Metabo journal

Ran outside in some sixty degree weather?! It seems like I am adapting to running at least 3 miles at a minimum when I exercise....good improvement. There was tension in my right knee, but it feels ok right now. The weird thing about today's run was that I actually wanted to run. I was looking forward to it. Maybe because that's because running is a stress release mechanism...good way to ward off those panic attacks.

BREAK OUT RUN TODAY!...or maybe just a good run. I had to work extra hard during this run because my legs would not move very easily. My energy levels were low, probably because I had a hamburger and tater tots during lunch. The fast food is just not worth it.  My right knee was pretty tight but not the normal bad patellofemoral pain. Weather is getting much nicer.

I walked to the bank and post office (1.35 miles), and followed that up by running figure-eights through the neighborhood streets (3.65 miles). The run was pretty automatic thanks to my thoughts (i.e. worries/concerns) about working with the medical response team at tonight's football game against UNLV. As an EMT student with only a MINIMAL amount of knowledge, I did not have a clue what I would encounter or be expected to do. The run was a good outlet to level me out since I was not sitting around letting the anxiety mount. Figure-eights add at least a mile to the normal route I take, and there are some slight uphill and downhill sections as I run east and west, respectively. Overall a good relaxing morning, and the game turned out ok too.

Walked a round at Bonneville today and the weather was beautiful! I haven't played in about a month, so I was very surprised when I hit a great drive off the first tee. It didn't last very long. For some reason the women's tees were removed, which made an already long course even longer playing from the whites (6400 yds). There is quite a bit of up and down and I ended up hacking at the ball for the last 4 holes just to finish. The seven wood was still my best club and the pitching wedge needs tons of work. 

I didn't plan to run today, but my class was canceled!! It was really canceled...I didn't skip it. The thing I have noticed is that I am a much better student since I have gotten older. I don't skip class, I don't sleep through class, and I actually pay attention and try to learn the information for more than just to pass a test. I have turned into the annoying non-trad student that I despised in college.

 I ran my normal loop at the regular speed for the first lap and tried to pick it up for the second lap. Normally it takes me about 29:30 to finish (2.81 miles), but today I ran it in 27:56. I knew I was running much faster than normal because my respirations were greatly increased and I was having to do some very active breathing. I sprinted the final 50 m and then walked another 0.7 miles to catch my breath and for a cool down. While I was walking home I saw a new kind of motor bike. A guy was actually riding a bicycle with a little go-cart motor attached, and he was using the motor to cruise downhill!?

Ran my regular route for a total of 4.2 miles in 42:36, and was even able to pick it up and push it at the end. My knees are feeling much better and there was not much tension in the right knee during the run. I was a little surprised because there was minor pain in my knees after the lifting and moving patients lesson in my EMT class last night. Apparently I was lifting with my legs since my knees hurt but my back didn't. The next goal is to run 5 miles, and one of these days I'll run faster than a 10 minute mile.

Today I ran on the Shoreline trail, which has more uphill and downhill portions than I am used to. I took it slowly because I did not want to hurt my knees again. During the uphill portions I noticed that I felt the muscles working in my thighs and in my hips, but I did not feel the sharp burning pain in my knees that I used to have. (!!!) In the end I think I could have gone longer but I was pretty tired since I have usually been running on flat ground. My right knee had slight pain following the run.

Walked nine holes today at Old Mill and played better than expected. On the third hole (par 3) I left the shot out to the right, but got a lucky bounce off a hill to the right of the green and came within one foot of getting a hole in one. A birdie was a nice outcome considering how far off the green the first shot looked in the air. I was also able to par holes 8 and 9, mostly due to having good shots off the tee. I bagged my driver and began using a 3-wood off the tee, which made a ton of difference. At least two of my drives were 200 yards, but I would still be doing much better if I could putt...

Tried to shake things up a bit this morning. Warmed up with ~1.3 mile at 10 min/mile. Proceeded to 0.12 mile sprints (starting at 50%) interspersed with a 0.12 mile jog/walk. After the third sprint I was very fatigued, which is not surprising since I haven't run sprints in about 10 years. I took a 0.25 mile cool down walk and got ready for work. I did notice that immediately following the sprinting I got pretty dizzy. Maybe that means that I really exerted myself and it's a good thing? After showering and taking it slow for a while, the dizziness subsided.

Ran 2.2 miles this morning on my regular route and it seemed like there was a larger amount of exhaust to contend with than normal. I would have gone longer but I had to get to work...and I had to start my fast. I have agreed to participate in a one day fast to support an organization working to prevent world hunger. Arby was quick to point out that I get very cranky when I am tired or hungry (which is true), so I am trying to keep the crankiness under control so that I don't lose all my friends today. The worst part is not being able to drink anything! but there is only 6 hours left. I didn't start at the appropriate time (5:50 am) because I wanted to run this morning, so I started after working out. I was afraid I would get dehydrated so I drank about 3 L of water, a glass of milk, and a V8. I was hoping the salt in the V8 would help me retain water...it didn't work, and I only briefly thought I had water intoxication. Ok, 5 hours and 48 minutes.

I did not have a good run today. At the beginning I was chased by a dog while the owner sat about 20 feet away and did NOTHING. Finally I had to stop because I was only leading the dog farther away. Then the dog ran into the road and almost got hit by a car. I felt sorry for the dog, because it was just a little hyper dog that wanted to run around and have fun. Anyway, I meant to run longer but my right knee started to feel very tense so I cut it short. 

5.6 miles!!!! It wasn't fast, pretty, or elegant, but I ran it in SLC where it has always been harder for me to run. My knees are feeling better, and I think if I slowly work into longer distances, they will not get too sore. The weather was nice outside and I felt good until the 4 mile mark. After 4 miles I had to slow down quite a bit, but I was determined to keep going. The run took me 58:42. Arby suggested that I incorporate some cross training, which I plan to do this week by riding the stationary bike and lifting some upper body weights. I really need to increase my upper body strength for lifting patients. Oh, and this is the furthest I have ever run!

Rode the stationary bike for 5 minute warm up and cool down, and 20 minutes of 30 seconds at 60 rpm and 30 seconds at 90 rpm. Followed by 3 x 10 reps on the bench press machine, 2 x 10 curls, deltoids, and triceps, 100 crunches, 100 obliques.

Ran this morning before work. The run was relatively easy, and I finished in 30:20 so that my average pace was 10:07/mile. Within the first half mile, I passed a motorcycle cop with his radar gun who I'm pretty sure was calculating my speed since there weren't any cars passing by. I tried to speed up and when I ran past him I imagined that the radar gun was sizzling in his hands because I was going so fast...I had a little chuckle about it. Overall the run felt great, no knee problems.

Ran up the City Creek Canyon trail for the first time. Since I haven't been running on hills I didn't make it very far, but it was a beautiful trail. I was also able to check the bp, pulse, and respiration rate of the person running with me before and after running, and only the systolic pressure increased. I'm not sure if this is makes sense, but I plan to test it with other people soon.

 11:35 pm-feeling the calves already. How did I not get those things worked out when I was running on flat land? 

I didn't want to run this morning, but I drug myself out of bed and did it anyway. The run seemed really long even though my time was faster than usual (27:44). Hopefully my running isn't losing its luster because that will make it very challenging for me to get up and do it in the winter! My knees are feeling more tender than they have felt in a long time after this morning's run, but there wasn't any discomfort while I was running. I'm hoping to bounce back soon.