fatguywithablog

Today is a cardio day and I want to go for a run after work.  However, there is nothing but rain in the forecast, so I might be regulated to the gym.

Running is interesting to me.  I started running last fall and did well.  At the time I was a graduate student in Boston and I got to work out a fancy new fitness center with an indoor track.  I did very well running there building up to a 40 minute, 4 mile run.

I than graduated, took a job in Rhode Island and moved to Providence.  I know live in a beautiful neighborhood with lots of sidewalks and lots of hills.  My running has suffered.

I expected some change moving from an indoor track to the outside but not as bad as I am experiencing.  Running outside in the heat, with the wind and up and down hills is hard!  I am lucky if I can last a 20 minute run.  I don’t even bother thinking about distance anymore, I just hope I can last long enough to keep my heart rate elevated for a decent amount of time.

I am curious how much of this is a physical harder run vs how much is mental.

I am in need of new running shoes and I will get them shortly.  Maybe those will be the mental trick I need to get over what is blocking me from having great runs.  I find that sometimes something silly like new shoes will make you think you can run better, faster, longer, when really it is just a mind game.  But if it works, than go with it.

There is also a big football stadium near me.  I have done some stair work there.  Talk about a good walk out!  75 stairs to the top of the stadium.  The first day I worked out there, I ran up the stairs twice.  After my second time to the top I have to sit for about 5 minutes.  My legs were shaking so bad that I did not feel safe walking back down!

I have been back since, but have decided to build up some endurance using the other side of the stadium (about 30 steps).  Some day I will get back to racing up the long haul.