Meh

So, this morning when I woke up I couldn't walk. Which means that putting pressure on my left foot was intensely painful. I took a lot of Advil (3) and iced it until I could hobble around enough to get ready for work. Made it around work for a bit. I scheduled a doctor's appointment though the first one they have is Tuesday morning. The doctor is a very highly rated podiatrist on yelp.com which is a ratings/review website that I love.

When I showed the bottom's of my feet to Justin he was able to see something very wrong with my left foot (the tendons are taut and swollen) - I am somewhat convinced that I have Plantar Fasciitis which would really really suck. Needless to say I am not going to run tomorrow - every step I take feels like someone is shoving an ice pick into my heel/arch area. I am icing, taking large amount of ibuprofen because it doesn't seem to affect my stomach badly, and whining. Though really I am just cranky that this has happened. I was working very hard to not push myself so that I wouldn't get injured. I was trying to do everything right. Oh well, we will wait to see what the podiatrist says on Tuesday.

Cross your fingers for me that this won't mess up my training too much.

Wednesday & Thursday

So, yesterday, Wednesday was a cross training day. I didn't end up going to karate so I just worked out at home. I have one of those exercise balls and a pair of weights so I did about 40 minutes with those. Then I watched too much tv. (Random aside: I just discovered Design Star - its rather entertaining though not something I'd watch every episode of).

This morning was the track run. When the alarm went off at 5am, I really didn't want to get up. But somehow I did. Since we haven't had a chance to go grocery shopping this week, I didn't have anything to eat in the house before the run. So instead, I decided to try one of the Hammer Gels. What is a Gel you might ask? (At least, that's what I was asking when people kept talking about them at the Marathon University!) A gel is concentrated carbs, amino-acids, and such that is easily digested so that endurance athletes can sustain their activity. I am not sure I would go so far as to call myself an endurance athlete, but we are supposed to find what we want to use during our race and test it all out. I have decided to try the Hammer brand because they don't use high fructose cord syrups, sugars, etc. They are all-natural, organic type things. They have a whole line - gels, bars, and electrolyte powders. Apparently, you are supposed to drink the electrolyte during the race, and do a gel about halfway through with water (never mixing the gel & electrolyte stuff - not sure why but everyone says not too. Kind of like not crossing the streams). So far, I like the Hammer bars - they are like Larabars - date paste, almonds, fruits, etc. The gel was kind of ... well gel-like. Which was ok for the first mouthful but there were about 3 mouthfuls. Yuck. I guess one method is to squeeze the gel into a small container and add water so that it becomes more liquid. I think I will have to try that because the consistency just didn't work for me.

Anyway, back to the training this morning. For the past two weeks, we've been doing circuit drills - run one lap, then do core strengthening exercises. This morning we did hills. Which meant we ran up and down streets near the track - the Fall team (my team) did 3 laps which was approximately 1.5 miles of up and down. For my own notes this is how we are supposed to do hills - going up you watch the ground (don't look up the hill!) and you run with the balls of your feet; going down let the heels take the brunt so it is the big muscles along the backs of your legs that are working the hardest.

Running on the balls of you feet up a half mile steep hill is hard. And your calves burn. A lot. But I felt good after it and I did all three laps without stopping. Which I am pretty proud of. Coach Al was timing us - it took me 16 minutes, 3 seconds to do the 1.5 miles of hills. That is slower than a 10.5 minute mile but the course won't be all hills either.

Looking forward to resting tomorrow. My left knee isn't hurting much anymore (taping is working very well) but now my left foot hurts along the arch. I think its a conspiracy. A leftist conspiracy even! (Which is totally something my mom would have said/written).

Monday & Tuesday

So Monday was a karate/cross training night. It was mostly fine. I wasn't having a such a great night and ended up leaving a bit early from class. My knee was also bothering me a bit with the kicks and some of the stances.

Monday I also had to "recommit" to Team in Training. This basically means that you sign a form stating that you are going to complete the fundraising goal, and run in the marathon. On one of the forms required we had to put our expected pace per mile in the marathon. I put 10 minutes 30 seconds. I hope that I can do better than that, but my overall run might average out to around there. I am not worried about the fundraising goal - I think I have basically met it at this point which is just awesome. Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed. Your encouragement helps when the alarm goes off at 5am and its still dark out. :)

Tuesday morning I got up at 5am to go to the Lake Merritt buddy run. Lisa helps lead that run and I ran around the lake with her. It felt pretty good, though not as good as Saturday's run. But it was a nice solid 3.5 miles in about 40 minutes. I ate an energy bar (Hammer brand) an hour before the run, and a banana right after. My knee was feeling a lot better. I taped it before the run on Sunday, but didn't do it quite right and could definitely feel it. Tuesday morning, I taped it and it was a lot better. Virtually no pain at all. What i need to do is find time to get orthotic inserts for my shoes which will help stabilize the knee and how my foot is striking the ground.

Sunday - a trail run

So I wanted to take it easy on Sunday after doing the 6 miles on Saturday. So, my husband and I got up early and went up to the East Bay Hills for a run. We ended up at Redwood Park which has a nice dirt trail that's part of the Skyline Bay Trail. We did two miles (one out and one back). It was pretty cool and grey - in fact, there were points where is was sort of raining from the wet fog which was passing through the trees. I hadn't run on a trail before and it is a very different experience from the mostly track/paved trails I've been training on. The trail was also much more hilly than I had remembered - it is fascinating how much things change when you are running vs. just walking them.

On our way back, we heard a loud noise, almost like someone was doing construction work at 8am on a Sunday. Then as we came around a corner we saw what had made the noise - a size able tree had fallen across the trail. Justin just jumped on top of it and over, I did a not so graceful clambering over it.

6 miles this morning!

So, this was our Saturday coached run. It was at the Berkeley Marina which is where Justin & I ran 4 miles last Sunday. I got there a little early so I could meet with Mama Lisa, our asst. coach who is the primary person for injuries. I had emailed her about my knee and I was hoping she might be able to help me figure out what to do to keep it from hurting. I had to wait for her to finish taping up a woman's foot - from the taping job I guess she has plantar fascilitis - the entire bottoms of her feet were being taped. Once Mama Lisa was done with her, she took a look at my knee. She said that I have patella bursitis, which is exactly the same thing I had back in March when I tried to start running back then. She put some Biofreeze gel on it (topical analgesic) and then wrapped tape around the base of my knee so that my patella wasn't moving around. It felt better almost immediately which was pretty encouraging.

Due to getting taped up, I missed most of the prep for the run but was able to join the group for the final shout-outs (names of people we are running in honor of) and the moment of silence. Then we headed out. I was hoping to be able to run 4 miles - it was a very cool grey morning and not too windy so I thought it might not be as hard a run as last Saturday was.

Around mile 1, I caught up with Lisa, one of the mentors. She does the Tuesday morning run around Lake Merritt, and I've also been talking to her at the Thursday morning trainings as well. She was running at a nice slow pace, so I asked her if it would be ok if I shadowed her for the day. I would have been running with Blair but she is back in PA visiting her family and friends.

So Lisa and I ran - she was going to go for 6 miles. We got to the 2 mile mark where there was the water/gatorade station and we stretched. This was the first time I have made it to the water station on a coached run! I felt pretty good, so I decided to keep going with Lisa. We hit the 3 mile mark and turned around. Stopped again at the 2 mile water station and ran the rest of the way in. I felt great the whole time - no pain in the knee, we only walked 3 times (each for 1 minute timed by Lisa) and it took us about 1 hour & 10 minutes so get back to the finish line. When we got back, I still felt like I could have run a lot more which was very encouraging. I am simply thrilled that I ran 6 miles today and it almost felt easy! Yippee!

Thursday's run/circuit training

So Thursday morning was the track run with circuit drills. We didn't actually run at the track, we ran in the parking lot which has somewhat significant hills, doing circuit drills between each lap. To put it lightly, the hills absolutely killed my knee. After doing 3 laps, I spoke to Coach Al who told me to stop running and just finish up the circuit drills. My knee wasn't hurting from any of the circuit drills, just the running so I did that and headed home. Hopefully it won't continue and hinder my future runs ...

Wednesday cross training

This evening I went to karate even though my knee was still hurting. The pain seems to be coming along the hamstring - down the back of my leg and hurting in the back and inside of my knee. The pain seems to go away when I am actually exercising it - it hurts the worst when I am walking down stairs.

At karate we did sparring for an hour straight. Somehow I came out fairly unscathed. I also did lots of stretches which seemed to help the knee somewhat.

Tomorrow morning is circuit drills at the track at 5:45am. Which means I should head to bed.

G'night!

Monday and Tuesday not so great

So Monday was supposed to be the cross-training day - when I do karate for two hours. However, my left knee was hurting quite a bit (probably from the long run Sunday) so I stayed home and iced and elevated my knee.

Tuesday I should have gotten up and done the buddy run at 5:45am but I didn't. I told myself I would run in the evening, but then ended up going out for drinks with some former co-workers instead. Ah well. I will be good the rest of the week.

Saturday & Sunday runs

So Saturday is the coached long run of the week. It starts at 8am and this time was at the San Leandro marina. I ate breakfast before I went but it was already 7:30am. We were supposed to run 3-5 miles (up from 2-4 the first run). I started out ok running with Blair, the lady I ran with at the buddy run on Tuesday. But by mile 1.25 I was hurting. I had a really bad stitch in my side the likes of which I hadn't felt since the very first run. I started walking and a mentor helped me get rid of the stitch, though it started back up everytime I started running again. So I turned around at the 1.5 mile mark and only did 3 miles. I was able to run a little bit on the way back in, but overall it wasn't a good run for me. I felt pretty disappointed since I'd been running well all week, but as my friend Gina says, every run can't be a good one.

Sunday Justin agreed to go running with me. I wanted to try to do 4 miles to make up for Saturday's awful run. So we drove out to the Berkeley Marina. We first ran out into the Bay on the concrete pier. That was quite the workout cuz we were running directly into the wind. Then we ran all around the yacht club, and around Ceasar Chavez park. We made it all around and back to the car. So I got my four miles in! The last mile was pretty rough, but with Justin's cajoling I made it. Now I have to do that 3 times in a row. Yikes.

Wednesday cross training day & Thursday

So Wednesday was cross training day. Coincidentally, I do karate for two hours on Mondays & Wednesdays so that worked out well. I led the class on Wednesday - I had us do kata, basics, and then drills with partners.

Thursday I got up at 5am and went out to Clark Kerr track up above Cal Berkeley to meet up with all the Team in Training folks. We did circuit training - run one lap, then do sit-ups, push-ups, & squats. Then repeat 4 times. It was tiring but overall felt good.

Thank goodness that Friday is a rest day.

Buddy runs - I ran a 5k! :)

So I was supposed to do strength training yesterday but didn't due to dinner with the in-laws.

Basically my training schedule is supposed to be
Sunday - long run (2-4 miles)
Monday - Strength training
Tuesday - 35 minute run
Wednesday - Cross training
Thursday- 35 minute run
Friday - Rest
Saturday - long run (2-4 miles)

So, to make up for missing last night, I got up at 5:15 this morning and went to the 5:55am Buddy Run at Lake Merritt. Basically a buddy run is a scheduled run with other TNT folks but there aren't any coaches. You are just supposed to run for a certain amount of time and then go home. I ended up running with Blair. She has been jogging for 10 years but is slow so my pace was not too bad for her. We chatted (I huffed & puffed as well) and we made it all the way around the Lake. For those of us counting at home, that would be 3.1 miles (which is 5k)! And I did it without walking at all. It took just about 35 minutes and I was back home by 7am. I still feel great so far.

Maybe this running thing ain't so bad...

Wow, big run!

Well, the big news is that Sunday I ran the entire way for 3 miles!! My husband Justin wanted to go to the gym and workout and I knew that I needed to run. So I used Google Maps to map a route to the gym that was 1.5 miles so that I could run to the gym with him and then turn around and come back home. He decided to run along with me so we headed out. He kept me from walking when I think I would have normally given in to the temptation. As an added bonus, when we got to the gym it was closed so he ran with me the entire way back home. So, this is officially my longest run so far!

After that we decided that maybe he shouldn't be running in sneakers that were 5 years old so we used a coupon I got at the Marathon University to get him new shoes. I picked up a snazzy running hat (blue) and a water bottle with holder (violet). I actually meant to get the blue water bottle holder but got distracted at the checkout and grabbed the wrong one. Oh well - coordination is for wimps anyway. :)

Marathon University

So Saturday was the Marathon University. I carpooled with two other TNT (Team in Training) folks down to the middle school that it was being held in.

Basically it was a series of 4 45 minute classes on various topics. First was a class on feet & running. I like my feet. During this class I became worried about my feet. Luckily one thing which was repeated over and over was that if you are participating in the half marathon, you don't have to worry as much. Thank God. Because I certainly don't want my feet to look like some of the photos the teacher was showing. In fact, about halfway through the class I thought I might have to leave. I wasn't sure I could hear another horror story about blisters or skin peeling or anything having to do with foot badness.

Then the second class was with the personal trainer. She hadn't gotten the memo that we weren't working out that day but instead were taking a bunch of classes. So we spent 45 minutes doing an aerobics routine. I spent the first half thinking it was not that bad and the second half plotting the aerobics teacher's death. Mind you, I was wearing jeans & flip-flops (along with a bunch of other people).

The third class was nutrition, supplements, and gear associated therewith. It was the most interesting class by far. And it seemed that it was the shortest of course. They did an overview of all the different GU's, gel's, electrolytes, etc out there; how and when to take them while running; symptoms of dehydration and hyponotremia; and lastly, what water bottle system works best. :)

The last class was the chiropractor speaking on how to avoid injuries (go visit him), and the store owner discussing shoes, apparel, and other accesories.

Finally, I go thome at almost 2pm, about 3 hours later than I had thought I'd be getting home. I counted the 45 minute death aerobics as my workout for Saturday.

Friday's Run in Seattle

So, I ran this morning while in Seattle. I went down to the waterfront and per the jogging map provided by the hotel, I think I ran for about 2.5 miles (I walked another half mile as well). Overall it went pretty well. I haven't really gotten a stitch in my side since the first run. I think I need to work on my breathing more though. I have gotten good at carrying water bottles in my hand, though I think I should probably just invest in a holder that I can carry.

Thursday night I worked out in the hotel's gym - just some weight training and lots of sit-ups.

Tomorrow is the "Marathon University" being held by Team in Training. They are going to have people speak to us about nutrition, personal training, clothing, etc.

Travels

So Sunday I flew to Billings, Montana. Monday was a 'non-running' day so I went to the gym in the hotel I was in first thing Monday morning. It was a very small fitness room without much equipment but I made do.

Yesterday evening I flew into Portland, Oregon. I had dinner with a friend of mine who is an avid runner. She told me about a great place to run near my hotel which I did this morning. It was a 3 mile run along the waterfront park, and across two bridges. Again, I think I ran at least half the time if not more, and I felt great. In total, I was out on the path for an hour before I headed back to the hotel. After my site visit, I ended up walking around Portland a lot (it is an easy city to do that in). Only now that I am sitting in the Portland airport (about to fly to Spokane, WA) is the soreness kicking in.

So far, I am enjoying the training (you know, all 3 days of it!). There are only 2 months and 2 weeks left until the marathon!

Only mostly sore :)

Well, Justin got me out this morning to run since I will be spending 6 hours on a plane later today (flying from SFO to Billings, Montana for work). I was out there for 30 minutes, alternating running and walking.

I was fairly sore this morning when I woke up and running morning didn't really help that. I read this great book: The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training by Dawn Dias. She says that the soreness never stops. So this will be a fun couple of months. But I think it will be worth it when I cross the finish line.

First run was today

So, today was our first run. I didn't actually run in circles either. We all met up at the Alameda Ferry landing at the early time of 7:45am (I had to get up earlier than I do for work!). We decided on a Team Name suggested by our Coach - "Team Do the Damn thing". Then we stretched out, and hit the trail. We had a choice to run 2, 3, or 4 miles. I am trying very hard to start slow and not overachieve so that I don't injure myself so I only did the 2 miles. Though when I hit the 1 mile mark I ran right past it and only turned around when a Team in Training Mentor ponted out that I had passed it.

So overall today was a great first day. I am traveling all this week for work, but I will try to run while traveling as best as I can. My Mentor suggested that I do 30 minute runs that consist of alternating 3 minutes running, 1 minute walking. We'll see how that goes.