It's amazing what a little kick in the butt can do for your motivation. For the last week or so I have been complaining about my legs and not completely committed to the idea of a fall marathon. NYC changed all that, there is now no longer the debate before a run, I just go. The alarm went off at 4:45am this morning. It's amazing the difference 15 minutes makes. Getting up at 5 and leaving at 5:15 means we are leaving when it's fairly light out. This morning it was pitch dark. All three of us were pretty cranky about it. Could have been it was Friday and no one wanted to get up, but I"m thinking that if it had been a little lighter we would have been slightly more chipper. Regardless we headed out. Down the the Blvd, like most days. I have to day I think at this point I could run that road blindfolded as many probably could. We added another mile to our morning route, the first of many small extensions over the next 20 weeks I'm sure. I was pretty uncomfortable for the first 3 miles and then started to settle into the run. The last 2 miles definately felt good and the pace was quicker. Let's see how tomorrow goes, I would like to go 7.
My goal for NYC is 4:30, I have a lot of work ahead of me, strength building as well as speed work. I read in the NY times today that marathon runners tend to be a bit obsessional, I laughed out loud, it's all starting to make sense now!
Days till NYC: 148
Miles trained today: 5.9
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
NYC or bust
Well, the unexpected happened today, both Joe and I got into the New York City Marathon via the lottery today. Unreal! I entered us about 2 weeks ago as an afterthought. "We'll never get in but who cares". We did get in! When I saw it at work I couldn't help but yell out. I then spent the next several hours educating people as to what a marathon is. No it's not a 5k. Yes it is 26.2 miles. Yes I will do the whole thing. Yes, it's the same distance as Boston. Yes I will still wear high heels to work. It's hard to celebrate a running victory with non-runners. Now the games begin! I'm sure my physical therapist will not be jumping for joy when I share the news with him. Just yesterday he was trying to convince me that a fall marathon might not be a good idea. This puts the kabbash on him!
As for the training, my legs continue to hurt like hell. I thought after Monday we were getting somewhere but today I had hoped for 6 and cut it short after 3. To get me up the last hill I recalled the pain of the last marathon and pushed my way through it. I did score a $5 dollar bill along my route, today was really my lucky day. The nice thing about New York is that it's about 2 weeks later than the marathon we were going to run so I'm feeling a little less pressured. I can spend 2 more weeks working on the legs. I've decided to return to the world of PT and the dreaded g-trainer. Let's face it, right now I can't pull off 10 miles on the roads, but on the g-trainer it won't be difficult. I'll be able to work on my miles without the added stress on the legs, works for me as well as the coach and the PT. Shocking that all 3 of us are agreeing on something, guaranteed not to last long!!
I still can't believe that I have become this much a runner. The girl with asthma who hated anything athletic is psyched to be running NY!
Days till NYC: 149
As for the training, my legs continue to hurt like hell. I thought after Monday we were getting somewhere but today I had hoped for 6 and cut it short after 3. To get me up the last hill I recalled the pain of the last marathon and pushed my way through it. I did score a $5 dollar bill along my route, today was really my lucky day. The nice thing about New York is that it's about 2 weeks later than the marathon we were going to run so I'm feeling a little less pressured. I can spend 2 more weeks working on the legs. I've decided to return to the world of PT and the dreaded g-trainer. Let's face it, right now I can't pull off 10 miles on the roads, but on the g-trainer it won't be difficult. I'll be able to work on my miles without the added stress on the legs, works for me as well as the coach and the PT. Shocking that all 3 of us are agreeing on something, guaranteed not to last long!!
I still can't believe that I have become this much a runner. The girl with asthma who hated anything athletic is psyched to be running NY!
Days till NYC: 149
Monday, June 1, 2009
New Beginnings
It was another 5:30am run today. Not nearly as warm as the other day, but none the less we got up and got it done. Funny that I am complaining about 44 degree weather, after this winter I should keep my mouth shut. My legs definitely feel like they are improving, which is good. The new orthotics come in tomorrow and those should also help. We got in 4.8 which I'll also take.
Most of the morning was spent thinking about what's next on the running radar. If I am serious about a fall marathon, the training starts now (deep breath). To be honest as much as I want to do it, I'm worried. It really sucked to put in all those miles (391.2 to be exact) for the Providence Marathon to sit back and not be able to run it. If I train for a fall marathon I'll log over 700 miles, go through 2+ pairs of sneakers and eat countless GU's. I have secretly enjoyed not loosing my weekends to long runs, but in the same breath have missed the feeling that comes with running 2+ hours. If I've learned anything from my previous training it is that the marathon will take over my life. Before engaging in any activity, from getting dressed in the morning to eating dinner at night, the question will always be "how will this effect my training". And be sure if I don't question the impact on my training, I'll be reminded on Sunday nights.
I don't know why I am perservating about this, you know as well as I do that I am going to try and as long as the feet and the legs hold out will be successful. I will train again. I will not let the fear of injury stop me. I will have a good time over the next 20 weeks (or at least pretend to).
Most of the morning was spent thinking about what's next on the running radar. If I am serious about a fall marathon, the training starts now (deep breath). To be honest as much as I want to do it, I'm worried. It really sucked to put in all those miles (391.2 to be exact) for the Providence Marathon to sit back and not be able to run it. If I train for a fall marathon I'll log over 700 miles, go through 2+ pairs of sneakers and eat countless GU's. I have secretly enjoyed not loosing my weekends to long runs, but in the same breath have missed the feeling that comes with running 2+ hours. If I've learned anything from my previous training it is that the marathon will take over my life. Before engaging in any activity, from getting dressed in the morning to eating dinner at night, the question will always be "how will this effect my training". And be sure if I don't question the impact on my training, I'll be reminded on Sunday nights.
I don't know why I am perservating about this, you know as well as I do that I am going to try and as long as the feet and the legs hold out will be successful. I will train again. I will not let the fear of injury stop me. I will have a good time over the next 20 weeks (or at least pretend to).
Sunday, May 31, 2009
What's wrong with this picture?
Sunday morning, 8am, the alarm goes off. Joe and I get out of bed in a rather chipper mood and head to our workout clothes. I had made plans to meet others for a track workout. Why on a Sunday morning? Why not! Rather than get in out car as we normally would have, we took a detour to the shed. Out came the bikes. We were planning on riding to the track. We had planned this for the last several days and finally all road blocks had been removed. My old bike was tuned up, his bike now had air in the tires and I had a brand spanking new helmet. Off we went. Now here's the problem, we live at the bottom of a rather large hill. 20 seconds into the ride and half way up the hill I was huffing and puffing like I do at the end of a track workout. This was seeming like a very bad idea.
During my 2 month injury I had been spending many hours in the pool and on the stationary bike. Feeling down about the whole injury thing and not feeling like I was pushing it hard enough on either the bike or in the pool, I came up with the brilliant idea to register for a triathlon. Now if that wasn't bad enough I convinced my sister (who is just a competitive although she will deny it) to register as well. Now that I'm running again, I'm not nearly as into the triathlon training as I was several weeks ago. But too late, I've already submitted my registration. Hence the reason we rode to the track this morning.
The track itself was not a bad in the beginning as I had anticipated. By the time we crawled under the fence to gain access I had recovered from the bike. Oh yeah, we didn't have keys and had to sneak on. Sorry if anyone reading is from Brown security, it was for a good cause! Sue and I did 5x5 mins at threshold pace, which translates into right around an 8 min mile give or take a few seconds. Now it was my understanding that this type of workout wasn't supposed to feel terrible. My lungs would beg to differ. Needless to say we completed the workout as instructed and did not ditch for morning mimosa's
Biking home felt pretty good, we avoided some of the steep down-hills this time around. I remember as a kid loving to ride downhill at top speed screaming at the top of my lungs with both legs outstretched. Going downhill now is a terrifying experience where I grip my handlebars and brakes with white knuckles and pray that I won't land on the side of the road with a broken shoulder.
During my 2 month injury I had been spending many hours in the pool and on the stationary bike. Feeling down about the whole injury thing and not feeling like I was pushing it hard enough on either the bike or in the pool, I came up with the brilliant idea to register for a triathlon. Now if that wasn't bad enough I convinced my sister (who is just a competitive although she will deny it) to register as well. Now that I'm running again, I'm not nearly as into the triathlon training as I was several weeks ago. But too late, I've already submitted my registration. Hence the reason we rode to the track this morning.
The track itself was not a bad in the beginning as I had anticipated. By the time we crawled under the fence to gain access I had recovered from the bike. Oh yeah, we didn't have keys and had to sneak on. Sorry if anyone reading is from Brown security, it was for a good cause! Sue and I did 5x5 mins at threshold pace, which translates into right around an 8 min mile give or take a few seconds. Now it was my understanding that this type of workout wasn't supposed to feel terrible. My lungs would beg to differ. Needless to say we completed the workout as instructed and did not ditch for morning mimosa's
Biking home felt pretty good, we avoided some of the steep down-hills this time around. I remember as a kid loving to ride downhill at top speed screaming at the top of my lungs with both legs outstretched. Going downhill now is a terrifying experience where I grip my handlebars and brakes with white knuckles and pray that I won't land on the side of the road with a broken shoulder.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Ahhhh....5:30am
I hate to say it, but I've missed 5:30am. There is just something about getting my run in first thing. For the rest of the day I feel like I have a big secret. That said, it's not easy getting up and I'm pretty sullen while preparing for the run and for the first mile or so, ask Joe he will confirm. But after that it's so quiet and nice. We started at the Stadium, met Sue and headed down Elmgrove. It is much easier to get in these morning runs when the temps are in the 50's rather than the 20's (which it was the last time we did this). My legs are still tight and pretty sore but if I want to do a marathon in the fall I have to build up these miles. I try to use the mile rule, if I can't get though a mile it's time to throw in the towel, after that you gotta stick with it. When I thought about walking I my watch read 1.7, too late to stop now. Grin and bear it right! The ridiculous conversation kept me going down the Blvd. You would never know that a Ph.D., MSW, and MBA could be so amused with conversations that many Jr. High Schoolers are probably having on the way to school! We did decide on a detour and headed up to Wayland Sq to follow Elmgrove back to the Blvd. 4.2 miles down and ready for the rest of the day!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The good with the bad
Good things:
1. I completed an awful track workout
2. My times were right on through all 10 400's
3. The foot does not hurt
Bad things:
1. Pain is still there
2. At times pain is unbearable
I'm not sure what's going on here. Went to the track tonight and a 2 lap warm up was killer. Calves and shins cramped up almost immediately. I thought about throwing in the towel and running on the road, but figured that would hurt just as much given how Monday felt. The strange thing is that during the workout I don't feel the pain, that could be due to the fact my body is convinced I am steps from death and focused on keeping my legs inflated. Tomorrow I'll hit the pool and see if that helps. The next step will be back to PT for more help. For now I am iced and covered in flexistat (meaning I smell like an 85 year old nursing home resident who loves Ben Gay). I'm choosing to focus on the fact that I completed a hard ass workout. I remember the first year I started these track workouts. We did a very similar workout and I think I got through lap 6. Today I completed all 10 with the times right on! It was a good workout.
1. I completed an awful track workout
2. My times were right on through all 10 400's
3. The foot does not hurt
Bad things:
1. Pain is still there
2. At times pain is unbearable
I'm not sure what's going on here. Went to the track tonight and a 2 lap warm up was killer. Calves and shins cramped up almost immediately. I thought about throwing in the towel and running on the road, but figured that would hurt just as much given how Monday felt. The strange thing is that during the workout I don't feel the pain, that could be due to the fact my body is convinced I am steps from death and focused on keeping my legs inflated. Tomorrow I'll hit the pool and see if that helps. The next step will be back to PT for more help. For now I am iced and covered in flexistat (meaning I smell like an 85 year old nursing home resident who loves Ben Gay). I'm choosing to focus on the fact that I completed a hard ass workout. I remember the first year I started these track workouts. We did a very similar workout and I think I got through lap 6. Today I completed all 10 with the times right on! It was a good workout.
Monday, May 25, 2009
I'm back..
Well sort of. I stopped blogging about a month and a half before my foot injury knocked me out of the game. After 2 months of physical therapy and running on a strange treadmill, I've been running outside for about 2 weeks. I know I shouldn't complain. I also know that it's going to be slow going, but I'm getting frustrated. At first, things felt great. My first few runs were perfect, I felt good, had a great pace. I was like everything was back in sync, it was what running should feel like. Alas that did not last. My last 3 runs have been filled with pain and cramping. Nothing like my injury so I think I'm safe in that respect. Some of this I asked for, last week I ran 6 days with 2 days being fast on the track. Stupid I know, but as I said earlier things felt good. I'm now paying for it. Went my longest distance on Sat, 5 miles, and didn't felt good for most of it. So I took Sunday off, rested from everything. Had high hopes about today's run, got out there in within a half mile started to feel it again. I can't help but get pissed at the fact that prior to the injury we were running 45-50 miles a week, average runs being 7-10 miles and now I can't handle 3-5 miles every other day. I'll get back there, I have to if another marathon is in my future and there is NO way I will rest until I have caught up with Joe in the marathon tally. Enough already with the complaining. Here are the good parts about returning to the road:
1. Even with the pain I have been able to keep my pace at over a min faster than my pace pre-injury.
2. I'm out there and able to run with Joe again.
3. It does not feel like the original injury is returning
I started to chat these to myself today as I struggled down the blvd tonight. Here's hoping that my backing off and running every other day I continue to improve.
1. Even with the pain I have been able to keep my pace at over a min faster than my pace pre-injury.
2. I'm out there and able to run with Joe again.
3. It does not feel like the original injury is returning
I started to chat these to myself today as I struggled down the blvd tonight. Here's hoping that my backing off and running every other day I continue to improve.
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