4 miles - Wilson Bridge Trail

July 31, 2011, Sunday
7:30 am
4 miles - unofficial (was not wearing a watch)
50 minutes (give or take)

Did 4 miles this morning, which meant that we ran on the bridge. It was long and hard. There was a breeze on the bridge, but although it felt nice, it was probably making it a bit harder with the resistance. I had to stop once to fix my shoe - my foot was going numb and started to hurt around my toes, so I loosened the laces quite a bit. I also had to walk twice during the 4th mile at the really steep hill parts.

I was surprised that my time was not noticeably faster than the first time we did this mileage (on July 4th). But I guess my week off (yes, ANOTHER week) did not help!

One great thing is that this is the first run this year that I didn't experience ANY gastrointestinal issues (haha), so that must be some type of progress! I chugged a Metamucil cocktail before we left, so I'm thinking that may have helped.

Also, no knee issues this time, but I am feeling some oddness in my kneepit on my right leg. I stretched, but it still seems to be there. Never felt this before.

3 miles - WIlson Bridge Trail

July 24, 2011, Sunday
7:49 am (86˚ - felt like 93˚ according to weather.com)
3.01 miles (via Joel's watch)
35:26

- First mile: 9:43! (over half was downhill)
- 2nd mile: 11:30
- 3rd mile: 14:00 (over half was the steep uphill back to start)

We parked a little further down the hill this time. :)
Took the trail up until I hit 1.5 miles, then turned back around.
I kept pace with a guy who was run-walking (we'd keep passing each other - as I did not stop to walk). It was good to have someone to follow who was going at somewhat the same pace. Heat/humidity did not bother me too much -- it reminded me of our Georgia days (pre-kid) we used to run at the park in the summer after work. (sigh)

Also: Knees feel fine!

So I actually took 2 weeks off. I didn't really do any other form of exercise other than the pushups... my excuse this time was a freelance project I had to work on at nights. And this week I have another project to work on at nights...

Week off...

So I had an unintentional week off last week. I think it was mainly due to heat. Last Sunday morning - the day we try to run the Wilson Bridge Trail - that was totally our fault for missing our window (early enough so it's before Liam wakes up, but also right before my parents go to church). Oops.

I did mess around with some workout DVDs as well as a new Kinect game: Your Shape Fitness Evolved which I got for 50% off. It's pretty cool, and challenging for a video game. I like how they tell you to correct your form if you're doing something wrong.

Also, today I'm doing 10 push ups every hour, on the hour. This was something I picked up from the Fleet Feet Running Store/Savannah Running Club. Their store employees do 10 push ups every hour at work. So if I keep doing this until 5pm, I will have done 100 push ups in one day. Not bad! I've done this with squats, lunges, bicep curls... a good way to take a break from the computer as well as get some work out time in!

Today we are going to try to go to the park to run after Joel gets home. I'm just doing 2 miles - fartlek style again - maybe I can beat my last time. Ha...

3.1 miles - Wilson Bridge Trail

My new Brooks Adrenaline GTS (my 3rd pair of these)

July 10, 2011, Sunday
7:50 am (approx)
3.1 miles (via Joel's watch)
? didn't time it, but most likely between 37-43 minutes

This time we parked close to the top of the hill, meaning we had a difficult last mile. The turn-around point wasn't even on the bridge - 1.5 miles out was at the start of the bridge. It was humid and there were no clouds out. I could tell my pace was pretty slow. I didn't stretch well in the beginning, either. I did not have to walk at any time, even on the hard hill at the end, although I was probably going at a walker's pace! haha I wore my new running shoes! No digestive issues after this run, thank goodness, but I did notice a slight knee discomfort at the bottom of my left knee afterward.

At yesterday's free physical therapist consult, the doc said that my knee issues seem like tendinitis. She said that I should work on my leg/hip strengthening. Also to stretch out my calves and shins. She said my feet were flat and that I need a motion control shoe (which my old Brooks are), and possibly an insert to support my lack-of-an-arch. She suggested new shoes - I tried on 3 pairs: New Balance (nah), Brooks (the ones I ended up getting) and Saucony (VERY comfy, but seemed too roomy). I may try the Sauconys next. I can use these for a while and then decide to come back later and get the inserts, which I will probably do. She said that I should not rule out running!

I will see if she is on our insurance. But I might just try the other, closer physical therapist that I already found who is on our network.

2 miles - Fort Washington Park

July 7, 2011, Thursday
7:15 pm - hot and humid even at this time of day
2 miles
22:25 (10 minute first mile)

Stayed on the flat part (not the trail). I wore Joel's GPS watch. I intended this to be a speedwork session (1st quarter mile easy, 2nd quarter mile fast, 3rd quarter mile easy, and so on), but when I realized that my "fast" pace was barely under 11 minute miles, I laughed in disappointment. I still tried anyway - my "fasts" were still faster than my "easies" which were in the 12 minute pace. Man, I have a long way to go.

Knees are feeling OK the day after.

Free Injury Screening - Saturday

The Potomac River Running Club holds free injury drop-in screenings at various locations every Saturday from 12-2 in the afternoons. I decided to try this before calling to schedule an appointment with another Physical Therapist about my knees. I am going in at 1pm on Saturday, so we will see what the Doc there has to say.

My knees are still pain free for the most part. It's my shins that are still sore from the run on Monday!

4 miles - First Run on the Wilson Bridge Trail

July 4, 2011, Monday
7:30 am
4 miles - not officially measured, just based off Joel's GPS watch (that he wore, not me)
50 minutes

Started on the MD side by the National Harbor. Did not quite make it to VA, the MD part before the actual bridge was longer than expected (over a mile). The bridge section is long (and not shaded - thank goodness for clouds!) - I think the entire bridge is a mile itself! 2 miles out was around the drawbridge's tower. We turned around at that point and went back to complete 4 miles. I ran/jogged up until maybe beginning of mile 3. I had to walk due to some cramping. Ran-walked until back to start to complete 4 miles. There is a steep hill at the beginning that is difficult to climb up at the end!