Mel Def's Journal

flyinfree said:
:)

maybe try running in grass, or on a treadmill, with no shoes for 20 minutes. see if you bones open up some, it may feel really good.
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Never thought about running without shoes on the treadmill! That is novel. I will try it. I saw someone at the race I did last weekend who had on those running "shoes" that look like rubber soled socks. Thought they would be painful on pavement. Any thoughts on those? I am going to take a look at them soon.

Definitely will try the barefoot running and see how that goes. Maybe the Nike + I could tape on my foot. heheh. Yesterday I ran and the thing didn't upload on my account online! Damn I was mad. I am all about getting credit and wondered if it counted if Nike didn't see it- Silly.

New issue of Running is good by the way. Some advice on training for marathons that seemed interesting.
 
Mel Def said:
Never thought about running without shoes on the treadmill! That is novel. I will try it. I saw someone at the race I did last weekend who had on those running "shoes" that look like rubber soled socks. Thought they would be painful on pavement. Any thoughts on those? I am going to take a look at them soon.

Definitely will try the barefoot running and see how that goes. Maybe the Nike + I could tape on my foot. heheh. Yesterday I ran and the thing didn't upload on my account online! Damn I was mad. I am all about getting credit and wondered if it counted if Nike didn't see it- Silly.

New issue of Running is good by the way. Some advice on training for marathons that seemed interesting.
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there are "barefoot" runners and all that. I actually finished my first 70.3 ironman barefooted. BUT- my suggestion was just for change up, and let your feet get loose ya know.

i am more in support of having good shoes for running. but on a treadmill you are pretty safe to not step on anything :) or stub a lil pinky toe.
 
OHMAGAWD<------------- Insert Valley Girl Inflection here. 10 minutes on the treadmill in socks has done a good thing, maybe temporary but I will take it!!! Plus, seemed like I ran more efficently, faster and could feel my foot strike and keep my stride balanced. How exciting! I may do that on a regular basis and this makes me even more interested in those rubber soled running sock things I saw at the race. I can see the potential of shaving time off my runs this way... I could put the Nike + inside the sock maybe?! I will try it later as a warm up to my daily sprint workout.

Thanks for that! I am not hobbling!
 
The running shoes you mention are more likely than not Vibram Five Fingers. I understand they're somewhat of a pain to get on, but once you have them on, they're ultra comfortable.
 
Those Vibram five fingers, that probably is it. I ill look into the Nike ones too. I like Shox for lifting fer sure. Ugh. In serious pain from Saturday's training session and feel like an old lady. Still, it feels good to be back at it. I know it will get easier.

I went to a great running store and they looked at my running via film on a treadmill- slight over pronation at times but he said not necessarily something I need a shoe for. We talked training for longer distances and so forth and it was great to talk to runners who live the lifestyle. Still- I am first and foremost a bodybuilder and not sure being a passionate runner is going to take that from me. I will see how the balance works but I learn so much from my body lifting that I don't with running. I can tweak running endlessly though. I have so much to learn still. Isn't that what makes life so exciting?

That realization of how little you know seems to launch the way to figuring out and growing. I love that. I like figuring out what scares me and ways to approach it so I become a conqueror of the fear. Random thoughts I guess. I am sleepy and might or might not run today. Could help the legs. :)
 
what an ex cellent post you just made MelDef! too much to even tgouch on, alot of depth there.

maybe take a few minutes some time and loos up "chi running"

it is more a philosphy, than mechanics and technology. As I learned abotu the essentials all other elements made sense.

You are a real sweater and a great lady.

p.s. a body that can't run, is not really a body that works well-- ie: a body builder that also performs is far superior-- you FEMALE ARE ULTIMATE!

and you have3 a brain!

no w ay!

FF
 
Thanks for the support! OK, got up and trained this AM. I spent a good bit of time trying to talk myself out of it but went anyway. Score one for me. I am still supposed to do some cardio and haven't done it yet. SORE. TIRED. I have done a good job out of talking myself out of that so far but the evening isn't over yet.

Did I mention I am SORE? OH yes. Incorporating more stretching and foam rolling and drinking more water to combat the DOMS, I still hurt but probably would hurt more if I didn't do it.

A bit depressed as my fiancee's deployment grows nearer... determined to be strong and not a big cry baby. He doesn't need that sort of crap but I feel sad just the same and I have to let that be allowed even if I don't burden him with my sadness.

A good run might help that sad stuff release. I think setting the goal of doing a time of 30 minutes no matter how slow or fast will help me atleast get the habit adhered to. Hmmm. Thinking about it.

Tomorrow is a double cardio day. I am committing to that. No training until Thursday.

I ate junk all weekend with my sweetie who is on a junk food tear. Oh well. Today I have been mostly good and will be for the rest of the week as I am meeting his family this weekend and want to look lean and trim. All dangerous foods are gone!
 
Sorry to hear that the future Mr. Mel is going overseas - Afghanistan? For how long? As a husband and father, it is very tough for us to leave (I only leave for 5 days, not 5 months) so if you can put on a tough face (I know, easier said than done), I guarantee you that will make his life much easier.

Congrats on your training - you continue to impress me. And 40 was no big deal at all. Now, 50, that is a different story...
 
g8r80 said:
Sorry to hear that the future Mr. Mel is going overseas - Afghanistan? For how long? As a husband and father, it is very tough for us to leave (I only leave for 5 days, not 5 months) so if you can put on a tough face (I know, easier said than done), I guarantee you that will make his life much easier.

Congrats on your training - you continue to impress me. And 40 was no big deal at all. Now, 50, that is a different story...
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Yes my beloved is going over "there" but not Afghanistan. He will go for just a few months for this deployment but January is the BIG one and gone for 12 months then. I will be brave and push my chin out and know he has done it many times before and made it through... much hairier places then this go around. He is the strongest and bravest man I know and I want him to be proud of me. :)

So a quick note to record that I did do my sprints! Yippee! I love sticking to my discipline. I want that to expand to more and more. I have goals to reach and ground to cover. I have to write down my new goals but working through what those are for now. I will be very gung ho once I am not distracted by the pending deployment.

You inspire me g8r80! We have both come to the athletic life late but full throttle. I like that better than being the aging high school athlete with the spare tire and what once was stories. Yay for us for being excellent!
 
Today sprints and training. So slepy but wasn't feeling all that great. Still, I did what I needed to do. The weekend will be no working out but football game and walking to the stadium and other activites will keep me active at least.

Must watch the food. :)
 
It's always hard to go back to doing what I should when I stop. I wish this weren't the case but it is and I will again require a mental game of prodding, cajoling and threatening myself to get back to my required routine. Bah. My foot hurts- there is a bruise on top and it's puffy and I cannot fathom WHY. The treadmill itself or the shoes Im running in or other shoes that I wear to work? I am going to try running in a different pair of shoes first and see how that goes.

After not having a cycle for a very long time I have one again which means bodyfat. I don't know how I feel about that. Well I do know how I feel about it but I guess I shouldn't. I like being so lean I don't have that inconvienent and crappy thing happen. I feel like I am waffling and not committed to my program right now with all the flux and change and waiting of other things going on but let's face it, part of that is excuse and I have enough time to do whatever I want to truly do. I am not committed to myself right now and I have to get that energy back to where it should be.

I commit right now to doing 30 minutes on the treadmill tonight- even if some of it is slow paced. Plus I will send an email to Gina about training- if not this week ( which I really should) then next. Plus I got new stretching book that I want to try out some of the stuff in. Excited about that! I must make the effort to make a difference and the only way to do that is to commit to a path again and again- no matter how many stops and starts.
 
Two runs with the Mizunos instead of the Asic Kayano's and my foot hurts less. That sucks that so much money was spent on those and now they are too painful to wear. They aren't too small, just hit me wrong somehow.

Didn't want to run this AM but finally shame, the scale and observing how very soft I am getting got me on the treadmill. I looked at some gyms this morning and am thinking of trying something a bit different because I am bored and feeling worn out instead of energized and fit like working out is supposed to do. I have been in a state of "poor me" this week and it isn't doing me any good. I must do for others and take the focus off myself, be brave and try new things, stick to the boring stuff and look for the new exciting and scary stuff.

I am forever resetting but that is the fun part! Always new and fresh is better to think about then unpredictable and scary ( which sometimes things are really).

Running this morning was great! I do need a new playlist but that is easy enough. There is a gym in Decatur I am thinking of trying out. Why not?

The nike + has made me angry this week. I am getting tired of the malfunctioning and dropping my runs! Grrrr. It recorded 2 out of the 3 and of course dropped the longest and fastest run. :( Damn thing.

I am concentrating on my adventure and happiness and that can control though so no worries! This is just one big expierment and I can always scrap the results and start over. That is indeed the beauty of it.

I am looking for a race to do this month and the next 2.
I want a BMI of 19 down from 20.
I want to build strength and a new skill.

Goals to work towards. I shall get more specific on the last one when I figure it out.
 
Hill work is not my idea of fun or very gratifying. I just hope it produces some sort of result. Slow speeds this AM ( max was 6.5!) and heavy duty inclines between 4 and 12%. Must have been good for me because I am exhausted but gosh the numbers don't tally, do they? 2.5 miles in 30 minutes? Thats like being at a standstill.

I am looking into joining a new gym. I put the membership on hold at the Y with it being so expensive and not I yearn to lift and be around people sometimes. The treadmill isn't doing it and I don't seem to be able to train with Roc financially right now. Must find alternative.

I feel blobby and gross this morning. Eating cottage cheese always does that but I do love it. I know what I will feel like after. :( I am going to find a little fun race to run this weekend and take it easy at home and enjoy my solitude. I might get together with friends too! Breakfast out would be nice. Mmmm. I do love the weekend.
 
Isn't it amazing how moment to moment, our outlook can change and what once seemed like the impossible or the unlikely turns into reality?

I love living this life and never regret doing things out of my comfort zone. I need constant reminder of this as does everyone. It is so easy to slide into perdictable comatose "safe" mode when all about you the world seems crazy nuts and you don't know what will happen next. So I took my eyes off of those things out of my control and understanding and got back to those that I can do something about.

I have been in a state of flux. This deployment and it not coming off and getting delayed and the erratic schedule have left me focusing on all the WRONG things and getting more and more upset and depressed. Yes. DEPRESSED. The things I know I am good at and can do I didn't do. My six pack is now a one pack. I am squishy and my legs heavy from resorting to eating out of comfort and instant gratification instead of nourishment and fuel for my workouts. Workouts? I have done the bare minimum for the last couple of weeks and after working out so intensely for so long- my metabolism is wacked. I went over 135 which is DANGER weight and hovered there all week. That scale plays with my head and a vicious cycle ensues... pretty soon I am eating junk and feeling that terrible sinking feeling in my tummy. The one that tells me " you don't rule YOU. You don't have SELF CONTROL. You are WEAK." Bad thoughts. Thoughts that dont allow me to progress and grow but keep me in a cottony trap of self indulgence, pity and angst. Last night, I bought junk and ate it until it was gone. I decided I would do this as a fire under me to get me to do what needed to be done.

I got up this morning, emailed Gina that I would be training this week when they come back from Team U, got my workout clothes on, marched over to a new gym in Decatur, hit the iron and feel MUCH BETTER!!!! I love this gym and am going to probably join it. I NEED to belong with people doing there best and my current gym was not the place. It is people going through the motions and doing the bare minimum. Nothing wrong with that but I need to be fired up to be competitive and bring my A game. Not going to do that around people peddling on the recumbent reading magazines. I need to see people sweating, grunting and getting red in the face. People not giving in to being mediocre.

I am PUMPED. It looked like the sort of gym with athletes- not pros but people who regularly train for 10k's, tris and so forth. I didnt see bodybuilders- but I shall fit in fine there and for me it isn't just about the cosmetic anymore. It was for a long time but I am growing and interested in being strong and speedy and lithe and flexible. I am deepening my level of fitness to grow and strenghten body AND mind.

I am putting together my game plan and enjoying mapping out my success. I am really enjoying thinking of all the new things I plan on taking on and getting back on track with my fitness level. I will run on the treadmill a bit later and go in the morning to the gym again. It will be fine.

More sleep
More working out
Less salt
Less junk
More positive habits
More stretching
More rolling


Not all or nothing. I am taking this as a marathon and not a sprint. Fitness is ingrained in me and I won't lose my drive and commitment even if I take breaks once in a while. I don't need to worry about that anymore.
 
LeiYunFat said:
Hey Mel, are you into the blogs at barefootfts?
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YES!!! Completely! Craig always puts the most timely messages up. I dream one day of training with those tough people. They seem amazing. That Henry Rollins article he put up was so perfect and spoke to me.

I love this quote...

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
 
Yes that is a good one. I saw your screen name in one of the blog comments and thought the name sounded familiar.

I'm not a fan of the Rollins thing though. Way too over the top and dramatic for my tastes.
 
LeiYunFat said:
Yes that is a good one. I saw your screen name in one of the blog comments and thought the name sounded familiar.

I'm not a fan of the Rollins thing though. Way too over the top and dramatic for my tastes.
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It is passionate for sure. I like Rollins though and he is a poet- writer so should be given a little license. :) Craig Weller and his little boxes on the paper... keep meaning to do that myself. Maybe I will do that to commemorate my 40th in 11 days. Gulp. That's a lot of boxes down. Will it drive me to take more risk or paralyze me with fear? I like to think the former.
 
hahaha the box thing. I really like that idea. I am two boxes away from a filling in the 21st column.
 
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