I had taken a vacation from the weight room during the taper and recovery periods before the EWEB half. Not so surprisingly, I got sore from a fairly light workout the first time back to my strength routine.
My glutes ("buns region" for those who unfamiliar with the term) were the muscles most affected, and they were noticeably sore during my last long run. With each step they seemed to bark a reminder, "If you love us, Ding-dong (as they affectionately call me), you would not wait so long between doing lunges!"
DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is a cue to me that I need to be consistent with the weights, if I want to maintain my strength, muscle balance and any other benefits I might be getting from it. I combat soreness with another light workout about 48 hours from the last. For me, it targets those muscles and gets the blood flow back in there for rebuilding. I do love using weights!! and think it helps in many aspects of running.
How did I get through this painful little excursion called "long run"? I did a little bit of cadence counting: 176, 182, 180. My goal was to hit about 180. I am sure this number slips a bit when I am not paying attention, but it is a good exercise- I think- for getting a good turn-over rhythm going. And it worked as a distraction (a little)
Training recap since the Turkey Trot
- 11/25 Easy 10.0 mi 8:29
- 11/26 Easy 5.1 mi 8:33
- 11/27 Easy 7.4 mi 8:27, Weights
- 11/29 Easy 7.7 mi 8:21 Weights
- 11/30 Easy 5.8 mi 8:24
- 12/1 Easy 7.4 mi 8:30
- 12/2 Easy 5.4 mi8:25
- 12/3 Long (easy) 16.1 mi 8:29
- 12/4 Easy 7.7 mi 8:24 Weights
- 12/5 Easy 2.5 mi 8:29
- 12/6 Easy 9.6 mi 8:22
- 12/7 Easy 8.0 mi 8:23
- 12/8 Weights, Easy 2.0 mi 8:27, Easy 5.5 mi 8:13
- 12/9 Easy 5.1 mi 8:16
- 12/10 Long (easy) 15.6 mi 8:22, Weights
- 12/12 threshold 10.3 mi -avg 8:04 for run., Weights
Answered Prayers/ Faith stuff
I have been doing a lot of thinking recently. Pondering WHY I run and WHY I want to be competitive. Could I ever go back to just running for "fun"? I am not sure I could. Maybe I could...but it might have to happen as a serious accident, or as something incremental, for me to accept it.
On a recent run, I spent some time asking the Lord, "Do you want me to even be running at all?" Circumstances have caused me to question the expense of training, time spent in it, etc.. The following day I received notification that I was accepted in to the Brooks ID program. (THANK YOU Brooks!!) To say I was surprised is an understatement. This is a huge blessing to me, and I am honored to be selected to represent Brooks. Now I am seeking God's guidance as to how I might use this opportunity to best serve Him. I am excited to be running and to see what direction this takes me!!
It might have been an bad idea, but recently I decided to expose our sheltered kids to some music from my youth. Up to now they have pretty much only listened to contemporary Christian music. I was pretty careful about which 3 or 4 songs I played on Youtube... This has opened a whole new world to them. Now my 6 year old wants to grow his hair out like a rock star! I am trying to figure out how to put the snake back in the can. Haha!
(Put this on full screen for maximum effect.)
The best part is that Matthew now sings the words as "Ohhhhhh, oh, Living on the Prairie!," Nathan has asked if we can have Brandon (worship leader) learn and play this piece at church.
So...if you were wondering: YES!! Home-school is going well!!! (It really is.. :) )
Have you had any prayers answered lately in unexpected ways?
How do you combat DOMS?
Do you like the 80's/90's "hair bands"?