Hard to run and hard to start (talkin’ ’bout my generator)

On June 1, 2013 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Good reputation, but hard to start

Today’s run (treadmill): 3.2 miles

So much for running early today. Knowing that the temperature would exceed 90°s, I’d envisioned running the Bethpage bike path at sunrise. But the morning got busy and, before I knew it, it was past 8:00 AM. By then, the temperature had risen to the low 70’s and I considered going out for a run. After seeing on the news that a big storm is expected for Sunday, I needed to test the generator.

After five minutes of futility, my “high quality” generator failed to turn over. I bought this unit because the research said it’s a great unit. However, since we got it, starting it has been a problem. Without delay, my son and I took it to Home Depot to let Mike the technician look at it. I had to leave the generator behind and hoped it wouldn’t be an expensive service issue.

Somewhat helpful

I considered a neighborhood run when I returned home, but the weather was already past the point of bearable. I almost abandoned my plans for a workout entirely, but my wife said I’d regret that later. I took the opportunity to test a recently purchased cooling bandanna while I did a run on the treadmill. I figured that I could further optimize my cooling using the big fan.

I’d say that the bandanna was marginally helpful, but the heat and humidity were brutal. The protection from the sun and the breeze from the fan made the treadmill a good choice. I got through the run with little time to spare. We were getting together with some people right after lunch and I barely had time to cool off in the shower.

Later in the afternoon, Mike called and said, “Bad news, it’s going to be an expensive repair and it’s not covered by the warranty.” I was thrilled when he told me he was kidding. It was just $20 for labor, oil and additional gas. I hope the storm doesn’t materialize and that I can get in a decent run tomorrow. But if it does storm, at least I know the generator will start.

Running is great when you have fans

On May 30, 2013 By Emerging Runner2 Comments

Fan-tastic

Yesterday’s run (treadmill): 25 minutes
Today’s run (street): 3.6 miles

Yesterday was the longest “work day” that I’ve experienced since leaving my company in February. It was a grind, especially due to the oppressive humidity and 80 degree temperatures. I covered a lot of miles on foot, wearing a wool suit and carrying a backpack. By my last meeting, I was a wet noodle. It’s hard to believe that, not so long ago, I was doing that on a daily basis.

Prior to yesterday’s trip into the city, I ran for 25 minutes on the treadmill. I knew I’d be covering a lot of ground during the day, but there’s a difference between running and walking and I wanted that aerobic workout. I used the powerful floor fan that I positioned directly in front of the treadmill and set to the maximum speed. That machine makes a big difference on hot days, and it provides much greater cooling than the fans that are built into the treadmill itself.

This morning I was determined to run outside and I prepared for the high heat and humidity. I wore my Craft running shirt that does a great job wicking and channeling sweat. I tried to be strategic about which roads to follow, preferring those with large areas of tree shade. I ended up covering more distance than I thought I would, because I’d planned to keep it to around three miles due to the heat. In the end I was pretty boiled, but I was happy to be running outside again. However, I did miss my fan.

Running, despite the pressure

On May 25, 2013 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Today’s run (treadmill): 4.1 miles

Last night I began to notice the signs of impending headache: pressure from the back of my head to my ear, accompanied by the roar of tinnitus. These headaches have some of the traits of a migraine, but they seem to correlate more to changes in the weather. And on Long Island, the weather is always changing. I resisted taking a decongestant before bed in hopes that I might be able to sleep it off. But it the morning it was there, in full force.

I had no issues taking pseudoephedrine at that point. A look out the window revealed rain and wind. The news was reporting the temperature to be 51°. I figured I’d do an indoor workout. The decongestant did a good job minimizing the pain, but the pressure was still there. I decided to return to bed for a short nap. That worked out well, and I woke up 20 minutes later with enough energy to get on the treadmill.

Today’s workout was about putting in the miles. I kept the speed moderate to keep my heart rate in check. I was concerned that moving too far into zone 3 would create more pressure and worsen my headache. The room felt cool when I started, so I didn’t turn on the floor fan. I regretted that by the end. I was glad I’d done the workout but worried that I’d worn myself out for the day.

As it turned out, my run helped my headache, at least for a while. I needed to take more medicine later in the day, but I’m optimistic that I’ll be recovered by tomorrow. If not, at least I might be able get outside for a run.

Rainy day running gets you nowhere

On May 19, 2013 By Emerging Runner2 Comments

Get it?

Today’s run (treadmill): 4.1 miles

Rain is a funny thing for me. I generally don’t mind when I’m caught in a storm, as long as I have a decent umbrella. I like the experience of reading a good book indoors when it’s pouring outside. But when it comes to running in the rain, I would rather endure freezing temperatures, high humidity and scorching heat than be subjected to pluvial conditions. Some of this is due to my difficulty seeing in the rain with glasses, but the whole soaking shoes, socks, shirt and shorts thing really undercuts my enjoyment of a run.

This morning I prepared to run outside under a dark gray sky. As much as I abhor running in rain, my favorite conditions are cool and overcast weather. I was dressed and ready to head out when my daughter looked up from her homework and said, “Dad, do you know that it’s raining outside?” I didn’t know, but I decided to walk down the driveway to see if it was rain or just light drizzle. It was rain.

I came back inside and headed upstairs to wait for my wife to finish her treadmill run. I changed into a lighter running shirt and removed my RoadID but kept on the other gear. As soon as my wife finished her workout, I fired up the floor fan, put on the news and set a brisk pace on the treadmill. The rainy conditions outside created humid conditions indoors. I prepared for 16 tedious “laps”, the most I thought I could endure this morning.

It was disappointing to be stuck on the treadmill after expecting to run outside. Yesterday I experienced some fatigue after negotiating the long uphill section along Sunnyside Boulevard. Today I felt like I had more energy, but the lack of perceived progress I get during treadmill running was mentally wearing. I focused on .25 mile increments and eventually got to my targeted “distance.”

I was glad that I didn’t let the weather prevent me from putting in the miles today. However, after four miles of humid treadmill running I’m reconsidering the merits of running in the rain.

Under the weather, due to the weather

On May 16, 2013 By Emerging Runner2 Comments

Today’s run (treadmill): 3.1 miles

This has been a strange week for me. Lots of business frenzy and an underlying feeling that I’m about to be hit with a cold. I’ve been getting migraine-like headaches about once a month, that seem to correlate to changes in the weather. They could also be triggered by pollen, although I’ve never suffered allergies in the past. Over the last few days I haven’t felt 100% and I ended up skipping my run on Wednesday.

This morning I had a return of that headache and I treated it with pseudoephedrine that usually does the trick. It helped greatly, but residual tiredness and a full morning schedule delayed my workout. I had a window of opportunity at noon so I jumped on the treadmill for a leisurely run at an easy pace. I knew I’d get the most benefit out of a workout that taxed me, but didn’t push me to the point of feeling run down.

I could have run outdoors but I decided to use the treadmill because I could set the speed and just zone out. It was a decent workout and helped clear my head. I’m still feeling tired, but at least I got a few miles in. The weather is supposed to get cooler from now, through the weekend. That will make for better running conditions outside. I hope that by Saturday, my health will be as good as the predicted weather.

Wet, windy, cold and clowny at Eisenhower Park

On May 11, 2013 By Emerging Runner2 Comments

Scenes from a wet and chilly morning

Today’s activities: 20 minute treadmill + 2 mile charity walk

I always look forward my weekend runs because I’m free to detach from business (for the most part) and run longer distances. With more discretionary time, I’m more apt to break away from my local roads and run at more interesting places. In fact, I do almost all my trail running on weekends.

Today was different. My wife had signed us up to walk for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, a charity that we strongly support. The walk took place at Eisenhower Park and we headed over early. The organizers were expecting over a thousand participants and, even with the nasty weather, they had an impressive turnout.

Since our morning schedule was tight, and the weather was windy and rainy, I opted to do an unusually short workout on the treadmill. I figured that we’d be covering a lot of ground on foot, but I wanted to make sure I got in some “cardio” as well. My plan was to do another 20 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical later in the day, but so far that hasn’t happened.

The Ronald McDonald House event was well planned and a surprising number of people had already arrived when we got there.We’d dressed for light rain, but the weather turned worse as we made our way around the grounds. There were lots of snacks and drinks for the taking, much like what you would see after a race. My wife won Ducks tickets at the KJOY booth (a local radio station), so we’ll going to a game next week.

I wore my ASICS running windbreaker with a zipper that no longer works. It was windy and I was getting colder by the minute. Fortunately, as Walk participants, we all got an event tee shirt. That extra layer really made a difference.

The walk itself started at 10:00 AM and, almost immediately, the rain and wind began to intensify. We joked about heading straight back to the car, but the kids were into it, so we continued. The route was only a couple of miles. However, with the cold, wind and rain (and the crowds that slowed our progress) it seemed far longer. By the time we finished, we were soaked from head to toe. But we still had fun and were glad to support such a great cause.

Through all the activity, I’ve exceeded my daily goals on the Fitbit, so I’m not sure whether I’ll do another workout today. Right now there are booming thunderstorms, so whatever I’d do, it would be indoors. I may be better off waiting until tomorrow morning anyway, when they are predicting far better weather conditions.

Variability, structure, running and Thai food

On May 10, 2013 By Emerging Runner2 Comments

Post run reward

Yesterday’s run (treadmill): 3.2 miles
Today’s run (street): 3.2 miles

My definition of work is much different than it used to be. When I was going into the office every day, I’d follow the same routine. My morning regimen would usually include a workout and shower, followed by a train ride into the city. Now that the world is my office, the flow of my day can be very different. The consequence of having a less structured schedule is that my posting frequency has (slightly) suffered.

Due to this, I couldn’t find the time to write about a treadmill run that was almost exactly the same as the one I ran the day before. So here’s a recap: I turned on the treadmill, ran about 30 minutes, then stopped. For details, see my prior post.

Today was different. I had a mid morning appointment, so I did an early run outside. It was my first outdoor run since Tuesday, and I appreciated the sunny and warm conditions. I spent most of my time on the road, rather than the sidewalk, and I’ll admit that I preferred it that way. It wasn’t an easy run and I’m not really sure why. I can’t blame it on hard work, as my pace was exactly average.

Since I now follow a variable schedule of my own design, my wife and I took a time-out for lunch and headed to the Lemonleaf Grill (my favorite Thai restaurant in the area). Soon after that, it was back to business, but only through mid-afternoon. It was a beautiful day so I decided to start my weekend early. After all, a variable work schedule also means variable leisure time.

When the treadmill is a welcome change

On May 9, 2013 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Treadmill redemption

Today’s run (treadmill): 3.1 miles

This morning started out gray and rainy, and I wasn’t looking forward to trekking to the city. I planned to run early and then head for the train mid-morning. Some unexpected scheduling changes allowed me to avoid going in at all. That worked out very well for me, because it allowed me to make some progress on a new consulting job. I ended up using a treadmill run to force a break from my work.

I don’t love every run, but I always look forward to running outside. That’s especially true on weekends, when I have the time to travel to places more interesting than my neighborhood. At the bottom of my list is the treadmill, and I think it’s because the experience provides no feeling of progress. Worse is when I when I crank up the speed. Like the saying goes, it’s like going nowhere fast.

Today was different, the intensity I was giving to my project needed to come down a few notches. I was actually looking forward to getting on the treadmill to spend 30 minutes not thinking. The time went by fast for a change and I felt great when I was done. After a quick shower and lunch, I was back to the laptop. As good as that was, I’m hoping for better weather tomorrow so I can take my running break outside.

Shouldering pain from a long day on the streets

On May 2, 2013 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Relief is imminent

Today’s workout (treadmill): 30 minutes + 8 miles walking

I had planned to be in the city today and tomorrow, but some meetings have shifted to next week. I consolidated the remaining business into today’s schedule, making it a very long day. NYC is a big place and my meetings are often located many blocks apart. I try not to use the subway unless it’s raining, or I don’t have enough time to walk.

My workout was really tiring this morning and I was concerned that I’d pushed too hard. I knew I would be covering a lot of ground on foot and I’d also be carrying my laptop. Today I went from 33rd to Union Square, up to 54th, down to E. 34th and then back to Penn. I wasn’t feeling great when I arrived at my first appointment, so I went down to the subway and put $5 on my MetroCard. I wanted to be prepared in case I wasn’t up for walking forty-five blocks uptown to my next meeting.

After lunch with some friends, I was feeling much better and did my walk as planned. My Fitbit is now showing 11 miles and 21,900 steps for the day, including this morning’s treadmill run. I’m really feeling it in my shoulder, probably because the weight of the laptop caused some additional strain. I really could use some rest and naproxen sodium. I’ll decide tomorrow whether to take an unscheduled break.

You have 28 minutes…Go!

On April 26, 2013 By Emerging RunnerLeave a comment

Beat the clock

Today’s run (treadmill): 3.1 miles

That annoying thing called a schedule forced me onto the treadmill this morning. I lost track of time and realized that I wouldn’t have enough time to do an outside run and still make my first appointment. My only hope was to get it all done in less than 30 minutes. Since I’ve “retired”, I’ve made three miles the minimum distance for my weekday runs. If I was to meet that rule today, I would have to run fast.

I hit the start button and set my speed a full MPH higher than usual. Surprisingly enough, that pace seemed sustainable and I looked at my HRM for guidance, in terms of how far to push. I don’t really trust the treadmill display’s accuracy, so I mostly go by perceived effort. When I run a 9:20 pace on the treadmill, it feels like 9:00. I really should put a new battery in my Garmin foot pod to compare speeds and see whether there really is such a margin of error.

I watched the clock as I nudged against my critical time window. I knew I needed to meet or beat 28 minutes to get in a full 5K distance. When I got to the 20 minute mark I punched my speed up to 7.1 MPH and rode that pace until I’d reached 3.1 miles. My heart rate was at around 88% of max by the time I finished, and I was about as sweat-soaked as a person could be when I turned off the machine.

I quickly toweled off and drank a big glass of water before changing into dry clothes. I was fortunate that this wasn’t going to be one of those Skype conference calls that would have required me to look more presentable. I did let the time get away from me this morning, but running hard got me back on schedule. I’ve been wanting to do some speed work lately, but haven’t been motivated to do it. Sometimes motivation comes in unexpected ways.