Random mud run fact of the day: To be in top shape for a mud run, it's helpful to be able to run four times a week. This website suggests working up to seven miles per session. As far as strength, it's important to be able to do 20 pushups back to back. ~ http://www.mudrunhq.com/train-mud-run
Looks like I have some work to do. My first issue, and perhaps the most alarming one, is that I am not a runner. Thoughts of running bring me right back to the torture of high school PE and being forced to run around the endless track. Asthma attacks. Panic attacks. And of course, walking most of the mile and pissing off my PE teacher.
And here I am training for a 5K. Of course, it isn't your typical 5K. There's a difference between running on cement and mud. Maybe since I can't run at all I have an advantage. Maybe not.
I had my first training experiment yesterday morning at my gym, the fantastic Livermore Valley Tennis Club. I'd heard about a running program called Couch to 5K that sounded perfect. I uploaded it to my Droid and started Day one. Couch to 5K basically builds your ability to run by timing you in intervals. Walking for a few minutes, then running, then back again. Each session the app increases the running time.
Day one had me moving for 25 minutes. It started with a five minute warm up of walking. Then I had to run nine intervals at 60 seconds each, with a two minute walking break between.
Yowza!
I did it. I circled the small indoor track at the gym with 'real' runners sprinting past and with other fitness buffs walking to cool down. I felt powerful and proud.
My body hates me today. Did you know running makes my neck sore? Not quite sure how that happened, but perhaps it's because more of my body is sore than not. Thighs, biceps, and calves have the most of it.
More on Couch to 5K: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
As far as the push ups go: I can do about eight push ups back to back. I have some work to do there!
Today, my training will involve a more leisurely walk for an hour while my third grader is at track practice afterschool.
I’ve “run” into the same problem with my neck. I think I’ve finally discovered the root of that problem…running makes me tense. It’s not one of my favorite exercise activities, so I don’t do it very often, and therefore I suck at it. Even with my iPod on, I tend to have these internal conversations with myself for the entire run. It’s a constant battle over whether it’s ok to let myself walk for a bit, whether or not my running posture is reminiscent of Phoebe’s (from Friends), and whether or not I’m ever going to be able to run a 5k in MUD with 299 other people. It finally hit me that if I just relax my shoulders (and more importantly, my mind) I don’t have a sore neck the next day. Then, it’s only the rest of my body that I have to worry about ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm also a little freaked I am a Phoebe runner out there. Ha! I forgot all about that episode :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, I'm glad I'm not alone in that. I guess that's why we're on the same mud run 'team'