I made it through week five, day three on December 2nd! I haven't posted about it due to lack of time, but it did happen. The schedule was this:
5 minute warmup walk
20 minutes running without stopping (!)
5 minute cool down
In order to fit this run into my schedule (which has been jam-packed with work), I ran from my house to a work-related meeting (fortunately this meeting was with someone who is also a friend and didn't mind that I showed up sweaty and wearing running clothes). it was a totally new route for me, to go from my apartment (near central station in amsterdam) to my friend's studio in the oud west, a neighborhood that I never thought of being reachable on foot before. I had no idea if the distance would work, or if my run through the city center was a good idea, but at the end it turned out to be perfect. When the 20 minute run was done, I was almost at the studio - so I took another 10 minutes to walk around, cool down, and streach.
The weather was good - clear, about 8C, no rain. the run - the twenty minute run, which I haven't done in at least 8-9 years - was hard, of course. I did get bored (this is why I always hated running, I find it boring) but the city scenery and taking a new route did help immensely. When I heard the app guy tell me "you are halfway done" I felt relieved, but I also felt like "are you kidding me, that means I have halfway to go." I did look at my ipod when I was nearing the end of the run even though I know that's a bad idea, but luckily I only had about 2:30 left to go at that time, so it didn't discourage.
The best part is, I felt perfectly fine when I was done. Tired, yes. Breathing hard, yes. but I didn't feel like I would throw up and I didn't feel horrible - I felt good. I felt SUPER proud of myself. I kept thinking about it for the rest of the night.
Now the unfortunate thing is, it's December 8th and I haven't run again. I should have. But I spent the weekend in Antwerp, and this week was insane again with work... and weather. the weather has really taken a turn for proper amsterdam winter, which means sporadic rain throughout the day (along with hail every so often) and WIND. crazy, strong, horrible wind. I can't imagine running outside like this.
I'm super worried that I'll be able to start with week six after taking off for about five days. if I don't go today ... I know. I know I have to, but... man, this weather.
Showing posts with label cold weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cold weather. Show all posts
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Week Three, day two
I did it! I went out running last night.
After I spent €100 on running-outside-clothes. Because I only used to work out in a gym, I have plenty of sports bras/tank tops/shorts. but I only have one real pair of workout-type pants, and I'm not the biggest fan of doing laundry alll the the time. So yesterday I purchased:
1. "Running Outside" pants. They're like warm leggings, with a special little pocket in the back for a key or something like that. fancy! And they cost about €45. I figure... well, even if the whole running thing is only a phase, I can still use them to cycle or just work out normally in a gym.
2. Sweatpants. They're warm and probably just fine for running outside, right? Again, even if the whole running thing is just a phase, I figure sweatpants are always handy for... actually I hate sweatpants but I'm sure they'll have some purpose in my life.
3. Hoodie. I needed a new hoodie anyway, and I doubt I actually use this one for running, but it's there.
4. Ear warmer headband thing. Turns out this doesn't work for me as I wear headphones when I run - the big kind that go over my head (ear buds don't work for me - my earnings knock them out). But that headband thing cost €5.00 and I'll probably put it to use when I'm riding my bike this winter.
I was super intimated looking at all the running accessories. I didn't buy gloves or a hat, I just wore my normal gloves and that was fine.
Okay, so I bundled up in my new fancy running pants, long sleeve shirt (just some normal cotton shirt), and a northface jacket liner. it's the thing I usually wear under my waterproof jacket - it's not heavy but not light. I didn't wear a hat or scarf. It was probably about 2-3(C) degrees (about 35-37 F). it was cold. I hate cold. I went out.
my "brisk five minutes warmup" was indeed BRISK. I was cold. my jacket does zip halfway up my neck, but it's not snug. I held it closer around my neck while I was walking. When the first 90 second run came on I was happy to move more just to get warm. I noticed two thing. 1. I was definitely running slower than I had before 2. it was hard! when the 90 seconds was over, I went back to walking but felt REALLY out of breath. I know the same thing happens when I'm biking - even though I bike slowly on my old clunky bike and ride down flat streets, in the winter somehow it just seems harder. but I was surprised to find myself unable to really catch my breath and get my breathing back to normal. On the next three minute run, I made it through, but it was the same - harder, slower, not breathing well. on the following 90 second run I started to get cramps and knew I just wasn't breathing properly, but I didn't want to stop.
When I heard the "last run coming up" message from my app, I focused. I was warmer. I was still out of breath. But I started running, probably even slower than I had before. I was only focusing on my breathing - not how fast or slow i was going or what song was on, just breathe in-breathe out. it worked. I felt better. I finished the three minutes and then added on an additional 1 min 30 seconds, which means my last run was a total of 4min30 seconds. I walked for another 3 minutes or so, and then during the "cool down" I did a sprint! just wanted to see how it felt. it felt hard, by the way.
When I got to my house and took the headphones off, I heard myself breathing for the first time and noticed how raspy I was. When I got up the stairs and inside, I didn't go immediately for a glass of water like I normally do, I went for the couch. I laid down for a couple minutes, then decided that laying down was probably bad and counter-productive. I got up, sat on the floor with my back straight, and focused on breathing. in, out, yoga style. it took at least five minutes before I felt like I was breathing normally again, and while I was doing that I was also coughing just a bit.
I attribute all the breathing issues to the cold, not the run. my ears were fine, my nose and hands were fine, but my chest and throat need to be warmer. I could have worn another shirt, but my real question is what to do about my neck. a normal scarf would be itchy. turtleneck maybe? something else to investigate.
I also determined that I really should get a new pair of sneakers. mine are not running-outside sneakers, they're very much gym-sneakers. my knees and legs feel ok, but not perfect. and I don't want to mess anything up. so this little 5k goal is becoming kinda pricey all of a sudden...
... but if I'm going to make my goal of a 5k by the end of 2011, I need to really stay on schedule. I have exactly enough time to make my goal, but no extra time. oh, and by the way, because I don't have the GPS function working on my ipod touch, I don't actually know if I'll be able to do the five kilometers exactly - but to be honest that's not the important part. I just want to be able to run 30 minutes without stopping, and I can always work on improving my pace whenever I figure out what my pace actually is (it's slow).
After I spent €100 on running-outside-clothes. Because I only used to work out in a gym, I have plenty of sports bras/tank tops/shorts. but I only have one real pair of workout-type pants, and I'm not the biggest fan of doing laundry alll the the time. So yesterday I purchased:
1. "Running Outside" pants. They're like warm leggings, with a special little pocket in the back for a key or something like that. fancy! And they cost about €45. I figure... well, even if the whole running thing is only a phase, I can still use them to cycle or just work out normally in a gym.
2. Sweatpants. They're warm and probably just fine for running outside, right? Again, even if the whole running thing is just a phase, I figure sweatpants are always handy for... actually I hate sweatpants but I'm sure they'll have some purpose in my life.
3. Hoodie. I needed a new hoodie anyway, and I doubt I actually use this one for running, but it's there.
4. Ear warmer headband thing. Turns out this doesn't work for me as I wear headphones when I run - the big kind that go over my head (ear buds don't work for me - my earnings knock them out). But that headband thing cost €5.00 and I'll probably put it to use when I'm riding my bike this winter.
I was super intimated looking at all the running accessories. I didn't buy gloves or a hat, I just wore my normal gloves and that was fine.
Okay, so I bundled up in my new fancy running pants, long sleeve shirt (just some normal cotton shirt), and a northface jacket liner. it's the thing I usually wear under my waterproof jacket - it's not heavy but not light. I didn't wear a hat or scarf. It was probably about 2-3(C) degrees (about 35-37 F). it was cold. I hate cold. I went out.
my "brisk five minutes warmup" was indeed BRISK. I was cold. my jacket does zip halfway up my neck, but it's not snug. I held it closer around my neck while I was walking. When the first 90 second run came on I was happy to move more just to get warm. I noticed two thing. 1. I was definitely running slower than I had before 2. it was hard! when the 90 seconds was over, I went back to walking but felt REALLY out of breath. I know the same thing happens when I'm biking - even though I bike slowly on my old clunky bike and ride down flat streets, in the winter somehow it just seems harder. but I was surprised to find myself unable to really catch my breath and get my breathing back to normal. On the next three minute run, I made it through, but it was the same - harder, slower, not breathing well. on the following 90 second run I started to get cramps and knew I just wasn't breathing properly, but I didn't want to stop.
When I heard the "last run coming up" message from my app, I focused. I was warmer. I was still out of breath. But I started running, probably even slower than I had before. I was only focusing on my breathing - not how fast or slow i was going or what song was on, just breathe in-breathe out. it worked. I felt better. I finished the three minutes and then added on an additional 1 min 30 seconds, which means my last run was a total of 4min30 seconds. I walked for another 3 minutes or so, and then during the "cool down" I did a sprint! just wanted to see how it felt. it felt hard, by the way.
When I got to my house and took the headphones off, I heard myself breathing for the first time and noticed how raspy I was. When I got up the stairs and inside, I didn't go immediately for a glass of water like I normally do, I went for the couch. I laid down for a couple minutes, then decided that laying down was probably bad and counter-productive. I got up, sat on the floor with my back straight, and focused on breathing. in, out, yoga style. it took at least five minutes before I felt like I was breathing normally again, and while I was doing that I was also coughing just a bit.
I attribute all the breathing issues to the cold, not the run. my ears were fine, my nose and hands were fine, but my chest and throat need to be warmer. I could have worn another shirt, but my real question is what to do about my neck. a normal scarf would be itchy. turtleneck maybe? something else to investigate.
I also determined that I really should get a new pair of sneakers. mine are not running-outside sneakers, they're very much gym-sneakers. my knees and legs feel ok, but not perfect. and I don't want to mess anything up. so this little 5k goal is becoming kinda pricey all of a sudden...
... but if I'm going to make my goal of a 5k by the end of 2011, I need to really stay on schedule. I have exactly enough time to make my goal, but no extra time. oh, and by the way, because I don't have the GPS function working on my ipod touch, I don't actually know if I'll be able to do the five kilometers exactly - but to be honest that's not the important part. I just want to be able to run 30 minutes without stopping, and I can always work on improving my pace whenever I figure out what my pace actually is (it's slow).
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I will run tonight I will run tonight I will run tonight
I'm psyching myself up right now. it's a nice sunny day, but the days are getting colder. 6 degrees Celsius and sun looks great from inside my nice warm office, but by the time I get out of work I know it's going to be 1-2 degrees. And that is fucking cold. I was just randomly googling "how to run in the the cold" articles, all of which say the same thing: to dress properly. but then again, most people are writing those articles for people who really RUN, not people who walk/run/walk/run.
I'm also reading a lot of blogs from people who have gotten through the program and trying to get inspired. Posts like this: http://scarletwords.com/2009/11/08/couch-to-5k-here-comes-week-7/ really help. all the people who start by saying "I hate running" are the people that I want to talk to (or at least read).
after a couple of manic work days, the last time I ran was on Sunday. Today is Wednesday, so I have to do it today. have to. have to. and I really want to do this outside - I only want to go to the gym if it's raining (which is not in the forcecast). the whole point of learning how to be a runner is to be able to take my workouts with me everywhere, which means not becoming dependent on the gym.
So I think I'm going to wander into a sporting goods store and buy some more workout clothes. as it stands I only have one pair of workout-type pants (the rest are shorts) so I'd need more of those anyway. and maybe a headband. and special gloves? that one I might wait on. One thing I might need to do soon is also investigate new sneakers - I like mine, they're a few years old (new balance) but they feel good... however my knees were feeling a little achy for a day following my last run and I really don't want to be accidentally hurting myself because it turns out that my sneakers are not at all what you're supposed to wear when running outside.
hmmm. ok. I will run tonight. I will run tonight. in the dark cold city. I will do this.
I'm also reading a lot of blogs from people who have gotten through the program and trying to get inspired. Posts like this: http://scarletwords.com/2009/11/08/couch-to-5k-here-comes-week-7/ really help. all the people who start by saying "I hate running" are the people that I want to talk to (or at least read).
after a couple of manic work days, the last time I ran was on Sunday. Today is Wednesday, so I have to do it today. have to. have to. and I really want to do this outside - I only want to go to the gym if it's raining (which is not in the forcecast). the whole point of learning how to be a runner is to be able to take my workouts with me everywhere, which means not becoming dependent on the gym.
So I think I'm going to wander into a sporting goods store and buy some more workout clothes. as it stands I only have one pair of workout-type pants (the rest are shorts) so I'd need more of those anyway. and maybe a headband. and special gloves? that one I might wait on. One thing I might need to do soon is also investigate new sneakers - I like mine, they're a few years old (new balance) but they feel good... however my knees were feeling a little achy for a day following my last run and I really don't want to be accidentally hurting myself because it turns out that my sneakers are not at all what you're supposed to wear when running outside.
hmmm. ok. I will run tonight. I will run tonight. in the dark cold city. I will do this.
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