Tough Mudder Chronicles - Looking to Soak in Some Support

[lookingforme]

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.

[james1]

I haven't run at all this week because it's been a particularly bad week.

But you've inspired me to go for a run later today! I will post on how it went.

[Petra]

Hello Joelle and James,

Well done with all this running business. There's so much to it.

I have to visit Athletes foot for walking shoes. I must start my training for this 3 km walk in October. I am doing the exercises my Physio suggested but I'm yet to hit the pavement! So I guess I have started something.

Keep up the good work.

Pet 😊

[james1]

Day 1: did 1.5kms in the park. Was hoping to get 3km but running at 1030 sucks. Still, it's better than my failed attempt to get up in the morning (woke at 6, got up at 1130). So I'm glad I got the run in after all!

Hey pet! I'm glad you signed up for a walk! Well done! Do you have any walking partners?

[lookingforme]

Hey James, good job on getting in that run, especially after a bad week. I hope you feel better for it. I noticed you hadn't been on the other thread, so thought something may be up. I have some new things to add as well, but not after today...maybe tomorrow.

Hey Pet, nice to see you here. Hope you're comfortable sharing with us your training Journey as well.

[james1]

Yeah, it's been really rubbish but I'm hoping to put my thoughts from this week together before i go to uluru on Saturday, so you can expect a long one, haha.

My goal tomorrow is to run 3km and walk 20000 steps, maybe a bit after dinner! And to make it to work... But not getting any sleep now won't help with that!

[Petra]

Hi Joelle and James

I'd love to share my walking journey with you both. It won't be anywhere near your fabulous training schedules though. Right now I'm wondering how I'm to measure the distance? There must be an app for my iPhone or should I get something else? Do you have any suggestions.

Pet 😊

[lookingforme]

Hey Pet,

Just a quick one before I go hit the pavement myself. Mapmyfitness is a good, all round sport app which uses your phone's GPS. Or Nike+ running is fine. Don't let the running fool you, you can also walk with it. Or endomondo.

There is a lot of talk about the GPS accuracy, but, that all depends on your phone, as far as standardising is concerned, if you use the same app, then the comparison of your improvement will be the same. If that's what you are looking for. Either way, one of those apps should be fine. If you have a later version of an iPhone, maybe the phone has a health app?

[lookingforme]

Hey Pet, just wanted to say that I didn't mean don't buy something, if you want to then by all means, and I can tell you as much as I know. I assumed, sorry. I myself bought a gizmo to motivate me because I like data l, haha. Nerd, I know, but I'm okay with it.

Day....7 of training. Run in. Clocked 3.32 km in my 32 min program. Upon reflection, I know my left leg spends more time on the floor because my right knee is the bad one, so it cops more load. Need to refigure that.

How about you James, and Pet?

[james1]

Well done! 🙂 Hmm...do you actually feel the difference? Another thing I've been trying to alter in my running is how my legs move. Sounds a bit weird, but to reduce the load, one tactic is to move at the hips, rather than pound downwards. So every now and then, I run without music to listen to my steps and see if I'm landing too hard. So I've had it described to me as having my legs work like conveyer belts, pulling my body along, rather than stepping my body along. I don't know if that makes any sense? But it's meant to be better for the knees/ankles/everything.

3.2km today, but I was so stationary at work, I barely squeezed in 15000 steps. Still, my goal's 12000 each day, so I'm not too sad I missed the 20000.

[lookingforme]

Thanks, you too! Great job getting it in.

I do feel a slight difference, just the way the muscles feel afterward. Hmmm...that actually makes a lot of sense, I will look out for that the next time. I do know that when my hip flexors feel looser my running is much better. Just need to keep them loose. I actually practice some running in the pool. So I can focus on that hip movement, shall try it out tomorrow. I suppose it should be more cyclical that landing the entire weight on each leg. I messed up my workout days this week, meaning I will be working out four days in a row. But, I get to fix it next week, haha.

Damn, what do you do, that you do so many steps? 5000 is my daily step goal because I have a desk job and I know it. I have to get up every hour or I go mad (which can be considered literal at this point). I