Running update. August 31st is the unofficial end of summer. My wife and my grandsons come back to school. No more beach and now I have to plan my next running program.
This month I have plenty of time to organize the mornings without being in hurry to enjoy the company of my grandsons and to go to the beach. However heat and humidity are always here!
Summer was bad and complicated for my running, but I don't want to bore you with the list of my troubles.
However I want to share with you some reflections (= lesson learned):
I am not a wise runner, I forget my age and my injures, usually I don't listen to my body and often I run when I should stop myself taking a break. This summer I have run even if I felt weak and the weather was hot: so I had to delete the scheduled races and I could do few short workouts at a slow pace. I began to swim but I pushed too much, I stretched the muscle of my right arm, now it hurts and I cannot swim anymore for a couple of months....... but I can run and the last 2 workouts went very well, I ran faster and for more than 10 km on a hilly route. I am improving ......
Learned the lessons, I promise to myself:
1. To listen always to my body;
2. Cross training must not be a system to improve my performances but the solution to relax my body and to recover after the running workouts;
3. The running routine has to be one workout every other day;
4. Every 3 days in a row 1 day off (running-cross training-running-rest);
5. No more than 2 races per month;
6. Always healthy food with many fruits and vegetables.
Fruits. Along one of my running paths I can see again raspberries, persimmons and prickly pears
Critters. My cat, the king of the garden and the owner of the house, realized that another cat, every night, comes to sleep in our garage where we also stock our old furnishings. He got angry and did an ambush to the invader. Here you can see him hidden before the bloody attack!
Sunset. and now the sunset on the sea:
Those berries look great. The cat doesn't like invaders, it needs to keep you and the family safe. :) Glad you can organize your days of exercise, it will be beneficial for you in the long run.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good and healthy September.
Those berries are very sweet, my wife uses them for the jam.
DeleteWe are grateful to our guardian cat.
Have a good September you too.
I'm with you...I always forget my age. I think it's best to listen to your body instead. Mine isn't acting its age, so it's all working out well for me.
ReplyDeleteGlad that the things go well and you can run as you like.
DeleteNow I listen to my body: lesson learned!
Glad you have your cat to keep you safe!
ReplyDeleteI am having to listen to my body very hard, as I'm on some medication which is affecting my blood pressure and heart rate: the doctor is fine with me continuing running as long as I pay attention to my heart rate. She also thinks I will adapt in time, which is promising, and it does seem to be balancing out. No races for me for a good long while, although I find out in October if I have got into the London Marathon ...
Hope you have a good autumn with plenty of healthy eating and strong running.
That cat is very kind!
DeleteI hope you get well soon. I am glad that you can run even if you have to pay attention.
Cannot wait to read that you have signed up for a race!
Have a good september.
Sounds like a very good training plan! I like the cross-train/run/rest idea. Listening to your body is always wise.
ReplyDeleteI have learned the lesson too late.
DeleteMy husband has a similar "go big or go home" attitude towards sports and exercise - and it has also landed him in trouble (with injuries, torn muscles and even a cracked rib!) from time to time. But, like you, he's also learned from it and is now paying more attention to listening to his body, etc. I know it will pay off for both of you!
ReplyDeleteI have to change my mind, running has to be only a pleasure and no more a way to be competitive. About the cracked rib: when I was 40 I decided to come back to play rugby. 1st game and a cracked rib: end of the experience.
DeleteThose are all great lessons! It IS hard to remember sometimes, when you want so much to do something.
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying Fall-like weather. Sad to see summer go, but it does make for great running weather & I can get stuff done in the mornings before I run, since I'm a morning person.
Current weather is the best!
DeleteI love those fruits. Beautiful picture of the cat!
ReplyDeleteTwo races per month is an ambitious goal.
Ci provo ma tanto, come al solito, non ci riesco!
DeleteHello, the berries do look good. Love the sweet kitty. Listening to your body is important, the training is necessary for those long distance marathons. Happy Monday, wishing you a great day and happy new week!
ReplyDeleteThese are the last berries. The weather is changing.
Deletebeautiful berries, they are such a treat to have fresh in the summertime!!
ReplyDeleteThey are perfect for a jam.
DeleteGreat lessons, and wonderful promises to yourself ;-) I am a huge advocate for listening to one's body, and checking the ego at the door LOL Those berries...YUMMMMMM
ReplyDeleteIn summer the country around the city is full of berries.
DeleteYou learned valuable lessons this summer. Getting older is so frustrating. It's hard to give the body the rest it needs sometimes. I had raspberries on the trail back in June but now they are long gone. SO did the king of the house evict the intruder? :D
ReplyDeleteOf course the intruder was evicted! He didn't have any chance against the king of the garden and the owner of the house!
DeleteI still consider myself a runner even though I haven't for a good year or so. It hurts now and that makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteWell done on your commitment to listening to what your body tells you.
I hope you can come back to run very soon.
DeleteAnd you are right you are and you will always be a runner.
I wonder how many people don't listen to what their body is telling them?
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, it is a hard lesson to learn.
DeleteOh my, I can use all of your wisdom from your lessons learned! While I don't have any injuries (thankfully), I don't take the time to strength and cross-train like I should.
ReplyDelete