He Lied

The trainer that speaks into my ears as I run tells me to run and walk, warm-up and cool down. He has been a great help, but today he lied to me.

This week we increased to 3 min run/90 sec walk; 5 min run/2.5 min walk; repeat.

He told me that the work I did last week had MORE than prepared me for the increase this week. LIAR!

Ok, maybe the problem was that I didn't work harder last week. Maybe Wednesday is a bad day to start a new increment. But I wasn't ready. I ran the first half, but didn't run the second half. I did push myself through the first 5 min run. My farthest ever, but it just was overshadowed by the fact that it drained my gas and I walked the rest.

At this point I will continue to push. Friday I'll run this again. My goal is to add the second 3 min run. Then I'll do it for all of next week.

Bad day!

-Ben

Which Week?

Last week I only did two out of three workouts. Time wasn't on my side, and I couldn't get my third run in. So, what do I do? Monday is run day, but do I run the third workout of my training from last week, or do I move ahead to the first training of this week?

I chose to finish last weeks, and I did the whole workout. I felt good afterword, but that might be because it had been three days since my last run. Anyway, Wednesday I'll move up.

--Ben

Week Four: Workout Two

What week is this? It is really wierd. I missed my run yesterday so today I ran on Thursday, and am having trouble keeping up with my timeline.

Tuesday was my anniversary, so we went out to dinner and then went and bought a car, so I didn't get in bed till late, consequently I didn't wake up till late. But I was out there again this morning. No worries.

For what it's worth, I'm eating less now. My wife noted it at Outback where I only ate half of what I used to, and was stuffed. Like I shouldn't have eaten as much as I did, blah.

Anyway, On the trail...

• Ran all my intervals. On the long run (3 minutes) my ipod gave out again, so I'm praying it will come back on quickly, it doesn't, so I had set my sights on where I thought the three minutes would end. I kept my head up and kept looking to that mark, and ran all the way to it. When I got there, I slowed to a walk and pulled my ipod out and got it to play again, and found that I would have stopped sooner if the ipod had been playing. So I felt like I had pushed myself a little extra and that was good.
• Numbness back today again at the end of my last interval.
• Glad I ran. Overall I feel good. Took mental notes of how my body was feeling as I ran. My legs don't hurt like they did the first three weeks. My heart seems to be pumping well; not really sure how to quantify that. But three minutes seems like my limit. On the last interval I picked a "finish line" and though the trainer told me I was done, I pushed a little further to cross that line.
  
• One more run this week, and then the agony begins next week.

--Ben

Week Four: Workout One

Who's idea was this???? Oops, I'm supposed to say, "Monday is Run Day!!!"

This week in my regimen I'm doing intervals of 90/90 and 3min/3min x 2.

I'll say that when I have two days off my legs (actually my body) seem to tighten. But when I get on the trail they feel rested and loose. It's kinda deceiving. But overall today was a good day.

I got in bed late last night, and I remembered what happened last Wednesday when I ran tired. I decided not to set an alarm, I would run whenever I woke up to make sure my body was ready for the workout. I woke up to daylight, but was still tired so I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep. The next time I awoke I felt better, and knew I was ready. I also knew that it must be like 8:00. It was 6:45 a.m. so I was only 15 minutes later than normal, but had the confidence that my body was ready.

On the trail...

1. Have I been running? It's a tricky thing this training routine. Each week when I increase I don't feel like I did anything the week before to prepare me for the current workout. But I have to keep in mind what it was like on week one. How it killed me to do a very simple workout, and I couldn't even complete it. So yes, I've been training. But I gotta be honest and say running is hard. Today I had three minute runs in my intervals, and while I completed them they seemed like forever. Not motivation to run longer at this point. The five minute run I do next week seems like forever times two. But let's not get ahead of myself.
2. I completed the intervals. Yay!!! I think the workout on the whole is a little easier actually, because there's less intervals. But the 3 min jogs are tough. My heart was really pounding, and my breathing was labored. (I actually talked to my heart as I ran today, telling it it had better be working hard, because it only gets harder from here. It made some passing curse about maybe if I'd lose some weight...something, and then remained quiet the rest of the run.)

--Ben

Week Three: Workout Three

Today I was joined for my workout by my friend Rob. We were together for about 3 minutes, and then he took off running, and I didn't see him until we were back at the start. It was nice to see him at the beginning and end. It was motivational to go with the expectation of seeing someone else there.

Overall my experience on the trail was better today than Wednesday. I ran all 6 of my intervals, but it wasn't fun. I've decided to continue with the program as written. If I fall behind then I'll work on that week again, but I did complete the workouts for this week, so I'm moving on.

On the trail...

1. Good pace today.
2. Humidity 87%. Yuck!
3. I'm breathing hard. (I thought you were supposed to be able to talk while you jog?)

--Ben

Week Three: Workout Two

Well, I've been sitting in front of my computer for 10 minutes now, trying to get up the energy to write about my workout... That's just the kind of morning it's been.

I woke up at 6:15 on schedule, but could tell from the moment I opened my eyes that I didn't feel like running today. My drive was simply, "get to the trail, and then I'll have to run." I slowly got ready, finding little time wasters to keep me from the inevitable, and I finally got to the trail at 7:51 a.m.

It was a nice morning. Humidity was up (78%), but the temperature was cool. In fact, at one point in the shade I thought it was chilly.

Alright, so here's an observation. I think that every time I workout, my five minute warm-up walk gets longer; not by time, but by distance. I guess I'm getting stronger and looser, so the walk becomes longer. But this morning I think it worked against me. My first interval pace was too fast. I could tell from my first stride, and spent the rest of the first interval trying to slow my pace to a more sustainable one, but after three adjustments I still didn't feel like I got it right. So in my second interval I wasn't quite right either. In my third things settled into a groove more, and my fifth went fine, but I was tired. I ended my sixth interval about 10 seconds early, and really felt worn out.

I ended my workout by walking and then I sat down on a bench on the side of the trail. I stretched my shins (always the most sore) and prayed. Then I headed home. I didn't feel victory today, but I didn't give in to defeat.

On the Trail...

1. I fell short of completing my 6 intervals.
2. I got to the trail today. That's victory enough.

I think I'll try getting more sleep. Hope Friday's better. If not, I'll run this regimen again next week.

--Ben

Week Three: Workout One

Monday is Run Day!

My morning started slow. Monday's always seem to for some reason. I didn't wake up 'til 6:45 even though I had set my alarm for 6:15. I had charged my ipod the night before so I was out on the trail by 7:15, but I hate getting a late start.

I had the trail to myself today. I guess the rain kept most people away. This was the first day that I ran in the rain. I enjoyed it and the cool temps.

Today my workout changed. I moved to the Week Two training regimen. It requires 90 seconds of running followed by two minutes of walking. On Friday I felt really good after my run, and even felt that I could have run more. I was confident that I could make the step up to the new workout. But by this morning, my confidence was gone, and I wrestled as I headed out to the trail of whether or not I could handle it. But I DID! I handled it; all 6 intervals.

On the trail:

1. On the fifth interval my ipod stopped working. UGGHHH I hate that. Only because I'm so dependent on the podcast I run with telling me when to run, and when to walk. It is very frustrating resetting the ipod then finding the podcast, fast forwarding to the place it froze, blah blah blah.
2. On the last interval I passed the only other person I saw today. He was a jogger headed the opposite way, so I high-fived him. There is probably a rule against that in runners etiquette. But I think that there should be an exception for runners over 300 pounds. We need as much encouragement as possible.

--Ben

Week Two: Workout Three

I'm back from my morning run. It was good. I can already feel the difference. Today 8/8 wasn't any big deal. I'm ready for next week. The regimen changes. It will get harder, but I'm ready. Next week the running is longer by half on each interval.

On the trail...

1. Some numbness at the very end of my run, and throughout my cool down walk.
   
2. Forgot to charge my ipod, so I got started late.
   

Really enjoying it!

--Ben

Week two; Workout two

8 for 8 again! I gotta celebrate the small victories. It wasn't even a question today, I knew I could do it, and I went for it.

On the trail...

1. I pulled my socks up, instead of bunching them lower on my ankles. Thought the pressure of the bunch may have been hindering circulation. Also kept my shoes a little looser. Ended up with only a little numbness at the end of the eighth interval, and then during my cool down walk. If tightness in the calves causes it (which is what I've seen online) then I qualify, because my calves are tight when I run. Need to find stretches for them.
2. God rewarded me with a little drizzle right at the end of my workout. Nice!
3. Definitely getting more comfortable with the program. I'm looking forward to Friday, and then to the new workout next week.

Ben

Week Two; Workout One

Monday is Run day!

After taking my two day break after last Wednesday's run. I had only one day to recover from my Saturday evening run. I had fallen behind on the third workout. Having gotten up to 6/8 intervals, I fell back to 5.5/8. I had really hoped to be at 8/8 this week in my training. This morning when I got up it was 98% humidity, yuck!! I drove to WalMart and bought a new pair of earphones. They clip on my ears so they don't fall out anymore, Yay!. By the time I got on the trail it was about 7:30 a.m. As I walked in my warm up, I had a conversation with myself. Would I go 8/8 today? Or would I not? When would I make that decision? Would I wait till just before the interval to decide if I could do it?
I decided that I would make that decision then and there at the beginning of the run, that way I didn't have to decided when I was tired and winded. I then told myself over my contesting that if I didn't go 8/8 then I'd have to run tonight, and start two-a-days.
Today I made it 8/8!
On The Trail...
Ok, a couple things:
1. A little pain in my chest during the fourth interval, but it worked out by the end of that interval.
2. In the seventh interval my right foot went numb. At the time I thought, "Well, I'll feel no pain." But overall, if there is an answer to help that, I'd love to know it. I found that when I got to the crosswalk at Jumpers Hole Rd. and stopped, the feeling in my foot came back. During that stop I stretched by putting my feet together and bending forward; stretching the back of my legs. Feeling returned quickly. Then as I crossed the street, and found the numbness return quickly. I was in my cool down, so I stopped and untied my shoe, thinking my shoe was too tight. But the numbness continued till I stopped walking.
3. Today I went 8/8. In the seventh interval I felt my best jog. My pace was slow, but it felt like a good rhythm.
4. I saw a friend today driving by, and it felt good to tell him I was working out. Working out, just makes you feel better about yourself.

--Ben

Week One; Workout Three

Well, this marks three 30 minute workouts this week. The American Heart Association would be happier with me. :-)

Day three was hard this week. My third run day was supposed to be Friday, however a wedding on Thursday evening wore me out. I had a big work project on Friday so my morning didn't allow me time to run. I wanted to do it last night, but after a long 4th of July, I called it a night being thankful that I had an extra day today to make it up. But this morning I slept in again, and several times throughout the day thought I'd slip away from the house, but at last seven o'clock came, and I asked my wife if she minded if I slipped out for a run before dinner. And with her leave I left for a workout.

I've been training at the B&A Trail, but tonight I stayed in my neighborhood. It was not an easy day for me. It was warmer than I'm used to (I ussually run early in the morning). I wore and extra shirt (which felt like lead). And I wore a ball cap to keep my ear buds in place (still need new earphones, and that hat held the heat in). So I definately felt it on this workout. I only did 6/8 intervals, but Monday I'm going to push further to do 8/8.

Oh, and one more thing. I think I laced my shoes too tight. My feet were getting a little numb.

Right now, I feel really glad that I ran.

--Ben

BTW, now several friends have offered to run with me in the 5k this fall. It's a great encouragement.

Week One; Workout 2

Back on the trail. A note to say thank you to the residents of Anne Arundel County that pay taxes for my new hangout. I run on the B&A Trail. It is really enjoyable. I'll be moving to within 2/10 mile from there later this year, and I said to my wife the other day, that I want to start training now, so I'll use the trail when we move. It would be a shame to live so close and not use it.

Today's workout continued the 60 seconds/running; 90 seconds/walking. There are 8 intervals over 20 minutes with walking warm ups and cool downs. Monday I did 5/8, today I did 6/8.

I talked with my wife when I got home. She said that she thinks day two and three are harder than day one. I have a different perspective. I think the first one is hardest. The reason is that I rely on benchmarks. For instance, today I knew I could run 5/8 because I've done that before. So today I pushed myself to 6/8. Friday I might be able to get up to 7/8 because I have a benchmark at 6/8. I'm not sure that's the best mindset, but historically that's my approach. Of course, I have no history of running. I'm thinking more of my history in weight training. My lifting partner, Marc, at one point commented that I got stronger as I pressed out reps instead of getting weaker. But that's because my mindset was that I knew I could do it because I had done it before.

On the run today, more problems with my stupid headphones. I enjoyed the beautiful morning, nice temperature, low humidity. I think running makes you feel good. I wanted to high five people that I saw along the trail. :-)

Ok, one more thing. I'm really confused. C25k offers a 9 week training schedule for running. BUT the podcasts they recommend say that it's a 12 week schedule. I'm not sure exactly why there's a difference. At this point I'll research some more. Either way workout two of week one is in the can.

--Ben