Ok, so I’m finally going to do the challenge—the One Hundred Push Ups challenge that it seems like everyone else is already doing. I’ll admit, in addition to running, I also do at least two strength training sessions per week, and have been doing strength training more or less consistently for 17 years. While I’m not as strong as I have been, especially since taking up running, I figured that I’d do ok in the initial test, which I just took. The result: 50 push ups.
I actually felt very good until I hit about 45, and then I started fading pretty quickly. Since doing the test, I’ve done another 40 push ups (5 x 20), so that’s probably good enough for Day 1, right? Ok, maybe I should follow the program as prescribed.
The other reason that I am going to do this is because I’ve got to do anything and everything I can to fill the void of running right now. I alluded to an injury a couple of posts ago, and it’s still not right. The outside of my right hip has been very sore when running (to the point of painful) since I finished the Run For Dad 5K 10 days ago.
I first noticed it on the 1.5 mile walk back to the car after the race. The next morning I was an idiot and went out for a run (6 miles by myself, and then 5 with Julie) in which it hurt pretty much all the time. I took an ice bath afterward, and it felt pretty good the rest of the evening. I took Monday off, but ran 5 on Tuesday (pain), and 4 on Wednesday (pain). Finally, I took Thursday off, but ran again on Friday, though I scaled back my 6 mile tempo run to 4 miles (pain in the 3rd mile). Saturday and Sunday were forced days off, and on this past Monday, after riding the bike for about 10 miles at the gym, I hopped on the treadmill and did 1 mile in just under 7 minutes (whew, that felt good!).
Yesterday I decided to go test it out on a short run. The first 2 miles felt good, but in the 3rd mile I started feeling discomfort—not pain, just discomfort, so I called it a run after 3 miles. I think I’ve finally come to grips with the fact that I’ll need to take more than just a couple of days off. In the meantime, there will be lots of cycling, swimming, and strength training, plus I’ll start the One Hundred Push Ups challenge.
All I want to do is run!
50 pushups right from the get go. I'm impressed!
Posted by Andrew is getting fit on 6/25/2008 11:04:08 PM
That's why I had to put in the disclaimer that I do some strength training already, including pull ups and dips--so I'm already used to moving my own body weight around. :-)
Posted by Bryan on 6/25/2008 11:20:14 PM