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2014 Runsolutions

Quotes to Run By
(source: Stephan Lawson Designs)

Being the goal oriented person that I am, I love making resolutions. Being the procrastinator that I am, I’m making my “2014” running resolutions (Runsolutions from here on out) at the end of January.

1. Run three half marathons
I’m taking a break from marathons for at least a year. Give my body a little bit of much needed rest. I still want to race, so instead of two marathons, let’s shoot for three halves. Sounds like a good trade off. I’m hoping to run one in the spring, Disney in the summer (yes, Run Disney has me wrapped around their little money printing finger), and another one in the fall.

2. Run 800-900 miles
This past year I ran 1,000 miles. ONE THOUSAND MILES. 1,162 miles to be exact. Yeah, even I feel like I’m lying. I hit the 1,000 mile mark in late fall. I felt like the Little Engine That Could. This mileage total was due to training for the two marathons. Without the two marathons, I’m not sure if I can hit the 1,000 mark again. I’ll aim for 900 and be happy with 800. I haven’t quite figured out what my weekly mileage is going to be or what type of maintenance plan I’m going to use until I start training for the races. I’m getting married this year and have almost a month’s worth of travel plans, tons of fun, but it may throw a little wrench into my yearly running total, not quite sure what is realistic here.

3. Run FASTER
Slow and steady wins the race. But sometimes you just want to be faster. I want to start incorporating speed work into my runs.

4. Set a half-marathon PR
This is almost a sub goal of number three. Even with several years of running under my belt, I haven’t seen an improvement in my race times. All of the races I entered before, I entered to finish. Now I want to push myself to set a half marathon PR.

5. Cross and strength train
Ugh. I get resistance even typing this goal. Cross and strength training are what I slack on most. I got better with cross training, I just don’t have a lot of joy in doing it. In addition to whatever my running schedule ends up being, I will add one day of cross training. I believe that my lack of strength training is the reason I’m having problems with my IT band. I promise to not neglect it this year.

6. Kick the IT Band Pain to the Curb
See above. Bye, bye ITBS!

Post Marathon Bliss & Blues

I completed my second marathon. 

I’m going to let that sink in for a little bit. My life has been a whirlwind for the past few months, so the gravity of the accomplishment has the potential to fly by.

I completed my second marathon AND I am still standing. 

After the San Diego Rock N’ Roll, I hobbled around for about a week and had to carefully rehab my knee for over a month. I’m proud to report that I was walking normally the day after my marathon. I did have to walk backwards down stairs due to my exhausted quads, but I’d take that over debilitating knee pain any day!

I took off one week completely from running, although I walked and walked and walked through five theme parks. This was my first week back running. I’m using Hil Hagdon’s Recovery Plan. The morning of my first run, I woke up completely giddy. I could not wait to get back out there.

My first three runs were great, a little slow, but no pain. Even though I haven’t signed up for another race, my motivation levels are off the chart. This is a stark contrast to the last month or so of training. I blamed it on doing two marathons too close together, but this last round of marathon training was a beast. It was tough physically as I was working through some pain and injuries, but it was even tougher mentally. I had to use all my will power to get me out of bed each morning. Completely different feeling after the marathon, I’d wake up early without an alarm and have to impatiently wait for the sun to rise so I could go out for a run. I thought I loved running before, but I feel as though I’m just starting to unleash my passion and love for running. Scary? Addicted? Maybe, but I like it.

I’ve spent this week researching half marathons to sign up for, articles on speed work, maintenance plans and strength training for runners. Fueling the obsession. 

That was the bliss. Here comes the blues.

I went for my 60 minute run yesterday. After mile 4, I started to feel the dreaded IT band pain. 

NO.

Add to that research list “IT band rehab.” As much as I want to pretend this injury isn’t there, the reality is that my training was plagued with IT pain the last month and a half. By the grace of God, I made it through the marathon with very little pain and was able to walk pain free the next day. But that doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. It makes me a little sad as this injury really sets me back from training. I’m determined to beat this thing and have started strength training to target weak muscles. Foam rolling and strength training are my new best friends.

Dear IT Band Pain: Bring it.

On Treadmill Workouts

Because of a 7am meeting, I attempted to run 3 miles on a treadmill this morning. It was a complete fail. My brain has a 5 second treadmill attention span. It’s so easy to just jump off that thing.

I think I would love running on a treadmill if I looked like this:

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But unfortunately I’m closer to this:

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As the days are getting shorter and the Fall rainy weather is gloomily approaching, somehow, someway the treadmill and I will have to play nice with each other.

Five Weeks In

Five weeks in, no turning back now. Well, that’s what I keep telling myself. Starting marathon training again has been a huge mental struggle. For my first marathon, I gladly (for the most part) got outside and accomplished my weekly runs. Perhaps it’s because I only had a few months break between my last marathon. Perhaps it’s because my body knows what’s required of it and is having a physical reaction. Perhaps it’s because my current schedule would make the Energizer Bunny fall over dead. Whatever the reason, training this time round has been anything but easy.

It has been taking every ounce of will power that I have to get myself out to run. I was set back a couple weeks ago by slicing my ankle open with a metal easel, another story for another post. Running is quite therapeutic for me, a time to decompress and reflect and run all the bad juju out of me. Yes, it’s still a much needed outlet. I’m just not enjoying it as much.

Mental block, be gone with you. It’s been real and it’s been nice, but it’s time for you to leave.

13 weeks to go.

I got this?

The Bees Knees (not really)

So folks, it’s been almost a month after my marathon and I’m still in recovery mode. My left knee, everything about it: the outside, the inside, the back. And I may be over compensating because now my right arch has been hurting.

I’ve been very disciplined to stop running once I start feeling pain. Once the pain starts, I force myself to walk. It’s been such a slow process and all I want to do is run. Run far and run long. I’m running about three days a week right now and one gym/cross training day.

I can run about 3 miles without any pain. This morning I was pushing it and attempted to run 6 miles. I got to 4 and then had to walk the last 2 miles. I really should’ve chosen a different route.

I’m looking into different ways I can get back into running. Physical therapist? Leg strengthening exercises? Minimalist shoes (currently reading Born to Run)? Chi Running? 

Do I need to just take a full week off of running?

I’m DESPERATE to get back out there. It feels like a part of me is missing. It’s actually really starting to affect me. Running is my outlet. It’s where I go to think, to clear my head, to get a perspective on things. I think I’m going crazy. Definitely an addict.

On the Road to Recovery

It’s been over a week that I completed my first MARATHON. I still need to write a recap of that experience. But first things first, this first week and a half after the marathon have been rough.

I’ve been attempting to follow Hal Higdon’s marathon recovery plan. I’ve already had to alter it as my knee is pretty beat up from the 26.2 miles.

On one hand (or foot, yes I get my humor from my father), I am going crazy not running. Running has become so much a part of my daily routine these past couple of years, not running is giving me cabin fever. And on the other foot, my body feels completely exhausted after the past four months of training and a ridiculously crazy busy personal/work life, I am wondering how I could ever be so disciplined in my training.

My brain knows that my body needs rest to recover. My brain knows that I really need to slow down and let my knee heal properly. But my heart just wants to run, run, and run some more. It’s official, I’m an addict.

I ran a 3 miler today. Two miles with no pain. I had to throw in some walk intervals the last mile as I started to feel some pain in the knee. I even wore a knee brace today. On the to-do list today is to research knee braces as the one I have is quite uncomfortable (and sweaty!). Any runners with knee problems out there have any suggestions? I mainly have problems with my IT band, but since the race the inside of my knee cap and back of the knee have also been bothering me.

San Diego or Bust: Marathon Packing List

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Getting packed and ready to go! I left my packing list at work, so had to try and get everything together by memory. I have one short run tomorrow morning, so my shoes will be the last thing to be thrown in.

Here’s my marathon packing list:

Racing Essentials

  1. Running shirt
  2. Running shorts
  3. Sports Bra
  4. Socks
  5. Hat
  6. Spibelt
  7. Garmin watch
  8. iPhone
  9. Single head phone
  10. Cliff Shot Gels

Food

  1. Oodles of snacks (Pretzels, Swedish fish, nuts, popcorn)
  2. Race day breakfast (Bananas, peanut butter, bread)
  3. Water bottle

Misc

  1. Chargers for all my electronics
  2. Compression socks
  3. Body glide
  4. Melatonin (I know I’m going to have a hard time sleeping, too excited for race day!)
  5. Sunscreen
  6. Burt’s Bee’s chap stick

Let’s do this!