5K Blog: Workout 28 (Dodging Water Spouts)

Schedule: 150/150 interval for 40 minutes

Result: Workout complete

Other: First time I ran in the rain (since I was a kid) and the first time, since I started training, I ran with the temp below 60 degrees farenheit. I must say both were a welcome relief and I was surprised on how quickly I cooled down.

My neck is still sore. I pin-pointed the problem when at work I sneezed and my neck froze up. I found the part that's stiff and have been stretching it out very well. However, tomorrow I'm going to the store and pick up a heating pad to hasten my recovery. I feel like a lazy ass not doing my daily push ups.

You might have noticed the subtitle for this post mentioned water spouts. I just wanted to remember there were a few out on Lake Michigan this day...

In case you were wondering, the workout went well too. Stats down below.

5K Blog: Workout 27 (One to sneeze at)

Schedule: 150/150 Interval for 40 minutes

Results: Workout changed to walk after 5 intervals.

Other: I knew things were not going to go right when I did my push-ups and my neck started hurting. When I went to stretch, I didn't have anywhere near my normal flexibilty. The run started off ok but after the first interval I had a hard time catcbing my breath and there seemed to be an unusual amount of mucous I was coughing up. After the fifth interval, I could have still gone on but I would have been completely wiped out for a twelve hour day.

After thinking about it for a while and realizing what time of year it is, I have guessed that my allergies might be starting to kick in and when they start, it feels like a cold. Kind of how I felt yesterday for my workout. Hopefully some Allegra D clears this up... I hope.

5K Blog: Workout 26 (Success Hurts!)

Schedule: Interval Training 150/150 for 40 minutes.

Results: Workout complete.

Other: This one started out with the same temp, lack of breeze, humidity level etc as Tuesday's workout. I also thought I was going to have the same pathetic results. I forced my way through the last four intervals and boy did that wipe me out.

However, it sure felt a lot better than not finishing a workout for the second chance in a row. Stats are below.

5K Blog: Workout 25 (So That's What A Butt-Kicking Feels Like.)

Schedule: Interval Training (150/150 for 40 minutes)

Result: Finished first four intervals. Did a partial for the fifth and walked the rest of the way.

Other: Probably a combination of factors but the two that probably contributed most to the failure of this workout were too quick a pace to start and less than adequate hydration.

I still think I can complete this one on Thursday despite today's setback.

5K Blog: Workout 24 (Level Up)

Schedule: Interval Training (120/180  for 2.5 miles)

Results: Workout complete.

Other: I felt like I had my "1A" game rather than my "A" game going but my results beat the first time I did this run 2 weeks ago. Also, I had no nausea like I had two weeks ago. Clearly I have leveled up and next weeks schedule will be a 150/150 interval for 40 minutes. Saturday's will be a 150/150 for 2.75 miles.

It's nice the weather is cooperating with my running schedule again.

5K Blog: Workout 23 (I can't think of a catchy subtitle)

Schedule: Interval Training 120/180 for 35 minutes.

Results: Workout complete.

Other: Speed and distance are down a bit from the last workout because I hit the lights badly when crossing some streets. The uphill section felt much easier this time around. One thing to note: my right leg started going numb. I thought it was the knee brace but it wasn't.

After I do my Saturday workout (interval 120/180 for 2.5 miles) it will be time to go up to a 150/150 interval with a Saturday workout of 2.75 miles. My weekday workout will then be pushed up to 40 minutes. I'm starting to get to the point where I am about to transition from walker to runner... which is actually pretty damn cool.

Details about my run are in the pics below.

5K Blog: Workout 22 (It's an uphill battle.)

Schedule: 120/210 Interval for 35 minutes.

Results: Workout complete.

Other: Not a good start to this workout, it really didn't get much better but I was able to tough it out. What's different about this workout is the second half of this workout was hill climbing which got more intense the farther I went. So finishing this one after close to a week's hiatus with those hills while not feeling the best was a big confidence booster.

It's also a bit of a pain booster. I' m a little sore already.

5K Blog: Workouts 21a & 21b (A split bill.)

Schedule: 120/180 interval training for 35 minutes.

Results: Did three intervals when it started to rain. Did the last 4 intervals aftet work. (Thursday 19)

Other: It started raining after the first three intervals which put my phone and dry clothes in danger. I put on my rain poncho which then did not allow me to cool down so I ended the workout. I decided to pick up the workout after work. I did the remaining 4 intervals.

One thing I learned is if I am going to do running after work, then I should stretch twice as well as I normally do. My quadriceps were starting to lock up on me after tbe fourth interval was finished and I knew I would not be able to run anymore.

This week is one big feh so I am going to do it over again.

5K Blog: Workout 20 (Kicking Ass & Taking Names)

Schedule: Interval training 120/180 for 2.5 miles.

Results: Workout complete.

Other: Make no mistake, this one was a challenge for me. Still, I had just a tad left in the tank after everything was said and done. While I certainly will feel this one tomorrow (espcially in the glutes), I don't have the feeling of having my ass handed to me like I did with earlier workouts. My conditioning is improving and I am starting to think the week off was just the ticket to give my body a chance to recover from my previous efforts.

5K Blog: Workouts 18 & 19 (Time to ramp it up.)

Schedule: Workout 18 will be catching up on the 100 push up challenge for my cross training (On going). Workout 19 is the 90/210 Interval for 30 minutes.

Results: 18 is ongoing until Saturday. 19 is complete.

Other: Not exactly a walk in the park  for 19 but it is starting to become routine. 18 is 31 push ups for a total of 5 days until I catch up on the 100 push up challenge.

Either way it's time to up the workout. I can see the improvements and it feels great.

5K Blog: Workoug 17 (Yes I Slacked Off Last Week)

Schedule: Interval Training 90/210 for 30 minutes

Result: Workout complete.

Other: After a whole week off, I was a little worried that I might have lost it. Happily, that was not the case. In fact, this was my best workout yet. However, the real test will be on Thursday when I repeat this very workout.

I just hope my coach doesn't want to strangle me right now.

5K Blog: Workout 16 (Not this sweaty and dirty, dammit!)

Schedule: Interval training (90/210 for 30 minutes)

Result: Workout terminated after 15 minutes.

Other: Nothing felt right when I started this workout and it got progressively worse! Probably a combination of many factors but I stopped the run sections after 15 minutes so I wouldn't hurt myself. Sometimes it's just not your day.

Anywho, despite the fact this workout blew, I am declaring tomorrow a rest day in celebration of Independence Day.

5K Blog: Workout 14 (Pain may be temporary but it still HURTS!)

Schedule: Interval Training (90/210) for 2.2 miles

Result: Workout complete in 34:58

Other: It didn't start out quite the way I wanted. My knee was bothering me just a touch when I ended warmups. After two intervals, I didn't notice the knee anymore. Breathing was a hair difficult in the beginning as well. Fortunately, that improved with time as well.

Despite the shaky start, I had a really good workout. My endurance increased enough this week that I was confident I could have done another 90 second running interval if I needed to.

Please note the 2.2 mile workout was .3 miles short of last week's goal. My sister (Coach Tickle-Squirt) realized I was doing a 10K training schedule and adjusted accordingly. (PRAISE BOB!) However, I think I could have done the extra .3 miles but was damn glad I didn't have to.

Also worth noting: My lungs feel like they were getting stretched out a bit this workout. Hurts a bit but at the end it feels pretty good.

Anywho, for everyone's amusement, here's a picture of me after I finished this workout: