Jocelyn's 1/2 Marathon Journal

[feelin-great]

Thanks Becky

[feelin-great]

I ran on the treadmill tonight. The plan was to do a 2 minute warm-up, 30 minutes of intervals, and a 2 minute cool down. I was doing great - I was jogging 4 minutes at a 11:31 min/mile pace and then running 1 minute at a 9:13 min/mile pace. Then at just before 24 minutes my hand bumped the emergency stop So frustrating!!!!! I was doing so well, I felt great, and felt like I could go for a long time, then I just stopped I reset it for the remaining 10 minutes and I did finish at the same pace, but I didn't feel as good as I had before it stopped. I was going to skip the last sprint (well, probably not a sprint for most!) but when I got to that minute I just went for it, so I was happy I didn't give in

Unfortunately, I guess bad things happen in threes. Yesterday a classmate from high school was killed She was last seen sitting on the train tracks before a train came along and hit her What a terrible way to go I haven't seen her in years, but it still breaks my heart. She had such a terrible upbringing and she has struggled with depression for years. RIP Carrie

[musculArgirl2]

It sounds like a good run even with hitting the emergency stop.

Unfortunately, I guess bad things happen in threes. Yesterday a classmate from high school was killed She was last seen sitting on the train tracks before a train came along and hit her What a terrible way to go I haven't seen her in years, but it still breaks my heart. She had such a terrible upbringing and she has struggled with depression for years. RIP Carrie

Very sad.

[feelin-great]

Last night I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, but I bumped it up to a level 10. And I didn't use the broken one Unfortunately my shins are kind of bothering me again, but not terrible for now. I will just have to keep my eyes on them.

My co-worker that used to give me candy all the time made the decision last night that she needs to start eating healthy and she thinks my support will help. She called me last night to tell me this. She said she will support me as well. Just a few minutes ago she got this proud look on her face and put something on my desk. It was a single box of Froot Loops She said, "See, no more candy, I am making healthy choices now, so I won't offer you more candy." I really wanted to say that Froot Loops aren't any better, but she looked so proud of herself that I didn't have the heart to say anything!

[Boss Man]

I like promoting learning.

Like learning 5 a day means antioxidents, not "Fruit and Veg", so people don't wrongly assume that things like Corn, Peas and Beans must be Veg.

Well its a better assumption to make than thinking those are all Fruits, even if thinking they're Veg is wrong

However that is a little advanced for the Froot Loops woman right now. Baby steps for her to start with I think .

[feelin-great]

I told her I was proud of her for taking the initiative. Honestly, though, it won't work for me to try to teach her. I love her to pieces but she won't listen to me if I try to teach her to eat healthy, she will just give up. She is a very positive thinking person and if anyone disagrees with her she gets upset and thinks they are just being negative - she is hard to explain! She is a great friend though

I had a really rough day at work today - I was so stressed out all I could think about doing was getting to the gym for a good run (okay, I have to first admit that this is a huge step forward for me, I wasn't thinking about going home and eating Chinese and a pint of ice cream ). So I got to the gym and hopped on the treadmill thinking I was going to have my best run yet, I had to get my frustrations out. It didn't happen As soon as I started running I could tell my shins weren't going to hold up. I am stubborn so I continued to run (at a slow pace) but at 10 minutes I couldn't run another step I didn't want to give up so easily so I got on the elliptical but I just couldn't give it my all, I think I was just frustrated from my shins and it was a mental thing that I couldn't push hard. So after 12 minutes I just left.

I am so frustrated I just want to scream!!!!!! I have never had issues with my shins in the past and now I suddenly can only run one time in a week before I am in excruciating paing The only thing I can think to change is my shoes. I am wearing different shoes than when I used to run - they are a completely brand and style. I was actually fitted for them, so I thought they would be good. I have to assume it is the shoes, since it is the only thing that changed. So I am going to let me shins heal - again - and then when I run again I am going to try my old shoes. If my shins don't hurt then I know I need to buy a new pair similar to my old ones.

I am going to go scream now

[musculArgirl2]

Bummer! The only thing i can think of is possibly you jumped to running 30 minutes too quickly. Another possibility is you never had this happen when you were running outdoors. I don't know why the treadmill would cause it but you could try outdoors (espcially now that it's not as humid outside) and see if that helps (but you would think outdoors would be harder surface so i wouldn't think that would help.)


Yeah you would think it's not the shoes if you were fitted for them but who knows.


Definitely frustrating!! I feel your pain! Hang in there. I'm sure you will get it figured out.

[musculArgirl2]

I did a litte research online (what can say, i use the internet while i work and it helps to prevent boredom) anyways, treadmills can cause shin splints. One article i read said to not use them if possible. And if you have to, try using an incline and slowing your pace down a little. Something you could try.

[feelin-great]

I did a litte research online (what can say, i use the internet while i work and it helps to prevent boredom) anyways, treadmills can cause shin splints. One article i read said to not use them if possible. And if you have to, try using an incline and slowing your pace down a little. Something you could try.

Hmmmm, interesting. Maybe I will try a slight incline!

[fitoverforty]

One article i read said to not use them if possible

I have read this also. Brings back flashbacks of that awful hamstring pull that I got earlier this year while on the treadmill - worse pain I've ever felt in 25 years of running. Then, stupid me, decided after a week or so to try to run again on the treadmill and again, about 15 min. in - pulled same hamstring! So I swore off of them for a long time. Only use them now when I have no other choice.
When I am at the gym I either do the elliptical or run on the indoor or outdoor track. I tried running on the gyms treadmill one time, thought I was going get beat to death! That thing was rough - even tho' it is a new machine ya gotta take into account how many people are using it daily, I'm sure the cushioned deck gets worn down much faster. Plus, on a treadmill you are forcing your body to adapt to it, keep up with it - and you are not running in your natural stride because your foot is traveling backwards every step on the belt whereas with running it is planted then pushed off from.
Not trying (well maybe I am a little..) to dissuade you from treadmills....just giving you my thoughts on it. If it is your only option right now, then just take it slower, try the other shoes.
I'm not sure about that incline thing....seems like that would engage the shin muscles more with the lift of the toes? I've read that speed work, uphill and downhill running or running on hard or uneven surfaces can lead to shin splints. Also, try not to lean forward too much as that can shift the weight forward causing strain on the shins. hope this helps some.

[Boss Man]

Orthotics might help.

The slight incline would promote the idea of not heel striking. possibly because in your mind subliminally, heel striking on an incline might cause you to slip or fall off, I would suggest.

[feelin-great]

It has been another horrendous day at work. I was really looking forward to working out tonight just to work the day off of my mind. Then at 4:00 I got a phone call that my sister and her four kids are in town (surprise, oh, did we forget to tell you we were coming ). So then I was really excited to go see my nieces and nephews. Then at 4:50 I got called into my boss' boss' office (my boss is out of town). I was then informed that they need a spreadsheet completed by first thing in the morning Seriously! The ONE NIGHT my family is home unexpectedly and I can't even take the night off

Anyway, I skipped the gym and decided to visit the kids for a bit. They roped me into a mean game of baseball Um, ouch. My shins are ON FIRE!!!!!! But I guess I got a pretty decent workout in from all of that running! It was a blast, we had so much fun

Then I came home to work and my work computer is not working (wow, that was a confusing sentence). Gee, darn, guess that spreadsheet is gonna have to wait

[musculArgirl2]

Sounds like a fun evening! Don't you love it when at 4:50 someone comes to you and want's something done. I'm sorry 4:50?? I'm already packing up to go home by then when i use to get off at 5pm. Even worse he wanted you to work on it last night while family was in town.

Once my manager at a previous job came to me at 4:50 on a friday and started training me in on something, hello?? I practically had the computer off by than and had totally checked out, ready for the weekend. I don't think i retained much of what she told me.


I guess i know what you will be working on this morning. Good Luck!

[feelin-great]

I looked a little into issue of shin splints on treadmills. From what I can gather, running downhill can cause shin splints. When you run on a treadmill it is perfectly flat, which is apparently just like running slightly downhill (or so I have read). So when you increase the incline even slightly, it is a little bit more like running outdoors. So as soon as my shins heal I am going to try that. Until then, it will be the elliptical and weights.

[feelin-great]

I have not worked out since I hurt my shins It has been a whirlwind of a week. I feel like all I ever do is things for other people and by the time I stop for a breath I realize that I am not taking care of myself at all I have been eating completely terribly and not exercising at all. Tuesday night my 2 year old nephew fell and cracked his head open and ended up with 8 staples in his head I was the one that had to rush them to the hospital because my sister was too devastated to drive.

Back to the grind tonight...