There hasn't been a post since October 4th...hmmm. Why not?
As I mentioned in recent posts, my running has really transitioned to a less intense, maintenance phase. Basically, there isn't much to talk about. Over the last several weeks I have run on Tuesday & Thursday mornings. I get up, help get the kids ready, see Hannah onto the bus and then take off for a 30 minute run (give or take a little).
I don't even keep track of time while I'm running. My Garmin 500 beeps every 10 minutes, but otherwise I'm not keeping track. Why do I do this?
Good question. My running is really for enjoyment and some exercise. It feels good to get out there and run. It feels good to know that I've done something healthy before I even go to work.
When I get to the 6 month mark on my little experiment, I will re-evaluate how I am doing and will declare goal met or goal not met. At this time, I don't see any real problems.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
It's all relative
Last Wednesday I rode my bike for 103 miles. It took about 6.5 hours of riding and 7.5 hours of total time. That's a lot of time.
After doing a ride like that, a 1-2 hour ride doesn't really seem like all that much, even if you are riding really hard for that 1-2 hours. Thirty miles seems like a long ways until you remember the 103 mile ride.
By contrast, my typical run takes between 30-35 minutes. By the 30 minute mark of a bike ride, I'm getting nicely warmed up.
Back in 2008-2009, when I transitioned to cycling from running, a 45-60 minute bike ride seemed like a really long ride. Most of my runs were probably in the 30-35 minute range, at that point.
Before too long, that 45 minute bike ride didn't seem like a whole lot. In fact, I started to feel like I needed to ride for at least 60 minutes for it to be even worth it.
It's all relative.
Three to four years later and I have done multiple century rides and many training rides in the 50-90 mile range, which will last 4-6 hours. My perception of "a lot" of exercise has changed. A 30 minute run feels good but it does not feel like an extreme exertion. This morning I did a 34 minute/3.4 mile run before work. Am I really tired? No. Am I really sore? No. Do I feel wasted for the day? Not even close.
Cycling has been good for my running. It has given me perspective. I have seen "hard" and this is not it.
My hope is that the running will also be good for the cycling side of me. Running is a good alternative if I am in a cycling rut. Running challenges the body in a different way (any triathelete will tell you that). It is something I can do when I don't have a lot of free time but I really need some physical exertion. It is also a lot easier to pack for a weekend away with Michelle's family if all I will plan to do is a run (there is just plain-and-simple less stuff to bring).
After doing a ride like that, a 1-2 hour ride doesn't really seem like all that much, even if you are riding really hard for that 1-2 hours. Thirty miles seems like a long ways until you remember the 103 mile ride.
By contrast, my typical run takes between 30-35 minutes. By the 30 minute mark of a bike ride, I'm getting nicely warmed up.
Back in 2008-2009, when I transitioned to cycling from running, a 45-60 minute bike ride seemed like a really long ride. Most of my runs were probably in the 30-35 minute range, at that point.
Before too long, that 45 minute bike ride didn't seem like a whole lot. In fact, I started to feel like I needed to ride for at least 60 minutes for it to be even worth it.
It's all relative.
Three to four years later and I have done multiple century rides and many training rides in the 50-90 mile range, which will last 4-6 hours. My perception of "a lot" of exercise has changed. A 30 minute run feels good but it does not feel like an extreme exertion. This morning I did a 34 minute/3.4 mile run before work. Am I really tired? No. Am I really sore? No. Do I feel wasted for the day? Not even close.
Cycling has been good for my running. It has given me perspective. I have seen "hard" and this is not it.
My hope is that the running will also be good for the cycling side of me. Running is a good alternative if I am in a cycling rut. Running challenges the body in a different way (any triathelete will tell you that). It is something I can do when I don't have a lot of free time but I really need some physical exertion. It is also a lot easier to pack for a weekend away with Michelle's family if all I will plan to do is a run (there is just plain-and-simple less stuff to bring).
I should really know better
Sometimes you have to learn a lesson the hard way. Sometimes, you have to learn that lesson the hard way several times. Yesterday was one of those days.
My goal was simple - do a 30 minute run around the neighborhood before going to work. I saw Hannah off to school and then I took off.
Prior to this, I had ignored the fact that, how should I put it....I had to poop.
Any runner or cyclist will tell you that this sort of thing must be taken care of before setting off. Failure to follow this rule will, at best, lead to a shortened run/ride. At worst, you're using leaves in the middle of a grove of trees to wipe your bum, praying that no one sees you.
Yesterday was, fortunately, the best case scenario where my run was shortened to 22 minutes. When I arrived home, it was straight to the brown room.
On a related note, can you run in a relaxed manner while clenching your sphincter? Not surprisingly, the answer is no.
There was actually one point at which it felt like my belly might explode from the pressure (yes, I know that wouldn't actually happen but that is what it felt like). If you had been watching me at that exact moment you might have assumed I was either in great pain or that I was running super-duper hard. It was neither, of course. I was trying not to drop a deuce.
So the moral of the story? Listen to your body. Take a moment to answer nature's call.
My goal was simple - do a 30 minute run around the neighborhood before going to work. I saw Hannah off to school and then I took off.
Prior to this, I had ignored the fact that, how should I put it....I had to poop.
Any runner or cyclist will tell you that this sort of thing must be taken care of before setting off. Failure to follow this rule will, at best, lead to a shortened run/ride. At worst, you're using leaves in the middle of a grove of trees to wipe your bum, praying that no one sees you.
Yesterday was, fortunately, the best case scenario where my run was shortened to 22 minutes. When I arrived home, it was straight to the brown room.
On a related note, can you run in a relaxed manner while clenching your sphincter? Not surprisingly, the answer is no.
There was actually one point at which it felt like my belly might explode from the pressure (yes, I know that wouldn't actually happen but that is what it felt like). If you had been watching me at that exact moment you might have assumed I was either in great pain or that I was running super-duper hard. It was neither, of course. I was trying not to drop a deuce.
So the moral of the story? Listen to your body. Take a moment to answer nature's call.
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