Good News! I did six miles without hurting!!!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Sing it with me!
I did my two maintenance runs this week as walks and got up to 4.2 mph - top speed. I was over the moon that I could at least maintain a 15 minute mile for, well, only two miles, but still - no pain! I kibbitzed with my coaches and, same story as always - "ice, stretch, get insoles, you can do this. Head out with the 2:3 group this week (run 2 minutes, walk 3) instead of walking it. See how it goes." I was just so nervous about hurting, but I was reassured my one coach that I'm not a whimp because of that, nobody likes hurting. I felt a little better then.
Thursday night my hubby got me heat moldable insoles ($30, but WORTH IT) which we put in my shoes Friday night, ready for my 6 a.m. group run. I put out all my clothing, got my water ready, Shot Blocks, etc., set my alarm for 5:03(p.m.). 5:50 A.M. Derek nudges me and says, "Don't you have to leave?" eeek! I have never done anything so fast in my life, I was out the door and at the park by 6:00! I get there with tears just under the surface because I wanted this to go well, I was behind the eight ball already and I just didn't feel prepared at all. My best running buddy was sad because of a non-running issue, and my other gal pal was hesitantly excited since she just committed to running the full marathon in October! Can we say emotional soup, please?
I found my group and off we went. We had to walk a bit first to get where we needed to start, and then >bang!< We were off, running more swiftly than a ... butterfly? spider? centipede? It doesn't matter, we were moving! The old right knee felt a bit funny, but was no where near hurting! Our pace was slow and the steps short, which is what the coaches had ordered. The walk breaks were more like saunters! In the end, we completed the 6 miles in an hour and 38 minutes. That's over a 16 minute mile. :\ I'm horrified, but not hurting. I think I have to chose physical benefits over my pride - this time. We'll see how it shakes out Aug. 31st.
The weather was in our favor, for sure, warm but with a nice breeze. My new running companions were chatty and welcoming. At the water stops, I didn't need to be spritzed down or grab any ice (weather or lack of exertion?) Once, I noticed I was pulling out in front a little, but I'm glad I had them to pull me back. I felt good all the way through and had a huge smile for my coaches at the end of the run. Derek was just as pleased when I returned home with a happy face and a healthy knee! :)
Next week - 12 miles. I know it will take us close to four hours - the 2:3 team did 11 miles last week in 3:40something! I'm going to die if it's over four - on race day, you are disqualified if you don't finish within four hours. Breathe in, breathe out. It will work itself out. That's for sure.
Little steps, new insoles, slower pace; three good things. Two new generous contributors - Kevin Frankel and Stacey Haynie; two GREAT people! A new hope for finishing this half marathon without pain; that's OK by me! :)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
This Weekend, 11 Miles or 5.5 if you're me!
Many thoughts are zipping around in my mind - where to start?
I guess I can start by giving a BIG THANK YOU to the people that have pushed me over the edge of my fundraising goal! Family - Aunt Flossie and Cousin Kristine and families, current friends - Melanie and Wade Dressler, and high school friends - Angela Grice, and Albert (Gonzalez) Pantoja. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Over $1,300 for the kids of Easton :) They and I so appreciate your help! :)
Next, my knee update. All I can do is blurg it all out - my right knee hurts and it makes me want to quit. If I didn't get close to $300 last week towards this running gig, I might have said "Forget this whole thing", but since I believe things happen for a reason, I think the mad rush of moola came a long to keep me going. I can say to someone, "I really hurt, and this stinks, and why do I want to put myself through this", but on the other hand I feel I can't say, "Thanks for your money, I'm bailing." So, on with the show I go.
I did have my high school reunion last weekend, which was an utter blast! Prior to going, my coach suggested I take the week and the 5 mile run off, rest up. :D And boy, I DID! I ran maybe 100 feet in a parking lot that weekend; it was nice to power myself and know I could run without being winded. However, I also took the next week off (this past week) because I was away and hadn't brought any of my stuff - no sneakers, no running gear - bubkis. So yesterday was the first day in 2 weeks I was going to run. I was nervous. I had no idea how my knees or hip would feel. I knew I wasn't going to make the 11 miles, that was out of the question. I was aiming for 5, my coach alluded to 7ish with walking the rest of the way. I just had to listen to my body. THANKFULLY, I had my best running buddy there and she was a HUGE encourager!
So off we all started, 6 a.m., down Oxford Road. Hot and humid, but do-able. Around the 1st mile marker, my right knee started to say, "hello!" We continued our 3:2 pace until mile 2. We met up with another group who was doing a 2:3 pace (run 2 mins., walk 3. Who knew you could do it that way?!) So L. and I said, eh, let's try a 3:3. We met up with our coach along the way and she suggested we do a 2:3 like the other group. We were quizzical about how that could be better for us, but I tell you what - I didn't miss the extra minute of running. I've turned into an old softie! At one point I felt like I could do better walking than running! We had a 18:33 mile! That's horrific! That was including running! L is a good gal to put up with me and my lame knee. Her knees hurt, too. I don't know how she goes on.
Well, we passed Miles 3, 4 and 5, and my heart was a little happy. I passed my own little cut off of 5 miles! I was just hoping my knee would hold out a bit longer. As we ran down Harrison Street, just after crossing Dover Street, in an instant my knee nearly killed me. I really hurt. Being stubborn (at times I can be) I just wanted to get to Mile 6, which I thought was at Goldsborough, just a block away. No yellow sign, surely it was just a few minutes away if I were in good running condition. Since I wasn't, and I stumble/scuffled while walking, I didn't get to see it. L & I gave each other a sweaty hug, and I left her to go it alone! She's one brave cookie! So, I packed it in, took off my water belt and headed back to our meeting place. I saw other gals who started a half hour after us, running the same street we ran 5 minutes ago. Eh, whatcanyoudo, those gals are gazelle-like and healthy. I just concentrated on getting back to the park without being too discouraged, I was doing what was best for my knee, I couldn't do the rest of the run today.
Arriving at the park, I realized that I didn't have my keys - we put them in a drop box like we're drunks (so we don't have to run with them, really). One of our coaches drove up and said that the other coach was out looking for me (aww! I love that! They really do care for you during this Marathon Rocks endeavour). She listened to my story of knee and no hip pain and she said, "Sounds like runner's knee probably brought on with the IT Band action." Great! Now I have TWO ailments I have to work on/around/with. Blurg.
I got home and I was walking OK, with a limp, but OK. Our head coach called at lunch time and suggested insoles and to build up my hamstring and quad muscles. At home coach, Derek, agreed. Last night I could barely walk, and this morning HUGE pain. But! Thank God for Advil! I've been doing much better ever since!
Everyone is so encouraging and telling me I can do this. "If you look ahead and look back you'll be glad you kept going." I don't like this pain. I don't like having to decide if living with and working through this pain is worth the goal of finishing a half marathon. The other goal of raising money has been obtained, by kindness of others. Really, I could wimp out now but still have helped out, which was an objective. Is the excitement of crossing that finish line worth the extra time and effort now? I guess I'm figuring it is. My friend, L, reminded me that this is hugely mental, I have to reframe my thoughts and opinion of myself and situation. I have to toughen up. I am, after all, a New Yorker! You can't get much tougher than that, right? And I just spent some time in NY - what am I thinking? I drove in NYC! I braved rush hour traffic in one of the most populated cities in the country! Of course I can do this! OK - Here I go - I'm getting ready to get over this pity party. Life's tough, get a helmet (or some Advil, knee braces, coaches and trainers, etc.!). Next week - a scheduled and will-be-successful - 6 mile run! :)
Thanks for letting me blurg and blog! :] Sue
I guess I can start by giving a BIG THANK YOU to the people that have pushed me over the edge of my fundraising goal! Family - Aunt Flossie and Cousin Kristine and families, current friends - Melanie and Wade Dressler, and high school friends - Angela Grice, and Albert (Gonzalez) Pantoja. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Over $1,300 for the kids of Easton :) They and I so appreciate your help! :)
Next, my knee update. All I can do is blurg it all out - my right knee hurts and it makes me want to quit. If I didn't get close to $300 last week towards this running gig, I might have said "Forget this whole thing", but since I believe things happen for a reason, I think the mad rush of moola came a long to keep me going. I can say to someone, "I really hurt, and this stinks, and why do I want to put myself through this", but on the other hand I feel I can't say, "Thanks for your money, I'm bailing." So, on with the show I go.
I did have my high school reunion last weekend, which was an utter blast! Prior to going, my coach suggested I take the week and the 5 mile run off, rest up. :D And boy, I DID! I ran maybe 100 feet in a parking lot that weekend; it was nice to power myself and know I could run without being winded. However, I also took the next week off (this past week) because I was away and hadn't brought any of my stuff - no sneakers, no running gear - bubkis. So yesterday was the first day in 2 weeks I was going to run. I was nervous. I had no idea how my knees or hip would feel. I knew I wasn't going to make the 11 miles, that was out of the question. I was aiming for 5, my coach alluded to 7ish with walking the rest of the way. I just had to listen to my body. THANKFULLY, I had my best running buddy there and she was a HUGE encourager!
So off we all started, 6 a.m., down Oxford Road. Hot and humid, but do-able. Around the 1st mile marker, my right knee started to say, "hello!" We continued our 3:2 pace until mile 2. We met up with another group who was doing a 2:3 pace (run 2 mins., walk 3. Who knew you could do it that way?!) So L. and I said, eh, let's try a 3:3. We met up with our coach along the way and she suggested we do a 2:3 like the other group. We were quizzical about how that could be better for us, but I tell you what - I didn't miss the extra minute of running. I've turned into an old softie! At one point I felt like I could do better walking than running! We had a 18:33 mile! That's horrific! That was including running! L is a good gal to put up with me and my lame knee. Her knees hurt, too. I don't know how she goes on.
Well, we passed Miles 3, 4 and 5, and my heart was a little happy. I passed my own little cut off of 5 miles! I was just hoping my knee would hold out a bit longer. As we ran down Harrison Street, just after crossing Dover Street, in an instant my knee nearly killed me. I really hurt. Being stubborn (at times I can be) I just wanted to get to Mile 6, which I thought was at Goldsborough, just a block away. No yellow sign, surely it was just a few minutes away if I were in good running condition. Since I wasn't, and I stumble/scuffled while walking, I didn't get to see it. L & I gave each other a sweaty hug, and I left her to go it alone! She's one brave cookie! So, I packed it in, took off my water belt and headed back to our meeting place. I saw other gals who started a half hour after us, running the same street we ran 5 minutes ago. Eh, whatcanyoudo, those gals are gazelle-like and healthy. I just concentrated on getting back to the park without being too discouraged, I was doing what was best for my knee, I couldn't do the rest of the run today.
Arriving at the park, I realized that I didn't have my keys - we put them in a drop box like we're drunks (so we don't have to run with them, really). One of our coaches drove up and said that the other coach was out looking for me (aww! I love that! They really do care for you during this Marathon Rocks endeavour). She listened to my story of knee and no hip pain and she said, "Sounds like runner's knee probably brought on with the IT Band action." Great! Now I have TWO ailments I have to work on/around/with. Blurg.
I got home and I was walking OK, with a limp, but OK. Our head coach called at lunch time and suggested insoles and to build up my hamstring and quad muscles. At home coach, Derek, agreed. Last night I could barely walk, and this morning HUGE pain. But! Thank God for Advil! I've been doing much better ever since!
Everyone is so encouraging and telling me I can do this. "If you look ahead and look back you'll be glad you kept going." I don't like this pain. I don't like having to decide if living with and working through this pain is worth the goal of finishing a half marathon. The other goal of raising money has been obtained, by kindness of others. Really, I could wimp out now but still have helped out, which was an objective. Is the excitement of crossing that finish line worth the extra time and effort now? I guess I'm figuring it is. My friend, L, reminded me that this is hugely mental, I have to reframe my thoughts and opinion of myself and situation. I have to toughen up. I am, after all, a New Yorker! You can't get much tougher than that, right? And I just spent some time in NY - what am I thinking? I drove in NYC! I braved rush hour traffic in one of the most populated cities in the country! Of course I can do this! OK - Here I go - I'm getting ready to get over this pity party. Life's tough, get a helmet (or some Advil, knee braces, coaches and trainers, etc.!). Next week - a scheduled and will-be-successful - 6 mile run! :)
Thanks for letting me blurg and blog! :] Sue
Saturday, July 5, 2008
10 miles, done! But what's this?
The glory of finishing ten miles is overshadowed by pain in my right knee and hip, and a hobble like an old woman.
We had a brand new route today, heading out Oxford Road, around a lovely neighborhood, back into town and down familiar streets. The insides of my knees were acting up a little during my second maintenance run. I went about business the rest of the week; things were fine. Within the first two minutes of running I felt my knees again. Others were mentioning their aches and pains, ankles, someone's knee, someone's back from moving furniture... a bunch of griping hens, we were!
After 5 miles, my right hip began to hurt - inside hip and outside knee, thus I had both sides of my right knee cap hurting and my hip. Honestly, I just wanted these ten miles all done, I didn't pay attention to if it felt better while I walked or what. I do remember saying my knee felt "rusty" when I started running again - I imagined a rusty spokey-geary bit near the peddles on a bike. Just keep pushing the peddles and ya keep movin' forward. Just get it done.
The ten miles were done in 2 hours 24 minutes, 14.4 minutes per mile. 18 minutes for the last mile. Why didn't we just walk backwards, we coulda made it quicker! Geez. I'm disheartened because, once again, I find out that being lazy and doing the bare minimum has rotten rewards. I haven't cross-trained (maybe I want to be home instead of the gym all the time), I run only 5 or 6 miles a week (see reasoning above), so far this has be easy-ish? so why put in extra time and attention if it ain't broken. Ahh... but now things are falling apart and to fix it takes extra time and attention.
My super terrific at home coach suggested I roll out my ITB with a rolling pin type contraption he has. Just roll, up and down on the outside of my leg from my hip to my knee. I felt like a million bucks! Maybe if I do it again I won't walk like Quasimodo, where did I put it?
So - 10 miles done! Hurray! Only add a 5K and I've completed a half marathon! I just have to take it easy and train properly. I'm finishing this thing. I may be a slow learner, but I'm determined! Thank goodness next weekend is a five miler, I have to do it on my own at the Y in NY prior to my high school reunion. Figures, all of this a week before my high school reunion when I should be able to boogie the night away to 80s tunes and with old friends... I may be walking my five miles, but it'll get done!
We had a brand new route today, heading out Oxford Road, around a lovely neighborhood, back into town and down familiar streets. The insides of my knees were acting up a little during my second maintenance run. I went about business the rest of the week; things were fine. Within the first two minutes of running I felt my knees again. Others were mentioning their aches and pains, ankles, someone's knee, someone's back from moving furniture... a bunch of griping hens, we were!
After 5 miles, my right hip began to hurt - inside hip and outside knee, thus I had both sides of my right knee cap hurting and my hip. Honestly, I just wanted these ten miles all done, I didn't pay attention to if it felt better while I walked or what. I do remember saying my knee felt "rusty" when I started running again - I imagined a rusty spokey-geary bit near the peddles on a bike. Just keep pushing the peddles and ya keep movin' forward. Just get it done.
The ten miles were done in 2 hours 24 minutes, 14.4 minutes per mile. 18 minutes for the last mile. Why didn't we just walk backwards, we coulda made it quicker! Geez. I'm disheartened because, once again, I find out that being lazy and doing the bare minimum has rotten rewards. I haven't cross-trained (maybe I want to be home instead of the gym all the time), I run only 5 or 6 miles a week (see reasoning above), so far this has be easy-ish? so why put in extra time and attention if it ain't broken. Ahh... but now things are falling apart and to fix it takes extra time and attention.
My super terrific at home coach suggested I roll out my ITB with a rolling pin type contraption he has. Just roll, up and down on the outside of my leg from my hip to my knee. I felt like a million bucks! Maybe if I do it again I won't walk like Quasimodo, where did I put it?
So - 10 miles done! Hurray! Only add a 5K and I've completed a half marathon! I just have to take it easy and train properly. I'm finishing this thing. I may be a slow learner, but I'm determined! Thank goodness next weekend is a five miler, I have to do it on my own at the Y in NY prior to my high school reunion. Figures, all of this a week before my high school reunion when I should be able to boogie the night away to 80s tunes and with old friends... I may be walking my five miles, but it'll get done!
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