Muscle Soreness

I'm by no means an expert at working out, and this post is just going to reinforce this!

I haven't done any weight training in almost two months.  A combination of dating the indecisive guy, heat, and focusing on running my 5K didn't give me much time or desire to get in to the gym.  Lots of "reasons", but I have enjoyed the break and chance to do some different things with my time.

This week I got back to it, and while I only completed weights two times, my body is feeling it.  The biggest lesson I've learned this week - If you haven't done weights in almost two months, you will not be as strong as you were and if you decide to lift the same weight that you did before your break, it will be hard and you will be really, really sore!

This may be too much info, but the sorest muscles are my gluteus maximus (aka my bum).  Which is both good (if it lifts and rounds out my flat bum), and bad (I sit all day at work).

I decided to do a bit of research for some tips on reducing muscle soreness.  Here's what I've found (love Wikipedia!):

1. Muscle soreness should be gone within 72 hours
2. Increase blood flow to the muscles through low intensity work, massage (yes please!), hot baths, or sauna
3. Cool or icy water may help

I've always thought I felt better if I exercised again.  Apparently exercise increases your pain tolerance temporarily and suppresses the soreness.  This would definitely explain why I seem to be able to push through a second workout and then I'm super sore afterwards.

So, next time I'm super sore, I'll have to make sure I relax in the sauna for a bit, and maybe I can convince indecisive guy to give me a massage (maybe I should focus on my back muscles, rather than the gluteus maximus for that - Ha Ha).

Highland Yard 5K Recap

I finished the Highland Yard 5K on Sunday.  My goal was to run as much as possible and complete the race in under 30 minutes.  Drum roll.....I finished in 32:24.  So not under 30 minutes, but still a PR.
What did I learn from this race?

1. Some races have a lot of fast runners!  I was 12th out of 14 in my age/gender category.  People shot out of the starting and not many people took walking breaks.
2. I need to stick to my training plan, in spite of the ridiculous heat leading up to the race.  I'm sure my endurance would have been much better and I wouldn't have required so many walking breaks.
3. Eating and proper hydration the day before definitely helps with the side cramps.  I only had a minor one and I think that was more from pushing myself more than I was ready to be pushed.
4. You can't count on the weather!  No rain for weeks, and of course we have a major storm the night before the race.  Luckily the heavy rain stopped as we drove to the race.
5. Having my parent's there was great!  But my mom's photo skills need a bit of work (see the only picture of me actually racing below - but I love that she tried!)
6. Your spectators should really stop at Timmies pre-race start.  Dad drove to Timmies after I started running.  Not realizing that so would every other spectator!

I'm in the yellow top - and won't be wearing capris next time (too hot!)



Dad drove to Timmies after I started my run, but was back to see what a sweaty mess I was crossing the finish.