Okay, fair warning: I am going to very candid here--this post may not be for the squeamish, or those easily embarassed or grossed out by talk of bodily functions.
Ah, the Digestive System. Nature's janitorial system. Without it--well, we simply would not be able to survive.
My daily eating habits are healthy--I prescribe to a predominantly vegetarian diet--the exception being the occasional bit of fish. I love fresh fruit and veggies. In fact, I sometimes think I may overdo it in this department--you can imagine the impact on my digestive tract. It's a wonder Cory can stand being around me sometimes! :-)
Now, the above mentioned "problem" is one I am willing to live with (and hopefully Cory can manage, too). That's all fine and dandy--but throw running into the mix, and it becomes an entirely different problem. A fairly uncomfortable one at that. The first 5 - 10 minutes are generally okay. But soon the rumblings begin. Next, a beautiful flatulent symphony. Then it becomes--"where's the nearest bathroom?".
I don't want to adjust my diet. Now, I realize this might be the only solution, but I feel justified in being stubborn about this subject. It took me a good amount of time to get where I am now with my eating habits. Perhaps cutting back a bit on the fruits and veggies might help some. Perhaps my system is a bit more sensitive than others. Maybe I just need to suck it up and deal with it--but as my runs begin to increase in length I begin to worry about how often I'm going to have to make a run to the bathroom. It stinks (no pun intended) when I'm half way through a run, feeling strong, and I am forced to make a stop!
Several sources I've been reading say to experiment with your diet during your training to adjust for these sorts of problems--so I will begin to do so. I've been recording my diet in detail along with my training runs, though I have avoided making any adjustments to what I'm eating, or how long I wait after I eat to run, etc. It's time to start making some changes! Hopefully you can contain your excitement as you wait to hear how things progress!
I will be posting my training schedule very soon! I just need Cory's help to get everything to link properly. I'm afraid my computer skills seem more and more limited as things become more complicated. I feel old.
Saturday I ran 4 miles on the track, and walked 1/2 mile to cool down--then 10 minutes of stretching. The run took me 38 minutes, though I'm less concerned about time now that I'm training for endurance rather than a fast time. The goal really for the marathon is simply to finish. Although I only ran for 38 minutes, it seemed much longer. I was bored--even with my headphones. The track pretty much was empty which is unusual for a Saturday. The only other people there were a grandmother with her grandson. He came up and ran along side me a couple of times when I passed them--speaking in his 3 year old "babble" to me--it sounded very important.
Sunday was my "long" run. 5 miles. Had to do it on the treadmill since I couldn't get it in during daylight hours. I don't like running alone in the dark--though Alki is a good spot to run at night--I feel like I need to get to the gym at least once a week to make my membership worthwhile. I felt great on this run--very strong, and finished feeling I could run the same distance again. I think the treadmill is good for pace consistency, but you lose out on the natural terrain.
Monday was a rest day--was home sick--felt nauseous in the morning. I actually did end up doing about a 3 mile leisurely stroll. The crisp fall air felt good.
This week is full of 4-mile runs every other day (Tues/ Thurs/ Sat), one of them being a hill workout. No soccer this wednesday (Halloween)--it's a cross training day.
Next week is a taper week. The training alternates between about 3 weeks of mileage buildup, and then 1 week of tapering to give your legs a chance to recooperate. The week will be filled with easy 3-milers. This will give me a chance to get a little weight training in, too.
Back to work I must go!
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