Take care of yourself

57. That ALWAYS happens to me on my daily 3-mile runs. First quarter-mile is always the worst (mine is also uphill), and the remaining run is fine (albeit boring). I always attributed the rough start to the simple fact that your heart and lungs are not yet up to speed.

Something I've always wondered:

I run a loop, though not a true circle (there is some backtracking). There are about four inclines (with equivalent declines) in the run. Do you gain more (in calories burned) in the inclines than you "lose" on the declines? Or do they pretty much cancel each other out?

 

Great job, KJIM. Running a half or full is something I've considered often, and want(ed) to do but I don't see it happening.

Plus, I don't want my feet to look like @Dick Whitman ogre'esque beasts, which they would if I ran as hard and far as he does.

 

I wasn’t always, trust me.

Running in weather is such a pain in the ass. On the other hand, it’s one of the few opportunities in life for 40-year-old dads to fly their badass flag for a bit.

 

They’re looking better these days, except the big toe nail that is black from skiing.

We’ll see how they come through the marathon.

 

Dear God, I hurt so bad. Have a Tiger Balm patch on my hip. Will spare y’all a photo.

 

Drinking always helps me get through it.

 

I ran 30-something miles this week at a 9-minute average pace, cycled about 25 miles at a 4:30 pace, and did a few hundred pushups and crunches without a trace of soreness.

Then, I royally fucked up my shoulder trying to teach my son how to bridge. I can barely move it.

 

Random comments:
@Dick Whitman and @KJIM: Drinking helps everything.

Regarding the sucking wind after starting ... This helps me: Before starting a run (regardless of intensity or distance), if I truly "warm up" in the house, I feel better from Step 1 once I leave the house. By "warm up," I mean throw a stocking cap, heavy jacket, sweat pants, etc., on and run in place while doing basic moves with light weights (shoulder presses, standing flies, etc). Get to the point where you feel the first hint of a sweat beginning. Then, shed the unnecessary clothes and start running.

Also, that moment when you've really warmed up is the best time to stretch the muscles used in running -- particularly calves and Achilles' tendon. Stretching the muscles used in running immediately before going to be makes me feel a lot less crummy when I wake up.

 

This week has been great for getting off the treadmill and getting on the road.

Tuesday, I did 8 miles on the bike and 5 miles running. Yesterday, I biked 10 and ran another 5.

Most encouraging was my pace for the last mile was still below 10:00.

I think my endurance is there for the triathlon. Now it’s time for some serious speed work.

 

Another 6 days in the book: 415 minutes, 9,122 calories, 29.69 miles.

Last 8 weeks: 2,884 minutes, 68,757 calories, 234.52 miles.

Haven't been on the scale in about a month but it feels like I've dipped into the 250's.

 

What are you doing for speedwork? I’ve been doing 3x3 miles at 6:30 pace (rest 3 minutes), then 6:40 (rest 3 minutes), then whatever I can summon for the last one. It torches my legs, but it’s a lot more fun than banging out steady long runs and hopefully it’s helping.