we got our confirmation booklets in the mail, complete with our bib number and corral number. tomorrow we go downtown to pick up the race packets. april is over and the race is on my doorstep. how did i get here??
when we started this venture, it seemed like such a distant reality. i had no clue what to expect, just did what they told me and began to learn the sport of running. we would increase our mileage with each week and i would continue to wonder about the race. would anticipate it, but only mildly, only to explain to people why i'm in training, why i need their money.
and here it is. and in just 48 hours, it will be nearly over. so wierd.
i was telling my small group about it last night and a bunch of them will be riding their bikes along the route to encourage people. it was good to feel supported and loved! i can't wait to see them!
all-in-all...i'm ecstatic! i'm anxious, a bit nervous, hoping my tendonitis goes away....but like a kid on Christmas morning, i want to rip into this one and enjoy it for all it's worth.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
i've got shin splints. or tendinitis. either way, i have to take a break from running this week to let it clear up...don't want any lingering injuries for the race.
i'll be quite honest...it is extremely hard for me to be "resting"...i've developed this routine and it's hard to not be doing it.
10 days. the countdown begins. i'm growing more excited by the day, especially as coworkers keep asking about it. it's fun to know they care.
i'll be quite honest...it is extremely hard for me to be "resting"...i've developed this routine and it's hard to not be doing it.
10 days. the countdown begins. i'm growing more excited by the day, especially as coworkers keep asking about it. it's fun to know they care.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
and so we're tapering...
we're in the homestretch. less than 2 weeks until the race. racing pros call this "tapering": the runs have lessened, we are to be aware of any extra activities that could cause injury and we're to really take care of ourselves in preparation. this includes good foods, lots of water and, most importantly, rest.
on that note, i pushed myself during our run yesterday and ran a 5K in less than 30 minutes!! i was way proud! my pace has improved, in large part due to running with Laura. she is a bit faster than me, but i do most of my mid-week runs with her so i try to keep up. i usually want to die by the end, but it's made me faster. like swinging with two bats...i guess only baseball/softball players would get that.
and so, i'm ready. mentally. physically. ready. over training. over raising support (which is done!!). ready to do this thing. Mini here we come!!
on that note, i pushed myself during our run yesterday and ran a 5K in less than 30 minutes!! i was way proud! my pace has improved, in large part due to running with Laura. she is a bit faster than me, but i do most of my mid-week runs with her so i try to keep up. i usually want to die by the end, but it's made me faster. like swinging with two bats...i guess only baseball/softball players would get that.
and so, i'm ready. mentally. physically. ready. over training. over raising support (which is done!!). ready to do this thing. Mini here we come!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
dealing with failure...
bad run today. started out with a goal of 45 minutes, miniscule in comparison with Saturday's 2 hour run. i got about 20 minutes into it when i realized that i hadn't had a full meal in nearly 20 hours. no fuel = no running.
i'm a huge believer in running being a mental battle, so i continued to tell myself to push through, draw on reserves, i could do this...i couldn't. with nearly 3 miles to travel to get back to my car, i stopped to walk.
this is the point i wished i had dry-weave clothing, b/c all my sweaty clothes began to chill in the 40 degree air and i began to freeze. i'm a huge "all or nothing" kinda person, which usually translates to me beating myself up when i can't do something to the extent i want/expect to. so all the way back, i struggled with being ok just walking. i even tried to job, but my body wasn't having any of it. i had to admit defeat.
i sprinted the last half-mile, desperate to get to my car and out of the cold. bigger mistake...my sugar dropped, my energy was depleted. i had to get fast food and sit in a tub of hot water and then nap just to recover....
too often, i want to use/abuse my body like it's a machine. at some point, there has to be a line drawn b/w discipline and rigidity, "staying the course" and stopping to rest. i have to be able to figure out what's really important....
i'm a huge believer in running being a mental battle, so i continued to tell myself to push through, draw on reserves, i could do this...i couldn't. with nearly 3 miles to travel to get back to my car, i stopped to walk.
this is the point i wished i had dry-weave clothing, b/c all my sweaty clothes began to chill in the 40 degree air and i began to freeze. i'm a huge "all or nothing" kinda person, which usually translates to me beating myself up when i can't do something to the extent i want/expect to. so all the way back, i struggled with being ok just walking. i even tried to job, but my body wasn't having any of it. i had to admit defeat.
i sprinted the last half-mile, desperate to get to my car and out of the cold. bigger mistake...my sugar dropped, my energy was depleted. i had to get fast food and sit in a tub of hot water and then nap just to recover....
too often, i want to use/abuse my body like it's a machine. at some point, there has to be a line drawn b/w discipline and rigidity, "staying the course" and stopping to rest. i have to be able to figure out what's really important....
Friday, April 10, 2009
my shins started hurting a couple days ago. diagnosis: either shin splints or tendinitis. so i started reading about them on runnersworld.com and talked to friends, and pretty much have done everything they've told me, which include a lot of stretching and strength-building activities.
as of this morning, they are much improved! still a bit tender, but i'm not running again until tomorrow morning (2 hours!! ehhh....) to give them that extra bit of rest. will probably cross-train a bit today, load up the bike and head to Monon. we'll see what this rain does...or heck, maybe i'll just do it despite the run. sounds like an adventure waiting to happen.
as of this morning, they are much improved! still a bit tender, but i'm not running again until tomorrow morning (2 hours!! ehhh....) to give them that extra bit of rest. will probably cross-train a bit today, load up the bike and head to Monon. we'll see what this rain does...or heck, maybe i'll just do it despite the run. sounds like an adventure waiting to happen.
Monday, April 6, 2009
5K pics
me, Laura, Allie and Lauren...just missing Gary....
waiting for the race to start...freezing our hineys off...
coming thru the finish line
Thursday, April 2, 2009
one month to the mini!
i've been experimenting with what i should (or shouldn't...really shouldn't) put in my body before a long run. so far, on the NO list:
oatmeal
steak dinner
anything heavy
i think the comination is as follows:
Clif bar about an hour before
Clif gel about 15 minutes before, and every 40ish minutes from there on out
recovery drink from Powerbar afterwards
who would have thought running could be so complicated. i tried Powerbar and Gu gels, which were both fine. but i was attracted to the fact that Clif is almost entirely natural. and i feel energetic all day, even after running 90 minutes.
Tues. saw my first running-related injury...don't know if it classifies as an injury. i went to the chiropractor and he adjusted my lower back. suddenly, my muscles locked and spasmed and i was in pain. pain so bad i cried on the way home and babied myself the rest of the day with ice and chick flicks.
my chiro explained that that joint, the SI joint, is taking a double hit, both from the impact of moving up and down as well as my hips moving back and forth. running is compounding this. especially the kind of running i've been doing lately.
i went back today and was relieved that no pain accompanied my adjustment. don't take your back for granted...
meanwhile, i'm enjoying the warmer weather and making tacos on Thursdays with my sister and running. running is becoming familiar, like a good friend.
oatmeal
steak dinner
anything heavy
i think the comination is as follows:
Clif bar about an hour before
Clif gel about 15 minutes before, and every 40ish minutes from there on out
recovery drink from Powerbar afterwards
who would have thought running could be so complicated. i tried Powerbar and Gu gels, which were both fine. but i was attracted to the fact that Clif is almost entirely natural. and i feel energetic all day, even after running 90 minutes.
Tues. saw my first running-related injury...don't know if it classifies as an injury. i went to the chiropractor and he adjusted my lower back. suddenly, my muscles locked and spasmed and i was in pain. pain so bad i cried on the way home and babied myself the rest of the day with ice and chick flicks.
my chiro explained that that joint, the SI joint, is taking a double hit, both from the impact of moving up and down as well as my hips moving back and forth. running is compounding this. especially the kind of running i've been doing lately.
i went back today and was relieved that no pain accompanied my adjustment. don't take your back for granted...
meanwhile, i'm enjoying the warmer weather and making tacos on Thursdays with my sister and running. running is becoming familiar, like a good friend.
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