Another great run... well, sort of.
I was really excited about another long run. After a few days off this week, I really felt like I was back on track as far as my feet were concerned. And for the first five miles, everything felt great. The last two, however, gave me some trouble. I was pretty uncomfortable and considered walking, but I was so determined to get in all 7 miles, that I hung in there until the finish. I kept telling myself that I knew what I could do for my feet once the run was over to help alleviate the discomfort and I really didn't want to skip any more miles than I already had for the week. Maybe that wasn't the smartest idea, but I never claimed to always make the best decisions when it comes to this sort of thing.
No question, when I was finished, my feet were hurting. But finishing 7 miles in under an hour made it all worth while. I was particularly proud of myself for running an 8:30 pace. I'm constantly amazed at how much I've improved over the last few months. Of course, if I was being smart about it, I most definitely would have just slowed down, but I'm far too competitive with myself to allow that to happen. So, until I can learn to take it easy, my new best friends will be ice packs, stretching and golf balls... :)
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Day 102 (2/24): 3 miles / 33:06
After a difficult few days, I finally got back on the treadmill to log a few miles. I really hated skipping so many miles already this week, but there's no question that the problems with my feet needed to be dealt with before I could continue training. Wednesday evening was dedicated solely to stretching and icing and I noticed a huge difference when it came to today's run because of it. I still have a long way to go, but at least I feel like I'm back on track.
That being said, I went out of my way to take it easy on today's run. I promised myself that I wouldn't go any faster than a 10:00 mile pace because I knew if I did, I might not be able to stop myself from seeing just how fast I could go. I'm actually quite proud of my ability to restrain myself :) I followed my run with more stretching and, of course, more ice... never a pleasant experience. At this point, I'm feeling pretty confident about being ready for Saturday's scheduled 7 mile run... and I'm already looking forward to it.
In other news...
That being said, I went out of my way to take it easy on today's run. I promised myself that I wouldn't go any faster than a 10:00 mile pace because I knew if I did, I might not be able to stop myself from seeing just how fast I could go. I'm actually quite proud of my ability to restrain myself :) I followed my run with more stretching and, of course, more ice... never a pleasant experience. At this point, I'm feeling pretty confident about being ready for Saturday's scheduled 7 mile run... and I'm already looking forward to it.
In other news...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Day 101 (2/21): < 1 mile / < 10:00
How's that for a vague heading?!?
Talk about an off day. I started with a very stressful morning dealing with a Terrible Twos Tantrum and, even though running usually relieves that sort of stress, I wanted to take it one step further and attempt to actually settle my nerves rather than increase my heart rate. I opted for an afternoon yoga session and planned to run later in the day.
My yoga workout was tough, but felt great. I managed to make it almost an hour before deciding my body had reached its limit. I'm still fairly new to yoga and, even though it gets easier every time I do it, I also have to remember just how sore I am after pushing a little too hard.
In the late afternoon I prepared myself for my scheduled 3 mile run. I was a little tired from yoga, but figured I'd bounce back once I started moving. Unfortunately, my body had a different plan. Not far into my run I realized just how much my feet still hurt from Saturday's long run and I began to think that maybe 3 miles just wasn't going to happen. I kept telling myself to stick it out, but I was pretty uncomfortable. And that's when it happened... out of nowhere, just shy of a mile, my treadmill crapped out completely. I can't lie - my very first thought was "thank god I have an excuse to stop" followed almost immediately by panic at the idea that my treadmill might be gone for good. A new one simply isn't in the budget right now. After checking the power supply and still coming up with nothing, I went to the resident expert on all things I don't know... my husband. Fortunately, he found a reset switch under the treadmill and brought it back to life. I decided, however, to take it as a sign to go easy on myself today and accept that my yoga workout would have to be enough.
Guess it's time to research some new stretches...
hip problem solved... foot problem to follow shortly...
Talk about an off day. I started with a very stressful morning dealing with a Terrible Twos Tantrum and, even though running usually relieves that sort of stress, I wanted to take it one step further and attempt to actually settle my nerves rather than increase my heart rate. I opted for an afternoon yoga session and planned to run later in the day.
My yoga workout was tough, but felt great. I managed to make it almost an hour before deciding my body had reached its limit. I'm still fairly new to yoga and, even though it gets easier every time I do it, I also have to remember just how sore I am after pushing a little too hard.
In the late afternoon I prepared myself for my scheduled 3 mile run. I was a little tired from yoga, but figured I'd bounce back once I started moving. Unfortunately, my body had a different plan. Not far into my run I realized just how much my feet still hurt from Saturday's long run and I began to think that maybe 3 miles just wasn't going to happen. I kept telling myself to stick it out, but I was pretty uncomfortable. And that's when it happened... out of nowhere, just shy of a mile, my treadmill crapped out completely. I can't lie - my very first thought was "thank god I have an excuse to stop" followed almost immediately by panic at the idea that my treadmill might be gone for good. A new one simply isn't in the budget right now. After checking the power supply and still coming up with nothing, I went to the resident expert on all things I don't know... my husband. Fortunately, he found a reset switch under the treadmill and brought it back to life. I decided, however, to take it as a sign to go easy on myself today and accept that my yoga workout would have to be enough.
Guess it's time to research some new stretches...
hip problem solved... foot problem to follow shortly...
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Day 100 (2/18): 9.6 miles / 1:24:03
I can't pretend I'm not a little disappointed, so let me just get that out of the way here at the beginning. Today's run was scheduled for 10 miles... and I wish I would have driven the route before running it instead of after. As soon as I saw my time, I was sure it was short. That being said, my only disappointment with today's run was the fact that I didn't run the extra 0.4 miles to make it a full 10. I was looking forward to accomplishing that milestone. Nevertheless, everything else about today's run was, in a word, AMAZING!
First and foremost, the fact that I ran 9.6 miles in 1:24:03 means that my per mile pace was about 8:45... a pace I never imagined I would be capable of running for this distance. This fact alone gives me reason to celebrate!
My second reason to celebrate: I felt great, both physically and mentally, for this entire run. During most of my workouts I reach a point where I at least pretend to consider calling it quits. While I've only come close to actually stopping early on a few occasions, I can still admit that there's part of me that considers it briefly during most runs. Today, this was not the case. In fact, when I saw the pace I was keeping, I considered adding a little extra on to my run because I was pretty sure the distance was going to come up a little short. Of course, I didn't end up adding any extra distance... but the fact that I considered it in the first place was a huge mental jump from where I normally am. I have to say that this was one of my few "I can do anything" kind of runs where everything felt right. If only every run could feel this good!
I'm already looking forward to my next milestone... and I intend to get in every last tenth of a mile :)
First and foremost, the fact that I ran 9.6 miles in 1:24:03 means that my per mile pace was about 8:45... a pace I never imagined I would be capable of running for this distance. This fact alone gives me reason to celebrate!
My second reason to celebrate: I felt great, both physically and mentally, for this entire run. During most of my workouts I reach a point where I at least pretend to consider calling it quits. While I've only come close to actually stopping early on a few occasions, I can still admit that there's part of me that considers it briefly during most runs. Today, this was not the case. In fact, when I saw the pace I was keeping, I considered adding a little extra on to my run because I was pretty sure the distance was going to come up a little short. Of course, I didn't end up adding any extra distance... but the fact that I considered it in the first place was a huge mental jump from where I normally am. I have to say that this was one of my few "I can do anything" kind of runs where everything felt right. If only every run could feel this good!
I'm already looking forward to my next milestone... and I intend to get in every last tenth of a mile :)
Friday, February 17, 2012
Day 99 (2/16): 3 miles / 28:27
Today I opted for another interval workout followed by some plyometrics. I definitely felt like I did a better job of pushing myself a little harder during the intervals and I can honestly say it felt really good. I can also honestly say that I really dislike plyometrics and I curse you, Brandy, for adding them to my workout. Nevertheless, I did them because I know I need to and I'm sure, someday, I'll thank you for it.
The only other news to report: I've decided that, instead of running the marathon for my own personal satisfaction, I will be running for a good cause as well. After doing some research on the Cleveland Marathon charity partners, I've decided to register to run for Girls on the Run. After reading about their program, I was reminded just how much running impacted my life when I was first starting out. It combines something I love with something I believe in. I'm so excited to be helping this organization in some small way and, the more I read, the more I hope to get involved with their program in the future.
The only other news to report: I've decided that, instead of running the marathon for my own personal satisfaction, I will be running for a good cause as well. After doing some research on the Cleveland Marathon charity partners, I've decided to register to run for Girls on the Run. After reading about their program, I was reminded just how much running impacted my life when I was first starting out. It combines something I love with something I believe in. I'm so excited to be helping this organization in some small way and, the more I read, the more I hope to get involved with their program in the future.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Day 98 (2/15): 5 miles / 45:13
The only thing wrong with today's run was the fact that I spent all day looking forward to my scheduled 4 miles, only to find out just before jumping on the treadmill that I was actually scheduled to run 5. I gave myself a few minutes to adjust to this change of plans and decided that I was actually just as excited to run 5 as I had been to run 4 :)
I started out at a steady 10:00 mile pace with the intention of increasing my speed and hopefully finishing with an average per-mile time of somewhere in the mid-9s. My time for the first 4 miles ended up at 37:07 and, feeling as good as I did, I decided to see just how fast I could run my last mile. I can honestly say I had no idea it would be that fast, but I'm pleased to report that I ran my last mile in 8:06!!! Really didn't see that coming!
I'm feeling pretty healthy these days and my body seems to be holding up fairly well. With the recent discomfort in my foot, I've decided that I need to stop ignoring it and start doing something about it. While I'm not a huge fan of the process, I have started soaking my feet in an ice bath after my runs and really feel that it's making all the difference. The discomfort is almost completely gone now and I can finally get back to running the way I prefer... heel first. Yes, yes, I know this is not necessarily the best way to run, but I can say that it's the best way for me to run... at least for now. Making a change like that should be done over a period of time and I really don't want that period of time to be while I'm training for my first, and possibly only, marathon. I want my body to be as comfortable as possible during this process and changing my running style is just about the last item on my list of things I want to do right now. So, for now, I'll stick to my old school running style and enjoy the icy foot baths that go with it :)
The only other change I've made has been to try to firm up my workout schedule so that it's a little more consistent. Now that I'm healthy (vigorously knocking on my wood desk as I type), I really want to stick as close as possible to a regular routine. I'm sure I'll change it up again before all is said and done, but for now I've got one long run and three shorter runs each week, with at least one and sometimes two of those shorter runs being interval workouts. On my interval days I'm also doing some plyometrics, on my shorter run days I'm adding in some yoga exercises (mostly geared towards abs because, let's be honest, who doesn't want to look good in a bathing suit this summer?) and I'm going to attempt a longer yoga workout one day a week. The other two days are rest days, which I have no intention of messing with... after my other five days of working out, I believe I've earned them :)
I started out at a steady 10:00 mile pace with the intention of increasing my speed and hopefully finishing with an average per-mile time of somewhere in the mid-9s. My time for the first 4 miles ended up at 37:07 and, feeling as good as I did, I decided to see just how fast I could run my last mile. I can honestly say I had no idea it would be that fast, but I'm pleased to report that I ran my last mile in 8:06!!! Really didn't see that coming!
I'm feeling pretty healthy these days and my body seems to be holding up fairly well. With the recent discomfort in my foot, I've decided that I need to stop ignoring it and start doing something about it. While I'm not a huge fan of the process, I have started soaking my feet in an ice bath after my runs and really feel that it's making all the difference. The discomfort is almost completely gone now and I can finally get back to running the way I prefer... heel first. Yes, yes, I know this is not necessarily the best way to run, but I can say that it's the best way for me to run... at least for now. Making a change like that should be done over a period of time and I really don't want that period of time to be while I'm training for my first, and possibly only, marathon. I want my body to be as comfortable as possible during this process and changing my running style is just about the last item on my list of things I want to do right now. So, for now, I'll stick to my old school running style and enjoy the icy foot baths that go with it :)
The only other change I've made has been to try to firm up my workout schedule so that it's a little more consistent. Now that I'm healthy (vigorously knocking on my wood desk as I type), I really want to stick as close as possible to a regular routine. I'm sure I'll change it up again before all is said and done, but for now I've got one long run and three shorter runs each week, with at least one and sometimes two of those shorter runs being interval workouts. On my interval days I'm also doing some plyometrics, on my shorter run days I'm adding in some yoga exercises (mostly geared towards abs because, let's be honest, who doesn't want to look good in a bathing suit this summer?) and I'm going to attempt a longer yoga workout one day a week. The other two days are rest days, which I have no intention of messing with... after my other five days of working out, I believe I've earned them :)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Day 97 (2/14): 3 miles / 29:39
Intervals... UGH!
I'm pretty sure that sums up today's run, but I'll go ahead and elaborate for the simple reason that I really enjoy writing...
So, I've enlisted the help of a personal trainer/friend of mine to work with me on putting together some exercises that will give me the best chance of finishing the marathon in one piece. After a few minor injuries during training so far, I really want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to not fall apart before the finish line. For my training, she's suggested adding intervals and plyometrics... I couldn't be less excited. Unfortunately, that's because I know they'll be a challenge.
Day 1 of intervals went pretty well, all in all. I have difficulty figuring out exactly how hard to push myself when it comes to an interval workout. This workout requires 10 minutes of warm up (5.5 mph), 4 all out 30 second sprints (9-10 mph) with 4 minutes of recovery time between each sprint (6 mph) and some additional recovery time at the end (6.5 mph). It was a perfect replacement for today's run because it ended up being exactly 3 miles. Unfortunately, I also felt like I should have been pushing harder as I wasn't nearly as tired at the end as I thought I should have been. But, at least I have a starting point and can make adjustments from there.
As for day 1 of plyometrics, I went with lateral hops (2 sets of 20 reps). There were a few swear words directed towards Brandy after that one... after all, she's the devil that told me to do this crap. And, no joke, that shit's hard...
I'm pretty sure that sums up today's run, but I'll go ahead and elaborate for the simple reason that I really enjoy writing...
So, I've enlisted the help of a personal trainer/friend of mine to work with me on putting together some exercises that will give me the best chance of finishing the marathon in one piece. After a few minor injuries during training so far, I really want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to not fall apart before the finish line. For my training, she's suggested adding intervals and plyometrics... I couldn't be less excited. Unfortunately, that's because I know they'll be a challenge.
Day 1 of intervals went pretty well, all in all. I have difficulty figuring out exactly how hard to push myself when it comes to an interval workout. This workout requires 10 minutes of warm up (5.5 mph), 4 all out 30 second sprints (9-10 mph) with 4 minutes of recovery time between each sprint (6 mph) and some additional recovery time at the end (6.5 mph). It was a perfect replacement for today's run because it ended up being exactly 3 miles. Unfortunately, I also felt like I should have been pushing harder as I wasn't nearly as tired at the end as I thought I should have been. But, at least I have a starting point and can make adjustments from there.
As for day 1 of plyometrics, I went with lateral hops (2 sets of 20 reps). There were a few swear words directed towards Brandy after that one... after all, she's the devil that told me to do this crap. And, no joke, that shit's hard...
Monday, February 13, 2012
Day 96 (2/12): 9 miles / 89:50
9 miles is a long way to go... I'm tired...
And while I considered ending my post there, I figure I should probably elaborate just a little...
But seriously, 9 miles IS a really long way to go! At the start of my run I felt amazing... so confident in my ability to run all 9 miles that I considered not even finishing it. I mean, what's the point? Why do I have to run all 9 just to prove that I can? I already know it's well within my ability. Of course, I am fully aware of just how ridiculous that is. But I will also admit that this was actually my thought process somewhere around mile 4. I almost had myself convinced that finishing all 9 miles was simply not necessary.
Then I got to mile 5. This was, by far, the most difficult part of my run. Had I been on the road, this might have been the easiest part... making the turn, knowing that there was only one way back and no way to cut it short. There wouldn't have been the temptation to quit. Unfortunately, a treadmill does not provide this kind of assurance. At any point in time I could simply give up and step off the treadmill. Every step of mile 5 was like a tennis match in my head. I knew I had two options... give up or keep going. The discomfort in my feet was almost enough to convince me to give up. The stubborn part of me was determined to keep going. Thank goodness I'm as stubborn as I am! I continually reminded myself that my goal for the marathon is to finish... ideally without walking. The fact is, if I can't finish 9 miles, 26.2 is never going to happen. So what if my feet hurt? Sure, if I really thought I was injuring myself by completing my run, I might decide it's not worth it. But to give up because it was hard... well, that's just not an option. I knew that, when all was said and done, I'd be really proud of my accomplishment if I could do the whole thing... so I pressed on.
Miles 7 through 9 were far easier once I'd made the decision that I was going to run all 9 miles regardless of what the rest of my body wanted. And I was surprised by my body's ability to stop its bitching once I'd told it there was no giving up. Sure, there was some discomfort from time to time, but I found, in general, that things just sort of worked themselves out. It was a nice reminder that sometimes your mind plays tricks on you and that your thoughts can affect the rest of your body a lot more than you might think. Once the decision was made, everything else just sort of fell into place.
And, when I finally reached the finish, I bent over, hands on my knees, catching my breath and suddenly realized... I had the biggest smile on my face... with no one around to congratulate me and no one to share in what I considered a huge victory. I was simply proud of myself... the fact that I ran 9 miles, didn't stop, didn't walk and, most importantly, didn't give up. I'd successfully finished one-third of a marathon. And, man oh man, did I really need to stretch...
And after I stretched, I spent 20 minutes with my feet in an ice bath... which sucked a lot, in case you were wondering. I can say with some certainty that I will spend the rest of my day walking around like a zombie trying to go easy on my legs and feet... but I'm guessing you'll still have a hard time getting this ridiculous smile off my face...
And while I considered ending my post there, I figure I should probably elaborate just a little...
But seriously, 9 miles IS a really long way to go! At the start of my run I felt amazing... so confident in my ability to run all 9 miles that I considered not even finishing it. I mean, what's the point? Why do I have to run all 9 just to prove that I can? I already know it's well within my ability. Of course, I am fully aware of just how ridiculous that is. But I will also admit that this was actually my thought process somewhere around mile 4. I almost had myself convinced that finishing all 9 miles was simply not necessary.
Then I got to mile 5. This was, by far, the most difficult part of my run. Had I been on the road, this might have been the easiest part... making the turn, knowing that there was only one way back and no way to cut it short. There wouldn't have been the temptation to quit. Unfortunately, a treadmill does not provide this kind of assurance. At any point in time I could simply give up and step off the treadmill. Every step of mile 5 was like a tennis match in my head. I knew I had two options... give up or keep going. The discomfort in my feet was almost enough to convince me to give up. The stubborn part of me was determined to keep going. Thank goodness I'm as stubborn as I am! I continually reminded myself that my goal for the marathon is to finish... ideally without walking. The fact is, if I can't finish 9 miles, 26.2 is never going to happen. So what if my feet hurt? Sure, if I really thought I was injuring myself by completing my run, I might decide it's not worth it. But to give up because it was hard... well, that's just not an option. I knew that, when all was said and done, I'd be really proud of my accomplishment if I could do the whole thing... so I pressed on.
Miles 7 through 9 were far easier once I'd made the decision that I was going to run all 9 miles regardless of what the rest of my body wanted. And I was surprised by my body's ability to stop its bitching once I'd told it there was no giving up. Sure, there was some discomfort from time to time, but I found, in general, that things just sort of worked themselves out. It was a nice reminder that sometimes your mind plays tricks on you and that your thoughts can affect the rest of your body a lot more than you might think. Once the decision was made, everything else just sort of fell into place.
And, when I finally reached the finish, I bent over, hands on my knees, catching my breath and suddenly realized... I had the biggest smile on my face... with no one around to congratulate me and no one to share in what I considered a huge victory. I was simply proud of myself... the fact that I ran 9 miles, didn't stop, didn't walk and, most importantly, didn't give up. I'd successfully finished one-third of a marathon. And, man oh man, did I really need to stretch...
And after I stretched, I spent 20 minutes with my feet in an ice bath... which sucked a lot, in case you were wondering. I can say with some certainty that I will spend the rest of my day walking around like a zombie trying to go easy on my legs and feet... but I'm guessing you'll still have a hard time getting this ridiculous smile off my face...
Friday, February 10, 2012
Day 95 (2/9): 4 miles / 36:54
Recent discussions with friends had me contemplating why some people love running and some people hate it. I always assumed that I loved running because it was easy for me and that others hated it because they found it more difficult. During today's run I took some time to consider why it was that I love running so much. And I can tell you that, of the many of reasons I could come up with, the word 'easy' never made it on that list.
For me, running is about setting goals and feeling good about my accomplishments. It's about doing something on my own and still feeling the camaraderie of fellow runners. It's about working out life's frustrations while working up a sweat. And I'm not ashamed to admit that it's also about feeling good when I look at myself in the mirror. It's about pushing myself on a regular basis to be better and learning to give myself a break when I've earned it. It's about the 'me time' I need to clear my head after a long day and the better quality of life I get to enjoy with my family as a result of being healthier. It's about that horrible, yet wonderful, feeling of sore muscles after a great workout. It's about appreciating the fact that I can do something that not everyone else can do while still being inspired by those who are clearly better than me. It's about wearing bold and obnoxious attire for the benefit of being seen on the road with the added bonus of simply being bold enough to wear such crazy things. It's about learning what my limits are, then working each day to exceed them. It's about feeling strong in mind and spirit. It's about plugging in to my music and unplugging from life for a while. And it's about being true to myself and becoming the person, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend I want to be.
All in all, I guess I love running because I find deeper meaning and greater inspiration in it than others do. I imagine if I simply saw running as a workout, I might not feel nearly as passionate about it. So, while there are certainly days that I don't feel quite so motivated and simply want to complain about my latest ailment or injury, just know that, even when I'm hating it, I still love running.
For me, running is about setting goals and feeling good about my accomplishments. It's about doing something on my own and still feeling the camaraderie of fellow runners. It's about working out life's frustrations while working up a sweat. And I'm not ashamed to admit that it's also about feeling good when I look at myself in the mirror. It's about pushing myself on a regular basis to be better and learning to give myself a break when I've earned it. It's about the 'me time' I need to clear my head after a long day and the better quality of life I get to enjoy with my family as a result of being healthier. It's about that horrible, yet wonderful, feeling of sore muscles after a great workout. It's about appreciating the fact that I can do something that not everyone else can do while still being inspired by those who are clearly better than me. It's about wearing bold and obnoxious attire for the benefit of being seen on the road with the added bonus of simply being bold enough to wear such crazy things. It's about learning what my limits are, then working each day to exceed them. It's about feeling strong in mind and spirit. It's about plugging in to my music and unplugging from life for a while. And it's about being true to myself and becoming the person, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend I want to be.
All in all, I guess I love running because I find deeper meaning and greater inspiration in it than others do. I imagine if I simply saw running as a workout, I might not feel nearly as passionate about it. So, while there are certainly days that I don't feel quite so motivated and simply want to complain about my latest ailment or injury, just know that, even when I'm hating it, I still love running.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Day 94 (2/8): 5 miles / 47:23
My big plan for today's post, even before my run began, was to vent about further frustrations and setbacks in my training. And then I saw this...
This photo is not mine and I can't claim credit for the brilliant caption. I don't know this boy at all... but I certainly wish I did. Talk about inspiration!
So, while I do feel the need to mention that I haven't run at all in the last few days because of a bout with the stomach flu (and I truly only mention it because this blog was intended to be my own personal running log and I feel I should be keeping track of my training, or lack thereof in this case), I will simply leave it at that. I'm so glad to get back to my training today and, while I'm again a few days behind, I'm refusing to see something so minor as a setback. I'm here and ready to roll... bring it on...
And today's run felt amazing. Maybe those few unplanned days off were just what I needed... my foot is feeling much better and I managed to enjoy every moment of my 5 mile run. And, even though I spent the majority of my last few blog posts complaining about it, I even alternated between my old running style and the new one trying to get a feel for what would be better for me in the long run. There's no question the foot is not quite 100% yet, so going back to my old ways for the entire run wasn't exactly an option, and I've read many times that, if someone is looking to change the way they run, it is best to do it over a period of time so as not to cause further injuries from the drastic change. And even though I can still say that I don't particularly care for the change, I can at least admit that it's getting easier. There's no question that all of these new muscles getting a workout are adapting to the change, but I still think I have a long way to go before I will say that I enjoy the change.
Regardless, I'm pleased to report that, in the last 24 hours I've been complimented by friends, motivated by fellow runners and inspired by people I don't even know... all of which made for a very enjoyable run this evening. All I need to do now is figure out how to bottle all of those good vibes and store them for my not-so-inspired days. Which, in turn, would also make me one very wealthy woman...
This photo is not mine and I can't claim credit for the brilliant caption. I don't know this boy at all... but I certainly wish I did. Talk about inspiration!
So, while I do feel the need to mention that I haven't run at all in the last few days because of a bout with the stomach flu (and I truly only mention it because this blog was intended to be my own personal running log and I feel I should be keeping track of my training, or lack thereof in this case), I will simply leave it at that. I'm so glad to get back to my training today and, while I'm again a few days behind, I'm refusing to see something so minor as a setback. I'm here and ready to roll... bring it on...
And today's run felt amazing. Maybe those few unplanned days off were just what I needed... my foot is feeling much better and I managed to enjoy every moment of my 5 mile run. And, even though I spent the majority of my last few blog posts complaining about it, I even alternated between my old running style and the new one trying to get a feel for what would be better for me in the long run. There's no question the foot is not quite 100% yet, so going back to my old ways for the entire run wasn't exactly an option, and I've read many times that, if someone is looking to change the way they run, it is best to do it over a period of time so as not to cause further injuries from the drastic change. And even though I can still say that I don't particularly care for the change, I can at least admit that it's getting easier. There's no question that all of these new muscles getting a workout are adapting to the change, but I still think I have a long way to go before I will say that I enjoy the change.
Regardless, I'm pleased to report that, in the last 24 hours I've been complimented by friends, motivated by fellow runners and inspired by people I don't even know... all of which made for a very enjoyable run this evening. All I need to do now is figure out how to bottle all of those good vibes and store them for my not-so-inspired days. Which, in turn, would also make me one very wealthy woman...
Day 93 (2/4): 5 miles / 48:29
What a frustrating couple of days... I have no idea what this foot problem is, but I'm finding myself frustrated with the need to change my running style after all these years. Unfortunately, it appears to be the only way I can run without being in serious pain. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad that there's an alternative available that allows me to continue running, but I'm most definitely not enjoying any part of it.
Okay, now I'm just being stubborn. But at least I can acknowledge it. The truth is, I'm not big on change. Never have been, probably never will be. Any major changes in my life have been on my terms, so I'm having a hard time adjusting to the idea that not everything can be my way. Of course, that just sounds ridiculous - I'm fully aware that most things in life aren't necessarily 'my way', but I do like to pretend that I'm in complete control at all times... something I'm sure my husband absolutely loves about me :)
All of that being said, it was great to get outdoors for another gorgeous winter day. I can't even believe the luck we've had recently with the weather. I was forced to take it slow to adjust to running a completely different way and working on not injuring myself further in the process. Nonetheless, I was glad for the excuse to take it easy. It's not often enough that I allow myself an easy day and even with all of my frustrations, I tried to enjoy it as much as possible.
Unfortunately, I know I'm way behind on the training schedule I've been following and I need to find a way to get back on track... here's hoping the next few weeks are a little more consistent.
Okay, now I'm just being stubborn. But at least I can acknowledge it. The truth is, I'm not big on change. Never have been, probably never will be. Any major changes in my life have been on my terms, so I'm having a hard time adjusting to the idea that not everything can be my way. Of course, that just sounds ridiculous - I'm fully aware that most things in life aren't necessarily 'my way', but I do like to pretend that I'm in complete control at all times... something I'm sure my husband absolutely loves about me :)
All of that being said, it was great to get outdoors for another gorgeous winter day. I can't even believe the luck we've had recently with the weather. I was forced to take it slow to adjust to running a completely different way and working on not injuring myself further in the process. Nonetheless, I was glad for the excuse to take it easy. It's not often enough that I allow myself an easy day and even with all of my frustrations, I tried to enjoy it as much as possible.
Unfortunately, I know I'm way behind on the training schedule I've been following and I need to find a way to get back on track... here's hoping the next few weeks are a little more consistent.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Day 92 (1/31): 3 miles / 27:48
Well, I suppose not every day can be perfect...
Let's get the first part out of the way - I am in no way disappointed with my time. In fact, considering everything else I had to deal with, my time is the one thing I'm super excited about. I set out for an easy run and felt like I didn't push myself too hard at all. To feel that good after 3 miles at a 9:16 pace says a lot about how far I've come.
Now for the bad news... About 24 hours after finishing my long run on Sunday, I felt a strange pain on the outside of my left foot. It seemed to only be noticeable when I stood or walked on my heel... if I lifted my heel and didn't put any pressure on it, I was able to move my foot in all directions and feel no pain at all. While certainly nervous about it, I wasn't rushing to the nearest ER for an x-ray. At the same time, I appear to have done a number on my right shin... clearly not enough stretching after my long run. It seems to me this discomfort may stick around for a day or so... that'll teach me. Thank goodness it was a rest day.
Unfortunately, today was not a rest day. Tuesday is a short run day for me and I really didn't want to skip it... partly because I really want to stay on track with my training and partly because it was yet another unseasonably warm January day in Cleveland and I was hell bent on getting some fresh air. Sadly, from my first few steps it was clear that this foot pain was not going away. I had 2 options - call it a day, turn around and head home or stick it out and see if I could somehow make it work. I'm not necessarily a fan of making drastic changes when it comes to running style, but if ever there was a time to give it a try, today was that day. As soon as I knew the pain was sticking around for the long haul, I decided to give this whole 'running on your toes' thing a try. There's some crazy research out there that suggests landing heel first when you run can lead to injury and, while it's never been a problem for me in the past, I couldn't deny the fact that every time my heel hit the ground, there was a sharp pain shooting through my foot... and there was no part of me that enjoyed it. I decided to give 'running on my toes' a try for 1 mile to see how I felt and, if I didn't think I could do it, I'd call it a day and figure out where to go from there.
Surprisingly, my first mile felt okay. There was no question that, if my heel didn't strike the ground, I didn't feel any pain. The change in my running style was definitely a strange feeling and I can't say I'd enjoy running like that every day, but I was glad that I was still able to get in my full 3 miles and not feel I was causing myself more problems by doing so. I definitely felt like I worked out completely different muscles than I normally do, which may be a good thing in general, but still, my hope is that this is a temporary fix until I figure out what kind of injury I'm dealing with here.
Now, for the really strange part. On Monday I'd worn flats to work, which I was glad for once the foot pain made its appearance. But, with the need to keep the pressure off my heel, I realized I needed a game plan for work on Wednesday. Oddly enough, in trying on heels, I find that my feet are totally comfortable and pain free. I find this odd because, even in high heels, there is weight on my heel... maybe not as much, but definitely some. To me, this suggests that weight on my heel is not necessarily the problem... any insight on this issue would be greatly appreciated as I do not believe that running the marathon in heels will be an option...
Let's get the first part out of the way - I am in no way disappointed with my time. In fact, considering everything else I had to deal with, my time is the one thing I'm super excited about. I set out for an easy run and felt like I didn't push myself too hard at all. To feel that good after 3 miles at a 9:16 pace says a lot about how far I've come.
Now for the bad news... About 24 hours after finishing my long run on Sunday, I felt a strange pain on the outside of my left foot. It seemed to only be noticeable when I stood or walked on my heel... if I lifted my heel and didn't put any pressure on it, I was able to move my foot in all directions and feel no pain at all. While certainly nervous about it, I wasn't rushing to the nearest ER for an x-ray. At the same time, I appear to have done a number on my right shin... clearly not enough stretching after my long run. It seems to me this discomfort may stick around for a day or so... that'll teach me. Thank goodness it was a rest day.
Unfortunately, today was not a rest day. Tuesday is a short run day for me and I really didn't want to skip it... partly because I really want to stay on track with my training and partly because it was yet another unseasonably warm January day in Cleveland and I was hell bent on getting some fresh air. Sadly, from my first few steps it was clear that this foot pain was not going away. I had 2 options - call it a day, turn around and head home or stick it out and see if I could somehow make it work. I'm not necessarily a fan of making drastic changes when it comes to running style, but if ever there was a time to give it a try, today was that day. As soon as I knew the pain was sticking around for the long haul, I decided to give this whole 'running on your toes' thing a try. There's some crazy research out there that suggests landing heel first when you run can lead to injury and, while it's never been a problem for me in the past, I couldn't deny the fact that every time my heel hit the ground, there was a sharp pain shooting through my foot... and there was no part of me that enjoyed it. I decided to give 'running on my toes' a try for 1 mile to see how I felt and, if I didn't think I could do it, I'd call it a day and figure out where to go from there.
Surprisingly, my first mile felt okay. There was no question that, if my heel didn't strike the ground, I didn't feel any pain. The change in my running style was definitely a strange feeling and I can't say I'd enjoy running like that every day, but I was glad that I was still able to get in my full 3 miles and not feel I was causing myself more problems by doing so. I definitely felt like I worked out completely different muscles than I normally do, which may be a good thing in general, but still, my hope is that this is a temporary fix until I figure out what kind of injury I'm dealing with here.
Now, for the really strange part. On Monday I'd worn flats to work, which I was glad for once the foot pain made its appearance. But, with the need to keep the pressure off my heel, I realized I needed a game plan for work on Wednesday. Oddly enough, in trying on heels, I find that my feet are totally comfortable and pain free. I find this odd because, even in high heels, there is weight on my heel... maybe not as much, but definitely some. To me, this suggests that weight on my heel is not necessarily the problem... any insight on this issue would be greatly appreciated as I do not believe that running the marathon in heels will be an option...
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