Today's run was difficult.
Last week I only ran once - on Sunday. After that we went away on vacation. I tried to run at our vacation spot, but it did not work out. I did not know where to go, how far to run, where it was safe to run on the highway, etc. So I did not run, though I swam a little bit.
So after a week of not running, today's run was tough. It is amazing how quickly one regresses if he does not keep up with something.
So, here is lesson #3: The pace of regression is much quicker than that of progression.
I kept up with my pace of about 4:1, though it was hard today. I was huffing and puffing but I did it. I ran my regular route completely, and while at the beginning it took some time to get into the run, when I did I was able to run as usual.
Tomorrow night is my first "group run" I hope so I am excited by that.
Showing posts with label lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lessons. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
getting into a habit - session #6
Today was a tired run. Last night I prepared my stuff for running in the morning, but then when I finally went to bed, I had decided I would not run. Part of the reason was being tired (I guess that is part of the problem when m,aking these decisions at bedtime), and part of the reason was because we are planning on going away on vacatino today and I thought that maybe walking up early will make it harder to drive later.
The problem is that my body is already used to waking up at 4:45am. So I got up on time. I checked my email and the score of the Cubs game, and decided to go back to bed and skip the run. As I am laying there, I realize by now I am fully awake and have no reason not to run. If I do not run I might as well quit the program, because I have no excuse, as I am up already anyway, and it is just laziness.So I get up and go out to run.
But I ran a short circuit - I dropped one circuit of Dolev off the route today. The run was tired, but I kept the same pace as last time, more or less. I looked less at my watch, maybe because I was running a shorter run.
Nothing exciting happened, but I am getting tired of smelling the horrible sewage smell at the end of Nahal Kishon, so I think I am going to change my route. I have to think of alternatives.
Lesson #2: Whatever you do, you are training your body. Waking up early, waking up late, running, walking, sitting, using muscles, letting them atrophy, whatever. It is, clearly, very easy to train your body. After 2 weeks of waking up at 4:45am it is already natural for me. Think of what you want your body to do for you, and then force it a few times. Your body will very quickly "get used to it".
The problem is that my body is already used to waking up at 4:45am. So I got up on time. I checked my email and the score of the Cubs game, and decided to go back to bed and skip the run. As I am laying there, I realize by now I am fully awake and have no reason not to run. If I do not run I might as well quit the program, because I have no excuse, as I am up already anyway, and it is just laziness.So I get up and go out to run.
But I ran a short circuit - I dropped one circuit of Dolev off the route today. The run was tired, but I kept the same pace as last time, more or less. I looked less at my watch, maybe because I was running a shorter run.
Nothing exciting happened, but I am getting tired of smelling the horrible sewage smell at the end of Nahal Kishon, so I think I am going to change my route. I have to think of alternatives.
Lesson #2: Whatever you do, you are training your body. Waking up early, waking up late, running, walking, sitting, using muscles, letting them atrophy, whatever. It is, clearly, very easy to train your body. After 2 weeks of waking up at 4:45am it is already natural for me. Think of what you want your body to do for you, and then force it a few times. Your body will very quickly "get used to it".
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
outrunning yourself - session #4
I don't know if going out to run 2 days in a row at my beginners level is smart or not, but that is what I did this morning. At least I did not go out with the running club last night! I was tempted, but I think next week might be my first group run.
So I went out this morning on the Dolev route again. I did pretty good on my pace. I was running more than walking - probably to the pace of 3.5:1.5 (in favor of running). I was feeling good.
Then I hit about the halfway mark of Nahal Kishon. I was on pace to finish the route maybe 10 minutes earlier than previously, but my legs died. I could not run anymore. I had to fast-walk the rest of the way. I had a couple of short runing bursts, but I pretty much walked the rest of the way.
I think I overran earlier and I had used it all up.
I guess I should start a list of lessons learned - Lesson #1: Don't outpace yourself. You will pay for it later. Take it easy and go the distance.
Seems like an important lesson.
Nobody else was out running on the road this morning. I saw some kids finishing an exciting night of hanging out and getting drunk, and I saw a Hassidic father with his son lugging some small luggage, like they were going on a day trip. The father kind of eyed me suspiciously as we passed each other. Maybe because I was dressed like a runner but walking like a girl.
Also, running around the nieghborhood in the dark and in the silence of pre-dawn allows one to hear the sounds of the nieghborhood thathe normally misses. The gemara says the sun makes so much noise during the day that one cannot hear other things, but by night those sounds can be heard.
I don't know if it is the sun itself making the noise, or just all the noise that is made by the sun rising - the cars on the road, the construction workers, the stores, the people, the radios blaring, etc. Either way, before the sun comes up you hear all sorts of noises you just don't hear by day. Such as; the cackling of the high power lines, the scurrying of some sort of animal in the bushes, the chirping, and the silence of your own thoughts.
So I went out this morning on the Dolev route again. I did pretty good on my pace. I was running more than walking - probably to the pace of 3.5:1.5 (in favor of running). I was feeling good.
Then I hit about the halfway mark of Nahal Kishon. I was on pace to finish the route maybe 10 minutes earlier than previously, but my legs died. I could not run anymore. I had to fast-walk the rest of the way. I had a couple of short runing bursts, but I pretty much walked the rest of the way.
I think I overran earlier and I had used it all up.
I guess I should start a list of lessons learned - Lesson #1: Don't outpace yourself. You will pay for it later. Take it easy and go the distance.
Seems like an important lesson.
Nobody else was out running on the road this morning. I saw some kids finishing an exciting night of hanging out and getting drunk, and I saw a Hassidic father with his son lugging some small luggage, like they were going on a day trip. The father kind of eyed me suspiciously as we passed each other. Maybe because I was dressed like a runner but walking like a girl.
Also, running around the nieghborhood in the dark and in the silence of pre-dawn allows one to hear the sounds of the nieghborhood thathe normally misses. The gemara says the sun makes so much noise during the day that one cannot hear other things, but by night those sounds can be heard.
I don't know if it is the sun itself making the noise, or just all the noise that is made by the sun rising - the cars on the road, the construction workers, the stores, the people, the radios blaring, etc. Either way, before the sun comes up you hear all sorts of noises you just don't hear by day. Such as; the cackling of the high power lines, the scurrying of some sort of animal in the bushes, the chirping, and the silence of your own thoughts.
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