topic Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support in Staying well

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 03:03:03 GMT

Hi All,

I very recently signed up for a Tough Mudder event in December while on a temporary high from getting some good news. Now it has become glaringly obvious that I stopped believing I can do it, mainly because I haven't slept at all well in the last 7 days, which has made me skip training, let alone the last....well there's a whole chunk of time where this has been an issue but at least before, I got up and did stuff.

I do know that I still want to do it, if only not to regret pulling out (may not be the best reason, but still is a reason I can understand - one less regret).

I suppose what I could do with is some support from the mental health support team that's around here in all of you. I already have the support system in another social network, but rather than constantly reminding me that they, or we are all team no excuses, get it done, maybe a little more sensitivity on the days where I couldn't get up, and am already hard on myself. And who knows, maybe my chronicles will help inspire also?

That's me. What do you think?

Joelle out.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 07:03:26 GMT

Hey Joelle, I find myself replying to a lot of your posts!

I think it's awesome that you signed up, even if it was during a good moment and now you're kind of regretting it, haha. I managed to sign myself up to a 14km run and a half marathon during highs, as well as a volunteering thing which means I might need a day off work (before asking my manager). Oops.

Is tough mudder a team event? If so, you can try organising team training sessions. I also try to drag people I know at work/friends into running sessions so I can't back out of them.

Exercise is really good for giving us the right chemicals (I honestly dont' know which ones) to make us rise out of depression and do stuff. So I think it's the perfect thing to sign up to accidentally 😉

James

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 12:19:38 GMT

Hi James.

I don't mind if you don't mind 🙂

I spent the entire day out, got some new workout gear. Some on an impulse, one item (a punching bag) was prescribed by the psychiatrist, and I needed some. I'm pretty tired out after that because it is like 54 degrees out today. So, training plan and study plan will be made today, and I just want to stick to it. I feel like everything will be a little more doable if I see the plan and slowly achieve the little things, big things will come from them.

Haha, well, you'll let your manager know eventually, I'm sure.

Tough Mudder can be a team event, but I don't know anyone here so, I'll be on my own. Though, I am given to understand that everyone who does it is always ready to encourage and help you. Sort of like when you're doing the 1000 steps in Melbourne.

Those chemicals are called endorphins, and I am fully aware of their capabilities. I know I want to do it, below all the other mess in my brain. Tomorrow will be exactly 20 weeks, so tomorrow I start to train. When are your marathons?

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 04:17:50 GMT

Day 1: Strength/Resistance/Plyometrics Training mixed in with Swimming in the pool.

A success but probably the first time I was grateful that my tub of protein powder is almost empty.

Day 1 of training is complete! I am supposed to let that soak in and celebrate it but I've already moved on to how I'm supposed to study now.

Ah will, micro baby steps, Nano even.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 12:08:28 GMT

Congratulations! That sounds like quite a bit. I went for a short run today for ~30 minutes. Unfortunately I hurt my foot about 2 weeks ago and I'm going to have to take it pretty easy, because every time I run, I can feel it the next day.

Mid august is 14km, then mid september is 21km. I'm hoping to start swimming again around then as well when it gets warmer. It's been super cold recently (for Sydney).

Are you following a training plan? I'm doing 3 days of short runs, 1 long run day, and 1 "other" training, leaving 2 rest days - but usually I try to at least do a light walk/jog on one of the rest days.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 08:39:13 GMT

It was quite a bit, I'm sore now haha. I expect I will be for the next 6 months...

You better take it easy on that foot, how did you hurt it? Did you get it checked? It's quite easy to fracture the metatarsals, so any stress could be making it worse. I have to do plyometrics in the pool because I'm not allowed to jump or squat around gravity because of my knee. I have to ice it straight after a run or I get a very significant ache for a while.

Wow, so soon. I'm not at all as run fit as you are...or fit at all really. I have to fit all my exercise around my study and work, so it's a 4 am workout usually. The plan is 2 days bodyweight exercises, 2 days running, and building up length rather than working toward speed. As long as I can cover about 19/20 km by November in one hit, I should be fine. And once a week, strength training with weights or swimming combination. It's the Joelle method haha. Of course, a cutting diet because the lighter I am doing monkey bars, the better it will be I think.

It's super hot here, 35 degrees with 65% humidity at 4 am, so that's what I sift through.

My goal is to complete it more than compete for a win, you know?

Thanks for replying.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 23:32:03 GMT

Aha, that morning soreness is all too familiar.

I'm not sure. I started giving "minimalist running" a go and it was going really well and I was enjoying the different running style, until I jumped from 5km runs to 7km then 14km, haha. I think that's what did it, so I'm just taking it nice and easy again back down at 3-5km. I've done the half twice before so I know I can do it.

Sorry to hear about your knee. Has that been a chronic thing?

Oh boy, that weather and time is atrocious for training so I'm impressed you're even training. For me, it'd be like: go outside day 1, bath for the next 6 days. And yes, endurance is really what I'm looking for too. I'm totally cool with being slow, haha.

James

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 23:47:42 GMT

Ah Minimalist Running, how is that? Wanted to give it a shot too, not for all runs but just to be more aware of my foot strike. Yea, I guess, best to take it slow and build up to the distance when making the change. That's cool, you've done it twice. Colour me impressed.

Nah, I was out on a run and I injured it back in 2013. When I decided to start running, I went to athletes foot and they fitted me for these shoes because I'm a bit flat footed, and I went out and I felt like my feet were slipping, I'd get the worst shin splints, and I felt like I was striking my heel on pavement too much. But I thought that;s what it was supposed to be like. I got used to it, and on an 8km run I was running back and down a hill, and my heel struck pavement, and since then my knee started clicking on and off and I couldn't climb stairs. I took it easy but it never went away, and it started to hurt to have the weight of my bed sheet on it. The surgeon said if I ha waited a bit longer I would have stuffed it up. Had surgery but it hasn't been the same. I do have patellar tendinosis and the backs of my patellae are abraded, hence the no squats or jumping on dry land. I'm going to say it's chronic now...

I have to train or study, haha, so I have to be up anyway.

Haha, being slow is great.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 01:43:31 GMT

Alright, Day 2 of training is done.

3.28 km in 32 mins. Doesn't sound impressive but overall, fewer steps and greater distance = a faster Joelle. Only...16.73kms more to catch up on. Is that all?!

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 02:03:56 GMT

Congratulations! Keep the effort up and you'll be doing 20km in no time! That's what I did for my first half. Making sure you get the kms in your legs over the week is all it takes, and you feel pretty amazing afterwards. Do you use any of the running apps? I've been wanting to try one called zombie run where you run from zombies, haha.

Minimalist running is interesting. It's difficult to start - oh my gosh, my calves felt like they'd ripped themselves off the first time - but literally just doing short short runs in them, and mixing up running and walking, helps to break it in. I don't know how helpful it really is, but I wanted to give it a go because I tend to be a mid-foot striker anyway. I've actually started trying to do more barefoot walking as well. I love the looks I get when I walk onto a train or shopping centre barefoot, haha. People just look so confused.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 08:21:35 GMT

Haha, I bet you get looks. I grew up as a barefoot walker, all the shoes I have are as close to barefoot as I can get without actually being barefoot.

And thanks 🙂

I have tried Zombie Run, haha, I enjoyed it for walks but I felt I slowed down when running trying to listen to the story, though I really want the t shirt. Might get back into it.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:02:05 GMT

Had the realization this morning that I will have to be mixing the bodweight and the running at some stage. Ugh

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 22:21:58 GMT

I find it's all about routine. Once you get into the routine, it's less effort to get started.

Unfortunately, I'm not in that routine yet, haha.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 00:04:55 GMT

Yea..how many weeks until it's routine? 3? 4? It's hard because I don't sleep well. Do you? I had a particularly bad night last night so...slow to the mark. Plus, sore everything lol. I'm playing the Nike Rise And Shine add over and over to get me going.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 01:10:42 GMT

Day 3 of training done. Not so great today. I don't know if it was the cumulative effect of my poor sleep quality, the soreness, or the fact that I put my tee on backwards and only realised close to home after my workout, but I couldn't fully commit. The slight failure feels like a big one. Rest day tomorrow, I intend on using it.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 03:14:29 GMT

Let's just go with 3 weeks so it seems easier, hahaha.

I've been having lots of dreams and interrupted sleep the past month - 2 months. I'm usually quite good, but I've just had so much on my mind recently. And it definitely affects my fitness.

Do you listen to music while exercising? I remember the last time I did training, I ran to the music of lord of the rings and just imagined myself following the fellowship as they did all those running scenes over the mountains.

Yeah, some days just aren't as good. I can be a full 1-2 minutes slower per km on a bad day and that's a bit demoralising. So i have a rest day and slightly lower my expectation for the next session. That way I can at least achieve it, then get better. I find that gives me a bit more motivation.

If it gives you any comfort, 3 days in a row is really good! Keep it up (after your rest day)!

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 07:08:02 GMT

Ahah, alright, 3 weeks it is.

Yea, sleep is definitely required, to build back that muscle, well thank you insomnia....

Hah, that must have been a powerful thing to imagine, lifts you right up actually, never thought of doing that. I do listen to music when I train. As you already know, I kind of use music to guide my emotions, or communicate what I am feeling to myself, if that makes sense...I put on things that psych me up and get me feeling like I want to be stronger.

That is a good idea, might try that.

Hah, well not exactly 3 days in a row...I guess I started on Saturday, but took Sunday off, and Monday and today...so Day 4 it should be. I guess I'm only counting the days I got out of bed to do something.

I forgot to say that I ended up going back to athletes foot, and they had changed their assessment thing, and it turns out the shoes that I got were too supportive for me, so I was running on the side of my feet, like I felt, and they were too big. Got a pair of nike frees now. I am a natural midfoot striker as well. Which synced more with how I wear out my other shoes than what I was initially told.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

james1 — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:58:45 GMT

Hmm...did they say what the downside of being flatfooted was and also then overcompensating for that? Did the shoes have too much in the middle so you were rocking to the sides?

How are the nike ones? I bought some from puma and they're so amazingly light which is great, but transitioning sucks, haha.

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 23:27:25 GMT

Physiologically, the foot can roll in too much, putting added strain on your knees. It turns out, when I walked, my feet didn't roll inward too much anyway. I knew this already because when I wear out my shoes, you can see the impression on the side of my foot and the balls of my foot, not much in the middle. So yea, my first set of shoes essentially had too much support for my so I was hitting the heels on impact and rolled of the side of my feet. It always felt like my feet were slipping too much to the sides. Like I was running with my feet rotated inward at the ankle, if that makes sense.

I love my nikes, I could feel the difference straight away. Less pain in my knees also, during and after the runs. They are the ones with the flyknit fabric so it feels like wearing socks. The fabric is a bit elasticated so rather than being restrictive it kind of allows your foot to move as it will, and it may help shock absorption, receiving your foot and all. I actually love them, but a good friend of mine has flyknits and aren't happy so I guess it's a very personal thing. I think she prefers a bit more structure in the shoe. I love shows that allow my feet to move in them. Like the Merrel barefoot shoes, those are beautiful, New Balance also has one. They have the vibram soles, so I love walking/hiking in them.

Yea, I bet. Pain everywhere.

I guess I should add this in...

Day 5 of training - Rest Day:

Entire body is sore, but have to study and would rather go back out there and do some more bodyweight exercises. Time for some mental exercises...blah

Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

lookingforme — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 01:12:25 GMT

Day 6:

Feels like day 60, only at day 60, I'd be a whole lot better than this. The lack of good quality sleep is getting to me, but I went out and got some exercise. My planking is better at least. Rest day wasn't as rejuvenating as I'd hoped.