Saturday, February 21, 2009

Catch-up

Ok, let's see. Monday was a holiday. Tuesday I worked out with a group. We did lots of push-ups and sit-ups/crunches, kettlebells, and even pull-ups! (I needed a lot of help with those.) Then we did cardio for 15 or so minutes--I found an available cross-ramp machine and used that.

Wednesday--busy; Thursday--busy. Friday I did some running again, not quite a mile. I did a 1/2 mile in 5:42 (11.4min-mi) but I don't know how long I could've kept that up. I still need to go to the gym today. Since I got up to running more than 20 minutes in the walk-to-run plan, I'm going to go ahead and start adding in speedwork. I have a timed run next Friday and am behind on getting ready for it. My legs have been feeling better since last Saturday. Wednesday they didn't hurt at all. I still have to keep my stress level low, though, or they do start hurting again. At least stress headaches are fewer and farther between. :-%

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Friday was bowling...

Friday afternoon, a bunch of us from work went bowling. I could feel the stress of even that in my left shin. I've been feeling very frustrated by all this pain and stiffness.

Saturday morning I went to the gym again. 15 minutes on the crossramp--I noticed that, not only is the foot pad hinged, but it also actually makes your toes go up some each cycle, like walking. On the elliptical you can lift your heels easily but would have to really focus at it to lift your toes. After that I walked 3.5 minutes and started running. Since I was still feeling stiff, I ran for almost 6 minutes before timing a mile. I ran a 12-min mile (woohoo!), but had a hard time keeping my breathing rhythm and was wiped out by the end of it :( . So I only ran about 18 minutes total. I walked for a few more minutes working out some stiffness and then stretched. When I got home, I GOT OUT THE ICE and iced my shins for a good 15 minutes. My legs felt much better and didn't start getting stiff and sore again until around 5 or 6pm. Ibuprofen is a good friend of mine. :)

Wednesday

My laptop is on the fritz, so I have to compete with 3 other people to use the other computer!

On Wednesday, my legs were really hurting since Monday's run. I wanted to use the "crossramp" but they were all full, so I used the treadmill. I walked for 30 minutes at around a 3.8mph pace. Afterward I did quite a few situps and crunches and as much stretching as I had time for. Again, no ice afterward.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Almost done!

Friday, instead of running, I took another day of rest. Saturday I did a 16min warm-up on a Precor crossramp; this time I could tell the difference between it and the elliptical machine--the foot pad pivots slightly and seems to give the front of the leg a bit more workout.

Anyway, after the warm-up, I did the next w3r workout: walk 5min, run 20, walk 5. My run was slower on Saturday--14 min-mile. I didn't get to ice my shins afterward, just took ibuprofen. My left shin has had a sore spot low on the inside.

MONDAY: The gym was like an oven today, so I ran outside. It was perfect, nice and cool. (or warm compared to what is has been) I walked 10min, ran 22, and walked about 5 more. My running distance this time was 1.7mi, 2.2 overall. Again I didn't get ice on my shins, just cold fingers. :) There is a very sore spot about 1" - 1 1/2" long a little above my left ankle.

The next run is supposed to be 25min, and the one after that 30. I think I'll see about doing a crossramp workout Wed or a long brisk walk and spread these runs out a little more. Then I have to add in speedwork.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Wednesday

Today was 6min walk, 18min run, 6min walk. I did a 10 minute elliptical warm-up first. I forgot to take ibuprofen this morning, and my muscles were still rather tight most of the workout. I ran about a 12:45minute mile covering approx 1.5 miles in the 18 minutes.

My right shin is doing pretty well, but I could feel a tight spot as well as a really tender spot on the inside of my left shin. I took ibuprofen and iced it when I got home. I'm not sure whether to go to the next step on Friday, repeat today's, or do a different workout, like only elliptical or bike instead.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Skipped a step

Monday I was feeling pretty good, so I skipped a "step" in my program. Last time I ran a 10 min stretch; the next step was 12. Instead, I went right for 15. It had a 10 minute walk first, so I didn't do any extra warm-up either, just started off slow. So it was walk 10, run 15, walk 5, run 5, walk 5. During the 15 min run I did a little over a mile--about a 13 min/mile pace. Afterward I stretched out as much as I could. I could feel a particularly sore spot on my left shin.

Today (Tues) there's some tightness and soreness, but it's not too bad. I'm just not sure how I feel about moving to the next step tomorrow: walk 6, run 18, walk 6! If I get to the gym early enough, I can find an elliptical to warm up on. (That's another reason I didn't do extra warm-up on Mon...all the ellipticals were full.)