Saturday, February 26, 2011

Depressing Week

This was not a good week. :( How could I have the best week backed up by the worst week ever? I started with the long run this week and it was perhaps the second worst run I have ever had! We went 12 miles and it was about 9 miles of misery. I just couldn't shake the pain and difficulties. There were 17 mph winds, but the temps were ideal. I thought the winds were getting me down so I kept plowing through the run. It took 4 days before I could walk without feeling achy in my shins. The week got extremely busy and I didn't get a chance to run again until Friday (7 days out). I did a little jog for a few feet and realized I wasn't ready to run yet. Sat I woke up and went to an event for Rachael and ran from the van to the building and I really think my shins are are on the leading edge of a stress fracture. I am really getting down and feeling like I can't do the marathon. I am still thinking "bones of steel", but my belief in that statement is waining quickly. I just keep thinking if I rest a few more days I can get back at it again. However I also can't afford to take 2 weeks off after every long run.

Training mileage: 12 miles

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Six-months out

Wow, what a great week I've had! Saturday commenced the Red Flannel Run. It was so much fun to run the 3miler with the babies and Noelle. Bill and Rachael ran the 5 miler. We all finished within 5 minutes of each other. It was a most beautiful day! It started off a little chilly, but then warmed up to the mid 30s. I couldn't believe how many people were shirtless and wearing shorts. eeeks, too chilly for that. That was my first 3 miles of the week.

Monday night I got home and ran 10 miles. This was a big run for me. It's the longest run I've done since my injury exactly 6 months ago. This was a mental hurdle that I have jumped. Up to this point I was unsure if I would be able to do this marathon. The completion of this run gave me the confidence I needed to keep pushing forward. I set out to do at least 9 miles and if I felt good I was going to keep going through 10. There was something about 10 that seemed appealing.
It was not my easiest run ever, but it was good. I had no ipod, no running partner, no drugs. It was just me and the road. I did it! I just kept repeating, "Bones of steal bones of steal bones of steal", especially when I was starting to feel achy. I was getting really tired the last half of the run and I probably should have stopped at least a mile sooner, but just kept going. I thought I would pay for it later this week, but everything seemed to go well. I was stiff and achy, but no bone pain like I had the past few weeks. I never thought I would be running 10 miles at 6 months.

Rachael wanted to keep up her mileage as well to the day after I ran my 10 miles, she wanted to run her 10 miles for the week. So, she ran and I rode her bike. ugh. UGH! My butt is sooo sore. Even 2 days later I am still achy on the back side. That bike definitely doesn't fit me. I figure it was good cross training for me though.

This week ended with a "quick" 5 miler. There was about a 15-20mph wind from the W/NW, but I was determined to go out and complete the run no matter what. I really thought it was going to be raining. The weather was so beautiful today that I wore shorts and a tank top. At the end of the run, Rachael had to pee sooo badly she said, "We better either speed up or stop at the library or something." We all but sprinted the last 1/2-3/4 mile. It was great. I didn't wear my watch, but I'm guessing we finished 5 miles in about 43 min.

I have a new approach to running. Last year I would medicate myself, especially before long runs --> 1 Sudafed and 2-3 Tylenol. This year I have yet to take anything. I discovered I can run through anything and that resulted in injury. So, this year I'm not doing that so that I can feel my pain and stop sooner if I need to. This is another reason I really wanted to finish my 10 mile run.

Total weekly mileage: 19

Friday, February 11, 2011

End of a busy week

I made it through this crazy busy week, now for a crazy weekend. Tomorrow is Red Flannel Run so I'm looking forward to that.

Reflecting on this week, I did 4 miles on Saturday and then continued to lay low again for awhile. The frigid temps pushed me to the basement on Tuesday night for another 4 mile run and then Friday finished with a 5 mile Ethanol Loop. The mid week run was great but I was a little sore after. By Friday, I was by myself outside - yeah!! The start was a little rocky, but it was overall a great run. I missed having anyone with me. I couldn't find my ipod to listen to music so I was truly alone. It was good to have just me and the road; it was a good time to reflect and let my mind wander. I was either burning off some steam from the week or totally lost in the run as I averaged between 9:00 and 9:30 on the mileage. That was a good feeling at the end. When I got home I sat down for a bit and iced my shins. They didn't hurt and weren't achy, but I thought that would help.

While I didn't reach my training plan of 3-5-3-9, I still feel like it was a successful training week. I was able to get in 3 medium runs and felt great afterwards. I think my shin bone is getting better. I may still do a 9 miler on Sunday. We'll see. I just kept thinking "bones of steel" today on the run. Positive thinking is a powerful thing.

When I was adding up my mileage on the way back into town, I thought about going an extra mile just so it wouldn't be so unlucky. :)
Total training mileage for the week: 13 miles

Sunday, February 6, 2011

A week of rest

Well, I didn't go into this week intending to rest, but I think it's for the best. My shins have been really sore, a sign of overuse. I thought a week off would do them good. By Saturday I was feeling a lot better so I took Rachael and Bill on a 4-mile run. I could feel it by the end of the run, but it was still a good run. My muscular and cardiovascular systems feel like I could run a marathon now, but my skeletal system is speaking otherwise. My fear is another injury so I'm still laying low. I started 4-6 weeks earlier than I did last year for almost the same date marathon. I figured this would give me time to take a break if I needed it. If something happened I could take a week or two off and still not lose on the training schedule. Next week the plan is 3-5-3-9. We'll see how much I really get done; it's a crazy busy week!