All kinds of productive

Today was my first post shin splint long run and I am tentatively declaring it a victory. I did ten miles at the lake today and it was fantastic. The weather was a gorgeous 60ish degrees, sunny, and clear at noon today when I started. I absolutely love fall in Texas because it is usually perfectly sunny and cool without having to wake up at the crack of dawn. I downloaded some new music in anticipation last night and all of those things combined for one fabulous run. I felt great throughout all ten miles and didn't feel a twinge through my compression sleeve. I also managed to stay strong without any Gus which was nice; not a huge fan of them. I averaged somewhere between a nine and ten minute mile and felt like I could have kept going if I needed to. This part made me especially happy because I was worried that I would lose a lot of endurance with the injury time off. And a huge shout-out to the John who also ran nine miles today...the longest distance of his life. The best part is he did it unintentionally and still managed to rock it. Way to go Boogs!

After the run we hit the grocery store, cleaned the heck out of the apartment, made crock pot soup for dinner tonight and lunches this week, and am on load #4 of laundry. Not bad for waking up at 10:30.

My shin still feels pretty good, no noticable soreness or tenderness. I have an easy four mile recovery run scheduled for tomorrow so I am hoping that my leg still feels strong then. I feel like that will be the big test as the infamous crying in the Tom Thumb parking lot episode was a "recovery" run. Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Just what I needed

Yesterday's run (or as John called it "nice, leisurely jog") went really, really well. We're in the middle of a cold front so I decided to forgo the treadmill and take my chances on the 3 mile loop around the apartment. John went with me for moral support and when we headed out after dinner it was a blissful 68 degrees. I wore my compression sleeve and set off with the mindset that I was just going to take it easy, enjoy the night, and not have any expectations. I took it as a good sign that the first song to play on my ipod was Led Zepplin's "Fool in the Rain" which is my un-official theme song for White Rock.

My shin was a little bit sore when we started running but I don't know if it really was more painful than normal or if I was just hyper-aware of looking out for any little twinge. I tried to relax an just listen to the music and before I knew it we were rounding the halfway curve (which incidentally is the same spot two weeks ago where I started bawling my eyes out). I took a moment to appreciate the fact that I wasn't crying and continued grooving on through the rest of the run. Although we were running at what sometimes felt like a ridiculously slow pace we ended up finishing the loop in 28 minutes. I was pretty dang happy with that. We came back home and I did some stretching, albeit probably not as much as I should have, and iced my shin. I had forgotten to put my gel packs back in the freezer before we left so I ended up using a bag of carrots (that we ate for dinner tonight) and a bag of strawberries. I think I got the same effect and the dog was desperately sniffing around my legs the whole time!

I'm still feeling pretty good today, a little soreness but again I think it may just be because I am obsessing about it. The weather is gorgeous and I really want to run again tonight so but I am trying hard to stick to the only running every other day schedule so I am doing some reading instead. I'm still trying to remain cautiously optimistic about the whole thing but it felt so. dang. good. to be out there running again last night! Here's hoping I can continue to heal and have many more good runs in the future!

1 day!

I get to try running again tomorrow! I'm really excited to get back out there but also nervous about re-injuring my shins. The plan for tomorrow is an easy (tentative) 30 minute run to see how it goes. I'm trying not to set any goals for tomorrow other than just listening to my body and obeying what it is trying to tell me. If it starts to hurt I will stop and (try to ) not be disappointed. I'm switching to a less intense training program and starting at the beginning instead of just picking up where I left off when I got hurt. I also plan on not running on consecutive days, using my compression sleeves, and continuing to ice my legs like a crazy person. Tonight I am relaxing, reading, and being cautiously optimistic about tomorrow. I really hope it goes well and am open to any and all suggestions from any runners out there!

As an aside, we went to happy hour for dinner tonight and I definitely ate something called "the big, fat frank". I didn't even come close to eating it all but felt like if I had, I should have earned a t-shirt and a picture on the wall. It was that good...and that disgusting : )

2 days

I can run again in 2 days. I'm super nervous/ excited. But mostly excited :o)

sad news confession

Shin Splints.

Super Suck.

So I've avoided posting about running for a while because it's been pretty depressing :o(. Last Saturday I did a 10 mile long run around White Rock lake and it went really well (side note: I visited my first ever port-o-potty that day and I must say, it was surprisingly roomy on the inside. Who knew?). My left shin was twinging a bit at the beginning but a few miles in I stopped noticing it and finished strong. I purposely tried to keep my pace slower and ended up still finishing faster than I needed to (abot 9:20 miles when my long run pace should be around 10:00). I felt great when I finished, came home and took some Advil, iced my legs, and enjoyed a delish brunch at Barbec's with John and Meg. I then proceeded to have a fantastic Labor Day weekend and did not run again until Tuesday night. My shins were a little sore but I decided to head out and do the 3 mile loop around the apartment with John. My shins were screaming when we started but I thought they would stop hurting after a warm up. I was waaaaay wrong. About a mile and a half in it literally felt like my legs were going to break at my shins. And it was both of them, not just my left one. We stopped running and I literally cried in the Tom Thumb parking lot. I haven't run since then, just been doing some Bikram and today I hit up the elliptical in the gym.

So, I'm kind of at a loss. I was really into training for this marathon and doing well at aiming for my time goal. It's only three weeks into training so at this point, I'm not sure how this injury will effect everything. I emailed a friend of mine in Houston who is a physical therapist to see if she can help. I had knee problems back before the half and she fixed me right up so hopefully we can take care of my shins as well. As of right now, I'm just planning on taking about 2 weeks off to let my shins heal and then ease back into the training program, likely starting at the beginning again. I'm hoping I can still run the marathon (I've already paid for it, taken vacation days off from work and told everyone I know they have to coe to Dallas on 12/13 to watch) but I will likely stop focusing on the time so much. I think at this point my goal really should just be that when the time comes I am healthy enough to run it. And like my ever-so-supportive husband keeps reminding me, it's not like this is the last marathon I will ever want to run.

So that's the whole dirty and depressing story. Injuries are so disappointing. As a silver lining, I'm hoping that when I am healthy again and am feeling like I just don't want to run, I will remember back to this feeling of really wishing I could get out there and not being able to. Here's hoping I won't have to spend too much time on the sidelines.

epic fail

so the four margaritas followed by the two I-don't-even-know-what's last night do not bode well for marathon training. especially when there are 8 miles and a Bikram class slated for today. definite fail. i think it's time for better choices.

and then a crummy one

So after feeling pretty good about my first long run yesterday I had a big bumer of a tempo run today. I thought this week's would be better than last week, which was awesome, but that definitely was not the case. I went right after work and my legs just felt kind of heavy and my goal pace, which is usually comfortable, felt like sprinting. I got in the two tempo mile runs and then just hit the wall. I was tired, my breathing was heavy, and my left shin was really starting to hurt. I started the two mile cool down and decided to just listen to my body and cut it short. So instead of doing 6 miles with 2 at tempo pace I did 4.5 with 2 at tempo pace. I'm a little bummed about it but am trying not to dwell on it or let it stress me out. Like all the other bloggers say, some runs are great and some are not. I think in the future I should not run my tempo and long runs on consecutive days as these are the two hardest runs of the week. Live and learn, I suppose.

As a side note, my eating has been okay, but not great. Right now, I am stuffed from making dinner and nibbling while doing so but I would still love to go stuff my face with ziti and garlic bread. Recognizing a problem is the first step to solving it, right? I'll take that.

1 down, 15 to go

I successfully completed my first week of marathon training. This past week I ran four times including an 8 mile long run, my first ever tempo run, a before work morning run, and an hour run with hills. Add to that 3 days of Bikram and I would say we're starting off with a bang! I did my long run on Sunday night at White Rock and it started off miserably. The weather was nice but a little warm and the scenery was beautiful but my earbuds kept popping out of my ear and I just wasn't feeling it. The mile markers there are a little spotty so I planned on slowing down a bit and just running between 72 and 80 minutes. I'm pretty sure I started off too fast which is probably why I wasn't feeling it but around 32 minutes in I slowed myself down and it just clicked. My pace was better, it wasn't as crowded, I got to a beautiful part of the lake that was mostly bridges over the water and my ipod was alternating between John Mayer and Third Day songs. From then on I loved it. I timed myself at a clearly marked two mile distance and was holding 9 minute miles which is about 40 seconds slower than my goal pace. I'm pretty sure this is how fast you are supposed to do long runs but I will reconsult the four hour marathon book to make sure.
So far I am pretty happy with my progress but hope I can continue fitting in all my runs and not get hurt. I'm also nervous that I am not going to make the pace I am shooting for. I'm trying not to focus on that too much so I don't get overly anxious and freak myself out. Plus I still have 15 weeks and a pretty solid training plan so I just need to relax and get it done. Go team!

tempo tuesday

First ever tempo run today. Rocked it. Two of six miles were sub-8 minute miles. Hell yeah.

wake up call

I ran outside today for the first time in about 2 months...holy smokes! I forgot how much harder it is to run outside instead of on the treadmill. If am going to keep my training program on track I am going to have to move to runs outside and put in some hard work and possibly some early mornings. Marathon running most definitely requires dedication and I am not afraid of putting in the time. Let's do this.

call me a cucumber because today...produce!

So I just want to look back and remember today for the days I think I am too busy to accomplish the things I want to do. I worked 8 hours today, ran 8 miles, made dinner, showered, and cleaned up our nasty apartment for my family that is coming tomorrow. All of this and it is 9:54. So really, on days that I am feeling like I am too stressed or too busy to do the things I want to do and be the person I want to be, I want to remember days like today to remind myself that I do, in fact, rock :o)

all aboard!

theme song- Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne

Marathoning- the triumph of desire over reason.

I imagine that running a marathon is a lot (on a much much smaller scale) like childbirth. I'm distanced enough from my first one to have slightly forgotten the moments that I wanted to kill myself and am instead left with the really awesome, tingly I just did that feeling shining much brighter. So with that skewed remembrance I am doing it. Again. My second marathon will be the White Rock Marathon in December.

I started a mileage build up to a formal 16 week training program that will start in August. I am going to wait to do the official sign up until then so I can make sure my joints are game for another six months of punishment. It does feel good to be running for a purpose again instead of just for vague goals like "lose weight" and "skinny jeans". I also like the structure of a training program and my new work schedule is, so far, much more conducive to running. I hope this continues to be the case once the mileage during the week builds up and once John moves up to Dallas.

I would be lying if I said I didn't have a goal time in mind. My goal for Houston was just to finish and I did do that but this time I hope to improve. I don't want to write my goal out yet because I am afraid it might be too ambitious but there is definitely a number floating around in my head. I am also excited about running in Dallas because it will be in my home city again and close enough for my good friends to come out and watch. So here's to jumping on this crazy train again!

hello, wagon

The half was awesome. I met my goal of finishing in under 2:10 and feel really good about myself. I also had a lot of fun during the race and am relishing the sense of accomplishment. Hello, wagon? I am hopping back on :o)

Resolved

Books:
1. Twilight- Stephenie Meyer
2. Eclipse- Stephenie Meyer
3. Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer

absolutely adored these books. I am a 14 year old girl at heart.

4. A Version of the Truth- Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
5. This Charming Man- Marian Keyes
6. Remember Me?- Sophie Kinsella
7. The Gatecrasher- Madeleine Wickham
8. Chasing the Devil's Tail- David Fulmer
9. Attachment- Isabel Fonseca
10. Intern- Sandeep Jahaur
11. A Much Married Man- Nicholas Coleridge
12. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe- C.S. Lewis
13. My Horizontal Life- Chelsea Handler
14. The Other Boleyn Girl- Phillipa Gregory
15. In Search of Eden- Linda Nichols
16. My Sister's Keeper- Jodi Picoult
17. Prey- Michael Crichton
18. Vanish- Tess Gerritsen
19. I Was Told There'd Be Cake- Sloane Crosley
20. Four Months to a Four Hour Marathon- Dave Kuehls
21. Driving Sideways- Jess Riley
22. Certain Girls- Jennifer Weiner
23. Last Chance Saloon- Marian Keyes
24. First to Die- James Patterson
25. You've Been Warned- James Patterson
26. Quickie- James Patterson
27. In Her Shoes- Jennifer Weiner
28. Something Borrowed- Emily Giffin
29. Love the One You're With- Emily Giffin
30. Queen of Babble in the Big City- Meg Cabot
31. Boy Meets Girl- Meg Cabot
32. Cross- James Patterson
33. Cross Country- James Patterson
34. The Reader- Bernhard Schlink
35. Act of Treason- Vince Flynn
36. Seperation of Power- Vince Flynn
37. The Third Option- Vince Flynn
38. Extreme Measures- Vince Flynn
39. The Fifth Horseman- James Patterson
40. Bergdorf Blondes- Plum Sykes
41. The Debutante Divorcee- Plum Sykes
42. Goodnight Nobody- Jennifer Weiner
43. P.S. I Love You- Cecelia Ahern
44. Something Blue- Emily Giffin
45. Baby Proof- Emily Giffin
46. Chasing Harry Winston- Lauren Weisenberger
47. The Art of Social War- Jodi Wing
48. Wife in the Fast Lane- Karen Quinn
49. Pretty in Plaid- Jen Lancaster
50. Beautiful Boy- David Sheff