Category: Running

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Why My Running Pace Never Seems Consistent

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

I’m discovering just how difficult it is to maintain a consistent running pace. There are simply too many variables. My weight, for example, can fluctuate by several pounds from one day to another. Depending on where I fall within that range on a given morning, running can feel noticeably different. Then there is the weather. Those are why my running pace never seems consistent.

Summers here can be extremely hot and humid, which really affects my pace. That’s why I consistently run in the morning. Even then, summer mornings aren’t exactly cool. They’re simply less unreasonable than running later in the day.

Recently, I’d gained a few pounds again. After today’s run, I had dropped about three pounds and landed almost exactly in the middle of my target weight range. Excellent. Unfortunately, my running pace didn’t cooperate. I missed my target again.

That’s the frustrating part. Between changes in temperature, humidity, weight, and how my body feels that morning, my running results can be much more inconsistent than I’d like. It makes improvement difficult to see.

I may actually be getting faster and stronger over time, but when the conditions change constantly, comparing today’s run with yesterday’s isn’t always particularly useful. There isn’t much I can do about that except continue training and schedule my runs as carefully as possible. And wait for fall.

Once cooler weather finally arrives, at least I’ll be able to remove one variable from the experiment. Then we’ll find out whether the problem was really the weather, or whether my legs have been using it as an excuse all summer.

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Finally Beat My Running Target By One Second

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

I have been struggling with my running pace. Good news: I finally beat my running target by one second today.

In summer, Nashville is hot. I felt this summer was hotter than last year. Since my brain stroke, I am no longer able to regulate my body temperature as a healthy adult. So, running in hot weather impacted my running.

It’s been nearly two weeks since my last successful attempt, so I was glad to see the heat wave break and give me a pleasantly cool morning for running. Apparently, my legs were happy about it too. I started at my fastest pace ever and quickly built a comfortable lead over my target.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm outpaced my endurance. By the second quarter kilometer, I had already lost about half my lead. During the next quarter kilometer, I lost half of what remained. At that rate, my beautiful lead seemed determined to disappear before the run had properly begun.

Fortunately, I stabilized my pace while I was still ahead of my target and held it for the rest of the run. As I approached the final quarter kilometer, I knew I couldn’t relax. I stayed focused and pushed through to the finish.

It’s a good thing I did. I beat my target by exactly one second. Not ten seconds. Not five. One.

After nearly two weeks without a successful run, I’ll happily take it. A one-second victory still counts. Hopefully, I can squeeze out another success later this week. The forecast looks promising, so at least the weather appears willing to cooperate.

Now I just need my legs to do the same. And perhaps next time they could give me a luxurious two-second margin.

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My Scale’s Six-Pound Adventure: Managing Weight and Running

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

Yesterday, my wife and I walked around our neighborhood. When we returned, I stepped on the scale and discovered that I had somehow gained about five pounds. In the summer, I have difficulty maintaining my weight because I have too many food restrictions to keep up with my activity level. So, that was unexpected.

My weight fluctuates regularly, so I don’t normally worry about small daily changes. Five pounds, however, was enough to push me above my target range and earn my attention.

Since we generally don’t overeat, sudden increases like this make me think more carefully about what I’ve eaten, particularly how much sodium I’ve consumed. My wife also gained nearly two pounds, so maybe dinner was working overtime.

With my blood pressure and kidney concerns, I’m careful about salty foods even though I take blood pressure medication. Fortunately, short-term changes on the scale can happen for many reasons, so I decided to see what happened next rather than declare a five-pound emergency.

Today was my scheduled 10K. After finishing the run, I stepped onto the scale again. Six pounds had disappeared. Apparently, my scale prefers dramatic storytelling.

That put me right back at the bottom of my target weight range—which means I went from wondering why I weighed too much to wondering how to maintain enough weight in less than a day.

Fortunately, pizza is on today’s schedule. That should move me a little closer to my target range, though I have another run tomorrow, so the scale may have another plot twist in store.

At this point, maintaining my weight sometimes feels less like hitting a target and more like trying to convince a bouncing ball to stay still. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

The scale certainly seems determined to keep things interesting.

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When Leaf Vacuuming Accidentally Becomes an Arm Workout

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

This morning, I woke up with a surprisingly sore left bicep. I hadn’t done any special arm exercises, so at first I couldn’t understand why it felt like I’d spent yesterday lifting weights. Then I remembered the leaf vacuum. Apparently, yesterday’s leaf-cleaning session was secretly an upper-body workout, a leaf vacuuming workout.

Our leaf vacuum is quite heavy. It has a shoulder strap to support most of the weight, but I still have to swing and maneuver it around the yard. Apparently, I was doing considerably more of that work with my left arm than my right. My left bicep noticed. My right bicep apparently took the day off.

Muscle recovery can also be a little more complicated for me because of my kidney condition. I have to limit my protein intake, so I can’t simply increase protein the way many active people might after strenuous exercise. Instead, I have to give my body time to recover while staying within my dietary restrictions. Fortunately, I’m not in any hurry to conquer all the leaves at once.

The weather is finally becoming a little cooler, although this summer has felt considerably hotter than last year. We’ve had multiple heat waves, and our trees seem to be responding to the stressful conditions by dropping plenty of leaves. It looks increasingly like fall on the ground, even when the temperature still has other ideas.

I didn’t get as much leaf cleaning done yesterday as I’d hoped, but that’s fine. I’ll work through the yard gradually rather than turning leaf removal into another endurance event. I would normally continue tomorrow, but I have another hematology appointment. My wife can’t take the day off to drive me because it’s month-end at work, so yard work will have to wait.

Thankfully, I cleared enough leave yesterday that postponing the rest until next week shouldn’t cause any problems. The leaves aren’t going anywhere. Well, technically they might. But if the wind happens to blow them into someone else’s yard before next week, I certainly won’t complain.

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Fall Leaves, Summer Heat, and Another Nashville Yard Workout

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

I looked outside today and saw our yard rapidly disappearing beneath a layer of leaves. There are now enough of them to justify bringing out the leaf vacuum tomorrow. I’m thrilled.

Unfortunately, yesterday’s 10K left my legs sore and tired, so this morning’s run wasn’t noticeably faster despite the extra distance I put in yesterday. Apparently, my legs interpreted the 10K as a reason to request recovery rather than an invitation to run faster.

Tomorrow, they have another assignment waiting. Leaf vacuuming. Fortunately, vacuuming leaves is considerably easier than mowing our steep yard, so I suppose I should be grateful. Most of the leaves are coming from the large oak tree in our front yard. We received some rain last weekend, but apparently it wasn’t enough to make the tree particularly happy.

It also didn’t cool Nashville down very much. Instead, the rain left us with so much humidity that I could practically smell the moisture whenever I stepped outside. That’s what makes our yard look particularly strange right now.

The ground says fall. The temperature says summer. And the stores say Halloween. Apparently, nobody consulted each other.

I’m already seeing Halloween merchandise in stores even though the holiday is still about two months away. Meanwhile, outside, I’m surrounded by fallen leaves while wondering why the air still feels like summer.

Welcome to Nashville.

At least mowing season is finally beginning to slow down. The grass is still growing, so I’m not completely finished yet, but I no longer need to mow twice a week.

That’s a welcome change, especially since my hematology appointments have become more frequent and are taking up more of my schedule. For now, though, I’m still recovering from yesterday’s 10K. Hopefully, my legs will be ready by tomorrow morning. The oak tree has clearly been working hard all week to prepare my next workout. It would be rude not to appreciate the effort.

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Getting My 10K Run Back and Reorganizing My Entire Weekend

Today, I started my morning with a 10K run.

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve managed to fit one into my schedule, so I was happy to have it back. My pace was definitely slower than the last time I ran 10K, but for now, completing the distance was victory enough. The bigger accomplishment may have been figuring out where to put everything else in my weekend.

My current Sunday schedule has become a little too ambitious. Apparently, a 10K run combined with all my other Sunday activities does not create a relaxing weekend. Who could have predicted that?

So, I’m reorganizing. Starting next weekend, Saturday will handle grocery shopping followed by the important culinary responsibilities: fancy coffee, baking pastry bites, and making omelets. Sunday will have a much simpler mission: my 10K run and vacuuming.

Running ten kilometers and cleaning the house may not sound like a restful Sunday, but compared with today’s schedule, it practically qualifies as a vacation. This weekend proved that even activities I enjoy can become exhausting when I try to squeeze too many of them into one day. By this evening, I’m thoroughly tired and suspect I’ll be heading to bed early.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast has also decided not to cooperate with my newly optimized running schedule. Next weekend looks warmer again. Of course it does. At least I now have my 10K back in rotation and a better plan for balancing the weekend. The weather may be beyond my control. But the omelets can be rescheduled.

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When My Slow Run Became Proof of How Far I’ve Come

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

I’m unusually excited about next week’s weather forecast. Not because I have outdoor plans. Not because we’re having a picnic. I’m excited because the morning temperatures finally look like something designed for running rather than slow roasting.

Tomorrow, the temperature may not even climb above 70°F before I finish my run. After spending much of the summer running through Nashville’s heat and humidity, that sounds almost luxurious. Naturally, I’m hoping the cooler weather will translate into more speed.

I still have about 30 seconds of pace time to eliminate before reaching my speed goal for the year. Progress toward that goal has slowed considerably over the summer, but that wasn’t entirely unexpected. There is only so much speed I can demand from my legs while running through air that occasionally feels more appropriate for growing tropical plants. Summer has mostly been about maintaining my fitness and running consistently. Now, with cooler mornings approaching, I’m hoping I can start pushing for speed again.

Interestingly, though, one of the most encouraging signs of my progress came from one of my worst runs. Last week, I developed that mysterious heel pain. I attempted to run anyway, hoping the discomfort would disappear once I started moving. Instead, I ended up half limping along the trail before finally abandoning the run. It was certainly not a performance I would normally celebrate. Then I looked at the numbers.

Even while moving much slower than usual, and with one foot clearly objecting to the entire activity, I was still running faster than I had three years ago. That surprised me. It also gave me some perspective.

When you focus constantly on the next target, it is easy to overlook how much progress you’ve already made. My current definition of a “bad run” would once have qualified as a very good one. That’s worth remembering.

I still want those remaining 30 seconds. I still intend to keep working toward my speed goal. And when the weather finally cools down, I hope I’ll start chipping away at that number again. But whether I reach it next week, next month, or a little later doesn’t change what I’ve already accomplished.

Three years ago, I was trying to become the runner I am today. Today, I’m trying to become a faster version of that runner.

Sometimes progress becomes much easier to see when you stop looking at the runner ten seconds ahead of you and turn around to look at the runner three years behind.

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Anemia and Running Performance, and Understanding What Affects My Pace

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

After several days of intense heat, Nashville finally received some relief. Naturally, I expected my running pace to improve with the cooler weather. My legs apparently didn’t get the forecast.

This morning was cooler than Monday, yet I still couldn’t reach my target pace. Frustratingly, if I could simply exchange Monday’s run with today’s, I would have recorded two successful runs this week. Unfortunately, my running app doesn’t offer a retroactive pace-exchange program.

For weeks, I assumed Nashville’s heat and humidity were primarily responsible for slowing me down. But with cooler weather, I’ve realized there is another factor. I’m tired.

At my latest doctor’s visit, I learned that my iron and hemoglobin levels have dropped again. My hematology visits have become more frequent while my doctors monitor and treat the problem, which may explain why running has felt harder lately. I remember how much easier running felt this spring when my hemoglobin improved. I had more energy, and maintaining a faster pace was noticeably easier.

Still, today’s run wasn’t terrible. I nearly matched Monday’s target pace and finished close enough that Friday’s goal feels achievable. Fitness doesn’t exist in isolation. Weather changes. Health changes. Energy changes.

For now, I simply have to work with the energy my body gives me and keep trying. On Friday, I’ll head out again, find my pace, and hopefully hold onto it. Maybe my legs will finally check the weather forecast first.

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Running in a Nashville Heat Wave

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

Nashville is in the middle of another heat wave, but my weather app says it should finally break tomorrow. The heat may linger for another day or two, but I’ll be happy to see the worst of it leave.

Running in extreme weather is particularly challenging for me. I already have difficulty maintaining my weight when my activity level increases, and even my early morning runs have been noticeably slower.

The heat is bad enough, but Nashville also provides plenty of humidity. On some mornings, the air feels so heavy that running is less like outdoor exercise and more like using a treadmill inside a sauna.

Unfortunately, nobody provides the fluffy towels afterward. I’ve struggled to reach my target pace lately, but I know fitness isn’t the only factor. Weather and health both affect performance.

Fortunately, the forecast looks much better by the end of the week, with cooler early mornings that should be much more comfortable for running.

My iron levels have also dropped again, and I’m scheduled for another iron infusion the week after next. I’m hopeful that treatment will improve my energy and endurance as it has before. So, despite a frustrating start to the month, I’m optimistic about the second half. Sometimes progress isn’t about forcing yourself to perform better under increasingly difficult conditions.

Cooler mornings are coming, my iron will be treated, and I’ll keep running. The heat wave can win a few rounds.

It doesn’t get the entire month.

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When Heel Pain Cuts a Morning Run Short

Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke

I’m a little worried about my heel.

When I first woke up this morning, I immediately noticed that my left heel was unusually tender. Even my half-awake trip to the bathroom was considerably more uncomfortable than it had any right to be.

Since I still had another hour or so before my alarm, I went back to bed hoping that a little extra rest might magically solve the problem. Unfortunately, my heel hadn’t received that memo.

When I got up again, it was still sensitive. I considered skipping my run, but I decided to give it a try. I hoped the discomfort was just stiffness and that once I started moving, everything would loosen up and return to normal. That was optimistic.

I headed onto my usual trail, but instead of improving, the discomfort continued. After about three kilometers of what was becoming less of a run and more of a partially limping negotiation with my left foot, I finally admitted defeat. I turned around and stopped the run. I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to finish, but I’m more concerned about whether trying to run on it made the problem worse.

Right now, one possibility we’re considering is that my running shoes had simply reached the end of their useful life. Running shoes don’t last forever, and sometimes they start losing cushioning and support before they look particularly worn on the outside.

Whether the shoes are actually responsible, however, I don’t know yet. For now, the plan is simple: give my heel some time to recover and see how it feels over the next few days. If it isn’t back to normal by Friday, I’ll skip Friday’s run.

Running has become such a regular part of my routine that skipping a run on purpose feels strange. But there is little value in completing one workout if doing so turns a minor problem into something that keeps me from running for weeks.

Today provided the other half of that lesson. Sometimes perseverance means continuing. Sometimes discipline means stopping.

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