The Answer is No!: Tuesday 8/17: One Mile Run & Toning Class

I wasn't planning on running at all on Tuesday, but I got to the gym earlier than I expected and could not resist the urge to run on the track just to see how my achilles would hold up after the insomnia run the day before.  I decided to limit my self to one mile because I didn't have much time before class.  I decided to use the indoor track and as I began running everything felt really good, so I thought that this would be a good opportunity to push myself and see just what I could do if I tried.  By about a half of a mile I could tell that I was running better than I had run in a very long time, and that I could still open things up a bit more without risk of injury.  By the time I finished the run I had put down a 7min. mile, which is a really great pace for me!!  I knew that I could not keep that pace up much longer than one mile, but it still felt really good to hit that pace and not be exhausted.  Granted my heart was pounding a bit, and I was sweaty as all get out.  The tough thing was that I still had to do the toning class and could not back out because my wife was taking class with me, nor did I want to slack off in the class.

The class was really rough and not just because of the run!  After the class my wife and several other members commented that the class seem more challenging that it had been in recent weeks.  We did a couple of new exercises, but for the most part I think that it was because we did longer sets on several of the timed exercises like bicycles.  By the end of class I was having trouble staying up in the plank position because I was sweating so much.  It didn't matter how much I dried myself or the floor.  I really think the combination of a good short run and toning class was exactly what I needed.  And, my achilles made it through fairly well, which gave me hope that I would be able to do well in the 5k on Saturday.  By the way after seeing to picture above, I had to ask myself -- Self, am I beautiful when I sweat? -- Self replied with magic 8 ball certainty . . . my reply is No!

Monday 16th: 3am Insomnia Run

I took Sunday off to rest up for what I knew was going to be a big week.  With the 5k being only a few days away, the plan was to take the morning class Monday, go to toning on Tuesday, do the abs portion of Wednesday's class and run outside, and Thursday run a practice 5k on the track, before taking Friday off to rest.  However, for some reason I just could not get to sleep on Sunday night.  I watched a really good documentary: Run For Your Life: The Fred Lebow Story.  I am not sure if that just amped me up or if I just had a lot on my mind, but I couldn't get to sleep, so at a round 3am I gave up and went for a run. 

It was very peaceful and allowed me to just relax and appreciate my neighborhood.  It felt really good to just give up on the idea of sleep and put my mind to running.  I turned on my I-pod and listened to The : The Black Keys Brothers Cd, which is great for running.  I ran just shy of 3 miles in 30mins.  It was a great run with two decent size hills, and there was very little traffic on the roads, a few cars, some cyclists and a couple making out on a porch were the only other people out at that time.  By the time I got home, I felt pretty good and knew that I would be able to sleep once I stretched, showered, and cooled down.

Sat. 14th: Quick Run

After running my practice 5k on the previous day I had planned to take this day off.  However, it was a positively gorgeous day and the temperature was pleasant by noon, which is a rarity in Raleigh in August, therefore I felt that it would be a criminal offence to spend the whole day shut in my apartment.  Also, my achilles had responded pretty well to the practice run the day before, and I started thinking that it might tighten up if I didn't do anything that day.  I decided that around noon that I would go for a short run through my neighborhood.  The temperature was still pretty nice and the humidity was still more than tolerable.   The run was nothing big at all, just shy of 2 miles, and I completed it in around 20 mins.

Friday the 13thPractice 5k!

Last week I was just getting back to the point where I thought that I would be able to participate in the 5k that I had signed up for on the 21st.  I was feeling a bit worried about running that distance because I could feel that my conditioning level had dropped off from before I was injured.  Also, I wasn't sure how my achilles would respond to the pounding of running that distance outside.  I figured that I need to put myself to the test and run a practice 5k on Friday.  The fact that I would be doing this on Friday the 13th did cause my a little trepidation, but my eccentricities  don't normally stray into superstitions, granted I don't normally test my fate by seeking out black cats or dashing under ladders, but other than opening umbrellas indoor, I am mostly indifferent to superstitions, so I decided to run Friday the 13th be damned!!  The Run itself went really well.  I didn't push things too much and didn't feel any real discomfort.  I was able to complete the course that I had mapped out in just over 30 minutes, and I was able to get stronger as the run progressed without any real drop off at the end.  I was pretty tired after the run and made sure to put in some good stretching following the run.  This practice run left me cautiously optimistic about the 5k on the 21st.

Wed. 8/11 Sports Conditioning . . . sort a kind a!?!

The achilles is progressing and I want to get back to normal, but I know that I need to do things in a measured way.  Plus my second 5k is on the 21st, so I don't want to do anything that will put my participation at risk.  That said, I still want to train so that I have a shot at improving my time from my last 5k.  So last week I decided that until the 5k was over, I would only do the ab portion of the Sports Conditioning class.  That's why last week I did the 20 mins. ab portion of the class then went and ran two miles on the indoor track.  I really enjoyed it, and I might do this every once in while once I am healed just to avoid getting bored with the class.  I really need to do the abs, so I am committed to that portion of the class, but a lot of the other things that we do in the class are things, which we do in other class or that I do as part of my solo workouts.  And, recently I have begun to enjoy running on the indoor track, which is better on my body than the hard pavement.

Toning Class 8/10

This class is working for me right now.  Not much about it changes from week to week, but right now with the injury problems this class is pretty risk free, and I pretty aware of those that are there.  I also like Brian (the instructor) does a great job of working every major muscle group.  I am always shocked by the sweat that I get from a non-cardio class.  Also, the class is a good way to get me to really focus on my abs, and the form of each of my exercises.  I always place myself close to the instructor so that I can check my form easily.   

Monday 8/9 Continued Improvement: Plycore

After Sunday's run I wasn't sure if I would/should attend Plycore on Monday morning, but after going through my treatment routine again, the achilles still felt just as good as it had on Sunday morning.  I decided that I would attend class, but that I would once again limit myself and only do the exercises that I felt comfortable with.  I knew that we would start the class with a run outside and even though I had some reservations about it, I wanted to do the run because I am entered in a 5k on the 21st, and I needed to see if I would really be able to take part.  I once again got there early and warmed up with some simple brisk walking.  Luckily, we decided to alter our normal running course to one that is much more flat, which made me feel much better.  The course was 2.64 miles, and I finished in around 27 mins.  I felt really good after the run.  After this I did a bunch of abs and push ups before stretching.  I was happy that I could do this, but I wasn't sure how I would feel after sitting at my desk all day at work, but as it turned out I still felt good and I promised myself that I would not run at all on Tuesday.

Sunday 8/8: Dramatic Change!

I am not sure how to explain, don't think that I could, but after plunging to a new mental low regarding the state of my achilles on Saturday when I woke up on Sunday, I felt good.  Very little soreness, not to stiff, really such a dramatic turn around that I couldn't trust myself that it was real.  By the time 1pm rolled around and the gym opened up, I was pretty sure that I would be able to run, but I had decided not to use the treadmill but to run on the indoor track.  I felt that it would let me control my pace a little better.  I started with 5 warm up laps .33 miles.  I then ran two miles on the indoor track.  This was the first time that I had ever run more than a mile on the gyms track.  But, I really liked it because I was able to give myself a good run without having to worry about falling of a treadmill or getting hit by a car (nice!).  I think that I'll do this more depending upon the traffic on the track.  Overall, I felt so good after this!  I did some ab work and afterward I stretched but was careful not to over do it. I then went home, iced, elevated, and put on some Flexall, and hoped that Monday would bring another good day and that I could return to Plycore.

The Worst Achilles Day Yet! Sat. Aug. 7th

I don't want to dwell on this day because it is in the past, and my achillies has improved greatly since then, but this was a hard day to take.  My achilles was pretty sore when I woke up on Saturday morning, but I thought/hoped/deluded myself into thinking that it would improve as the day went on.  Let's just say that it did not!  I just got worse and worse until I was mentally exhausted by it all and had convinced myself that I would soon be wearing a boot on my foot.  Basically, I am pretty sure that I had overstretched my legs and caused my achilles to flare up. 

The day went badly because instead of just lifting or swimming I tried to run on the treadmill.  I stretched a little before getting on the treadmill.  And I was hoping that after walking for 5mins. my achilles would warm up and allow me to run, but it didn't it just got worse as I began to run and the soreness was so bad that after  10mins running I got off of the tread mill without my customary 5mins walking.

I went and did some abs and stretched, then I iced, showered and went shopping with my wife.  The longer I was on my feet the worse I felt and the more my mental stat began to plummet.  The heat and crowds in the stores were making me nuts and I wanted to cut my feet off with a rusty hacksaw!!  Luckily, when I got home I had the sense to ice my achilles, take some anti-inflammatories, and put on some muscle cream.  I also made sure to keep my legs elevated.  As the night progressed my mood improved a little, but I was still not hopeful that Sunday would bring much improvement.  However, when Sunday rolled around I would be shocked!!  I will save the details for my next post, but I will say this . . . It was a good that came at the right time because I am not sure that I could have taken a repeat of Saturday!  Sometimes the world like to just pile it on, but thankfully, Sunday wasn't on of those days!

First Friday Bike Ride

The video above is from the July First Friday Bike Ride.  I just wanted to put it up so that people might get an idea of how many people show up for these rides.  We meet the first Friday of every month at the NCSU bell tower and then ride through Raleigh to different art museums and other events.  My wife and I went last Friday and it was really fun but hot!  As you can see from the picture below, I nearly melted!!!!:

This was a really good workout, but between the walking in the galleries and the biking, my achilles was really sore.  Also, I am fairly certain that I have been over stretching my legs, which has just really complicated an already frustrating injury.  I think that I was able to find a proper balance since last Friday.  But at the time of this ride, my achilles was in pretty bad shape!