I Have the Monday's

Hi everyone,

It's about time for my weekly update, but I am running short on time here at the office, so I shall keep it very brief.

I went back to the PT on Tuesday for further gait-analysis. I only ran 0.7 miles total while there, and when I got back to the office my foot was in serious pain again. So I called her on Wednesday to see what she thought, and she told me to stay off of it for a few days--no running in either form, and when I started back again to only do 1 mile in my old form. So instead of running, on Wednesday  I did a series of jumping jacks mixed with crunches, triceps dips, squats, lunges, Russian twists, calf raises, push ups, and planks. It was a workout, but I did it at home, which is always less satisfying than the gym.

Thursday I did a 35 minute bike ride, unenthusiastically.

Saturday my foot seemed okay, so I set out for a 6 mile run (yeah, so I didn't listen to the PT) and I had to stop at 5.56 miles because the pain was so bad. The weird thing is that as soon as I give it any rest--even if it's just 15 minutes-- it feels loads better. I don't understand it! So! I  have decided, after discussing it with my PT (who called me this morning to check in--how awesome is she??) to not run for the next 2 weeks. I can bike, because it doesn't bother my foot, but absolutely no running.

It would be a shame for me to update this blog without mentioning the CT shooting. My heart breaks for those sweet babies and their families and for the teachers and administrators who died bravely protecting the kids that they loved. Violent acts like this have been becoming increasingly more "normal" over the past 100 years. Read Ben Stein's thoughts on what has contributed to this change here and see if you agree. I hope everyone is keeping those affected by this horror in their thoughts and prayers :(

Gait Analysis/Berry College

Hello readers, and Happy Monday!

My trip the the PT to have a gait analysis done last week was very informative. I learned that my gait is not as horrendous as I assumed it would be. I do heal strike, but the force of impact was moderately low (so I'm a "quiet" runner). After videotaping me with my shoes on and playing it back for me, the PT asked me to take my shoes off and run, focusing on angling my foot down so that I landed on my midfoot instead of my heal. I was amazed at how easy it was to make this transition without wearing shoes (cue all barefoot adherents nodding smugly). I really didn't even have to think about it! The PT went into great detail explaining why the form I ran with barefoot is more beneficial to my body, but it basically boiled down to this: When we heel-strike, we hardly use our calf muscles at all. Those muscles really ought to be used to cushion the blow of the impact your foot makes with the ground.

In order to use my calf muscles to their full potential, I'm going to try to make the switch from landing on my heel to landing on my midfoot all the time. I'm going to start in these shoes and then maybe buy some more minimalist shoes in the weeks/months to come. PT told me not to run more than a mile in the new form for a while, so that I could build the appropriate muscles in my calves. PT also said I could run more in the old style to keep up with my training for the Mercedes HALF marathon (which I am now signed up for.)

This weekend Rob and I went to visit Rome, GA and Cartersville, GA--two possibilities for our future home. We went for a run around Berry College on Saturday morning. It was a dreary day, but I LOVED running through the campus. There were so many miles of trails (paved) with no cars in sight. It was really great, and I was so glad to have Rob running with me. I'm thrilled that he has agreed to run the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon with Brian and me in June.

I ran the first mile with a midfoot strike, and the last 4 miles in my old form. The PT told me to expect my calves to be sore, but they haven't been. But--the outside of my left foot started to hurt very badly after we got back to our hotel... it hurt to walk for the rest of the day :( It seems to be okay now, so I'm hoping it was just a muscle thing related to the new form. I'm going to ask the PT about it tomorrow.

Although I liked the college in Rome, I think I might have liked Cartersville a little bit better. It's a tough call, but since neither of us wants to live in Georgia for more than a few years there is no point in really stressing about it.

Thanks for reading! :)

Reindeer Run Half Photos

5k and Half racers all started at once--very chaotic 

There were many more, but I of course only chose the most flattering. There were some where my face showed clearly the pain I was in at the time :)

I have GREAT news: The Mercedes Marathon organizers have agreed to let me switch to the half marathon AND get a refund for the difference in cost. So now I am much less stressed about wasting my money on a marathon that I won't be running.

I did a 30 minute run last night, which translated into 2.8 miles (I don't know when I got so slow!) Today, I am very excited to go to the PT and have a gait analysis done to see if I can avoid injury in the future. I am also thinking about doing regular Pilates/Yoga classes--does anyone in Birmingham have good recommendations for studios?

Personal notes:
-Only 2 weeks and one day until I will be on my way to Mexico City with the family (Rob included!) for Christmas.
-I am officially an accountant: I am now writing lots of checks. Scary, but much less boring :)
-Rob and I are spending the weekend in Rome/Cartersville GA--possible future home?
-I'm rereading the entire Harry  Potter series and loving it. I just began The Goblet of Fire :)

Reindeer Run Half Marathon Race Report

I've been slacking, sorry. Here is a report of my last week:

I ran a 5-k on Tuesday that resulted in some aching in my left knee. On Wednesday I started feeling a little under the weather and by Friday I was genuinely sick. My boss made me take a sick day because she was worried I would get everyone else sick. The half marathon was in the town where my parents live in Florida. I wasn't sure if I was going to do it or not (all things considered) but I already had the flight down there so I figured I would at least enjoy spending time with my parents. My flight left Birmingham at 5:30 AM, which meant a 3:30 AM wake up. Rob, being the sweet boy he is, got up and drove me to the airport. I felt awful for most of the day on Saturday and any sane person would have skipped the half. Buuuut...I didn't.

I woke up at 6:00 and had a bagel with peanut butter and a banana. The race start was only .7 miles away from my parent's  house, so I walked over for my warm up and got there at 7:15ish. It was 60 degrees and foggy when I left the house, and by the time the race finished it was 75 degrees, sunny and beautiful! A high school friend of mine had agreed to run it with me, even though he wasn't a "runner" (he is now--yay!) I think having someone to run with made all the difference in this race. We hadn't seen each other in years, so we had a lot to talk about which helped to distract me from how miserable I was feeling :)

The course was actually pretty fun for me because it was very nostalgic. Most of it ran through a small state park on the north end of the island, where I had spent a lot of time in high school, brooding. It was also very flat--I would be surprised if the elevation change was more than 30 feet, and even that would be due to a bridge crossing. There was one small section where it ran through some historic neighborhoods, which don't yet have paved roads so we ran on sand. I had some GU at miles 4, 8 and 10, and water/gatorade at every opportunity (there weren't many--it was sort of a low-budget operation).  

I felt pretty good for the first 9 miles, but after that it was a struggle to get to the finish. My RIGHT knee starting aching (all problems until now have been in the left) and I just haven't been doing enough running lately--I hadn't run more than 5 miles at a time in a month! But, we pushed through and made it to the finish. My dad was waiting for me at the finish, using his iPad to take a picture (THAT was a sight.) I was really glad he made it down to the finish, it was nice having him there to congratulate me at the end. I will admit, I felt pretty darn good afterward. Here is said picture:

I know it looks like it says 2:13:xx, but it's really 2:33:xx.

After the race, my right hip was popping and my right knee was aching (both new ailments). All seems to be better today, I only have sore muscles and the left knee feels totally normal (HURRAH!) I have nixed the February marathon in Birmingham, and am aiming for the Seattle Rock n' Roll marathon on June 22. One of Rob's groomsmen, Brian,  is running that one and it will be his first marathon as well, so we are going to do it together. On Thursday I will be going to have a gait analysis done by my PT, and maybe try to make some minor adjustments in my stride to help minimize injury. If all goes well, I'll start training for Seattle in early March, and between now and then just keep a  base of 20-25 miles per week...and maybe do a few other small races and half marathons  when the opportunity arises :)

I ran I ran I ran!

Alright, faithful readers. I have been a major slacker this week. I can blame Thanksgiving for some of it (cooking my first turkey was rather time consuming), but some of it was dread about reporting what I have decided to do concerning my marathon.

The PT surprised me on Tuesday by telling me that the pain in my knee from Sunday was not necessarily a big deal. As Jorge said (shout out to you, because I know you actually read this--thanks for that :)), sitting on the plane and sitting in a car until it broke down and then having to walk on a steep camber to get antifreeze is probably what caused my knee irritation to return. PT still gave me permission to run this week if I wanted to and if my knee felt up to it. =D

I ran 3 miles on Thursday morning around a nearby high school track-- no problems! So then on Saturday I ran 5 miles around a dirt track at my favorite running park. The path included some  hills and cambered surfaces, but still no knee problems. I can't wait to report back to the PT tomorrow!

This Sunday is the half marathon that I signed up for as a part of my training for the Mercedes Marathon. It's scary to think what I should be doing to prepare for this marathon and what I have actually been able to do. I should have logged 20-22 miles this past week...I did 7 and was very grateful for those 7 miles. The question is, do I want to be really stubborn and stick with this plan with a much greater chance of causing myself some serious injury and probably run a crappy race (if I get there), or do I want to take the time I need to build muscles in my knees that will allow me to run a marathon well? I think I have decided that I would rather do the latter. I am going to run the half marathon this weekend (or run/walk it if necessary) because I really want to. After this weekend, I'm going to get a gait analysis at my PT and maybe try on altering my form a bit if he thinks that will help to prevent injury. After that I will try to do some other half marathons up until the wedding. If all goes well, I'll start training for a fall marathon when Rob and I get back from the honeymoon :) (Sidenote: The wedding is really sneaking up on me--where has time gone!)

Since the whole point of this blog was to encourage me to follow through with the Mercedes Marathon, do I continue keeping a record of my "progress?" I can't help but feel like I've let myself down. :(

Return of the Knee Pain

Well... the rest of my week went mostly as planned. The only change I made was that I only biked for 40 minutes on Thursday because life got crazy and I ran out of time. I even got up at 5:20 on Friday morning so that I could do my run before Rob and I drove to Atlanta so we could catch our flight to Miami to go to his cousin's wedding.

We flew ATL-FLL on Spirit, because it seemed cheaper at the time. After needing to pay $50 for a carry-on bag (yes, FIFTY!) and gas to and from Atlanta, we probably didn't save enough money to make it worth it. Bonus, the Fort Lauderdale airport is about a 45 minute drive from his parents house. I am so grateful that they agreed to pick us up. We decided to go see Wreck it Ralph at 10:00. Let me say again, I was awake at 5:20 central, so by the time the movie started I was ready to fall asleep, but anyway... I made it through. I love me some Pixar, and while this one wasn't as laugh-out-loud funny as others, it was really very clever. Recommended:)

The wedding on Saturday was really beautiful. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Franco. The groom was sick though--poor thing :(

The lovely bride with her dad.

Our flight back to Atlanta left at 7:40, so Sunday was another early morning for me. The flight went fine, but on our way home my van overheated and we had to walk a half a mile or so to the nearest gas station to get some engine coolant. I don't know what's wrong with it--I replaced the radiator last year because this one had cracked. It overheated three times on my way to work this morning. If it's not one thing, it's another!

Rob and I walking down the highway :)

Sunday is when my knee started being a problem again. I had planned to do 2 hours of biking (good gracious) and after about 40 minutes I was just too bored. So I decided to try the elliptical for a little while. After about 20 minutes my knee started feeling funny, so I stopped at 30 minutes. and today it is noticeably painful. I'm so discouraged...I'm on the verge of throwing in the towel and saying that I won't be able to do this marathon :( I'll see what the PT says tomorrow.

PT round two

Yesterday was my second visit to the PT. Let me tell you, going there inspires me to continue taking care of my body, because the last two times I have visited the therapist literally every other person there is an old lady who has no balance and no strength. I want to be a fit old lady (relatively speaking)!

Chris seems to think that after one more week of biking, we can start talking about working in some running! :) He even hinted that I may be able to run the half marathon I have planned on December 2 in Fernandina. I'm glad he said so, because I have been thinking the same thing. My knee has been mostly okay. I'm still icing it once a day, and for some reason the icing is what causes me the most aching and stiffness. Most of the time I don't even think about it anymore.

So far from this experience, I have learned that you can get a seriously good workout from "spinning". I always scoffed at those low-resistance stationary biking classes that some of my friends are obsessed with, but if you do it right it can really get your heart going! Last night I set the bike at "8" and alternated miles with a 100-105 RPM and 114+ RPM for 11 miles and I was sweating like a pig and huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf. 

I have also learned that I have seriously underestimated the importance of stretching and strength exercises. Yoga moves are particularly awesome for improving flexibility, balance and strength--must continue to do those even after I heal.

Today and tomorrow I'm going to do 45 minutes of biking, plus the strengthening exercises the PT recommended and some foam rolling/stretching/yoga.

Rob and I are flying to Miami on Friday to go to his cousin, Linda, get hitched. I love that I was there when her soon-to-be-husband proposed to her, and now I get to see the result of all of their hard work and planning! I will take my resistance bands to do strength stuff on those days, but I will probably leave the foam roller at home this time. 

Sunday will be another excruciatingly long stationary bike ride (hopefully the last). I'm supposed to be running 11-12 miles, which means an hour and a half to two hour bike ride. Oh my gosh...I'm already dreading it!