rebellion and discord
So its been a year since I started running. A lot has happened. I lost about 30 pounds. I ran a Half Marathon. I injured myself running a Half Marathon. I healed (more or less) and started running again. I entered another Half Marathon and entered the lottery for The New York City Marathon. The New York Giants lost to the Greenbay Packers rather handily. Oh and we, as a country, replaced Democracy with some sort of dysfunctional Authoritarianism. We replaced an intelligent, humane, charismatic leader with a groping, hateful, petulant, mandarin colored, man-child.
I'm going to a meeting tonight to discuss the future of our country. 5,000 people showed up last week. Tonight will be my first meeting and I am thrilled to see who will show up and what will be discussed. I am, for the first time in my life, afraid to be an American. Hopefully tonight will give me some hope for our future. I truly believe that democracy will never be the same, but perhaps with some real work it could be improved upon.
I have run a couple of 5 mile runs now and I think that my knee is slowly showing some improvement. It is not as stiff walking down steps and my legs are starting to feel a little more lively. That being said, I will take it SLOW throughout February and hopefully be in shape by March to start training in earnest for the Brooklyn Half.
My diet has shown some improvement. I have been packing salads and soups for lunch. I was packing salads and sandwiches, but I saw that my weight was starting to creep slowly upwards. So soups and salads for lunch as I try to lose 20-25 more pounds. My goal weight for summer is 190. Thats roughly 24 pounds to drop.
One of my running group buddies is healing a broken foot so we are hoping to start doing some strength training together. I think stairs and squats (using body weight) are in my future. The weather is having an affect on me for sure though, I am feeling a lot more lazy this January. I have found it harder and harder to leave the cosiness of my bed for the frigid winds of Prospect Park.
That being said, i've started taking my Sharpie to my calendar which generally means more activity in my direct future. Going for a mid-week 4 miler tomorrow morning. Also, I went back to my Brooks. I had given Asics a try, but thats when all this knee trouble began.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
taking it easy and taking it slow
I technically ran 4 miles yesterday.
That is, I ran for 3 miles, walked a bit, and then did another mile and change.
I am trying to soften my approach to running until my legs feel strong again. I want to be able to run well into my later years and I think the only way this will be possible is to notice when thing are out of whack and let them heal themselves before pushing through. Clearly this doesn't mean taking all challenge out of my running, but it means listening with a sharper ear when my body screams "OUCH".
There is a lot of writing, none of which I have read, praising the attributes of running/walking training. I shudder at the thought, frankly, of stopping to walk during a run, but maybe thats just me being a stupid man. Maybe there is something to it. I know that if I get into the 2017 New York City Marathon, i'm going to want to run the whole thing. Every step. I see the possible benefits of walking and running, but I don't FEEL them. I want to conquer the distance, not embrace it.
The running/walking thing is not something I am ready to embrace, but I will give myself permission to walk if my body feels like it really needs a break. Understanding the difference between body pain and general fatigue is going to be tricky, but I think I can be honest enough with myself to tell the difference.
Also,
I want to lose 20 more pounds before May. I want to take some stress off my knees and joints. I hope that this will help my training and possibly further my distances. There are some trail races upstate that look like a lot of fun and seem awfully challenging to boot. I want to be able to do all these races to the best of my ability and I want to keep myself health in order to do so. So maybe weight training and diet are going to have to be part of my life.
Rainy day today. Plan on going for a run tomorrow morning. Would like to try and keep it a t 3 runs a week for a few more weeks.
I technically ran 4 miles yesterday.
That is, I ran for 3 miles, walked a bit, and then did another mile and change.
I am trying to soften my approach to running until my legs feel strong again. I want to be able to run well into my later years and I think the only way this will be possible is to notice when thing are out of whack and let them heal themselves before pushing through. Clearly this doesn't mean taking all challenge out of my running, but it means listening with a sharper ear when my body screams "OUCH".
There is a lot of writing, none of which I have read, praising the attributes of running/walking training. I shudder at the thought, frankly, of stopping to walk during a run, but maybe thats just me being a stupid man. Maybe there is something to it. I know that if I get into the 2017 New York City Marathon, i'm going to want to run the whole thing. Every step. I see the possible benefits of walking and running, but I don't FEEL them. I want to conquer the distance, not embrace it.
The running/walking thing is not something I am ready to embrace, but I will give myself permission to walk if my body feels like it really needs a break. Understanding the difference between body pain and general fatigue is going to be tricky, but I think I can be honest enough with myself to tell the difference.
Also,
I want to lose 20 more pounds before May. I want to take some stress off my knees and joints. I hope that this will help my training and possibly further my distances. There are some trail races upstate that look like a lot of fun and seem awfully challenging to boot. I want to be able to do all these races to the best of my ability and I want to keep myself health in order to do so. So maybe weight training and diet are going to have to be part of my life.
Rainy day today. Plan on going for a run tomorrow morning. Would like to try and keep it a t 3 runs a week for a few more weeks.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
cold ass monday
Yesterdays was cold. Super cold. It was not weather to run in so like a dingbat I went for a run.
That'll show 'em.
I woke up with some lower back soreness that was alarming. I hadn't really done much stressful activity over the past few days, so I couldn't imagine that it was a pull, but there it was. Sore and feeling like I had pulled something. I figured that a nice run out in the COLD would loosen that pulled muscle right up.
I stretched, I swung out my legs, I did some squats. Ya know warmed up and then took off on my route. I thought to myself that 3-4 miles would be a good goal. Something attainable without being too much. I didn't want to go for 6 and end up hurting my knee. It still isn't feeling 100% so I don't want to test it.
After about a mile I felt like complete dogshit. I was cold. I was still sore from last Thursdays run. I was hungry. I had tied my shoes too tightly and my feet hurt. Literally anything I could think about was making me want to stop and walk home.
But I didn't!
I just kept telling myself that it would get better and, after some more complaining and muttering to myself, it did. When I got to the big hill in Prospect Park I lowered my chin and ran on up it and then kept going until I got home. Just over 4 miles that you very much. I was pleased as punch (if not quick as asparagus) and even managed to foam roll (ouch) when I got home.
Now this morning was an altogether new kind of dag-nastery. The entire left side of my back is sore. It's not like i'm planning on having another run for a few days or anything, but can I just get healthy already?!? I mean, i'm just trying to get healthy for the love of vishnu.
Chili when I get home tonight and some more rest. Hopefully my back will mend in time for the weekend. Maybe i'll go for 5...
Yesterdays was cold. Super cold. It was not weather to run in so like a dingbat I went for a run.
That'll show 'em.
I woke up with some lower back soreness that was alarming. I hadn't really done much stressful activity over the past few days, so I couldn't imagine that it was a pull, but there it was. Sore and feeling like I had pulled something. I figured that a nice run out in the COLD would loosen that pulled muscle right up.
I stretched, I swung out my legs, I did some squats. Ya know warmed up and then took off on my route. I thought to myself that 3-4 miles would be a good goal. Something attainable without being too much. I didn't want to go for 6 and end up hurting my knee. It still isn't feeling 100% so I don't want to test it.
After about a mile I felt like complete dogshit. I was cold. I was still sore from last Thursdays run. I was hungry. I had tied my shoes too tightly and my feet hurt. Literally anything I could think about was making me want to stop and walk home.
But I didn't!
I just kept telling myself that it would get better and, after some more complaining and muttering to myself, it did. When I got to the big hill in Prospect Park I lowered my chin and ran on up it and then kept going until I got home. Just over 4 miles that you very much. I was pleased as punch (if not quick as asparagus) and even managed to foam roll (ouch) when I got home.
Now this morning was an altogether new kind of dag-nastery. The entire left side of my back is sore. It's not like i'm planning on having another run for a few days or anything, but can I just get healthy already?!? I mean, i'm just trying to get healthy for the love of vishnu.
Chili when I get home tonight and some more rest. Hopefully my back will mend in time for the weekend. Maybe i'll go for 5...
Thursday, January 12, 2017
better than expected
This morning was actually pretty pleasant for January. It was 52 degrees, which is a new high for NYC, and I managed to get out before 7 am.
I was feeling a little sluggish for sure and Captain was completely confused as to what was going on. As it had been so long since my last run, he was clearly miffed by my stretching and refused to support me in any way. Other than get under me as I downward dog'd.
I got outside and started my run. First block good. Second block good. Third block there began a slight favoring of my left leg. I considered stopping then and there, but decided on trying to run with less impact and that actually worked rather well. By the time I got to the park I had more or less worked the limp out and felt pretty good.
I got through the first mile no problem. The second mile started out good, but I felt fatigue coming on strong and by the end of mile three I was ready to stop. I didn't want to push it this morning. I walked a mile home and stretched for a bit.
All in all it was a good run. 6 hours later my knee feels fine. I am going to take it easy for a couple of days and give it another go on Sunday. I found a running specialist who I am going to make an appointment with to see what the next step is in my recovery. I imagine there will probably be some sort of gym involved.... sigh.
This morning was actually pretty pleasant for January. It was 52 degrees, which is a new high for NYC, and I managed to get out before 7 am.
I was feeling a little sluggish for sure and Captain was completely confused as to what was going on. As it had been so long since my last run, he was clearly miffed by my stretching and refused to support me in any way. Other than get under me as I downward dog'd.
I got outside and started my run. First block good. Second block good. Third block there began a slight favoring of my left leg. I considered stopping then and there, but decided on trying to run with less impact and that actually worked rather well. By the time I got to the park I had more or less worked the limp out and felt pretty good.
I got through the first mile no problem. The second mile started out good, but I felt fatigue coming on strong and by the end of mile three I was ready to stop. I didn't want to push it this morning. I walked a mile home and stretched for a bit.
All in all it was a good run. 6 hours later my knee feels fine. I am going to take it easy for a couple of days and give it another go on Sunday. I found a running specialist who I am going to make an appointment with to see what the next step is in my recovery. I imagine there will probably be some sort of gym involved.... sigh.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
mañana, i'm going for it
Last night I watched my President (Obama, not the great Cheeto) give his farewell speech. I was humbled, proud, terrified and angry. The juxtaposition between whats going out and whats coming in is staggering. One leads by example and speaks with confidence, knowledge and fact. The other is a flim-flam-man of the lowest kind of character. My fear was (and still is) that we may never see a Presidential President again.
That being said,
Its been just over a month now since my last run. My knee felt, more ore less, strong walking down stairs today so I am going to take this guy out for a test run in the morning. I am going to let my knee decide when the run is done and then I am going to have a nice long STRETCH. If my knee feels better Friday morning I will go for another run Sunday. I want to take it easy and build back up slowly. I will have missed 2 races this January and I am not in the mood to miss more in the Spring due to improper training.
I am very nervous about my run tomorrow. I fear that somehow, in the last month, my body will have lost all that it had been building up. That the momentum I was locked into will somehow have left the building. That my body, much like the Nations highest office, has somehow become corrupted and sick.
I guess tomorrow will tell.
Last night I watched my President (Obama, not the great Cheeto) give his farewell speech. I was humbled, proud, terrified and angry. The juxtaposition between whats going out and whats coming in is staggering. One leads by example and speaks with confidence, knowledge and fact. The other is a flim-flam-man of the lowest kind of character. My fear was (and still is) that we may never see a Presidential President again.
That being said,
Its been just over a month now since my last run. My knee felt, more ore less, strong walking down stairs today so I am going to take this guy out for a test run in the morning. I am going to let my knee decide when the run is done and then I am going to have a nice long STRETCH. If my knee feels better Friday morning I will go for another run Sunday. I want to take it easy and build back up slowly. I will have missed 2 races this January and I am not in the mood to miss more in the Spring due to improper training.
I am very nervous about my run tomorrow. I fear that somehow, in the last month, my body will have lost all that it had been building up. That the momentum I was locked into will somehow have left the building. That my body, much like the Nations highest office, has somehow become corrupted and sick.
I guess tomorrow will tell.
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