thehappycat.net

Current Mood: Happy

Or trying to at least!

I went running on Monday at lunch. Yeah, I know… I’ve tried this running thing before. I have a love/hate with it. I want to do it, I’m just so bad at it.

This time I’m going to try and go about it the right way… Tho what is the right way?

In the past I’ve totally been the cause of my own failure. I know my body has impact limitations due to some injuries yet I pushed it. Probably too far. There was a point I was doing 6 mile runs 3-4 times a week (with 3 mile runs other days). That’s cool for some people. Apparently not for me, at least as fast as I ramped up to it. I compounded this excessive running with NOT stretching as much as I should. I’m old, I’m feeble due to gymnastics… I should know better. I certainly know how to stretch well. I’m not sure if it was just laziness or the fact that since I am still so flexible that I figured I didn’t need to stretch. Either way I was dumb not to.

I wasn’t eating enough so I fatigued myself. I totally aggravated the labral tear in my hip. I was running the most boring route possible, Miramar Road. I mean come on, I live in San Diego, I’m sure I can find some place a bit more scenic to keep it interesting.

Until this past Monday I hadn’t run for several months. During that time span I’ve changed my diet to be way more balanced. I’ve rested my hip enough to where it rarely hurts. And I’ve been walking at a fast pace to keep up some form of cardio.

Maybe this is just a better way since right is different for each person? Well whatever, this is the cardio plan:

• Run 2x at lunch during the work week
  • stretch, stretch, stretch damn it!
• Walk 2x at lunch during the work week
  • stretch, stretch, stretch!
• Buy single spin class passes and do that once at lunch during the work week (if I choose not to rest that day); or if it’s raining
• Hike or run with Brandon on the weekends if we don’t go surf or something else

The run on Monday was nice albeit hard. I lose endurance so quickly it’s pathetic. I went with a coworker and we ran 4.15 miles, I won’t share the time because it’s embarrassing. It was a nice scenic run in Del Mar past a bunch of houses I will never have enough money to own and we looped back once we reached a highway that overlooks the ocean. Much better than the 18-wheelers on Miramar. Check out the evil hill:

I’m still sore but it’s all muscle soreness which I’m fine with. It probably didn’t help that I went home and did a ton of lunges during my evening workout! There was a little kink in my left ankle for some reason half way thru the run which I’ll pay particular attention to before the next time I go. The hip feels great!

I’m interested to see how this plan affects me along with my evening workouts. There are so many different philosophies about where your heart rates should be for different results. My runs will put me in my max range, the walks will put me in my fat burning range, and the evening workouts vary depending on which I’m doing but it mostly focuses on strength anyways.

I just need to remember to push myself within my healthy limits and keep in perspective that I am not a runner. I’m not training for races, not trying to beat my times or anyone else, and not trying to rack up crazy amounts of miles. I just run.

I’m feeling positive about this about this more relaxed approach.