I figure since I mention running in the title of my blog, I should probably blog about it once in a while! :)
So, a couple of months ago, the hubby decided to start running with me again. He has done it before but never lasted...first he had a knee issue that turned out to be a torn meniscus. He had surgery but still had some pain occasionally and decided since he didn't like running anyway, he just wasn't going to do it. So I was back to running alone. Don't get me wrong, I like to run alone...sometimes...but I really like running with him.
Since he stopped there have been several more articles written about the positive effects of running. The most recent stating that even just 1 mile 5 times a week would improve your health and help stave off the effects of aging. Even moreso than just walking....something to do with the differences in cadence and muscles used...who knows...it was months ago that I read it...I'm old now and if I don't write it down, I don't remember....
So I mentioned that to him. I reminded him that his knee only ever hurt after running more than a mile. Some weeks went by and then he brought up that he might want to try running again. We started off with a short walk to the park (a little less than half a mile) and then we'd run in the park about a mile and a half, so he could be on a softer surface. Then we'd walk home. We now walk to the park and then run home, total running is about 2 miles, sometimes a bit more.
Another issue we had is that he is 6'4" (well 6'3" now!)....so his stride is obviously much longer than my 5"3" stride. I tend to run my normal runs fairly slow...I am not training for anything, and just doing it for my enjoyment so why push it, right? Typically I would run 3 miles at an average closer to 10:30...the first mile being slower and the last faster. If I ran longer, oddly enough, I would average 9:30. It really takes me 3 miles to get warmed up and then those last miles just fly by. Yet when I race a 5k, I average 8:15....but that's with training and adrenaline. I think I am just too lazy to run fun runs faster.
He seems to prefer to run at about 9:30. This isn't quite as big of a problem for me when we do the warm up walk but still I do struggle a bit for the first few laps.
During this time I also finally had it with my shitty watch...the Garmin 405. Hated it from day one...and suffered with it for 2 years, because hey I'm "poor" now and can't just drop a hundred or more bucks every time I get annoyed by a gadget. I finally sucked it up and got a new one...one without so many bells and whistles, the Garmin 10. I LOVE IT! It actually has a feature (probably the 405 had it, but buried somewhere in it's gawdawful menus) that lets you know if you are on, under or ahead of PACE. You set the pace. I really wanted to set it at 10, for when I run, but compromised and set it for 9:45, figuring that was closer to where he likes to run.
After using it, I am now running even my solo runs faster, and yet it still feels comfortable. I guess part of this is due to running faster with him, a couple times a week for the past couple months, but I think part of it is the gentle reminder that I am behind pace. It could also be that while I am running about the same number of weekly miles, it is split over 3 really short runs and 1 longer run or even sometimes just 2 really short runs and one really long run....for example, ideally I'd like to see Dave run 3 times a week, 2 miles, but due to time constraints of trying to get workouts in and not do too much on his work days, it doesn't always happen. So on those weeks where we only run twice I run my solo run at 5 or 6 miles instead of 3 or 4.
He still says he doesn't like running but admits that he does feel better in real life...at his physically demanding job, especially.
So now we can add running to one of the many physical activities we do together.
The one down side is there just aren't enough hours to workout, run and hike (can't remember the last time we hiked!) and play tennis (which we have only done once since getting racquets)....and soon summer will be here and we will need to add laying, er, ummm. I mean swimming in the pool! :)
But, hopefully, once we get to actual retirement age and have more free time, we will be able to do ALL of these things because we took the time to keep in shape now!
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