Thursday, June 5, 2008

Long Run Early

I decided to get my long run done early since Saturday is going to be a busy one for me.  Jody called about 6:30 and wasn't feeling good so I went back to bed.  While laying there, thinking about how I should be up and running anyway, I decided to do my long run.  I called Jodi to see if she wanted to keep me company but she is sick too!  This just isn't right!  Maybe this crazy weather we're having is making everyone sick.  The highs have been in the 50's this week and it doesn't look to get over 75 in the next few days either.  It's great for running, not so great for going to the pool with the kids!  I really didn't feel like going out, but knew I had to.  I decided that once I got out there and ran for a bit, I would decide how far to go.  I'm still figuring out the Garmin thing and how to start new workouts.  The first 5 miles were a struggle.  The lower half of my legs just did not want to loosen up.  My calves, shins, and ankles were so tight.  I stopped several times to shake them out and stretch, but until I hit about 5 miles, they were just tight.  I ended up going 11 miles and the rest felt pretty good.  I hit a couple of really big hills and had to walk part of them to keep my heart rate from skyrocketing.  I didn't keep it down as much as I did the week before, but it stayed pretty steady at the high end of the spectrum.  My friend, Holly, suggested I get my VO2 max tested so that I could see exactly where my percentages should be.  Maybe.  

4 comments:

Jodi said...

What a bunch of sickies! Must be the name! I thought I would be feeling better by today, but now it's even worse! Waaa.... It's making me crazy! Good job on the 11 miles!

Lindsay said...

That is so awesome you are running the Bear Lake Half!!! I am really nervous but excited too. I will for sure look for you. You do the same for me. Good luck if I dont see you though :)

anna jo said...

hey, so how do you feel about your garmin?

and where exactly would a normal person get their VO2 max tested anyway?

Jen said...

Anna, I LOVE the garmin! I haven't had it lose the signal at all even on these cloudy days we've been having and the tree lined streets I run on. Everything seems to be pretty accurate except maybe the calories which seem to calculate without wearing the chest strap. I would think that heart rate would have something to do with calorie expenditure. My Polar HRM did a VO2 max test that it calculated calories off off with heart rate and it seemed to be more accurate. But everything else seems good. I thought it would be pretty bulky on my wrist, but it's not too bad.

You can get your VO2 max tested at Weber State University. They also do the bod pod body fat testing too. The VO2 max test is about $50. I know a girl who just got it done and they told her what all of her percentages are and she is pretty excited to go back in a year and see if she's improved.