me enough to cause a problem.

Data point: Blood pressure was 96 over 60 when I donated blood. The nurse didn't tell me my pulse, but did ask if I exercised regularly. Yes, I do.

Somehow I managed to exceed 13K steps today. Oh, well. It didn't feel like working hard after donating blood, so I should be fine. Tomorrow will be more walk-run intervals, as I continue the program of becoming a runner again.

None of this was terribly exciting, and right now that's a Good Thing. I want to maintain my weight, and I want to get back to running regularly. If doing those too things isn't exciting, that means life is going very well indeed.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NWFL59 9/18/2012 11:23AM

I quite like the quiet days. Report Inappropriate Comment

RG_DFW 9/18/2012 7:57AM

Keep it going Report Inappropriate Comment

MSLZZY 9/18/2012 7:31AM

Enough drama so take the quiet day when it happens. I can live with my boat on an even keel. Sounds like you can too. Report Inappropriate Comment

158.8

Sunday, September 16, 2012

That's what the scale read this morning. 158.8 lbs. Yesterday morning it was 161.4. The last time it was outside the 160-162 range was July 3, at 163.4.

158.8 is a new low for me, replacing my previous low of 160.2. It's kind of a shock to blow past a previous low by more than a pound, while trying to maintain.

This wasn't a total surprise in the morning. The surprise was yesterday afternoon, when certain, um, bodily functions were unexpectedly more dramatic than they have been since I've been on SP. I knew I'd lose weight from one day to the next, and guessed I'd be down near 160. But still . . . below 160 is a psychological milestone.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Odd thoughts swirl through my head:

"Where did that come from? I didn't feel sick before, and after a good rest I don't feel sick now."

"It's mostly water, it will come right back."

"I'm starting to run again, maybe it's time to nudge the calories up."

"That roll of fat around my middle is awfully small, but it still exists. Maybe this is still an OK weight?"

"Have I been losing fat while maintaining weight, and just now got rid of some bloat? Is this a permanent loss?"

Maintenance is a puzzle. Just when I think I have it figured out, my body does something that reminds me I don't understand as much as I thought I did.

My current calorie range is 2800-3150. I've been eating toward the low end of that, forcing myself over 2800 many days. Today I forced myself over 2900. I'll keep that up for a week or so and see what happens.

Meanwhile, I've got a foot to rehab. I'm not going to let a little bit of worry about a number on a scale derail that process.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NWFL59 9/17/2012 6:27PM

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MSLZZY 9/17/2012 8:10AM

Life would be in a sorry state if numbers were all that counted. Have a great day! Report Inappropriate Comment

KRISZTA11 9/17/2012 3:15AM

I hear you... During maintenance a new low or high outside the usual fluctuation is always thought provoking. Let's see if your weekly average hits a low too. It is great we have the SP nutrition tracker to fine tune calorie intake! Good luck to sorting this out! Report Inappropriate Comment

HANSBRINK 9/16/2012 10:27PM

Congratulations! Hope the loss is not just a fluctuation, but something more long lasting. Report Inappropriate Comment

GREENGENES 9/16/2012 10:26PM

. Other than the sudden bodily function part that is :-). Report Inappropriate Comment

RG_DFW 9/16/2012 10:07PM

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