Saturday, June 10, 2006
Went for 30 minute walk today. Just to get my body used to the idea we're going to be getting after it again. Went 2 miles. In 30 minutes. Walking. Guess I won't follow the Runners World beginner running training. Okey dokey. 66 and sunny with a northerly breeze.
I will follow some of the advice I found at Runners World. Schedule your workouts. I sorta did before. Not on paper but I knew when I'd have the time. I recently changed the hours I work. Used to be 4:30 pm til 12:30 am. Now it is 8:00 am til 4:30 pm. These hours are more family friendly. My wife really wanted me to work the daytime shift. Took a little shift premium hit but we'll get by OK. So now I need to work when I'll go. I will probably try the early morning routine as it will work a bit easier for me. Except the getting up at zero darkthirty part. If the early routine doesn't work I'll go at night before bed.
Another thing to remember is to expect bad days. Not everyday will be a great one. And some days you'll just want to say nuts to it. Let 'em go. Tomorrow will be another day and will be better.
And don't rush. Rushing can lead to injuries and discouragement. I'm just trying to get in shape. Drop some excess poundage. Hopefully have a bit of fun, too.
A quick note about the name of this blog. Where I live in northern lower Michigan the terrain was formed by receding glaciers 10,000 years ago. From the air it looks like a big washboard (so I've been told) and the land is up and down. Lots of hills very little level ground. Especially in my neighborhood. So if I'm not running uphill I'll be going downhill. Occasionally I drive someplace where its flatter but won't always have the time to do so. So I'll be doing lots of rolling hills running.
The first step has been taken. Again. And now "To infinity and beyond." Thanks to Buzz Lightyear
I will follow some of the advice I found at Runners World. Schedule your workouts. I sorta did before. Not on paper but I knew when I'd have the time. I recently changed the hours I work. Used to be 4:30 pm til 12:30 am. Now it is 8:00 am til 4:30 pm. These hours are more family friendly. My wife really wanted me to work the daytime shift. Took a little shift premium hit but we'll get by OK. So now I need to work when I'll go. I will probably try the early morning routine as it will work a bit easier for me. Except the getting up at zero darkthirty part. If the early routine doesn't work I'll go at night before bed.
Another thing to remember is to expect bad days. Not everyday will be a great one. And some days you'll just want to say nuts to it. Let 'em go. Tomorrow will be another day and will be better.
And don't rush. Rushing can lead to injuries and discouragement. I'm just trying to get in shape. Drop some excess poundage. Hopefully have a bit of fun, too.
A quick note about the name of this blog. Where I live in northern lower Michigan the terrain was formed by receding glaciers 10,000 years ago. From the air it looks like a big washboard (so I've been told) and the land is up and down. Lots of hills very little level ground. Especially in my neighborhood. So if I'm not running uphill I'll be going downhill. Occasionally I drive someplace where its flatter but won't always have the time to do so. So I'll be doing lots of rolling hills running.
The first step has been taken. Again. And now "To infinity and beyond." Thanks to Buzz Lightyear
Friday, June 09, 2006
Ok I haven't started my running back to fitness yet. Found another plan at the Runners World website. This one is by Amby Burfoot. I'm still pondering which plan I'll go with. This one's goal is 2 miles in 30 minutes. Not quite what my goal but for an 8 week program it is a start. I'm starting at the beginning because I stopped running about 7 weeks ago. At that time I was doing 11.5 or 12 minute miles. Not fast but steady. I'd like to get to that point and then some. Maybe as fast as 10 or even 9 minute miles. In fact, I think I should have another goal in mind. Like a race. There is a lot of 5K and 10K races in the summer and I should try one or two, say, in September. And then next spring go for a half marathon in Traverse City. Or even a full marathon. So tomorrow afternoon I'll start one of these plans. A guy has to dream a little. But first I need to find my shoes.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
A year or so ago I started a running program that would help me get into shape and lose a few pounds. It lasted the best part of said time frame. This past Easter I lost all interest. Not real sure why but have decided to try again.
I'll go with the same routine as before. It's a 10 week program designed to, at the end, enable one to run 5k in 30 minutes. I didn't follow the plan to a T but was pretty close. That will be one of my goals this time around. 5k in under 30 minutes. Also lose 20 pounds. I weigh 198 which is about 30 more than I weighed when I married my sweetie 18 years ago. Shooting to lose 20 then see what happens from there.
One reason I quit running is I changed the hours I worked. Used to work 4:30 pm to 12:30 am. Now I work 8: am to 4:30 pm. I'm just now, a month later, getting used to the new hours. Still need to figure what time of day to run. Early morning or evenings. I'm not a morning person but probably could learn to be one. I'm not thrilled with the idea of running at night. I live in a rural area where there are no street lights and traffic clips along pretty fast. Narrow shoulders on the roads. Yes, in the summer it stays lighter later but its also usually hotter. Even around 9:30 10:00 pm its still fairly warm. Its dark early in the morning too but at least it should be cooler. Decisions decisions. Well, either way I would need reflective clothing and probably a headlamp.
I have many routes to run and may cross train by cycling, trail running and some swimming.
I'll start the renewal program this weekend. I found this weekly program searching the net. Its from the San Bernardino Pacers website. I'll put up some links later this week (soon as I remember how).
Week 1-Run 2 minutes, walk 4 minutes. Complete 5 cycles.
Week 2-Run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Complete 5 cycles.
Week 3-Run 5 minutes, walk 2 1/2 minutes. Complete 4 cycles.
Week 4-Run 7 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Complete 3 cycles.
Week 5- Run 8 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Complete 3 cycles.
Week 6-Run 9 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Complete 2 cycles then run 8 minutes.
Week 7-Run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute. Complete 3 cycles.
Week 8-Run 13 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Complete 2 cycles.
Week 9-Run 14 minutes, walk 1 minute. Complete 2 cycles. Note:After completing week 9, if you feel tired, repeat this week of training before moving on to week 10.
Week 10-Run 30 minutes.
Voila! Sounds simple and easy, right? We shall see. Until next time, wish me luck.
I'll go with the same routine as before. It's a 10 week program designed to, at the end, enable one to run 5k in 30 minutes. I didn't follow the plan to a T but was pretty close. That will be one of my goals this time around. 5k in under 30 minutes. Also lose 20 pounds. I weigh 198 which is about 30 more than I weighed when I married my sweetie 18 years ago. Shooting to lose 20 then see what happens from there.
One reason I quit running is I changed the hours I worked. Used to work 4:30 pm to 12:30 am. Now I work 8: am to 4:30 pm. I'm just now, a month later, getting used to the new hours. Still need to figure what time of day to run. Early morning or evenings. I'm not a morning person but probably could learn to be one. I'm not thrilled with the idea of running at night. I live in a rural area where there are no street lights and traffic clips along pretty fast. Narrow shoulders on the roads. Yes, in the summer it stays lighter later but its also usually hotter. Even around 9:30 10:00 pm its still fairly warm. Its dark early in the morning too but at least it should be cooler. Decisions decisions. Well, either way I would need reflective clothing and probably a headlamp.
I have many routes to run and may cross train by cycling, trail running and some swimming.
I'll start the renewal program this weekend. I found this weekly program searching the net. Its from the San Bernardino Pacers website. I'll put up some links later this week (soon as I remember how).
Week 1-Run 2 minutes, walk 4 minutes. Complete 5 cycles.
Week 2-Run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Complete 5 cycles.
Week 3-Run 5 minutes, walk 2 1/2 minutes. Complete 4 cycles.
Week 4-Run 7 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Complete 3 cycles.
Week 5- Run 8 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Complete 3 cycles.
Week 6-Run 9 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Complete 2 cycles then run 8 minutes.
Week 7-Run 9 minutes, walk 1 minute. Complete 3 cycles.
Week 8-Run 13 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Complete 2 cycles.
Week 9-Run 14 minutes, walk 1 minute. Complete 2 cycles. Note:After completing week 9, if you feel tired, repeat this week of training before moving on to week 10.
Week 10-Run 30 minutes.
Voila! Sounds simple and easy, right? We shall see. Until next time, wish me luck.
