Today's another Sunday with much activity. I took Val to swimming this afternoon and ran a 10K in 1:06:14. My miles were 10:55, 10:47, 10:52, 10:42, 10:27 and 10:51. I used the pattern of running 4 minutes and walking 1 minute throughout the entire 6.2 miles. I usually run 3 and walk 1, but it was a bit chilly out and I was in shorts and a t-shirt, so I needed to do a bit more running to keep warm.
I felt great during the whole run today. I didn't have to do the pleading with myself that I often do when running: "Just 45 more seconds and you can walk a minute, hang in there." There was no time when I just wanted to stop short of the 4 minutes. I think I cut the walk short once - I assume during the 5th mile since it was faster than the others - but I don't remember why - some environmental reason like dogs or cars or something annoying me.
After the run, Val and I went shopping and got her a bunch of sweat pants, a shirt, and some ski pants. We couldn't find a winter coat that worked.
Tonight, Ken and I have volleyball. I'll be running around for 90 minutes, trying to get the second hit of each play, so I'm sure I'll get a second great workout in today.
I haven't given an update on the Lymphedma in awhile, so I should tell you that a couple of times this week, I would rate the swelling in my hand as only a 2 or 3 out of 10, which is much better than it has been in a month or so. It had been running consistently at a 5 or 6. To fight the swelling of the past month, I've been wearing a compression glove or wrap to bed each night and much more often during the day, too. I took off the custom glove after my run today and it hasn't gotten any worse this afternoon. I'd rate it as probably a 2 or 3 today. My pointer finger rarely swells anymore. My middle finger is still an issue, but not too bad today. Most of the swelling now is in the back on my hand, from the bottom of my fingers to my wrist.
I went to out dinner last night and visited with some friends who I haven't seen in a long time. It was wonderful to reconnect.
Showing posts with label volleyball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volleyball. Show all posts
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Volleyball and 29:45 5K
Ken and I started our volleyball season last night. It was great to be on the court again and I got a trial by fire, certainly. We had a more experienced group, so Ken suggested we run a 5x1 - that would be 5 hitters and 1setter all the way around. Any guesses who the setter was? Yep, the short one.
I ran all over the court getting the 2nd hit almost all the time and setting up the balls to be whacked over by the hitters on the team. It was really fun - like old times. We lost the first one by 4 points, but were rallying toward the end. The second game we won by 8 or so. Unfortunately, we ran out of time after just a few minutes in the third game, so we had to take the loss since we were down something like 4 to 2. That's okay, though. It was our first time playing together and it seems like we'll be a pretty competitive team in this league.
I didn't wear a glove when playing volleyball and my hand didn't swell noticeably any more after or during playing. It's swollen all the time now from the lymphedema.
Today it was cold and rainy while the kids were at swimming, so I ran around the little track at RPAC. I ran a 5K in 29:45 and only walked a little when I stopped to get a drink of water from the water fountain after my first and second miles. I was pushing pretty hard the last mile, and especially the last half mile. I was just trying to hold on to the pace which was on target for the sub 30 minute 5K the whole run. I was listening to music which helped keep me moving. Still, the last mile, I had to be intentional about distracting myself from the desire to slow down or walk. I was very happy with the success of this run which was probably my fastest or at least my second fastest 5K ever. I followed the run by a mile walk as cool down and a little stretching.
I wore my custom glove when running and afterward I noticed a bit more swelling in my middle finger than before, but it went back down to normal swelling after the walk cool down.
The back of my hand, my wrist, and my middle finger are always swollen now. I'd rate the swelling overall as a 5 out of 10, sometimes reaching to a 6 when the middle finger gets really tight above the middle knuckle. The palm of my hand seems to be a little swollen too, but that may come and go and is difficult to see. Ironically, the pointer finger which started all this mess does not get swollen much anymore. I guess it has delegated that responsibility, perhaps pointing here and there where there is room for more fluid.
I ran all over the court getting the 2nd hit almost all the time and setting up the balls to be whacked over by the hitters on the team. It was really fun - like old times. We lost the first one by 4 points, but were rallying toward the end. The second game we won by 8 or so. Unfortunately, we ran out of time after just a few minutes in the third game, so we had to take the loss since we were down something like 4 to 2. That's okay, though. It was our first time playing together and it seems like we'll be a pretty competitive team in this league.
I didn't wear a glove when playing volleyball and my hand didn't swell noticeably any more after or during playing. It's swollen all the time now from the lymphedema.
Today it was cold and rainy while the kids were at swimming, so I ran around the little track at RPAC. I ran a 5K in 29:45 and only walked a little when I stopped to get a drink of water from the water fountain after my first and second miles. I was pushing pretty hard the last mile, and especially the last half mile. I was just trying to hold on to the pace which was on target for the sub 30 minute 5K the whole run. I was listening to music which helped keep me moving. Still, the last mile, I had to be intentional about distracting myself from the desire to slow down or walk. I was very happy with the success of this run which was probably my fastest or at least my second fastest 5K ever. I followed the run by a mile walk as cool down and a little stretching.
I wore my custom glove when running and afterward I noticed a bit more swelling in my middle finger than before, but it went back down to normal swelling after the walk cool down.
The back of my hand, my wrist, and my middle finger are always swollen now. I'd rate the swelling overall as a 5 out of 10, sometimes reaching to a 6 when the middle finger gets really tight above the middle knuckle. The palm of my hand seems to be a little swollen too, but that may come and go and is difficult to see. Ironically, the pointer finger which started all this mess does not get swollen much anymore. I guess it has delegated that responsibility, perhaps pointing here and there where there is room for more fluid.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Worldwide Festival of Races
Almost. But I blew it. I went out too fast and didn't have the mental toughness to hang in there. Today, I did the Kick the Couch 5K for the Worldwide Festival of Races in 30:26. Just 26 seconds slower than my goal. And I walked twice in the last half mile. I was so spent - just done. When I saw I wasn't going to make it, I gave up and walked the last 10 yards or so to the finish. My legs were wobbly and I walked another half mile afterward to cool down.
My mile splits were 9:27 (unheard of for me!), 9:55, and 10:01. Dang, 30:26. So close.
It was hot today so I waited until the sun got low enough to allow the houses to cast shadows on my route. It was still hot, but shady most of the way. I've been having a lot of hand swelling caused by my lymphedma, so wore a custom glove with an ace bandage wrapped around it and up my forearm to my elbow. During the second mile, I couldn't stop focusing on the heat under the wraps and the throbbing. The throbbing may have been perceived and not real, but it annoyed me. My mind was not cooperating with the mental state I needed for this race. During the last mile, I could only think of hanging on . . . and instead of believing I could, I was pretty sure I couldn't. If I could have distracted myself, I know I could have made up the 26 seconds because I would have been able to run more and walk less. Grrrrrr.
Oh well. It was a good run. Today was probably my second fastest 5K race ever, just behind the Race for the Cure in 2008 when I finished in under 30 minutes. Actually, my run today was among the 5 fastest 5Ks I've ever run, including in training, so I know I should feel pretty good about it. And I do.
Earlier in the day, I put in a good hour or more of volleyball. We played parents against Val's 7th grade volleyball team. The parents won the first game and kids won the second. We didn't get to play a third because it was time for pizza and the award ceremony. The awards were a certificate and a patch with Ridgeview Jr High around the outside and a volleyball in the middle. They didn't have individual awards because it's a team sport.
After I ran the 5K and got my legs to stop wobbling, I changed out of my soaked clothes and mowed half of the lawn. I had to stop because it was dark.
Whew! What a long day. Now it's bedtime. Good night!
My mile splits were 9:27 (unheard of for me!), 9:55, and 10:01. Dang, 30:26. So close.
It was hot today so I waited until the sun got low enough to allow the houses to cast shadows on my route. It was still hot, but shady most of the way. I've been having a lot of hand swelling caused by my lymphedma, so wore a custom glove with an ace bandage wrapped around it and up my forearm to my elbow. During the second mile, I couldn't stop focusing on the heat under the wraps and the throbbing. The throbbing may have been perceived and not real, but it annoyed me. My mind was not cooperating with the mental state I needed for this race. During the last mile, I could only think of hanging on . . . and instead of believing I could, I was pretty sure I couldn't. If I could have distracted myself, I know I could have made up the 26 seconds because I would have been able to run more and walk less. Grrrrrr.
Oh well. It was a good run. Today was probably my second fastest 5K race ever, just behind the Race for the Cure in 2008 when I finished in under 30 minutes. Actually, my run today was among the 5 fastest 5Ks I've ever run, including in training, so I know I should feel pretty good about it. And I do.
Earlier in the day, I put in a good hour or more of volleyball. We played parents against Val's 7th grade volleyball team. The parents won the first game and kids won the second. We didn't get to play a third because it was time for pizza and the award ceremony. The awards were a certificate and a patch with Ridgeview Jr High around the outside and a volleyball in the middle. They didn't have individual awards because it's a team sport.
After I ran the 5K and got my legs to stop wobbling, I changed out of my soaked clothes and mowed half of the lawn. I had to stop because it was dark.
Whew! What a long day. Now it's bedtime. Good night!
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