8/27/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 21 miles

I actually did:  21.78 miles*


*27.925 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage system, getting 4.5 miles for running uphill for 9 miles, 1 mile for soaking through 4 layers, .125 miles for running in the dark (technically only part of the run was in the dark, but still), and 0.5 miles for running more than 10 miles.

Days to go until the marathon: 29

Miles to go until 1000: 587.56


Can I get a "woot woot" for surviving today's run?  It surprisingly wasn't even that bad.  I think there are a couple of reasons for this:
1) I changed up my route a bit; usually, I end running on bike trails, and usually the end of my runs suck.  I think this is most likely because they are the end of long runs, and it is usually hot by the time I'm done.  But I started to think that maybe it is because I'm running on trails that aren't often interrupted by streets, driveways, etc.  Nice most of the time, but I think at the end of a run when I'm mentally fatigued, it's nice to say, "just run fast to the next driveway", and then be able to do it.  But on the trails, the next intersection is often half a mile away, so it seems forever.  So today I started out on the trails, and ended on the city streets that are normally the beginning. 
2) I was super worried about running out of water on this run, so I asked a friend whose house is approximately 2/3 of the way through my route if I could stop and refill my water bottles.  So I did, but I also chatted with her for about 15 minutes and therefore got a little rest.


Most likely, the reason this run didn't suck was the rest I got at my friend's house, and that may not bode well for the marathon as I probably won't stop to chat with anyone during it.  But nevertheless, I felt good about the run, and at the end, I even felt -- dare I say it -- that I could've run another 4.5 miles.  


Hopefully this means I am ready for the marathon.  It's less than a month away, and all my long runs are now actually kind of short (10, 8, 6 miles) as I taper.  


So again, can I get a "woot woot"?

8/23/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 35 minute run

 

I actually did:  42:32 minutes/3.98 miles

Days to go until the marathon: 33

Miles to go until 1000:612.84

On today's run, I spent a lot of time thinking about the way I smell.  Not the way I smell all the time, but the way I smell when I'm running.  This is not something I have ever considered before, but on my long run on Sunday (which was "only" 10 miles -- which is a phrase I would've thought was ridiculous to say when I started running again last March -- but was wonderful and again made me wonder why I thought running 26 miles in a row was a good idea when running a reasonable distance like 13 is so pleasant.  Although my friend Tryna, a marathon veteran, said to me that 10 miles only felt easy because I am ready for my 21 miles this coming weekend, so we'll see), I passed another runner.  And he stank.  To be fair, he smelled like sweat.  And he was running, and it was sunny and probably 70 or so degrees, so he had very good reasons for smelling like sweat.  I have written before about the fact that I usually feel a camaraderie towards other runners, but my initial reaction was "gross, he stinks".  I immediately felt ashamed, and then felt camaraderie towards him, probably a little too much camaraderie, as I was over-compensating for my initial bad thoughts.  I didn't think much about it until this morning, when I passed another runner (who, as far as I could tell, did not stink), and I immediately felt self conscious.  Did I stink?  Probably.  It wasn't super hot, as it was before 5 am, but I was nearing the end of my run when I passed him and definitely was sweating.  And I don't usually wear antiperspirant when I run, because I kind of figure what's the point.  I'm going to sweat regardless of it, and I'm going to shower afterwards before I go to work, so why waste it.  But maybe it's not a waste if I make myself less offensive to other runners, if only for the second or so we are within smelling distance.

8/14/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 13 miles

I actually did:   13.53*

*18.53 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting 3.25 miles for running uphill for a total of 6.5 miles, 1 mile for sweating through underwear, pants, sports bra and shirt, 0.25 miles for 80+ degree weather, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles. 

 

Days to go until the marathon: 42

Miles to go until 1000: 648.97

I know, I've been a slacker.  Not just with posting, but with running too.  It is no secret that I have been struggling to keep my running mojo going while training for this marathon.  I think it is also no secret that I've had pain in my hips (mostly the left recently, but it has been on the right too).  Well, I had a great 18.8 mile run a couple of weeks ago.  The first 13.5 miles of the run felt AMAZING.  I felt fast, and great.  13.5 to 15 were a little harder.  15 to 17 really sucked.  17 to home was better again.  Overall my pace was 11:25, which honestly would shock me if I am able to run the marathon at that fast a pace.  So I thought maybe my mojo was coming back.  Then I left the next day for vacation and did a couple of runs while on vacation.  But then I didn't run at all for the 2 weeks after I got back from vacation.  Part of this was lack of motivation, part of it was wanting to see if my hip pain would go away, part of it was because I had (have, as it's not over yet) 18 days in a row of work without a day off as soon as I got back from vacation.  And part of it was because someone had posted on Run Like a Mother's facebook page that the best way to get your running groove back is to take some time off.  So I did.

My first run back was actually yesterday, I had signed up for a 5k.  I am a bit of a race snob, and usually don't think 5ks are worth the entrance fee, but this is for a good cause (building a dog park in our town, which really needs one), and I thought maybe it would be helpful to run a race I can do relatively fast.  My plan had been to run to the start of it, so that I'd get 14 or so miles in for the day and be done with my long run for the weekend.  But of course I was on call, and my pager went off, and I had a patient in labor.  I ended up still doing the 5k -- all the while wondering if it were the stupidest thing in the world, because what better way to ensure the patient delivered quickly while I was in the middle of the race -- but not the pre-run.  That was ok, I did my long run today (more on that in a bit).

I started out the 5k fast.  Too fast, in fact.  I very quickly felt exhausted and couldn't believe I'd gotten so out of shape with just 2 weeks of non-running (during which time, I should add, I did bike commute to work several times so it wasn't like I was a slug).  Then I looked down at my Garmin and discovered I was running a 7 minute mile.  Well no wonder!  Whenever I hear of people running 6-7 minute miles, I often think to myself, "I wonder if I could run that fast for just one mile?"  I now know that I can't.  My limit at a 7 minute mile is apparently 0.25 miles.  So I slowed down and the rest of the race felt good.  It was a very small race (I think there were less than 50 people running it), and for a long time I thought I was the very last one (but later discovered there were a couple people behind me, and I did pass 2 people near the end).  So I kind of felt bad about myself because of that, although I overall ran a 9:35 mile for the race, so I tried to convince myself that I shouldn't feel badly that I was the slowest one out there, because I still ran fast for me.

For the record, my patient delivered at around 8 pm that night, so I did not miss it, nor did I cause a faster labor by my absence from the hospital.

Which brings us to today's run.  I've been reading a couple other running blogs from time to time recently, and one of them talked about how you should have a negative split (i.e. the second half of the race is faster than the first half), and that for every minute you are under pace in the first half of the race, you lose 2 minutes in the second half because of exhaustion.  So I tried to do today's run with a negative split, which I don't think works for me.  It was really hard to go at my slow "goal" pace in the beginning (arbitrarily set at 11 min/mile, since my actual goal marathon pace is anything faster than standing still), and I ended up at the same slow pace at the end.  Maybe that's the point, and I guess I was more consistent in my pace, but it felt overall like I was slower (and my pace was objectively slower than the great 18.8 mile run I mentioned earlier), and not necessarily less tired.  So I don't know about this whole negative split thing, although I am willing to try it on one more long run before I go back to just running without thinking about pace except to say "oh, I'm going fast right now" or "wow, I'm going slow right now".

I also tried to make this run more interesting than usual.  Usually, I run straight down the major street near my house (Colton), to the next major cross street (17th), and then I turn and head up that to the next major street (Poly), etc.  But today I decided I would shake things up a bit by running up and down the side streets in between Colton and Poly.  It did make things more interesting, and certainly added a lot of hills to my run, and I think I liked it overall.  But it also felt like I wasn't really going anywhere because at one point I realized I had run 2 miles, but was only like .75 miles away from my house.  This actually turned out to be a good thing, however, because at that 2 mile mark, I realized I didn't lock my front door.  So I ran home, only to discover that I had, in fact, locked it.  I then repeated the up and down side streets from the beginning.  I don't think that's what it meant when people talk about doing hill repeats, but that's ok.

Overall I enjoyed the runs this weekend.  My hip did start to hurt, but wasn't unbearable.  I know I need to add strength training to my regimen, and I keep meaning to . . . maybe this week . . ., and I think that will help with the pain I'm having.  But, I do feel like I'm going to be able to run (or should I say finish, as there will definitely be some walking involved) this marathon which I can't say I for sure did a few weeks ago.

7/10/11

Training schedule says I will do: 14 miles


I actually did:   15.03 miles*

*19.78 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting 3 miles for running uphill for a total of 6 miles, 1 miles for sweating through underwear, pants, sports bra and shirt, 0.25 miles for 80+ degree weather, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles. 
 
Days to go until the marathon: 77


Miles to go until 1000: 700.05

I was pretty nervous about this run because I didn't really run at all during the week, plus I didn't leave for it until after 9 am and it was pretty warm and sunny.  And about 0.25 into the run I realized I had forgotten to take my prophylactic ibuprofen.  But all things said, it was a decent run.  Yes, I got hot (and sunburned), and yes, I was in some pain over the last half of it (which I think was related to the heat as much as anything), but this was the farthest distance I have ever run which felt like a good accomplishment.  I walked when I needed to (about 3 miles total, I'd guess) which is ok with me.  I will be fine even if I walk half the marathon.  So I feel like I'm back on track after my doubts of late.

Oh, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played during this run! :)

7/4/201

Training schedule says I will do: 11 miles

I actually did:   10.66 miles*
 
*14.16 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an 2.5 miles for running uphill for a total of 5 miles, 0.5 miles for sweating through sports bra and shirt, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles. 
 
Days to go until the marathon: 84

Miles to go until 1000: 721.08

I felt pretty good about this run, until I got home and discovered I had been supposed to run 11 miles, not 10 like I thought . . . grr . . . this is especially frustrating BECAUSE I felt so good, I easily could've done 11.  Oh well.

Despite the fact that I clearly can't read, this was a good run.  I don't know if it was the new shoes, the fact that I started at about 5 am before it got hot, the fact that I didn't work all day first, the fact that I drank gatorade the whole time, or some combination of the above, but it was a WAY better run than last week.  I still had some pain, but I also think that a lot of that is mental (duh, you are probably saying), because all it took was some motivating tunes to make me forget I was hurting.


Happy 4th of July!!

6/26/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 15.5 miles

I actually did:   13.79 miles*
 
*18.915 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an extra 1.5 miles for working all weekend before running (not actually in the bonus system, but Aubree-approved), 2.5 miles for running uphill for a total of 5 miles, 0.5 miles for sweating through sports bra and shirt, 0.125 miles for darkness, and 0.5 miles for traveling more than 10 miles.  That's a lot of bonus miles!
 
Days to go until the marathon: 91

Miles to go until 1000: 739.6

Ok, this run kind of sucked.  To be specific, the first 9 miles were fine.  The rest sucked.  This weekend was a little crazy in that I was working at the hospital.  I worked 12 hours each on Saturday and Sunday, and started my run after getting home from work Sunday night.  So, I was fairly tired from working but determined to do my long run this weekend because I didn't get it in last weekend due to a patient in labor.  The first 9 miles were fine, and then it all went downhill.  Every inch of my lower half started to hurt, including my calves which completely cramped up (which was new for me).  By the time I got near home, it was clear that I had miscalculated my distance and would not be doing 15.5 miles, but it was 10:15 (by which time I am usually in bed), dark, and I was hungry and in pain.  So I just went home.

This run was fairly discouraging because it was so hard, and I once again started to doubt whether I could run a full marathon.  But since then I have thought about it, and talked to friends, and here are the lessons I have learned:

1.  Don't run more than 9 miles after working a 12-hour day.  This one really should've been obvious to me.
2.  Don't wait until 2 hours into a run to start drinking Gatorade.  Again, probably should've been obvious.
3.  Don't run at dinner time in the summer, unless you have recently eaten.  The smell of others' barbecues will make you hungry.
4.  Perhaps even the kick-ass music on my ipod is not enough to keep me distracted and interested on such long runs.  (I have since downloaded podcasts of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me for my next long run.)
5.  Maybe it is time for new running shoes.  (I ended up getting new shoes 2 days later.)

I am determined not to give up on running this stupid marathon and I am hoping my new shoes will propel me through the next long ru

Update

You may have noticed that my posts are fewer and getting posted all at once recently; I have been swamped at work and not much free time at home, so posting has been harder.  So, I think I'm not going to try to post for every run anymore and just do it when I can.  Since I think there is exactly one person who reads this on a regular basis, I don't think anyone will be too sad, but I just wanted to make the announcement.  I promise if I have any earth-shattering thoughts I will post them.  Until then, happy running!

6/14/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 40 minute run

I actually did:   42:15 minutes/3.99 miles

Days to go until the marathon: 103

Miles to go until 1000: 760.34

I felt relatively fast on this run, which was nice, I don't feel fast very often.  I still don't feel like I've exorcised the demons of that bad run from a couple of weeks ago, but I am hoping that I'm on the way.  My next long long run is scheduled for 6/25, and hopefully that will go well.

6/11/2011

Training schedule says I will do: OFF (but tomorrow's long run is supposed to be 12 miles)

I actually did:   11.58 miles*

*13.58 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an extra 1 mile for traveling uphill for 2 miles, 0.5 miles for sweating through 2 layers, and 0.5 miles for running 10+ miles

 

Days to go until the marathon: 106

Miles to go until 1000: 764.33

I thought a lot about college on my run today, for good reason: my best friend (who I met in college, and who is Aubree of the famed Aubree's bonus mileage system) is coming to town today to visit for a few days.  Included in our itinerary is an 80's themed bachelorette party tonight.  It's going to be awesome.

As I was thinking about college, I was thinking about whether I'd want to do it again (now).  Honestly, I don't know.  Sometimes I think it would be great to take more classes just to learn stuff.  For instance, I feel fairly ignorant about US and world history (not on a Sarah Palin level, but not where I'd like to be).  But college classes are also a lot of work.  And sometimes I'd like to have little to no responsibility, but then I'd miss my husband and son.  And I'm fairly certain, no, make that certain, that I could not drink like that anymore and feel fine the next day.  But it would be nice to live near all my friends again.  I guess it doesn't really matter where I end up in this decision, since re-doing college is not really an option.  Good thing I have some great memories, and some pretty embarrassing pictures, to tide me over!

6/10/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 50 minute run

I actually did:  Took the day off, because I'm doing my long run this week tomorrow.

6/8/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 10 x 1:00/2:00

I actually did:   10 x 1:00/2:00/ 3.79 miles*

 

*3.915 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an extra 1/8 mile for darkness

 

Days to go until the marathon: 109

Miles to go until 1000: 775.91

My love of running came back a little more on this run.  I actually really like the fast blocks; they are tiring, but it is kind of fun to feel so fast.  (I averaged between 8-9 minute miles during them, so it's really not "so" fast, but it is fast for me.)  And I was once again reminded how nice it is to be out for a run when the rest of the world is sleeping.  I'm getting a little nervous for my long run this weekend, but I am hopeful after the way I felt on today's run.

6/7/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 40 minute run

I actually did: yoga + Bender ball ab workout, 40 minutes = 3.5 miles towards 1000 mile goal

 

Days to go until the marathon: 1170

Miles to go until 1000: 779.70

So last night there were tornadoes near my hometown.  The closest one touched down about 20 miles away from my town, so not super super close, but still close.  There were warnings all night and they said one would probably hit in the area of town where I live; thankfully, they were wrong.  It was fairly scary watching the news, particularly in light of the fact that last year around this time, a tornado did hit the town and tore the roof off the big arena.  I lived in Portland at the time, and my husband and I (and our then-3-week old baby) stayed up late watching clips on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGsNN7TPrc).


Anyway, this is relevant because this morning when I got up to run, I looked at my Weather Channel app on my phone and discovered that the wind was still blowing at 27 mph.  So I decided not to run, and did yoga instead. 

6/5/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 9 miles

I actually did:   9.35 miles*

 

*10.85 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting an extra 1 mile for traveling uphill for a total of 2 miles, and 1/2 mile for sweating through 2 layers.

 

Days to go until the marathon: 112

Miles to go until 1000: 783.20

So my goal for today's run was that it wouldn't suck like last week's long run.  And it didn't, although I will say that towards the end I was ready for it to be over.  I just didn't love it the way I used to love my long runs, which might have had something to do with the fact that my hip started hurting again somewhere around mile 5 or 6 and was pretty sore by the end.  And it was kind of too hot.  Which I feel terrible for saying, because 1) it was only in the 60s or 70s but super sunny and 2) last week on my long run, I was so cold that my hands were frozen and could barely move when I got home.  And I was miserable.  So you'd think I'd love the warmer weather today.  But it was a little too warm.  I even got sunburned, including a rather unfortunate tan line where my cell phone holder arm band thing was.  I need to find a better way to carry my cell phone!!

Anyway, I can't say that I'm completely back in love with running after my bad week last week, but I think I'm getting there. . . (sorry, but I can't resist) one step at a time.

6/4/2011

Training schedule says I will do: OFF

I actually did: Go on a bike ride with my family, 40 minutes = 3.5 miles towards 1000 mile goal

 

Days to go until the marathon: 113

Miles to go until 1000: 792.55

The weather today was absolutely beautiful, quite a change from last weekend's awful weather!  We were going to go for a bike ride around our neighborhood when a friend called and said she was having a barbecue, so we rode over there.  It was wonderful!

6/2-6/3/2011

I didn't run either of these days.  Thursday (6/2) was a scheduled day off, but I planned to do the run I missed on 6/1.  And today (6/3) I was scheduled to do 25 minutes.  I have "reasons" I didn't run, and they are legitimate-ish.  Wednesday night was our anniversary and we shared a bottle of wine with dinner (which means I had 2/3 of the bottle), so Thursday morning sleep sounded better than running.  And Thursday night, my son was up a bunch of times I only ended up getting a few hours of sleep.

But the truth is, my running motivation is somewhat lacking after the awful run on Sunday.  Even though I had a much better run on Tuesday, I just didn't feel like getting up at 4 and getting out there the rest of the week.  This weekend is supposed to be nice weather, and my long run is only 9 miles, so I'm very hopeful that this combination will give me my running mojo back. 

6/1/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 8 x 1:00/2:00

I actually did:    Nursed my son

I got out of bed to get ready to run, and my son started crying so instead of running, I fed him.  I didn't mind because normally I feed him between 2 and 3; last night he slept from 8:30 or so until 4:30.  This is the longest he has ever slept in one stretch; let's hope it continues!!

5/31/2011

Training schedule says I will do: OFF

I actually did:    4.41 miles

 

Days to go until the marathon: 117

Miles to go until 1000: 796.05

I was supposed to take today off.  And I did, initially (i.e., I didn't get up to run this morning).  But then it turned out to be a really nice day, and I wanted to take revenge after my awful run on Sunday, so I went out this evening.  It was freeing to run not because I had to, but because I wanted to.  I could run as fast or as slow as I wanted, and only turned around when I did because it was dinner time, and I was hungry.  My right hip, which hurt the whole time I ran on Sunday and has hurt since, even stopped hurting as soon as I started running.  It was a good day!

5/30/2011

Training schedule says I will do: OFF

 

I actually did:    Nothing.  Literally nothing.  I didn't even get out of my pajamas all day.  This was mostly due to the fact that I have a sick little boy who just wanted to snuggle, but a day spent in your pajamas is still a good thing.

5/29/2011

Training schedule says I will do: 13 miles

I actually did:    12.01 miles*

* 14.26 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting 1/2 mile for the wind, 1/4 mile for the rain, 1 mile for my socks, pants, and 2 shirts getting soaked through, and 1/2 mile for traveling >10 miles

 

Days to go until the marathon: 119

Miles to go until 1000: 800.46


This run was pretty miserable.  The weather started out crappy, and got crappier as I ran.  Yuck.  The weather made it pretty mentally challenging, and made me start to question what it is I'm doing.  I am someone who doesn't doubt myself a whole lot.  While I don't really consider myself to be great at anything, I do tend to be successful when I set out to do something.  Even in the great unknown of medicine, sometimes I second guess decisions I have made, but for the most part I feel comfortable in what I do.  So I guess this has led to some level of confidence that when I say I want to do something, I will be able to do it.  Because of this, I have never really questioned that I'd be able to run a marathon.  Until today.  This run was just so awful, I started thinking maybe I couldn't run a whole marathon, and maybe I shouldn't even try.  

But I am always one to look for the silver lining, and at the end of this terrible, terrible run, I think I found it.  As awful as I felt today, I kept at it.  Yes, I cut the run short by a mile (which I did knowing it would be >13 miles once the bonus miles got added), and yes, I walked for probably a total of a mile of this run.  But never once did I think, "I'm going to call my husband to come pick me up."  When the going got tough, I walked for a bit.  Which I think is fine.  Honestly, I'll be fine if I have to walk for part of the marathon.

And even when I was thinking I couldn't run a marathon, I wasn't thinking I'd give up on running.  Instead, I thought I'd just run the half marathon that's being held on the same day.

So I'm going to take those things as signs I really shouldn't give up trying to run a marathon.  And I'm going to tell myself that I'm sure everyone has bad days now and again.  And I'm going to remember how much fun running is when the weather is not awful.  And I'm going to go back out for a long run next weekend.

5/26/2011

Training schedule says I will do: OFF

I actually did:    32:03 minutes/ 2.95 miles* (to make up for yesterday's missed run)

*  3.075 miles using Aubree's Bonus Mileage System, getting 1/8 mile for darkness

 

Days to go until the marathon: 122

Miles to go until 1000: 812.47

I just realized I haven't been posting the Red Hot Chili Peppers stat.  They have not played in quite some time, so I guess I have definitively proven that they don't ALWAYS play when I run.

This morning's run brought with it a first: I saw a young woman clearly doing a walk of shame.  My run takes me near a college campus, and she was walking towards campus, at around 5:30 am, in a cute little going-out outfit, walking barefoot and carrying her high heels in her hand.  Ah, to be young again!  These days, for me, walk of shame has a new meaning: it means I have left the house to go out in public in clothes that are covered in some combination of spit up, baby poop, and dried Yo Baby yogurt that got flung at me from the high chair.  Oh wait, that happens once a week at least.

I thought a lot this morning about something about which I've been considering for some time: taking a hiatus from Facebook.  I am growing more and more disillusioned with it and the fake friendships it promotes.  I have written about this before, I think.  Recently a friend of mine posted, on Facebook, similar feelings and since then I have been thinking about a hiatus even more.  I think I'm afraid to leave, though, for a couple of reasons.  For all the fake friends I have on there, I also keep in touch with some of my very good friends that way, and it certainly is easy to have them all in one place.  Also, I think the insecure junior high girl that lives inside me is afraid I'll miss out on all the fun if I leave Facebook.  As it is, I really only interact with the people with whom I want to interact, so I don't know what harm it does if many (most?) of my "friends" are people I barely know.  So, I'll probably stay.  We'll see.  I'll update my status if I change my mind! :)