Jocelyn's 1/2 Marathon Journal

[feelin-great]

I'm betting you are going come through this fine. Think of the emotional payoff you are going to get when you finish that race.

Thanks, I appreciate the confidence

I am a little nervous that I really hurt my knee now. I was getting stuff loaded in my car last night for a rummage sale this morning and when I was going down the front steps I tweaked it Then this morning when I was unloading it was really hurting. As the day went on it got worse. I eventually took ibuprofen for the pain. I have been icing it tonight and it does feel better. I am hoping I can get out for a morning run tomorrow but if there is any pain I will stay off of it. Today is the first time it hurt bad enough to take something, but hopefully it was just a fluke and is already healing. So no exercise so far this weekend, except of course the loading and unloading of tons of junk, which I guess was a bit of a workout Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

[Boss Man]

Keep doing what you're doing and take it day by day. If it's still feeling funny don't run on it.

One thing you could do though, assuming walking is not an issue is just walk at a fast pace. It's not the kind of stride pattern or cadance you'd be used to doing, but it's better than a poke in the eye and it will improve circulation to the afected area, warm up the surrounding muscles and boost Oxygenation of the Knee tissues.

That way you'd be reducing the amount of aerobic losses, that could be created by being sedentary for a few days.

If the fast pace is too much, walk more slowly and use a flat route.

[feelin-great]

I am home with the flu today Haven't been this miserable in a very long time. My sister had it Saturday night and by Sunday afternoon she was back to herself so I am hoping this is very short-lived! On the bright side, my knee is much, much better. I must have just twisted it wrong when I was loading stuff in my car. Hope everyone is having a super day, I am hoping to be healthy tomorrow

[EdgarHF]

Sorry about the flu, but great news about the knee. Hope the flu passes quickly.

[sandigirl06]

Hi, Joc...congrats on your decision to run a half marathon, girl!!!! How awesome is that?? I hope you are getting over your flu. What a bummer! You will do great in the marathon. Crossing the finish line will be so exciting and rewarding for you! Reach for the stars!!

[feelin-great]

Crossing the finish line will be so exciting and rewarding for you!

That's what is getting me through the training! Some days when I am running I think to myself that I am an idiot for wanting to go further - but accomplishing it will be the greatest payoff and it is completely worth it because it is something that I can say I did for myself, nobody else, just for me

I am feeling much better today. Not 100%, but definitely better. I think now I am just weak from lack of food and I am a bit dehydrated. Today I will focus on getting my energy back so I can start running again.

Tomorrow morning my parents and my sister and her family are going camping at the same place as before, the one on the biking trails. They are taking Stewie with them so I am going to go there every day after work and then over the weekend. I am excited because it gives me the chance to run those trails again for five days Now I just need to figure out how to use my watch so I can time myself to see if I can improve!

[fitoverforty]

I am excited because it gives me the chance to run those trails again for five days Now I just need to figure out how to use my watch so I can time myself to see if I can improve!

Awesome! I love trail running. What kind of watch do you have? Does it have a standard stopwatch function? I guess you read about Edgars watch - Sweet! A watch like that is not in my budget at this time...but now I have a goal to save $

[feelin-great]

Awesome! I love trail running. What kind of watch do you have? Does it have a standard stopwatch function? I guess you read about Edgars watch - Sweet! A watch like that is not in my budget at this time...but now I have a goal to save $

I have the Women's Timex Sport Ironman watch. I haven't yet figured it out, I got it to time the first run I did but since then I can't get it back to that! THere are only 5 buttons total so you'd think I'd figure it out but I can't - and the instructions mean nothing to me LOL! I got so frustrated with it the other day I threw it across the room

Yes, I am completely jealous of Edgar's watch - not in my budget right now, either!

[fitoverforty]

Okay, from what I can tell...the "mode" button should have the stopwatch timer.
Is this the watch?:

Press the mode button to take you to the stopwatch screen - should have 00:00 showing. The "start/split" button starts the timer, you can press it again during your run to record a split time, basically a "halfway" time (say on an out & back course - when you turn around press it and it will save what time you had then) the split feature is used most of the time to record a "negative split" - to try to run back faster than they ran out. Or you can press it at each mile marker, and it will record each mile time and save it, so you can see what you are averaging pace per mile. The "Stop/reset" button is first to stop the timer, then to reset it back to 00:00 for the next time you run. And I'm thinking the "Set/Recall" button is for setting the time, day, date and the "recall" must be to view stored memory of times. I had one similar to this and I could save different workout times, to go back and compare new times to. Hope this helps you! It's a nice watch.
I have the Timex Marathon watch: it has a stopwatch, 10 pre-set timers, a pulse counter, and an alarm. I like the pre-set timers, say I want to run for an hour, I can choose the 1 hour timer and start running and it will beep several times at the 30 minute mark, so I know I am halfway (great for "out & back" routes). I also use the pre-set 1 minute timer for doing planks - keeps me honest!! lol!

[feelin-great]

You make it sound so simple That's actually how I got it to work the first time but since then I can't get back to the simple timer mode. Mine looks a tad bit different than this one, it must be a different model. But it has the same basic buttons. Somehow I have it stuck in the splits mode and can't find my way out. I think it is basically so that I can set the first split at a certain number of minutes and then set the next at a different number and then will repeat. It would be good for sprints but that's not what I want right now, I just want the simple timer

I guess I will just sit down with it tonight and see if I can figure it out. I wish I had seen the marathon one, they didn't have that one there when I bought it.

[feelin-great]

I can't figure out how to post pictures! The watch I have is the Sleek 50-lap watch. It seems like it should be so simple so I am sure I am just over-thinking it.

[EdgarHF]

Yes, I am completely jealous of Edgar's watch - not in my budget right now, either!

It really wasn't in my budget either. I have a Vegas trip planned for September and I stole from my savings for that trip.

That's actually how I got it to work the first time but since then I can't get back to the simple timer mode.

I think you need a PhD to use any of these watches. I still can not figure out how to get the heart monitor to work on mine.

[musculargirl]

I have an ironman watch from a million years ago. And i just play around with it and push buttons to figure things out. The buttons are pretty old though so i just know how to use a few things on it. So i know how you feel. That's the one thing i hate about buying electronics is trying to figure things out. Its kind of like when i buy something i don't have anyone to help me put it together so i very rarely buy something that needs man help. Like you said you were thinking about buying a treadmill, the first thing i would think about if i had to buy a treadmill is do i have to put it together.

Did you ever get in to the doctor about your knee?? I'm glad its doing better!

[feelin-great]

i just play around with it and push buttons to figure things out.

That's what I tried because the instructions were like a foreign language - and when I did try following the instructions it didn't do what it was supposed to do anyway It says something like "from this screen, push this button" but it doesn't tell you how to get to "this screen" - ugggghhhhh!

Did you ever get in to the doctor about your knee?? I'm glad its doing better!

I had to cancel my appointment because of a conflict at work that afternoon. I haven't rescheduled yet, I think I am going to wait until I can tell if it gets better or worse. But right now it is feeling pretty good

[musculargirl]

That's what I tried because the instructions were like a foreign language - and when I did try following the instructions it didn't do what it was supposed to do anyway It says something like "from this screen, push this button" but it doesn't tell you how to get to "this screen" - ugggghhhhh

Good luck in trying to figure it out! Maybe you can go where ever you bought it and ask someone. They may know and probably won't but its an idea. or ask someone who is pretty good with electronics. They usually can figure it out.