Thirteen Year Cicada: "Impressive."
I finally had my neurologist appointment today, and he confirmed that my headaches from running are not being caused by anything dangerous in my brain. He also prescribed Imitrex so if the mighty migraines return I will still be able to function as a human being.
I could hardly get through my afternoon.
Of course, due to the stress of having to sit in a neurologist's office for a couple of hours, I did have a headache all day, although it wasn't too terrible when I set out around 6:30 (promptly after getting home, changed, and stretched - I did not even take the time to obsessive-compulsively check the weather before leaving).
All through this waiting period I knew coming back I would just take off running and see how far I could go, then start over with the couch to 5K day closest to that time. I did not have high hopes for this run at all. My last attempt was horrid, although it was cold and windy, but I haven't been working out at all since then.
I wanted to start with the 5 minute walk like was included for most of the C25K. I just didn't feel like the stretching was enough, plus the walking would put me over my initial "hill" that I have to run up. As I walked, I cursed the fact that I finally came back to run and now the 13-year cicadas are out everywhere. I'll undoubtedly be taking one of those clearly blind beasts to my gaping open gasping for air mouth at some point in the near future.
So I walked 5 minutes - .51K - .31 mile. Then I was off. I was at the top of a hill, but these are rolling hills, so I really forced myself to hold back running down it. Going up the other side was hard, really, really hard. I had actually forgotten how hard it used to be, back at the beginning. Not that it was ever super easy - my last full run was the worst. But this was like impossibly hard. I had definitely gotten to a point where these little rolling hills weren't even noticeable as I careened up and down them. This is my motivation for my return to running - to get past the painful part. Remember, you have to do this part to get to the part where it doesn't hurt so bad.
My headache definitely came back while I was running. This was one of the teeth aching bad headaches. But, I didn't care. I was entirely too excited to be running. My mp3 was on random as usual and picking good songs, and I was ecstatic, especially after each awful hill I made it over.
After I made it up the hill by the orphanage, I was pretty wiped out, though - I knew my time was limited. So I didn't bother with the turn further away from home where I pick up the extra couple of blocks to get my 5K distance. I did make it back to the school, before another small uphill. I had run 10 minutes - 1.13K - .71 mi, far more than I had expected to when I was asking people to place bets on how far I would go.
I stared walking and decided to try for a 5 minute walk, followed by another 10 minute run, followed by a 5 minute walk. Part of the avoidance of headaches from running includes a sufficient cool down, so that end walk is now imperative. My right thigh was cramped up pretty nicely at this point, but I walked the 5 minutes - .41K - .25 mi.
I jumped like a maniac several times during the course of my running and walking. I have to re-learn where all the barking dogs are along my route, and get used to bugs landing on me, etc, etc.
When I took off running again, I headed straight ahead to the busy street that I've run on so many times. Once I turned on the busy street, I was in the sun and suddenly got very hot. I clearly had overdressed with a long sleeved tee over a workout top. I only made it 5 minutes - .64K - .4 mi, but I was happy with my little extra. 15 minutes total on my first run back? That was exceptional.
It took me 5 mins - .36K - .23 mi to get home. I immediately had a piece of chocolate angel food cake (eating quickly to avoid headaches), followed with water and half a frozen pizza. When I got home, the back of my right knee, slightly to the outside, was tight and sore. Amazingly, besides my head, this was really my only complaint. It was noticeable, however, because I don't recall ever having pain there before. Yippe! By the time I had finished my food, the knee and headache were better, but my feet and muscles were very sore. (Of course, normal runners get headaches in the heat, but I got mine worse when it got cold, and I was running significantly farther.)
What better time to look up a half marathon training plan?! I went to CoolRunning.com to check out their advice, and after choosing the Beginner plan (which I am, but do not currently see me able to do a half in 2 hours), saw that they recommend being able to run about 20 miles a week without discomfort, for 4-5 weeks, before starting the training. Noted. Now how am I going to get there?!
I pulled out my C25K. Day 33 was a walk 5, Run 10 Walk 5. Even though I ran an additional 5, I thought this was the most relevant starting point. Day 33 of 70. Dang. At least I didn't have to start all the way over.
Feeling cocky, I decided to set my goals based on something of an every other day schedule of the C25K. For example, the next two run days on the schedule were Run 11s. The NEXT run, was run 13 minutes. That would be my next goal, for Saturday. Following this schedule, I should be back at 30 minute runs in 2 weeks. Not too shabby.
My total distance today was 3.05K/1.9 miles. I ran in total 1.11 miles. It's funny how that can seem like such a long distance, and such a short distance all at once.
I currently only have two other girls in my office and they are both runners. They are obsessed with pace, so I guess I'll start keep track of my embarrassingly slow pace. Based on the longer part of my run, 10 minutes over .71 mile, I have an aged three legged turtle's pace of 14.08.
Weather: 63, Sunny, 11 mph wind, 63% humidity, Feels like 63
Time: 6:30pm; Walk 5, Run 10, Walk 5, Run 5, Walk 5
Distance: 3.05K (1.90mi)
5K/10K: Not going to track for run/walks anymore
Elevation: +38.5/-36.3/net 2.1 ft
Just run: 15:00
Distance: 1.77K (1.11mi)
5K/10K: 45:36/1:36:23
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