It's all so recursive...

[sinanju]

Responding to a posting of mine aikon posted http://www.livejournal.com/users/aikon/124466.html.

I'll still on track to move from Couch Potato to running 5K by the end of the program. This is week six (nine weeks total). I'm still running, and now that I'm not trying to stretch out before I run, I'm not having calf pains. I've reached the stage now where instead of running the same intervals three days a week, each day I'm running longer at one time, so that on the third day once I've done the initial 5 minute warm up walk I just run. It felt like quite a stretch to go from two 8 minute runs separated by a five minute walk on the second day to a 20 minute run on the third day, even though it's really only four more minutes.

And technically, I suppose, I failed. I had to take a couple of 30-second breathers during the run, slowing to a walk for half a minute before forcing myself to continue. No doubt if I were in the military a drill instructor would have been in my face telling what a pansy ass I am. But I'm not. So I'm gonna call it good and start the sixth week routine after work tonight.

Yes, I run at the end of the day rather than in the morning, though I have gone running after getting up on Saturday a couple of times. Of course, that was after I got up at 11 a.m. But get up early to go running? Surely you jest!

Comments

[aquamarcia.livejournal.com]

Congrats on making further progress! With respect to the technical failure, you're certainly correct not to worry over it. Taking a breather or two if you need is a damn sight better than overexerting and risking a health problem.

As for the drill instructor angle...

When my Dad was in basic training during the earliest portion of his Army/Air National Guard career he and his platoon were instructed to run 5 miles a day. The kicker? They had to do it breathing only through their noses. Now I suppose that aside from whatever macho vibe running with your mouth closed is supposed to produce there would also come along the idea that if you can run 5 miles with your mouth closed you're somehow more fit than if you did the same distance breathing thorugh your mouth. The trick is, this isn't true. It's in fact harmful not to take in more air by breathing through your mouth because taking in too little air means you never overcome oxygen deficit and start burning fat for fuel while exercising. All you end up doing is eradicating your glycogen reserves and putting yourself in that much more lactic acid-derived pain.

Therefore I say poop on drill instructors. ;~)

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

"All you end up doing is eradicating your glycogen reserves and putting yourself in that much more lactic acid-derived pain."

Maybe that was the point. They were just adding that extra little dollop of agony....