I woke up with my calf having almost NO pain. I was very relieved to say the least. So, got the kids up and we headed tot he airport for the race. I settled them in with a running friend's husband and son who agreed to watch them while I ran.
First mile went fairly easily, ran it in 10:59. I stopped for water right around the start of the 2nd mile, this one went a little slower at 11:28. the third mile was again 10:59 and finished the last tenth at a 10 min pace. I'm not sure what my final time was...somewhere between 34:27-35ish. There wasn't any chip timing. No PR, but considering the pain I've been in this week...I'm not complaining :)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
test run
I've never run while hurt. I always gave up and took weeks off if necessary. A slight twinge, I didn't mind...but anything that actually hurt? I'd stop. Ever since I made my training plan, I had 2 miles scheduled for yesterday (just skipped the 4 miler earlier this week and the 45 min easy run). So, I went to the middle school that has a track and a playground so the kids could play while I ran.
I won't say it didn't hurt. It did. My right calf is so tight it unnerves me. But, considering that it hurt...my times weren't horrible. First mile in 12:42, second in 12:52. Probably faster than I should have gone, but it was "comfortable" considering. Stopped at good ole Walmart on the way home and got a foam roller. I have a feeling we'll be best friends.
Last night, however, I started freaking out because it was hurting worse. Every step I took, anytime I put weight on my right leg...it hurt. I've rested most of today and it feels better. I foam rolled some. Going to soak in a warm bath soon and roll it some more. I'll take some ibuprofen.
I'm nervous about the 5k tomorrow morning. I'm not going to bust my ass to get a PR like I had planned. I don't want to risk severe injury. I'll run at a comfortable pace for myself, whatever that may be and save another PR for another race.
I won't say it didn't hurt. It did. My right calf is so tight it unnerves me. But, considering that it hurt...my times weren't horrible. First mile in 12:42, second in 12:52. Probably faster than I should have gone, but it was "comfortable" considering. Stopped at good ole Walmart on the way home and got a foam roller. I have a feeling we'll be best friends.
Last night, however, I started freaking out because it was hurting worse. Every step I took, anytime I put weight on my right leg...it hurt. I've rested most of today and it feels better. I foam rolled some. Going to soak in a warm bath soon and roll it some more. I'll take some ibuprofen.
I'm nervous about the 5k tomorrow morning. I'm not going to bust my ass to get a PR like I had planned. I don't want to risk severe injury. I'll run at a comfortable pace for myself, whatever that may be and save another PR for another race.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
rest days
I haven't run since Sunday, which frustrates me. But, with the pain in my right calf, I didn't want to chance it. Especially with the 5k on Sunday. I went to boot camp today and between today and Tuesday's workout, I've wanted to toss my cookies after. I assume its because I'm working hard, or maybe its those horrid froggy crunches and Mason twists he has us do? I do know that I can now do a regular plank for 30 seconds. When I started three weeks ago, I could barely do 10 seconds. I'll take improvement where I can get it.
After, I went and picked up my race packets for the Bluegrass 10,000 on July 4th and for the 5k on Sunday. Stopped at my friend's to test drive her foam roller on my calf. It hurt like hell, but made me feel so much better. Note to self: invest in foam roller pronto!
Hoping to get a short run in tomorrow morning, just to have done some cardio this week.
After, I went and picked up my race packets for the Bluegrass 10,000 on July 4th and for the 5k on Sunday. Stopped at my friend's to test drive her foam roller on my calf. It hurt like hell, but made me feel so much better. Note to self: invest in foam roller pronto!
Hoping to get a short run in tomorrow morning, just to have done some cardio this week.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
my running story
I don't normally tell this story when people ask me why I run. I don't want to think back to those days. I don't want to relive the moments that caused me to escape my house so I could be alone. But, sometimes it is good to reflect and see how far you've come.
Around the winter of 2008-2009, my marriage was in shambles. Some my fault, a lot his fault. But when something ends, its easy to play the blame game. It got to the point where I did not want to be in the house when he was home. As soon as the kids went to bed, I was out the door to walk if he was home. I started calling my friends and talking to them while I was walking. They all gave me various advice on my life and a distraction from what was really going on. I played the game well, that nothing was wrong with marriage, that I was happy, that I was in love still. None of that was true. I was depressed. I hated my life. I loved my kids, but I hated that this was ruining their childhood. I am thankful they were all still little and most likely would have no remembrance of the situation.
So I started walking. I walked a lot. I did the Shamrock Shuffle 3k in March 2009, which was part way through my first time of Couch to 5k. I finished in 33:39, I ran a short part of it with my friend Jodi.
I finished Couch to 5k and did my first 5k on May 23, 2009. I finished in 45:53, I was disappointed in my time, but happy that I finished. It was one of those May days where it was around 80 degrees at 8am when the race started. I had not run much in hot weather, since I usually stuck to running after 8-9pm at night. I walked more than ran, but I did it. I had reached my goal. Here is a picture of me from that day (ironically, I'm wearing the same shirt today).
I stopped running after that. I had gone back to school and didn't really "make" the time to run. I was still walking a lot though. I took a year off from running. In this time, ex-husband left. I was on my own. I went back to work. Between working full time, school full time, and kids full time? there wasn't much time for anything else.
I did the Shamrock Shuffle 3k again in 2010 with a time of 38:11. I had gotten sick the night before and wasn't going to go, but a friend had asked me to pick up their packet. I went into Lexington and decided I might as well walk it. I was the last person in. As soon as I got home, I promptly threw up.
I tried to start back running after the 2010 race. I had a knee injury in 2004, that causes my patella (knee cap) to sublux (pop out, then back in). It still does on occasion. Right after I started running, I had it happen and I could barely get off the floor, this was in June 2010. I gave myself two weeks to recover from that, then I sprained my foot at work and was put on light duty for almost two months. When I was finally able to run again, I went out too fast and pulled my piriformis. I gave up for the winter and decided I'd start again in the spring.
I did the Shamrock Shuffle again in 2011. This time, I ran it. The whole thing (sure it is only 1.8 miles, but still!), without having run at all. I finished in 25:56.
I think running that whole race really saved me. on June 13th, 2011 I started Couch to 5k again. I completed it. I took the time between when I got off work and when class started and I ran. I never ran a 5k after finishing it. I know, that finding out a friend from high school who was a few weeks ahead of me in C25k really helped me stay with it.
Then I met someone in my nursing class who was a part of this awesome running group (who I'd run with once in spring 2010 I think). She convinced me to come out for a group run. I was the slowest, but it was okay. I found that running with a group was contagious. I finally broke the 3 mile barrier and ran 5 miles on November 12th. On November 19th, I joined a group that was running over the future RunTheBluegrass course. I ran 8.5 miles that day. I hurt horribly the rest of the day. I hadn't run at all in between those runs and jumping from 5 to 8.5 miles? was just too much. I decided around that time to register for my first half marathon. It had been 2.5 years since I'd done any race over a 3k. It was probably crazy. But I registered.
I did the Shamrock Shuffle yet again in 2011. This time I ran it in 22:23, taking 3.5 minutes off my time from 2010. I was stoked, especially since I did it 4 days post-op from wisdom tooth removal.
I completed the half marathon. I did it. Sure, I had problems during it. But...I DID IT. And registered for another.
I guess this all hit me today, its National Running Day. And I cannot run today. I'm having pain in my right calf and taking it easy. I will hopefully be running to first base during softball tonight, but anything longer than that, I'm taking the day off.
I believe that running saved me. It saved me from depression. It saved me from loneliness. Running gave me a whole new group of friends who "get" me and my craziness for needing to run. Running gave me a new lease on life. It allowed me to enjoy all the things I once did: softball, hiking, and in general just being outside. Running helped me to become the me I was before I got married. I can honestly say, that I'm thankful for the bad parts of my life because if they hadn't happened, I wouldn't be where I am now. I wouldn't have graduated from nursing school. I wouldn't have completed a half marathon. I know that for a fact. I love the life that running has given back to me.
Around the winter of 2008-2009, my marriage was in shambles. Some my fault, a lot his fault. But when something ends, its easy to play the blame game. It got to the point where I did not want to be in the house when he was home. As soon as the kids went to bed, I was out the door to walk if he was home. I started calling my friends and talking to them while I was walking. They all gave me various advice on my life and a distraction from what was really going on. I played the game well, that nothing was wrong with marriage, that I was happy, that I was in love still. None of that was true. I was depressed. I hated my life. I loved my kids, but I hated that this was ruining their childhood. I am thankful they were all still little and most likely would have no remembrance of the situation.
So I started walking. I walked a lot. I did the Shamrock Shuffle 3k in March 2009, which was part way through my first time of Couch to 5k. I finished in 33:39, I ran a short part of it with my friend Jodi.
I finished Couch to 5k and did my first 5k on May 23, 2009. I finished in 45:53, I was disappointed in my time, but happy that I finished. It was one of those May days where it was around 80 degrees at 8am when the race started. I had not run much in hot weather, since I usually stuck to running after 8-9pm at night. I walked more than ran, but I did it. I had reached my goal. Here is a picture of me from that day (ironically, I'm wearing the same shirt today).
I stopped running after that. I had gone back to school and didn't really "make" the time to run. I was still walking a lot though. I took a year off from running. In this time, ex-husband left. I was on my own. I went back to work. Between working full time, school full time, and kids full time? there wasn't much time for anything else.
I did the Shamrock Shuffle 3k again in 2010 with a time of 38:11. I had gotten sick the night before and wasn't going to go, but a friend had asked me to pick up their packet. I went into Lexington and decided I might as well walk it. I was the last person in. As soon as I got home, I promptly threw up.
I tried to start back running after the 2010 race. I had a knee injury in 2004, that causes my patella (knee cap) to sublux (pop out, then back in). It still does on occasion. Right after I started running, I had it happen and I could barely get off the floor, this was in June 2010. I gave myself two weeks to recover from that, then I sprained my foot at work and was put on light duty for almost two months. When I was finally able to run again, I went out too fast and pulled my piriformis. I gave up for the winter and decided I'd start again in the spring.
I did the Shamrock Shuffle again in 2011. This time, I ran it. The whole thing (sure it is only 1.8 miles, but still!), without having run at all. I finished in 25:56.
I think running that whole race really saved me. on June 13th, 2011 I started Couch to 5k again. I completed it. I took the time between when I got off work and when class started and I ran. I never ran a 5k after finishing it. I know, that finding out a friend from high school who was a few weeks ahead of me in C25k really helped me stay with it.
Then I met someone in my nursing class who was a part of this awesome running group (who I'd run with once in spring 2010 I think). She convinced me to come out for a group run. I was the slowest, but it was okay. I found that running with a group was contagious. I finally broke the 3 mile barrier and ran 5 miles on November 12th. On November 19th, I joined a group that was running over the future RunTheBluegrass course. I ran 8.5 miles that day. I hurt horribly the rest of the day. I hadn't run at all in between those runs and jumping from 5 to 8.5 miles? was just too much. I decided around that time to register for my first half marathon. It had been 2.5 years since I'd done any race over a 3k. It was probably crazy. But I registered.
I did the Shamrock Shuffle yet again in 2011. This time I ran it in 22:23, taking 3.5 minutes off my time from 2010. I was stoked, especially since I did it 4 days post-op from wisdom tooth removal.
I completed the half marathon. I did it. Sure, I had problems during it. But...I DID IT. And registered for another.
I guess this all hit me today, its National Running Day. And I cannot run today. I'm having pain in my right calf and taking it easy. I will hopefully be running to first base during softball tonight, but anything longer than that, I'm taking the day off.
I believe that running saved me. It saved me from depression. It saved me from loneliness. Running gave me a whole new group of friends who "get" me and my craziness for needing to run. Running gave me a new lease on life. It allowed me to enjoy all the things I once did: softball, hiking, and in general just being outside. Running helped me to become the me I was before I got married. I can honestly say, that I'm thankful for the bad parts of my life because if they hadn't happened, I wouldn't be where I am now. I wouldn't have graduated from nursing school. I wouldn't have completed a half marathon. I know that for a fact. I love the life that running has given back to me.
Monday, June 4, 2012
training thoughts
I mentioned in one of the last posts that after the Iron Horse Half Marathon in October, I'll be backing off from long distance racing. There are many reasons why. I have the endurance to do it. I know I can do it. I have done it. I had thought of contemplating a marathon before my 30th birthday next year (2013), but being as I'm a single parent...long runs are hard enough when training for a half.
so some of my reasons include:
there are others, but those are the main ones. so my goals for the rest of the year are to do a 5k (or other race a month) and I'd like to lose 30 lbs by the end of the year, which would still put me 10 lbs shy of my goal weight.
Races that I'm registered for or plan to register for. I am thankful for a great running community where I could find a race almost any weekend I wanted to.
June 10: United Way 5k on the Runway (goal time sub 33 min)
July 4: Bluegrass 10,000 (goal time 1:10:00)
August 11: Midsummer Night's Run 5k
September: ?
October 14: Iron Horse Half Marathon
November: ?
December: ?
so some of my reasons include:
- ex-husband is about 95% sure he's being deployed in September, which will make it hard to even finish up my training for the half I've already registered for
- I don't have a significant other supporting me. I cannot just leave my kids and go run, they are too young.
- I honestly love 5k's more than anything
- I want to work more at getting faster than work on distance. Distance is something I can always add in later.
- It's easier to find someone to watch my kids for less than an hour to run, if ex-husband gets deployed than it would be for 3+ hours
- I don't know what my work schedule will be like and since I'm the only one picking kids up most likely come fall, I'll be the only one focusing on homework, etc... and all three kids will be in school (preschool, 1st, and 3rd)
there are others, but those are the main ones. so my goals for the rest of the year are to do a 5k (or other race a month) and I'd like to lose 30 lbs by the end of the year, which would still put me 10 lbs shy of my goal weight.
Races that I'm registered for or plan to register for. I am thankful for a great running community where I could find a race almost any weekend I wanted to.
June 10: United Way 5k on the Runway (goal time sub 33 min)
July 4: Bluegrass 10,000 (goal time 1:10:00)
August 11: Midsummer Night's Run 5k
September: ?
October 14: Iron Horse Half Marathon
November: ?
December: ?
monday menu
I'm tired, I'm cranky, I did not sleep well last night.
plans for today include library with the kids and taking son #2's bike to get fixed so we can start working on him and son #1 riding without training wheels.
food time.
Monday- hot dogs and homemade macaroni and cheese
Tuesday- homemade pizza with their dad
Wednesday- not sure, something with their dad
Thursday- Sweet Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Friday- Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Saturday- fish and fries
Sunday- pizza/movie night
Running schedule
Monday: rest/yoga
Tuesday; 4 miles, boot camp, zumba
Wednesday: 45 min easy run
Thursday: boot camp, 2 miles
Friday: yoga
Saturday: yoga
Sunday: United Way 5k on the Runway
plans for today include library with the kids and taking son #2's bike to get fixed so we can start working on him and son #1 riding without training wheels.
food time.
Monday- hot dogs and homemade macaroni and cheese
Tuesday- homemade pizza with their dad
Wednesday- not sure, something with their dad
Thursday- Sweet Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Friday- Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Saturday- fish and fries
Sunday- pizza/movie night
Running schedule
Monday: rest/yoga
Tuesday; 4 miles, boot camp, zumba
Wednesday: 45 min easy run
Thursday: boot camp, 2 miles
Friday: yoga
Saturday: yoga
Sunday: United Way 5k on the Runway
Sunday, June 3, 2012
of long runs and friends
Saturday I had my long run. I had 6 miles originally planned, but a friend suggested I do 5 as a smaller taper towards a 5k next Sunday. It was honestly one of the best runs I've had in a long time. The temperature was perfect. I got lost from the group (no one there running my pace), so I wandered around downtown Lexington and made it safely back to the running store where we started from.
afterward, went home and finished cleaning the house. I had invited some friends over for a cookout. Got everything settled, got a quick nap and got the food ready. They all came, we sat outside while I grilled the burgers and we ate. Soooo delicious. I seriously love grilling food and I'm a sucker for cheeseburgers. We sat out there talking about everything from running to jobs until midnight.
I had 4 miles planned for today. Turned my alarm off at 7. Ended up waking up at 8:30, made myself get up and run despite having a pounding headache. I still kept my goal pace, but struggled. I think I ended up with 3.67 miles, which I won't beat myself up about. Showered, went to church, came home and napped. Watched rugby and bull riding on TV. My kids came home from their weekend with their dad. I'm always happy to have them home, the house seems so empty when they're not here.
afterward, went home and finished cleaning the house. I had invited some friends over for a cookout. Got everything settled, got a quick nap and got the food ready. They all came, we sat outside while I grilled the burgers and we ate. Soooo delicious. I seriously love grilling food and I'm a sucker for cheeseburgers. We sat out there talking about everything from running to jobs until midnight.
I had 4 miles planned for today. Turned my alarm off at 7. Ended up waking up at 8:30, made myself get up and run despite having a pounding headache. I still kept my goal pace, but struggled. I think I ended up with 3.67 miles, which I won't beat myself up about. Showered, went to church, came home and napped. Watched rugby and bull riding on TV. My kids came home from their weekend with their dad. I'm always happy to have them home, the house seems so empty when they're not here.
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