Diet/Exercise/Health/Wellness Support Thread

Parent Cafe
19941

<p>I think we are setting up the run so that we are back at the cars after a very hilly 6 miles, so we can get gel/fluids then. I will probably carry my 16 ounce handheld after that. My daughter wears a belt, but I prefer the handheld. I WILL take salt pills and HammerGel with me on the 2nd stint. The last 12 is rolling but not steep hills like the first part in the park. We are considering a run/walk (1 minute walking every mile) because I want to practice that for the Monkey Marathon, and it really helps with your recovery. She says I always say I am going to do that and then I never do, so we’ll see…</p>

19942

<p>DadII, I had two separate and serious leg problems in my 30s and they were caused by bad shoes but also a near addiction to running. In the case of both problems, I ran and kept bumping mileage and speed until I had pain and then more pain and then more pain only stopping at the point where I could barely walk or drive or make it up a flight of stairs. I’d get better with a little rest and then go back to running. At some point, I gave it up for ten years.</p>

<p>It seems to me that you’ve greatly increased your cardiovascular strength in a short time but the skeletal system can’t improve anywhere near as fast.</p>

<p>So I’d suggest getting some rest and let your foot problems heal and do other things for your body.</p>

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<p>Went to Boston College yesterday evening. I drove up Heartbreak Hill - I saw three geezers running up from the base. They were absolutely flying - older guys but in fantastic shape. Lots of runners on the part of the road where there are few cars. Some individuals, groups but lots of people in good shape.</p>

<p>I did a moderate amount of walking at BC, including the stairs from lower campus to middle campus (a good workout for the last 30 years). My impression (I haven’t been on campus during the school year for a while), is that the average weight of the student body is higher - this at the start of school. It’s pretty odd as I’ve always associated BC with having a lot of fit students.</p>

<p>I was realy wiped out last night by the tennis and was having cramping issues while driving around Boston. I guess I haven’t been using the salt shaker lately.</p>

19943

<p>Yay, for three days in a row I managed to run 3 miles on the crappy hotel treadmill. (pats herself on the back ;)). See you all soon!</p>

19944

<p>BCE- good advice to Dad II, but he isn’t that great about listening to advice. You just can’t pound away every day like that (unless you are ME! :slight_smile: )</p>

19945

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<p>I imagine that those that don’t run don’t appreciate what an accomplishment this is. There are so many good reasons not to run on hotel treadmills - it’s almost cliche’. My approach on the road is to look for YMCAs in the area and use their treadmills or indoor running tracks.</p>

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<p>Well, I know the bit about not listening to advice. For me, it was a good thing that I had a pair of crutches at home.</p>

19946

<p>I’ve been lurking for over a year now, and I don’t promise that I’ll contribute regularly, but you all have impressed the heck out of me!</p>

<p>My story: after being very active (dancer) as a teen, I had absolutely no regular exercise (except in bits and spurts) most of my adult life, though that didn’t stop lots of the old dance injuries from almost crippling me, until several years ago when a very disturbing conversation with my doctor (OK, he yelled at me) caused some very substantial changes in my life.</p>

<p>In addition to changing my diet utterly, I started a serious exercise program, first with help from an exercise physiologist, who started me on a walking program starting at 10 minutes a day, and then, when I’d graduated to 1 hr. of walking per day, on my own. </p>

<p>This summer, after losing 90 pounds and maintaining a regular program of brisk walking of 4-4.5 miles per day, I got convinced to try a C25K program. I’m now about half-way through. Every week I’ve said that I don’t think I can do it, though every week I’ve finished the week’s goals (though I’ve had to repeat more than one day). I’m sure the intervals are good for me, but I think at this point I run only slightly faster than I walk, and I can walk a that velocity for a good long time, whereas running for as little as 4 minutes leaves me gasping for breath. I am alternating walking and walk/run days (with one day off a week, just because).</p>

<p>Tell me it will get easier? Running feels so much more challenging than walking.</p>

<p>I do intend to keep going until I can’t (I’m stubborn that way) but I’d love to hear some BTDT stories. </p>

<p>I suspect it’s time for new shoes as well, since mine are ASICS walking shoes (I alternate between 2 different pairs of different ASICS). I keep meaning to head to my local running store to have a pro fit me. My feet are a very different shape than they were when I started this journey.</p>

19947

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<p>It definitely gets easier. I started running 13 minute miles (some people call that jogging) and gradually improved over three years with some regressions.</p>

19948

<p>IJustDrive, now you run, too. ;)</p>

<p>Are you coming up to the first long run (20 mins)? I will pass on the very fine recommendation that was given to me when I was approaching that workout. S-L-O-W. Take it to heart and you’re there! </p>

<p>I did the Couch to 5K program starting on May 1 of this year and chronicled it on this thread. I did so partially because I started with about zero encumbrances, and I figured I might as well put it on display so everyone can see how it goes. My take: it’s most likely going to be some work for <em>anyone</em> who’s not already doing sports that give the body a good workout for the cardio and musculoskeletal systems. It was, and continues to be, for me, but I’m also enjoying running! Second 5K coming up this weekend.</p>

<p>Congratulations on the fantastic progress you’ve made taking care of your health!</p>

19949

<p>Oh, and yes, running shoes! Running shoes for running, not just walking shoes. Running is a lot more impact than walking, and the last thing you want is injuries.</p>

19950

<p>Oh, I’m so pitifully slow. No worries there.</p>

19951

<p>Maybe we can convince Dad II to take up hiking.</p>

<p>Then we can call it a ‘dad’ thing.</p>

19952

<p>IJD, be good to you. Running shoes. Other stuff is extra, but the shoes matter.</p>

19953

<p>JustDrive- You AREN’T going slowly enough if you are gasping for air. You want to be able to talk in short sentences. This may seem really slow, but it is the way to build up. Trust me on this. Even if it feels like a walk. Congrats on your huge fitness gains and progress.</p>

<p>Running shoes! ASAP. And I don’t think Asics is making good shoes right now so look at Brooks, Nike or Saucony.</p>

19954

<p>The mountain man returns. Wonderful day of hiking. Terrific trail – the Falling Waters Trail in Franconia Notch. It climbs right from the car, first along Dry Brook with three waterfalls in succession:</p>

<p>[Stair</a> Falls](<a href=“http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Falling%20Waters%20Trail/fallingwaters1.jpg]Stair”>http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Falling%20Waters%20Trail/fallingwaters1.jpg)</p>

<p>[Stillwater</a> Falls](<a href=“http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Falling%20Waters%20Trail/fallingwaters2.jpg]Stillwater”>http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Falling%20Waters%20Trail/fallingwaters2.jpg)</p>

<p>And, finally, the second highest falls in New Hampshire:</p>

<p>[Cloudland</a> Falls](<a href=“http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Falling%20Waters%20Trail/fallingwaters3.jpg]Cloudland”>http://i218.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/cc14/hwc_1000/Falling%20Waters%20Trail/fallingwaters3.jpg)</p>

<p>From there, the trail starts an endless succession of switchbacks to the peak of Little Haystack Mountain. My goal is to eventually get there, but that really wasn’t the plan today. Too long, too much elevation gain. But, I wasn’t quite tired enough when I got to the top of Cloudland Falls, so I started up the switchbacks, figuring I would turn around at the 3 hour mark, which is what I did. So I climbed three hours and then walked back down for 1:45. Total round trip 4.7 miles and about 1600 feet of elevation gain. </p>

<p>As you can see from the photos, I saw some awesome scenery. Did some pretty steep climbing. And, ended up walking to the car with Cowboy Junkies End of Paths Taken on the iPod shuffle. All in all, a pretty fun workout.</p>

19955

<p>Looks really wonderful - I could get used to the sounds of rushing waters.</p>

<p>4 hours of driving, though. You must have some nice work flexibility to do this sort of thing.</p>

<p>Actually I guess I do too. We could probably go up there for a few days for hiking with me working from a hotel.</p>

19956

<p>Now, I just have to work tomorrow! Some of these trails are super popular and much better from a parking (and hiking) standpoint to do them during the week. Although, this one has a huge parking lot off I-93, just for two trails.</p>

<p>Some of the more remote hikes are better done on a weekend so that there are at least some other people on the trail.</p>

<p>I’ll definitely go back and keep chipping away at this one. The summit is 4800 feet, although it doesn’t count towards the list of 4000-footers in NH because it’s part of a ridgeline with a little talller peak very close that is the one that gets counted. Still, it’s a great trail and a good measuring stick. The full round trip, for people more fit than I am, is six or seven hours. I had another very hard mile (1500 more feet of elevation) to get to the top. </p>

<p>I’ve learned to turn around a little too soon, rather than a little too late because walking downhill to the car isn’t as easy as I always think it will be. I am starting to be a lot more fit on these hikes, though.</p>

19957

<p>That is gorgeous. Maybe when I retire I can do more stuff like that. Glad you had a good day.</p>

19958

<p>Third day of no running, just walking on track for about 1.5 miles. Continue with ibuprofen. Feeling a lot better, may take one more day off.</p>

<p>many thanks to those who offer suggestions/concerns.</p>

19959

<p>Almost 5 miles of beach walking today. Beautiful day, but it was a really tiring walk for me. (According to my HRM–burned 710 calories in 2 hours and 20 minutes–even though it was fairly flat my average HR was 72% of max). </p>

<p>Sharing a few photos below. Another part of New England, but very different from Idad’s NH mountain trails.</p>

<p>[Flickr:</a> ackfan77’s Photostream](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/23947239@N07/]Flickr:”>ackfan77 | Flickr)</p>

19960

<p>Beach looks nice - the season is mostly over in this area as the kids are back in school.</p>

<p>4.38 miles today, 86 degrees, 40% relative humidity, sunny. The only eventful thing was running into an apartment parking lot where a few police cars were searching someone’s trunk. When running outside, I don’t use headphones/music - there’s plenty of things going on all over the place to keep my mind occupied and I need to hear the cars driving around. I think that music is just for the treadmill.</p>