Bellin Run Blog: Workout 13 (I'll Tumble For Ya!)

Schedule: 25-30 minute run

Result: 27 minute run and one fall

Other: I started off pretty stiff today. First, I went slow and gradually picked it up. My pace was pretty decent but I didn't seem to have last weeks pep for this run.

I did fall down while running today. I tripped on an uneven edge of sidewalk and from the get go I realized there was no recovering from this one. As far as falls go, this one was a text book "How To Fall Without Hurting Yourself". I was able to roll through the fall and I came up without a scratch but it did seem to take some of the starch out of my system.

To sum it up: Good but not great run and every fall should be as painless. Stats down below.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 12 (Luskar of The Hill People!)

Schedule: 35 minute run (hills)

Result: 33 minutes run. 1 minute walk up Georgia hill 1 minute walk immediately AFTER Georgia hill.

Other: One concern: I can feel I am starting to get plantar fasciitis. It sucks that those inserts Ashley gave me are one size too small or I would wear them running. I will see if I can tolerate wearing them in my work boot tonight.

Other than that, good run. I did have to take a one minute walk going up Georgia hill but I did run the very steepest part. Then I needed to walk for another minute to catch my breath. After that, it was all good.

I'm enjoying a couple of beers tonight after work.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 11 (Pain, Despair and Agony On Me!)

Schedule: 3.5 mile run.

Result: 3.5 mile short the 5 minutes total I walked in the middle.

Other: I just couldn't breathe and I am not sure if it was viral or allergy. Either way, yesterdays run was not the best. As I mentioned I walked for a total of about 5 minutes during the mid point (also where I had the most uphill running too). 

I also noticed everything got tired with my legs rather quickly including my calves which are still the most well developed muscle in my body by far. I am chalking this up to a combination of pushing myself this week and just not being able to breathe.

It's ok, sometimes we improve more after the set backs.

Stats down below if you want a good chuckle.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 10 (Picking Up the Pace.)

Schedule: 25-30 minute run.

Result: 30 minute run.

Other: I think the hill training is paying off already. (Damn, that was quick!) My route was to follow Third Ave., continue down it as it turned into Memorial Dr and continue straight until I reach the fifteen minute mark then start to work my way back. I did a similar route last week and I reached Eighth Avenue at around the 12:30 mark. Today I reached Eighth Avenue at about the 10 minute mark.

I ran all the way down to 12th Ave before it was time to start heading back home. I headed up 12th to Rhode Island, followed Rhode Island as it turned to fourth and finally ended my run by the new municipal building on Michigan. You're welcome to figure out the mileage but my guess is at least two.

Today's run felt really good and it actually felt like I was running today rather than a slow, plodding jog. I pushed myself pretty hard today but knew when I had to take it easy. I have a sneaking suspicion I might look back on this as my breakthrough run. (At least I hope!)

Coming on Saturday: a 3.5 mile run. Stay tuned, this is starting to get fun.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 9 (The Hills Are Alive & So Am I... Mostly.)

Schedule: 30 minute run.

Result: 27 minutes run, 3 minutes walk (Hill Training.)

Other:

In the immortal words of Ringo Starr: "You know it don't come easy."

The first of two hills I went up (Jefferson St. Hill) wasn't too bad and I was relatively fresh afterwards. The easy part was heading down Georgia St. Hill. The one thing I did notice was my were my quadriceps starting to get a little rubbery and that adversely affected my speed running downhill as I slowed down to maintain control. Still, pretty easy... then I turned around.

Georgia St. Hill is one of the steepest and longest in the city and I figures I wasn't going to be able to make it up in one go the first time. I was able to run a good distance up the hill and my legs were just starting to give out so I walked flr a minute. I ran another minute and had to walk the remaining distance which took me another two minutes.

It was all downhill from there... literally as I headed back down the Jefferson St. hill. Once again, my quadriceps got a great workout and I will hate to be them in a couple of hours. (Egads!)

I liked this workout for two reasons:

1. Even with three minutes walking, my pace was faster than Saturday's run.

2. The workout was intense enough I had to walk for a while. I know I needed something more intense to help increase my endurance and pace and this should do the trick.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 8 (5K down, 5K to go!)

Schedule: 3 mile run.

Result: 3 mile run.

Other: A look at the time and average speed is pretty disappointing until you consider the fact that at least a good half mile of my run was through slushh and slippery sidewalks that you couldn't get any decent footing on even with Yak Traks. In fact, I know I expended a lot of extra energy just to get through those areas.

Also, I find my running motion to be affected while wearing yak-traks. They're designed so you can run on packed snow but there is a handicap in wearing them. That's my excuse for the time and that's the one I am sticking by.

However, I am most pleased to actually run a complete 3 miles which, if you were reading my 5K blog, you will know that I couldn't run the whole thing (although my time was better).

Anywho, I got two rest days coming up and I am going to celebrate today's run with the drinking of beer and the eating of hot wings!

Stats down below.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 7 (Running In A Winter Wonderland... In April)

Schedule: 20-25 minute run

Result: Ran for 22:22

Other: The general condition of sidewalks in this, so called, city was absolutely shitty today. Most people didn't even bother shoveling. Many of the businesses didn't bother clearing their sidewalks. (Right Great Lakes Yacht Service? Your sidewalk on the 1st ave side was impassable even with Yak-Traks!) Praise Bob my sister Ashley gave me a pair of Yak-Traks for Christmas two years ago or I don't think I would have been able to run today.

Speaking of Ashley, I saw her about halfway through my run. She was driving her car and pulled over to give me some encouragement. I learned today runners encourage each other much like we used to in football. That is to say loudly and lewdly. She is quite correct as I have had sexual relations with people who were mothers. ;-)

Overall, the snow made the run more difficult which was just fine but this is April and I would like to have a run with the sun shining and the birds chirping. Just once before May, please...

Bellin Blog: Workout 6 (My Legs = Jello)

Schedule: 2.5 mile run.

Result: 2.5 mile run.

Other: No stats today as it was raining and I was NOT going to take my phone out in that crap.

This workout was originally scheduled for Saturday, I rescheduled for Sunday. Sunday didn't work out and Monday I had other stuff to do so I did it today.

As the title suggests this run took a bit of a toll on my legs today and I found walking for cool down to be relatively difficult. After some stretching back at home, my legs feel much better although I might postpone Thursday's run to Friday.

For some reason, running in the rain today wasn't quite as fun as I remember it. Still, this is the furthest I ran since high school and that's something.

Bellin Run Blog: Workout 5 (Side Ache!)

Schedule: 20 minute run.

Result: Ran 14 minutes, Walked 1 minute, Ran 5 minutes (1.45 miles)

Other: I was developing one beauty of a side ache at about 14 minutes in. I decided to walk for a minute to regroup and I ended the run respectably. I am guessing the side ache was due to a lack of fluids. It is easy for me not to drink enough waterwhen the weather is like. It would behoove me to pay better attention to my fluid intake.

I do like the fact I not only beat my previous distance, I also pushed myself pretty good. Rest day tomorrow and I had better take advantage of it as I have a 2.5 mile run on Saturday which is my longest run since high school. In fact, I don't remember many runs topping 2 in high school although I do remember going on a 4 mile run once.

Stats down below, I am going to shower because I stink!

Bellin Blog Workout 4 (The quest for more speed.)

Schedule: 20 minute run.

Result: 1.38 miles in 20 minutes

Other: My speed was adversely affected because of traffic when I was trying to cross Michigan Street. (As shown in the dramatic down-spike on the graph.) However, my lung capacity seems to be lower than what it should be. Hopefully by Thursday I will put in 1.5 miles in the same amount of time but these timed runs are an oppurtunity to work on overall speed. Next week I start hill training so I am hoping that will help.

Despite this, training is going better than expected. I am happy with my progress but I will never be satisfied.

Bellin Run Blog (To catch you up. Workouts 1-3.)

Of the many resolutions I made on New Year's Eve, the one that I both dreaded and looked forward to was running in a 10K. As you might recall, last year I went from barely being able to run 20 seconds at a time to running 2 out of the 3.125 miles of a 5K. Quickly, after running the race, my lifestyle went back to extremely sedentary. I was starting to get worried I would drop out of condition to really have a chance of running the complete 10K. (The end of the first week I was scheduled to do a 2 mile run.) On top of that, a bad fall damaged my left knee a hair bit so I was worried that would impede my efforts.

I am quite happy to announce, after my first three workouts that I am on schedule and although my knee is a bit bothersome, I am on schedule for my workouts. It looks like I am on schedule to run the entire 10K in early June... especially of I temember to start my hill training next week.

I don't have any stats of my first three workouts as my phone was on the fritz but the completed workouts were:

     1. A fifteen minute run.

     2. Another fifteen minute run.

     3. A two mile run.

More updates as they happen including a more typical blog post about workout #4 coming later today.

As always, I would like to thank both my sisters Ashley and Trisha for giving me sage advice. Thanks ladies!