Strong (and tired) - Physically fit?

[fitfool]

I've only gone running once in the 3.5 weeks since the marathon. At first I basked in the sore muscles and creaky joints and didn't mind not running. After about a week I started looking at the schedule of local races for the next 2-3 months. After 2 weeks I ran a quick 4-mile run but found my ankle and knees still protested. So I figured I'd rest some more and run over Thanksgiving. Nope...just lazed about and cooked, ate, read, and slept.

Now I'm itching to go for a run but am reluctant to run in the cold and dark. So tonight I decided to run the stairs in my apartment building. Up to the 4th floor. tap tap tap tap back down. Up-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-Turn!-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9...winding around and around until I felt kinda dizzy. But I did it. 20 times up and down.

Felt so good to get back in my body that I gave myself a mini-physical-fitness test. So for all you military people, would I pass? Or do I need to try again? I'm a 30-year-old female.

2 minutes push-ups	36 (regular kind, not modified)
2 minutes sit-ups	59 (if toes were hooked under the couch) 40 (with toes not anchored under anything)
2-mile run	18:00 (estimated by taking the times of the first 2 miles in my marathon training runs)

It was nice to feel strong but now I'm tuckered out and will go to sleep at a decent hour.

Comments

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Please lj-cut the table. It's messing up my friends page.

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, things seem fine now. Maybe it's just my Firefox acting up on me. There's a 5K run around here that's done every year. Maybe I should start training...

[never-the-less.livejournal.com]

running in the cold is not bad at all -- you just need the propoer clothes! last year i ran outside down to 12 degrees -- you just have to watch for ice. the cold air feels good in the lungs, if you ask me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/chaoticbliss_/]

Wow!! I wish I could even do a little of what you've said there, I'm so unfit it's unreal :(... though I just quit smoking this week, so hopefully I'll be able to breath better soon, haha

Re: dude, that is so rude...

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

Apologies, I did not realize that Lj etiquette.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Good morning. Looks fine when I switch to the friends page view so I'll leave it for now. If it's still causing problems, let me know and I'll put the table behind a cut.

Re: dude, that is so rude...

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

In greybeta's defense, I have no email address posted so really the only way to contact me is leaving a comment. But thanks for enlightening me on another point of LJ politesse. I hadn't known about this one either.

Re: it's passing

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Thanks! What would be the minimum requirements for your battalion? For situps, were my toes supposed to be anchored or not? I'm hoping anchored is allowed since I got a lot more in that way. 14:19 is considered marginal? Geez...I guess I have a ways to go if I want to make 'passing the PT test' using the men's criteria a side goal. Though I imagine the push-ups will remain well out of reach for a long while.

Meanwhile....I thought you were taking a break from LJ? :)

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I'm such a wimp about the cold but I hate treadmills even more. I've run down to 7 degrees but I really hate being cold. I just need to get my schedule back over so I'm waking up early enough to run before work. Running in the dark is tough though. I wear reflective gear but my main concern is getting hit by a car. There's a 2.5-mile loop that's mostly lit by streetlamps but the rest of my routes take me through unlit areas that are so dark that dodging potholes and fallen branches would be hard. *sigh*

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on quitting smoking! Does that mean you're taking up running? I've heard of more than a few ex-smokers who took up running just to keep their mind off cigarettes.

[http://users.livejournal.com/chaoticbliss_/]

Thanks :).. I wouldn't be able to run! I'm 16 stones, it would be a great strain on my legs and ankles I think, plus I don't have time, with having a 3 year old! so I'll prolly end up eating instead of smoking, lol... though I'm going to a dietrician today

[greybeta.livejournal.com]

I think my Firefox was just acting up on me. It happens from time to time. And you are one crazy lady for running the NYC marathon. My scheming roommate told me he almost died when he ran a half-marathon.

[lispsugrl.livejournal.com]

It is *completely* normal to have a tough time getting back into the swing of things after a marathon. You're doing the right thing by at least getting your body to do something....all that running is good but sometimes a break can be a very good thing. The winter time is a very good time to work on fitness level and getting stronger...I think that can be a huge factor in running. Last offseason I did a lot more weight training/cross training and come spring I felt revived and ready to run.

As for running in the cold, it can be a very good force too. I ran last winter in the coldest of the cold (8 degrees!) and while it was ridiculous at the time, I think it helps make running in the optimal weather that much easier. You tend to work a lot harder in the cold (since you have to stay warm as well as work to run hard). Start soon to run in the cold and your body can become a bit more acclimated...:)

Fitness

[(Anonymous)]

You are on track for the Marines. The minimum standards for your age group are: 3 mile run in 32 minutes, 45 Bent-knee Sit-ups, and a flexed arm hang of 15 seconds.


Flexed Arm Hang (female). The individual stands on a support or, if necessary, is assisted by others to reach the starting position. Both palms must face in the same direction. The elbows are flexed so that the chin is over or level with the bar. Once the individual is set in the starting position, the support or assistance is removed and she attempts to maintain elbow flexion for as long as possible. The score is the length of time in seconds that some degree of flexion at the elbow is maintained. The chin may not rest on the bar during the exercise.

Bent-knee Sit-ups. The time limit is two minutes for male and female Marines. In the correct starting position, the Marines are on their back (supine position) with their shoulder blades touching the deck, knees flexed and both feet flat on the deck. The arms are folded across and remain against the chest or rib cage with no gap between the forearms and the chest or rib cage when raising the upper body. One repetition consists of raising the upper body from the starting position until the elbows or forearms touch the thighs and then returning to the starting position with the shoulder blades touching the deck. No bouncing or arching of the lower back is authorized, and the buttocks will remain in constant contact with the deck throughout the exercise. An assistant may hold the feet or legs below the knees in whatever manner is most comfortable for the participant. Kneeling or sitting on the feet is permitted. Repeat as many times as possible during the time limit. Resting during the exercise is permitted in either the up or the down position.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I thought 3-year-olds made parents chase after them to prevent them from sticking toys up their noses and eating whatever they find in the couch. Just kidding. I don't know what 16 stones means but if it's a weight references, you can always start with walking. I had to run/walk at first but that was due to poor aerobic conditioning.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the encouragement. I might cave and join a gym again for the weights and even those monotonous treadmills. I'll run in the cold if I have to (7 degrees for me!) but there's really only a 2.5-mile loop that's lit at all well at night. I don't mind doing 3-4 of those loops but the thought of that being my only route is depressing. My other routes include lots of stretches where there isn't really any shoulder to stay out of the way of cars. I don't mind it when it's light enough to see branches and holes to dodge but it sucks in the dark.

Re: Fitness

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Cool. I don't know how I would fare on the arm hangs or chin-ups. If I can do them with palms facing towards me, I think I'd get the flexed arm hangs part ok and maybe even eke out one pull-up. But unlikely to get any further than that. Meanwhile, my legs are So So stiff and sore today. I ought to ease into this working out again thing.

[mysticchyna.livejournal.com]

wow...that's impressive...i could never run those steps like that. but back in the day, i loved the Stairmaster

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

ugh...I never liked the stairmaster. partly because whenever I used the machines at the gym, I wanted to be able to read too and it was too hard to read with all the up-and-down motion so I would use the stationary bikes instead.

and for what it's worth, I was sore for three days afterwards.

[http://users.livejournal.com/chaoticbliss_/]

Lol my three year old watches TV and sits quietly, sometimes. haha

Gonna start walking/running this week I think!