Shockingly, I’m still a runner π . I’ve gone from despising running more than anything to completing a couch to 5K program twice and now I have been running regularly for 2 years straight. Life is wild π .
If someone wants to know the most surprising thing about retirement – this is it. I never would have dreamed I could go from loathing something to loving it after discovering I’ve been doing it wrong my whole life, but here we are. So let’s see how I’ve improved and what I’ve learned about running in the last year.
Progress
First some context. I talked about how I started running and what my first year was like in these posts:
But if you’re looking for the TL;DR it’s this:
- When I started my walk/run program I was running 18 minute miles
- By the end of Year 1 I was down to an 11 minute mile
- I started trying 2 mile runs and hit 15 minute miles on average
- In Year 1 I ran a 5K (3.1 miles) and shockingly found it easy
So now we come to Year 2! And because I’m a huge nerd, you know I have a chart for you π . Since I started running I’ve been charting my times to make sure I’m trending in the right direction: Faster! And I’m happy to say that I am! Here is my trendline for 1 mile runs:
Things to note are that I hit a 10 minute mile a few times starting in November, which is really exciting! I’ve read in a few places online that 10 minute miles are kind of standard when you’re “competition” ready so it was my only goal besides getting generally faster and hitting it felt amazing! I also started doing longer runs in Year 2 so here is my chart of 2 mile runs:
The trendline is what I always look at on these charts because I know that physical improvement isn’t a steady line and that it’s affected by many factors, so all I care about is that overall I’m trending faster even if I have an off day now and again. Overall I’m super happy that I had a sub-12 minute mile pace for 2 miles straight!
The other thing I’m proud of this year is that I randomly ran 10K (6.2 miles) in one day…and I had fun doing it π .
Using running as transportation has been an unexpected benefit of this hobby. I dislike running in circles and don’t love a treadmill, but having a destination and deciding to just run there has been a joy. That’s how this 10K came about π . I was going to meet a reader for coffee and wasn’t even winded while we chatted. Wild times.
Revelations
HIIT to Music Approach
I’m still doing my HIIT with music method that I discussed last year. Basically, I change my pace based on the music I’m listening to. Once the beat drops, I push myself to the limit and once the song calms a bit, so does my pace and then repeat π . It’s been working really well for me. I like the variety and how it breaks up my run into sections that are backed up by pumped up jams. Here are a few of my favorite running songs of the last year:
- “Naatu Naatu” by Rahul Sipligunj and Kala Bhairava from RRR (which won Best Original Song at the Oscars π )
- “Bagbak” by Vince StaplesΒ from the Black Panther Soundtrack
- “Legend Has It” by Run The JewelsΒ from the Black Panther Soundtrack
- “Tattoo” by Loreen (which won Eurovision last year π )
Equipment
My running equipment is similar to last year. I’m still using the free Strava app to track my runs and Powerbeats bluetooth headphones for music. I’m also still loving my Bombas Running Socks so much that I wrote a whole post about them π . I switch which I use based on the weather and know my feet will be appropriately cared for.
My Saucony Guide 15 running shoes that I bought a year ago are still awesome, but one thing that surprised me is that a hole is forming where my big toe rubs against the lightweight fabric at the top of the shoe. I looked it up and apparently 400 miles is the limit of a running shoe and I suspect I’ve already hit that since I enjoy walking in these shoes in addition to running. My official ‘walking’ shoes haven’t been getting a lot of play recently – Oops π . So these might be approaching the end of their life and I may need to add an annual $170 running shoe purchase to my budget projections π .
Two things that were new this year – one is that my Pulse Heart Rate Monitor broke. I did my best to troubleshoot the problem and contacted the company, but nothing worked. This obviously put me off from buying another one since an almost $100 device shouldn’t just quit after less than a year. So I’ve been brainstorming other ways to get this information instead of buying another one.
My @PolarGlobal H10 heart rate monitor stopped working this morningπ€·πΎββοΈ. It looks like there's an update for it, but the app will no longer pair to the device so I can do the update π€£. Has anyone had a heart rate monitor misfire like thisβ€οΈβπ₯? Looking for suggestions π. pic.twitter.com/RBPkioj9dD
— A Purple Life (@APurpleLifeBlog) April 22, 2023
The other new thing this year was that I ran for months in the freezing northeast US winter. To do this I used a gaiter (which was actually a mask alternative from one of my fancy Etihad Business Class amenity kits. I also borrowed my aunt’s Eastern Mountain Sport Equinox Ascent Stretch Jacket, which was sensational. Once my current fold up jacket (shown below) conks out I’m buying one of those bad boys for myself.
So excited about my new @DecathlonUSA puffer jacket that folds up into one of the pockets! It's usually $45, but I got it on sale for $30π€. My frugal wins and winter nomad packing just reached the next levelπβοΈππΎ. pic.twitter.com/guxEX8QUja
— A Purple Life (@APurpleLifeBlog) December 6, 2021
Stretching
The other way I’ve continued to improve this year is remembering the importance of stretching, foam rolling and bubble baths π . I was able to use a foam roller at the beginning of the year and then started traveling with a tennis ball – a more nomad-friendly solution π .
I try to stretch before and after each run, but at times I forget or get distracted after, which seems to have a negative effect on my runs later that week. Oops! I’m trying to get better about that though and intentionally stretch after a run for as long as it takes me to stop sweating, which can be quite a while depending on how hot and humid it is outside π .
Body Changes
My body continues to change in unexpected, but cool ways as a result of another year of running regularly. My leg muscles have become way more pronounced, especially when I flex. I didn’t know those were in there π !
I’ve also noticed that my back is way stronger than it used to be. I was a serial slouch-er my whole career because sitting up straight was a strain on my abs and back. Someone pointed out the other month that I always sit up straight now – I hadn’t even noticed because it doesn’t strain my muscles π . They’re strong enough now that it’s mindless.
Another funny thing that happened is that my Mom hugged me a few months ago and was shocked because my back was muscular. I felt like an Olympian π .
Treadmill Running
Another new thing that happened this year is that I ran on a treadmill for the first time in forever. A hotel we stayed in and our MontrΓ©al Airbnb high-rise had a gym. Trying out the treadmill was strange because I didn’t know what to do with myself since I usually sightsee and birdwatch listening to music and running through a city.
I needed my music to help keep my pace up and I didn’t want to watch the TVs that were available and didn’t enjoy staring at a singular point in this distance to keep my balance so I don’t fall off the machine – even if that singular point was a pretty part of MontrΓ©al.
However, after some thought, I figured it out! READING!!! I put my phone in front of me on the treadmill and just increased the size of the font so I could comfortably read it from farther away, and read while running. The time flew by like it usually does π . New skill unlocked!
Conclusion
And that’s how my last year of running regularly went! I’m excited that I have two years of this new hobby under my belt and that I’m still improving in my times and what my muscles can do! I’m interested to see how running looks while I’m galavanting around Australia, New Zealand and MΓ©xico the rest of the year. It’s going to be an adventure π .
What’s your favorite fitness activity?
My favourite fitness activity used to be running. Then I took an arrow to the knee (=misaligned patella) and was told to stop running by multiple medical professionals if I wanted to avoid knee surgery down the line. So I stopped.
Now I try to balance a mix of activities: swimming, walking, calisthenics-like resistance work, and self-defence classes. I also like bouldering but haven’t done it in ages.
This post took me back. Running is such a nice way to explore a new place, and it’s fab in nature – my favourite runs were always on beaches or in forests. You’ve made fantastic progress over the last two years.
Your comment about holes wearing through your shoes is so real. My running shoes always developed multiple holes in various places from where my toes and feet rubbed through the fabric. Blisters and blood are involved in breaking the shoes in, and by the end, there were usually odd gaps in the soles, embedded dirt and sweat, aforementioned worn-through holes, laces replaced at least twice, and the shoes felt like extensions of my feet. If the shoes don’t look like they’ve been through a minefield, there’s still some distance left in them lol.
That sounds like a lovely mix of activities. And thank you! It’s slow going over here so I like looking at my charts to see what I am actually improving haha. And good to know about shoes needing to look like they’ve been through a minefield π . I’ll keep it up then.
Iβm clearly such a nerd also. I love all the charts.
And reading this and seeing you stretch until you stop sweating made me realize you are always in the north. It felt like 96 last night when I went to bed. And that was after the storm swept through and took the power with it. Stretching until you stop sweating. Though maybe you go inside where the ac is blasting. But that seems like stretching wouldnβt be as good. Smart move staying in cooler places during the summer.
I go north in the summer and south in the winter generally. I’m a snowbird π . And yes I go inside to stretch. Otherwise I’d never stop sweating lol.
I also run in Saucony Guides – if you’re not picky on the color, you can usually find an older version (say the 14) on Amazon for about $100 – or the Saucony sale area.
Excellent use of data tracking and charts! A fellow data nerd approves. π
Oooh great tip! Thank you π .
Thanks to your reports I knew about C25K and tried it out in February. Yesterday I ran my first 5k competition and loved it.
Thanks for being an inspiration! π
Oh WOW!! That’s amazing – congratulations! And thank you for telling me that – it made my day π .