Journal 27-Mar-2023

Well … today I did something truly dopey.  It was somewhat premeditated; I had been thinking about it for a few days.  It was a bright sunny morning with temperatures in the low 30’s F.  The 8 inches of snow we got on Saturday had made the local bike trail a bit slick, so I headed out to the county park to run laps on the 1.7 mile ring road.  With my watch set to a HR range of 125-140 BPM I started jogging.
  
I completed the first lap without exceeding 140 BPM.  And the second, third and fourth laps.  Seven miles in and my HR was still within range and my right hip was not the problem. Various leg muscles were becoming unhappy.  Toward the end of the fifth lap, I hit MY HR limit on a short hill and stopped to walk the rest of the hill.  On the final lap, I had to walk on each of the three short hills. Nevertheless, I had completed 10 miles at just under a 10:30 min/mile average.

Although my legs were unhappy, my aerobic fitness was improving, or I was learning to run slower.  Either way I was building capacity for long distance.  My legs were sore and stiff, and my right hip was not screaming the loudest.  That was another positive sign.  I took it easy the rest of the day and was amazed at how little pain I was feeling. The soreness and stiffness are things I am used to after pushing the distance on a run, but there was no debilitating pain in my right hip.  I am anxious to see how I feel in the morning for PT exercises.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Journal 13-Mar-2023

Today was the last day before I take a little break from the rigor of the exercise routine I have been doing for the past few weeks.  We leave for Sedona, Arizona, tomorrow.  I week of hiking and exploring Sedona and the surrounding area.  I’ll still be active, just not focused on trying to magically fix my hip pain. I went through my PT repertoire today.  I feel that I continue to get more effective at performing some of the more difficult ones.  I also continue to feel a transformation in the muscles around my hips, especially in my glutes.  But I also have moments of discomfort indicative of FAI or a labral tear.  I am going to let this upcoming travel adventure be a distraction from always thinking about my hip.  I am tired of wondering if I am doing, or not doing, the right thing to encourage healing.
Read more

Training in Wisconsin for runDisney Marathon Week

Image
RunDisney Marathon Week takes place in early January in typically warm and relatively dry Central Florida.  When you live in Southeast Wisconsin, however, the peak of your training is in December, when Old Man Winter is knocking on the door and trying to move in.  You must be prepared to adjust to the weather.  It could be okay, 40°-50°F and sunny.  It could be terrible with snow, ice, and temperatures well below freezing.  It’s always preferrable to run outside, if possible, but sometimes conditions make it too risky.  Hitting a slippery spot while running could result in season ending injury.  Guessing incorrectly what to wear to stay warm but not overheat can result in a very unpleasant run.   One must have alternatives.  Normally in winter I would just postpone a run if the weather was not cooperating.   But once you start a 4-day Dopey Simulation, postponing is not an option. ...
Read more

Setting Sights on the Bolder Boulder 10K

Image
  Traveling to Boulder, Colorado, to participate in the Bolder Boulder 10K had become a bi-annual event for us.  Cat’s sister lives in Boulder, within walking distance of Colorado University, so it is both a running adventure and a family event.   In 2017 I finished in just under 51 minutes, an 8:12 pace.  In 2019, I finished in 53:30, an 8:37 pace.  Age took a little toll over those two years.  Then the pandemic hit, and we skipped 2021.  Now in 2032, four years later, we are reviving the tradition.  But age and COVID-19 have taken more of a toll, and I will be happy if I can finish in under an hour.  That would be a 9:41 pace.  Based on my current pace that may be a stretch especially with the high altitude.   But I am starting to run more consistently.  My Heart Rate at the same pace seems to be coming down slowly.  That should give me a little room to inc...
Read more