running log

[arguchik]

i ran 2.5 sunday and 2.5 yesterday, so i'm at 5 for the week.

both mornings i could see frost sparkling on the sidewalks as i ran, and yesterday morning as i stretched upon finishing the run, i could see steam pouring off my body. (i usually do a few stretches outdoors when i'm done, so i can cool down a little bit before coming indoors.)

made me feel like godzilla, ready to go wreak havoc in downtown seattle. RAWR! :-)

i discovered at the NP's office yesterday--despite my best efforts*--that i have gained about 10 lbs. since i took the california job last april. i'm trying not to worry about it too much. i know the running will take care of it, and it's pretty clear why i gained weight. the job knocked me off my running routine, and put me at the mercy of crappy restaurant food for several months. then the appendectomy sidelined me further, i went back to california for several more weeks, and i spent fall quarter struggling to get back into running shape, then had to deal with the PF. at the same time, excessive stress tends to disconnect my awareness of how much i'm eating; it also makes me want to eat food for comfort more than nourishment--so i reach for starchy, cheesy, creamy, sweet stuff more often. more processed stuff, too, and fewer whole fruits and vegetables.

*by "best efforts," i mean my best efforts at not finding out what my weight is. i always turn my back while they weigh me, and i tell them to just write down the number without telling me, because when i know the number i tend to fixate on it (whether it's high, low, or right where i want it). i'd rather regulate my weight by how i feel, not by some statistical chart. this time, the NP mentioned the number to me offhand (she's not the one who weighs me, so she probably doesn't realize that i prefer not to hear it), and i was a little surprised that i had gained that much. i should have known, though--my bras and my jeans haven't been fitting right, and i haven't been feeling right physically either.

this explains why i got PF, too. 10 extra lbs. means a lot of extra pressure on the joints and ligaments with each step, and running steps are high impact. so...the message is...keep running, but run at a slower pace for a couple of months, let my metabolism re-equilibrate, and let my body find the right pace for itself.