Silent run.

So, the unthinkable happened: i forgot to pack my headphones with my run gear. D'oh! (I change at work and run around the neighborhood before i go inside my apartment, to avoid the insanity of my dog if he sees me with tennis shoes on.)

I am proud of myself, though: i didn't use this as an excuse not to run. Granted, i only ran 2 miles, but i ran none-the-less! Instead of music to get me pumping, i had to listen to myself huff & puff, which is not the most pleasant thing in the world. Do any of you ever run without music?

I took a slightly different route today, to look at some Christmas decorations. I can't believe it is December already - i will be 28 in two months. YIPES!

This might be a completely moronic question, but can you toss your running shoes in the washer & dryer? My new Brooks are looking mighty dirty from running along the canal on Saturdays. I just don't want to ruin them, so i need some advice if they are going to warp or something. :)

Yuck.

 

Lessons Learned.

a 9.5 mile run this morning. Gather round kids, as i tell you what i learned on this particular run:

• i doubt i will ever be a long-distance runner. After this 1/2 marathon, i'm pretty sure i'll be sticking to 5k & 10ks only
• You don't know pain until you develop a helluva blister on mile 3 and still have 6.5 miles to go.
• It's inevitable: a rock will find it's way into your shoe every half mile.
• Invest in a good sports bra. (Don't buy it because it's "cute", Melissa!)  The girls can only take so much movement.
• Sometimes i feel like i am running in place and not advancing - that's how slow i am!
• Shot blocks will give you an extra boost!
• My fingers tend to swell on long runs - holy elephant man!
• I can not afford to take a week off running again - no matter how busy life gets!
• You are never alone out on the canal.
• There are few things in life that come close to how good a nice, long nap with my pup feels after an early morning run.

Have a good weekend!!

Taking a break.

Today, i'm not really going to write about running. (and that may or may not have to do with the fact that i haven't ran since Saturday...but i am tonight, i promise!)

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Mine was nice and relaxing. Even though I wasn't able to go home and spend it with my family, I did get to spend it with Tom's family and it was fun! There was a house full of dogs (just like there would be at home!) and yummy food. I honestly didn't gorge myself with food, which is nice. Being a guest, i had to be polite. ;)

We finished the evening by playing the new Super Mario Brothers game for the Wii - which i am totally going to go out any buy. And seeing Boondock Saints II. It was ok, but definitely could have waited for the DVD.

I can't believe it's almost December - has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet??

Time to go take it easy until the temperature drops so i can strap on my Brooks and go for a nice, easy run. Another 9 miles with Coach Dave tomorrow...!

Yowza.

Well Saturday was my first group run in 3 weeks. I was very nervous, as i've had to take a break from running due to my muscle strains.  But i knew i couldn't miss another long run - so i somehow managed to convince my boyfriend Tom to go with me, in case i needed someone to carry me back to the car. :P

<--- (My savior for the day.)


I wore my calf compression wraps and took it nice and easy. The first mile was fine, and Coach Dave caught up to us on his bike & gave me some tips on how to stretch my calves. A little after the first mile, we stopped and stretched, as my left calf was starting to tighten up a bit.

Poor Tom, he had pulled his hamstring playing soccer a few weeks back and it came back to haunt him later in the run.

I would complain that i wanted to stop and walk and he would say "Ok let's just make it to the next tree, then we can walk." Of course once we reached that tree, he would say "No, i meant the next tree." and so on and so forth. I finally told him to shove his little game and stopped for a walking break. :)

We reached Coach Dave at the 4 mile mark and he gave us instructions where to go. Of course, that involved running up a hill. I wanted to walk, but drill sgt. Tom made me run up it. We stretched at the top of the hill and that's when Tom's hamstring really started acting up. I felt super bad, bc he was in a lot of pain and my stopping to walk breaks made it flare up even more.

We turned around to finish the course and ran past the biggest house i've ever seen. No kidding, this place had its own tennis court, pool and bocce ball court. Had to have been a ball player or something. We reached the final mile of our run and i told Tom i would run the whole thing, so he didn't have to keep stopping to walk with me. About half way through i wanted to quit because my body was SO tired, but he wouldn't let me. I was kinda irritated with him at the time, but i'm glad he pushed me. He was right, i didn't need to quit - i just wanted to. My body was tired, but i still had it in me to finish that final mile - even though i desperately wanted to wuss out!

We finished the 8 miles (9, according to the Nike+) and hobbled off to breakfast.

The schedule called for 3 miles today, but i think i am going to put it off until tomorrow. My entire body is sore and my left calf is still acting up. The bright side is that my right calf has no problems at all.

Crazy Coach Dave's schedule calls for another 8 miles on Thanksgiving and our group run is 9 miles on Saturday. Ugh!! My body is definitely going to feel that for weeks to come...


Distance: 9.18 miles
Time: 1:50
Avg Pace: 12'02" mile

Spoke too soon.

If you hear a loud scream of frustration, don't worry - it's only me.

Jumped the gun on my "legs are better, hooray!". Because they totally aren't. :(

This is me giving the thumbs down. And Spencer being ever so oblivious.

UGH I AM SO MAD. I just don't get what is going on with my calf muscles! And the scary part is, i don't know when they will get better. i can't miss another long run this weekend, i just can't.

Anyone out there have any good tips for muscle strains? I am begging here...

!!!

As of today, the half marathon is TWO MONTHS AWAY.

TWO. MONTHS. AWAY.

Excuse me while i freak out.

Pity Party over.

Ok, so i think my legs are back on the mend. I missed the group run on Saturday due to the muscle strain, and i hated it. The group did 7 miles and Lord knows i need the practice. But there was just no way possible i could run, so i did the elliptical instead, just to get some cardio in.

Saturday i went out and bought some calf compression wraps. I think they have definitely helped. I wore them Saturday and Sunday morning i woke up with little pain (woo hoo!).

So tonight, i decided to give running a try again. I'll be honest - i was scared. Scared that the pain was going to make me "fail" again. But i'm happy to report I was able to run! Some pain was still there, but not as unbearable as it had been. Just a short run, i'll step it up to 3 miles tomorrow.

Distance: 2.35 miles

Time: 25:22

Pace: 10:44/mi

Bad news.

So, as if i didn't feel unprepared enough, i am now dealing with an injury.

Sigh.

I ran with my new (fitted) shoes on Sunday for the 10k. Just fine, no problems. On Monday, i noticed my calves felt pretty tight, but just chalked it up to not stretching well enough after the race.

On Tuesday, i set out for my 3 mile run. My calves still felt very tight and it felt like i was running with ankle weights. Not fun. I could only make it to 1.5 miles before i had to stop because the tight muscles were hurting.

Yesterday, i tried the 3 miles again. And again, at the 1.5 mile i had to stop. The pain was greater this time. I literally hobbled home & wanted to cry because my legs hurt so bad.

I emailed Coach Dave asking for advice - haven't heard back yet. The schedule calls for 4 miles tonight - ha. I AM going to try again, but with my old shoes. I can't decide if i should rest tonight and try it tomorrow...but i'm worried.

Worried because we have a 7 mile group run on Satuday. Worried because the 1/2 marathon is almost two months away.

I really just feel like giving up. And i hate that feeling.

Discouraged.

It's a common theme on this blog: i feel discouraged.

Actually, i feel like a phony.

I want to believe that i'm a "real" runner and that training for this half marathon isn't as bad as one would think....but that's a lie. I really kinda suck at running and as the half marathon gets closer, i doubt my ability to do it more & more.

Maybe i should stop reading other running blogs. Because i am blown away by these women's mileage and how easy they seeem to make it look. While i'm over here huffing & puffing through (what should be) a simple 3 mile run.

Even though i have a schedule and try to stick to it religiously, i just don't feel prepared. Didn't help that last night's run was plagued by my calves still being stiff from the 10k on Sunday.

I just really need more "good" runs....and freaking soon!

Phoenix 10k

So this morning i ran the Phoenix 10k. I was pretty nervous about it, as i didn't feel really prepared. But i decided to go anyways, and i'm glad i did.

I got to test out my new kicks (Brooks) and they worked very well. The first 3 miles weren't that bad, but i did start to fade around the 4 mile mark. Had to stop and walk a few times, but overall i think i finished 1:20 (won't know my official time until they post it online.)

It was a nice prep for the half marathon, getting used to running with thousands of others and perfecting the water stations.

This weekend: 7 mile group run on Saturday....almost 2 months until PF Chang's....YIPES!

WOW

You guys, THANK YOU! Thanks to everyone who donated, i am now less than $400 away from my goal. This is awesome!! BIG thanks go out to:

• Wade - my soon to be married friend :)
• Bethany - we've known eachother since we were 7!
• Jody - my awesome boss
• Gerry - great friend & fellow runner

So i went for a 3 mile run last night...however, thanks to my Nike+ sensor, i discovered the run was actually only 2.3 miles. Ha, oops.

No crazy Coach Dave group run this Saturday, as we are running the Phoenix 10k on Sunday. Wish me luck!!

Good News!!

***We've received a Matching Funds for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. If you can donate today or tomorrow, your donation will be matched 100%! I'd really appreciate any help - even $5 helps!! ***

Please click the link on the right of the page! :)