Judebert

After my performance at the Corporate 5K, I expected my morning run to be no problem.

Despite the easy pace I set, I found myself more reluctant than usual. I was more aware of my breathing than ever, even though I wasn't feeling any dizziness or side stitch. My right knee was more tight and sore than usual. I kept trying to convince myself to stop.

I made up a new philosophy: "drop or damage". I swore to keep running until I absolutely couldn't run any more, or some body part was about to suffer damage. (If I actually hurt myself, I'd have to stop running until I healed, and then I'd have no aerobics at all for weeks.) I decided that "drop" was a little too drastic, but that if I couldn't control my breathing, it counted as dropping.

Around 3.5K, I pooped out. Embarrassingly, on a downhill leg, I slowed to a walk. My left foot felt swollen and sore in the arch, and I was losing control of my form. I resorted to intervals, walking for 100 steps and running until my foot stopped me.

This was a very demoralizing morning. I can't afford to let it stop me, though; I really need an aerobic workout.

Perhaps it's time to replace my shoes?

Judebert

Today I ran the Corporate 5K. This is my first real 5K; I've done the Dick Batchelor Fun Run, but that was just walking to see if I could even complete it. Today I actually ran a 5K.

I was really quite disappointed. It was nice to hang out with coworkers I haven't seen for a while, and to test my limits. I was ecstatic about my performance: 30:57, just a hair under consistent 10-minute miles!

My problems were the race administration and the crowd. There were more than 12,600 people there. There were no proctors to line us up according to time; we just jammed into a mob taking up an entire city block or more. They had given us colors for elite, runners, and walkers, but they didn't make very much difference. The organizers' idea of communicating with us was to blast distorted instructions out of ear-splitting amplifiers.

At the Fun Run, they gave us little electronic dongles to put on our shoes. They kept track of times and published them. The Corporate 5K was decidedly low-tech: they had big LED timers around the course. To find your time, subtract the moment you went over the starting line. This website post is the only record I'll ever have of my time, and I've got nothing to compare it to.

The crowd made it a lot harder than I expected. I had to slow down, speed up, make way, and plan a route as I ran. I expected the crowd to thin out as we got going, but it didn't seem to. Going around corners was especially interesting.

I'm still deciding on whether to do this again. Maybe something smaller, or better organized. We'll see.

Judebert

Today I ran to the end. I walked the first 5 minutes as a warmup, as usual; then I started jogging and didn't stop until I had completed a full 5K.

My alarm rang, indicating that 30 minutes of running was over, just before I got home. That meant I was running a little faster than usual. Sure enough, my overall time was 35:28! I was a little dizzy afterwards, but not during the running. Obviously popcorn does not make a great dinner, but water and an apple beforehand is a good idea.

Only one more run before the actual race. Monday I'll warm up off the course, then run the whole thing. I'll skip Wednesday's practice, since I race on Thursday.

Now I've got to figure out how to take care of this chub rub...

Judebert

Heeding the lessons of my previous failed attempt, I was much more careful with my food intake. I managed to develop an... intestinal problem... anyway. I drank extra water to make up for it.

I also had an apple an hour before setting out, just to make sure I had some food energy to draw on.

I also kept a slower pace. If I took any slower steps, I would've been walking. If I took any shorter steps, I would've been hopping.

I managed to complete all 30 minutes of running! I felt like I could've run the rest of the way home. My overall time was 37:22, longer than ideal, but at least I achieved my actual goal.

Friday I'm going to run the whole thing! Well, other than my 5-minute warmup walk. But I'll run the rest, with no timer!

Judebert

Yesterday we had a big Easter feast at my parents' house. Ham, potatoes, corn, peas, cornbread... it was delicious.

And today I tried to run it off. The plan was to do 30 minutes straight. (Couch to 5K Week 9.)

I was determined. I kept trying to distract myself, but I refused to give in.

Right up until I got light-headed. That's my sign that it's time to stop.

I walked for two minutes or so, then jogged the rest of the way home. My time was 35:09 for the entire workout, including the 5-minute warmup. Since my last long run was 35:33, I can only conclude that I was running faster than usual. Perhaps that accounts for the lack of energy.

I don't know if I was running too fast, or my Easter feast was wearing me down. Either way, I couldn't do 30 minutes straight. I'll try again on Wednesday.

And this time, I'm paying more attention to what I eat!