I went to the gym today to see what I was starting with. I have to say, I wasn't as bad as I thought I'd be! I mean, I wasn't great. I didn't run anything close to a 10-minute mile, BUT I was on the treadmill for an entire hour and did 4.75 miles at an incline of 1.0 (no idea what that means, but it's not 0.0 so that's something!).
I decided to turn off the TV and let Pandora do it's job by keeping me entertained. I have to say, it worked. I threw on my Bulletproof station, started off at a 4.0mph walk for about 7 minutes as a warm-up, and then did 2-3 songs at 5.3mph and 2-3 songs at 4.0mph until the end of the hour when the treadmill told me to cool down.
The issue today wasn't even my EIA (although I did use my inhaler before getting on the treadmill), it was my legs and back. Yesterday, I did almost an hour of kettlebells and at the very end of my last set of gunslingers, I felt a twinge in my lower back. My back didn't really hurt, it just felt very tight (hence why I was drinking rum last night which got me into this whole half-marathon predicament). Well, I wasn't planning on doing much running today because of my back but I started to feel pretty good when I was on the treadmill and I was so impressed that my lungs were cooperating that I may have slightly overdone it. I've stretched and taken a hot shower and a few ibuprofen, but standing up and sitting down is quite an interesting feat.
And tonight is new year's eve which means I'll be on my feet for most of the evening, attempting to dance.
Lesson learned: if your back hurts, maybe don't go for the longest run you've done all year.
I'm going to need more sports bras!
-J
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
How did I get here?
I learned about 3 hours ago that I'm highly impressionable when under the influence of rum. I was speaking with a friend who is currently training for a half marathon in March and the next thing I knew, I had agreed to sign up for a half marathon in the spring.
The problem: I have exercise-induced asthma. The last time I attempted a run on a treadmill, I ran for the span of one commercial break while watching the Real Housewives of Orange County (I'm not proud of this on any level). By the time the show came back on, I was cursing every time an ad would end just to be followed by another ad and breathing quite heavily with the wheezing that's a far-too-common sound to people with EIA. I ran for tops 5 minutes. And it wasn't a real run, it was only 5.3mph. I ended up walking until the next commercial break and then trading in the treadmill for some kettlebells.
So here I am: a young woman with EIA who is about to start training for the Redding Road Race half marathon. The event countdown clock on the website says I have 127 days, 8 hours, and about 15 minutes until the race. All I can think is holy sh*tballs, how am I going to do this?
Another problem: most of the websites about running with asthma have the same generic tips over and over again. "Don't run when there's high pollen count." "Wear a face mask when running in cold weather." "Don't smoke." Well those are all fine and dandy, but what I'm really looking for is an EIA-specific training schedule.
That gap is what I hope this blog will be able to help fill. Obviously not for me as I'll be the one going through it, but hopefully for other people with EIA that are also admittedly a bit soft around the edges and whose lungs are more used to the walk from the couch to the kitchen than they are a jog. Hopefully, my trials and errors, my successes and setbacks, will make it even slightly easier for others to follow suit. Also, unless held accountable to someone or something (this is where you come in), I generally tend to be very lazy.
Tomorrow, we figure out what we're starting with.
And I don't even believe in new year's resolutions!
-J
PS: Seriously, if anyone knows of an EIA-specific training schedule, I'd super appreciate it. Not trying to be a hero, just trying to survive!
The problem: I have exercise-induced asthma. The last time I attempted a run on a treadmill, I ran for the span of one commercial break while watching the Real Housewives of Orange County (I'm not proud of this on any level). By the time the show came back on, I was cursing every time an ad would end just to be followed by another ad and breathing quite heavily with the wheezing that's a far-too-common sound to people with EIA. I ran for tops 5 minutes. And it wasn't a real run, it was only 5.3mph. I ended up walking until the next commercial break and then trading in the treadmill for some kettlebells.
So here I am: a young woman with EIA who is about to start training for the Redding Road Race half marathon. The event countdown clock on the website says I have 127 days, 8 hours, and about 15 minutes until the race. All I can think is holy sh*tballs, how am I going to do this?
Another problem: most of the websites about running with asthma have the same generic tips over and over again. "Don't run when there's high pollen count." "Wear a face mask when running in cold weather." "Don't smoke." Well those are all fine and dandy, but what I'm really looking for is an EIA-specific training schedule.
That gap is what I hope this blog will be able to help fill. Obviously not for me as I'll be the one going through it, but hopefully for other people with EIA that are also admittedly a bit soft around the edges and whose lungs are more used to the walk from the couch to the kitchen than they are a jog. Hopefully, my trials and errors, my successes and setbacks, will make it even slightly easier for others to follow suit. Also, unless held accountable to someone or something (this is where you come in), I generally tend to be very lazy.
Tomorrow, we figure out what we're starting with.
And I don't even believe in new year's resolutions!
-J
PS: Seriously, if anyone knows of an EIA-specific training schedule, I'd super appreciate it. Not trying to be a hero, just trying to survive!
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