Migraine after a run

My morning run today was sluggish - I only got to run a meager 4k.  I really hoped it to have been a good run, as I am now half-way past my 10k beginner training schedule.

While on my 2nd kilometer run, I noticed that my mood was the same as when I got up from bed.  From here I know that this would not be a good run (normally my 2nd to 3rd km I'm adjusted already).  I still got to run at a pace, but sluggish at an average of 6:40!

I did get to prepare the day before the run - hydrated well, loaded enough energy to burn, slept at least 6 hours - but still with the heavy head.

One thing I think I missed was stretching my neck and shoulders during my warm-up.  I may have been too sleepy and too excited to run that I missed this.  Normally I alot 20 mins to warm-up to make sure that circulation was enough.

So it is when I got to the office, 30 minutes upon sitting in my chair that headache started to come in.  Usually what triggers this are:

1. Bright sun / light
2. Noise
3. Hunger (yeah, I can't stay hungry for even a short time - I have a fast metabolism)
4. Stress (or can be called "work")

With the conditions above, I think one culprit could be from the bright sun during my drive to work.  Although after googling it, I learned that there really are some migraine induced from running.  Some of the causes are same as listed above - adding dehydration and improper stretching of the neck and shoulders!  Yes, I think I found my culprit.  Getting too excited to run is not an excuse to skip this!

The next time you run, make sure to do the correct stretch-measures.  Anyway, Ibuprofen didn't do much to remove the throbbing, but it did lessen it enough to make it through my work day. :)

Kettlebell-ing

KETTLEBELL - I have  read about it in Men's Health May 2012 issue (i think).  It seems at first like a weird workout as it involves a moving and shifting weight.  Reading about it though, most of the things we carry on our normal day-to-day activity really does move and shift weight depending on the way  you carry it- my bag, my groceries and even my daughter!

Last Sunday I got a chance to buy my first kettlebell at Toby's.  They were on sale so I went in.  Unfortunately, weight available were on ly 4, 8 then 15 - I would like to get a 10 or a 12 pounder, 15 is just too much for a beginnner (at least that's what I think).  Anyway, I got a good deal with a 15% discount so i paid just around Php 353 for it.  I got just the basic all-metal one.  They have these plastic coated, smooth texture ones that were a little premium.  I really don't mind getting calluses.

I got to use it this morning.  Having a little experience in working out with a set of dumbbells (yeah, I worked out in a gym for at least a year, but decided to quit when the gym raised its rates) I'm a little accustomed to gripping metal.  But when I started doing basic moves like the One Arm Swing, Single Arm Overhead Swing and Side Step with Single Arm Swing Curl, I did get a weird feeling that the kettlebell will slip from my hand.  Although I got to do and combine Push Up with Row motion.  I did 2 reps of 12 counts for each side.

Now I'm in the office, I still feel the effect of the kettlebell workout I did.  At the least, I don't feel much guilty for not running this morning.  It was a good upper body workout, and I plan to purchase additional bells this week, maybe I'd get the 15lbs, and another 8lbs to balance.  But before that, I will have my morning run tomorrow.

Never ending thirst for technology

RUNNING – my new hobby – this after PSP, airsoft, photography and tarantulas. i am a new runner, just finished one 5km fun run by RSC just 2 months or so. will be having my 2nd 5km at the Rexona Men run on Sept 23, then my first 10km at the Adidas KOTR on Sept 30. planning to join the Men’s Health Urbanathlon on October 14.

my inclination to gadgets and technology keeps me on wanting to infuse it with whatever i do. although my first bought gadget related tonrunning is just a plain casio lap timer watch – cheap buy at ebay. with it i tracked run-walk intervals and improved from there (i couldve just ran and stopped when im tired but hey, thats just not technical, hehe!)

when i got my tempo and improved my cardio, i traded my old car stereo for an ipod nano 6th gen. of course i upgraded it to the latest 1.20 version to incorporate the Nike+ software. it really was a useful gadget as it measured length of my run (needed a bit if callibration though), pace and kept track of my runs without me logging it manually. Nike+ site also was cool enough to show me some trends and kept me wanting to go the extra km or pace.

but the issue of having to use my belt pouch even on a morning short run to carry the nano is becoming a nuissance. also, putting it out to check my run data and putting it back gets in the way of running.

so i decided to get a single gadget that has the best of both gadgets i had – a gps watch. as the techy person that i am, ofbcourse i wouldnt just get any gps watch. i need to know about them gps watches and how they will fit my needs – measure my run distance, give me my pace, and my average times. the first brand i know is Garmin – they have the widest range of running watches from the basic to monstrous-sized FR310s.

i chose the garmin FR410. it has the basic features i need plus a good set of features that automates improving my runs like the virtual race partner that will show you if you’re lagging behind or feeding him dust. this plus the heart rate monitor and uploading of data plus the garmin software.

however, the cost implication of the FR410 prevents me from actually buying. i had to dispose of my airsoft stuff and a few spiders to raise funds – i did get to raise funds  but i bought a new set of lens while i was browsing pipho, hehe!  it was a good buy though.

this is when i got to check out an alternative brand, the soleus 1.0. it has the basic features i need – thats it though, just the basics. i dont get to have the virtual race and pc transfer or the heart rate monitor, but hr, price difference was really huge!

i got a good deal for a bnew condish Soleus 1.0 gps watch online this Thursday. i can say that this perhaps is one of the best buys i have ever made!

so i got to use it today, i haven’t run for at least 5 days as work was too much, an out of town day-trip and an unusual bad stomach.

GPS reception, as stated in most technical reviews took atmost 2 minutes. its the first time to acquire a signal in our place, so ill have to check again on my next run if it will be the same. although i wasnt bothered that much as i did my warm up while waiting for a signal. it did manage to get connected before i finish my stretches.

on the run i was amazed at how it works! i didnt get a hard time reading the numbers, i guess all the reviews i made prior to buying made me familiar with it.

i managed to run 8km under 54 minutes. prior run was 10km at 1:14. i guess i lagged a bit, probably due to the bad stomach or maybe because of the constant glancing at the watch, haha! reviewing the stats also was a breeze, and since there’s no transfer of data allowed, i logged it in my playbook’s excel log sheet. i also signed up at dailymile.com. i guess ill just log my stats there for me to get a better view of how im progressing.

overall, the soleus 1.0 is a good techy-beginner-runner’s tool. doesn’t cost too much, but still packs the tech you need to satisfy your stat needs. now go and run!