Monday, February 22, 2010

Feeling Sleepy

I don't have a whole lot new to report, except,
  • I'm back out running short distances (3-6 miles) and plan to build up again very gradually.
  • I'm pleasantly surprised that I can still do anything after such a long break, although holding a 9:30 pace is hard and if left to my own devices I've been drifting over 10:30.
  • The knee has been OK; naturally I'm aware of it and it doesn't quite feel 100% right, but definitely has not been giving actual pain.
However, I've been shocked at how tired I'm feeling and am praying it's just my body getting used to running again.


I'm feeling a little bit cheated because conventional wisdom states that exercise gives you more energy, rather than leaving you feeling wrung out like a wet rag at the end of the day. And clearly, 29 minutes of running should not exactly be a Herculean effort.

One of my 2010 goals is to run a half marathon in under 2 hours: at the moment that's looking like a large hill to climb.

How about you - do you find exercise gives you more energy, or does it leave you yearning for a nap?

Cartoon found here, original source unknown, sorry.

6 comments:

  1. I feel tired right now... the last thing I want to do is go run. Luckily! I have a dentist appt instead.
    Usually exercise energizes me, but once it's over about 13 or 14 miles I need a nap after.
    I wonder if the dentist will care if i fall asleep while he cleans my teeth?

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  2. I've been really tired lately, but I think it's more about the endless winter. I do feel more energized after a workout. But getting to the gym is getting harder and harder. This nonstop snow and cold weather is killing me!

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  3. I run in the evenings, usually 3 nights a week. Anytime I up my mileage or incorporate something new (Friday hills) I sleep like the dead. In the mornings and up until early evening I feel bouncier and more energetic, but as the day rolls on I'm tired, particularly if I have sore muscles. Once I've eaten my evening meal, if I sit down, that's me done for the day. I might manage a half hour of TV or reading, but then I'm nodding out. After a few weeks of the new routine, though, I'm better than ever.

    It's one of those really unfair facts that it takes only about half as long to lose our fitness as it did to gain it, so don't be too hard on yourself if it takes a while to get back to where you were pre-injury.

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  4. I would say that excercise when I start up again wears me out. Later on it gives me more energy. I definitely sleep better when I excercise.

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  5. Running & exercising makes me feel so vibrant and full of energy. If I don't exercise I immediately start feeling down and out the follwing days.

    p.s. I left a comment months ago & you sent me an extremely nice email w/ tons of helpful info. I finally found your blog again and am a follower! :o)

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  6. This is the first time I've stopped over to this blog, but since I'm a runner too, I'm totally pumped to check out your posts over here as well. I'm a little mixed...sometimes, I get that total runner's high that leaves me energized all day, but then certain times, it can leave me feeling kind of sluggish. I think keeping a clean diet plays a huge part in the energy factor in addition to exercise.

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