11/11/09: abs+

I've been sick for the past few days. I canceled squash today with Mel but allowed myself to be convinced to go to abs class. I managed to multitask in my convalescence these past few days: the time off allowed by cold to get better and my back/hip injuries to heal. I think I hurt both my back and hip at the same time, and now the back has healed but the hip is still bothering me. Abs class gave me a chance to gently resume exercise. It was highly ab centered this week so hopefully it didn't make my hip worse.

11/8/09: swimming

I got a brand new watch that has a lap timer so I gave it a whirl today while swimming. I did 30 laps in 36 minutes. I'm still working on swimming form and keeping my head low in the water and my feet high. It's getting easier and I definitely make each stroke go further when I'm in the correct position. All day I was feeling like I'm coming down with a cold, and swimming totally cured it (for the moment). My back is still bugging me so I didn't make it the entire 45 minutes that I intended, but I think I'll need to stick to gentle biking and swimming this week while I recover.

Split times: 59, 1:02, 1:04, 1:05, 1:08, 1:06, 1:09, 1:07, 1:09, 1:04, 1:30, 1:07, 1:08, 1:11, 1:11, 1:12, 1:03, 1:30, 1:10, 1:12, 1:12, 1:20, 1:12, 1:18, 1:20, 1:14, 1:12, 1:56, 1:10, 1:14 (30 laps, average split time 1:12)

11/6/09: running

Stupid: running after your back starts hurting
Smart: stopping a run once your back starts to hurt
Smartest: don't go running in the first place

Today I was smart. My back was bothering me, but I decided to give running a try anyway because I haven't been since Tuesday (it's becoming a drug...). After a mile, my back was starting to hurt and I was feeling exhausted. I read my body's signals and decided today should be a day of rest. Everyone needs those once in awhile. Run stats: 1.16 miles, 12'37", average pace of 10'51" minutes per mile.

11/5/09: swimming

I checked out The Triathlete's Training Bible from the library. On the very first page was the quote:

"Many dedicated endurance athletes don't need to be told what do to-- they need to be told what not to do."

Seems very appropriate given my back problems this week. Luckily, I seem to have bounced back and swimming today was no problem. We are now up to 5 people in my lane and I am still the slowest... grrr. We used fins for most of today. I'm fast as long as no arms are required.

11/4/09: squash

Apparently "taking it easy" in my world means playing squash... me and my poor life decisions. I won 1 game and Mel won 3.

11/3/09: running

Today I went to the gym with Maddie and ran on the treadmill. My goal was to run a 5k as measured by the treadmill, which I did in precisely 35 minutes. I tweaked my back and kept running through it which shows very poor judgment because now I need to take it easy. Nike+ run stats: 3.31 miles, 35'04", for an average pace of 10'34" minutes per mile.

11/1/09: running

I went running on the treadmill in the hotel gym the morning after Priti's wedding. Interestingly, this treadmill registered more miles and a faster time than the Nike+, so the misestimates seem to be treadmill specific. Run stats: 3.32 miles, 40'20", for an average pace of 12'07" minutes per mile.