Cto5k Week 3, Day 3

Well, i was too busy yesterday to post, but i did complete Week 3! On Thursday my calf was still bothering me a lot; taking stairs in between classes was uncomfortable. On Friday it almost felt back to normal, but i didn't have time to run because my grandparents came over. On Saturday i woke up to 25 mph winds. So i packed my bag and headed off to the college gym that my student fees are paying for. i used an elliptical trainer for the first time in a couple of years.

i've heard that some people find running with a treadmill or elliptical trainer to be more difficult than on the road or sidewalk or path. i enjoyed it, i didn't set the resistance too high and had to go a little faster to get my heartrate up, but i kept it in a good range and only got a little out of breath once. i completed the extra three minute interval, too, it felt great! Then i lifted some weights (for my arms only), and was probably having my first runner's high ever, i felt great. After driving home my calf was a little tight getting out of the car, but it is not bothering me nearly as badly as on Wednesday.

i did a little research on cramps, and no one knows for sure why they happen or what the best thing is to do when they happen. i guess i was stupid to even try running while it was happening, but on Monday my workout had been too easy and i really wanted to push myself. Anyway, now i know to apply heat and that some people say to massage the cramp, some people say to stretch it. i can tell you from experience that stretching didn't help! i used to get really, really bad calf cramps at night in high school, it never really helped then either, but every time it happens to me i just instinctively try to flex my foot. My Grandma used to get up and walk around when it happened to her! i read a thing about lifting your legs above your head, some pilates move or something, and wondered how you're supposed to manage that when you're curled up and gasping in pain.

Re: diet, experts say that it may be you don't have enough calcium, magnesuim, potassium, thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6) in your diet. i had heard about the potassium one before, and am dubious about it because in high school i used to enhale 2-3 bananas a day and it never seemed to help. i also read that it probably signals dehydration, which is possible. i always run out of water halfway through my run, i need to carry more i guess. i drank a lot more water yesterday, couldn't seem to get enough of it, and i think it helped. Of course i was sweating buckets in the gym while i am usually more comfortable outside in the fall weather. And lastly, i read that one shouldn't wear crew socks because they tend to be too tight on the calf and inhibit blood circulation. i think we have another winner: i guess i need new socks. i am pretty sure that i need new shoes, too, i am currently using an old pair of my Mom's and they are starting to look very sad.