Sunday, April 29, 2007

Week 4 - Day 1

My lower left leg was feeling a bit sore all day today, so I put off the walk as long as I could. I didn't get out until 11:00pm. The walk was OK, again feeling the same discomfort since the day I started all of this. Honestly it bothers me a bit as I ask myself where is the progress after 3 weeks? I guess it is in there somewhere, I just don't see it. Maybe someone will have to point it out to me.

Total Distance: 1.67 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 18:01 /mi
Heart Rate: 115 bpm

Looking forward to the break tomorrow. Tuesday things get nasty. Stay tuned ...

2 comments:

Johnny said...

Hi, Mark. Greetings from Zimbabwe. Glad to see you're getting into running. Also glad to see that you're making use of a run/walk strategy. I can remember starting out about four years ago and doing the 1 min run/1 min walk routine, and then adding an additional min to the running each week. Actually, now that I'm feeling old and slow, I still do a run/walk routine by running for 15 min and then walking for 1. But that's also to ensure that I drink/eat every 3 K or so.

A few thoughts: a lot of running is just in the mind. Don't psyche yourself out too much. Also, I notice that you're having some leg muscle problems. Have you tried using a foam roller? You can buy them cheap (or even use a swimming pool toy version) and they're great for massaging tight muscles like hamstrings and calves. In my last race, I was stuck behind thousands of really slow people and I found that the slow pace made me bounce around a little bit (it was nearly 10 K before I had enough room to move freely). That was the only time I can remember getting tight calves. So, perhaps you're bouncing too much in your form. Who knows? Also, be careful when stretching before your runs and make sure you don't bounce or overextend when stretching. I really don't stretch much before a run. I usually wait until after a run when my muscles have warmed up a bit.

If you haven't already, you may want to pick up Jeff Galloway's running book. I remember finding it helpful when I started running.

Keep it up!

glennlavender said...

OK Mark, I can easily point out the progress. Before you started this you sat on your butt for most of the day and rarely got on your feet and did anything for your body. You have managed to regularly get out and be outside and walk. That in itself is huge!!!! You're starting a new habit. It won't always feel good but like John said, running is so much in the mind. Sooooooo much! It's a hard balance knowing when to ignore your mind saying to stop and when you should keep going. Stick with it man. You are doing awesome!!!!!