The next day

Woke up this morning with some lovely hip pain and upper back pain. Not surprised. Haven't trained well for this race. The upper back pain is odd, but I'll survive. Honestly, I'm glad I'm feeling it for a couple reasons.

1. Because I know to expect it next week. I'd rather know that I will be sore after the race and the next day now so I know there (probably) isn't anything wrong later.

2. As a reminder that I haven't trained well and that I need to do a better job for the Shamrock Half in March 2013. I know I can do better. I have done better.

3. That I do not like running in summer and because of that no amount of excitement over a race will make me go out and run. I must remember that next year when signing up for races. Late November or December will be fine. September/October are not good long race months for me.

Live and learn.

I am trying to get back into the exercise mindset.  So, last week I set up another 10 sessions with the trainer I had been working with since January.  Monday night was my first session.  And as a smart person, who hasn't been working out much over the last 5 weeks, I ran 8 miles in the morning.  Then Monday night, I hit the gym with the trainer - squats, lunges, dead lifts, push-up rows, etc. 

And now....paying.  My legs have been sore ever since.  Tuesday, they weren't happy.  Wednesday, OMG.  Pain.  They did not like me at all.  So, as the smart person I am I went to the gym and worked out for an hour.  I barely could walk when I got home.  It was insane.  Today, legs are feeling a bit better.  Not perfect, but oh so much better than yesterday.

Time to get used to this.  For whatever reason, trainer has figured out a way to make my legs sore every time I work out with him, irregardless of how often we do the routine.  Here's hoping legs feel better for Friday (fencing) and Saturday (4 mile run).

Sore

...doesn't even begin to describe it.  Sunday I had my third training session with my YFit trainer.  The first two sessions focused on learning the machines - cardio and weight.  Very nice and informative.  Not too much pain.  Then Sunday was session three.  Which I thought would be a discussion/planning of how to reach my goals. 

Oh how I was wrong.  Mike, the evil trainer, came up with a routine that gives you a cardio and weight workout in about 15 minutes.  Basically it is three sets of four exercises done three times. 

Example:

30 seconds of Weight Push-Ups done three times (10 second  break)
30 seconds of Right Arm Kettle ball toss done three times (10 second break)
30 seconds of Left Arm Kettle ball toss done three times (10 second break)
30 seconds of Over Arm Raises with squats (1 minute break)

Then next set of 4 done as above, followed by the last set of 4.  It took an hour to get through the routine - learning the moves, then doing them three times.  At the end of the routine I was pretty shaky.  That's what happens when your last exercise are planks.  I decided at the end of the workout I was done.  No need to do anymore.

And then the pain started.  After getting out of the car, my legs were sore.  Ugh.  Then I proceeded to do what I always do on Sunday...nothing.  Sat on the sofa.  And every time I got up, the legs hurt more. Bah!

Got up on Monday.  Sore.  Really sore.  At work, I spent the afternoon walking up a step ladder and kneeling on the ground.  It was not pleasant.  Then hit the gym.  I was going to lift, but decided against it.  Legs sore.  I did use the treadmill and bike.  Then I saw my trainer at the desk.  I told him I could barely walk and he kinda laughed as he said no.  Yea dude.  Barely walk.  Pain with every step.  He kept laughing. This is when I called him evil.  I admitted I can run a half marathon, but squats are apparently out of the question. 

Tuesday, I was still in pain.  So, I skipped the gym.  I made the executive decision that I should give my legs a rest.  It was nice.

And this morning my legs felt a bit better.  They weren't perfect, but better than yesterday.  I was encouraged.  As the day progressed, the legs weren't as happy as this morning, but they were workable.  So, I went to the gym after work for my 30 minute run.  It didn't quite make a 30 minute run.  It became a 15 minute run with a 30 minute walk.  It was better than nothing.  Then I hit the weight machines.  All was ok over all.  I decided to skip the two that work the quads.  I thought that was asking too much.  Kinda forgot that one of the machines works the quads secretly.  It hurt.

So, here we are.  At the end of day 3 and my quads still hurt.  My left one more than my right.  I am hoping tomorrow brings relief.  I kinda doubt it though...