I did end the night with a dip in my apartment's pool and jacuzzi and a big glass of Gatorade, which was a nice change - and good motivation to finish up quickly.
It's been a busy week with my best friend in town - Adventure Island, Fort DeSoto State Park, MOSI - but I continued my training as prescribed. On Friday night, I ran the course to the left - there and back, modified with four 30s sprints at the end of the main run, spaced a minute apart. It was about 77 degrees, so I'm happy with just over 6 mph - 4.31 miles in 42:56. This Florida humidity is rough. I feel like my shorts are going to come off due to the weight of the sweat...lol. I worked out on the elliptical after work on Saturday for 30 minutes for my cross training. Tonight was the week's endurance run, which is supposed to be run at an easier, relaxed pace. I ran 6.2 miles in 61:36 - a pace similar to Friday's run. It was hot and humid again tonight - about 80 degrees, at 10:30pm. Ick. I need to start getting up at sunrise to run...maybe next week.
I did end the night with a dip in my apartment's pool and jacuzzi and a big glass of Gatorade, which was a nice change - and good motivation to finish up quickly.
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earlier in the evening and was slightly cooler - the sun had set at this point - so I was able to finish the run behind the scenes on the service roads. Not the best option, but it was kind of fun to pretend to be in Entertainment. I sometimes see the dancers here at the park running along the service road as part of their training/job/healthiness...and now I got to feel special too.
The next night, it happened all over again, but I was prepared with the sheet that said the gym closes at 9pm! The security guard checked with her supervisor and let me stay. But my dinner break (which I use to work out) was interrupted by work, so I had to cut the elliptical short. It was 10pm by the time I was home, and I had to work at 6am the next day, so I decided to sleep instead and finished that workout the next day, which is technically a rest day, but this sentence is going to run on and that makes everything okay, doesn't it? Today, I ran for 40 minutes at 6.5 mph - my legs felt a little tight today, so I took it "easy." I finished the workout with a set of sprints on the treadmill - I maxxed it out (10 mph). After my cooldown walk, I did four sets of 30 sec sprint + 1 min walk. I feel great, and will continue to do the sprints post-run every Thursday as prescribed by Marathoning for Mortals. I had forgotten to do them that last four weeks...oops. I ran on the treadmill after work on Friday for 30 minutes at 6.7 mph. I felt pretty good, but I've been tired all week. I got on the elliptical for 30 minutes after work on Saturday - still at Level 2. Blah blah blah. I've just done the work-outs this week, but I have to say I'm looking forward to my first weekend in 12 days. This afternoon I was itching to run and didn't want to wait for nightfall for it to be "cooler" so I hit the gym at my apartment complex. They have swanky new equipment including a treadmill with an iPod dock and a fan that blows at your stomach - didn't do much good for me. My arms were dripping sweat all over the arms of the treadmill...yuck. I was able to run 2 miles at 7 mph, which I know is pushing it, but I was doing alight. But then I was a good Samaritan and let someone into the gym (security card access) and that threw my rhythm off. I walked about half a mile of the remaining 3 miles and varied the pace between 6 and 6.6 mph. I am going to just say this week was off because of the 12 day work week and leave it at that.
I was able to run on Tuesday. I didn’t look at my training schedule, so I ran for 40 minutes at 6.4 mph, thinking that it was Week 4 and the minutes would probably be upped (which is why I "downed" the speed). I was wrong – so that day I ran an extra 10 minutes…but that worked out because I was so wiped the next day that I did not cross train. Hey, when you’re not feelin’ it, you’re not feelin’ it. Marathoning for Mortals also recommends not to train when you’re tired. There is a greater risk for injury and you might overtax your body and immune system. And Thursday was a rest day, which was sorely needed. I went to bed at 8pm! Technically, I did have a pretty hard day at work - a large tree fell across the train tracks and we had to remove it. It took seven of us about 30 minutes to get the pieces off and loaded onto a truck. So...we'll call that a "more or less."
Today, I ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill at the gym after work. I was able to hit 6.7 mph, which puts me under a 9 minute mile pace. Woo hoo! It did feel like a little extra work, but with me pushing the speeds up the last few weeks, it was doable. Going to finish out the week strong, but I am looking forward to seeing Man of Steel on Monday (my “Sunday”)! Oh…my…god. But, I’ll get to that. :o) So, yesterday I continued my trend of running at the gym after work. I amped it up (extreme!) to 6.5 mph for 30 minutes and ran almost 3.3 miles. Very happy with that. The Voice was on and I had the cardio room to myself, so I watched the first half of that (and finished it once I got home on the DVR). And now, to discuss taking the Lord’s name in vain earlier. I found a program similar to “Couch to 5K” but for swimming. The first workout consists of 4 x 100m (with 12 breath breaks in between each 100m), 4 x 50m (with 8 breath breaks) and 4 x 25m (with 4 breath breaks). I stopped at Sports Authority and bought some Speedo® goggles. They fit pretty well and I didn’t get water in my eyes at all. I debated on what swimsuit to wear – thinking the smaller and tighter the better – but I’m glad I went with mid-length trunks, so I didn't stick out too bad. It is a semi-public pool and I was the only one doing laps. The rest of the kids were all playing, diving, etc. and had long board shorts hanging off with their underwear visible. I don’t understand this! You want your suit to dry off as soon as possible once you’re out of the water. Cotton (boxer) briefs don’t allow that. But I digress… I was unable to complete the Week 1 workout – at least with the freestyle stroke. I got to my third 100m and had to switch to the sidestroke – I could not get enough air in between strokes and I started swallowing water. I think I went out too fast. In any case, I am sure my arms will be a little weak tomorrow. According to the workout, which says you can swim a mile after six weeks if you follow the program, I need to swim three times a week. I should iterate here that this is not my goal. I am merely using swimming as a cross-training activity so I have some variation – right now it’s just elliptical and stationary bicycling. As I’ve said before, cross-training is twice a week. Because of today’s performance, I know I have a long way to go. It felt eerily similar to when I started running over a year ago – barely able to jog for 3 minutes. It was definitely eye-opening. I have a newfound appreciation for swimmers like Ryan Lochte (see above) – meaning, those that compete at any athletic level. I consider myself a fairly good swimmer, but I have never done laps before today. We shall see how I develop - skill- and body-wise.
Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical at the gym after work. Today, I planned on getting up at 8 am and running, but decided to sleep in instead. I got up at 10:30 am and was planning on going to my apartment gym, but when I got outside, it seemed so nice, I decided to run the loop. Kind of a mistake. I misjudged the temperature and let's just say, it was challenging to fnish the run. I did, however - 35:46 for 3.6 miles. It was about 85 degrees when I finished. I was rather sweaty and it took me about 20 minutes in the A/C before I felt normal. And like 3 glasses of water. Lesson learned - get up earlier, lazy bones! So...I've been very busy this week. I am the Fundraising Chair for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers and besides coordinating the smaller fundraisers, it means I'm in charge of the big one - Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) - and it was yesterday. Despite my work schedule and getting prepped for BFR, I managed to maintain my Week 1 training. No excuses! Thursday was a rest day, and I rested the hell out of it. Well, I had a dinner date, but I rested before and after. The resting went better than the date. One more episode of Downton Abbey: Season Three to go. I ran about 3 miles on Friday - on the treadmill at the work gym during lunch. Again. This is only going to work on these short distances...I'm going to have to get up early eventually. And finally, today. After a dramatic accident at work involving a riding mower, I was a little banged up (scrapes on my wrist and forearm, and some raspberries on my back and butt), but okay. Thankfully. I had two thoughts: 'I'm glad I'm okay' and 'No excuses!' It's probably better to keep moving anyway and not allow my body to tighten up. So, when I got home, after checking on the five dogs I'm currently dog-sitting, I went 30 minutes on the elliptical at my apartment's newly-renovated gym. Pretty nice. Tonight, I had some vanilla ice cream (give me a break!) with Kahlua (there it is!) at a friend's house whilst sitting in her hot tub. And now, I'm back to relaxing at my other friend's house with her five dogs. The three chihuahuas will be my heat packs for the night. Ready for sleep! At times, when I do not feel like running before work (or after for that matter - it's 92 degrees at 3 pm now), I'll run on the treadmill at the work gym during my lunch break. That's what I did today - joining the manly men of the entertainment department who are all lifting weights. Thankfully, I avoid their grunting because the cardio room is separate. I watched the Price is Right today; there was only one other exerciser in there, using the elliptical, so it was nice. I ran about 3 miles at a 9:40/mile pace. I felt pretty good, but I don't think I would run more than 40 minutes on a treadmill. I love putting my unifrom back on when I'm already all sweaty - but hey, it's just going to get sweaty from work anyway. |
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