“I find myself outside. You can’t say I haven’t tried; perhaps I tried too hard” Robbie Williams
That was my life this morning. In an effort to start getting used to run in races, you know, outside, I started the Week 5 of Couch to 5k by ditching the treadmill and running on the street. It was the first time I ran outside since January of 2006, my last Navy Physical Readiness Test. I started early, at about 7:15am, but it was still not early enough. It was not very hot yet but running outside was hard, especially that last 5 minute run. It was nice to have a breeze, which the gym lacks, and a change of scenery, which the gym also lacks, but I am certain it was much harder than the treadmill.
For starters, Florida is a VERY flat state but you never know how many little hills your neighborhood has until you run there. I’m a wuss, I get it, but my poor little heart was pumping ITS poor little heart out. The hardest part during the work out was not being able to drink as much water as I do when I’m on the treadmill. I usually drink anywhere from 10 to 15 oz during the workout but I was not carrying water so that was not an option. I did leave a glass of water on the steps of my front porch and it so happened that every time I went past there I was on a walking interval so I drank a bit. It helped but I really needed more.
As I said, those last five minutes were grueling. I really thought I wasn’t going to make it. Right after I finished the run, and I DID finish, I literally threw up. Thankfully I had not had anything to eat prior to the run so it was just water. I had heard about people puking after a workout but it had never happened to me. I don’t know what to make of it. It wasn’t very hot so I don’t think it was the heat. The last run was hard but I didn’t feel queasy at all until I stopped. Really, it was odd. I walked back home during cool-down and just had to lie down because I thought I was going die. To add insult to injury, I also had a case of the runner’s trot. Google it.
So, I don’t know whether to follow MC Hammer’s advice to “either work hard or you might as well quit” and tough it out outside until I’m acclimatized or just go back to the treadmill. I mean, in the long run I WILL have to run outside, races are not, unfortunately, done on treadmills. What’s a girl to do???
The next run will be increased to 8 minutes and then on Saturday, W5D3 I will have to attempt the first 20 minute run. I’m freaking out and really starting to doubt myself.
PS. In case you are wondering about the song references, they both played during this work out LOL. I found the lyrics fitting considering the circumstances. That and I’m a dork.
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