Running For My Life

30 minutes on exercise bike, 30 minutes on elliptical machine

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 07/01/2009
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Calories: 550

The prologue to the story I am about to share is this:  during my last three marathons, I have suffered from hamstring cramps in the 22nd mile and thereafter.  They were severe enough that it cost me several minutes and ruined some good runs.  My solution for tomorrow’s Sunburst Marathon was to take Succeed Caps, which are salt tablets.  There is much information on the internet that they work in preventing cramping during endurance events.  Finally, the missing piece of the puzzle.  I am ready to fulfill my marathon potential!

Whoa…not so fast.  Last night my middle son Alex asked if I would take him to the library so he could get a book for school today.  While he was looking for his book, I decided to go into the magaizine room to see if I could get some good last-minute race advice out of Runner’s World magazine.  Bad idea.  The first article I see is about how salt tablets don’t work in preventing cramping.  The source was an MD who is also a marathon runner.  He said that studies have not determined what causes cramping during endurance events, however they have proven that salt/sodium does not prevent them.  Talk about bursting my bubble…..that did it!  Of course I am still going to take the Succeed Caps tomorrow and they are going to work.  How’s that for positive thinking?  Fortunately the next article I read was about dealing with pain during endurance events…..

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 06/05/2009
• Time: 06:00:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00
• Calories: 183

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 05/18/2009
• Time: 05:30:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Calories: 549

45 minutes on exercise bike; 45 minutes on elliptical machine

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 05/13/2009
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:30:00.00
• Calories: 823

More light cross-training….trying to keep my legs fresh for Saturday’s big run

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 04/30/2009
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:30:00.00
• Calories: 274

Light cross-training

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 04/29/2009
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:30:00.00
• Calories: 274

Yes, those are the words to a bad Michael Bolton song (like he had any good ones?), but also appropriate for my aching upper/inside calf right now.  I think I am going to need a few days off since it’s all knotty and sore.  Bad timing I guess with only 10 days until race-day, but maybe the time off will be healing.  I had planned to do a 60-minute cross training workout on my exercise bike but instead shortened to 20 due to my calf situation.

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 04/22/2009
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00
• Calories: 183

50 minutes on exercise bike; 50 minutes on elliptical machine

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 04/08/2009
• Time: 04:30:00
• Total Time: 1:40:00.00
• Calories: 911

50 minutes on exercise bike; 40 minutes on elliptical machine

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 04/01/2009
• Time: 04:30:00
• Total Time: 1:30:00.00
• Calories: 819

40 minutes on exercise bike, 40 minutes on elliptical machine

Workout:

• Type: General Cardio
• Date: 03/25/2009
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:20:00.00
• Calories: 728