Finally... a post about running! With the cats being sick last month, I had no energy or motivation to go run. (It actually started a little before that... I just had a bad week in general, and then that's when Duck had to go and eat yarn, leading to the chain of events.)
I didn't want to lose all the fitness I'd gained (not saying I gained a ton of fitness since May, but I had definitely improved a lot). I started the Couch to 5K in May and then finished on July 26. After that, I just started running three miles, three times a week. And I continued that up until November.
I decided to branch out a little and try out the MAF180 plan I wrote, but I just wasn't able to stay into it for one reason or another. This is when I realized that I need to go back to the basics: three miles, three times a week. That's actually what I did in 2010 when I started running. Once I was able to run three miles, that's what I did--over and over until it got easier.
Anyway, I figured I'd lost a little fitness after a month of not running, but I was feeling positive that I'd get the fitness back quickly.
I started on Monday. The roads still have ice on them (and I just don't enjoy running in the cold much anymore) so I chose to do the treadmill. Running at my MAF rate is really difficult on the treadmill. It takes time to slow down or speed up and I feel like it's a constant battle with the arrow buttons. So, while on the treadmill, I'd been running at 5.0 mph every single time. I hoped that by doing it enough, it would eventually feel easier and my heart rate would be lower while going the same speed.
I was not feeling very good on Monday--at ALL. My heart was racing, which I figured was because I was nervous to run and I just felt kind of trembly. (During the whole cat fiasco, I started drinking regular coffee again--really stupid move--and now I have to try to quit it again. (It gives me anxiety and I get extremely shaky.) I figured the crappy feeling would go away once I started running. I'm really interested in a book I'm reading right now, so I set that up in front of me to pass the time and I started going.
The first couple of minutes felt easy--I thought that my fitness didn't take such a big hit after all. But by five minutes in, I was DYING. My lungs were burning and my heart was racing. I was stunned--there was no way I could do three miles! I just kept going, hoping that after I got through half a mile so, I would start feeling better. But it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. I just started to focus on getting to one mile and then I said I could quit when I hit that.
So, I stopped after a mile. I just figured I'd have to start there and work my way back up, maybe by adding a quarter mile each run or something. My heart was racing so hard and my lungs hurting so bad, I started to question if I might have COVID or something!
The run was a bummer. Definitely not how I wanted to start off the new year with my running. But I wanted to keep trying...
Today, I did my second run. My goal was to run 1.25 miles on the treadmill at the same speed as before. I didn't feel nearly as crappy as I did Monday, which was promising.
Once I started running, I started to think that maybe I could do more than the 1.25 miles. It felt much easier. I aimed for 2 miles. Once I hit 2, I thought I should just go for 3 and see if I could do it. And it felt like it took forever, but I managed to get it done and I definitely didn't feel like I was going to die like I felt on Monday.
My heart rate was high, but since I'm out of shape again, I just have to keep working on that. I really don't have any goals right now other than to get in three miles three times a week. Once I get back in that habit, I can try to focus more on my heart rate.
Today's run made me feel really good! I was dreading it after how hard the run on Monday felt. But at least I know I can still run three miles and not feel like garbage after! I just need to do it three times a week now.
Yay!! way to push through! 💪 You have the drive to do it. Start wherever and don't judge yourself too harshly. You know (and we know) you can do this. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI love following your journey. You continue to motivate me! You've normalized so many feelings and struggles for me.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing your MAF180 plan. It renewed my running for sure. I am on round 4. I really think it has helped get my health level up. Running is very good for my mental health which took a beating in 2021.
ReplyDeleteI have a very nice treadmill that has been collecting dust for the past two years. I opted to do the stair workout instead, but it's in an old building that's closed through the winter, so the heat is off. I can't bring myself to go there when it's 10 below zero. I need to dust off the dreadmill.
ReplyDeleteThat first picture made me think of your "Jerry Face" display except that you have a "Katie Face". Glad you are getting back into the groove. Congrats on a good 3 miles.
ReplyDelete