Running week 5/4

[Crankin]

Today was going to be my rest day. I decided to go out for a walk before the rain, which was due in the afternoon. You know what happened...
I started running. Not exactly sure how far I went, because my Garmin wouldn't even go on today. It started synching up and then shut off, several times. Anyway, it started drizzling after I had gone about a mile, but I was warmed up, so I went on. I think I probably ran about 3.75, maybe 4 miles. There was a point when I could have turned back into my neighborhood, but I kept going. Then I started thinking about when I went for my leadership training with AMC and how they hammered us about hypothermia. It was 52 and raining out, so I was little concerned, since I didn't even have a hat on to protect my head, just a LS running top with my cycling vest, which was unzipped. I knew when I stopped to cool down and walk, I would get chilled, which I did, but I just couldn't run up the hill and stop cold. I did cut the cool down short by cutting through my neighbor's woods into my driveway and then proceeded to strip off the wet clothes in the entry way of my house (hoping the UPS guy didn't come right then). Got into my sweats when I noticed I felt a bit nauseous, so I ate. Then my stomach started hurting...
I was fine running, but now it's on the edge. Am drinking some herbal tea which is both settling my stomach and warming me up. Not sure what's going on; could be I left too soon after eating breakfast or I am just doing too much. I planned for a long ride tomorrow, but now I will play it by ear.

[Urlea]

Well Crankin it seems we both got to run in the rain this morning. Fun stuff! Hope you don't catch cold.

Met up with Maggy for our last training run together before the marathon. As I exited the underground parking I knew there may be issues. The dopplar radar on my computer had lied, the rain hadn't passed us yet, it was right over us & mixed with 15mph winds.

I was geared in what I plan to run the race in, just to give it a test & see if I could handle the cooler morning start without having to wear an extra layer. But, since it was only 3mi. I avoided going back into the house to grab something warmer/waterproof. As it turned out, I was just fine despite being a little wind blown & soggy.

These rock...

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_99920U_1.html

I have used them on several runs & on my cycling commute to the gym yesterday. Great addition to my other gear.

T-minus 4days!

[indigoiis]

Yesterday 5/4 I ran in the a.m. - 4 miles at a slow pace with one long (mile and a half) low hill on the way home.
Today it's raining and nasty so I neither ran nor rode. Rest day!

[kacie tri-ing]

No actual RUNNING happening yet (still just swimming and biking), but I did break down and get an appointment tomorrow with a sports doctor at Emory Orthopaedics and Spine center. I have to admit that something isn't quite right with my hip since the HIM. I am hopeful that he will just send me back home, but my coach is a little worried that I might have a stress fracture in my hip (even though I think on principle I am far too young to be breaking my hip!!! ) Think really really really really really good thoughts for me please! I really want to be back in my running shoes!

GOOD LUCK WITH THE MARATHON! Oh man, the one I did was SOOO much fun!!! I cried when I crossed the finish line and fell into DH's arms. When I am feeling down about not running, I think about that moment of finishing, and I know that it is worth it to perservere and not give up something so wonderful!!! Have a great great time!!!!! Try to sleep a little the night before!

[skhill]

What a difference a little rain makes-- on Tuesday it was mid-50's, barely any wind, and dry (at last) and I found it to be heavenly running weather. About 3.5 miles (my longest ever) and I felt great!

[indigoiis]

Ran 3.2 miles at lunch with a steady hill - 35 minutes and my ankles were kinda cranky. Made me feel a little tired. But other than that, it was a fine run.

[Urlea]

Yesterday was kind of a bummer. My cycling commute to & from the gym on Monday was so great that I was just itching to get on my bike again. Figuring I would continue to obey the taper I decided to only commute to/from the bank which is about 9miles total and skip a trip to the gym entirely.

It was raining lightly which meant the section I ride past that they are currently hauling soil back into a field they emptied (to build dikes for the flood) caked my tires & me in dirt.

Arriving at the bank I was met with 2-3" rocks covering dips in the driveway that were about 6ft wide. Had to ride through that ON A ROAD BIKE, but I made it! Only to unclip one foot where I planned to get off the bike start grabbing my breaks. Between the wet parking lot making that one unclipped foot slide & tires covered in grit taking longer to come to a stop then I took into account, I went down.

What does this have to do with running? Well, when I went down my left knee (the still clipped in foot) took the brunt of the fall. Granted it was a slow-speed fall, but my knee is definitely bruised & slightly swollen. No fun!

This morning was my final run before the marathon on Saturday. Not knowing how my knee would feel I kept it short to only 3miles. I had good company & I have had worse runs, but I'm discouraged. Will I be able to run the full 26.2 with my knee hurting, probably. I hope so. But, earlier this week I was so excited to race w/ fresh legs,feeling strong & now I'm feeling unsure of myself. Perhaps that's normal though. I don't know.

I'm praying for swift healing in the next 48hrs. & adrenaline rush big enough to distract me from a roughed up knee.

I'll keep you posted! Thanks for listening to my rant.

Kacie- Sorry to hear you are still injured. Hope you get good news from the DR.! I'm excited for you to get back to running, can't imagine how you feel.

[Susan Otcenas]

Urlea - I'll be thinking healing thoughts for you on Saturday!! What time does the race start?

My swim heat goes off at 9:15 on Saturday. I'm a little nervous because, due to an organizer error, I'm in a slightly faster heat than I should be. I've only done a few bike/run bricks this season so far, so it will be interesting to see how my run performance fairs after the bike leg. I'm a strong cyclist - it's my best event - so I tend to really push the bike leg. Hopefully I keep enough in reserve on the bike to make my 30 minute run goal time.

[Crankin]

Good luck to everyone this weekend.
AHHHH, I just found out that the 5k I plan to do is the same day as the one charity ride I do every year. The ride is for a local Lions club, no fund raising involved, just an entry fee. I will consult with my friend, who works for the hospital sponsoring the run, because we usually do the ride with her. I guess I can always find another 5k.
It was raining again this AM, so I went to the gym. I was not really up for much, so I did a run/walk for 20 minutes and the elliptical for 15. The stomach thing was definitely some virus, which is finally gone, but I think I have been doing too much.
I hope to run again either tomorrow or Saturday.

[Veronica]

I ran to the gym yesterday. It was not a good run. After about 1.5 miles I kinda just wanted to hurl. I alternated running with walking for the next two miles, then worked out with my trainer.

I did see some really cute duck babies in the canal.

I did my download from my garmin and I had averaged 9:27 for the first 1.5 miles. That's like sprinting for me! No wonder I felt like crap. In the year I've been running I can count the number of runs I've truly enjoyed. I've decided I'm going to run every day for the next week. There's got to be at least one good run in there.

Veronica

[Jolt]

I forgot to post my run yesterday, but I did about 20 minutes of trail running and a bunch of walking. I wished I could run longer, but just didn't have it in me to do so with proper form--definitely need to get back in condition!

[yellow]

Urlea, I banged my knee (patella) mountain biking on Sunday and it was so stiff on Monday that I could barely bend it. I decided to to go for a short run that afternoon just to try it out and it actually felt better when I finished than when I started. I ran M-Tu-Wed and by Wednesday it was way better and while it twinged a little when I ran, it didn't affect my running in any way. I think the excruciating pain going down stairs on Monday and residual pain I still have (minor) is largely due to bruising, fluid, and swelling. Yeah, it was just stiff. I spent a lot of time with an ice pack this week and it really helped.

My point? I think you will be fine at the marathon! Just keep icing it a few times a day. I've been surprised at how much mine loosened up as I ran. You will kill it at the race. Of that I have no doubt! DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED!!!!

~*~*~*~

I had a session with a trail/ultra running coach on Wednesday. I was mostly going for consultation (and testing him out) regarding some efficiency questions I've been trying to address. He doesn't think I really have any (other than my brain) and in fact was very complimentary of my running form. He did give me some things to think about for steep uphill running at my request because I have very tight achilles-calf connection that stretching doesn't seem to do anything for, so I'm now focusing on alternative ways of moving up the hill. I'm going to try it out today on my long run. I'm not sure if I can afford to hire him monthly right now, and since after the 50k at the end of the month I will probably back off for a month or so, it doesn't make sense right now.

[Veronica]

50 K - just amazing Sue!


Ran 3.7 miles to the gym yesterday. I took a different route. It's in the low 80s here in the afternoon and I'm trying to find shade alongv the way. There's no shade on the canal trail - my usual route to the gym.

It was circuit day with my trainer, jump rope, boxing, step ups, etc. I was pretty whupped by the end of my session.

Veronica

[kacie tri-ing]

Yesterday was kind of a bummer. My cycling commute to & from the gym on Monday was so great that I was just itching to get on my bike again. Figuring I would continue to obey the taper I decided to only commute to/from the bank which is about 9miles total and skip a trip to the gym entirely.

It was raining lightly which meant the section I ride past that they are currently hauling soil back into a field they emptied (to build dikes for the flood) caked my tires & me in dirt.

Arriving at the bank I was met with 2-3" rocks covering dips in the driveway that were about 6ft wide. Had to ride through that ON A ROAD BIKE, but I made it! Only to unclip one foot where I planned to get off the bike start grabbing my breaks. Between the wet parking lot making that one unclipped foot slide & tires covered in grit taking longer to come to a stop then I took into account, I went down.

What does this have to do with running? Well, when I went down my left knee (the still clipped in foot) took the brunt of the fall. Granted it was a slow-speed fall, but my knee is definitely bruised & slightly swollen. No fun!

This morning was my final run before the marathon on Saturday. Not knowing how my knee would feel I kept it short to only 3miles. I had good company & I have had worse runs, but I'm discouraged. Will I be able to run the full 26.2 with my knee hurting, probably. I hope so. But, earlier this week I was so excited to race w/ fresh legs,feeling strong & now I'm feeling unsure of myself. Perhaps that's normal though. I don't know.

I'm praying for swift healing in the next 48hrs. & adrenaline rush big enough to distract me from a roughed up knee.

I'll keep you posted! Thanks for listening to my rant.

Kacie- Sorry to hear you are still injured. Hope you get good news from the DR.! I'm excited for you to get back to running, can't imagine how you feel.

Ah yes, hurting yourself while tapering!!! The week before my HIM, I kept stubbing the same toe really really hard! I was SO scared about running and not being able to do anything, and alas, I was fine!

I agree ICE ICE ICE. It is really magic! I don't understand how it is so great but it is. I also agree that you are ready and you will loosen up when you start running. By mile 20, you will NOT be thinking about anything but blocking out all of the doubt and pain and getting to the end.

I am so excited for you!! Get some rest, and enjoy it! Have a blast, and give us a great race report!!!

[Urlea]

Thanks for the encouragement Ladies!!! It helps a lot, You Rock!

I met up with a few women from the marathon training group to pick up our race packets this morning. Seeing them and driving around the course got me more excited/ready to tackle this race. **** Beardsley signed some stuff for me at the expo & we were able to chat for about 10minutes which was fun. Nice guy.

It's been a tough week between getting injured & layoffs at DH workplace so I have decided to take a mental day today. I need to be focused for tomorrow & well rested physically and mentally. Thankfully I am self-employed which makes taking the day off easier.

Supper is ready to heat, a nap is in store & of course some icing of the knee. I feel okay, can definitely still feel the bruised knee, but I'm fairly confident I can run through it without injuring myself further.

I'll make sure DH has the camera so I can include pics w/ my race report!!

Keep on running!