The last few weeks I have felt like my training has not gone to plan. It was not enough. I didn't go far enough, didn't run enough days and my weekly mileage sat around 50-55km/week. There's nothing wrong with running 50-55km/week, but my intention was to increase this figure, not stay the same.
So on Saturday I set my alarm for 6am, and after a few hits of the snooze button, managed to kick myself out the door by 6:30am. It was 1 degree, frosty and misty. I am in love with my arm warmers :)
The run felt so easy and it was my longest yet at 27.3k. Strangely enough, I didn't feel battered about like I would normally after a longest long run. After a quick stretch I felt like I hadn't exerted myself more than if I had just walked around the block. Recovery was instant. I really only stretched because I thought it would be good for me, not because of any tight muscles. This long run pushed my weekly total to 66.3k even though I had 2 rest days!
Did I mention I felt good during that run? No recovery issues? Well, Sunday I woke up with a sore throat. Today a sniffly nose. This is the 3rd cold I've had this year. My colds last 2 weeks usually. I did a quick calculation today and worked out I have been sick for nearly a 3rd of 2008! That's shocking!
I know long distance running and endurance sports place stress on your immune system. I have read reports of people getting a cold after a marathon or ultra. I only did 27k though! That is not much in the scheme of things. Really, my system must be poor. I could not for the life of me work out what I could be lacking. Do I need to start eating on the run? Is there a magic food I should be eating immediately after a long run? Is there a pill I need to take?
After a query on a running forum and some Googling, I realised I don't eat any fruit. That's right, I couldn't work it out for myself, I needed the internet to tell me. Probiotics apparently assist in boosting the immune system too. So today I went to the posh supermarket that sells edible fruit (as opposed to the usual supermarket that sells cardboard tasting things or the organic shop which would cost more although taste better) and I stocked up on mandarins and kiwi fruit. I ate a kiwi fruit after my lunch. It felt good. It tasted good. I could feel the micro nutrients doing me good. So I am now going to trial eating fruit straight after a long run. I'd also like to give the probiotics a go. I honestly don't think I could be bothered buying yoghurt and eating it every day though. I'd get sick of it, then it would sit in the fridge and go off. But probiotics come in pill form so at some stage I might give those a go too.
Something else that also occurred to me today is I do place a fair amount of mental pressure on myself to run certain weekly distances and to get the long run the right distance. I think this pressure also puts me at risk of colds so I need to chill a bit. Go with the flow more. I don't know how to do that though and improve the way I want at the same time. I don't want to get sick every 6 weeks so something has to change in that regard. Fruit will help, but a relaxed state of mind might help more. The fruit thing I can control. This business of chilling might take some time. But maybe because my body just isn't used to these distances I am more susceptible to colds. Maybe when my body is used to these distances then I wont get sick all the time. Maybe I need a combination of everything - more nutrients in my diet, peace of mind and a fitter body. Maybe then it will all come together and I will feel healthier and suffer colds less. Time will tell.
Monday, 26 May 2008
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Today's long run and last weekend's trail runs
My alarm went off at 7am this morning. I heard the rain outside, hit snooze. Alarm went off again, could still hear the rain, hit snooze. Alarm went off again, couldn't hear the rain, so got up! Looked outside and saw it was still raining. Went back to bed and 1/2 an hour later woke up not hearing the rain so quickly put on my running gear, looked outside, and saw it was still raining. Oh well, already dressed so I had to go out!
After endless computer problems over the past week, I took my Garmin to work yesterday to recharge it, then of course forgot to bring it home. Today is Long Run Day and I had no idea how far I was going. My regular watch battery died weeks ago and I hadn't had time to get that fixed so I had to run purely on instinct. Add to that it was about 8 degrees, pouring with rain and there seemed to be a constant headwind no matter what my direction was, so today's run was not the best.
I wore my Asics and my feet were soaked after stepping in some unavoidable puddles. There were few runners about, all of us grinning like mad people when we saw each other, knowing that only a few of us diehard freakazoids were braving the weather. I took a 600mL water bottle with me on the run as I was aiming for 27k and didn't want to get thirsty. I added 2 teaspoons of honey and a pinch of salt incase I got tired. I only drank about 400mL but never felt tired or thirsty. I felt pretty good most of the run and suspected I turned around too early as I was approaching home and decided to add a bit extra to the run. I was right. Only did 23k. But the good news is I was not starving for the rest of the day, I was not sore or tired, and I could do it again tomorrow with no problems. Actually I was considering another long run tomorrow but other commitments will mean I'd have to get up at 6:30am and I'm not into that right now.
Last weekend I had some hardcore trail running experiences. We went to the Grampians for 3 nights and of course I brought my running gear. I was hoping for a long run over 25k and a couple of shorter runs. Well my first run nearly put me off trail running altogether! I headed up to where most of the trails are and after running a short loop to warm up, picked a walking track. I think it said it was 2k return, or something very short anyway. It started pleasantly enough. But after some very steep stairs and some bouldering over sandstone rocks, I wondered if I was really cut out for this sort of activity. I had to walk up the steep sections, and because the rocks are sandstone, the sand on the soles of my shoes made it slippery work and I was sweating and puffing like a mad woman barely moving faster than 8:00min/k for a total of 5.3k:
The following day I picked a MUCH easier route after buying a topographical map. Started and finished on the road, but included a very pleasant trail. Total 6.2k:
After endless computer problems over the past week, I took my Garmin to work yesterday to recharge it, then of course forgot to bring it home. Today is Long Run Day and I had no idea how far I was going. My regular watch battery died weeks ago and I hadn't had time to get that fixed so I had to run purely on instinct. Add to that it was about 8 degrees, pouring with rain and there seemed to be a constant headwind no matter what my direction was, so today's run was not the best.
I wore my Asics and my feet were soaked after stepping in some unavoidable puddles. There were few runners about, all of us grinning like mad people when we saw each other, knowing that only a few of us diehard freakazoids were braving the weather. I took a 600mL water bottle with me on the run as I was aiming for 27k and didn't want to get thirsty. I added 2 teaspoons of honey and a pinch of salt incase I got tired. I only drank about 400mL but never felt tired or thirsty. I felt pretty good most of the run and suspected I turned around too early as I was approaching home and decided to add a bit extra to the run. I was right. Only did 23k. But the good news is I was not starving for the rest of the day, I was not sore or tired, and I could do it again tomorrow with no problems. Actually I was considering another long run tomorrow but other commitments will mean I'd have to get up at 6:30am and I'm not into that right now.
Last weekend I had some hardcore trail running experiences. We went to the Grampians for 3 nights and of course I brought my running gear. I was hoping for a long run over 25k and a couple of shorter runs. Well my first run nearly put me off trail running altogether! I headed up to where most of the trails are and after running a short loop to warm up, picked a walking track. I think it said it was 2k return, or something very short anyway. It started pleasantly enough. But after some very steep stairs and some bouldering over sandstone rocks, I wondered if I was really cut out for this sort of activity. I had to walk up the steep sections, and because the rocks are sandstone, the sand on the soles of my shoes made it slippery work and I was sweating and puffing like a mad woman barely moving faster than 8:00min/k for a total of 5.3k:
The following day I picked a MUCH easier route after buying a topographical map. Started and finished on the road, but included a very pleasant trail. Total 6.2k:
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Run home from work
Yesterday I ran home from work for the first time. It's 18.4k but obviously there are variants and I took the longer way by the main roads to avoid a tortuous hill.
I wore the Injinjis with my Asics for the first time. Got uncomfortable and felt a blister coming on. I don't think it was the injinji's as such, more that I have one foot slightly bigger than the other so that is the foot that suffers blisters more, and of course the injinjis are a little thicker than the usual socks I would wear.
I decided to wear the Asics because I couldn't remember if the path along the river at the start of the run was all sealed or not. Turns out it is all concrete and bitumen so next time I'll probably go with the Five Fingers.
Anyway, pulled up ok considering it was my first 'short' long run, or medium run, or whatever the mid week slightly longish run is called. Popped a magnesium instead of stretching!! And had tender achillies til my recovery run this morning - 5.2k in the five fingers. Despite a longish warm up (800m walk is long for me!) my achillies were still a little sore but 3k into it they sorted themselves out and for the rest of the day I've felt like I could bang out another 18k and not be affected negatively.
Tomorrow we're going to the Grampians for a weekend getaway so I'm hoping to hit the trails while I'm out there!
I wore the Injinjis with my Asics for the first time. Got uncomfortable and felt a blister coming on. I don't think it was the injinji's as such, more that I have one foot slightly bigger than the other so that is the foot that suffers blisters more, and of course the injinjis are a little thicker than the usual socks I would wear.
I decided to wear the Asics because I couldn't remember if the path along the river at the start of the run was all sealed or not. Turns out it is all concrete and bitumen so next time I'll probably go with the Five Fingers.
Anyway, pulled up ok considering it was my first 'short' long run, or medium run, or whatever the mid week slightly longish run is called. Popped a magnesium instead of stretching!! And had tender achillies til my recovery run this morning - 5.2k in the five fingers. Despite a longish warm up (800m walk is long for me!) my achillies were still a little sore but 3k into it they sorted themselves out and for the rest of the day I've felt like I could bang out another 18k and not be affected negatively.
Tomorrow we're going to the Grampians for a weekend getaway so I'm hoping to hit the trails while I'm out there!
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Injinji socks with Five Fingers
Well today I gave the Injinji's a go. They were thicker than I expected, nice smooth material and very comfy. So comfy that I'll wear them on my long run with the Asics to see how that goes. Despite there being virtually no room in my five fingers, they fitted in well! They made the five fingers even more comfortable with the extra warmth and padding.
This got me thinking. Does adding socks to the five fingers make them less 'barefoot'? If I wore 2 pairs of socks would I be less 'barefoot' again? 3 pairs of socks? Does that mean I may as well have worn shoes today? Perhaps my Nike Waffles with thicker socks would feel the same as five fingers with a couple of pairs of socks. Would I be moving away from my ideal of minimalistic footwear and hindering my running form? Well yes and no. I guess it's a move away from minimal stuff on my feet. It certainly didn't affect my form though. So is it good or bad to wear socks with the five fingers? I don't know. Today was actually around 10 degrees at 5:30 this morning so the weather would have been bearable without socks. Of course when winter truly hits and I head out in 2 degree temperatures then the socks will be invaluable.
Speaking of the cold, I did ask my dad for some arm warmers for my birthday. I doubt he'll get them for me. So I probably need to buy some. Zombie Runner has arm warmers with pockets! Yes, POCKETS! They also come in the funkiest of colours. I'd probably stick to plain black, but I don't mind the zebra striped ones... So in a couple of weeks when it's confirmed I'm not getting arm warmers for my birthday, I guess I'll have to go on another shopping spree there! Damn!
This got me thinking. Does adding socks to the five fingers make them less 'barefoot'? If I wore 2 pairs of socks would I be less 'barefoot' again? 3 pairs of socks? Does that mean I may as well have worn shoes today? Perhaps my Nike Waffles with thicker socks would feel the same as five fingers with a couple of pairs of socks. Would I be moving away from my ideal of minimalistic footwear and hindering my running form? Well yes and no. I guess it's a move away from minimal stuff on my feet. It certainly didn't affect my form though. So is it good or bad to wear socks with the five fingers? I don't know. Today was actually around 10 degrees at 5:30 this morning so the weather would have been bearable without socks. Of course when winter truly hits and I head out in 2 degree temperatures then the socks will be invaluable.
Speaking of the cold, I did ask my dad for some arm warmers for my birthday. I doubt he'll get them for me. So I probably need to buy some. Zombie Runner has arm warmers with pockets! Yes, POCKETS! They also come in the funkiest of colours. I'd probably stick to plain black, but I don't mind the zebra striped ones... So in a couple of weeks when it's confirmed I'm not getting arm warmers for my birthday, I guess I'll have to go on another shopping spree there! Damn!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)