Exercise Log: Week 1 of Intervention

Well I made it the minimal requirement of 3 days for week 1 so far and I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'm definitely struggling more than I used to and can tell it will take some work to get my stamina up for running or biking any sort of distance.

On Friday I went to the Rec to bike for 2.5 miles (although I swear it was lying to me because I was on there for roughly 40 minutes). 

Sunday I just worked out at the Centre's gym for half an hour, alternating running and walking. As well as some core and arm exercises.

Tonight I started out on the treadmill for 10 minutes at an incline of 4-5 walking, then I moved onto the stationary bike for just over 20 minutes and 5 miles. I couldn't believe how bad my my legs hurt just after that little ways. So much time ahead of me. I'm definitely going to have to get to the gym more than 3 or 4 days a week.

I just wish I had my actual bike here to ride outside on a trail. Which reminds me that I need to find a bike shop around Kalamazoo so I can go get fit. If anyone knows of any let me know. Also if you have trails to recommend, I'd appreciate that as well. 

3.1 Training Run

I told you I would do it.... 3.1 miles in 45 minutes, with like a 5 minute break in the middle because my side of my calf would not loosen up and I didn't want to pull anything or cause damage to it right before the race.

It was a little rough, but I think the first time you run longer than you have been running it's going to be challenging.

Here's the breakdown:

• walk 3 minutes
• run 8 minutes
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 2 minute (mile 1 done at 13.5 minutes)
• run 1 minute
• walk 3 minutes
• run 1 minute
• walk 2 minutes (another .5 mile done followed by 5 minute break)
• walk 1 minute
• run 2 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 2 minutes

That's a total of 23 minute of walking and 22 minutes of running. Hopefully I can push a little bit harder on Thursday and finish around 43. But really whatever time I get, I finished and that's what is important.

Second Day Log

Wednesday night I went to the gym for another training run. It was harder than the first one. The second day of working out is always harder than the first one. I still managed to do 2 miles that took me an even more time than the last time (didn't think I could get any slower).

Here's the breakdown:

• 5 minute warm up walk
• 1 minute run
• 1 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 1 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 2 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 4 minute walk
• end of mile 1 and quick water break
• 3 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 2 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 3 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 3 minute walk
• 1 minute run
• 8 minute walk

I ended up walking a lot of the time because my body was just not feeling the whole running thing. Something was really off about my stride and it threw everything else off. I have no idea what my problem was, but I only ended up doing just over 2 miles. One of these days I need to run the whole 3.1

First Documented Turkey Training "Run"

"run" aka a jogging pace

2 miles took me 33 minutes tonight. Yikes that's slow, I feel like people walk the whole thing faster than I can semi run it. I have started out by alternating running and walking because that seemed to work on previous occasions.

• walk 5 minutes
• run 2 minutes
• walk 1 minute
• run 2 minutes
• walk 1 minute
• run 1 minute
• walk 2 minute 
• run 1 minute
• walk 2 minutes
• run 1 and a half minutes
• walk 2 and a half minutes
• run 1 minute
• walk 3 minutes
• run 1 minute
• walk 3 minutes
• run 1 half minute
• walk 3 and a half minutes

I think that's right.... it should total to 10 minutes of running time and 23 minutes of walking time.

Even though I have a ton of homework I knew I needed to find time to train and just plain get exercise. I'm just making excuses if I say I have too much homework because I still take breaks and I might as well spend one of them working out.

I just got back today from a weekend with my great grandma. I love spending time and getting to talk with her.

Running thoughts

Just for starts I'd like to say that this new blogger interface (I think they've had it for a while but I just switched) is taking me a bit of getting used to.

Secondly, I'm still sore from running (with a lot of walking) Sunday and Monday. Granted it's only Wednesday, but I didn't run that far and I used my foam roller. I need to get back to running at a regular schedule. I'm thinking Mondays and Thursdays at least for now, although I'll probably up that when my legs get adjusted to the work again. I had a horrible time Sunday trying to get my calf/shin muscles to loosen and stop causing me pain. Finally after thinking I'd have to give up running for another day I reached a point where the pain subsided enough and that was really all I needed. After that running felt so good.... for the 10 minutes that I ran. The only good thing about running on a treadmill instead of the track at the SRC is that I can pace myself better. I usually run at a 12 minute/mile pace on the treadmill, which keeps me steady and also prevents me from slowing down as much when I take walking breaks.

Sunday started with around 10 minutes of walking
1 minute run
5 minutes of walking
5 minute run
1 minute walk
1 minute run
and 5 minutes of walking

.... it was a start at least.

Monday was a short and quick: starting with about 6 minutes of walking
1 minute run
1 minute walk
1 minute run
1 minute walk
1 minute run
3 minute walk
1 minute run
5 minute walk

both days were a little over 1 mile each. Followed my lifting weights and leg presses.
Getting serious for the Turkey Trot this year.