The Amazing Human Body

It has been about a week since I have written and I think it will be better off this way. I can give you highlights instead of the drudgery of running. As with all training programs I'm starting to increase the mileage of my runs. How my Training Program works, the longest running day of a week is on Saturday. This last Saturday I ran 3.5 miles. Chelsie wasn't feeling up to riding with me which is ok, and rusty had been a butt the last time I had taken him for a run that was only 2 miles, so it was just me and the iPod. All this and the general fatigue of the past week combined against me so that I needed to take 2 walking breaks during the run. I am not beating myself up about this, but this was the fact of the situation. Yesterday, Monday, however, Chelsie did come with me, so did the dog, and when he was being a butt we just put him in the bike basket where he could enjoy the ride. Its actually really cute to watch him in the basket. Anyway so today, running the exact same route for the same mileage I felt great. I was able to finish without taking any breaks and I actually was increasing my speed towards the end. It is simply amazing how our bodies can adapt to the stresses they are forced to endure.

Uphill Battle

Hey Kids,

Well yesterday was my first "Speed Day" but it was mostly an uphill day. The workout said 4 X 100 m. I'm sure I did more than that but the whole part I was running wasn't necisarily uphill so it evens out. I was in upper Bidwell Park running up and down the North Rim Trail. Here is a PDF map: MAP. It was very rocky which made it a bit exciting. It was about 102 degrees here yesterday which isn't as bad as southern California but still pretty hot. After going up and down the trail a couple of times I could tell a big contrast in the temperatures at the parking lot to the top of the hill where I turned around. I'm talking 5-10 degrees cooler at the bottom of the hill. I'm not sure the physics of that, but it was interesting.

While running I was ran off the road by an out of control mountain biker. Luckily I am as sure footed as a mountain goat.

I think that this workout was meant to build leg muscle mass because it wasn't really long enough to develop endurance.

First Real Workout Completed!!

Well I did it! I made it through my first workout. Chelsie Rusty and I went on our run to the church on the corner and back. I feel good about it. I wasn't sore afterwards or anything which is excellent. It may be intimidating but I know that I can do it! For all of you out there that are wondering if you can, YOU CAN. Just start taking those first steps and when you finish it wont be nearly as bad as you thought it was. If you are wondering what training program I am using here is a link: 10k Training Plan

The Running Plan

For all of you that are sitting on pins and needles wondering what my training plan is, here it is. Yes it is an easy plan, but it is doable and it isn't so hard that I will have any reason not to do it. I also want to stay injury free. Sorry about the odd format, this is the only way it would fit on to the page.

So Nervous

Hey Kids,

I'm getting ancy because my workout begins tomorrow and I'm locked into doing my running 6 days a week for the next 8 weeks. It isn't that the workouts are that hard, its that I'm going to be doing them almost every day. I know what your saying, you'll be less tubby if you do it and its good for you, etc. All this may be true, but its still a little nerve racking looking down the barrel of a big schedule change. Its been nice coming home and relaxing for a few hours after work. I can assure you that I know I will be happier and healthier if I do the workouts, much happier than just sitting on my bum playing video games, but its a change and its scary. Tomorrow will be a 2 mile workout. I'll probably start at home which means I run down the street until I get to this church on a corner that just happens to be exactly 1 mile away. Then I will turn around and come back. Doesn't sound to bad. . .

Sore Calves

Hey Kids,

Well I had my longest run to date in the current workout cycle yesterday. My wife and I went on a run with the dog in Bidwell Park. We went on our normal route which starts at the parking lot near the playground. I run down the path with wife and dog in tow and run back the way I came. This particular path will eventually meander its way to upper Bidwell park which in an off road fashion will go a long ways. I know that on this path without going off roading I can go at least 6 miles in one direction because I have done a 12 mile round trip when I was training for a half marathon. Anyway about five minutes into the run the dog needed to stop to do his business and my calves were already sore!! Not a good sign, but they held out and with only 1 break in the middle to walk, and the dog's business break which isn't really a break at all, I was able to run 3 miles which felt great.

My wife and I were also able to discover that she is jealous of a girl she grew up with who started a very profitable website. Quite frankly I'm jealous too but we agreed that we shouldn't dwell on it because it will just make us envious and unhappy.

Quick Run

As much as I like to run in Chico's beautiful Bidwell park, sometimes it isn't practical to load up in the car (my wife's bike) drive the 10 minutes or so to the park, unload, realize the tire is low on air, pump the tire, kick the tire pump after I slip and hurt myself, lock up the car, go for the nice run, worry about having a doggy bag, get back to the car, reload up, etc. Sometimes you just want to have your run.

So we went on a nice loop through a few residential streets and through a school that is about 1.89 miles like. I was proud of myself because i didn't stop to take any breaks except for at the 1 red light that we encounter, but I could have kept going without it. It took less than 20 minutes and I felt great afterwards. It was strange because I warmed up a lot when I ran(that part isn't strange) but I kept warm for the rest of the night. That hasn't happened before.