Yesterday: 1 hr jog/walk, biking, daily double
Today: I call it Karen. Back in the day, before I had a better understanding of my abdominal whackery, a coworker and I used to joke that I had a tapeworm, and I named the tapeworm after her. There isn't actually a tapeworm, but there is more than one issue...and, today, apparently a cheese-grater as well. I'll try some deep-breathing yoga stuff and go from there, but it's looking like one of those rare days spent mostly curled around the dog's soothing warmth.
Edit: well, the count lasted for just several hours. I woke up again sometime before noon feeling considerably better. The discomfort is back to a dull roar, and I decided to jog on the treadmill while listening to tunes and watching math videos, just to see how it would go. I think I could get into this routine. It ended up being a really easy 80 minute jog (my easy pace has quickened a bit on that TM too, thanks to all the hills, and not have any hills at all lifted me to an amazing zone), and then I did arm exercises and the daily double.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Drenched
Our timing excelled today. When we left the house, there was not even a drizzle. The heavens didn't open until we were warmed up, and they didn't open to their widest until we were on our last lap. At that point, it was uncomfortable to see, and that was added incentive to push through to home.
We did the Triplet four times. I had problems accessing full drive up the hills, but the slipperiness of the wet footing was the main complication. Rain strips the teeth from cogs. Going up a steep slope covered in wet pine needles becomes a scramble instead of a thrust.
Afterward, I did leg exercises, and despite my previous poor experience, I kept on all the plates for the squats. So, it was more of a uhhh than a pow, but I handled the additional weight better this time. The pow will come back with repetition, and I'll enjoy it for at least a couple of workouts before I put on more plates that I don't own yet.
And then the daily double. No sloshing during the situps this time. It's amazing how much quicker progress has been this time. Perhaps it would be quicker still if I did more volume, or additional workouts during the day, but I'm not motivated enough for that, not at this point. Handling one bout of an uncomfortable few minutes per day is yielding consistency and results, and that's good enough for the time being.
We did the Triplet four times. I had problems accessing full drive up the hills, but the slipperiness of the wet footing was the main complication. Rain strips the teeth from cogs. Going up a steep slope covered in wet pine needles becomes a scramble instead of a thrust.
Afterward, I did leg exercises, and despite my previous poor experience, I kept on all the plates for the squats. So, it was more of a uhhh than a pow, but I handled the additional weight better this time. The pow will come back with repetition, and I'll enjoy it for at least a couple of workouts before I put on more plates that I don't own yet.
And then the daily double. No sloshing during the situps this time. It's amazing how much quicker progress has been this time. Perhaps it would be quicker still if I did more volume, or additional workouts during the day, but I'm not motivated enough for that, not at this point. Handling one bout of an uncomfortable few minutes per day is yielding consistency and results, and that's good enough for the time being.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Boom!
The big guns kept me up for much of the night. They've been firing off some pretty heavy things in quick succession, and I'm still not used to hearing it at night. I could have used more sleep because I'm a bit sore from yesterday. It was a waste of a nice cool running day, but at least we got a fair bit done around the house.
We walked and then I did the daily double.
We walked and then I did the daily double.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
No ghost dog
Today, the Triplet. And, since it's May, we did it four times.
The run started off really well. It was one of those days where the good zone was within the first few steps of the start. Like stepping into a pool of water that is the perfect temperature.
And so, I slackened too much, failed to prep for the Triplet, and went through it the first two times in a sort of disengaged manner. It had rained a bit earlier this morning, and so the footing was as good as it gets too, which further withered concentration. Oh, steep hills, let's check out during these, see you later. But that's not the point!!
After self-admonishment and reminders, mainly about breathing and hip drive and feeling strong through the shoulders and certain muscles that run roughly from my armpits to my hips--we've made an acquaintance recently but haven't been formally introduced--I went through the Triplet two more times in a much more solid and strong manner.
I even jogged back up the long hill after it, successfully finding a measure of comfort during it (this being another goal).
And then, weights and the daily double. All solid, especially mentally. I'm growing more and more fond of the focus. My hands go round the bars, I squat, and prep, a few deep breaths, a reminder that I could hurt myself, and then this amazing clear space where I imagine the motion and nothing else at all. And then I go through it.
The only low point was more internal sloshing during the sit-ups, but it was manageable today. I could probably cut back a bit on my fluid intake between weights reps.
The run started off really well. It was one of those days where the good zone was within the first few steps of the start. Like stepping into a pool of water that is the perfect temperature.
And so, I slackened too much, failed to prep for the Triplet, and went through it the first two times in a sort of disengaged manner. It had rained a bit earlier this morning, and so the footing was as good as it gets too, which further withered concentration. Oh, steep hills, let's check out during these, see you later. But that's not the point!!
After self-admonishment and reminders, mainly about breathing and hip drive and feeling strong through the shoulders and certain muscles that run roughly from my armpits to my hips--we've made an acquaintance recently but haven't been formally introduced--I went through the Triplet two more times in a much more solid and strong manner.
I even jogged back up the long hill after it, successfully finding a measure of comfort during it (this being another goal).
And then, weights and the daily double. All solid, especially mentally. I'm growing more and more fond of the focus. My hands go round the bars, I squat, and prep, a few deep breaths, a reminder that I could hurt myself, and then this amazing clear space where I imagine the motion and nothing else at all. And then I go through it.
The only low point was more internal sloshing during the sit-ups, but it was manageable today. I could probably cut back a bit on my fluid intake between weights reps.
Friday, May 3, 2013
The altitudes of atmos
As much as the forest goes up and down, it hasn't really much variety otherwise. There are no streams or ponds or marshy bits. There are no clearings. There are more oak trees on one side, and there are more ferns in another section; the undergrowth varies somewhat, but there isn't a whole lot of it and the forest is basically tall and straight pines above a bed of their acidic needles.
I've experienced some swings of drama in there, mainly loose dogs (oddly enough, the one today was held back even though it was the same black female lab that has met us a few times now, including once in the owner's presence). However, apart from the thrill of running the Triplet, and the more usual general decline during a run, there usually isn't a whole lot of change or novelty.
So when I heard a new bird call this morning, I was piqued. There are mockingbirds here and I have been fooled by them before, but I've noticed a certain artificiality in their performances--I can't describe it except that it sounds like a bird imitating another bird, or sometimes a bunch of different other birds in quick succession. It's sort of akin to a man singing falsetto, I suppose.
The call this morning, however, seemed more genuine. I have very poor depth perception, if any at all (thank you, childhood lazy eye--but hey, drawing is easier, I just pick an eye, and 2D movies and TV are just as good as real life), and so picking out a bird in a forest is usually an aggravating and futile task unless it's moving a lot or there's a forced perspective cue to aid me.
Fortunately, it's pretty hard to miss one of these: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-headed_woodpecker/id
I've been hoping to see one for a while! I'm an lazy selective birdwatcher: either snazzy birds (plumage or vocal-wise) or birds that come into my backyard and do amusing things like squabble.
Seeing the red-headed woodpecker was a big thrill, and I walked on feeling almost complete satisfaction with everything, which is pretty rare.
A few minutes later, a bout of human and canine screaming erupted. Not from us! Something was happening deeper into the forest, or perhaps on the hunting farm behind it--I couldn't tell how many humans or dogs were involved, but the sound kicked up suddenly, lasted about half a minute, and then there was a gap until it happened again. The dogs (or dog?) wasn't yelping or barking, it was a more desperate sound, and the people sounded panicked too. I couldn't distinguish any words. And I couldn't tell how far away they were except that they weren't really close. I'd estimate about a mile away.
My first thought was of feral dogs. With all the loose dogs about here, and the possibility that some are further neglected if not mistreated, it's not a huge stretch to imagine a few of them deciding to start a club and hit the burg. So, maybe a pack of dogs set upon someone walking their pet...I started to look for a large stick. And I started to feel angry.
Usually, I try to hold my vexation in and be nice, and all, but if I'm in a place where there might be something going down, it feels more comfortable to feel more tough. I breathe deeply, stoke up the heat in my core (not my head, I still want to be calm), and probably the bitchface goes on too.
And then I saw a pale animal dart by, but not closely. Usually pale means a deer, more specifically, a deer butt or tail, but the little I saw of this creature suggested a pale torso, paler than a deer, and smaller than a deer. But it could have been the light. It could have been my stereoblindness. However, the thing did not run like a deer at all. No bounding. It ran like a dog.
I haven't mentioned this before, but there have been a few times where my dog has stopped to stare and whine at something that I just couldn't see. Once in particular he was very insistent, and it was hard to get him to move on, and he is not like that, even with deer and foxes and other exciting wild animals.
Now we know what it is! Ghost dog! We'll see if we'll meet it again. It's not worth worrying about, but of course it'll add at least a little frisson to our runs.
And walks...yeah, we're both taking it easy today. I haven't done the daily double yet, either.
I've experienced some swings of drama in there, mainly loose dogs (oddly enough, the one today was held back even though it was the same black female lab that has met us a few times now, including once in the owner's presence). However, apart from the thrill of running the Triplet, and the more usual general decline during a run, there usually isn't a whole lot of change or novelty.
So when I heard a new bird call this morning, I was piqued. There are mockingbirds here and I have been fooled by them before, but I've noticed a certain artificiality in their performances--I can't describe it except that it sounds like a bird imitating another bird, or sometimes a bunch of different other birds in quick succession. It's sort of akin to a man singing falsetto, I suppose.
The call this morning, however, seemed more genuine. I have very poor depth perception, if any at all (thank you, childhood lazy eye--but hey, drawing is easier, I just pick an eye, and 2D movies and TV are just as good as real life), and so picking out a bird in a forest is usually an aggravating and futile task unless it's moving a lot or there's a forced perspective cue to aid me.
Fortunately, it's pretty hard to miss one of these: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-headed_woodpecker/id
I've been hoping to see one for a while! I'm an lazy selective birdwatcher: either snazzy birds (plumage or vocal-wise) or birds that come into my backyard and do amusing things like squabble.
Seeing the red-headed woodpecker was a big thrill, and I walked on feeling almost complete satisfaction with everything, which is pretty rare.
A few minutes later, a bout of human and canine screaming erupted. Not from us! Something was happening deeper into the forest, or perhaps on the hunting farm behind it--I couldn't tell how many humans or dogs were involved, but the sound kicked up suddenly, lasted about half a minute, and then there was a gap until it happened again. The dogs (or dog?) wasn't yelping or barking, it was a more desperate sound, and the people sounded panicked too. I couldn't distinguish any words. And I couldn't tell how far away they were except that they weren't really close. I'd estimate about a mile away.
My first thought was of feral dogs. With all the loose dogs about here, and the possibility that some are further neglected if not mistreated, it's not a huge stretch to imagine a few of them deciding to start a club and hit the burg. So, maybe a pack of dogs set upon someone walking their pet...I started to look for a large stick. And I started to feel angry.
Usually, I try to hold my vexation in and be nice, and all, but if I'm in a place where there might be something going down, it feels more comfortable to feel more tough. I breathe deeply, stoke up the heat in my core (not my head, I still want to be calm), and probably the bitchface goes on too.
And then I saw a pale animal dart by, but not closely. Usually pale means a deer, more specifically, a deer butt or tail, but the little I saw of this creature suggested a pale torso, paler than a deer, and smaller than a deer. But it could have been the light. It could have been my stereoblindness. However, the thing did not run like a deer at all. No bounding. It ran like a dog.
I haven't mentioned this before, but there have been a few times where my dog has stopped to stare and whine at something that I just couldn't see. Once in particular he was very insistent, and it was hard to get him to move on, and he is not like that, even with deer and foxes and other exciting wild animals.
Now we know what it is! Ghost dog! We'll see if we'll meet it again. It's not worth worrying about, but of course it'll add at least a little frisson to our runs.
And walks...yeah, we're both taking it easy today. I haven't done the daily double yet, either.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
10+ hours of sleep, and no juice to show for it
This morning, 60ish minute jog/walk/mostly walk in the forest with the dog. He's outta steam even more than me.
Then arm weights and most of the daily double. Contrary to my usual laziness, I gave up during the situps and not the pushups. I had drunk too much and the sloshing was starting to push upwards.
And then 6+ miles biking to pick up our co-op produce. I had my derailleurs tuned, but they're still giving me grief. They threw the chain. My shifting is occasionally not as anticipatory as it could be, mainly because I am always always shifting, but I never had problems with the gears on my old bike. Not once, and I've had it for almost seven years. And it took about a decade and a couple of winters for my bike before that to crap out its gears: spectacularly on the wrong end of a long out-and-back, necessitating a bungee cord and a 40 km ride home on essentially a fixie. Anyway, this new bike has already been a few years' worth of problems, and I've even given up my usual cowboy mount/dismount to give the thing a break. But otherwise I really like it. So I guess I'll sit down for a few hours and sort it out myself. Maybe a screw is stripped or a collar is loose.
At any rate, I'm feeling tapped out. I'm still healing, and my appetite is gone again--when I feel hungry, I actually think hungry, in a more theoretical sense. Oh, I probably require some nourishment now. I'm down about five pounds from last week. Fortunately, we got lots of supplements, and so I'm taking more until this issue sorts itself out. And a kale omelet and Brazilian cheesy puffs should tempt my appetite tonight. But maybe I'm bored of my own cooking?
Then arm weights and most of the daily double. Contrary to my usual laziness, I gave up during the situps and not the pushups. I had drunk too much and the sloshing was starting to push upwards.
And then 6+ miles biking to pick up our co-op produce. I had my derailleurs tuned, but they're still giving me grief. They threw the chain. My shifting is occasionally not as anticipatory as it could be, mainly because I am always always shifting, but I never had problems with the gears on my old bike. Not once, and I've had it for almost seven years. And it took about a decade and a couple of winters for my bike before that to crap out its gears: spectacularly on the wrong end of a long out-and-back, necessitating a bungee cord and a 40 km ride home on essentially a fixie. Anyway, this new bike has already been a few years' worth of problems, and I've even given up my usual cowboy mount/dismount to give the thing a break. But otherwise I really like it. So I guess I'll sit down for a few hours and sort it out myself. Maybe a screw is stripped or a collar is loose.
At any rate, I'm feeling tapped out. I'm still healing, and my appetite is gone again--when I feel hungry, I actually think hungry, in a more theoretical sense. Oh, I probably require some nourishment now. I'm down about five pounds from last week. Fortunately, we got lots of supplements, and so I'm taking more until this issue sorts itself out. And a kale omelet and Brazilian cheesy puffs should tempt my appetite tonight. But maybe I'm bored of my own cooking?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
My dog's last tempo run
Possibly. Perhaps it was too early for him. Perhaps he didn't like leaving my husband behind. Perhaps his nails have gotten a bit too long. And tempo runs aren't his favourite. He's much better with slower and longer runs, or shorter and faster intervals. The middle ground is uncomfortable for both of us, but especially him. Four legs dictate more defined quanta of pace, and there is a range that's fast to trot and too slow to canter comfortably.
However, he is nearly eight and a relatively large dog, and the inevitable might be starting to happen. I've been keeping him at a healthy weight and giving him glucosamine and massages, as well as fresh vegetables, soup bones, eggs, and so forth to augment performance dog food, and I'd thought that we'd have at least another year or two before issues arose.
Maybe it was just an off-day for him, but he wasn't a happy camper during last week's tempo run either, and today was worse. He was an anchor. At times, my leash arm and shoulder were pulled back, making already uncomfortable moments especially so. Mostly he stayed a few paces behind me, instead of beside me. He hauled me back on downhills. The only time he rejoined my side was during the second large hill. I was already burnt before I got to it, and I felt new aches in my quads. I pushed past the usual level of lactic acid, just one more mailbox, just one more mailbox; the thought of stopping and then having to restart was repugnant enough to force me on, and discomfort turned to burning and then into a more acute pain as though my muscles were being stripped from bone. And then they became exhausted and useless, my pace plummeted, and the dog caught up with me.
Perhaps convincing my husband to join us the next time will put more of a ping into the dog's pace. Otherwise, he's staying at home for this particular run next time, and he'll get a nail trimming and a soup bone later today.
Pace-wise, I think it was a bit slower than last week. 4.75 miles in about 42 minutes. 8:50/mile. Slow for a tempo runs, but it's nearly twice as long as my past tempo runs, plus I'm getting back into them, and those hills! And raw guts don't help, although they're already much better than they were yesterday.
And then I did leg exercises and weights, and the daily double. Being lazy about taking plates off between the deadlifts and squats was not optimal. I'm really tired now.
However, he is nearly eight and a relatively large dog, and the inevitable might be starting to happen. I've been keeping him at a healthy weight and giving him glucosamine and massages, as well as fresh vegetables, soup bones, eggs, and so forth to augment performance dog food, and I'd thought that we'd have at least another year or two before issues arose.
Maybe it was just an off-day for him, but he wasn't a happy camper during last week's tempo run either, and today was worse. He was an anchor. At times, my leash arm and shoulder were pulled back, making already uncomfortable moments especially so. Mostly he stayed a few paces behind me, instead of beside me. He hauled me back on downhills. The only time he rejoined my side was during the second large hill. I was already burnt before I got to it, and I felt new aches in my quads. I pushed past the usual level of lactic acid, just one more mailbox, just one more mailbox; the thought of stopping and then having to restart was repugnant enough to force me on, and discomfort turned to burning and then into a more acute pain as though my muscles were being stripped from bone. And then they became exhausted and useless, my pace plummeted, and the dog caught up with me.
Perhaps convincing my husband to join us the next time will put more of a ping into the dog's pace. Otherwise, he's staying at home for this particular run next time, and he'll get a nail trimming and a soup bone later today.
Pace-wise, I think it was a bit slower than last week. 4.75 miles in about 42 minutes. 8:50/mile. Slow for a tempo runs, but it's nearly twice as long as my past tempo runs, plus I'm getting back into them, and those hills! And raw guts don't help, although they're already much better than they were yesterday.
And then I did leg exercises and weights, and the daily double. Being lazy about taking plates off between the deadlifts and squats was not optimal. I'm really tired now.
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