My OES (Old English Sheepdog) has run less since I've been running more with this IronMan preparation. Though, maybe it's relative, he just doesn't get to go on all of them or the whole distance. His limit is about an hour and on hot days, lets face it he's a hairy guy so he gets hot sooner and loses interest.
He's near human in that he will pull to cross the street when he knows that we're passing a turn that takes us home sooner. No kidding. His weight is nearing mine and his determination at that point in the game is sometimes just barely less than mine so although I could win, I often give into him and get him home!
Oh the guilt over leaving him inside instead of getting to go with me. But working on pace and tempo and hill climbing is nearly impossible when you have to stop and collect samples every little while or another dog sends us into fits. He's a stop and smell the everything kind of guy.
Sunday I took him out. He's now suffering from heat stroke we think. ISU Vet hospital have seen him more than I have in the last three days, my post vacation bills are rising and I don't know if he does recover he'll be the same dog again. If platelets are supposed to be 300K and are at 8K, you'd suspect a little lack of energy right? He's lethargic and depressed. I expect next drug they prescribe to be Prosac.
So guilt over not taking him has backfired into guilt over taking him. Dog's life today isn't looking so good. I just came from a conference where humorous keynoter was talking about men and women and our differences in communication. Unconditional love was mentioned. Male speaker suggested the guys in the audience try it....lock your wife and your dog into the trunk for two weeks...see who's more glad to see you when you open it.
Is that true or what. Truman is hooked up to monitors, they're loving him as much as possible but he's not at home and he's likely wondering after 9 days at the Vet's kennel while we were on vacation if we're ever coming back?!?! But when we show up- slobbery kisses planted on our faces.
Nothing like that for a finish line. We're pulling for him in his race.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Eliminating Food Allergies
I touched on this a couple weeks ago but it bears mentioning again because its the one thing that can stop you in your tracks no matter how fit you are or aren't!
Thousands of runners and other athletes experience GI problems as they train and compete. Running seems to be the worst culprit and distance doesn't always play a part- nerves before competition can get the best of any distance of runner. For some runners, the first time they hit a long distance in a season, it can set off turmoil down there. Cramps, bloating, diarrhea, all common complaints.
Two books not targeting runners or athletes but very appropriate for shedding some light on problems, and for providing some flavorful healthy recipes that will fuel you for the distance follow:
Clean by Alejandro Junger, M.D. goes through reasons, symptoms and the how to go through eliminating potential allergens. You can go full out and do the real cleanse for the three weeks recommended or just step closer to it with the elimination diet that reduces or eliminates the potential problems in your GI track.
The Healthiest Meals on Earth by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. suggests meals to eat and why to eat them. Their balanced, whole food, no processed foods in sight and they combine nutrients in a way you don't have to think about it because he has already. Flavorful menus are at your fingertips and if you don't like his version, he suggests alternatives both to making the recipe easier (though they aren't too complicated or you wouldn't be getting it here) and making the meal work for you.
No matter how you train, if stomach problems are a high potential for you, race day could be spoiled. Too many other things are unpredictable- try to eliminate this one from being a problem for you in any way you can. Nerves, are another matter.
Thousands of runners and other athletes experience GI problems as they train and compete. Running seems to be the worst culprit and distance doesn't always play a part- nerves before competition can get the best of any distance of runner. For some runners, the first time they hit a long distance in a season, it can set off turmoil down there. Cramps, bloating, diarrhea, all common complaints.
Two books not targeting runners or athletes but very appropriate for shedding some light on problems, and for providing some flavorful healthy recipes that will fuel you for the distance follow:
Clean by Alejandro Junger, M.D. goes through reasons, symptoms and the how to go through eliminating potential allergens. You can go full out and do the real cleanse for the three weeks recommended or just step closer to it with the elimination diet that reduces or eliminates the potential problems in your GI track.
The Healthiest Meals on Earth by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. suggests meals to eat and why to eat them. Their balanced, whole food, no processed foods in sight and they combine nutrients in a way you don't have to think about it because he has already. Flavorful menus are at your fingertips and if you don't like his version, he suggests alternatives both to making the recipe easier (though they aren't too complicated or you wouldn't be getting it here) and making the meal work for you.
No matter how you train, if stomach problems are a high potential for you, race day could be spoiled. Too many other things are unpredictable- try to eliminate this one from being a problem for you in any way you can. Nerves, are another matter.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Attitude is everything
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by alterning their attitudes of mind." - William James
This was a favorite quote of Dustin Maher, a trainer featured in PFP (www.FIT-PRO.COM) June-July issue. How ironic I read it just Thursday and had the longest brick of my life today. Call it coming off vacation rested and pampered by a massage, or the cloudy overcast coolness that kept humidity bearable if you want to but I think it's much more about making up your mind about what's possible it the first place.
It was a 4 1/2 hour ride followed by a 40 minute run. Given that I didn't pull my seat out of the office chair to get on the bike until 8:23am that meant I'd be running in midday heat. If the heat indexes had kept their track record of past few days I'd have been hurting. I solved that problem by reminding myself I could run the 40 minutes on the treadmill if I needed to (and did)!
I wasn't mentally fatigued at 2:30 when I realized I was only half way done with my workout and barely over halfway with the bike. I wasn't even mentally fatigued when I got off the bike and transitioned to run. I just knew I was going to do it because I had my mind made up.
Set your mind to it and whatever it is becomes doable because you expect to do it.
Working in personal training for so long- it's funny that clients continually will thank their trainer for helping them with what they asked for help achieving- and be amazed! It's as if its a surprise and they didn't really expect it. Yet- the key is- the trainer did. At least 50% of the equation believed it enough for both of them!
Find someone who believes for you when you aren't so sure yourself. In the end it is you out there getting yourself from A to B so it would be nice if you eventually "got it" but if it isn't there to begin with- you can get support!
This was a favorite quote of Dustin Maher, a trainer featured in PFP (www.FIT-PRO.COM) June-July issue. How ironic I read it just Thursday and had the longest brick of my life today. Call it coming off vacation rested and pampered by a massage, or the cloudy overcast coolness that kept humidity bearable if you want to but I think it's much more about making up your mind about what's possible it the first place.
It was a 4 1/2 hour ride followed by a 40 minute run. Given that I didn't pull my seat out of the office chair to get on the bike until 8:23am that meant I'd be running in midday heat. If the heat indexes had kept their track record of past few days I'd have been hurting. I solved that problem by reminding myself I could run the 40 minutes on the treadmill if I needed to (and did)!
I wasn't mentally fatigued at 2:30 when I realized I was only half way done with my workout and barely over halfway with the bike. I wasn't even mentally fatigued when I got off the bike and transitioned to run. I just knew I was going to do it because I had my mind made up.
Set your mind to it and whatever it is becomes doable because you expect to do it.
Working in personal training for so long- it's funny that clients continually will thank their trainer for helping them with what they asked for help achieving- and be amazed! It's as if its a surprise and they didn't really expect it. Yet- the key is- the trainer did. At least 50% of the equation believed it enough for both of them!
Find someone who believes for you when you aren't so sure yourself. In the end it is you out there getting yourself from A to B so it would be nice if you eventually "got it" but if it isn't there to begin with- you can get support!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Itchy Legs post exercise
Following a run or a bike ride or brick- of longer duration in the heat, as soon as I stop- my legs will nearly drive me crazy with itching. I can shower and experience it still in the shower, and after.
From trying to find other sufferers what I come up with is that its common among new to exercise folks. I can't claim that one. This has happened to me for years in hot weather with longer out door runs.
I try to rinse the salt and dead skin cells (said to be the culprit by some of the research I've done) off my legs asap after a run, or even before a run of a brick.
Rubbing alcohol splashed on seems to help, and some low perfume lotion to hydrate.
Anyone else???
From trying to find other sufferers what I come up with is that its common among new to exercise folks. I can't claim that one. This has happened to me for years in hot weather with longer out door runs.
I try to rinse the salt and dead skin cells (said to be the culprit by some of the research I've done) off my legs asap after a run, or even before a run of a brick.
Rubbing alcohol splashed on seems to help, and some low perfume lotion to hydrate.
Anyone else???
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Generation Gap
I rarely wear the fashionable when I'm running, swimming or biking. I wear the functional. It's more comfortable for one, and I'm the least glamorous exerciser you're going to find, so I'm hardly looking to draw attention.
On the 4th of July I was scheduled for a brick; a 3 hour bike followed by a 30-40 minute run. For some reason I grabbed one of those 'skorts' because it was on top and changed from the thick bike pad shorts I rode in to transition to the run. Tired from the bike let alone humidity, and then against the wind I was barely moving.
Evidently I wasn't the only one. An older gentleman and his wife slowed their car along the county road and asked "Hiking or hitchhiking?"
All I could respond was "That slow?"
After he sped by I thought maybe that I looked a little too dressed for the grocery store in my skort and color coordinated shirt and shoes- maybe from his generation's vantage point I looked like my car had broken down on the way to the parade and I needed assistance.
Whatever, I picked up my speed a little bit, not to be mistaken again for a stranded-by-the-roadside traveler.
On the 4th of July I was scheduled for a brick; a 3 hour bike followed by a 30-40 minute run. For some reason I grabbed one of those 'skorts' because it was on top and changed from the thick bike pad shorts I rode in to transition to the run. Tired from the bike let alone humidity, and then against the wind I was barely moving.
Evidently I wasn't the only one. An older gentleman and his wife slowed their car along the county road and asked "Hiking or hitchhiking?"
All I could respond was "That slow?"
After he sped by I thought maybe that I looked a little too dressed for the grocery store in my skort and color coordinated shirt and shoes- maybe from his generation's vantage point I looked like my car had broken down on the way to the parade and I needed assistance.
Whatever, I picked up my speed a little bit, not to be mistaken again for a stranded-by-the-roadside traveler.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Eating Clean
These days "eating clean" doesn't raise an eyebrow like it did. You may not do it, but you know what it is. Johnny Bowden, a nutritionist and author, suggests to audiences trying to avoid eating anything with a barcode.
Easier said than done but you get the idea. If you suffer from any food allergies- you may not even be aware of it. It doesn't have to show up for you like itchy watery eyes and sneezing non-stop from pollen or dust. You could simply have less energy, more lethargy and not be performing optimally. Not ideal if you're training for an Ironman, or life in general!
CLEAN by Alejandro Junger, MD is a book worth looking at and a program, on some level, worth considering.
www.thecleanprogram.com is where you can find out more about the author and the program before you dive into the book. It is meant to be a short term change and to show you what you're doing that doesn't serve you well, and let you decide what you put back in once you've eliminated certain toxins from your diet.
Easier said than done but you get the idea. If you suffer from any food allergies- you may not even be aware of it. It doesn't have to show up for you like itchy watery eyes and sneezing non-stop from pollen or dust. You could simply have less energy, more lethargy and not be performing optimally. Not ideal if you're training for an Ironman, or life in general!
CLEAN by Alejandro Junger, MD is a book worth looking at and a program, on some level, worth considering.
www.thecleanprogram.com is where you can find out more about the author and the program before you dive into the book. It is meant to be a short term change and to show you what you're doing that doesn't serve you well, and let you decide what you put back in once you've eliminated certain toxins from your diet.
Hot Yoga
"Pain, dizziness, nauseousness...these are perfectly normal," were the instructor's words.
I had the distinct feeling they were not just her words but the philosophy of her training in Bikram yoga. She had been indoctrinated and now I was being so. In a 105 degree, 40% humidity room. I'd wanted to try it ever since I learned about this strand of yoga (yes, as in viral). Limited to the actual franchise, if you want the real thing you have to live somewhere other than Central Iowa.
A visit to Minneapolis finally got me to class. A friend and colleague suggested we do something fun if I was to make it to the city before a meeting we'd arranged the next day at noon. My idea of fun- so you could say I asked for it. He suggested I bring a yoga mat and he'd supply the towels. I had the mat; the idea of towels scared me.
As it should. Turns out everyone in class is allowed one in the room - to cover your yoga mat. You soon find out why. The second is because everyone rinses off to cool down after; by necessity not choice.
You sign the waiver with instructions to please not leave the room during the 90 minutes of class. No, its better for your body to remain in the hot room and acclimate. In short, suck it up. Of course, even now I'm still thinking...I'm training for an Ironman. I'm a registered yoga teacher of 200 hour training. I practice regularly.
My friend Mark smiled slyly when I mentioned this. I get it now.
After 10 minutes of class I was dripping, beads of water on my exposed skin, the rest clinging to me in the form of my yoga top and too long tights. Down dog meant water running into my nose.
The diligent instructor used my name and regularly directed a cue at me. "Debra, nice job." "You can straighten that knee, Debra." "Debra, you've done yoga before?" You can't run and you can't hide.
Forty five minutes into class I'm relieved to think she's going to wrap up early- great! I've had a good class, plenty of information about the whole Bikram thing. Not so much, she's just relocating us to more floor work. Not any easier. By now the 26 poses, repeated twice through for 90 minutes was clearly not going to end before 8:30 pm. Floor work did not get any easier. By now I'd lost buckets of water, and though I continued to drink, also continued to rest more than I posed. As I lay on the mat resting between poses per her instruction I chuckled to myself that I'd asked for this. Normal people were sipping a cocktail at some street side patio and people watching.
My stomach was in knots as if I were in the midst of a cleanse. Whatever I'd eaten that had been less than clean my body was saying, don't do that again. Somewhere between 7:45 and 8:05pm I looked down and noticed the nail polish was melting off my nails. A sign! As both hilarious and frightening as that was I knew I wasn't going anywhere! At 8:05 I remember thinking, OK, I'm sorry! I asked for this! At 8:15 I made my mind up I was not going to leave early, nope, I was sticking it out, even though I was resting at least as much as I was performing poses.
After class, somehow we made it out the door and melted into the benches and chairs in the lobby area. There we sat/slumped recovering. One woman had just completed day 30 of a 30 day challenge- it was June 30. Mark relayed that sometimes he'll do 3 classes in 24 hours- a 7pm, 6am and then another at 7pm. All I could think of to say was "why?"
But I already knew. It was incredibly challenging, a test of endurance and focus, and energy management. It was incredibly cleansing- in fact for about two days, but I felt somehow transformed even with one class. Though out of the realm of true yoga spirit and crossing the line to vendetta- I wanted to return- I want to survive the entire class better than I had this time. I've already decided I'll be back before fall is over.
I didn't practice yoga again at home for a week. Not that I've fallen out of romance with it as much as it just didn't compare. That and training time is expanding and not allowing as much extra curricular activity!
I had the distinct feeling they were not just her words but the philosophy of her training in Bikram yoga. She had been indoctrinated and now I was being so. In a 105 degree, 40% humidity room. I'd wanted to try it ever since I learned about this strand of yoga (yes, as in viral). Limited to the actual franchise, if you want the real thing you have to live somewhere other than Central Iowa.
A visit to Minneapolis finally got me to class. A friend and colleague suggested we do something fun if I was to make it to the city before a meeting we'd arranged the next day at noon. My idea of fun- so you could say I asked for it. He suggested I bring a yoga mat and he'd supply the towels. I had the mat; the idea of towels scared me.
As it should. Turns out everyone in class is allowed one in the room - to cover your yoga mat. You soon find out why. The second is because everyone rinses off to cool down after; by necessity not choice.
You sign the waiver with instructions to please not leave the room during the 90 minutes of class. No, its better for your body to remain in the hot room and acclimate. In short, suck it up. Of course, even now I'm still thinking...I'm training for an Ironman. I'm a registered yoga teacher of 200 hour training. I practice regularly.
My friend Mark smiled slyly when I mentioned this. I get it now.
After 10 minutes of class I was dripping, beads of water on my exposed skin, the rest clinging to me in the form of my yoga top and too long tights. Down dog meant water running into my nose.
The diligent instructor used my name and regularly directed a cue at me. "Debra, nice job." "You can straighten that knee, Debra." "Debra, you've done yoga before?" You can't run and you can't hide.
Forty five minutes into class I'm relieved to think she's going to wrap up early- great! I've had a good class, plenty of information about the whole Bikram thing. Not so much, she's just relocating us to more floor work. Not any easier. By now the 26 poses, repeated twice through for 90 minutes was clearly not going to end before 8:30 pm. Floor work did not get any easier. By now I'd lost buckets of water, and though I continued to drink, also continued to rest more than I posed. As I lay on the mat resting between poses per her instruction I chuckled to myself that I'd asked for this. Normal people were sipping a cocktail at some street side patio and people watching.
My stomach was in knots as if I were in the midst of a cleanse. Whatever I'd eaten that had been less than clean my body was saying, don't do that again. Somewhere between 7:45 and 8:05pm I looked down and noticed the nail polish was melting off my nails. A sign! As both hilarious and frightening as that was I knew I wasn't going anywhere! At 8:05 I remember thinking, OK, I'm sorry! I asked for this! At 8:15 I made my mind up I was not going to leave early, nope, I was sticking it out, even though I was resting at least as much as I was performing poses.
After class, somehow we made it out the door and melted into the benches and chairs in the lobby area. There we sat/slumped recovering. One woman had just completed day 30 of a 30 day challenge- it was June 30. Mark relayed that sometimes he'll do 3 classes in 24 hours- a 7pm, 6am and then another at 7pm. All I could think of to say was "why?"
But I already knew. It was incredibly challenging, a test of endurance and focus, and energy management. It was incredibly cleansing- in fact for about two days, but I felt somehow transformed even with one class. Though out of the realm of true yoga spirit and crossing the line to vendetta- I wanted to return- I want to survive the entire class better than I had this time. I've already decided I'll be back before fall is over.
I didn't practice yoga again at home for a week. Not that I've fallen out of romance with it as much as it just didn't compare. That and training time is expanding and not allowing as much extra curricular activity!
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