In Pain

Went to Iowa today and spent a very long time on the plane this morning. By afternoon, my hips really hurt. Soaked in a hot tub and did some stretches but didn't get any relief. I think may need some real rest.

Training Session

Today was just me and Mark, so it was a weight circuit. He wanted me to shoot for completing the circuit within 25 minutes. We achieved the goal and I was totally spent. At the end, I had to stop sprinting on the bike because I thought I was going to barf. He kicks my ass.

Very sore by evening.

9 miles (finally)

I finally got a long run in today. It was sunny and 40 degrees and I did a 9.0 mile loop. The regular downtown loop with a long hill run up Maple to Textile and Textile home. I felt fantastic, but soreness set in my knees and my hips within a few hours (which is rare).

Swam 8 laps at Liberty - that's about as much as I can do. Goal will be 12 next time.

Friday mornings

Did a simple 3.2 miles this morning, then went on to class. Offered to cancel class and they wanted to have it. go figure.

5K-a-day

All I could muster up today was 5K on the treadmill. I tried to run it really slowly (fat burning instead of cardio) but toward the end it just felt like it was taking way too long, so I had to speed up.

7-minute mile training

Today at training with Mark, he added endurance running and speedwork to our workout. We began with the Schwinn 3-minute bike workout (1 minute sprint, 1 minute rest, 1 minute sprint), next was a half mile run with the time goal of 3:30. Neither of us made it - both of us clocked 3:48. After that, we hit the Nautilus equipment, then stair stepper, then weights again, then running again! We did well though - we clocked 3:51 despite feeling near death. The training is going well and I can see that he will push us the way that we had hoped.

23 degrees and feeling good

Finally had a chance to run outside today. 6 miles in 55:50 (9:17 pace) - new route - Textile to Lohr turn around at Ellsworth. It was okay - felt long on the way there. Felt strong and fast on the way home. The goal right now is negative splits and I've been able to achieve that for the most part. Tomorrow with Mark will be difficult - my legs have felt very fatigued all week and I haven't slept well in weeks.

Friday mornings at Liberty

The best part about teaching a class in the Winter term is getting to wake up in my own bed on Friday morning. I woke up at my usual 6:10am, Karen arrived at 6:30am and I was off to Liberty. Did a 5K on the treadmill with the last mile a solid speed effort. Finished with ab work and headed to class!

Monday morning in San Francisco

I ran at 4:45am through a very dark Japantown in San Francisco. I basically ran a one mile square around the hotel, very steep uphills on two sides and milder downhills (or at least that's how it felt) on the adjacent sides. All in all, only mustered up 2.1 miles, but at least I got a hill workout in.

30 minutes of involuntary shaking

Today was my second session with Mark the trainer. He kicked my ass again - so much so that I had to pull over on the drive home because I was light-headed. We started with the bike (killer) and then moved on to hip flexor workout and the nautilus workout circuit. I could only do 8 reps on many of the machines. Tried to finish with the bike, but only succeeded in doing one of two reps. Mark works me at the maximum weight that I can handle on each machine. This means that on many of the exercises, my arms or legs are shaking to the point of collapse. Overall, a great workout, but I remain weak 2 hours later.

Back in the gym

Worked out at the club this morning. Ran 5K on the treadmill, followed by ab work on the dip bar and some sun salutation lunges with free weights. Finished with a full set on the Gravitron. Today's workout felt great.

Short run

Lots of swimming this week, a lot less running. I could only get about 2 miles out of me today. Spent the rest of the day walking around Disney and swimming.

Back at Disney

We left last night for a quick trip to Disney. Ran 4 miles this morning and swam more than usual (probably about 800 meters). I am incredibly sore from my session with Mark, the trainer. This is rugby-type sore. Apparently, I usually don't work very hard. If this is what hard work feels like, I need to get on the ball.

Seeking Professional Help

Today was day one with a "real" trainer. The trainer I chose is a middle and long distance runner with several triathalons and marathons under his belt. He has a reputation at our club for kicking people's asses. Suffice to say, he lived up to his reputation today. Here is the itinerary, as best as I can remember it:
- start with a heartrate elevating 60-second sprint on the Schwinn Airbike with a goal of keeping it above 70 rpms.
- A set of squats (1 minute)
- another 60-second bike sprint
- A set of squats (1 minute)

Then over to the Nautilus...
- Hip flexor machine
- Hip Abduction
- Hip Adduction
- Butterly flex
- Overhead pull-down
- forward row/press
- Pushups
- Lunges with weights (my legs were shaking so badly that I could hardly do this)
- Finish with a leg press

I'm sure that I forgot some exercises, but in general, it really hurt. It was exactly what I wanted. I learned that I have great length strength, which I will continue to build - now I will try to work for maximum endurance. That is what I will need most when I begin marathon training later this year.