threadwalker | Fitness Idiot

I'm so stupid. But I do sort things out eventually.

The 9 am spinning class was full, so I hit the fitness equipment:

bike: 7 miles (22ish minutes)
Treadmill: problematic.

I was/am having calf pain in my left leg - new spot. The left knee is feeling squishy, too. I spent the first 2 minutes limping at a 9-min/mile pace when the smart half of my brain kicked in and did a "wtf?"-reality check.

Dumb me: What? We (you, me, the body) need to run 3.2 mi to prep for race.
Smart me: That's pain. Stop doing that. What if it becomes permanent?
Dumb me: But we need to keep up this pace because it hurts more to go slower.
Smart me: Hello, Dumbass! I said "PERMANENT"... that means you don't get to run anymore and you can kiss your triatholon good by.
Dumb me: Are you sure about that?
Smart me: Who's the smart one here?
Dumb me: But...
Smart me: Have you read

catagon3's journal about her persistent injuries? Do you want that in spades? What if you could never run again?
Dumb me: fine... be that way... we'll walk it off. Maybe it will feel better after a warm up.
Smart me: Whatever, just dial it back so that the sharp, shooting pains and the throbbing pulling pains stop.

I alternated between walking and running. Everytime Dumb Me got twitchy about the speed and my hands would speed it up to a 9-min/mile, it hurt and I'd dial it back to a brisk walk. So I increased the incline to keep my heart rate up. And for a bit I sped it up so I could work on my gate. I did a brief sprint which didn't feel bad.

And I rested yesterday.

I feel much better today. Tonight's cardio will be the elliptical. I"ve decided I don't need to run everyday and keep reproving to myself that I can actually finish 5K. I've been doing that. And the word "race" is relative. I don't need to be breaking myself, just finish and train up the endurance.

Dumb Me is very competitive. At least Smart Me sorted it out.