Christmas Eve Jog

Around noon, I finally got away for my jog. A few weeks ago my knees were hurting so badly that when I jogged one morning, I could barely finish 3 miles on the track. A few days after that I still have trouble completing 3 miles on the road.

So I have taken it easier during my jogs--not pushing myself. I also lighten up the weights during my squats. I think the heavy squats is what really aggrevates my knees, but I am not sure.

This morning I was able to jog almost 3 miles before I noticed my knees. I jogged another mile before I started to be concerned about stopping. I managed to jog a little over 5 miles without any real pain in my knees, albeit, I did not jog fast.

Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to concentrate on the jogging and not do much weight lifting. Hopefully, I can narrow down the reasons that my knees hurt.

Hope all have a very Merry Christmas...

Check out my version of a online holiday greeting

It's time to go to sleep so Santa will come.

Change in Sunday Morning's Jog

This morning, I jogged the first two miles of my long Sunday morning jog at a faster pace than normal. If felt really good! The last of the little bit of the last two miles were tough. I managed to get that far and when I got to the two mile mark, I managed to slow my pace and continue on.


The problem was soon after the two mile marker was that I had to climb the hardest hill in my route. About the 2.4 marker, I was barely going. but I felt that if I must get to the 3 mile marker which is my regular regiment.


After talking myself into the idea that I could reach at least 3 mile marker, my slow pace became regular and comfortable. Walking home from the 3 mile marker would take forever, so I continued the jog.


My body adjusted and when going downhill around the 3. 5 mile marker, I felt pretty well--like I would last awhile longer. My body gave out at the 4 mile point. From there I walked home.


My jog was like this:

walked casually .2 mile

walked fast for .1 mile

jogged at a reasonable fast pace for 2 miles

jogged slowly for 2 miles

walked casually 1.7 miles


I am pleased that I could keep the pace up for 2 miles, but it made me very tired. The good news is that the 6 mile route uses approximately the same number of calories, regardless of whether I run, jog, or walk.



This particular method was good because I think the faster pace is really good for the ab muscles and toning the legs, and of course, the faster pace really works the heart and lungs.

Jogging Variation on the Track

This morning was a typical 12 laps (approximately 3 miles) around the track with the exception that my jogging buddy decided to out run me on the sprints and turns on the 11th lap. Although I ended up flying past him on the last sprint of the 12 lap, I really like his approach. He will do much better next time.


This is our strategy. We stretch, we walk around a little, then we start a fairly slow pace for the first lap. We try to speed our pace slightly during the 2nd or 3rd lap. On the 5th lap, we increase our pace on the straight-ways and slow it back down on the curves of the track.


On the 11th and 12th laps we sprint on a shorter portion of the straight parts. This particular morning he went sprinted on the 1st straight-away and did not slow much in the curve. He basically jumped way ahead of me. He did the same thing on the 2nd straight-away. I gained a little.


Since he was so far ahead of me, I did not realize that he had given everything on that 11th lap. I lessen the gap between the two of us. By the time we reached the last of the 12th lap, I sprinted right by him.


We had fun. We learned some lessons. We are ready to do it again. My lesson is that I slow too much in the curves. We in general need to speed that portion up. If we practice it a little more, maybe he nor I will give out.


We know that interval running is good and that it breaks up the monotony.