Hip check

My right hip still hurts from my birthday. It is aggravated every time I go outside into the cold. It was so cold this weekend I didn't get out for a run. Partly because I don't have warm enough gear and partly because my hip hurts so much. I've never had a problem or pain like this before. Don't really know what to do about it either. Stinks.

Not a Typical Tuesday

Tuesday I missed my usual workout class in the morning waiting for my in-laws to come into town. They traveled all night so when they took a nap to recover I went to the gym to get a workout in. I used the spin bike in the room all alone *sorta boring* for 45 min. Then I jumped on the treadmill to see how my back/hip would feel. I surprised myself by going 2 miles actually pretty fast. I kept upping the speed expecting it to get too hard but found I was able to handle it. It felt so good to be moving. Then I did my 100 squats and ab work. I felt amazing after that workout. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten another run in since. I should have gone yesterday because it was a beautiful 50 degrees. Today was a cold, icy 25. Very different!  I will have to work at staying in a routine with guests here. It's easy to just sit around visiting until you don't have time to go anymore. I'll have to make a point of going first thing in the morning so the rest of my day can go with the flow.

Chilly Morning Thoughts

This is good news for me. Yesterday I went out for a 4 miler, in 34 degrees and I didn't even flinch at the cold. I've figured out that doing 5 min warm up inside before I go really helps because then I don't have to do a warm-up walk in the cold, plus it gets the internal furnace started that much earlier.
As I started running, I enjoyed feeling the cold air coming into my lungs. It's fresh and crisp, and I felt like I was clearing out my lungs and filling my body with new oxygen. I actually thought to myself that running in 30 degree weather is my new favorite thing! The air is really clear this time of year, and you can feel winter coming. I went down my usual route, which has trees and long driveways on one side, but forest on the other side. There weren't as many small animals out scurrying around as I usually see. I did see a pack of wild turkeys on my left which got me thinking about Thanksgiving. My thoughts then turned to my family as I turned on the route towards the lake. The trees around the lake have lost their leaves, so you can see it from further away. I run out on a little Peninsula that has houses on one side and docks and lake shore on the other. The lake ice on the dockside is forming along the coast. It isn't thick at all, but it was already going out about 20 feet. Beyond that there was a group of ducks swimming around. I assume they were taking a rest on their way south. By this time I had gone almost four miles, and was at the end of the run. I was still moving slowly, never really found my speed yesterday, but right now I am not too worried about speed. This part of the year it's going to be a challenge for me just to keep running. At the gym today, one of the gals in my spin class said she never goes outside to run, she's afraid of wild animals. She is at the gym 5 days a week, and is in really great shape. I couldn't help but think, what is it for? Why go to the gym to bust your butt if you don't go outside into the world and use that fitness for some kind of fun activity?
I realized that I don't run to be a smaller size or to look better. I hope that I do look better, especially as I get older. But I love to run because of the activity itself. It's so nice to get outside at least an hour every day, feeling the fresh air, the sunshine. seeing animals and birds up close. I love what running allows me to do, listening to my own breathing, sweating all the stress out of my body and letting my thoughts wander. The time I spend running is my time for meditation and prayer. I usually listen to music, but sometimes it's nice to pull the headphones out and just listen to the sounds around me. Not all runs are the best. But no matter, because you know when it is over you will feel so much better. Many times I have regretted not getting outside to run, but I can't think of a time that I ever regretted going. I always feel refreshed and renewed, and like I can take on whatever the rest of the day brings. Speaking of, time to go take on this one.

Birthday Run

Sunday was my birthday, so of course I did what any runner does, I started the day with a nice run. It was chilly, 38 degrees, but the sun was out. Finally, some sunshine!! I just headed out my front door and went around my neighborhood on a route that has the most views of the lakes. Like my last run, I didn't really have a plan other than I wanted to go about 5 miles. I ended up going 6.13, and took my time, 1:07. There were a few walk breaks in there, so the average pace was 11:05, but I was running closer to a 10 min mile. It's a nice way to celebrate your birthday, another year older, but still up and moving. Of course I'm not old or anything, but that is one of the inspiring things about running, there are people who run all of their lives.
One drawback- I felt great on my run, but my hip was so stiff later in the day, and in fact bothered me enough yesterday that I didn't do any type of workout. It is still a little sore today, but I might try a jog or walk and see if that helps.  I guess this is what a birthday run is all about, yes you can still run (good for you), but be careful cause you ain't getting any younger!
So, weather-wise, it has suddenly changed. I think it's going to warm up again into the 30s later in the week, but yesterday it stayed in the teens, and today is only 20 and breezy. For me this is sooooo cold!!! I really have to get some good winter running gear. We don't have a running store around here, but there are a few sports stores, plus I've been looking online. One blogger recommends Brooks gear, another one Nike, The North Face has some nice items, I've worn Athleta gear before so I know I like that. I have a hard time buying things that are so pricey when I can't see them in person. Just gotta take the plunge and buy something I guess. Or else I'll be stuck on a treadmill for the next however many months.
I know I can handle running in the 30s- something I never had to do in California. It's funny, the only winter running gear I owned in CA was a light jacket from Target and a pair of running gloves and a hat. And I hardly ever wore the hat or gloves and the jacket would end up tied around my waist by the end of the run. Our weather was so temperate in the winter compared to this place! If we were in the 30s during the day that was a major cold front, and I'd just use the treadmill for a couple of days until it warmed up into the 50s or 60s again.
I just realized I won't see the 50s or 60s again for months. Months! People around here say it's not really winter until the snow comes, so they are still living in the mindset that this is fall. For me, this is serious winter weather already. I have a feeling it's gonna be a looooong winter!

Warming Up for Winter

I've been using the gym for the past week, but today I decided it's time to get back outside. After my last run, my foot was sore and I'm so paranoid about getting an injury that I kept holding back and not going out for a run. But I have been working out in the gym with no problems, and the sun was shining this morning again finally, so outside I went. I wasn't worried about going a certain distance or going a certain speed, in fact I didn't push myself at all, even took a few walk breaks. I ended up with a 5 mile run which is great. I ran in the range of 10-11 min mile, which is fine for me, but my overall speed looks slower because I did take a few walk breaks in there. I walked so I could pay attention to myself; how did my feet feel, was I cold, how was my breathing, etc. I think it's good to take a self-assessment when you are running once in a while. I have a tendency to lose myself in the music and the rhythm of it, and then I don't realize my calves are hurting or my legs are freezing or something. In a way it's good, because it means you ignore the pain and get the run done. But in a way it's not good, because if you're cold and you need to layer up, it's better to realize that, or if you're hurting and you need to back off, it's important to listen to your body. But in order to listen, you must pay attention, so I tried to do that today.
What I am really happy about, is that I haven't gone outside for a run in two weeks, and yet today I was able to do a nice easy run that was 5 miles long and speed averaged 10-11 mpm. That's where I wanted to be when I first started running again, so it shows that I am getting that fitness level than I'm looking for. It also means I need to set another goal for myself and get to the next level, whatever the next level for me is.
Also- I haven't been out to run because I thought it was cold. It's in the 30s here, which to Minnesotans is not actually cold yet, but to Californians, this is winter cold. And I have a great pair of winter running tights that I can't find since the move, so I wore winter yoga type pants instead. They were warm and comfortable, did just fine, but I really miss my running tights. Where the heck did those things go??? I also wore an under layer for warmth and then a jacket. I was actually too hot. I should have left the jacket at home because less than halfway in I wished I didn't have it. It wasn't too bad though, and it's a good sign that I can get too hot running in 30 degree weather with gear I already own. I'm on the lookout for a good winter running outfit, maybe I can get that for my birthday???

Here I am at the end of my run, and above is my route. I saw that the small ponds around here are starting to form ice. Pretty soon I will get my chance to run in the snow for the very first time ever. It's coming!!!

On the move again

After a nearly two week illness and a plumbing calamity at home, I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. Went to a spin class on Friday and Saturday mornings. Today I headed outside for a short run, even though I couldn't find any headphones (kids) but didn't make it. I wasn't even to the end of the street when the rain started. I'm not afraid or even opposed to running in the rain, but not in cold 40 degree rain especially when I have my phone on my arm band. So I ended up going to the gym in the evening and using the treadmill. Did 35 minutes,  just over 3 miles. I don't know exactly since the treadmill turned the stats off before I saw them. Oh well.  A day of technical difficulties but at least I still got in a decent workout. Also doing the 100 squats a day for the month of November. At first I was doing a group at a time until all were done. I don't have enough patience so tonight I just did all 100 at once. Gonna have some good buns by December!!