Random Thoughts about Compression Socks, Chocolate Milk and Track Tuesday

I’ve been feeling some soreness in my shins and Achilles, which could be a sign that more stretching is necessary.  Although soreness has me thinking about purchasing a pair of compression socks.  Runner’s World gave a run down on some different brands and their targeted purpose.  I thought I was supposed to wear them while running, but from what my running friends have informed me is that you wear them on your rest days.

Do you wear compression socks?  Do you wear them while running or do you wear them on resting non-running days?  Do you notice a difference in your recovery?

Speaking of recovery, I started drinking chocolate milk after my runs again.  I had completely forgotten about chocolate milk as a recovery drink until Chrissy and I visiting a local Cuban cafe for a pit stop (and a clean restroom) after our long runs.  I would order a café con leche, but Chrissy doesn’t drink coffee so she would order chocolate milk.

As I stated in a previous post, “After an intense work-out or a long distance run, your body becomes depleted of glycogens, therefore, it’s important to replenish those lost minerals with some carbs and proteins.  The potassium, magnesium and calcium found in an 8-ounce glass of chocolate milk offers a substantial amount of minerals needed to rebuild tired muscles and offer some recovery.  Water rehydrates while sports drinks replenish fluids and electrolytes, but chocolate milk rehydrates and rebuilds.”

Can you believe I forgot this?!  Unbelievable!  What woman forgets about chocolate especially chocolate that’s been deemed good for you?

Since I can’t drink protein powder due to the high cholesterol content, I haven’t been drinking muscle repairing recovery drinks.  So last week, I started drinking chocolate milk (8oz skim milk with about two Tbsp of Ovaltine) after my runs again and I really noticed a huge difference.  I felt so much better.  My leg muscles definitely thanked me with less cramping and tightness.  I felt less tightness and soreness in my heels, shins and Achilles.  Plus, it will help with my vitamin D deficiency.

One insane week of hubby traveling down and one more to go.  Last week, I wasn’t able to run as much as I wanted to thanks to hubby’s travel schedule.  Thankfully, so far this week I’ve been able to fit in a little better.  Chrissy and I also need to run 12 miles in on Friday morning before I leave for Girl Scout camp.

Chrissy and I ran 14 miles last Saturday, which was her longest ever.  She’s doing so great with her marathon training.  I’m so proud of her!

14.1 miles
Time 2:42:51
Ave Pace 11:33
Max Pace 8:09

Then, I did a slow and easy 3 mile recovery run on Sunday.

3.1 miles
Time 30:32
Ave Pace 9:51
Max Pace 8:17

Monday I ran 6 miles.

6 miles
Time 58:32
Ave Pace 9:46
Max Pace 7:07

Today is Track Tuesday.  I missed last week’s speedwork session due to DH’s traveling, but it probably was a well-deserved break.  The weather change was a welcomed break too.  Since the mornings over the past week have been cooler with little humidity, it finally feels like fall.  Though my lungs love the change weather, my legs don’t seem to care about it because the cooler weather didn’t change my speed at all.  However, I changed my usual speedwork session with a light jog between sprints so maybe that affected my overall performance.

1 mile
9:54

Lap 1 – 0.25
Time 1:56
Ave Pace 7:37

Lap 2 – 0.25
Time 1:52
Ave Pace 7:29

Lap 3 – 0.25
Time 1:57
Ave Pace 7:58

Lap 4 – 0.25
Time 1:59
Ave Pace 7:52

1.1   mile
Time 10:33
Ave Pace 9:37

So how did your runs, speedwork and work-outs go this week?  Link up and tell me all about it.



To join our Track Tuesday linky party, do your speed work (at least 4 quarter mile sprints) on Tuesday or any day you that works best for you, blog about your times and remember to add our cool Track Tuesday button to your post.  Then, link up your post at either Ricole Runs or Run DMT to share Track Tuesday Speed Work Sessions.  To show support for our other virtual running partners on the Track Tuesday Team, be sure to visit the other blogs listed in the linky party.  Give them a virtual high-five and leave some comment love too.

*Also linking up at*

Stacy

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

10 comments

  1. Kat says:

    I do speedwork on Thursdays! I’m lactose intolerant, so I’ll never make it on team Refuel 😉 I use protein powder and also use almond milk to mix. I’ve been using Nuun to hydrate as that also has electrolytes and other helpful nutrients! I love compression…actually I’m obsessed with it 😉

  2. thenerdyrunner says:

    First off: Love the blog.

    Secondly: Today is my speedwork day. 4x800m, with 400m jogs (maybe walks) in between, with a targeted pace of 3:05-3:10/800m. I hate speedwork, but it helps. I’m already dreading next week’s speedwork, which is 3×1600, with 400m jogs (more than likely walks) in between.

    And I’m a huge fan of post-run chocolate milk. A). I love chocolate milk. B). It’s great for you in this situation, so that equals a win in my book!

  3. Genna says:

    Thanks for linking up! Great runs this week! I normally wear compression after my long runs but wore my compression sleeves for my last long run and it was amazing! I mostly did it because the weather will be cooler for my marathon, but I think it really helped! Now to find compression shorts that don’t make me look like an oompa loompaa!

  4. meghan @ little girl in the big world says:

    Nice job on the runs. 13.1 is my longest and I’ve got 14 next week. I’m a bit nervous about it, I’m not going to lie. Looks like you’re really killing in. What are you training for? The track Tuesday link up is a great idea. I think we all need a little motivation to get through speedwork.

    • Run DMT says:

      Thank you for saying so! I’m not sure I’m killing it but I definitely feel like I’m dying. lol In the next couple of months, I have two half marathons and then Disney Marathon in January followed by the Ft Lauderdale marathon in February.

  5. Bob Cristello says:

    I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

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