I got a Garmin Forerunner 610 for Christmas and I'm excited as a jar full of jumping beans!
It's been five months since my back injury and despite my couple of previous posts that seemed positive about my recovery I was far too optimistic. At each and every visit to the physio for two months she continued to shake her head at the mere hint of running and in the end I even stopped mentioning it. Until my last physio session. She always looks very pleased for me when I reach the last session after an injury, like I've just graduated or something. I guess I have. After months of core strengthening and increasing the difficulty of those exercises along with increased walking sessions until we were up to a brisk 8km, she finally said she could do no more for me and sent me out into the world with a recovery plan to start running again.
That was about 2 months ago. The plan goes like this...
During our usual 5-8km walk run for a short distance ie 20-50 metres.
Continue walking till the end.
Take a rest day.
If the injury area doesn't inflame or cause pain, rinse repeat.
If the injury area does inflame discontinue running until it is better.
Week 2 rinse repeat 1 through 4 and increase run period to 50-100 metres.
Rinse repeat until we're back on track with our usual run distance... and by that calculation this is going to take a while.
Except... the two runs I've tried have both resulted in several weeks of recovery time in between.
/sigh
So the run recovery program is on hold until Jan. During each and every walk I spend the entire time trying not to run. I feel good when I'm out and now I just have to train the injured area not to remember the run on the day I injured it and it doesn't need to spasm and protect my back every time I run anymore. That's easier said than done apparently but I'm hopeful this Jan is it.
I'm raring to go, and so it my Garmin!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Swim, walk, stablise
I have been banned from running. This has not put me in a happy place. And I am actually surprised how much I miss it. The ban is until my back is better and then there will be rules surrounding my return to running (like no hills). But I have to stay active. Fortunately this time it's not a full blown prolapsed disk but it's in the danger zone and discomfort/pain extends down my legs depending on what I've been doing all day. Sitting at my desk at work is the worst.
So this holiday is actually well timed. Although it interrupted our plans which was to run 5km every day we tried to remain positive after my JP also injured his back (yes, gardening like me!) and we decided instead to use the holiday to build our strength again and start with a stabilising and strength regime to rebuild.
The best thing has been that we have not been putting our backs under stress by sitting all day. And we have been walking, and doing our stretching and stabilising, and walking, and swimming. The swimming was nearly a no-show when the wind whipped up and I got in the pool up to my knees and started to seize up from the cold. However the fact that an old lady and her two toddler grandchildren were splashing around in the pool meant I couldn't chicken out. So in I got and did deep water running and laps. I even saved a ladybird from drowning.
We followed the swim with an interval session. My JP and my young adult nephews took off on a 5km run. Our teenage nephew taking the lead with a running stride I am quite envious of... but 20 year ago maybe I could have done the same. Well, in my imagination anyway. My bro and I took it easier - he's a cyclist so it new to this running caper - and we eased into the interval session for day 2. So far so good. Movement is the key after all.
And after day 2 my back, I say tentatively lest I jinx it, is doing well. And, here it is... I agreed with my bro that I would add that I slowed him down today. Tomorrow it's on.
So this holiday is actually well timed. Although it interrupted our plans which was to run 5km every day we tried to remain positive after my JP also injured his back (yes, gardening like me!) and we decided instead to use the holiday to build our strength again and start with a stabilising and strength regime to rebuild.
The best thing has been that we have not been putting our backs under stress by sitting all day. And we have been walking, and doing our stretching and stabilising, and walking, and swimming. The swimming was nearly a no-show when the wind whipped up and I got in the pool up to my knees and started to seize up from the cold. However the fact that an old lady and her two toddler grandchildren were splashing around in the pool meant I couldn't chicken out. So in I got and did deep water running and laps. I even saved a ladybird from drowning.
We followed the swim with an interval session. My JP and my young adult nephews took off on a 5km run. Our teenage nephew taking the lead with a running stride I am quite envious of... but 20 year ago maybe I could have done the same. Well, in my imagination anyway. My bro and I took it easier - he's a cyclist so it new to this running caper - and we eased into the interval session for day 2. So far so good. Movement is the key after all.
And after day 2 my back, I say tentatively lest I jinx it, is doing well. And, here it is... I agreed with my bro that I would add that I slowed him down today. Tomorrow it's on.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Aqua Adventures
So after I made fun of my sore finger last week it turns out I had actually sustained an injury...to my back. Not just a little strain but the weakening of my six year old disc issue. Oh, it's been fine now for about three and a half years...just long enough to forget that heavy duty gardening followed by a long strenuous hilly run doesn't mix well. It did just protest...it protruded slightly to remind me of my frailty.
So when my physio said no running - just walking, lying and more walking...on flat ground, I did a little groan. Maybe it wasn't out loud but she saw the expression on my face and said I could do some gentle core strengthening exercises. I groaned again. She relented...and said I could do some running in water with a floatation belt on. What am I... 90?! I dont think I said that out loud but I think she saw the expression on my face.
I spent the next day making fun of it and strenuously denying the notion of aqua therapy. I had decided to call it therapy in order to qualify it as something not so absurd. It was was on par with being told six years ago that I would henceforth have to wear flat - otherwise known as gimp - shoes. Oh the horror.
And then tonight I donned the belt and climbed in the pool...in public...with music pounding out of a box on wheels while an instructor paced up and down with a sunny smile on her mic'ed up face. But when I got in the water a bizarre thing happened. That weird foamy belt kept me upright the water like a cork spinning round a pond. I put my arms out as I spun out of control and it was like being on a cloud. Then the hard work began...
Okay, so I actually enjoyed it and it was as strenuous as my physio said it would be. And it didn't hurt my back at all. In fact it feels great. maybe it wasn't so absurd after all...
And the good news is, my finger is better too.
So when my physio said no running - just walking, lying and more walking...on flat ground, I did a little groan. Maybe it wasn't out loud but she saw the expression on my face and said I could do some gentle core strengthening exercises. I groaned again. She relented...and said I could do some running in water with a floatation belt on. What am I... 90?! I dont think I said that out loud but I think she saw the expression on my face.
I spent the next day making fun of it and strenuously denying the notion of aqua therapy. I had decided to call it therapy in order to qualify it as something not so absurd. It was was on par with being told six years ago that I would henceforth have to wear flat - otherwise known as gimp - shoes. Oh the horror.
And then tonight I donned the belt and climbed in the pool...in public...with music pounding out of a box on wheels while an instructor paced up and down with a sunny smile on her mic'ed up face. But when I got in the water a bizarre thing happened. That weird foamy belt kept me upright the water like a cork spinning round a pond. I put my arms out as I spun out of control and it was like being on a cloud. Then the hard work began...
Okay, so I actually enjoyed it and it was as strenuous as my physio said it would be. And it didn't hurt my back at all. In fact it feels great. maybe it wasn't so absurd after all...
And the good news is, my finger is better too.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Running Injury
Well, I knew this day would come. When I got a running injury. We've been a bit slack on our runs lately, mostly because JP got sick and we've not been out as often as usual in the last few weeks. Plus, let's be honest, the middle of winter needs a lot of motivation just to even think about putting running shoes on and heading into the cold when it's about 3 degrees outside.
We'd been out already this week and felt okay but simply couldn't face it Friday night again. So we bargained with ourselves to switch to Sat instead. Then slept in and bargained to do it later in the day. Then when 5pm arrived we had no choice. And having to take a video back to the store we decided to do a long run - see previous post re our definition of a 'long run' haha.
The good thing about having been running now for nearly a year is that our stamina has improved. We made it most of the way without having to slow to a walk and actually ran all the way back from the half way mark without walking at all. My legs did it hard though and at about three quarters of the way through, as each step strained up through my lower legs and into my thighs I thought I might just know, in the tiniest way, what it feels like to do a really long run. Not the pain - it wasn't that. It was just an awareness of my lower body. With each step I was acutely aware of my legs to the point that my lower body felt entirely different to my upper body. My lower body was the reality - it was hurting. And my upper body was doing it easy, just along for the ride. It didn't even feel like part of me.
Here's the irony though. I ended up with a strain which I only noticed when I got home and had stopped. Yeah, my legs were hurting. But that wasn't the worst of it. I strained... my finger! Not, I would think, a common runners injury! I don't know what I was doing with my hand but my finger's got up a hurt that makes my legs feel real good. I'm going to be positive though and assume this is not going to slow me down and ruin my running career :p
We'd been out already this week and felt okay but simply couldn't face it Friday night again. So we bargained with ourselves to switch to Sat instead. Then slept in and bargained to do it later in the day. Then when 5pm arrived we had no choice. And having to take a video back to the store we decided to do a long run - see previous post re our definition of a 'long run' haha.
The good thing about having been running now for nearly a year is that our stamina has improved. We made it most of the way without having to slow to a walk and actually ran all the way back from the half way mark without walking at all. My legs did it hard though and at about three quarters of the way through, as each step strained up through my lower legs and into my thighs I thought I might just know, in the tiniest way, what it feels like to do a really long run. Not the pain - it wasn't that. It was just an awareness of my lower body. With each step I was acutely aware of my legs to the point that my lower body felt entirely different to my upper body. My lower body was the reality - it was hurting. And my upper body was doing it easy, just along for the ride. It didn't even feel like part of me.
Here's the irony though. I ended up with a strain which I only noticed when I got home and had stopped. Yeah, my legs were hurting. But that wasn't the worst of it. I strained... my finger! Not, I would think, a common runners injury! I don't know what I was doing with my hand but my finger's got up a hurt that makes my legs feel real good. I'm going to be positive though and assume this is not going to slow me down and ruin my running career :p
Friday, April 22, 2011
HCB Run for Life
After consuming more hot cross buns than are good for us this morning JP and I decided to go for a long run tonight. Now a long run for most people would suggest something over 25km. But for novices like us who are still conquering our regular extreme hill run of 4.5km we simply aimed for something slightly longer, but somewhat less than 25km. Of course, in my mind it was of similar epic proportions.
So we aimed for the video shop since we had to return a video. This is a good deal longer than our normal run and at 14mins into the run we turned off our normal route and headed uphill (again) for the the long distance.
Okay, let me qualify this. Our long run consisted of running in the vacinity of 6.2km. We are unsure about the exact length since JP didn't set his gps until somewhere between .3 and .5 kms into the run. But it did take 20 minutes longer AND we ran from 29mins until 49mins non-stop. Something of a record for us. Just goes to show how much extra effort those hills on our usual run take out of us.
One thing that was a real benefit was getting a good distance under us to practice mid-foot strikes. It's something that we can't normally do on the hills so to have some flatter terrain to work on form was really nice. Although the nasty tree root that jumped out and attacked me half way along wasn't so great. So on went the dreaded headlight after all.
So, marathon in my future? Maybe... I'll just conquer a 10km some day first.
22/4/11: heart rate = 162av, 189max, 50.06mins, 520kcal, 46.2km. Red face factor = 10.
(19/4/11: heart rate = 176av, 192max, 29.4mins, 336kcal, 4.5km. Red face factor = 9)
So we aimed for the video shop since we had to return a video. This is a good deal longer than our normal run and at 14mins into the run we turned off our normal route and headed uphill (again) for the the long distance.
Okay, let me qualify this. Our long run consisted of running in the vacinity of 6.2km. We are unsure about the exact length since JP didn't set his gps until somewhere between .3 and .5 kms into the run. But it did take 20 minutes longer AND we ran from 29mins until 49mins non-stop. Something of a record for us. Just goes to show how much extra effort those hills on our usual run take out of us.
One thing that was a real benefit was getting a good distance under us to practice mid-foot strikes. It's something that we can't normally do on the hills so to have some flatter terrain to work on form was really nice. Although the nasty tree root that jumped out and attacked me half way along wasn't so great. So on went the dreaded headlight after all.
So, marathon in my future? Maybe... I'll just conquer a 10km some day first.
22/4/11: heart rate = 162av, 189max, 50.06mins, 520kcal, 46.2km. Red face factor = 10.
(19/4/11: heart rate = 176av, 192max, 29.4mins, 336kcal, 4.5km. Red face factor = 9)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Hello Blog
Time to reconnect with my running blog. The running didn't stop over the holiday period - well, maybe for a week while we digested turkey and mince pies. But the blogging did.
So I have five minutes to spare, and have been for a run tonight, after which I discovered something about my heart rate monitor. Every run I wear it without fail. I've had it for a couple of years now and prior to running wore it on my cross trainer. But even though I have transported the manual around the house, leaving it in various strategic reading locations, I still have never gotten past the page with the diagram naming all the buttons. This is nothing new, it is my usual manual avoidance practice. Instead my training on the device has consisted solely over that period of pressing various different sequences of buttons and trying to figure out what it can do. Then when I find something useful I try and remember what sequence I pressed... and fail. You would think that would encourage me to... read the manual. But no. It doesn't.
So tonight, sequence of buttons pressed, I discovered that I can find out how much time was spent running 'light', 'medium' or 'hard'. It turns out that we run 20 seconds light, 2.8mins medium and 25.5min hard. Outstanding you think! I did. Then remembered that is simply an indication of the extreme hills we have to climb up puffing, not an outstanding comment on my running ability.
I was so impressed with my discovery though that I forgot to check my usual stats. Still, I've shaved the run down to 28.50 seconds. Red face factor = extreme.
So I have five minutes to spare, and have been for a run tonight, after which I discovered something about my heart rate monitor. Every run I wear it without fail. I've had it for a couple of years now and prior to running wore it on my cross trainer. But even though I have transported the manual around the house, leaving it in various strategic reading locations, I still have never gotten past the page with the diagram naming all the buttons. This is nothing new, it is my usual manual avoidance practice. Instead my training on the device has consisted solely over that period of pressing various different sequences of buttons and trying to figure out what it can do. Then when I find something useful I try and remember what sequence I pressed... and fail. You would think that would encourage me to... read the manual. But no. It doesn't.
So tonight, sequence of buttons pressed, I discovered that I can find out how much time was spent running 'light', 'medium' or 'hard'. It turns out that we run 20 seconds light, 2.8mins medium and 25.5min hard. Outstanding you think! I did. Then remembered that is simply an indication of the extreme hills we have to climb up puffing, not an outstanding comment on my running ability.
I was so impressed with my discovery though that I forgot to check my usual stats. Still, I've shaved the run down to 28.50 seconds. Red face factor = extreme.
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