This Week's Workout (7/11/05 - 7/17/05)

Here's another long update. So sit back and enjoy.

Monday, July 11th, 2005
Workout – Bad

Today I tried to go running after work. I headed for the loop around the Government Center to give the shoes one last try. It was already pretty late and things didn't start off too well. I was having trouble with my interval timer. So I tried to reset it while I was running. That didn't workout at all. Then as I continued to run my shin splints started to flare up. I haven't had shin splints months. It was like I could feel every single step. There was absolutely no shock absorption. Then I ran into a friend I use to work with. So, we stopped to chat for a while. By the time we were done I lost my buzz and decided to head back before the sun went down. Not a very good workout at all. I'm definitely getting rid of these shoes.

Tuesday, July 12th, 2005
Workout – None

I went to Gotta Run shoe store in Arlington and the owner, Andre, fitted me for new shoes. I ended up getting the same make and model that I ran with for six months prior to purchasing the "bad shoes". Apparently I didn't need stability control. And those shoes were killing my performance.

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005
Workout – Good

I returned to Ronya's Step Class. I needed a quick and efficient workout, because I wanted to make it to book club this evening. I think her class has gotten easier (or maybe I've gotten better). The combinations haven't really advanced too much, but I still got a good workout. I long for the day when I can return to Johnny's Step class to see if I could make it through what I once believed was “the toughest step class in Washington”. But I can't see that happening any time soon.

Thursday, July 14th, 2005
Workout – Good

I went to the gym this evening to do a tempo run before Friday's 14 mile run. Plus I needed to break in my new shoes a little bit. The run was great. I ran 3.1 miles under 38 minutes. I really wanted to push for 4 miles, but I was pretty exhausted. So, I called it quits and did lots of stretching. I ran into Max at the gym again and he complimented me on my weight loss. I forget exactly what he said, but I think it was something like “You look great!”, but I'm paraphrasing.

Friday, July 15th, 2005
Workout – None

Rest day or as I call it… the calm before the storm. Tomorrow I run 14 miles. (Insert booming thunder clap here.)

Saturday, July 16th, 2005
Workout – Pretty Good

I wish I could tell you that I ran 14 miles. Well, I came pretty close. I covered somewhere between 12-13 miles, before our group abandoned the course and took a shortcut back to the finish line. Even then, I was glad for the shortcut because I lost my ability to run around mile 11.
Basically we started at the Pentagon at 6:30am. (BTW, I had to get up at 4:15am just to be there on time.) It was so humid I was sweating standing in the parking lot before we even started running. We ran down the GW Parkway - around Iwo Jima Memorial - into Rosslyn - across the Key Bridge - through Gerogetown - along the water front past the Kennedy Center and Watergate - down Constitution Ave to the Capitol - doubled back along the mall past the Smithsonian - down past the Jefferson Memorial - along the water out to Haines Point and back - across the 14th Street Bridge - then finally along the GW Parkway back to the Pentagon. Whew!! I died somewhere on the way back from Haines Point. I stopped to fill my water bottle. My group went on without me because I thought I could catch up. They weren't too far ahead and they were just walking, so I started to run to catch up to them and then they suddenly took off running. Like imagine running to catch a bus that is sitting at the bus stop. You think if you run fast enough you can catch it. So, you break into a sprint and get just close enough that if you start shouting maybe the driver will hear you, but they don't and the bus pulls away without noticing you leaving you panting out of breath on the curb in front of the bus stop. That’s how I felt coming out of Haines Point. They were always within in sight. Sometimes running, but mostly walking. I think they were losing it too. But there was no way I could have caught up to them. My legs were just too heavy to run anymore. So, I resorted to a fast walk for the rest of the course. I ran walked 12-13 miles in 3 hours 30 minutes.

On the upside this Saturday was my fastest recovery ever. Other than a pesky callous on the bottom of each foot courtesy of the “bad shoes”, my muscles were pretty much back to normal by that evening thanks to the “good shoes” (and lots of stretching).

Sunday, July 17th, 2005
Workout – None

Today was study day. I basically didn't study sh*t all week. So, I had to cram an entire week's worth of reading, discussion questions, homework and quizzes into one day. Never again. I decided that since I can't get up early to go running, I'll get up early and study. That way I can go running after work and not feel like I'm blowing off my classes. Mid-Terms are next week and I feel like I haven't really absorbed any of the material.

That about sums it up for this week. As you can guess I didn't weigh-in this week. I also didn't journal anything. I haven't journaled for some time now. I'll try to go sometime next week, but the journaling may stay on hiatus until I get settled at work. Just too much to think about right now. But I definitely try to portion control and stay within my points which are now down to 20 a day. The following is to give you an idea this is what a 20 point a day looks like.

1-1/2 Cup Rice Crispies – 2 points
1 Cup 1% Milk – 2 points
1 Cup OJ – 2 points
1 Regular Hot Dog w/ Relish on a bun – 6 points
1 Lean Cuisine Spa Meal – 6 points
1 Graham Cracker for Dessert – 2 points

Not a lot of food. Anyway, I'm suppose to eat more fruits and veggies, but I went to the grocery store the other day and there was hardly anything decent in the produce section and everything else was way pricey.

I won't go on about races I registered for this week. I'll do it next week. I am considering adding the Veterans Day 10K to the list. I need interim races to stay motivated between October and January, after DCFit ends and before the big race. I still need to buy tickets and make hotel reservations. So that's more stuff to think about. Ugh!!! Calgon take me away.

- Until Next Time