Category Archives: Run

This is my first marathon and this is my run log.

Day 114. Hamstring Problem.

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Hamstring Problem

hamstring marathon training plan

Improvised Massager

My right hamstring started acting up last night. Just cool to say that … makes me feel like a pro athlete. “So, Lebron. What happened out there in the second half? Seemed like you were hobbling a little up and down the court.” “I won’t use it as an excuse, but my hamstring started acting up.” Oh, there I go again. Dreaming about the spotlight.

This was an unscheduled run. RunKeeper has me on a tight schedule. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Don’t get me wrong. I would love an off-day right about now, but I also know my body pretty well. (Don’t get silly with that statement). I tried to massage out the tightness last night (again, take your mind out the gutter) and throughout today, but it wasn’t permanent relief. It could be that I was using an Herbalife Personalized Protein Canister as a massager, but at least MacGyver would be proud. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

The last time I had this same feeling, I did a light cardio session and a post-cardio stretch. Let’s try that again.

3 Easy Steps to Relieve Hamstring Tightness

STEP 1: Deep massage throughout the day. Be mindful of any progress.

STEP 2: If no progress after 8 hours, deep massage and go for a 15-20 minute hill run with an easy pace. I stress the word “easy.” No need to push. Your only goal is to move and loosen.

STEP 3: Deep massage.

Disclaimer. I’m not a doctor. I didn’t even Google this. I just know it works for me. Keep the easy pace and don’t push it. Just get moving and get that hammy warmed-up and get ready to answer those burning media questions on the sideline when you’re back to 100%!

Did It Work

Followed the steps to a T and yes, it did. Ready to roll for tomorrow’s 6-miler and I won’t worry another second about hindering my marathon training plan. Depending on the original severity of the tightness, you still may feel something, but in my case, I feel much looser and free to return to training.

hamstring marathon training plan

RunKeeper 10-01-2013

Tuesday, 10-01-2013

Day 112. Shabot. A Day of Rest.

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Rest Day

RunKeeper gave me time off for good behavior. The App did provide a rest day tip regarding pushups. Something about giving you strength to maintain posture for those looooonnnnng runs. And that’s how they put it, looooonnnnng. It’s a good thing I like to skim when I read because I’ll just ignore this for now.

Weeks run training summary:

  • 09-22-2013 — 8.04 miles. Average pace of 8:15 minutes/mile. Training 8 mile steady.
  • 09-25-2013 — 6.32 miles. Average pace of 8:43 minutes/mile. Training 2×2 mile fast.
  • 09-27-2013 — 4.00 miles. Average pace of 8:20 minutes/mile. Training 4 mile easy run.
  • 09-28-2013 — 14.01 miles. Average pace of 9:21 minutes/mile. Training 14 mile long run steady.

Total miles for the week — 32.37. I’ll be needing a new pair of running shoes sooner rather than later. Any suggestions?

Looking forward to another week. Finished 28 of 64 training sessions and I’m ahead of schedule in regards to the recommended pace. Marathon or Bust is looking more and more like Marathon Now! Sunday, 09-29-2013

Day 111. 14 Miles

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It’s 8:30ish. Birds Chirping. Sun beginning to fully greet. A beautiful day for a run. What? Runkeeper says 14-miles?

Record scratch. Sun looking really hot. Is that a heavy wind coming through town?

Two mindsets, but I’m glad I can only listen to one and I’m glad it was my first power thoughts.

Saturday’s are the payoff for my Monday (recovery from Sunday’s race day), Wednesday (6.32 miles), and Friday (4 miles) efforts.

How I felt during the run?

Was excited coming into this run. This being my 28th training session and the distances are now increasing. Feeling a bit hyped up. Sure, that first step is with a little hesitation because I know once I go, I go. There’s no stopping and that first step is the first of probably 28,000 steps. Just guessing, but I wanted to throw out a large number that just sounds so ridiculous. Makes 14 miles sound better than saying, “Hey, do you want to walk/run 28,000 steps with me this morning?”

During the run, I ate my Clif Shots at mile 3 and mile 10. I’ve learned to never let my body need anything — be proactive in its nutrition. I learned the hard way that once you lack, it’s hard to get it back. Take that Johnny Cochran!

Plus, I was strapped with my handy-dandy Batman utility belt. But instead of all those cool gadgets, i just had 2 8 ounce water bottles filled with my magic hydration and endurance potion of Herbalife24 Prolong, Prepare, and Niteworks. I mix it separately and pour it into the bottles so it does mix. And I’ll tell you, once that automated female voice said, “Workout completed” I couldn’t wait to down that last ounce of liquid.

Attribute my strong feeling towards my morning meal and I had a good night’s rest. My first mile was 9:25. My fourth mile was 9:32. Mile 9 was 10:08, but then I brought it home with a final mile of 9:07. All averaging out to 9:21 per mile average. Not quite Olympics-worthy, but if I could, I would jump for joy.

How I felt after the run?

It felt like I ran 28,000 steps. What kind of question is that? My feet were a bit sore and my shoulders felt like I did 28,000 shrugs. All manageable and expected. What I wasn’t expecting was the overall lethargy. Just felt blah. I could imagine it’s how diabetics feel when their blood sugar drops significantly.

Not hungry at all — just took a couple bites of a banana and just moved around the leftover pasta. I did refuel with Herbalife24 Hydrate and Niteworks, but I may have drank too much. Felt like I was a walking blender with wet ingredients sloshing about.

Note to self – Thirsty is one thing, but trying to quench it all at once isn’t a good idea. Made me feel nauseous.

My Route

Guessing 8 miles on the city streets and 6 miles on trails. I find once I get to trails, I get a little bounce in my step. I think it’s the fact I need to concentrate on each step so I don’t roll an ankle.

14 mile run262

14 Mile Long Run

Saturday, 09-28-2013

Day 110. 4-Mile Easy Run

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Easy Run

Training session 27 of 64 — 4 mile easy run. At this stage of the game, I can actually say it is an “easy” run. Day 1 of 64, probably a different story, but goes to show you, keep at it (whatever your it is) and it will get easier.

Today’s run was easy-breezy. Didn’t push myself and cruised at a 8:20 per minute mile. Had much more in the tank after the run and pushed in some overpass/ramp runs to get more bang for my running buck.

It’s getting colder so I’ve got decisions to make — (1) wear the long sleeves like today or (2) run later in the morning when I can actually see a shadow. It’s been really dark out.

What would you do?

ustronger herbalife nutrition

RunKeeper 4 mile easy run

Friday, 09-27-2013

Day 109. A Day Without Cardio

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A Day Without Cardio

run262 marathon

Light Weights 09-26-2013

A so-called off day is a day without cardio. After Tuesday’s T25 premiere performance, my calves were on fire. A good thing. From the calves down, it looked like Arnold in his heyday. T25 definitely works the total body, starting at the calves!

Wednesday’s 6.32 mile run at an average pace of 8:43/minute was a welcome cool down from T25’s nastiness. I’ll certainly be returning to further days with Shaun T and the gang, but for now, I need a pair of house shoes. What are house shoes? The brand doesn’t matter, it’s just shoes for the house, thus house shoes. These shoes will never touch the outside — it’s like having a declawed cat. Only stays indoors.

Today was a welcomed “off-day” — a day with no cardio. 2 supersets of biceps immediately chased by 3 supersets of shoulders was like a walk in the park compared to my recent activities. Thankfully, I am getting stronger and starting to build the strength lost from the months of recovering from my Tough Mudder injury. This is a big, big deal to be able to even do a shoulder press and like the name, I’ll continue to press on, combining strength training with cardio blasts!

Thursday, 09-26-2013