So 4 weeks later and my damn shins still hurt when I walk fast. Seriously, how out of shape does one need to be that WALKING FAST gives you shin splints? Grr!!!
But I AM happy to report that I've been doing fairly well....walking at least 2x a week and hitting the gym at least 2x a week. So, I'm not exactly on schedule with my new couch to 5K plan, but I can say this, when I do start running I'll be in significantly better overall shape than I was 4 weeks ago.
I'll keep it up and keep you posted!
Showing posts with label beginners fatigue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beginners fatigue. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Frustrated
Ok, I'm getting frustrated. This morning I got up, stretched, grabbed Layla and went outside. Walked 5 mins, jogged 1 min, walked about 3 (tried to do 90 secs, couldn't do it) jogged one and that's about all I could do. (well, then I walked for another 20 mins) My outer lower leg / shins are killing me. My knee still hurts a little bit. I had wanted this to get easier and thought it would and its not.
The thing is my legs don't always hurt like they did this morning. It seems like every other time, or every two times. I suppose its possible I didn't stretch as well as I needed to, since I was sleeping before that and was of course super stiff. Or maybe I have some knot somewhere that's messing things up. Or maybe my back's out of line. Or maybe I need to walk more at first to really limber up and I didn't give myself the proper amount of time? If I think back, the times where this happens the least is when I walk .8 miles to the long flat stretch of road and do the training there. So, if I warm up for 15 minutes it seems it doesn't hurt? Maybe, its not like I've done it a ton of times and have reference points.
Don't worry-these aren't excuses to keep from exercising. I'm going to keep up the overall training 3 times a week, but I may not be able to make as much forward progress as fast as I wanted. I said this last week, but I guess this morning really drove the point home- I need to hit the gym to so some low impact workouts. (like on the elliptical) Get my muscles and lungs worked out while being less hard on my joints.
Its also possible I need to just try some consistently flat treadmill training - it just seems to silly and mean not to walk my dog when she spends all night and when we're gone in her crate. I don't know.
But I'm not giving up - just frustrated, that's all.
The thing is my legs don't always hurt like they did this morning. It seems like every other time, or every two times. I suppose its possible I didn't stretch as well as I needed to, since I was sleeping before that and was of course super stiff. Or maybe I have some knot somewhere that's messing things up. Or maybe my back's out of line. Or maybe I need to walk more at first to really limber up and I didn't give myself the proper amount of time? If I think back, the times where this happens the least is when I walk .8 miles to the long flat stretch of road and do the training there. So, if I warm up for 15 minutes it seems it doesn't hurt? Maybe, its not like I've done it a ton of times and have reference points.
Don't worry-these aren't excuses to keep from exercising. I'm going to keep up the overall training 3 times a week, but I may not be able to make as much forward progress as fast as I wanted. I said this last week, but I guess this morning really drove the point home- I need to hit the gym to so some low impact workouts. (like on the elliptical) Get my muscles and lungs worked out while being less hard on my joints.
Its also possible I need to just try some consistently flat treadmill training - it just seems to silly and mean not to walk my dog when she spends all night and when we're gone in her crate. I don't know.
But I'm not giving up - just frustrated, that's all.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Rookie mistakes
I made a rookie mistake Sunday and again on Tuesday. I’ll start with Sunday- I really needed to train but the day got away from me and I ended up with only 15 minutes to get a walk/run in. I didn’t stretch at all and only warmed up for 3 minutes. I jogged a min, walked 4, jogged a min…….then hobbled to the curb, legs cramping. After sitting there for a few mins, stretching as best I could, I hobbled home. (Luckily I wasn’t too far away) Ok, maybe I should stretch next time.
(Oh, I finally picked up a pair of new shoes, Reebok Verona. They are uber cute-pink and white, and very comfortable with lots of give.)
Yesterday after class I changed clothes, put on the new kicks, and hit the walking trails at SIUE with a fellow classmate. I realized about 2 mins in I didn’t stretch so I did a little quickie stretch and went on….and soon felt cramping in my lower leg again. Man. So I took some time and tried to really stretch. Of course by then it was too late to totally fix the cramping, so I was in a bit of discomfort but I suffered through it and jogged a min, walked 3, jogged a min, walked 3, jogged a min. I decided to push myself to the next training level since Friday with the 4 min break went ok. However, because I walked so slow earlier in the day because of cramping, I felt I need a bit more walking, so I stretched and took my puppy for a somewhat slow 1.3 mile walk. I’m a bit sore today, but I think that’s to be expected in training. I will probably stick with the jog 1 min/take a 3 min break for the rest of this week.
And I’ll remember to stretch. :)
(Oh, I finally picked up a pair of new shoes, Reebok Verona. They are uber cute-pink and white, and very comfortable with lots of give.)
Yesterday after class I changed clothes, put on the new kicks, and hit the walking trails at SIUE with a fellow classmate. I realized about 2 mins in I didn’t stretch so I did a little quickie stretch and went on….and soon felt cramping in my lower leg again. Man. So I took some time and tried to really stretch. Of course by then it was too late to totally fix the cramping, so I was in a bit of discomfort but I suffered through it and jogged a min, walked 3, jogged a min, walked 3, jogged a min. I decided to push myself to the next training level since Friday with the 4 min break went ok. However, because I walked so slow earlier in the day because of cramping, I felt I need a bit more walking, so I stretched and took my puppy for a somewhat slow 1.3 mile walk. I’m a bit sore today, but I think that’s to be expected in training. I will probably stick with the jog 1 min/take a 3 min break for the rest of this week.
And I’ll remember to stretch. :)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Day 2 - just another Day 1, but done
Ok, Day 2 of training done. I'll be honest, I did basically the same thing as Day 1 of training, although I did it on a treadmill without worrying about slipping in melting ice, so I think I jogged a smidge faster. I walked 11 minutes, jogged one, walked 6, jogged one, walked 7 for a total of 25 minutes. I had forgotten there was only supposed to be a 5 minute break in between my jogging sessions. The overall amount of jogging (2 minutes) wouldn't have changed, but the goal is to move towards a 90 second walking break in between jogging. (Which, by the way, is what most "couch to 5K" plans have you start with - sadly, I am evidently "less than couch" fit)
Another confession is I walked really slow in between. REALLY slow-less than 3mph. Not because I needed to walk that slow to catch my breath, but because the area just outside my shins hurts. It either posterior shin splints or weak muscles or bad support. (my step is pronated slightly because I have high arches...I thought my current arch supports were good enough but I guess not) I'm going to do some exercises to strengthen that area and see if that helps in addition to getting some better arch supports.
But I think I'm going to try to add a 4th day to my training-some general low impact cardio, like on an elliptical to give my lungs a workout while giving my knee and shins a must needed break, and some strength training, which is always a good thing.
Don't worry, I don't think I'll cause myself any great injury by sticking to my training plan, I just have to stick it out for a few weeks while my muscles get used to being used again for something other than leisurely mall-like strolls.
If I'm going to stay on track, next time is a 5 minute break, then a 4 minute break, which will mean adding an additional minute of jogging. Wow. The time after next I need to add another minute in??? I can do it. Hopefully you guys find this running thing a bit easier, but if not, if we can get through the first 4 weeks I think it'll be easy sailing.
Another confession is I walked really slow in between. REALLY slow-less than 3mph. Not because I needed to walk that slow to catch my breath, but because the area just outside my shins hurts. It either posterior shin splints or weak muscles or bad support. (my step is pronated slightly because I have high arches...I thought my current arch supports were good enough but I guess not) I'm going to do some exercises to strengthen that area and see if that helps in addition to getting some better arch supports.
But I think I'm going to try to add a 4th day to my training-some general low impact cardio, like on an elliptical to give my lungs a workout while giving my knee and shins a must needed break, and some strength training, which is always a good thing.
Don't worry, I don't think I'll cause myself any great injury by sticking to my training plan, I just have to stick it out for a few weeks while my muscles get used to being used again for something other than leisurely mall-like strolls.
If I'm going to stay on track, next time is a 5 minute break, then a 4 minute break, which will mean adding an additional minute of jogging. Wow. The time after next I need to add another minute in??? I can do it. Hopefully you guys find this running thing a bit easier, but if not, if we can get through the first 4 weeks I think it'll be easy sailing.
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