Remaining grateful as I continue to test the waters..

I got out even earlier on Tuesday morning, because my first appointment was at 8:00 am. I went down to the track, and decided not to record the 5 minute walk warm up, so I would have a different perspective on my pace with the run/walk intervals. My initial intent was to increase the run time to 7 minutes instead of 5, and walk time to 2:30 instead of 2:00 - but because I had to be somewhere early, I decided to let that wait until later on in the week.

I was pleased with how I ran. 

Three quarters of the track was shaded this time, as the sun had not even risen high enough to make it over the majority of the tree-lined east side. It was also cooler and less humid, which made it all the more pleasant. I was stoked, and feeling good, although I still had some weird feeling of cold-wetness on the top of my right foot. 'No bother', I thought.  I tried to ignore it, as my ankle mechanics seemed unaffected.

I still yearned for those walk breaks, and as I look at the graph on Runmeter (Magellan STILL won't upload to the site) you can see how except for the first leg, I'm anticipating the end of the 5 minute runs by slowing down somewhat. I'm going to have to change that up soon. Don't want to develop any 'bad habits' !

I ended the run early. I couldn't stop thinking about being late for my first appointment, and it was counterproductive to the run. I just stopped. Abruptly. :)

No calf pain, but some tightness. It felt tight before I even got out of bed. I stretched my low back out before, and everything else after the run.

My overall pace was faster, and I had some pretty good values for the  'fastest pace per mile' too.

It looks like rain tomorrow and Friday morning, and I'm hoping it holds off. I'm off from work on Friday, but I have blood work planned for 9:00 am, (neurologist wants to rule stuff OUT) and I'd like to get a run in before that. The weather is acting downright tropical here on Long Island. I'm looking forward to cooler, dryer air.

Did ya hear that, Mother Nature?

Runmeter Data

Look, ma.. no capris!

I don't think there is anyone more happier and hopeful than me right now.  I went back to the track today for a recovery run of sorts. It's close, level, and the east straightaway is shaded this time of morning. I continued to run 5:2 x 5 - and I think it was my best run yet. Despite the heat, and although I really needed those 2 minutes walks, I believe my cadence is improving. And NO twinges in either calf! I did get some tightness in my adductor and distal quad again on the right side about half way through- but I can't remember at what point it abated. 

This morning, it's Magellan's turn to be a dickity-dunce. I can't upload from the watch to the website. I am able to see the run on the watch however, and it's telling me that during my running times, I was hitting an 88-93 cadence.  Yay!

oOOoOh.. what a little head I have.

My heart rate got a little high (182) at one point, so I slowed down. At the end of a five minute run I was usually around 170-172 - and the 2 minute walk got me back down to around 132. I found that if I exhaled longer and slower, I could bring my heart rate down faster. I think that's a meditative trick I read about once upon a time.

And since I've been back running, I've ditched the capris for shorts. This is the first time since I started running that I feel comfortable in them. I have no idea why. I've alternated using compressions, and I still feel I have an edge when I wear them.

Runmeter Data

Another step in the right direction

A successful run for distance this morning. 
Some gadget glitches with runmeter - I had to reset it 15 minutes into the run, because it was telling me I had been running for a day and a half - bizarre. Magellan tells the true story.

My original plan was to run 6 slow miles, slow enough that I didn't have to walk. Then, when I got there, I remembered the prudence of not changing more than one variable at a time. Increase my miles AND eliminate my walking? Not advisable. So, I opted to add mileage only. Even at 7:00am, the sun was about 20 degrees above the horizon, and it was very warm, very humid. The wind coming off the water cooled it some (it was 77 degrees when I parked at Cedar Creek) but as the sun rose over the course of the hour and a half I was there, it was really tough for me. I ended up running/walking 2:1 by the end. What's baffling to me is that I can no longer reach and maintain my 90 step cadence. I don't know if it's an endurance issue, or because my right leg is not moving as effectively as the left.

All in all, 8 miles, according to Magellan. 
I'm happy with the distance, and glad that I'm able to get out there again. 


Magellan Data
Runmeter Data

Slow, steady gains, as they say in my line of work..

I've been out running twice since my last post. I'm hesitant to blog, because I can't tell from one run to the next how I'm going to feel, and I don't want to get all buoyant and happy, only to report during the next post that I crashed and burned again. I have to say though,  overall my experiences returning to running thus far are more positive than negative, and although I don't feel my endurance improving as quickly as I'd like, (I'm SO grateful for the 2 minute walks) I'm able to run longer before my calf starts to cramp up. The last run I did, 'round the 'hood - I thought I developed either a neuroma or a fracture on my LEFT foot, which led to an awkward experience walking back home. I gave it 2 days rest and used some Voltaren on it - and this morning my run was pain free.

I can say I definitely enjoy running on a track. Too bad all roads don't feel so forgiving. 

I was able to pick up my pace today. During my 5 minute runs, I was able get to mid to high 8's for most of them. I should have gotten down to the track earlier, because the heat and humidity were brutal.  But I needed to spend quite some time stretching before I left. I woke up with my right leg dragging behind me a little. Again.
There is no rhyme or reason to why or when this happens - usually I'm worse just getting up out of bed, and usually better by the end of the day. But not always. I'm making plans to get to the bottom of it.

I needed to cut the run short a little earlier this morning, as my right calf started to cramp up JUST a bit. I had only about 5 minutes to go, but I was not taking a chance. Nope.

I'm hoping to go down to the south shore Saturday morning and run along the water (where it might be cooler) and do a sloooow 6 miler. 

Have a healthy, safe and Happy 4th. God bless America.

June 30th Magellan Data
June 30th Runmeter Data

July 4th Magellan Data
July 4th Runmeter Data