Running cold

I wimped out yesterday morning and didn't go running in the 34F/1C temperature. I woke up at 4am to go out, but I looked at the pile of running clothes I had set out the night before and then went back to bed for another hour. However, I told myself I would run in the evening. Luckily, it was a warmer day and I ran in 42F/6C weather at about 9:30pm. It wasn't too bad, but my lungs did get somewhat squeaky. When I got home, it turned into a very mild asthma event. I kept having to cough, so I took a couple puffs of my inhaler and all was fine. I usually only have asthma problems when I physically exert myself while breathing cold air or when I'm around cats that I am allergic to.

I ended up running for 34 minutes and went 2.87 miles/4.63 km. I actually tried to hold back even more than that in order to keep my heart rate down, but I couldn't. I ran to a Podrunner mix of 149bpm called Runnerfunker. Nice stuff. Maybe I'll try 145bpm next time to see if I can slow myself down that way.

It just seems I am much less likely to talk myself out of running in the evening. I think the explanation is akin to Newton's first law of motion. In the evening, I've been up and about, active cooking dinner, getting the kids to bed, etc. In the morning, however, I'm getting up from my warm, cozy bed. It's not even an issue of whether I'm a morning person or not. I know that I'll feel great when I'm done, I just sometimes can't stop myself from crawling back into bed. Maybe if I were getting plenty of sleep it would be easier.

I'm considering joining a gym for the winter to give me a warm place to run this winter. I don't know if I am hard-core enough yet to torture my lungs in the really cold and very windy weather we will most certainly be getting in a month or two. I'm rather afraid of falling on the ice that collects on the sidewalks here when it's cold, too. I know you can get spiky things for your shoes, but it still scares me. For the first 15 minutes or so of running, my toes were cold and somewhat numb despite my lovely Smartwool running socks. I guess that is a drawback of well-ventilated running shoes. That wouldn't be a problem on the indoor treadmill, though.

Podrunner in trouble!!

Podrunner and Podrunner:Intervals are in danger of being shut down! Please read the link below and help in any way you can.

http://www.djsteveboy.com/help.html

This would be a horrible resource to lose!

Managed a run

Things have been so crazy lately, I haven't been working out enough. Not good!

But, this past Saturday, I did get out and go for a run during the kids' naptime. It was not very eventful. Since it was actually daylight when I got out, I made use of a path that I usually avoid when I'm running in the dark. I actually ran it's length three times during my run! I ran to a Podrunner mix. I think it was the 154bpm mix called "Definitive". Very nice. It had a very motivating beat right when I needed it.

When I was traveling in Houston, I picked up "No Need for Speed" by "The Pinguin" Bingham. So far, I really like it. I should probably download some lower bpm Podrunner mixes because I know I'm pushing myself too hard, even though I'm still not going very fast.

Kick the Couch and business trip

Last Saturday I participated in the Kick the Couch 5k (http://worldwidefestivalofraces.com/) and came in at 37 minutes. My son was being cranky at home, so I told him he could ride his bike along side me. That probably slowed me down, especially toward the end where he kept stopping to complain, but probably not running for a week beforehand slowed me down even more. It was interesting to think that people all over the world were running at the same time.

The next day, I went off on a business trip. I spent 5 hours walking around the Fine Arts Museum in Houston, which totally wore me out. There was no way I was going to run after that. I actually had sore leg muscles after that.

The hotel I was staying at had a nice set of treadmills, so I got in two runs on those. The first day, I also did a good circuit with the free weights. I actually remembered how to do a lot of lifts. They did have some weight machines, but not a full set. I think I prefer free weights anyway. The runs were good. This time, I ran the speed I wanted rather than going off of my HRM, so I got up into the 170s. The treadmills could read my Polar HRM (as did the others I used on my previous business trip). But, they weren't as reliable as my wrist watch at correctly filtering the signal. Towards the end, I got sweaty enough that I think the band slipped a little and didn't read at all. That's annoying, but I didn't feel like reaching up under my shirt to adjust the band with a colleague running on the next treadmill over.

On the trip, I stopped at a book store and bought No Need for Speed. I just barely started it, but it sounds like just what I need to stay interested in running. Now that it is getting colder, I'm starting to wonder if I want to join a fitness center for the winter so I have a treadmill for those days when I don't want to go outside. I don't know. In the past, I've used aerobics DVDs in my basement. That worked well, but I would also like to keep running. Maybe I'll run outside when the weather is ok and do DVDs when it is not.

Finally an update

I've been traveling, so I haven't updated recently. While I was traveling, I was able to use the hotel's gym some. The first time, I tried the elliptical. Usually I like them, but I must have some weird electric field because my machine wouldn't work right. So, when the guy next to me with a working machine left, I moved to his. Then it wouldn't work right for me and my old machine seemed to be working for a person who took my place. It's not like this is rocket science. You hop on and start going and the nifty screen shows you stuff and lets you watch TV, etc. My screen would go blank and reboot and crazy things like that. So, the other two times I went to the fitness center I used the treadmills.

The treadmills were very nice. I set them for 1.5% incline and my goal was to run for 30-40 minutes with my heart rate at or under 150. I ended up letting it get to 155 or so because I really can't go fast with that low of a heart rate. I usually get up to around 170bpm when I'm running. I was watching TV while I ran. This was entertaining because I rarely watch TV and when I do, I don't have cable. The first time, I watched the Colbert Report. I was cracking up so much, it much have been a sight... me running while laughing. The second time wasn't as humorous. I had to do a lot of channel surfing.

I had a chance to use their nice weight machines, too.

The day I got there, I went to Mount Vernon and spent 4 hours walking around the grounds. I'd consider that cross training! The day I left, I took a walking tour of Alexandria, VA, so I got more cross training in!

Saturday we went on a hike in a nearby state park. This place actually has ups and downs and I was carrying my daughter in the backpack, so I got my workout that way. There was one spot that was really tough to go down.

Sunday, we went canoeing down a nearby river for 4-5 hours. Some of the trees were starting to turn. Very pretty. We even saw at least two bald eagles. What a regal bird! It always takes my breath away when I see them. Towards the end, there were some vultures high overhead. Maybe they could sense how tired we were!

Today, I took the kids to swimming lessons. My daughter is in the class where the parent comes along in the water. So, that's how I got my workout today. I try to stay really active with her in the water. I do a lot of walking around, turning in circles, and throwing her in the air!

So, there is the update! I'm going to see if the weather will let me get a run in tomorrow.