Tea Gets Fit, Week I Don’t Even Know
Aug. 26th, 2010 11:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
teaberryblueSo I totally fell off the fitness bus when I moved, although I bought a pair of wrist weights and have been wearing them pretty regularly.
Then last week, ![[info]](https://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
beatonna asked for folks who would join her in a Run For Congo Women. It’s a 5k run to raise money for women in the Congo.
I know, I know, I already posted about this, but for those of you who missed it or may have just been breezing by at the time, we would be mighty happy if anyone could give our team a donation at our team donation page right there.
Anyway, it’s a 5k race. And as most of you know, I am miserably out of shape. So, when I heard about the race, I started running.
I didn’t own sneakers or any running gear, so starting the first night, I did the running exercise on the Wii Fit, which I don’t even know if that counts as real running, but I figured it was something. I started with the “long” jog on the distance run and then worked up to the 20 minute jog on the timed run. I decided that one mile on Wii Fit is probably equivalent to about one kilometer of real running. I decided that each week, I’d increase by 1K. I have until September 25, so I think this is a doable timeframe to get ready in.
On Monday, I went out and bought myself my first pair of running sneakers. They were bright pink. And then I bought running socks! But I didn’t have any appropriate running clothes, and I wasn’t sure what to do about that. Then, yesterday, I was taking a walk to where Rina told me there was a Michael’s craft store, and, lo and behold, I saw it like a beacon in a storm: a big Sports Authority sign. So I trekked over to the Sports Authority, and when I got there, they were having a MASSIVE TENT SALE in the parking lot. Hooray! Unfortunately, the tent was not for sale.
I went into the mysterious tent, and when I emerged, I had bought two sets of running clothes and it had all cost me under $50. It was like a message from the universe, telling me that I should run! I was very excited! So I was telling Brendan about it at work today and he told me where there is a public track a few blocks from my apartment. So! I went to the track today.
It was a little weird, running in front of people, but I think it was a good experience, because it wasn’t as uncomfortable as I expected once I just sucked it up and did it. It is a big park with a lot of activities in it, and so there were a lot of people of all ages, and kids using the track to ride their bikes or skate as well as joggers. In fact, for most of the time, I was the only person really jogging.
I did five laps, or 1.25 miles, which is just a touch over 2k, and then I walked a bit to cool down. It was definitely hard work, but I also felt at the end like I could have done more. And unlike high school, I wasn’t winded after one lap of running, which tells me that the exercising I’ve done all summer helped a lot. So I felt like it was doable. Next week, I’ll try to work up to 3k, which is a little under 2 miles.
I’m still not sure about some things. Like, where do people put their keys when they’re running? I carried a little purse but it wasn’t the most practical.
All in all, though, this is a very exciting development for me!
Mirrored from Antagonia.net.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 03:55 am (UTC)I miraculously and accidentally only own pants/shorts that have hidden pockets on the inside that are perfect for a single key. It's kind of a pain to take it on and off of a keychain if that's where you usually keep it, but loads better than getting locked out or being weighted down by extra crap. Try looking for running gear that has things like that? (I also put things down my shirt.)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 03:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:02 am (UTC)And yay... running! :D
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:09 am (UTC)I actually have a very large key chain, but I can take 'em off if I need to.
Hahaha, I am running like a quarter of what you ran.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 07:05 am (UTC)Also, I've shoved a flat key into the pocket of my iPod holder before in a pinch - depends if you have one of those sporty numbers that's stretchy/ample enough to wedge anything other than just the iPod into that space?
Oh and dude, considering I couldn't run for ten minutes continuously on a treadmill in the summer of 2006/07, and I used to have PTIs that ran ultramarathons (100km+) competitively, there's just no point comparing distances. I ran the City To Surf in Sydney a couple of years ago, and got beaten by someone dressed up as a donkey!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:41 pm (UTC)And I wasn't saying it from a competitive pov. Nothing I ever say is competitive; I don't believe in competition!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-08-27 01:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:22 am (UTC)Not sure what to do about keys though - I have one set up capris and they have just enough pocket space for a car key, so I leave the rest of my gear in the trunk and lock it there.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:43 pm (UTC)Thank you! I got one other running skirt and a pair of shorts, and two little windbreakers.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:26 am (UTC)Running outdoors, I wear a T-back that has a zippered pocket at the small of the back-- as others have mentioned, sport clothes with zippered pockets are super for keys!
General running advice, most of which you probably already know:
-Run striking heel-to-the-ground first; running on your toes will (!) give you shin splints
-Buy a new pair of inserts and throw away the ones that came with your shoes; most of the time they're just junk
-Moving Comfort makes fantastic sports bras for the larger-bust woman; they're on the expensive side but totally worth it if you end up running a lot
-This is more my personal opinion than anything-- but train to run a longer race than the one you'll actually be running. You never know what the weather conditions, etc. will be like on your race day, and if your endurance capabilities equal and exceed whatever the race requires, you'll be more than ready to handle things like an unexpected heat wave.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 05:22 am (UTC)I ask because it was my understanding that heel striking is actually more correlated with shin splints. I've been running "barefoot" in Vibram Fivefingers for over a year now, which shifts your stride to what it would be if you were actually running with bare feet, so landing on the pad of your foot instead of your heel. (And not on your toes either.) I haven't had shin splints, but that obviously depends on the person and not necessarily the stride alone! I have a friend who gets them chronically. I also thought you were more likely to get shin splints if you increase mileage too quickly, so you haven't properly strengthened the muscles in your leg.
Anyway, I find shin splints a fascinating topic, clearly. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 07:11 am (UTC)I think the only time I've ever got pain in my shins in the past has been from trying to powerwalk! I've never run further than about 10km in my VFFs, and I've had them for about a year or so as well. After getting used to running more lightly with them, I haven't experienced any specific pain from the way that my running style has adapted to barefooting.
I used to sometimes get pains in my ankles, knees, and ITB from regular running shoes, but even now if I'm not wearing VFFs I'm in Nike Frees, so I'm used to having light feet. I recently ran a half-marathon with very little lead-up training (it's been about two years since I last attempted one), and recovered well afterwards... I attribute it to having altered my running style.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 02:28 pm (UTC)I took a quick look at some of the running books I own, and they say similar things. I also see from a quick Google that there's a healthy debate about which area of the foot is best to strike first on-- so my advice about heel-striking first is probably better classified as personal opinion! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:46 pm (UTC)The inserts thing I will do!
I think I will wait on sports bras till I see if I do this past the racing. But yay!
I've gotten advice both ways, people who are like "oh, only train to do 3k and you'll be fine," and people who are telling me to do longer. My goal is to have run at least a few 5k runs before the actual run, but if I can do 6k a couple times, I will!
Thank you!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:54 am (UTC)and just hold the keys in my hands too if they bounce too much.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:54 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 03:23 pm (UTC)http://www.google.com/products?q=IPOD+athletic+band&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=49d3TNGbBZTUtQPqpr2tBQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CDkQrQQwAg
i wish i had an iphone because then it could just fit in one of those. i just hold my phone if i bring it though. and i put the elastic coil thing around my hand and it holds the phone in place.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 05:13 am (UTC)especially to an eight year old ._.;
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 05:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 06:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 05:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-08-27 01:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 01:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 04:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 06:31 pm (UTC)from when I ran with my old school ipod. It's big enough for my phone and an ID and some cash, and it means I don't have to carry anything or have a fanny pack bouncing. They used to be everywhere, now it may be harder to find.
Also, congrats on the running! It sounds like you're off to a good start.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 10:49 pm (UTC)I see lots of runners with fanny packs, though.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-27 11:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-28 01:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-29 12:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-29 12:06 am (UTC)Keys etc.
Date: 2010-08-29 06:03 am (UTC)Is that how you do it in the big city? We don't dress up that fancy except for church. Of course some people are wearing sweats in church now, for that mad rush to the door, not when the service is over, when the collection plate appears.
But hooray for you. As for keys, maybe you can't do this in New York but I run in cutoff retired blue jeans and old T-shirts with the arms cut off. The Ts get holes in them from being washed all the time, but that improves ventilation. It can get hot in the desert if there's no breeze.
But blue jean front pockets are nice for keys. They are especially designed so nothing falls out, even if you run over the side of a canyon. Even if you remove your jeans, for whatever reason, and they fall down a canyon, you can go down there and your keys are still in the pocket. You know that little watch pocket some blue jeans have in the right front pocket? My point exactly.
I actually wrap a wash cloth around my keys and put that in my pocket. I'm afraid they'll poke through the pocket and fall on the ground somewhere, but I have a lot of keys. But this way, they don't poke me, either.
Oh, and my stainless steel water bottle even fits in the back pocket, so while I'm running I can whip it out and take a gulp of water to keep hydrated.
Frank
Albuquerque
(no subject)
Date: 2010-08-29 09:45 pm (UTC)Good luck to you!