Update

56 Days to Portland
154 Days to Houston

I know I've been neglecting this blog. I've been running. I did my sixteen mile run last weekend. It was horrible, but I felt like I was on top of the world when I finished. All I wanted to do when I was done was to go to sleep and get up hours later, but I drove to my grandmother's house to visit out of town family. I had a great time, but I think I would have had a better time if I had taken at least a short nap. 

I've been trying to speed up this week's schedule because I'm going out of town for a week. I wanted to get in this weekend's long run (a ten mile recovery run) before I left. I'm going to Colorado and would rather not run at altitude.  Life interfered. 

I'm having minor surgery on the 23rd to correct a problem with my kidneys. Without getting into too much detail, I have a congenital defect that is causing pain. Hopefully this procedure fixes things. I spent so much time dealing with work and health issues I didn't want to run. 

I tried to do my five mile run last night--I thought if I felt well enough I'd stretch it into ten miles. I stopped at four. It was just a horrible run. I thought it best to finish because I was feeling so sick. I don't know if it was the heat, or if it was just my body, but it wasn't having anything to do with it.  I still let myself put a star on my five mile spot on my calendar. Have I mentioned that I'm all elementary school and put a gold star on the calendar when I run? It works for me :)

I don't know if I'm going to try to run in Colorado. I might near the end of my stay. I plan to do quite a bit of hiking in the mountains, and I will count those hikes at altitude as my junk miles. I think the effort will be equivalent.

First Scary Run Down

76 Days to Portland

174 Days to Houston

First of all I should say that the past week has gone well. I was able to get in my "junk miles" for the most part.  I'll explain the "most part" bit later.  I had to run fartleks on Thursday and my training plan increased the number of repetitions from six to nine.  I already don't like these workouts and to have them made longer was awful. But I got them done and didn't hurt too much afterward, so I'll consider that workout a success. 

Friday I was supposed to run four miles.  Supposed to.  I chose to have a night to spoil my three year-old nephew instead.  We played hard, we baked and decorated a cake, and watched movies.  That cake, by the way, decorated to perfection in the eyes of a preschooler, is enough to put you in a diabetic coma just looking at it!

But the funny thing is that after he decorated it, he didn't want any of it.  All he wanted was to eat more of the gum drops (his favorite).  So I have a cake staring at me--and it does taste good! 

The long and short of it is that he exhausted me.  I was planning to go home, clean up the mess we made, hop on the treadmill and put in the four miles I missed, and then pour a glass of wine.  My sister had other plans.

She called me and asked me how much I needed to run.  She needed to do seven (her race is a few months after mine) and when she heard I needed to do four, at first she was let down.  I told her that I would run four with her and she could finish her seven.  At the prospect of running three on her own, she suggested that I run my fourteen instead and she'd try to run it with me.  My sister has run two previous half-marathons, so it isn't like she has never run (close to) that far before, but it has been a while since her training has put her up to these distances.  And how an extra seven miles is better than three alone is beyond me! But run we did.

I struggled a bit in the first miles because I was waiting for my Achilles tendon to loosen up.  After it finally did the run was pretty easy for me.  I didn't struggle much with the extra distance--the longest I have ever run and two miles longer than my longest training run.  My sister really struggled with the extra distance.  I thought she was going to have to stop with three miles left. She pushed herself and I thought she was going to have to stop with two miles left.  She kept pushing herself and finished with me.  Her legs were cramping in ways she had never experienced before. She almost got sick. I was really afraid for her.  We got some carbs in her, put her in a cold shower (not having enough ice for an ice bath) and found some Aleve.  That got her well enough to come put her feet in the pool while I jumped in.  There is something wonderful about how much lighter you feel in a pool--especially after pounding 14 miles. 

This was also my first long run when it started at dusk and ended well after sunset.  It was really nice to start a run in the heat (heat index was still 99 degrees when we began) and finish in the (relative) cool instead of the other way around.  I'll just never be able to get myself early enough to finish a run before dawn. 

This coming week is a recovery week.  I'll be glad to run some shorter distances!

Another Setback

82 Days to Portland
180 Days to Houston

I've had another setback. Last week I thought I was having another kidney stone attack. I had one last year and this one felt very similar. I spent most of the week on pain medications and NOT RUNNING! Not what I needed after a week of dealing with a heal injury.

Friday I was starting to feel a little bit better--I could ignore the pain for short periods of time--and decided to try my four mile run that was scheduled for that day. I drove to the gym so that I would have witnesses if I were to pass out from pain or something else requiring assistance.  I made it through the run without any trouble. 

When Sunday came around I woke up really early (4:30) and went a local park for a twelve mile LSR.  I started running before dawn.  I even had to wear my geeky headlamp! It took me a long time to finish the run because, well, for several reasons.  Reason number one:  it was really hot.  I took it slow and made sure I took walk breaks to keep hydrated and cool down a bit.  Reason two: my back started hurting again about mile eight.  I wanted to finish and I did, but pain really slowed me down.  Reason three:  I saw three bunnies and three snakes.  Bunnies are cool and I didn't want to miss seeing one and snakes are definitely NOT cool and I didn't want to miss seeing one. 

One cool thing about finishing this run is that it bumped me up to another level in the Nike+ program.  I've now completed enough miles to be a blue level runner.  I only had to run 621 total miles to do that. 

One of the things I learned about running in the heat is that I really needed to invest in some running underwear. I know you probably didn't want to know that, but at the end of a hot run it feels like you are wearing a soggy diaper.  I knew it was time to invest in something that wicks sweat away.  I went to my favorite running store and bought two ridiculously expensive pair of underwear.  I haven't had a chance to use them yet. I hope they are worth the money (as I obviously can't return them). 

This coming weekend is my first scheduled LSR at a distance longer than a half marathon--14 miles.  I hope I'm able to complete the "junk miles" scheduled this week to prepare me for it. 

Back in the Groove

89 Days to Portland
187 Days to Houston

I'm back to running after taking a week off.  I did manage to fit in one day on the elliptical, but I was staying strictly away from actual running.  I wanted my Achilles to heal (ha!).  Anyway, yesterday I tried running again.  I spent the weekend in the car--almost the whole weekend. After work on Thursday I got in the car with my sister and her friend and drove from Houston to Florida to watch the last shuttle launch--we didn't sleep at all.  After almost 48 hours awake and being stuffed into a loaded car (we picked up my cousin in Pensacola), I was pretty exhausted when we finally got back in the early hours of Sunday.  I slept in, so I needed to wait until later in the day to run.

I was supposed to do my eight mile run.  Technically it was the long run for the week.  Luckily the week I needed to take off was a recovery week anyway.  Everything was cut back to give my body some time to heal.  I started running outside at about 5:30.  I don't know exactly what the temperature was in degrees, but I can tell you that it was effing hot.  I managed about 3.5 miles before I returned to my house and hopped on the treadmill.  I hate treadmill work, but I suppose it is preferable to melting into a glob of slimy goo. 

Usually I get incredibly bored when I run on the treadmill--even with music.  I usually do okay with the television or a movie on, but I tried something different yesterday.  I listened to an audiobook.  It worked really well for me.  I didn't have a good beat to follow, but that isn't very important on a treadmill.  The machine keeps you on pace or you fall off!  I was transported to a different location and, because of the work required to imagine the locations and situations, I didn't get bored and just stare around for something to amuse me.  I also found a way to fix the cord to my earphones so that I don't jerk them out of my ears.  I first tried running the wire up my shirt.  That worked to a certain extent.  I was no longer catching the cord with my hand and pulling them out.  The cord kept sliding down, though, and the shirt would eventually pull hard enough to pull the earphones out.  I ran the cord through the strap of my jogging bra.  The bra, being much tighter than my shirt, kept everything in place.  I had a strange little indention from the wire, but all in all it worked very well. 

Am I healed from my injury?  Maybe not completely, but I'm much better.  I didn't have a problem running yesterday and I was only a little sore and stiff this morning.  I'm in recovery mode until Wednesday, now.  I'm going to get some exercise in this afternoon by mowing my lawn.  I'm facing a long run this week that will be the last run at a distance I've done before.  Twelve miles.  After that all my long runs (other than in recovery weeks) are at new and longer distances.  I'm half way through my training.  And I'm getting scared.

I Wish Horses Dropped Feathers Instead of Poop

97 Days to Portland
195 Days to Houston

Ugh. I just got back from an eleven mile LSR.  It went faster than I expected, but it was still not fun. First of all I forgot to bring any gels. I've learned that I need one at about mile seven.  Those last miles were hell.  You know how they say "dig deep"?  I was digging down to my toenails to make myself finish. I definitely needed some fuel.

What was really not cool was that during the last mile and a half I was passed by two girls on horses--despite the NO HORSEBACK RIDING signs up.  Nothing like running while trying not to step on horse crap.  And who wants to exercise while breathing that?  I managed to keep my disgust silent--unless they heard all the evil thoughts I was sending their way.  Don't get me wrong.  I like horses and even enjoy riding occasionally, but there is a reason they shouldn't be ridden on a jogging trail. 

Bad news.  I might have a running injury.  I felt some twinges in my Achilles tendon.  Stretching, rest, ice, elevation. I know.  Also break from running.  We'll just see about that.  I'm ibuprofen-ed up right now.  Pain isn't too bad. 

Despite it all, though, I did finish the run.  Not as fast as I would have liked, not as strong, either, but it was finished. 

Now I need to decide if I want to run a five mile race tomorrow.  I was going to before my ankle started hurting.  I guess I'll just see how this evening goes.

Running Through Grief

98 Days to Portland
196 Days to Houston

I've been dealing with the death of a very close friend, Jim. It wasn't unexpected, but, like they say, you are never really prepared.  You can be MORE prepared, but never actually prepared.  Trying to take care of myself and trying to help the family has thrown off my training a bit.  I missed a couple of days due to the visitation and funeral.  I have plenty of time to get back on track, but. . .

I woke up today very angry.  I wanted to hit things.  Scream at things.  Kick puppies (not really).  You know, just throw a classic toddler temper tantrum.  One of the bad things about being an adult is that you know it won't help.  Instead I found something I was able to do for my friend, Susan (Jim's daughter).  It was a small thing, but it does help me to help somebody else.  It's a win-win type situation. 

Then I went to the gym and ran fartleks.  I ran harder and faster than I usually do.  I imagined I was chasing down this thing I'm angry at.  Every pounding footstep was smashing its face in.  Every short recovery was just a small breather so I could torture it some more.  I left the gym spent and numb. 

I know this isn't an uplifting blog post, but I needed to get this out there.  You see, when my grandmother died I ended up having a breakdown and spent several days in the hospital.  It is remarkable to me that exercise is helping me deal with the loss of someone who, though not technically family, was as important to me as she was.  And running is a far more healthy outlet for my feelings. 

Cheering Squads

103 Days to Portland, 201 Days to Houston

That's right! I found out today I'm going to run the Chevron Houston Marathon too. I entered the lottery earlier this month and wasn't really sure whether or not I really wanted to get in. I did. Guess I have to run it now, huh? I may seriously regret this decision once I've run one marathon, but I think I'm going to enjoy running a local race and having a cheering squad. I might have one in Portland as well--I don't know what my family up there plans to do, but I know I'll have local support.  My mother (who works the same place I do) put balloons on my office door this afternoon.  Makes it a little difficult to shut the door but I still think it is so cool I'm not taking them down.

Last night I ran 10 miles. I stuffed my mailbox with four bottles of water and headed out at about 7 pm.  I was soaked through before the end of a mile. I was doing a good job of pacing myself and forcing myself to drink every five minutes or so, but I was still exhausted. My sister showed up at around mile 5 or 6 with her kids. They handed me water and cheered for me. My nephew told me that I was running "super fast".  My sister also told me that she overheard a little girl wondering how many times I was going to run past her.  Once it got too dark I came inside and finished on my treadmill. I would have kept going outside but I'd forgotten to put my headlamp outside--not that there was room in the mailbox for it.

This was my first run in this training program where I decided to carry and consume an energy gel.  I actually tried Chocolate Mint by Gu. I heard about it on the Two Gomers podcast. It wasn't too bad, actually. I don't know if it was the flavor or the brand that made it better than the ones I used when I was training for a half marathon. It could also be that, because of the heat, the Gu wasn't quite as thick as the ones I was using earlier this year. Who knows? All I do know is that gels in general are gross but necessary.  I certainly felt like it gave me enough energy to finish the run.