Day 309, 56 To Go

November 5, 2013

I am assuming all the party prep, lack of sleep, carrying heavy stuff, running around like a chicken without a head and an overall lack of flexibility and strength training is what is leading to my body feeling like I got run over.  I have come to the conclusion that I need to get more flexible. 

I should first say that, compared to most, I am pretty damn limber.  I can bend over and touch my palms to the ground without much effort (with my legs straight, of course).  However, I have some areas that continue to cause me grief like my hips and hip flexors and my calves and lower back.  I had a friend who I used to run with in Hawaii, Alan, who loved to run but hated to stretch.  As he got older, you could see it in the way he ran.  You could see that he was uncomfortable and it was because of his lack of flexibility.  Sure, he would loosen up a little as we ran, but I could see it going downhill.  I see myself going down that road now and I need to stop it in its tracks.

I am planning on adding strength training and flexibility training to my new year goals.  Yoga will take care of both of these things, but so will stretching and lifting weights.  Hell, if I just got down on the floor, did some push ups and some pull ups and core training and some stretching a couple of times a week, I'd be golden.  Just typing that made me feel lazy.  I want to lie down and watch an all night Walking Dead marathon, or perhaps Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Why those shows?  Because I like them, that's why!

Anyway, I have been doing dynamic stretches before I run and that seems to be helping a bit during my runs, but it is not enough.  Take a look at my numbers today:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.35 miles

Pace: 8:58/m

Max Pace: 7:27/m

Calories: 345

Avg HR: 133

Max HR: 149

I have been pushing the last couple of minutes, even on my easy runs, just so my body doesn't forget what it is like to run fast.  Can't say that is helping my aching joints, but it certainly feels good.

Tomorrow, I am going to start on a new list.  This will be similar to the last list where we explored runs that every American should do.  These are similar, but all different places.  One is more beautiful than the next!  What do you think the chances I can get Honey to go on vacation to some of these places so we can run?

If you guessed less than 0%, you'd be right.  I guess that is what duct tape and chloroform are for...

Run for Life!!