Unsure

One Day at a Time

No, not about my body odor*, but about my workout.

Not sure what to do with my workout today. Not sure I should be working out at all. This is a long standing problem of mine . . . when to workout, how long, what kind of workouts. Even the running alone, as long as I’ve been doing it, as much as I know about muscle recovery, I still have trouble scheduling run types (easy, hard, normal, long, hills, let alone anything like a fartlek or intervals). I wish I could follow a set plan, whether from running websites or books written on running, as I probably trust the experts more than my own judgement. The main reason I don’t is two fold . . . 1) I feel like my work schedule does not permit a set schedule (main reason), and 2) the rigidity of said schedule would completely take the fun out of running for me (I believe this to be true). But I may have no choice if I am to reach my long term goals. And to reach my long term goals I might be willing to sacrifice flexibility.

I ran a fairly hard run yesterday. Quite hilly, and almost five miles (used to running under 4 miles lately). I know without a doubt that running muscles need recovery time. Tomorrow afternoon before work will be an excellent time to run, and the weather should be good too. In my ideal world I would love to run today . . . run maybe 6 days a week, but I don’t think it’s prudent to run today, given what I know about muscle recovery. SO, I’m not worried about running muscles. I know they need recovery. I can run again tomorrow. But what about cardio? If I do not do any kind of cardio today I will have only done two days of cardio in seven (running yesterday, and cycling back on the 22nd-last Saturday). I mean, the fact that I was able to run for 41 minutes yesterday should tell me that my cardio is fine. But it’s still just twice in one week. I may need to do cardio today to prevent a further slide of my conditioning. I really don’t know. I wish there was more scientific research on conditioning, how one gains it, loses it, keeps it; how long it takes to lose it, why one loses it, etc. I’ve read books on the subject but as of yet they have never answered my key questions.  Perhaps I’m being unclear.  The questions I have are always along similar lines but they may be different from time to time.  My question, specifically today is:  Is one 41 minute run with HR avg 145 -150bpm enough to stop a decrease in conditioning (since the period I was last consistent with cardio-running, cycling, anything)?  If I run tomorrow will it be harder than yesterdays run due to a continuted slide in conditiong or did yesterday’s run, the very fact that I could pull it off, sort of reset things and now I can continue a consistent (at least every other day) run pattern unhindered?

So, I’m trying to decide (before I run out of time before work here) if I should do a light cycling workout . . . maybe target HR around 120bpm, nothing crazy like 145 -150bpm (like when I run), so I don’t tire myself out for another big run tomorrow.

I’ve also read about specificity of training, and thought well maybe what I need to do is just pound pavement every damn day, fuck the cycling, the weights, everything else. I really don’t know, but what I’ve been doing hasn’t worked. Looking back over the last year and a half of training, I got my top mileage when I was doing nothing but pounding pavement 5 – 6 days a week and I wasn’t making excuses why I shouldn’t run (and do cycle, weights, or nothing instead). The downside to that was that I over trained and hit a wall at 12 mile long runs and I came crashing back to earth. But at least I was able to make 35 miles a week and 12 mile long runs, however briefly. I am far from that right now. Actually, I’m probably closer than I think . . . IF I would train properly, whatever properly IS.

I think if I’m HONEST with myself, I should take today off from all workouts. I ran 25% greater on the distance yesterday than I’m used to (lately), on hills to boot. I feel lethargic and my legs are in slight pain. Consistency is key, but recovery is important. A hard workout should ALWAYS be followed by a recovery day. And running tomorrow will be consistent. I just hope my cardio conditioning doesn’t continue to slide. It’s one day. How much changes in one day? I’ve been at this long enough to know not to worry (I mean how many times have I sat out for a whole week and still put in a half hour run pretty easily?). Yet I still worry.

Maybe I’m just addicted to exercising and there’s a part of me that really wants to do it. Yet a part of me that doesn’t.

-AR

*Reference to Sure brand deodorant commercials from . . . the 90’s, I guess?