The Road 2 Health & bLog of Running/Biking/Walking etc.

After my last run I tried a “program” on the new treadmills at the gym.  It was a “fitness test”.  Just a five minute run with increasing incline.  When complete the machine will take your Heart Rate.  From that, your weight and age it calculate your VO2max.  Mine was 35.3 (low).  Slightly concerned yet not very surprised I spoke with a trainer.  He suggested a few things.

1.  Run longer.  Thirty minutes is not enough to be optimal.  He suggested I increase my workout to 40 -45 minutes or more.
2.  Change the incline.  I will run at a steady pace 10:00 – 12:00 minute miles with an incline at 1.0.  He suggested a hill or random incline program.

These were the major point he hit so wanting to do the best I altered my run.  Yesterday I set the time to 40 minutes (pushing it with my allotted time during my lunch break), intensity at 7 and speed at 5.5.  I was guessing at the settings, there was no way to know if my level was 1, 5, or 10.  So maybe I was a little too aggressive.  at the 25 minute mark of running 10:55 pace and a variable incline of 0.9 through 5.7 (I almost fell off the treadmill!) I had to take a break.  I briskly walked for five minutes and let the machine continue to alter the incline.  At the 30 minute mark I was more than ready to finish off the final 10 minutes of my 40 minutes run at a 10:55 pace.

All this babble and mumbo jumbo to say I am very happy I made the switch.  Running wasn’t getting stale it was just not as productive as it once was (so long ago – haha).  Now I feel like I am again making progress and will have the added enjoyment of running up and down simulated hills.

Tags: Hills, running, VO2 Max

Today I went back to the gym after a week of not running.  I had a few things to clear up (Doctor Visit, Dentist, Oil change, bank, business lunch) during my lunch hours and did not get the time to run.  By the way I lost 20 pounds since I started, my blood work is like an 18 year old, and my blood pressure is 118/40, I guess that’s all good.

So I ran only two miles today.  I am happy I got back to the run today but sad because I cannot make it tomorrow or Friday (Dentist and Lunch meeting).  So one day and two miles this week, I really hope I get some miles in next week, I need to make the room for turkey!

Tags: break, running

For the past week I did not get the opportunity to run, walk, or even jump.  I worked through lunches or had to do banking, car maintenance or a lunch meeting all making for wonderful lazy non-running week.  Tomorrow is Monday and I can get back onto my schedule, I will make a point to have my lunch ready to take from home, put work aside for an hour and get back into my run.

On a positive note I went to the doctor again last week.  My weight at my last appointment (back in September) was 171, this time it was 156.  My blood work was perfect (like an 18 year old I am told).  So it looks like things are working.  I still want to lose another 15 – 20 pounds by spring and it seems that I am stalled on my scale at 160.    I will have to watch the treats and keep up the running, it will go with work.

Tags: running, weight loss

So it seems that the long nights and short days are already starting to hit me.  I do not have that desire to run.  I have been doing great 10 minute miles for 3 miles but it is a chore to get to the gym.  Monday I ran but today I walked, sprinted for a mile then walked.  It took me 30 minutes to finish the 2.16 miles.  Not terrible but it isn’t the three miles I have been pushing.  I guess there is nothing wrong with a slow week, they always tell me there should be a back down week where you decrease the miles you run.  But that is usually for those who are running 9 miles per day not week!  Either way I’m sluggish.

Tags: running, tired

I have no idea where my running it taking me these days.  I feel like I am following a guide who knows the way but will not tell me.  He hasn’t even said he knew the way I just started following him, now he thinks I am stalking him.  He keeps speeding up so I have to keep up with him.

My last run I was pushed to move at a 10:00 pace after only 1/2 mile.  Not pushed but it was the general air in the gym.  I finished at that pace.  Wait, I just noticed I ran at a 10:55 pace.  Something is wrong.  Well, I guess the blog entry was correct.  I check my run log and it shows a 10:50 pace.  So why not delete all that useless information?  Because I ran three miles today at 10:00 pace and a little better.  My total time running was 29:46 for the three miles.  I finished the few seconds to make an even 30 minute run.  My official pace was 9:56/mile.  I did struggle the last 1/2 mile, that is why it is not an even 10:00 / mile I upped the speed a bit so I could just finish already!  Next run will be better.

Now my dilemma.  I have no interest in speed (just like I drive my car, nice and slow).  Unfortunately, my time to run is limited to lunch, and I give myself 30 minutes.  I am thrilled I can run a 5K in just under 30 minutes but would much rather run 10 miles, even 5 miles would be great!  I am the type that if I never actually did it before I do not fully believe I can do it (that’s never stopped me from trying).  So will my 30 minutes 5K translate to a 50, 60, 70, or 90 minutes 8K?  I do not know when I will be able to test this out, some day.

Tags: running, success