First Over-use Injury

I guess that's not really true. I had bursitis in my knees during my junior year of high school, when I was runningn track. But this is my "new" running life. Stage 2.

I had to cut a long run short by about 4.5mi last Sunday. My ankle was really painful. I have experienced pain in that ankle before, for about 2 months maybe? It was mild, and I always came home and iced it, and it always felt better the next day. This time I stepped on it wrong during my run and felt a SHOOTING pain radiate from my ankle to my knee. It was enough to make me feel sick.

I called my boyfriend to come and pick me up, even though I was only about a mile from home at the time. It was that painful, I just didn't want to walk on it.

So I haven't run all week. I'm going CRAZY! I now know how my dogs feel when I don't take them to the dog park. (Sorry girls.. Mom will try harder from now on.)

My ankle hasn't hurt since Tuesday or Wednesday, and I went out and got fitted for a new pair of running shoes at my local running store. I'm just ITCHING to get back out there, and I will tomorrow.

I haven't figured out the right way to get back to my schedule after a week off, and I've been advised that my training plan, with a hill workout, tempo run and long run every week is too much. Judging by the fact that I was 2 weeks in and had to take a week off because of a mild injury, that person might just be right. I may start alternating tempos and hills, instead of doing both in one week.

A lot to consider. My tentative goal for the marathon is under 5 hours. I think that is a safe bet, considering my 10K and 1/2 marathon times. I plan on running at least another 10K and 1/2 marathon before the Disney Marathon, so that time may change.

I just hope I can keep the injuries at bay.

Week 1 of 14 Completed

I finished my first week of marathon training with my new program.

Monday -- Pushup Challenge -- 45 total
Tuesday -- Hills -- 20min w/u, 7x90 sec 5% incline @ 9:42/mi, 20min w/d
Wednesday -- Pushup Challenge -- 50 total
Thursday -- Tempo run -- 20min w/u, 16min @ 9:31/mi, 20mi w/d
Saturday -- Pushup Challenge -- 57 total
Sunday -- Long Run -- 11.74mi

Half Marathon Pics!

Got the boyfriend to take some pics at the half marathon! He got a good one of me coming across the finish. The time is off though, because it was a chip-timed race. In the other one, I look pretty proud of that medal.. and pretty darn tired!

First Half Marathon is a Success

Short verson: I ran my first half marathon this morning. It was fantastic! I left nothing on the road, and I finished 2 minutes ahead of my "dream time" at 2:13:01!

Long version: I was so nervous to run this. My longest LSD was 10 miles at about 11:45 pace. My peak MPW was 24ish miles. I had never run a half marathon, and I had NO IDEA what to expect. I didn't want to go out too fast, but I didn't want to leave anything on the road either. I gave myself a few different goal times. I thought I should be able to finish in under 2:30:00 for sure. I'd really like to beat 2:20:00, and my "dream time" would be 2:15:00.

My boyfriend drove me to the starting line at 6am, an hour before the start of the race. I got my chip, potty-ed, and lined up towards the back with about 10 minutes before the start of the race.

Starting out, I knew I had to hold myself back from running too fast. I followed the pack across the start line and stayed at what I thought was a pretty slow pace. Mile 1: 10:00. WOW! I should slow it down a bit. Mile 2: 10:28. Better. Now I need to hold it.

The course was GORGEOUS, up and over bridges over the St. Johns River at sunrise. Through a historic riverside neighborhood, and back right along the riverwalk to the finish in a grassy park.

I walked through the water stations. At Mile 6 I had 1/2 a pack of sports beans with a small cup of Gatorade. Same at Mile 8. Still going at 10:10 to 10:30 per mile. At this point I'm passing people. That feels great! I made the conscious decision to step it up a little at a time. I wanted to walk (run?) the fine line between hitting the wall and laying it all out. Mile 10 I had 1/2 of a GU and another mouthful of Gatorade. I'm feeling good! I pick it up a little more.

The last mile was the LONGEST mile of my life. It didn't help that it was just a long straightaway to the park where we finished. My legs are feeling heavy, but I keep the pace. I turned the last corner and got onto the grass. I saw the clock at the finish line and knew I could beat 2:15:00 if I kicked it up a little. I gave it everything I had, and I crossed the finish line as the clock said 2:14:23 (chip time: 2:13:01)

Great great great!

Thanks for all the support I got from everyone before the race. It means a lot to have a group of runners to share with!

Take some time to be thankful..

I've got a lot of stressful events going on in my life, and I've found that when I'm feeling worn down or depressed, it helps to outline things that I'm thankful for. It reminds me that things may seem bad now, but I'm really not that bad off....

1. I am in a loving, faithful relationship with a man who loves me and supports me unconditionally.

2. I live in a beautiful home, located in a safe neighborhood.

3. I have job security, and a paycheck that pays my bills.

4. I am college-educated, and have the opportunity to pursue education at the professional level.

5. My family loves and supports me, as I do them.

6. I have a group of great friends, and I am continuing to meet great new people.

7. I had the strength and courage to move 1200 miles away from everyone and everything I have ever known to chase down my dream.

8. I have the ability to run.

What are you thankful for?

On the running side of things...

I'm fighting aches and pains. I have missed a run already this week. I have a 10-miler scheduled for tonight or tomorrow morning. It will be my first 10 mile run, and I'm pretty anxious to get over it, but I've got pain in my feet, my shins and my knees.

In addition, my iPod and Nike+ receiver got wet this morning in a sudden downpour, and my iPod is not recognizing that the receiver is plugged into it. The rest of the iPod functions, so it must be the receiver that is not working. I guess I CAN run 10 miles without it, but I'd prefer not to have to do that. It's currently sitting on my kitchen counter drying. I'm hoping that by tonight it will be dry enough to work. If not, I'll be making a trip to the store tonight for a run in the morning.

Sigh.

Call me naive

This is not necessarily running-related. Just life stuff.

I guess I'm one of those people who tries to see the good in people. I go into every interaction with another person with the assumption that he/she is as decent a human being as I am. I've been told that I am setting myself up for disappointment, that someone someday is going to screw me over, and that I'm going to be letting it happen.

To be clear, I'm not stupid. I know that people do horrible things to other people. I know that people lie. Cheat. Steal. Still, I like to give people in my life, those who cross my path, the benefit of the doubt, the opportunity to be a good, decent and fair human being. I have never allowed someone to cheat me, but I have been disappointed by the character of people.

I would rather be occasionally disappointed by a select few, than so cynical that I can't believe in the good that does exist.

Food for thought..