Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sick.

Well, I didn't see it coming but I have a cold and now I'm afraid of how it will affect my marathon on Sunday.  Weather continues to look perfect.  It's going to be a cool fall day.  Today's weather forcast for Sunday has a high of 56 degrees, and a low of 36 (!).  So my guess is 40's to start the race.  Perfect, if maybe a little chilly.  Better than being too hot. 

But this cold has me worried.  The taper has been great, although it did start off a little rocky.  This training program had me on a three week taper.  Well, the first week was rough- my legs felt heavy and achy and I was so tired!  The second week was better, but there were still some lingering aches and pains, and I didn't have the energy I've come to expect during a taper.  This week, though, things are much better.

I missed my 8-mile long run this past Sunday because I couldn't get anyone to watch the kids, but I ran 6 miles Monday, took yesterday off, will run 4 today and 2 tomorrow and take Friday and Saturday off.  I feel good.  My energy is back and my body feels like it's in a taper now.  I'm feeling really positive for Sunday.

Well, that is, until yesterday morning when I woke up with the early symptoms of a cold.  Today, it's official.  I am sick.  :(  I'm really bummed, because it couldn't have come at a worse time.  I don't know how the next four days will go, but lets hope it's only a little cold and that the symptoms will be gone by Sunday.  And lets especially hope that it doesn't get worse and go into my lungs.  Right now it's just a head cold. 

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Worst Run Ever!

Ugnhhh.  That's all I can say.  Today's 12 mile run was the worst run I've had during the entire training program.  And no, it wasn't my knee.  I had severe stomach pain that almost caused me to stop mid-run.

It was cloudy and breezy, temps in the high 50s, which should have been perfect weather.  The first three miles my knee did hurt, but it wasn't unmanageable, and felt okay.  I don't think it will be an issue for the marathon.  I had a side cramp, and stomach cramp (yes, that's two different cramps).  I put it down to eating too soon before running.  I had an omelet at about 1:00, and ran at 2:30, so I figured that was plenty of time, but perhaps I was wrong.

So after that, my stomach started feeling progressively worse.  With each mile I felt much worse.  I wanted to throw up, just to make myself feel better, but just suffered on, mile by mile.  I was doubled over, couldn't even stand up straight, and my form just fell apart in the last two or three miles.  The last 2 miles were well over 11 minute pace.  It was all I could do to just keep running.  I wanted to walk at 10 miles, but talked myself into running another mile.  Then I wanted to stop at 11 miles, but talked myself into running the last mile since there was only one left- well, jogging it really, slogging along, just barely moving- at least that's how it felt.  I stopped drinking because my stomach felt too full, and I thought drinking would just add to that overful feeling.  I only drank about 3-4 oz the entire 12 miles.  I wonder now if that could have been adding to the stomach issue.  Perhaps I should have drank more and it would have helped.  Well, if it happens again I'll try it.  But for sure, I'm not eating a big meal before I run, not ever again!  Something small is all I need.

After the beginning miles, my legs felt okay, not too sore or tired, except the last two miles when my form fell apart.  I could tell my form was causing some knee pain, but I still couldn't straighten my body out.  But in general, my fitness is there, and I could tell the 12 miles would have felt good, had it not been for that damn stomach issue.

For tonight, I can't even stand the thought of food.  As we speak, I'm drinking a cup of tea, trying to settle my stomach.  I need to buy some Tums next time I go shopping.  I sure hope this is only related to my eating habits today.

Here's hoping that this does NOT happen in two weeks on Marathon Day! 

Friday, September 17, 2010

The cure?

Well I iced last night and my knee felt a little better this morning.  I didn't stand so much today, so at the end of the day I decided to try today's scheduled five-miler, prepared to go as slow as necessary so as not to overdue it. 

The first mile and a half or two miles were painful, and I had to modify my stride to avoid the sharp pain that shot through my knee.  However, as I eased into a rhythm, by the end of the run, I actually felt better than I did yesterday.  I think the running actually helped.

I am going to ice again tonight.  And tomorrow is another rest day, with a 12-miler on Sunday.  (Although I still don't have a baby-sitter for that run...)  I feel pretty confident that I'll be okay.  (Still going to be cautious, of course.)

So now I'm wondering if I should have tried to run a little yesterday.  Perhaps that's what I needed all along, to loosen things up.  Well, taking a rest day isn't going to hurt anything.  So now I just need to find a babysitter for Sunday!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Injury!

Well, maybe. 

I did not run today.  (Gasp!) 

Ever since Sunday's 20-miler, the outside of my right knee has been hurting.  At first I put it down to post-long run normal aches and pains.  But my Tuesday run did not "get the kinks out" like it normally does after a long run.  And Wednesday it was still hurting.  Today, I travelled to our Platteville plant and spent most of the day standing.  Just standing, no walking or squatting or kneeling or sitting like I normally do throughout my day.  By late afternoon, I was stiff and my knee ached.  It felt swollen.  I decided not to run, but went for a walk, hoping to loosen it up a little.  It did seem to feel better after a while.  On the way back from the walk, I stopped for supper at a restaurant close to the hotel.  After sitting and eating for 45 minutes, I got up to leave and it was stiff and painful again. 

So I don't know what to think.  Since I'm starting my taper, I don't feel guilty taking today off.  I think I'm doing the smart thing.  I'm sitting in my hotel room icing tonight.  I hope this goes away.  I will run tomorrow, taking it slow and easy if I have to.  Then Saturday is another rest day, and a 12-miler on Sunday.

I've been injury free for over a year and now I only have 2 weeks until my marathon and my knee is threatening to ruin it!  This is not fair!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Last Long Run

Well today was my last long long run of my training program.  20.13 miles in 3:18:21.  Three weeks to go until marathon day.  I ran a total of 43.3 miles this week, which takes my yearly total over 1000 miles for the first time to 1034.96 miles!  Next week my long run is only 12 miles.  My taper is beginning!

I could see my breath as I stepped out into the dark this morning.  There was no moon, like there was two weeks ago, and so I actually had to use my flashlight to see in some areas.  My injinjis served me well again, as I had no foot issues (aside from the fact that I can definitely tell my shoes are worn and I need new ones.  They should be arriving tomorrow).

The sun came up a little later this morning than two weeks ago, about two miles farther into the run (20 minutes or so).  The chill in the air reminded me that fall is on the way!

I had to slow myself down a little bit in the beginning today, I was easily sub-10 minute miles.  I knew that I had 20 miles to go, and I didn't want to run into a situation where I had to slow down considerably in the last few miles.  I wanted to be as consistent as possible, or even run the last few miles faster than my average.  I also know that long runs are supposed to be slow runs.  So I didn't want to jeopardize the good this run was supposed to do.  I tried to stay as close to 10 minute miles as possible.  I did a pretty good job, a couple miles were around 10:15, but some were under 10, too, so average-wise I did good. 

The last few miles I picked it up.  The last two were between 9:30 and 9:40.  Overall, this run was great.  I feel pretty good.  I'm a little stiff, but in general, I feel better than I did last week with that fast finish to the 12-miler-turned-into-15-miler.

I am still concerned that my marathon goal time is too ambitious.  But weird things happen on race day, I've usually gone faster than I thought I could. Of course, this is a marathon, and so I'm prepared not to expect the same things that I can in a half marathon.  We shall see!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Running shoes

Well it's time and past time for new running shoes.  I ordered them on Sunday, and due to the holiday, they won't be here until next Monday!  Normally, it's only three or four days, sometimes even sooner, depending on what warehouse they ship from, but of course my shoes are coming from California, which is a four-day delivery.  :(  I'm totally bummed about this because I was really hoping to have them for Sunday's 20-miler. 

You can always tell when you need new shoes.  At least I can.  They wear unevenly, due to me being a supinator (I wear the outsides faster than the rest).  So I go through shoes every 300-400 miles or so, about every three months.  Oh well, they'll be here Monday which means I will get two and a half weeks on them before the marathon. 
 
8.04 miles today, fairly descent pace.  It was about 68 degrees, breezy.  Not bad weather, a little humid.  Took me 1:16:34.  Not bad for not pushing it. 

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Peak Week

Today was the beginning of my peak week of training for my first marathon.  Thought I'd start a blog because I plan on having lots of running adventures and I wanted to put all my stories in one place where people can go if they want to read, or not go if they don't!

So anyway, beginning of Peak Week.  Next week begins my taper.  It has been cooler here for the last week or so.  My pace during my regular weekly runs has improved, which I'm taking as very positive.  It's been a struggle to run in the heat and humidity this summer and I've been wondering for the last several weeks if my planned race pace is too ambitious. 

Being that this is my first marathon, I really don't have anything to go by, goal-wise.  Everything I read says my goal for the first one should be just to finish.  Well, I know I'm going to finish, barring anything catastrophic happening.  So my time goal is sub-4 hours.  Big goal, actually.  There.  Now it's out in the open, for the public to read.  No taking it back now.  Of course, nobody will probably read this, so maybe it doesn't matter!  LOL

Okay, so today was a 5 mile run.  Cool, super windy.  Like, 27 mph windy.  But pace was pretty comfortable, 48:40 minutes.  Not bad after my long run this weekend.  It was only supposed to be 12 miles, but it turned into 15 due to a wrong turn.  It was an unfamiliar area, and it was dark, and I got frustrated and started running faster, and the last five miles of that run were at race pace.  (oops)  So I was pretty sore yesterday from that effort, and today my quads were a little sore, still.  But today's run was to shake out the kinks and get the lactic acid out and tomorrow's 8 miles should be pain-free, at least. 

My second 20-miler is Sunday.  By the end of this week, I will have a 43-mile week.