Tuesday, January 26th 2010: 20 minutes on exercise bike. The only purpose was to help justify the inordinate number of cookies I consumed throughout the day. My self-control with junk food has completely vanished.
Wednesday, January 27th 2010: 4 miles @ 12:30 minute/mile pace. This was positively the worst run I've had in a long time. I felt out of gas. My knees felt like Chuck Norris bashed them with his nun chucks. My feet decided they wanted in on the action and decided to shoot with pain. I took 13 walk breaks over the 4 miles.
It was discouraging. It feels like my ambition far exceeds my physical ability. If I may use the mountains of southern Utah as a visual aid, you will see my ability since starting to run a year ago. Progress came quickly. Hard work produced results. But I think I've reached a plateau. My body doesn't seem to be cooperating quite as well.
Thursday, January 28th 2010: Rest. (With a dash of feeling sorry for myself.)
Friday, January 29th 2010: 15 minutes on exercise bike.
Saturday, January 30th 2010: 8 miles @ 10:40/mile pace. I drove to the dirt road leading to the LaVerkin overlook for my run. After the first mile I strongly considered going back home because it was SO cold. I stuck it out though and it started to warm up toward the end.
I got to the overlook, then headed back to the car, but that was only around 3.5 miles. I explored a few side trails, then ran back to the overlook again to get the whole 8 miles. Here's a view from the top.
The whole road is either a steady uphill or steady downhill. My knees and feet were still sore, but nowhere near what I felt on Wednesday. Just to make sure we're clear - it was freezing. My under-nose region was raw from wiping snot with my sweatshirt. I am hoping that over the next week Chuck Norris will leave my knees alone.
Wow, what a view! I am envious of you with such beautiful trails on which to run...I'm stuck with road running close to my house for now.
ReplyDeleteI see I am not the only one with the problem of my nose deciding it wants to run whenever I run...which reminds me, my running gloves *really* need to get washed.
As for your legs and feet not cooperating on your Wednesday run, I think you just needed some pre-run cookies.
Thanks for coming by my blog and commenting...it's always nice to find out someone else is out there!
It is totally normal feeling a plateau. If I let off just a little bit, it seems that all that hard work just disappears. It is a huge disappointment. But, you have to remind yourself all you got to do is strap on your shoes or the non shoe things and get out there. Moving forward at any pace at any activity is always better then keeping the comfy chair from moving. Hang in there, find another way of motivation. Find a friend to motivate-that always works to get me out of a slump. Plus, Chuck Norris-if you are reading this-leave my darn shoulder alone too you big meany head.
ReplyDeleteWhen hypothetical Chuck Norris was bashing your knees with nunchucks, was he, by chance, munching on toasted coconut cashews??
ReplyDelete