Catching up

I had a good run around the Back Cove plus on Wednesday morning. For the majority of the run we (Scott and I) ran at 8:00/mile pace. At my current fitness level I find this pace challenging. It's amazing how quickly fitness goes and how hard it is to get it back, at least at my age. Another thing that happens at my age is that kids grow up and leave the nest. Like my baby Sam. Oh yeah, I got my camera back! My Blog will be slightly less boring now.

I had a couple of decent rows this week also: 7.25K in 30 minutes and 5K in 21:00. I'm off for a 1 hour row this morning. My weekend goal is a 1 hour run. Once I can run (and row) for an hour and beyond my weight will start to drop. I just wish I had appropriate fuel, like the bowl of ramen in the photo above or below or to the side (I'm never sure where these things land once I push attach--I'll get better at that, too).

Winter beckons...

.....and so does the treadmill. 5 miles today:

9:20 at 151 Ave HR (my tachycardia skewing the average)
9:12 113
8:31 126
7:57 136
8:38 133

Still adjusting to the treadmill. I'm determined to continue running through the winter so I'll get used to it, and run further (and faster as fitness improves).

Back on the rower in the morning.

Comeback Road

Starts here: the Causeway to Mackworth Island (this photo actually captures the causeway from the island, looking towards the Mainland). And no, it hasn't started snowing yet. But it was a fairly brisk 38 degrees F when we struck off from Scott's house. We ran to/from the island and around the island 3 times. The to/from bit is 1.5 miles and each lap is also 1.5. This was my best run in awhile. 6 miles (9.65K) in 51:18. The run breaks down as follows:

To the island 7:18 at 112 bpm

Laps = 13:35, 107; 12:10, 126; 12:02, 132; and back to Scott's in 6:12, 132. I was tuckered out, in a nice way, at the end, with none of the hip, hamstring, or other leg stuff that has been a fixture to my runs of late. I'll add a lap next week.

An Ongoing Struggle

The hip flared up after about 30 minutes of running today. I shuffled on for a bit before packing it in and walking back to the start. I'd hoped to run for 40 minutes, I ran for 34:45. I'll try again on Saturday.

My row was good yesterday, 10.513K in 45:00. The music helps. I have the new Steve Earle CD, Washington Square Serenade, loaded into my iPod. A folksy, bluesy Steve Earle that is quite enjoyable.

Tomorrow is a round trip commute to work--10 miles of walking. Then back on the rower on Friday.

The Long Road Back

I had a pretty good weekend, fitness-wise, but was reminded this morning of how much more work I need to do to get to a fitness level that I'm satisfied with (and, as Steve Earle says, "I ain't ever satisfied").

On Saturday, I ran at a gentle pace for 45 minutes, a recent duration PB. I walked 5K later in the day, and walked 12-13K yesterday. This morning I hopped on the treadmill and logged 4 pedestrian miles:

9:53 HR 130
8:49 113
8:34 124
8:27 129

Then my left hip started hurting so I walked for a bit and shuffled, then jogged the final 9 minutes to get in my daily 45. I've had the hip thing before and it seems treadmill related.

I need to break the pattern of yo-yo fitnessing and develop a lifelong plan. The rowing machine helps in this. It's back on the rower for my daily 45 tomorrow.

Slowly but surely...

....I'm clawing my way back to fitness.

45 minutes on the machine this morning helps.

A Good Start to the Week

I ran for 30 minutes on Monday, rowed for 45 minutes yesterday, and ran for 35 minutes today. I am injury-free (knock on wood). I'll walk to work tomorrow (8K or so) and then hit the rower again on Friday. Saturday, it'll be a 4 Mackworth lap attempt.

I've really lost fitness (as evidence, my HR was rising towards AT zone this morning at the end of my run, despite my pedestrian pace). But that'll be back--I just need consistency, consistency, consistency.