December 31, 2004
A Failed Attempt
I decided to take it easier today due to the high heart rate I sustained yesterday. And I must say that I made a valiant effort to do so, as I spent 5 minutes on the elliptical before getting off and moving over to the erg. The lights weren't on in the gym, and my reasoning was that since it would be harder to read the monitor, I wouldn't pay as much attention to the splits. The index card I usually tape over the screen was enjoying a hiatus with my heart rate monitor across the room in my bag, and I didn't feel like getting them.
The truth is, quite a few things were bothering me today, and it has been my tendency in the past to take my issues to the erg, where I get so distracted that not much bothers me except for the numbers in front of my face. As the monitor counted down from 40 minutes, I started off with an average of 2:26 (which is really high for me, so I was trying to back off). But after 5 minutes, the average was 2:25; 10 minutes, 2:24; 15 minutes, 2:23. By this time, it had become an objective to drop the average split one second every 5 minutes. This is exactly my kind of workout, because since the average split is cumulative, I was pulling very low numbers comparitavely by the end of the 40 minutes. Needless to say, I finished with an average split of 2:18. For some perspective, though, this is something I could have easily pulled my novice year.
Conclusion: When combined with intense self competition, getting back in shape is not so fun.
Posted by rgutwin at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2004
Running Again
I went on a 50 minute run with my father today, which was a fun deviation from my solitary workouts. I strapped on a heart rate monitor before I walked out the door just for the fun of it, and I quickly realized why I rarely monitor my heart rate while running. My heart averaged 190 beats per minute for the 5.35 mile run and was over 200 by the time I finished. But I felt okay and I'm still alive, so no permanent damage done. However, in the long run (ha ha), it won't be super effective for me to train at such a high heart rate if I want to improve my aerobic capacity. Thus, I will not run so fast next time. Probably.
Posted by rgutwin at 06:21 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2004
The Monotony Has Begun
Definitely quite sore from the whole lifting thing yesterday, but I did get a preview of the pain during my squat and clean reps, so I can't be completely surprised. Nonetheless, I'll probably lift again tomorrow and then take some time for my muscles to rebuild themselves over the weekend. Given my weakened state, I think it would be a good idea to lift three times a week instead of two, so I'll lift on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next week.
15 minutes on the recumbent bike today, and then a switch to the elliptical when I became frustrated with my low heartrate and very painful hamstrings. I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical with an average heart rate of 160, followed by a minute on the erg at my desired 5K pace. I'm still upset that I didn't PR this year, and all of this aerobic base building is not helping me release my frustration. I'm hoping some difficult time on the erg will help.
Posted by rgutwin at 07:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2004
More Pain on the Horizon
I'm still sore from the hilly run on Saturday, so I spent some quality time with the elliptical machine this afternoon. I then headed over to the weights and lifted at 65%. Due to the fact that I haven't touched objects quite so heavy in at least four weeks, I have the sneaky suspicion that my muscles won't be too pleased tomorrow.
I got an iPod mini for Christmas from my family, and I'm very excited about its portability (not to mention the fashion it brings to my ensemble). I can now listen to music when I run without hearing skips, and I can take the iPod with me when I subject my body to such torture as lifting. My iPod mini's name is Pinkie. It's pink. I like pink. :-)
Posted by rgutwin at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2004
At Least We're Not Going Backwards...
First of all, it was not the best idea to try so hard to keep up with my virtual buddy yesterday, because I conveniently forgot about the fact that my incredibly weak calves are not yet ready for the hills I subjected them to. The damage has definitely been worse, but I spent some time on the erg today instead of running in the 4 degree weather with injured legs.
Unfortunately, my time on the erg did not produce the results I was hoping for. Apparently, when you take three weeks off from training, you don't return to your previous state of fitness within a week. Who knew? Hence, I pulled the same split with the same average heart rate as I did last week. It is heartening to know that I'm not getting any slower, though. I'll start lifting again this week sometime, and we'll see how that goes, too.
Posted by rgutwin at 06:40 PM | Comments (1)
December 26, 2004
Technological Advances
I am very excited about the training tool I received from my mother for Christmas. It is called a Forerunner 201 and it uses GPS signals to determine the speed you're running at and how to navigate to a preset destination. Thus, when I am running all alone in South Africa, not only can I set a Virtual Partner to help me keep a consistent pace, but I can also find my way back to the dorm when I get lost. It also has other neat features, such as an alarm that can alert me when I run too fast (which sounds rather useful), and a very helpful interval option that allows me to set a specified rest distance or time between intervals. I am very interested to try this in the boat once I return to William Smith as well, as it could provide very useful information for the coxswain, rowers, and coach.
Alas, my virtual training partner beat me this afternoon. However, in my defense, not only did s/he (I have not decided upon a suitable name yet, but I am accepting recommendations...) not experience the effects of gravity up some rather large hills, but s/he also did not have to run in the inch or so of snow that was steadily accumulating for the duration of the 45 minute run. Therefore, I shall pick a more adventageous terrain and precipitation status for my next run, in order to train fairly with my virtual partner. As I cannot train indoors with my partner on a treadmill because 1) GPS signals can't pass through buildings, and 2) that would be silly, because I wouldn't be moving anyway, it looks like I have just made the transition to outdoor running. I have already sent a memo to my shins to make sure they don't do anything I wouldn't approve of...
Posted by rgutwin at 11:45 PM | Comments (0)
December 24, 2004
Second Attempt...
I ran again today for 30 minutes on the treadmill and wasn't receiving quite as many warning signals from my body, so hopefully I won't be regretting this workout tomorrow. I finished with 15 minutes on the elliptical and hope to transition to 45 minutes of running early next week. Some people have told me that my body really isn't built for running, but my theory and conviction is that if I transition to running at a pace that is excruciatingly painful for me, I can avoid many of the problems I have encountered in the past.
Posted by rgutwin at 02:48 PM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2004
Hmm...
Yeah, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to start with 30 minutes of running. Perhaps if I had been smarter about it and paid attention to various clues during my workout, I wouldn't be quite so tender today. After starting my day out with a highly amusing, very sedated brother with four less wisdom teeth and tending to his multiple needs, I was not able to persuade my reluctant body to fit a workout into my hectic schedule. But I feel as though trying to train too much too soon has been very counterproductive, and thus my coach would potentially approve of this decision made entirely by my sore legs...
Posted by rgutwin at 11:35 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2004
Tired Already
When I get really tired, I tend to decide that it's too much effort to strap the heart rate monitor to my chest, which I have realized is not the best reaction. In fact, the data I would obtain from my heartrate when my body is tired is probably more valuable than the information otherwise. Nonetheless, I ran today without the monitor at just under 6 mph for 30 minutes on the treadmill. I then evaluated the situation and realized that, since various body parts were beginning to hurt, it was probably a good idea to finish the final 15 minutes of my workout on the elliptical. We'll see how sore I am tomorrow...
Posted by rgutwin at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2004
It's going to be a process...
Running is one of those activities that you can't jump into very apbruptly: the transition must be painfully gradual. Thus, I spent 30 minutes yesterday and 45 minutes today on the elliptical, hopefully simulating the running motion without exerting my deficient muscles too much. However, my training resources in South Africa will be limited, so I'll need to be ready to run for hours at a time before January 17th. Something tells me I won't be running particularly fast...
Oh, and my theory on training being able to boost the immune system might not be incredibly accurate for my body. I am potentially coming down with a new and exciting illness, unless my immune system can get itself in gear and realize that fighting, while painful in the short run, will make everyone much happier in the long run.
Posted by rgutwin at 04:27 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2004
Getting Back in Shape
Note to self: avoid contracting an illness that requires bed rest and all things non-athletic for three weeks at all costs. Not that I didn't have a general memo of the sort before I got sick this month, but taking three weeks off from training is not my idea of a fun time. I got back on the erg today for a 10K aerobic workout and pulled an average of 2:29 with my heart beating about 165 beats per minute. This wasn't the state my carefully trained body was in before my immune system gave into the viral-something-or-other that was attacking it. Perhaps my transition back into training will clear up this nagging upper respiratory infection...
Posted by rgutwin at 05:09 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2004
Welcome
Hello, and welcome to my virtual journal for next semester. I'm leaving for South Africa on January 17th (a hint to all my friends who need to make sure they see me before it's too late...) and will be spending the semester at the University of the Western Cape, which is about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town. So, instead of sending out all those annoying emails that enter into the "Spam" category rather quickly, I'll write my adventures here and you can visit whenever you get the chance. And if you fail to visit and comment, your absence will be noted: we will have things to discuss when I get home at the beginning of June.
So check back when my departure date approaches, and hopefully I'll be able to stay in touch with everyone left stranded on this frigid continent as I'm enjoying summer in South Africa...
Posted by rgutwin at 09:58 PM | Comments (7)