Wk4Nov to 10Nov Training Chat/Progress

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Qski
Qski Posts: 246 Member
just starting the topic, nothing to add from me yet!
getting a bit close to Christmas isn't it? How are you doing Runner 5's?

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  • Qski
    Qski Posts: 246 Member
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    @Cynforgiven - had to laugh at you doing so many missions together.
    but happy to hear you are looking after yourself. Elliptical is supposed to be low impact isn't it? I mean when it comes to knees and joints and owie things?
    I think it's better than running too much I mean - so go for it. And make sure you are fuelling your body enough for all that extra work you are putting in. (I sound like my mom!)

    I haven't heard talk of season 3 yet though.... so don't rush yourself out of missions!

    My induction day at the gym is in the morning, so I will be attempting my first treadmill mission then
  • cynforgiven
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    Qski - on the blog it says that they're working on season three and that it'll be out some time next year. don't know if there's a tentative timeline yet or not though. The elliptical is easier on the joints, but seems harder on my muscles for some reason. Not that I get sore the next day or anything, just getting to the end is a challenge though. I'm not worried about running out of missions though. I'll just run through them again waiting for season 3 to be released :bigsmile:

    Speaking of the elliptical, I did week 3 mission 3 for the 5k on the elliptical tonight. For the run segments I ramped up the resistance and just hopped off for the knee lifts. I did both free form runs the same way - waffling the resistance every 2 to 3 minutes. My plan was to do my yoga DVD for some cross training today, but I just couldn't help myself :embarassed:

    How was your first trip to the gym?
  • Vaugirard15
    Vaugirard15 Posts: 111 Member
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    You guys are doing great! Interested to hear how the treadmill works, Qski, since I'll need to use one in a few weeks when on business travel.

    I had a slow day today. Couldn't even manage the last free form run at all. Don't know why I suddenly get these really low energy days… though I did wake up super early this morning (not even accounting for the time change) so that may have contributed. Did Week 6 Workout 3 but will definitely be repeating this one on Thursday! Completed 3.6 km in 43 minutes before I pooped out and just stretched during the last free form (I should have just stopped the mission and not given myself the pleasure of listing to the end of the story line for this chapter…. but I didn't!).

    Christmas? Oh, man… not nearly ready for that (though I do enjoy seeing the red Starbuck's cups appear!).
  • Qski
    Qski Posts: 246 Member
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    @Vaurgirard - re- Starbucks Cups - there is a new(ish) fantasy TV show called Sleepy Hollow, where there version of Ichabod Crane comes to the present. (found it)
    Ichabod Crane: That building used to be a livery stables.
    Lt. Abbie Mills: Yeah? Well, now it's a Starbucks. Where they make coffee.
    Ichabod Crane: And that building is also a Starbucks?
    Lt. Abbie Mills: Yep.
    Ichabod Crane: Well, how many are there?
    Lt. Abbie Mills: Per block?
    Ichabod Crane: Is there a law?

    I think there are Starbucks here in Australia, but as far as I know none in Adelaide yet.

    I did Wk4D1 on the treadmill... and well. First up I felt like the treadmill was moving too fast (I used my times from endomondo to chose my walking pace... I was a bit too scared to step onto the side for the knee lifts (they are now proper knee lifts no longer calf raises ?!) - but I do think I can use the stop button do them and then click go again - but I will try that next. Then I thought I had to press the up arrow a million (possible slight exaggeration) times to move up to my fast walk/jog speed, but about half way through I figured out how to just type in the speed I want and then press enter - much more useful. One treadmill had %incline and the other had grade - I know I am supposed to raise it to approximate being on the road, but wasn't sure if grade was the same? I raised it a little then when it mentioned how high I had gone I adjusted it because my normal training I only ascend 25m (road work).

    Despite all that - it feels longer on the treadmill to me too, because I am standing in the same place I guess, but I did get to a point where I could visualise where I was on my usual route at certain points (due to my play list and the distance moved) I did the slow/ fast walks ok, and did the 30 sec runs fine (after the 1 min ones last week) and in the final free form I did a fair bit of running initially 45 seconds at a time, and then 1 min at a time. So I was effectively increasing my drills. I think I can do that for the next now that I feel a bit comfortable with how the treadmill works.

    Work wise, I really broke a sweat again, which I think was a bit more than the last mission, so that felt good.

    BUT.... I got blisters?!
    I am wearing the same shoes and socks as I do on the road, but on the treadmill I get blisters... I googled a bit and asked on the forum about this, and I am not a total loony (just a semi-loon!). Evidently people can change their gait totally on a treadmill and tend to be more stompy than they are on the road too. So I bought some blister band aids yesterday walking from the gym to work was owie! but by the time I left for the day they were not too bad. and I bought 1 pair of mid range performance socks at a sports store yesterday (Adidas supernova) and if they help then I will get a couple of those experio ones... not sure what these cost in the US, but they are $35 a pair here (or I can get 2 for $50) and considering I currently have no matching pairs of socks cos they get ingested by the washing machine or something... I am a bit hesitant about having prescious ones!

    So I think I currently have an outdoor preference, but I am glad I have the treadmill option now. It's 32degrees centigrade here today, and will just get hotter over summer. I really want to keep this good habit I am building and being afraid to get sunburnt, heat exhaustion or a melanoma would definitely stop me getting out there.

    @cynforgiven - when on the treadmill upping speed and incline in the run bits, would equate to you increasing tension on the elliptical anyway, so I think that is fine, and even though it's nicer for joints I am pretty sure it's considered a 'tougher' exercise.

    aside I also did a few minutes on a rowing machine at the gym and I think that the muscles that get tight with me for the shin splints, really get worked on the rower, so I might do that a little too.

    @Vaugirard15 - Has anything changed in your eating or when you take medications or anything like that? My bad days came just before my time of the month, and when I had a bit of a cold, that didn't really even happen, sniffles for one day and then went away - but the day before the sniffles was when I felt weak. All up it doesn't matter (as long as you feel better since) at least our bodies know how to tell us to slow down or take a break, and we do need to pay attention to that.

    ETA - Sorry about the novel *blushes*
  • Vaugirard15
    Vaugirard15 Posts: 111 Member
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    Very funny Starbuck's joke, Qski! They really are all over nowadays (I remember being excited when we finally got one nearby in the 90s!). I don't go there when traveling abroad and go there far less since joining MFP, but I still enjoy my nonfat lattes! :-)

    That's very strange about the blisters! I've looked at those other socks, too, but, for now, am sticking to the "performance wicking" socks I can get for about $2/pair in packs of 8 at Target. I paid the price for a good pair of shoes (well worth it for me!) but am not yet convinced about the socks, special undies and all the other things I see on some of the running forums. :-) But blisters are definitely no good so some kind of change is in order!

    The treadmill still makes me nervous. And I've only been on an elliptical a few times-- sent my heart rate soaring! Don't know how you manage all that time on it, cyn!

    I was back on track today in my run. Feel a huge sense of relief. Not sure what causes the energy drops but I'm still learning how to listen to my body (instead of ignoring it, like I pretty much used to). Reran -- ahem, re-wogged-- Workout 3 of Week 6. Ran 19 minutes of the total. I think part of my problem is going too fast then running out of steam. Today I concentrated on slowing down and just moving forward. I even-- gasp!-- had a period of about 30 seconds where I wasn't actually thinking "how much further? how much longer?" It was in my second free-form run… I was just moving forward and listening to the music. Very weird but kinda nice! usually I'm telling Dr. Myers (in my head-- don't want the other park patrons to call the loony bin!) to hurry up and give me the next time check!

    Week 7 has the 5 minute free forms-- plus the 5x 1 minute running, 15 seconds skipping that other bloggers joke about. Not sure how that will work out but we'll see. I've gone 5 minutes straight a couple of times. Plus, it's free form so if I have to walk I have to!

    Keep up the good work, Runners 5!
  • Qski
    Qski Posts: 246 Member
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    You are doing so well vaugirard15 I've seen lots of posts about runners having flat days. I agree its good to listen to your body we're doing this to improve our quality of life no point in stuffing that up.

    I got no blisters today but I think it can be a combo of socks and the fact that I had a significant incline most of the first run maybe my foot was sliding down it? Maybe...

    I loved today's mission I giggled a few bits and cracked a few big smiles sweating my butt off and smiling on a treadmill in peak hour at gym must have looked totally psychotic

    I did 1 min run 1 min walk in the free form, pressed the stop belt button for my knee lifts that would also have looked a bit crazy... Lol... And did all the 30 seconds and ran a fair bit in the freeform I think I can do 3 mins non stop now but confused myself with the times on the treadmill. Felt very strong and hit 4.5km the first time in a mission :)

    have a great weekend if the weather is ok here on sunday I will go out on the road again will be interesting to see how I feel out there after 2 treadmill missions
  • Vaugirard15
    Vaugirard15 Posts: 111 Member
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    Go, Qski! That's fantastic!

    I get funny looks at the park, too, sometimes, but decided I'm not going to care!

    You're doing great! I hope it is cool enough for you to get outside on Sunday… I know I enjoy the outdoor times and imagining all the zombies hiding around the corners! :-)
  • cynforgiven
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    Vaugirard - I have down days too. In fact i took the past two days off (thurs & fri) but I made sure to do some today. Th elliptical killed me at first too. When i first started on it I could only do 5 minutes. When I started doing Zombies 5k I'd walk inside and do the running part on the treadmill. Then i started varying the tension like I said before. I guess I just built up the endurance without realizing it. The first time I went 20 minutes I was shocked too. Even more so the second 20 minutes - lol

    Qski - glad the treadmill is working well for you. I'm working myself up to doing the 5k missions outside but I'm of the opinion that I really don't care what people think. Any opinions I care about are from people that know me and would be cheering for me anyway.

    This evening I did the 3rd halloween mission and season 1 mission 20. I walked it outside but need to start earlier next time bc I was almost caught out in the dark. I made it a point to walk as fast as was comfortable &/or take long strides and I averaged over 3mph the whole time which is really cool. I did find myself wanting to start jogging after i got warmed up and going good so I guess I need to look at investing in running shoes and a real sports bra sometime in the near future.

    Have a great rest of the weekend!
  • Vaugirard15
    Vaugirard15 Posts: 111 Member
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    That's great, cyn!

    Definitely make sure you get a good running bra and, more importantly, good shoes. I found a place where they took all sorts of measurements and helped me to find the right shoes with the right inserts. The lady spent about an hour with me. Yes, the shoes were expensive but I haven't had problems with shin splints or ankles or anything (and now I know what to buy from other vendors). Before, even on long walks, I'd really feel it in my shins. She even put a cork insole inside one shoe (but not the other). I think some of those running websites recommend different places to go. I went to one called "Lucky Feet"!

    thanks for the friends' request… I was surprised at first because I thought we had already connected! :-)

    Hope you are able to get outside tomorrow, Qski!
  • Qski
    Qski Posts: 246 Member
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    responding in here, before I start the next thread.... since workout was yesterday and it's still the 10th for most people west of Australia :)

    My shoes were fitted by pros too, but I think they made less of an effort than the ones who fitted yours @Vaugirard. I did buy them maybe a year or so before though, but never used them because I didn't really run (or exercise much either). When I get my next pair I may go to a runners specialist store though.

    Weather was a bit breezy but good for me to get out. I had a lazy sleep in in the morning and ended up going out late in the evening (but still not getting dark yet go summer! when I got home just before 8pm). The road definitely feels a bit 'harder' now that I have a treadmill to compare it to. I was also looking at my stats on older missions and can see that I run faster when I run on the road, with the treadmill I am sticking to what I set the pace to on there, whereas on the road I can't really judge my pace well.

    I again was able to run a little in the free form before the drills. And did fine with different pace walking, knee lifts and then the run drills (but they still worked up a sweat). When I got near home, thought I would make it home before the end of the mission, so did some wunning/wogging around the school sports field (2 laps) not a track just open fiel, and then went home, so I finished a little later but got to 4.75km (so a distance best for me) but time was 50mins so not super fast. I did get a lot of running in the laps around the field though, because they have cricket poles, soccer goals, Australian Rules poles and some lines on the field, I did a lot of run between these poles, or run to the end of the field or see how far you can go down this side.

    My shins are very sore today, again I think that may be pace related. Am going to buy some anti-inflammotories and some gel to rub into them tonight when I get home. So hopefully I feel ok enough to get on the treadmill again tomorrow morning.
    It's officially half way through now (even though I repeated week 3). I also noted I am getting achievements on Zombie Link now, that didn't start till I downloaded Zombies Run 2, but I haven't done any missions on there yet. Just bought the season pass and downloaded the free halloween ones.

    One of the achievements I got was for listening to the same song 10 times in a mission :) So I made a new play list and used that in my last mission. I will be going on to week 5 now, but I will still repeat weeks if I feel I need to.

    oh... I second the good running bra thing! my two gives extra support if you cross the straps over, but you can use it uncrossed too (berlei electrify). I forgot to cross the straps once - even that isn't good enough for me. I am also going to get a tight crop top to wear over the bra (I used to do that when I was younger to add to the support). Pity they don't make butt support - really feel the bounce there towards the end of the runs LOL
  • Vaugirard15
    Vaugirard15 Posts: 111 Member
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    Good work, Qski! You're almost at 5K!

    For the shins, you may want to check your stride. Sometimes, you can get sore shins from having too long of a stride. Also, try to make sure you are hitting the ground mid-foot (not heel) b/c that can make a difference, too. I saw something on the television about it right when I started-- some doctors who analyzed people's movement-- and they said that often we overstride, especially when jogging, and that can cause problems down the road! I also try to lean forward slightly (when I remember) to help take some of the pressure off the hips and to let gravity do some work.

    I haven't gotten the 10 songs achievement :-) so you're ahead of me on that one!

    I'm with you on the running bras. I have a couple that are racer back and that are long (go down to waist). They are super comfy and I think the length helps reduce the "bounce." No need for the bumper holder, though… all of my weight is up front! :-)

    Halfway done is definitely a milestone! Hurrah!