Ouch...

Today was the first time I couldn't complete my set distance.  I also skipped yesterday's 3 mile run.  Why?  Well, my calves are in cramps-ville right now.  There's something in my calf on the inside of my leg that's really tight.  At some point, it's just kind of locks up and it really hurts to keep on running so I end up hobbling back to my apartment....and don't get me started on the stairs to my apartment (reoccurring complaint).  The weird thing is that I felt totally fine after my 5 mile run last Saturday and then things progressively got works after my 2 mile run on Tuesday this week.

I think I might have to cancel my weekend run if my calves aren't better.  *sigh*  Why am I encountering so many problems?!  It might have something to do with my approaching qualifying exam.  More stress==more injury?

Longest distance so far

I just completed my long run this week and went for 5 miles.  I felt like I was cheating a little bit though since I hit traffic lights on my route and stop to wait for the light to change.  My balls aren't big enough to try to out run the cars especially on the large streets like Venice Blvd.  Actually big balls probably would get in the way....nvm.  Even with all the short stops, it was still kind of a challenge to go 5 miles.  My calves are still pretty tense. 

Today was also the first day I tried out my heart rate monitor watch I got as a Woot! deal for really cheap compared to what it actually costs.  I have a Mio Energy Pro watch with a heart rate chest strap (see below).  I read online that it's good to have one of these monitors to optimize your training, but I haven't quite figured out exactly how to use it yet.  Supposedly it's best to stay around 80-90% of your maximum heart rate while doing aerobic exercise.  However, it seems like there is no good way to figure out your maximum heart rate except by doing a 'stress test' where you basically go all out for 20 mins and measure your heart rate after that.  All the other ways are sketchy formulas that people don't really trust.  The watch is pretty cool.  I have two options to take my heart rate, either continuously via the chest strap or I can touch the metal ring on the watch so that it takes it at that point in time.  As far as the watch is concerned, I am apparently working too hard during my runs.  I am at about 95%+ of my maximum heart rate as determined by the watch somehow.  I'm not sure that this is totally correct because even though the watch says I'm about to die, I feel fine...like really okay.  This is why I hate all those heart rate monitors attached to the treadmills or ellipticals at the gym.  They all start flashing red and beeping at me when I touch them.  Ah well, one of these days I'll run up a giant hill for a 'stress' test and properly calibrate the watch.

The heat is ON!

Literally in Los Angeles: The heat is on....  It's been heating up into the 90's these past couple of days here.  This means I've been running in heat similar to the Texas summers.  I've also been going out later these days which means I don't get out on the pavement until 8 or 9AM.  By then, the temperature out side is already well in the 80's (86F yesterday morning to be exact).  I forget how terrible it is to run in the heat.  The last time I ran in such uncomfortable heat was over 6 years ago when I was still living in Austin, Texas.  I nearly died during the 3 miles I ran yesterday.  Normally I try to push myself a little bit and run an extra half mile or so, but when my Nike+ program said I hit 3 miles, my body just stopped.

Today was no picnic in the park either.  It was hot and as soon as I stopped running, my calves cramped up causing me to feel a whole new degree of pain that left me sitting in the middle of my living room with tears streaming down my face while pressing ice packs to my pissed off calves.  It's a good thing I'm temporarily holding onto a couple of adorable kittens for a community foster friend of mine.  They're like two little reminders of why I'm putting myself through this kind of physical torture.  Two little reminders that rip through my apartment knocking all the things off the shelves.  At least my cat, Mao, is teaching them how to chill out occasionally:

They're really good and amazingly cute kitties overall and they're ready for adoption.  Tell all your cool friends looking for cats!!!


On a high note, I'm being featured on Team Kitten Rescue's blog today!  You can go take a look at the feature here.  My interview video is here:

The letter 'R'

Today's blog post is brought to you by the letter 'R' as in Rain and Ringworm!  It's pouring in Los Angeles today and after staring at pictures of kittens to motivate me, I actually went out into the rain and ran my 3 miles today.  It actually wasn't as bad as I was expecting.  The rain was just a minor annoyance and I think my left foot really enjoys stepping in puddles because it stepped in EVERY SINGLE PUDDLE on my run.  I think the rain overall cooled me off to the point where 3 miles was a piece of cake.  My pace was about 10 min and 14 sec/mile and yes, my back hurt a bit, but actually it hasn't gotten worse so I take that as a good sign.  This time I ran down Overland, which is a very flat road.  I think I'll run that way from now on.  It gets me to the Ballona Creek bike path which is also relatively flat.  Maybe when my back heals up completely, I'll incorporate some hilly runs into my schedule for variety.

Oh, so for the second word 'Ringworm'.  My kitty with ringworm has gotten worse.  I thought I could try to control it with some topical ointment, but a second scaly spot appeared on her last night.  She's now isolated in a rabbit cage I have so that she doesn't spread anymore ringworm infected hairs around the apartment.  We vacuumed last night and changed the couch cover.  *sigh*....of course we get ringworm now, right around the corner from my qualifying exams.  It's still a giant mystery how the ringworm fungus got in our apartment.  From what I've read, ringworm infections in indoor cats is 'EXTREMELY RARE'....unless you're me, and have super shitty luck.

Resuming training and water bottle contest!

This morning I attempted to resume my marathon training schedule.  Luckily the increases in mileage is very gradual so I can just basically jump back in after missing a week.  I ran what I felt was ridiculously slow and on flat surfaces to not irritate my lower back, but alas, my lower back started hurting about halfway in my 2 mile run.  I finished with minimal pain and a 10 min 41 sec/mile pace.  I stretched especially well after the run and iced my back down, took a hot shower, and iced it down again afterwards.  The pain is mostly gone now a few hours after my run, but I'm a little worried it won't go away. 

October officially kicked off fundraising for our team.  The contest prize today is the first five people to donate EXACTLY $19 will win an official Kitten Rescue Team water bottle!!!!  See below for example of water bottle*:

*foster cat not included!

Here's the link to my fundraising page in case you can't find the link elsewhere:
http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamKittenRescueLAMarathon2012/fundraiser/JoyceKao