It looks like I've still got some residual issues from Sunday's messy run. My left achilles tendon feels big and stiff when I tried to run today, as does my left knee. So, I walked most of this one and I've decided that I will most likely be sitting out on Thursday as well. Disney is too close to seriously injure myself.
It's been raining all day and I waffled back and forth about whether or not to put this run off. Maybe I'd do it Tuesday? Maybe next week? But it wasn't raining that hard, light rain the weather channel called it. And it wasn't cold. Easy peasy. Get out and do it and the back in again. Right?
It was a long 2 hours and 18 minutes and the last two miles were not good. At the end, I got a little lost, the reason for the extra .25 mi. My left leg started to yell at me. From the ankle to knee to hip. I was literally giving myself pep talks getting myself to the end. And at the end, I was a drenched mess and my hands weren't quite working properly. Don't know if I'll be getting off the couch for the rest of the day.
Happy Holidays! I didn't get a chance to write on Tuesday so today is a two-fer. I promised you a tale of young infatuation with the boy next door and so I will deliver:
I've enjoyed my share of anime and one trope that continually pops up is how the school girls tend to idolize their male classmates who fit a certain ideal. And when I say idolize, I mean they turn into screaming fangirls frothing at the mouth. I was going to find a gif to illustrate this, but I ran out of time. Anyways, this trope is both amusing and I always figured completely unlike American culture. Riiiiiiggghht.
Allow me to introduce exhibit A: the quarterback. Handsome and smart, I was lucky enough to live two doors down from this guy while we were in high school. For the most part, our lives did not intersect until one day I saw a shirtless blur pass by the front windows. And then again. And again. Curious, I went to see what was going on. Our street turns into a slight incline toward the top and he was running up it and then walking down and then sprinting back up. The slobber my mom later cleaned off the window did not come from the dog.
Only a few months ago did I realize what he was doing: Hill Intervals. And last week I decided that I would do the same. Not nearly as prettily, but hey it's a neighborhood athlete tradition. At first, I thought the hill would be too small. Please note what the title of Tuesday's entry would have been: We're gonna need a bigger hill. As I started though, I could feel my muscles burning just a little. Eight more reps later and I was very tired. Still, I didn't know if that was because I was running a little harder than usual or because I was actually working my legs and butt.
My first gift on Christmas Day was a load of pain. It hurt to sit, it hurt to walk and I actually whimpered climbing the stairs. Oh yes, that hill was just fine indeed.
Today featured a running field trip, a rain storm and some fabric recon. I had to dig out my summer running gear due to the nearly 70 degree weather (welcome winter!). I made sure to fuel up for my magic mile and hit the road for the town with my track and the source of the last of my Christmas shopping. Even so, my mile was rough and the 3 that followed even harder. I don't think high fiber cereal is good fuel right before a run. Research recommends simpler carbohydrates that can be more easily broken down. Noted. Of course at the farthest point from my car, the skies opened up at soon I was drenched. It's crazy, but I'm about 8 weeks into my training and this has been the wildest weather so far. Guess I'm lucky. Especially since the warm weather made the raining run actually pleasant. Getting stuck in the rain is good for the soul.
I spent the rest of the day tying of some seasonal loose ends before going to see The Hobbit 2 (very good movie!). One of my stops was to the fabric store where I scoped out their tulle section. I've decided to make my own tutu for the race. It seems ridiculously easy (famous last words) but first I have to decide who I am going to be. I'm still torn between Belle and Rapunzel. It all comes down to the top. I'd like to wear a tank, but that depends on whether or not I can recreate the arms of Michelle Obama.
On Tuesday, you may find yourself reading of my latest training (torture) session. I've got something brutal planned. You may also hear the story of a young freshman highschooler and the sexy senior two doors down.
I was planning to post sooner, but my computer got some nasty malware. Anyways, another short run today, but also another full 30 minutes at a decent clip. Even though I do go further when I incorporate my run/walk intervals into my 30 minute sessions, I feel like I'm making the most progress when I push myself and my endurance. This Sunday, I do 4 miles with 1 magic mile, which means that I'm supposed to try really hard on the one mile and then take it easy the other 3. I'm actually very interested in what my time will be. I'm hoping for under 13 minutes...
Another morning another run. After my not-quite-8 miles on Sunday, today was a ride on the struggle bus. My form was all over the place, I even caught myself running on the side of my foot and it took forever to work that kink out. But the run was done and I am one day closer to to the half.
I am also struggling with my sudden discovery of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. It is a web series that updates Pride and Prejudice and I am a little addicted. Luckily I am on episode 94 of 100 so it will soon be over. Which is a bummer because it's so good! I especially like how they updated some of the plot points to better fit modern sensibilities. In most adaptations, they tend change very little. But really would a modern day Charlotte Lucas marry Mr. Collins? No, but she might accept a business proposal to become his partner. And Lydia running away with Wickham isn't quite so scandalous, but Wickham trying to profit off a sex video of them is. I'm not saying it's perfect, they do comedy much better than melodrama.
I was supposed to do 8 miles today. It was a running field trip to the Cross Island Trail, I mapped it out, 4 miles out and 4 miles back. It all went well. It was a beautiful day and I was feeling good. (Oh right, the Dr. said it wasn't a fracture in my toe so I just have to wear a pad under the ball of my foot for a while. Yay!) Got home and remapped the course only to find out I'd gone 7.75 miles! Ugh. Oh well it was still a good run. I'll be more careful on my next long run.
Today has been full of good news so far. First, I had my x-ray done yesterday and I do not have a fracture or arthritis. The Dr. thinks it might be a chronic strain and that I should just make sure I have good shoes and run on a good surface. Knowing this, I ran with much less pain. It is definitely true that the more you worry, the worse things can seem. I also managed to run the entire 30 minutes this morning and did so with a pace of 11:57 per mile. If I could have run like this in high school, then I would have passed gym class.
I needed this victory as my motivation was flagging. It's hard to keep going when you're hurting and it's cold, but really when you do more than you thought you could, you run better and faster, doesn't that make it all worth it? This weekend is my 8 miler. I'll admit I'm nervous but there is no turning back!
Not a pretty run today. Partly due to the weather, partly to my mood and partly to the persistent pain in my foot. I've finally buckled down and called the Dr. I have an appointment this afternoon and hopefully she'll tell me it's all in my head and there's nothing to worry about.
It was a balmy 54 degrees this morning and yet the bank is playing holiday music out its windows. Weird.
Well it was another day where it was hard to drag myself out of bed and get out there but I'm so happy I did. Some of my neighbors have already decorated for Christmas and they left their lights on into the early morning so it was quite beautiful. Not only that, but there is a lot that is selling trees along my route. As I passed, I could smell the evergreens. I do love Christmas. I can't wait to see the rest of the town come alive with the lights and the smells and sounds.
I guess this is one of those instances that proves that you can accomplish more when you don't know your limitations. I was all set to write about my worries of embarrassing myself in Florida. I don't want to be dead last again. I know, I know, run your own race and all that jazz but still it's a bit rough.
This morning I decided to do my route backwards, which tends to freshen things up a bit. I mapped the 2.23 mile run out in my head and set off nice and easy. Considering my 10K wasn't that long ago and this was taking the place of my long run, I figured I could just have a slow run. Still, I didn't think I'd be pushing myself to complete it in 30 minutes. I've done this run a bunch of times, but when I ended at 30 min 33 sec, I chalked it up to residual soreness and poor nutrition.
After my run, I went to log the run and I was puzzled that the run I did wasn't the one I thought. It was the same roads, but a different combination, so I mapped the new one out. 2.5 miles. Not a huge improvement, but still a quarter mile better AND it was at a 12:15 min/mile pace! I don't know if I could have done it if I'd known I was reaching for something longer. The stress and pressure I would have put on myself probably would have weighed me down.
So, I started out worried about where I would be in February and now I'm feeling much better about my abilities. Maybe I'll even run the Turkey Trot again next year.
