bummer

I am really bummed about missing Saturday's 14 miler. While most people would think - hey at least you didn't have to wake up early and run all those miles - I really wished I had. I did do 8 miles (again) - 4 at 5am before we left for New Hampshire and 4 again around 5pm after we arrived. These 2 runs were my first experience with hills. Since life on the eastern shore is F L A T, I don't know how to cope with hills much less mountains. The PA run was great - a little hilly but totally doable - other than the real darkness of 5am! The NH run - not so great. Started out well - some down and doable uphills. I ran until I started to get nervous that I wouldn't make it back up - which happened to be at the 22 minute mark. This made me nervous since I should finish 2 miles in 27 mins. I hoped I was not turning around too soon but as soon as I turned around and saw THE HILL I was glad I did. THE HILL was steep and it was VERY easy to run down. In fact I took very few walk breaks while going down because it was easier to run it. Going back up...not so easy. After attempting to run with my hip hurting crazy and my feet bothering me I decided to walk THE HILL and then go back to run/walk once I reached the top. THE HILL was almost one mile long (which was discovered about an hour later as we decended THE HILL in the car on the way to dinner). I huffed and puffed and stopped to stretch - mind you I am still walking...but I did reach the top. Several times I stopped looking up and looked at the ground so I couldn't see how far I had yet to go. I made it back to the top in 33 mins. When I returned my dad was just about ready to take the car and come find me...oh how wonderful that would have been when I was at the bottom of THE HILL. I stretched & took tylenol and learned of some new blisters (1 blood blister...ew). It was then that I decided 8 miles was going to be enough. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I could look down at a huge lake from the resort or that the resort's name was Steele HILL but I think I picked a bad spot to run! Who knew that I could have driven to the bottom and ran a fairly "flat" for New Hampshire course. Whoops! After driving to dinner - we clocked the run at 4.2 miles - very glad I did the right mileage without knowing it! Coach excused me from running more even though I offered to do a longer run on Monday when I return. I have to head to Hills to get inserts for my sneakers since that is what's causing the blisters! That alone makes me a little nervous - changing my show insides 2 weeks before the race but it's got to be better than how my feet feel after a run now.

Fast Forward to Saturday - I was awake before I would have been if I was at home. I wanted SO bad to be at the park running. Nicole and I texted a bit and I talked to get a few times. I was so proud of everyone but felt disappointed that I would not accomplish 14 miles and do our last long run together. It makes me somewhat nervous to run 13 miles for the first time on race day when the last long run was 10 miles a while ago (I walked the last 3 miles of our 11 miler and our 12 miler got thunderstormed out and never made it up). I've just loved this experience so much and to miss out on such an important day really bummed me out - even though I was hiking an amazing trail - Flume Gorge!!

The next few weeks - eating right, stretching daily (the only thing that's helped my hip), good consistent maintenence runs and a positive attitude! 13.1 miles here I come...

Cross Training?

Yesterday N and I went on a great maintenance run - 35 mins - felt great! My feet are still a little sore from the healing blisters but all is well. My cross training activities this week have involved packing and moving boxes. All the stairs had to have done something for my legs right? Looking forward to our 6 mile run this Saturday and then spending a few hours unpacking and decorating the new place before heading out to go shopping. :)

ow...

Ok...if you can't handle a whiny post stop reading now!
Saturday was the 11 mile run. I did it all to myself, it's all my fault! Having done no, I repeat no, maintenance runs in the past 2 weeks I deserved every ounce of pain and suffering I felt Saturday. The 11 miles was tough. Since the full marathoners had to do 14 - we met them at mile 3 and started our trek around 7am and it was HOT and HUMID! Right off the bat J and I took the lead and began to run in front of M and T- bad idea. We sped up which felt fine at the time but did not end up well. Around our mile 3 we realized we were going about 30 seconds faster than pace and were advised to slow down. We followed directions but on the trip to the next water stop I began to get goosebumps. I remembered that was not a good sign and asked Amy at the stop what that meant. While she said as long as I was sweating it was fine, she advised me to take a salt packet. That was as pleasant as doing a shot - yuck! I knew I needed to eat but had no desire. I forced myself to eat my sport beans when all I wanted to do was drink. I was keeping well hydrated and had diluted gatorade in my bottle but if I drank all I wanted I could feel the water sloshing in my stomach when I ran (not fun). We kept pushing through, taking it slow while I could feel blisters forming on the bottom of my feet. Around mile 8 with the goosebumps coming and going I decided to walk the remaining 3 miles. It was such a mental battle - I knew I wanted to finish strong but felt aweful - I was so thirsty, no wanting to eat but needing to, legs and feet hurting etc. I figured I'd at least still finish the 11 miles and just walk the remaining. I walked quickly and after a mile my body started to feel better. I had finally drank enough fluid but the aches and pains had fully set in. I kept up my quick speed walking and met up with another running group and finished with them. Regardless I finished 11 miles mostly running, some walking.
But...I STILL feel it. My body feels like a mac truck ran over me. I have 3 HUGE blisters on each foot and every muscle is sore - including my shoulders since N and I painted the Living room and kitchen of the new place yesterday. I walk like I am eighty and am taking tylenol religously. I've learned that maintenance runs are key (duh) and that a full marathon is NOT in my future!

10 mile high

So...do I dare say that the 10 miler was enjoyable? Ok...I will...it was fun! After the pain and bad attitude of last week I was hesitant to run this morning. Waking up at 5:10 to 69 degrees and 100% humidity was not the best. I was tired but knew I had to do this. I had decided, per advice from Coaches Lea Ann and Amy, to drop back a pace group - take it slower and see how things went. Bonus of dropping back a group was being able to run with my buddy Marian. Funny fact - my whole pace group ended up with different pace groups this week - G went up to a 4:1 and 12:30 pace, S dropped to a 3:2 and 14:00 pace. I dropped to a 13:30 pace but kept the same run ratio of 3:1. We picked up Tracy around mile 3 and were just happy as can be. We ran on pace, with a few water stops we finished only 3 mins past pace time at 2 hours and 18 mins. The first 7 miles were a piece of cake - no huffing or puffing, no hip pain. We just ran and talked and time passed so quickly. A bit of pain set in around mile 8 - I stretched a bit with not much relief. We just kept chugging along and talking. Bonus treat of sweedish fish and skittles at the water stops. Around mile 8/9 it started to hit that I had been running for 2 hours. My hip was bugging me a bit, I was getting a little more out of breath and started to check my watch to see when walk breaks were coming. This was the first week where I was not checking my watch from mile 1. The miles came and went so quickly, walk breaks spaced well - I never felt the need to count down until the end. By the last mile, transitioning from walk to run was tough as my legs just didn't want to go anymore. No numbness, no major pain - just fatigue. We finished strong after a few last sweedish fish! I felt GREAT! It was a totally different experience from past weeks. It's amazing what a few extra minutes to run slow will do.

On a side note: I recently read about Secret Anti Perspirant - Clinical Strength Sport in Self magazine. I bought it even though it cost $9!!! It said it blocked wetness and was made specifically for athletes. After reading the directions I was skeptical because it said to apply the night before. So...you want me to put on deodorant the night before I run and not reapply in the morning? Sounded sketchy to me but I did it. Surprisingly enough it worked...well...really well! I am definitely going to use it on run days. I was not quite as stinky as I normally am after a run, and on a 100% humidity day that's pretty impressive.

Another note: Wright Socks - Anti Blister - not so much! I have a huge blister on my big toe - it started to develop last Saturday - went away and came back in full force today. I'm not writing off the company but I blistered in my anti blister sock...hm.

Overall - GREAT day - totally encouraged to keep going. Next week is only a 5 miler...woohoo!!! I can't believe I only have to run 3 more miles than what I did today on race day. That's so crazy.

9 down...4 to go

At 5 am - I woke up wondering why my alarm was going off but I thankfully felt pretty awake. I ate breakfast, got dressed and headed out the door way early. Our run began a little late since poor Robin had to organize everything by herself this week since Amy and Lea Ann were out of town. My group walked to the 1 mile marker to meet up with our full marathoner addition to our group. From the 1 mile mark we headed on our way. It was hot and humid and but the running wasn't too bad. I had taken 2 Tylenol this morning to hopefully avoid the hip pain I've been feeling while running. It did in fact help. My much needed water stop was at the end of rails to trails and enjoyed filling up on water and Gatorade and eating a few skittles. Totally loved having the skittles at each water stop - nice sweet treat along the way. About half way through S started to feel her ankle bothering her after injuring it earlier this week. We agreed to send her home to rest it rather than injure it further. I wanted so bad to be done at 5 corners. For weeks now 5 corners has been the stopping point. It was painful to realize that after 5 corners we had 2 more miles to go. By this point I was worrying about continuing to run. I kept checking my watch and counting down to the next walk break - my right foot started to go numb as the pain in my right hip increased. I stopped to stretch a bit but with little relief. By the time we were mid loop behind the Y, my leg started to go numb. I decided I needed to walk a bit more and we took a little longer of a walk break. At the 8 mile mark I just couldn't do it. G was wonderful and waited with me walking as I needed to. We walked at least half of the final mile - running maybe 2 mins or so at a time and walking for 2 or 3 mins. When the 9 mile marker was in sight we decided to just run to finish. Walking did relieve some of the numbness but not all. It certainly did not help my mood, but we did finish only 4 1/2 mins after our goal pace time. With the amount of walking we did, as well as a few minutes spent at water stops, I was surprised and pleased that we finished so close to pace time. We must have been running faster than a 13 min. mile.
After the run I munched on some watermelon then headed to bagel bakery with D and her daughter. I never in my life have looked at a bagel and not devoured it. I just didn't really want it. I should have just bagged it up and ate when I felt better but I did eat it and drink some OJ. I spent a good amount of time in the bathroom when I got home - not sure why though. I ate Shot bloks rather than sport beans this run - I wonder if that had any effect or not. I think next week I'll try only sport beans and see if that helps. I took a cold shower and stretched and am forcing myself to drink a G2 to replace some salt since I was VERY salty at the end of the run. So overall I was a little disappointed in my amount of walking and my numb foot and leg but I just need to mentally keep a positive head about it. My goal this week is to get both maintenance runs in as well as 2 trips to the Y to lift a bit. If the numbness continues during my runs this week or during next Saturday's 10 miler I'm going to make a doctors appointment.

holy blister batman!

So I chickened out and walked the 7 miles today. When I woke up the last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed, let alone run. My stomach was iffy from the lovely food I've been eating, including pizza last night and I was SORE. I figured walking 7 miles was better than nothing. Walking was great - although my hands got totally swollen - such a weird feeling- and I got a blister! Normally blisters wouldn't be a huge deal and this was isn't really either but it's between two of my toes. I fussed with it of course and although I want it to air out I put a band aid on it. Just sitting here it rubs and hurts so band aids and I will be buds for a little while. I'm hoping to run the 7 miles tomorrow with Nicole. I also need to get myself back on track with eating right! I cannot wait to be back in a normal routine with eating and working out. Summer here I come!! 7 miles...more than half of a half marathon...WooHoo!

Great day for a run

Today was a great day for a run. It was in the 60s (I think), sunny and just plain gorgeous outside. We ran about 3 miles at a 4:1 ratio and certainly picked up the pace from last week. This week we averaged a 12-13 minute mile ( last week was 14-15 min miles). It felt good...really good and my feet did not go numb. I did loosen up my laces and that must have helped. What a relief. This will be my last run before the first official Saturday morning group training run. I can definitely see myself doing a 4:1 ratio through the training and marathon. I would like to see if I could hack a 5:1 but I'm not going to push that just yet - adding miles is more important at this point than extending my run ratio.
I'd love to write more but I have a huge graduate curriculum unit due to my revision team by tonight and haven't done a whole lot on it. Off to get working on that. Ugh... I enjoy running more than curriculum writing - never thought I'd say that!

Pluggin Along

So...I ran with my new sneaks today. I did a 4:1 ratio - 8 times - 5 minute walk to start and 2 minute walk after. Nicole and I ran together - she clocked it out to about 3 1/2 miles. That would be the farthest I've ever gone. Woohoo. I felt really good after we got going. I picked up my pace a bit and overall my body felt pretty good. One thing that did bug me were my feet. I know...I just got new sneakers and I'm complaining about my feet. They started to go numb from the outer toes in. By the end of the run the outer half of both feet were fairly numb. My feet used to do this when I did cardio at the Y in my old sneakers. I couldn't ever tell why. I thought maybe tonight my laces were tied a bit too tight so I'll loosen them up tomorrow and see if that improves any. One thing that was great about my new shoes were their ventilation. My toes were nice and airy. Hopefully the numb feet thing only has a short life span and I'm back to normal feet once again.
After the run today I also tried some of the during run "snacks" that we have to have every 45 mins. Nicole and I bought a plethera of snacks to try and see what we like best and can stomach while running. Today's snack of choice were Sharkies. They are gummie like things - organic - with some after taste but I think they are totally doable. Pretty cheap at Target - they are in the running. I've also bought sport jelly beans and cliff shot bloks. If anyone has any suggestions on what they eat while they run please pass that info along!