Latest Physical Challenge

[cjsmith]

To help myself get and stay fit, I have the idea of setting physical challenges for myself. Ideally, a challenge will be something I secretly fear that I cannot do, but also something that with sufficient training I might at least attempt without seriously injuring my knee.

The first one was hiking to the top of Half Dome. That fit the bill, and I was immensely happy having done it. My knees weren't comfortable at all, but as far as I could tell neither one was damaged any further, so that was a success.

My most recent idea was to run a 5K. I wanted to find a road race and give myself enough training time for it. I never did find a race. I ran more than 5K on one of my training days, and for this goal I will content myself with that.

So here's my latest idea: Bay to Breakers.

Pro: I am secretly worried that I can never do it, because of my knee.

Con: It's 12K, longer than I've ever run even before my knee injury, and there's one killer hill.

Pro: It isn't until next May, so I have lots of time to work up to it.

Con: I have a friend who runs it every year with no training whatsoever, and this is the same friend with whom I injured my knee, so there's a lot of resentment I'll have to fight through. This race is symbolic not only of his good luck and my bad luck, but of the punishment I get for hanging out with a good-luck person. Every day I train I will be angry.

Pro: If I finish, that would be really cathartic. It would show that I can do difficult things without perfect luck. I would be immensely proud and happy. Maybe even better than the Half Dome hike.

Con: It will be really crowded. I don't do well with crowds.

I'll keep thinking about it.

Comments

physical challenges

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

hm. i think understand the general idea. (i have a somewhat irrational fear of going downhill beyond a certain degree of incline, and i do try to battle that by setting myself certain challenges.)

but i wonder why you pick physical challenges that are hard on your knees, if you already know that you have trouble with them? is this an effort to spite the trouble with your knees, and other physical challenges wouldn't count as much? or have you not come up with other physical challenges that would be meaningful to you?

my apologies if this is impertinent for a stranger to ask. :)

Re: physical challenges

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

In part it's an effort to overcome (as much as I can) the trouble with my knees. I know that this type of knee problem responds well to stretching and exercise. I know also that there is long-term damage involved, at least on the right knee, and that by using my knee well and wisely, I can minimize any further damage. So in a sense it's about reminding myself that my limitations aren't any worse than they really are. I can do MOST things a healthy-kneed person can do... just not as fast, and not on a whim like they can. I'll need a lot more training time.

Also, I happen to love hiking, and I don't happen to love (for example) swimming. If I'm going to stay fit, I'll have a better chance of that with hiking and running than with something I don't enjoy as much. It is kind of ironic, though, that I'm picking some of the activities that are hardest on knees!

crowds

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

My dad did the Bay to Breakers many years ago and the crowds freaked him out more than anything. He said he realized that if he fell he would be trampled--it was really scary for him. He said when he looked behind him all he could see was a sea of people. He is rather claustorphobic (like me) so it was not an altogether pleasant experience for him.

Just something to keep in mind.

Re: crowds

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ick -- a good thing to keep in mind. Maybe it would be feasible to start late, or something...

[johno.livejournal.com]

re: The Crowds

I believe you can sign up for the back of the pack.

As a runner you'll quickly bypass the walkers and then can spend the rest of the race in a interpack gap.

It's only at the start of the race that folks are packed in like sardines.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I believe you can sign up for the back of the pack.

Oh, what a great idea! Thanks!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oops, I just figured out the back of the pack is for walkers and striders. I want to run. I suppose I can get myself towards the back of the crowd before start time.

[elflet.livejournal.com]

Hey there,

A couple of things:

1) If you'd like to train with someone, I'd love to. I was all set to run Bay to Breakers last year, but it coincided with graduation.

2) Being "trampled" at the start is unlikely at best...everybody's basically walking for the first 15 minutes or so!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

1) oh wow, good offer. I am guessing that if your joints are healthy, plus you are male and I am female, we'll have a big variation between your running pace and mine. But still, we could encourage each other via correspondence even if we couldn't run side by side.

2) hadn't thought of that! Would still trigger my crowdophobia, but maybe I wouldn't be genuinely terrified, and I'd aim for an interpack gap as soon as I could.

[elflet.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have to be careful of one of my knees, which means a lot of stretching beforehand, not over-training, and anti-inflammitories after.

Re: speed, my training partner for my first Bay-To-Breakers was also new, and she and I had lovely runs together on the weekend. If you're interested, I'd be happy to get together regularly (about once a week?) to run and chat; it's a lot nicer than training every day by yourself.