Monday, August 31, 2009

In the long run

I finally got to run for an hour straight. My blood pressure before was predicatably 142/85, and I went just over 6.8 miles. BP dropped to 125/75 but I had cooled down quite a bit. I'm hoping to keep up that pace for a half-marathon. I got a blister, but I refuse to send a picture.

Would a muscle rub raise a person's blood pressure?

I normally run for half an hour, and I'm going to try to keep up a 7.7mph pace for three more times this week. I wanted to get a 10mph pace for a full hour by the end of this year, but that's far out of reach now. My new aim is Christmas time 2011, when I'm a little younger.

When Lisa paces me on the bike a get winded in a hurry. I must be going a little faster. I'll have to learn how to pace myself outdoors.


10 comments:

  1. Kerry, I've got some questions. And anyone of you other medical experts can help out as well...

    I know BP is important, but don't know why? Kerry, do you have a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (I love google) to measure yours? Why are you doing it? What are you worried about? What am I missing out on? Why is it important to running and what does it tell you?

    Thanks, Nate

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmmm. There's an automated sphygmomanometer (I just call it the blood pressure machine) that I use in the gym. Unhealthy circulation is a common cause of death and I'm ultra-sensitive about staying alive 'till Tobias goes on a mission.

    Running can lower your blood pressure, so I've been looking for that result. Speed and endurance and blood pressure all all indicators of health, so I relate all of them in my mind. If I ever get any muscle mass, I'll put that in here too. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. You're doing great, Kerry. You are on track to do really well in Phoenix.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Makes sense. So, what is a good blood pressure for me?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't figure out why you're worried about your blood pressure either because your numbers look great to me....check it two hours before and two hours after instead if you want lower than that. Look for your pulse to drop when you start running 40 miles a week. But remember it's about your resting pulse and resting heart rate....both must necessarily go up, more than you are measuring, to sustain intense exercise. You're the physics guy....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry I meant resting pulse and resting blood pressure.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I understand the two hours after, but why two hours before? According to my understanding of physics blood pressure shouldn't go up until stress begins. Does my brain do it to me because I anticipate the thrill of jumping on the treadmill? I'm starting to put the blame on the muscle rub, because I've been putting it on before I start.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yup, it's your brain...seriously. If you see a bear coming, your blood pressure actually does go up before you even start running. I am on almost a constant blood pressure watch, as you may know. If my blood pressure doesn't go up before I start running, there is something wrong...my body knows what to do! Yes, it goes up much more once I get going, then actually drops a bit as I get into the zone. And the variations you are talking about are actually really mild...probably should be more.

    Emotional stress makes most people's blood pressure go up...but for me, it goes up right before I run, a few minutes into the run, and then drops dramatically (90/60) a few hours after the run. Before I get going it is often 160+/100, then drops as I run, then stabilizes. They are actually worried it is going too low after the run so the cardiologist and nephrologist are struggling to find the right meds.

    Today I am wondering if I just go off everything maybe I will be as stable as you!

    Course...I could never wish to do 10 mph for more than a mile. Unless I was falling...

    E

    ReplyDelete
  9. How do y'all measure your blood pressure while you are running? I'm in Nathan's camp on this one. I never carry anything with me that I can't pronounce.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You go to the cardiologist and they do it. Not fun.

    ReplyDelete