Workaround

Another run, another cramp. WTF? Anyway. This morning I decided to persevere and attempt to get past this stupid hurdle. I covered the same 2.5 km that I jogged last week, using a combination of walking, walking lunges, and short bursts of "fast" running (400 m pace?). I figured if i could stand a cramp for 30-40 m, I may as well be moving vigorously!

It ended up being 20 minutes of harder exercise than a 20 minuute straight-up jog would've been. And I was able to jog the last bit cramp-free.

So, a small win.

Running FAIL

Tried another "could you just hold the baby for 15 minutes while I pop out for a" run. Got a cramp seven steps in and just bailed. The 2.5 kms didn't seem worth the agony. Also, it was night and I was wearing all black... not safe, even (particularly?) on the bike path.

Returned home and did 100 squats (sets of 25), and 40 inclined on the hood of the car push-ups (in sets of ten). Then some stretching, which my muscles tell me I also haven't done in 6 months or so.

First run

Pretty short, and kinda sucked.

2.5 km in 17:30min. Had a cramp from the beginning which I mostly ran through, but did stop to walk a couple times. Also, my skin got all itchy from being unaccustomed to the bloodflow.

But finished off with 2x20 walking lunges, and 2x10 push-ups (strict, but from the knee).

I was ready to start running before now, but this got in the way:

She won't leave me alone for five minutes! (And it'll be spring before she's old enough for the jogging stroller) Also, Dad is working like 100 hours a day. We do what we can.

running to dinner

10 minute warm-up.
3.35 miles, 37:30, 5.35mph, 139 bpm avg.
beer, steak, white wine, pastis, ice cream, ice cream.

Just-a-jog

I finally got new running shoes on Saturday, so I took them for a spin. The weather was PERFECT for a run -- not to hot or cold, just a bit cloudy. It was lovely. The last time I went for a "just a jog" was back in November, in Florida,when I was 18 weeks pregnant.

Leisurely pace: pretty much exactly 5 km in 30 minutes.

It felt great. Without any real speed goals right now, I might make a habit of this just-running thing.

run

2.98 miles. 26:23. what's that? Pace is 8:51.2 min/mile (5:30.1 min/km; 6.68mph) (got that from here)

Rounding out the week

6 km run > 36 minutes.

Pretty moderate pace. I'm careful to take a walk/water/breath-catching break every 10 minutes. Also, I felt a bit tight in the lower belly for the first half of the run - like there were muscles straining... Maybe I'm starting a growth spurt? Eep.

According to James F. Clapp, I need to exercise 3 times a week for 30-40 minutes at a "moderate to hard" level of perceived exertion in order to experience the benefits of exercising through my pregnancy. I'm thinking of recording a weekly round-up, to make sure I'm on track.

This week:

Sunday: frisbee
Monday: 6.6 km run
Tuesday: circuit
Wednesday: frisbee
Friday: 6 km run.

Good so far!

12 weeks today

Moderate pace run: 6.5 km (@ 6 min/km; probably a little faster). Somehow managed to accidentally hit the "stop" button on my watch when I tucked it into my pouch, so it only timed the first four seconds of the run.

I ran home from the lab, where McPie dropped me off for my prenatal blood tests.

Chin-ups: 2.

Then there was dizziness, so I didn't attempt another "set". Maybe later today.

A simple run.

I'm not even sure exactly how far it was.

Moderate pace for 44 minutes - I'm guessing about 7.5 km.

Nice route on the Gatineau and Lac des Fées parkways/paths. Luckily I was done by 10 am, before the real heat struck.

The Fickle 5

Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

After a brutally stupid week of not much else other than driving, fetching, getting here and getting there, with a just enough work in there to keep the stress level down at 9 ish, I decided to treat myself to a hearty Friday night 5k-with-a-fast-mile. With Ms Hedda was working out her mind(liver) at Book Club, where books are toasted, it seems, over and over. Sigh. I missed her.

So I went to the canal, where all the markers are known and mileage can be calculated on the fly. It was 7:50 pm. It was nice, a little windy. Anyway, here are the stats:
1st km in 3:50. Next mile-for-time in 6:20 (a PB in the 5k-with-a-fast-mile-how-many-dashes-can-i-string-together-until-it-gets-annoying).
5k overall time -23:30. Boooo. A minute off last week's time. WTF? I was pretty stoked to beat 6 minutes on the mile and come in under 22:30 on the 5. Next time.
Shaving that extra 10 seconds off the mile sure cost some. I did have to rest a little at the end of the mile, that cost 40-50 seconds, and it was a slow start to the last half of the 5k. Anyway, one thing I 'like' (like I like a good healthy fear puke) about this combo is that you really have to SUCK IT UP, and quickly, after the mile to finish the 5 in a decent time.

I can't believe people can run the 5 in 12:37!

What I did on my rest day

I jogged. Home from work. We have creative (but necessary) methods of managing a one-car household.

6 km; about 35 minutes. It didn't feel that slow... I'll blame it on the headwind, which is worse in Quebec, interestingly enough.

just gotta be free

Tried out the Nike Free's today (and I have them because of this article). Very light. Didn't kill me in the run. I think they will help me in the deadlift and the squat too as the heels in my other sneaks are too high (usually I go in sock feet -- shh). Today is supposed to be an easy day after a couple of nights of frisbee and week of inactivity with a frikkin sore frickin neck (so no strength training, just running).

dreadmill:
warm-up
1 mile @ 6.0mph (MHR 150)
active rest 90s
1 mile @ 7.1mph (MHR 165)
active rest 90s
1mile @5.4mph (MHR 157)

My zone 1 (recovery, really easy zone) is supposed to be 132-152bpm & 5.4-6.0mph.
My lactate threshold (zone 3 (or 5a, depending who you ask)) is supposed to be 167-171bpm & 7.1-7.5mph

Fast & loose

Nice day indeed! So nice that my friend of the fast 5K decided to join me to do it again, in the form of a fast mile on the canal.

Mile results:
McPie: 6:17 (very consistent! Especially after the "warm-up" run earlier in the day)
Hedda: 6:39 (best yet! It was encouraging to be able to stay so close to Monsieur Buttkicker for so long...)

These runs are so hard! But we both agreed that form-wise, this run felt the best yet.

Cool down: 100 walking lunges (30, 30, 40), on the way back to the car. Feel the burn.

(Our canal miles work out to about a 6 km run, out and back. The non-mile part is pretty slow, sometimes even walking a bit.)

Sam-o same-o

Outdoor 5k for time, with a fast mile in there too. Its a gorgeous day!

The all too familiar times: 6:30 on the mile, 22:30 on the whole 5k, including a short 30 sec rest after the mile part.

Back at the Goodlife...stretch and 20x10x6x4 dips. Mmmm, dips. Reminds me of Dairy Queen.