Hi again,

Up to now, my Workouts have consisted of the following:

Arrive at the gym, sign up for a treadmill.
Ride workout bike 5 min to warm up.
Run 3 miles (22 minutes, still working on that)
Cool down 1 mile
Lift weights, endurance style 3x20

However today when i arrived at the gym, the treadmills were being used, and i was pressed on time so I jumped on the weights. When I finished my lifts a treadmill opened up, I hoped on it.

When i started out, my breathing was very irregular, I contributed this to the seated rows i did where the chest is pushed against padding. However i could not regulate my breathing, and when I hit the one mile mark, I got cramps like i had never had in all my days of running, track and field, or in my days of preperation. I mean this just plain hurt. I sucked it up, turned up my mp3 player, and belted out another mile and a half in pain. When i stopped, i was really lightheaded.

The best I can figure is, my body has become accustomed to running before i work out, we did this even in my days of track. I'm now going to start varying my Workouts to break my mindset.

I want to know if this is at all normal? And if there is any way to regulate my breathing while running? And lastly if there is any old wives tale's to alleivate what is "runners cramp."

And one last question for my own clarification, is the 6 mile run to be completed in 45, or 42 minutes.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Tom
tomhedy@hotmail.com

6 miles in 45 minutes.

Another Tom,

It is my opinion you should vary your Workouts. You shouldnt be in a routine that when changed "shocks" yor body. Read the postings on RKB's and you will get some advice on the order of exercise.
On your runs, you should pretend like the number is really 42 and not 45. Make it a goal to get to a 42 pace, because you dont get to wear a watch during your runs, and you dont want to be running that fine line on the 6 mile. When you look at the suggested Workouts you see interval training, this will help you get faster, with this incorporated into your training you will find it no problem to break 7 minute miles for your 6 miles. And when you fine tune your pace you dont need a watch because you will be finishing your runs at consistent times.

Thanks,

And naturally, you would always want to do above and beyond the requirments. It just futher's your chances of succsess.

tom

Take note that usually the run is the first thing you will do in the morning at indoc. So if you are going to do one before the other, i would run and then do cals/weights. But i also agree that you should mix up your Workouts too.

Another thing to consider is how much farther you can go when you are "forced too."
Running was NEVER my fortay. But when cadre takes you out and runs you into the ground, you do it. I was amazed at myself for surviving some of those runs. I used to dream of the relative safety of the water (safer for me that is).
I would not read too much into one episode Tom. Might have been an off day. Though, your conclusion that maybe your body has become conditioned to a know sequence is viable. Mixing it up to throw some change in sequence at your body certainly couldn't hurt.
It has been almost 10 years since I attended the OL-H (93-004). I still look back on that time as a really challenging and fun time. Though, sometimes it was hard to see the fun.
Keep your focus, and you will be fine.
One thing, never, ever stop running on those cadre led runs. I fell back more than once, but never stopped. I was always afraid that if I ever stopped, even once, that it would be my downfall.
And what the hell is 6 miles in 45 minutes? It was 42 when I was there. No more?

WHen you get to the OL-H, tell Kirby that Thanatos said "dude, food, good mood"
You will probably get dropped, but he will laugh.

Hoo Ya !!