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Saturday, August 28, 2010

08/28/10 (post-klutz report)

Allrighty....well, it's been two days since my wipeout...since my knee (and elbow) were intimately introduced to a certain stretch of very un-forgiving pavement.

I had a little mini breakdown last night....stressing about this backpacking trip to Glacier National Park I'm supposed to leave for at 6:00 this morning.

I had a hard time walking around Walgreens yesterday when I went to go get my pain med prescription filled (to have with me on the trip, in case I need it).....so the idea of backpacking, with 30 extra pounds on my back....really terrified me.

Hubby called his brother, the doc, and they talked about it. I'd been icing it...elevating it....and taking anti-inflamatories...but he wanted me to wrap it up as well.

After wrapping it, I was walking without a limp, and going up and down stairs. Crazy amazing thing..the ace bandage.

So....I'm going on the trip. I have two days in a car to rest it some more, ice it some more, and work on getting that swelling reduced even more.

Wish me luck!!!!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

08/26/10 (crash and burn!!!).

Today started off like any other morning. The alarm went off, the dog licked my face to get me up, I changed and headed out the door to run.

It's very dark now when I run....but luckily the moon was full. Also helping was the fact it was again, for the second day in a row, so very cool out!!!

So....about 2.63 miles into my run (about 1.5 miles from home), I'm running along the street, minding my own business. When all of a sudden.....

.....a sprinkler system kicked on.

Big deal, right?

I really didn't think so either. But, it made me jump.

Everything was so quiet, and about a foot away from me a sprinkler head sprung to life. Spitting, sputtering, and gurgling.

It was so sudden, I looked over at it instinctively.

My next step went right into a pot hole.

Well, not really INTO the pot hole...so much as I came down right on the edge. Half of my foot in, and half of my foot on the road.

And down I went.

In a fiery blaze of glory.

Well....maybe not so much.

I came down on my left knee...and hard. 18 years of dance lessons have given me extremely strong ankles....and a number of years in karate as a kid taught me how to fall...without ruining knees and ankles.

Unfortunately, I was running a quite a clip (for me) when it happened.

My knee hit the ground. I knew it was going to hurt, but it wasn't going to be that big a deal.

Except, my forward momentum took over. I hit the ground on that knee HARD and then slid along the pavement on it for another foot or so. All the time thinking "stop already!!!"

I could tell that it wasn't going to end well, so I slammed my arm down to help put on the brakes. My handheld water bottle took the brunt of the force (by plan, believe it or not). The lid went flying, my crystal light fitness drink (grape flavored) all over me. Elbow then hits the ground and get scrapped up. Left hand slams down to bring me to a final stop.

In the middle of the road.

Covered in grape sports drink, rocks and sand....and a badly bruised ego.

I was so mad at myself. No cell phone, and now nothing to drink.

(sigh)

I sat in the middle of the road for what seemed like a long time, and probably amounted to a minute at the most.

Finally, I picked myself up, dusted myself off....and tried to walk.

Hmmmmm.....that kinda hurts.

Nothing is broken....but the blood was welling up on my knee. Road rash...great! :-(

I hobbled towards home for about 1/2 a mile, before my growing frustration hit an all time high.

My right foot, the one that had the encounter with the hole in the street, wasn't happy either....but I just didn't care.

I wanted to get home, I needed to get home.

I ran the rest of the way home.

(shaking my head)

I know, I know...not the best idea. But, I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't a wimp, I wasn't a wuss, and that I WASN'T injured, exactly 2 days before leaving on a backpacking trip I've been looking forward to for months!!!!!

I finally got home...and walked into the bedroom. Mot was still sleeping, but woke when I entered the room.

"How was your run?"

"Um...ok. So....um....think you could turn on the light and check out my road rash?"

He was sitting bolt upright in seconds and turned the light on.

"What happened?"

After checking it out, and instructing me to get into the shower and clean it out, immediately....I walked into the bathroom.

Still calm as a cucumber. I turned the water on, gingerly took of my running gear and stepped into the hot water.

The minute the water hit my knee, the waterworks started. I cried like a baby. It hurt, I hurt, I didn't want to look at it, let alone clean it out, and darn it....I have to be able to hike in 2 days!!!!!

From the shower, I went to the kitchen, made up a bag of ice, and crawled back into bed. Still sobbing.

My elbow is pretty bruised, the palm of my left hand it a little sore, but my left knee and right foot. They aren't so good. The side of my foot is swollen, and my three littlest toes aren't keen on moving. My knee doesn't want to straighten or bend. The swelling goes down with ice, only to come right back when the ice is removed. I tried to take a picture, but you just can't tell anything from it.

(sigh)

Stupid sprinkler!!!!!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

08/25/10 (2 mi, 9:44 pace)

I can actually, honest to goodness, say that today's run felt good. It's been over a week since I could say those words. Hallelujah!!

I don't know what the temperature was when I started, but when I got home it was 59 degrees....with a "feels like" of the same. Ahhhhh.....blisssssss!!!!!

Instead of walking once I reached the top of the hills, I tried to focus on, and control, my breathing. I kept telling myself I wasn't going to celebrate my legs FINALLY feeling back to normal by wussing out and talking walk breaks. :-)

I needed a good run, to remind myself of why I was doing this. Most of the time, it feels good. And, it feels even better when my run is done, and I can say "I did that!!"

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

08/24/10 (4 mi, 10:25 pace)

I actually paid a little attention to my splits today. I didn't pay attention while I was running. I don't run with a garmin, or running watch...but I did check it out when I got home and uploaded my run.

The first mile was 11:27...but I walked the first tenth of a mile as a warm up...to stretch out a little. It was the last three miles that impressed me.

I ran them at 8:14, 8:12 and 8:12. I take a walk break here and there, when my body tells me it can't run any longer. The breaks usually last no more than 30 seconds. But, even with those breaks, I still managed to keep my last three miles almost exactly at the same pace.

Last week, my long 6 mile run splits were 8:14, 8:14, 8:14, 8:22, 9:23, 9:23 (I was getting tired there at the end!)

A 4 mile run last week, 8:13, 8:13, 8:13, 9:02.

Some people want to run with music..or audio books...because the sound of their breathing annoys them.

I'm quite the opposite.

I'm the same way when singing. There are those with perfect pitch, the members of the group that can stop you in a rehearsal when things start going south.

I'm the one with the rhythm gene. I should have been a percussionist. There's an internal beat inside me....and I can tell immediately if we're speeding up or slowing down.

I'm the same way while running. I breathe with my footfalls, and I can tell when that breathing is getting any slower or faster. I may not take consistent walk breaks, but while running, I can keep a pace.

On many of my runs, I get a song stuck in my head....and repeat it over and over as I run. Some days, it's the most annoying thing...and some days I don't notice that I'm doing it. :-)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

08/22/10 (6 mi, 10:27 pace)

Well...I hadn't run since Wednesday morning before work. That last deep tissue massage really felt like it did more damage than good (mental note: find new therapist).

But, I got up and hit the trail Sunday at 7:00 am. Was hoping to get out there earlier, to beat the sun (and the heat)....but couldn't sleep that night. Ended up with about 3 hours of sleep.

Probably not the best situation for running, but I was determined to go anyway. :-)

Last week, after my long run, I was excited about the half marathon I've signed up for.

This week after my long run, I can't believe that I was crazy enough to sign up for the race!

Some guy ran past me....with quite the running style. I'm not sure how he's not hobbled in pain. His body did not look comfy while running....but he went right around me and on his merry way. I watched him go with the green eyes of envy. :-)

Most of the runners on the trail that morning were very friendly. All saying "hi" or "good morning"....and at least waving and smiling.

One gentleman was walking his dog. Well, no.....his dog was walking 10 or so feet in front of him without a leash. It normally doesn't bother me...especially when it's a golden retriever. How can you NOT smile at a golden?

I said hi to his dog, and the dude came around the corner with a look of murder in his eyes.

Apparently, that trail belongs to him and only him. And it was a bother for him to have to gather it up by his collar when I ran by. Plus, what was I going to do, steal his dog? I was soaked in sweat, dying in the high humidity, dripping all over. I was in no shape to get myself back to my car, let along a dog!!! :-)

How can someone that owns such a sweet dog, be such a jerk???

Friday, August 20, 2010

08/20/10 (rest)

Didn't run again today....but my legs feel pretty darned good. I'll be back at it this weekend!!

Heck, if it wasn't so darned hot today, I might even consider running when I get home from work tonight.

Glad I took a couple of days to give the legs a rest!!

Since I don't have much to talk about, as far as half marathon training goes....I thought I'd post this link to a post I did on my non-running related blog.

It's a running related post...so it's fitting. :-)

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

08/18/10 (2 mi, 10:21 pace)

My dog has the most amazing internal clock. My alarm goes off at 5:00 am. She comes into the room and wakes me up at 4:59. It's completely amazing to me.

It's also a bummer, as I'm a snooze hitter. Not only is she depriving me of that 1 minute....she's actually keeping me from the next 9 as well. :-)

(Hubby loves it!)

I got right up, put both dogs out, got changed and out the door earlier than usual. Mentally, I was awake and ready to go.

It was apparent very soon into the run that my body didn't necessarily echo that same sentiment. My running was stiff and forced. Both of my legs (but more so my right) were not happy to be out running.

I ran a different route hoping it would help keep my mind focused on other things....and it worked a little. :-)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

08/17/10 (4 mi, 9:58 pace)

I sat at my desk all day today, watching it rain outside.

Pour outside is more like it.

I love running in the rain, and was bummed I had to skip my run this morning. Agony just isn't my thing. :-)

So, when I got home, I was excited to change into my running clothes and head out. I put on a hat (to keep the rain out of my eyes), and even thought about taking a jacket (then decided against it...I'm soaking wet when I get back any other time, at least rain is a little less stinky). :-)

I walk outside gingerly. Just the pressure of my compression sleeves and running capris on my bruises is killer.

It's not raining. Not one little drop. (sigh)

The first mile was horrible. Every step I wanted to turn around and go back.

The bruises wrap around behind my knees, so every time I bend my legs, it puts pressure on them. What the heck was I doing out there???

After a mile, I stopped noticing it as much.

Why?

Because my right calf muscle seized. I was no longer running with two legs...I was running with one leg, and one rock attached to a peg leg. What the heck was I doing out there???

I stopped a couple of times to stretch out that right leg, and eventually, it loosened up.

I also didn't notice the pain from the deep tissue massage bruises either.

Figures, I'm just about done, and the pain goes away! (giggle)

I didn't think I'd make the full 4 miles today. I was aiming for 2. When I hit 2, I just kept going.....same when I hit 3.

There was no way I was giving up. No pain, no gain.

At least, that's what "they" say...whoever "they" are.

So, I end my run at my scheduled 4 miles. I look down at my nike sportband to see how horrible my time ended up being.

I looked. I looked up, shook my head, and look back down.

I looked up, rubbed my eyes, and looked back down.

9:58 pace???

With stretch breaks, excruciating pain, and a cramped up right calf.....I ran under a 10 minute mile pace????

Well slap my bum and call my Judy** .....I guess the run wasn't so bad after all!!!!!! :-) :-)

** not every day I can use that in a conversation, now is it???

08/16/10 (deep tissue massage)

Well.....it was that time again.

I'd noticed the tell-tale little hint of pain in my shins starting up, and I knew I needed to get a deep tissue (= torture) massage scheduled.

A couple of summers ago, I wanted to take up running.

I got shin splints after the first couple of weeks.

Bad ones.

I stopped running.

Then, later that fall, I went hiking in the mountains with hubby.

I tore three calf muscles.

Badly.

Fast forward to last year, I wanted to start running again.

You guessed it, shin splints.

So, for the last year, I've been to one doctor, one specialist, and three physical therapists.

Nobody was able to fix it.

Well, no one until I went to the last PT. She fixed it, lickily split!!!

Unfortunately, the shin splints were caused by a couple of different things.
1) my pelvis was slightly out of alignment
2) my calf muscles still hadn't healed correctly and completely

So....in comes deep tissue massage.

(And, before anyone who's never had a massage starts to get fearful....deep tissue as a normal massage, vs deep tissue for therapy...two different animals. One hurts like no other pain, and one feels magnificent!!)

In my case, the therapist runs their extremely pointy fingers (do they file those things down?) up and down the insides of my calves.....straightening the fibers of my messed up calf muscles.....AND increasing blood flow.




This is what it looks like the morning after.

Can't wait for those puppies to start turning black and blue....then green and yellow...then eventually fade away.

(sigh)

It probably goes without saying, I didn't run this morning. It was sprinkling a nice cool rain....but just walking to the bathroom hurt like a son-of-a-gun. Running 4 miles...I just couldn't work up the "umph" to do it.

I'll run tonight though.

At least a mile or two, if not the whole amount. :-)

Monday, August 16, 2010

08/14/10 (6.02 mi, 10:13 pace)

We were in North Platte, NE this weekend for a wine barrel smoker competition at a local winery. All the participants were given a used wine barrel, and were to show back up this weekend having transformed it into smoker.

We had a blast!!!!

I got up early Saturday morning, before the rest of the house, so I could still get my run in before we had to load up all our competition gear and head out.

I put on my normal running clothes and shoes, walked outside, and stopped in my tracks.

Not only is it beautiful running around a lake when the sun is rising.....but the temperature was crazy!!! I've been running in 80 degree weather (at 5 am) and 70-90% humidity levels for a couple weeks now. I don't know what the actual temp was Sat am....but it couldn't have been any warmer than the lower 60's. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

I loved it!!!!!

Took three small walk breaks.....no more than 30 seconds for each one, at the most.

6 miles, three tiny walk breaks!!!!!!

I was hoping that my pace would be better, but I'm still not complaining!!!!!!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

08/12/10 (4 mi, 10:35 pace)

Tuesday was miserably hot and humid for my run.

Yesterday was so much better!!!!

Today was almost worse than Tuesday.

It's a weather roller coaster here in Omaha, NE. :-)
______________________________________________

I decided to run a different route this morning. I'll only be able to run it in the early am, as 3/4 of a mile is along a somewhat busy road/highway with no sidewalks (but PLENTY of shoulder).

I might reverse the direction I went though.

The section I started with has some seriously creepy old sidewalks, along and even creepier dark road. If I keep going that way first, I'm going to need to start running with my headlamp on. I have really strong ankles (18 years of dance to thank!)....but those sidewalks are killer in the dark.

For the first time this morning, since I've started this whole process, I actually found myself wondering why the heck I'm doing it? Why am I getting up at 5 am to sweat profusely and torture myself....4 days a week?

It would feel so good to get that extra hour of sleep each morning. It would be much cheaper to stop shrinking out of all of my clothes, and have to constantly replace my whole wardrobe over and over.

Being a lazy slug is so much easier. (giggle)

But......I love the change in my body...the smaller clothes...the increased self-confidence....the sense of accomplishment.

The labored breathing, the sweat running in my eyes (I really need to find a non-cheesy sweat band, stat!), the need for deep tissue massages (ouch!).....it's all worth it.

Every painful, uncomfortable bit!

The second I walk in the door, and sit down at my laptop to download my run info.....I feel good.

It's addicting.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

08/11/10 (2 mi, 9:34 pace)

I knew the minute I walked out the front door, down the front steps and across the driveway, that my body felt like running today. I wasn't forcing it to go, it just went.

And, because it was my short Wednesday run, I decided to push the pace a little and see how my shins handled it.

They didn't complain once, not one little bit!

Yay!!!!

I'm still getting used to being able to run without pain. It's the first time in my life I can say that, so I have (mumble mumble) years of catching up to do. :-)

Oh man...I just mumble mumbled my age. I AM getting old!!! (giggle)

I did today, however, take one small (half block) walk break after the last hill. I'm irritated that I did....I didn't really NEED to. I just felt like it.

OK, I wussed out, and it wasn't even that big a hill. :-)

Scared another deer that was in the street right in front of me (a doe this time)....and one neighborhood had garbage cans knocked down and garbage strewn everywhere. Raccoons or something.

My training sheet for the month of August is pretty simple...I'll need to find some new routes, or I'm going to get bored.

Tues and Thurs - 4 mi, Wed - 2 mi, and long weekend runs of 6.

In September, everything jumps up. from 4 to 4.5 and 5...from 2 to 3....and from 6 to 7, 8 and 9.

I've said it a million times, but I'll say it again....I'm pretty new to this running stuff.....sooooo......

........why is it that a half marathon training program never has you run a 13.1 mile run? And marathon training programs have 20 miles as their long run? If playing a sport, don't you practice THAT sport at least once in the season??

I'm guessing there's a method to the madness here that I'm not catching?

I suppose that once you run those 10 (or those 20).....adding another 3 (or 6) on race day is relative??

If I make it 10 miles, you'll have to drag me kicking and screaming off the course before I finish. That's for sure! :-)

I'm guessing that, because I'm a novice to this sport (in ever sense of the word), the training programs I'm running are geared that way. I do see plans out there that take you to 11 and 12. I suppose, after I run my first one, I'll use a different plan for my next one.

Yep, you heard me, my next one. I haven't even gotten one under my belt, and I'm wondering which one I'll do in the spring!!! :-)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

08/10/10 (4 mi, 11:05 pace)

80 degrees, 79% humidity at 5:00 am.

Really?

Today was a slog, more than a run.

I was breathing soup instead of air.

It was more of a walk with run breaks...rather than a run with walk breaks.

I knew it was going to be bad, when within the first mile I was already thinking to myself..."I could get away with only doing 2 today."

Today 100% tested my dedication to this running thing. :-)

Saturday, August 7, 2010

08/07/10 (6 mi, 10:16 pace)

New personal best. 6 miles!!!

I walked in the door to my house with the biggest grin on my face.

I made myself a glass of chocolate milk and sat down at my computer to talk about how great this feels.

And I've got nothing.

I'm just sitting here, smiling like a dork.

Our black lab pup is sprawled out under my chair....sleeping a very deep sleep. I reach down to rub her big floppy ears, and she doesn't even twitch.

I can hear the ticking of our grandfather clock to my left.

I hear a fan running upstairs in the guest bedroom, that I keep forgetting to turn off.

It's so funny.....running 6 miles means so much to me. 4 didn't do it, and neither did 5. But 6....wow!

I now know that the 10K I'm signed up to run in September won't be embarrassing.

My time won't be even close to the same as my marathon running co-workers....but I'll be running it this year none the less.

This half marathon is getting closer and closer. And, even if I have to walk the last half, I now know that I can run the first.

I don't know what to say that doesn't sound silly or corny or right. I mean, it's 6 miles, big deal, right??

But it IS to me!!!!

(still smiling like a dork)

I'd better go get in the shower, I have a bocce tournament to get to. :-) :-)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

08/05/10 (4 mi, 10:18 pace)

Apparently I hit my snooze this morning.....twice in fact. :-) I didn't realize it until I opened my eyes and looked at the clock. I got out the door about 15 minutes later than I usually do.

The bad part was rushing to get ready for work after the run, but the good part was running just as the sun was coming up...instead of seeing it start to get light just as I'm finishing my run.

I actually enjoy running in the dark, when no one is around, and the world is sleeping. It's lonely though, sometimes. I'd love to find a running partner...but I never see anyone running in our neighborhood. I've read that I can't take Sam (our 9 month old black lab pup) running with me until she's two years old. She's still growing, and the long distance running will actually harm her bones...and that's the last thing I want.

I do, on the other hand, need to start walking with her more regularly. I've run with her once (before I found out that I shouldn't be)...and she did remarkably well....but I focused on keeping her where she should be, instead of my running. It might be a good distraction, but it was physically exhausting. :-)

Today I walked quite a bit more during my run than I usually do. This is the third night with less than stellar sleep, so I think it's finally catching up. I wasn't even a mile into the run, and I was beat. Luckily Friday is my rest day.....that extra hour of sleep should feel great!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

08/04/10 (2 mi, 10:01 pace)

Today was my short easy run. And, I can honestly say it felt short, and easy.

Well, easier than my 4 mile runs, or my long weekend run.

But ask me how easy it felt with .25 miles left to go...and I might have thrown something at you, were it already in my hand and not too heavy to heave. :-)

It's getting darker and darker each morning. Debating either running with my small runners headlamp on, or finding a reflective vest. There aren't any sidewalks in any of the neighborhoods I run during the week, so I don't run with any music. Gotta keep my eyes and ears alert for those (few and far between) approaching vehicles.

Today, as I was running up the first hill, the streetlight along the way goes out.

Why does this happen? Some sort of backwards motion sensor? "Quick, here comes someone that needs light, shut off...quick!!!"

I'm getting used to it, and it's ceasing to be creepy. But now it's just plain annoying.

Anyway...the light goes out....and I see a flash of white in the middle of the road up the hill and around the corner from me.

Just a quick flash of white.....but nothing else. It was the height of a person, not a cat or dog....but it went away immediately.

I stayed on the lookout, but kept running.

Eventually I saw it again, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!

It saw me when I saw it. I gasped, and it took off running. The sound of hooves hitting the ground in quick succession.

A deer...a huge male buck, to be specific...had been standing in the middle of the road watching me get closer and closer.

It was just the adrenaline rush I needed to power me up the rest of the hill without slowing. (giggle)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

08/03/10 (4 mi, 10:15 pace)

I checked the training schedule on my way out the door, and am glad I did. My Tues/Thurs runs go up to 4 miles starting this week.

I remember when 4 miles was my long weekend run, and I didn't know if I'd make it. It's fun to see the progress I'm making.

I didn't run my long run this weekend. I was supposed to go to a funeral on Saturday am, and then found out that the information I had was incorrect, and it was actually two days earlier. By then, it was time to meet up with friends for a wine/pizza contest at a local winery. Hello..can't skip that for running! (giggle)

And then Sunday I spent from 4:00 am to noon volunteering at the Omaha Triathlon. By the time I left, I HAD to get out of the sun...and running in it didn't sound good.

I should have gone to the gym to run...but didn't.

A lazy afternoon felt WONDERFUL!!! :-) :-)