I got out in the sunshine and -16C/3F this afternoon for 12 km. I haven’t done more than 8 km for over a month, so 12 was long enough to start. My legs told me “that’s enough” when I was done, and they haven’t done that for at least 6 weeks, so I’m happy I pushed myself a little.
At about 5k the legs were saying “don’t you think 10 would be enough?”. My hamstrings were an itty bitty bit whiny from my “just 5k” on Friday. I ignored them and they warmed up. If I’m to run a good 15k race in Tampa February 5th, this is the weekend of the 12k.
I only had one little bitty twinge to work through, really. It just seemed to move to different places the further I ran. It tried to bug me in my right arch, where I battled PF this summer. I remembered to flatten out my foot (I tend to curl my toes when I’m running on snow for some reason). Then it moved to the top of my left calf, just below the knee in the back. I ran up a little hill and stretched it out. Then it moved to my lower abs towards the end of the run.
I guess some abdominal core exercises are on the menu for this month. Does anyone have any favourites they’d like to share with this beginner?
All Downhill From Here 
testing code thing
By: Mark on January 3, 2005
at 8:34 am
I’m jealous. You get a head start on me this year. Hopefully I will catch up to you soon.
By: Dawn (aka Pink Lady) on January 3, 2005
at 12:12 pm
Aren’t those pesky twinges bothersome? I’m learning what to ignore and what to pay attention to. My favorite ab exericise is the captain’s chair at the gym. If you can’t get to that, then putting an exercise ball between your legs and lifting your legs up and over your head (slowly) is another good one! (Oh, you need to be lying on the floor!!)
By: susan on January 3, 2005
at 4:27 pm
That captains chair? Sounds kinky.
I HATE working on my abs…but I need to..so if you learn anything great pass it along!
And yay you for 12k on complaining legs!
By: Pamalamadingdong on January 3, 2005
at 9:49 pm
Ditto on the Captain’s Chair. Start doing it with your knees bent and slowly work up to doing more and more with your legs straight.
And I do the same toe curling thing when I run on slippery stuff. I think its you foot trying to balance you.
By: Jon in Michigan on January 4, 2005
at 10:48 am
congrats on the long run and congrats on pushing through the “shorter run rationalization”. i think the toe curl thing is a mental result of unsure footing. i find myself doing that any time the surface is questionable or if i’m somehwere where there’s a chance of falling. i also do it when watching shoes like CSI, but i’m sure that’s completely un-related.
By: jeff on January 4, 2005
at 4:06 pm