Only 13 days til the Marathon, will my feet hold up?

I'm in the back row 6th from the left, pink /white top.

I had a good week of training and running on my own and only missed Friday, but this was intentional. I knew I had my long run on Saturday and I wanted to give my feet a rest on Friday so I chose not to run the 2 miles that was on my schedule.

I also had EMG/Nerve Conduction Velocity on my feet. It wasn’t painful and very similar to the electrical stimulations I’ve had done in the past but much stronger. He attached three electrodes to various parts of my feet, calves and behind my knees and tested various muscles for patterns of electrical activity. All of this was recorded into a laptop. Science is pretty amazing. I won’t have the results until sometime this week.

I had hoped resting my feet on Friday would be enough to make it through my long run, 12 miles on Saturday. I set two alarms since I had to be at practice at 5am! All three teams, Central, East and West came together on Saturday for everyone’s long runs (my coach had us do ours last week because he wanted us to do a three week taper versus a two week taper (when you decrease your mileage before your event)). So I woke up at 3:45, and didn’t have to rush to get to practice. I started off okay, took the first bathroom opportunity that I had (finally learned my lesson) and progressed with my 5:1 pace. Thankfully no stomach issues or groin pulls, just a little twinge in my left knee that eventually went away but my feet are still not cooperating with me. I was about five miles in when I had to stop and try to stretch them or something. It just hurt so much. I’m not sure why the pain has progressed so much. As I was hobbling along, one of the coaches from the East Valley team caught up with me and asked if I was doing okay, she had seen me stop to stretch. I explained to her the problems I was experiencing. She had a very sympathetic ear and we ran/walked together for the next three miles. I will tell you that it really helped to talk to someone as I was running because it took my mind off the pain. She had said at one point, we prefer the runners to push themselves on race day then at practices and not being able to make it to race day. That was all I needed to hear to give myself an excuse not to run the 12 miles that I had originally intended. I know I will cross that finish line on June 6th, I have absolutely no doubts about that even if I have to cross the finish line on my hand and knees. I do wonder if I will be able run other marathons though. I guess time and the EMG/NCV tests will tell.

Thanks again for all your support and words of encouragement and Kate I'm so excited that I've motivated you to start running!

My longest run yet

Life seems to be taking on new meaning since I started training. I just recently told my lunch group that marathoning and fundraising are my two new hobbies. Although I’ve been a bit remiss in my weekly trainings. I only ran about half what I was supposed to last week. It really makes a huge difference when I am running with someone versus running by myself. It’s been very hard to keep motivated without Sheri to spur me on. I have to find the motivation within myself because I can’t always be sure that I have a running partner. No wonder I don’t have the stamina and endurance yet, because I haven’t been as consistent as I need to be. I will have another chance though, since I just signed up for PF Chang’s Rock N Roll Marathon, which will be here in Phoenix in January. While it was my goal to just cross the finish line for my first half, it is my goal to improve my speed for PF Chang’s and would love to finish averaging 12 minute miles, currently I’m averaging 15 with 13 being my best so far. So I have to get all my weekly runs in to truly build up my stamina.

This past Saturday was to be my longest run yet. 12 miles, it would have been the most that I would run until the actual marathon. I set my alarm for 4:15 to meet the team at 5:30, my alarm went off and I promptly hit the snooze button, or so I thought. I must have accidentally hit the dismiss button instead of snooze because I didn’t wake up until 4:59. Crap. I still had to get dressed, eat a little breakfast, drink 12-18 oz of water, and drive to our meeting location. I drove at break neck speed, thank goodness no cops were around, and made it to practice by 5:39. I was the last to arrive and we got started with the warm-up as soon as I got there. The morning was cool, and a great temperature for my long run. It started off good enough, I started first as usual and determined to increase my pace to 5:1. The trail headed west on the canals and there were quite a few “hills”, I use quotes because they weren’t true hills like South Mountain but they were definite inclines and declines. I passed my first opportunity to use a bathroom, about a mile in. Thinking that I would have more opportunities, I waited not feeling any urges. Well of course three miles in I felt that urge and I had to go off the trail to find one. Darn runners trot! Well it was downhill from there. My stomach started cramping big time, and I felt a serious groin pull so I decided to walk it off, not wanting to cause any permanent damage that would prevent me from running the actual marathon. And every time I tried to start running again, my groin wouldn’t hear of it. Eventually the groin pain finally went away but now my toes were so numb that it felt like the skin was being peeled off the tops of my toes. It was the oddest, most painful sensation. So I walked and walked and walked with a few attempts here and there to try to run. Today was not going to be the day to move to my 5:1 pace. I had about three more miles to go when I ran into one of my captains and she saw that I wasn't doing so well, although she was running the opposite way, she was almost done with her run, she promptly turned around and walked with me. She suggested that if I was in so much pain that I should turn around and not complete my mileage for the day. I was hesitant since I only had a few more miles to go and I had never not finished one of the team practices. I walked a bit further, feeling that odd painful sensation in my toes. And then I had a meltdown. As I was telling Kristi how important it was for me to finish and thinking off all the people that I was running for because they couldn’t run, I just started crying and felt guilty that I couldn’t finish my measly 12 miles for my honorees who are fighting for their lives. If I couldn’t do 12 miles, how did I expect to do 13.1 in three weeks. I let myself be defeated and I felt horrible. Thankfully for Kristi she assured me that everyone has horrible runs and she shared with me one of her experiences of when she wasn’t able to complete one of her runs and actually had to have the coach come pick her up in a car. This made me feel a bit better and I chose to turn around instead of fighting it out and perhaps causing some permanent damage that wouldn’t allow me to run in San Diego.

I should also mention that I saw my podiatrist earlier in the week who said that my toes shouldn’t be going numb like they are now that I have the correct shoes and orthotics and it may be possible nerve damage. Dr. Forman made another adjustment to my orthotics and told me to call him if my toes got numb again. I have an appointment to get my nerves tested this Friday. I’ll keep you all posted. Thank you for keeping up with my blog and donating! I couldn't have done it without you guys!

26 days and counting

Eeeekkkk!!! Where has the last three months gone? How can it be only 26 days until I have to run/walk 13 miles? I'm already feeling butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it. I had hoped to be a running machine by now (cue Rocky Balboa running up the steps music), able to run 10 miles without any walk breaks and breathing easy, instead it is truly a struggle every time I go out for my runs. I haven't fallen in love with running, I haven't lost twenty pounds, and I'm definitely not a mean green running machine. But I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I have met some great people through Team in Training, I've learned tons about fundraising, realized the generosity of people I barely know and am much more fit than I was three months ago. I must like something because I've already committed to running a full marathon next year and possibly another 1/2. It's amazing to be a part of something that is much bigger than me, to be a part of such an amazing organization that has raised thousands and thousands of dollars to help find a cure for blood cancers. I am truly feeling blessed for this experience.

So last I left off my long run was 8 miles and I was up to a 4:1 pace. May 1st was another 8 miler but on hills (South Mountain) which was a killer. I did well the last time on South Mountain but this time, South Mountain got the best of me but I can still proudly say that I walked/ran 8 miles on hills!

This past Saturday, May 8th I was in Flagstaff for my cousin Kate's graduation from NAU. I was really sad about missing my first team training but I wasn't going to miss my cousin's graduation. Not only was I on my own for my long run, I had to increase it to 9 miles in high elevation none the less. I wasn't sure how I was going to fit it in, the ceremony was at 10 am with an 8 am reception, lunch immediately following with another ceremony for a family friend at 2pm and then dinner reservations at 7pm. Sunday was Mother's Day with a brunch at 10, a drive back to Phoenix to the Grandparent's house who were having a graduation ceremony for Kate. I decided to skip the 2nd ceremony and do my run before dinner. It was beautiful weather in Flagstaff and I really wanted to run outside but I don't know my way around and I don't have a fancy watch that tells me the distance that I ran and I was afraid of getting lost so I ran on the treadmill at the gym at my cousins' apartment complex instead. By the time lunch was over and the last straggler left our lunch party I didn't have much time for my nine miles. I had also made the mistake of wearing high heels earlier for the ceremony not realizing all the walking we would be doing around campus. So I started off my run with very tired, sore feet...not a great way to start a run. By the time I got to the gym I knew I wasn't going to have time to get all nine miles in but I was determined to get as much in as possible, Also justifying that I had already walked at least a mile all over NAU campus and in heels and that I needed to take it a bit easier do to the change in elevation. So I managed to squeak in 4 miles before I had to meet back up with my family to get ready for dinner. Boy were my feet killing me by the time I finished my four miles. When I got back to the hotel I did my first ice bath ever. It really helped with the swelling in my feet and legs.

I also felt ok about not running my full nine because according to my last training schedule I would have another chance to run 9 miles this coming Saturday. However on Monday I received an updated schedule that this Saturday would by my longest run to date at 12 miles!!!! And then we start to taper. 12 miles! That's almost the entire half marathon. Well I guess this will be the true test to whether or not I can do this. Pray for me!

Did I really just tell her I'm a runner?

Wow, I really did. I just treated myself to an overdue pedicure and found myself saying to the technician, Yes I like my toenails really short because I'm a runner and if I don't keep them short they rub the sides of my toes. It's a bit trippy to think that I now have the confidence to say to a complete stranger, I'm a runner.

This last week was tough, I only got two days of my four training days completed. And one of those days, Monday running with Sheri I had to cut short due to bathroom "issues." Seriously running has become a natural laxative for me and while that's good?!? it's not because it cuts into my running, my times and just generally frustrating. Poor Sheri! Thanks for still wanting to run with me every week! I honestly don't know if I would be as diligent on my weekday runs if it wasn't for knowing she was waiting on me. We've actually made a pact to run a full marathon together next year. We're both going to turn 40, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate.

I definitely felt the impact of not getting all my runs in. Yesterday was an 8 mile run and the first mile or so was really tough. I was breathing extremely hard and I just felt tired. I made my weekend deposit at the Biltmore (thank goodness they never question why I use their bathroom every Saturday - LOL) and felt pretty darn good for the rest of my run. Last Saturday I had moved up to a 4 minute run with a 1 minute walk break and I continued this week with a 4:1 again, however both last Saturday and this Saturday I actually ran for 8 minutes with 1 minute walk breaks. I am finally seeing improvement!!! I'm still not going to break any speed records but I'm okay with that. I'd like to at least finish averaging 15 minutes per mile. My fastest so far has been running during the week where we average about 13 + per mile but to my amazement I hit 13:54 mins/mile on a long run! Before this my long runs were at 16 min/mile. I already feel like I've accomplished so much and I haven't even crossed the finish line yet! 42 days until I can say that I've completed a 1/2 marathon.

Dr Weigand at SpineBuilder ROCKS!

A special thank you to Dr. Weigand and Spinebuilder for donating $1 for every patient seen in March 2010! You are a chiropractor with a heart! http://www.spinebuilder.com/

This Saturday's run was tough. I had to run seven miles and I started out okay but lost steam after I had to take a quick bathroom break. In the beginning I felt ready to try to move my pace to a 3 minute jog with a 1 minute walk break but Saturday was not going to be the day. I stuck with my 3:2 pace. My feet hurt more than normal with my right toes feeling extremely numb. This was also my first week of getting all my training in and as one of the captains pointed out, my feet need time to adjust from running on them so much. I ran a total of 17 miles this week. And to think a short two months ago I was pretty much a couch potato. It's amazing how our bodies adjust.

I actually ran almost a 1/2 mile further than I needed to, I got confused on my turn around point. Due to the pain in my feet, I walked the second half more than I ran but I did manage to jog the last mile all the way without any walk breaks, quite the feat at the end of seven and half miles and I even managed to sprint the last 1/4 of mile. I just visualized the finish line on marathon day. This week I'm determined to get to the 3:1 pace. Wish me luck. Please click here to donate.

Speed Intervals, ugh!

Tonight I met two of my teammates to run speed intervals. Not as much fun as it sounds. We started with a ten minute warmup (code for a ten minute jog), then we run as fast as we can for 400 meters, take a 2 minute walk break, sprint for 400 meters, walk for 2 minutes, sprint for 800 meters, walk for 2 minutes, sprint for 800, walk 2 minutes, sprint for another 800 meters, walk 2, sprint for 400 meters, walk for 2, sprint 400, walk for 2 and finally a ten minute cool down. Not including the warmup and cool down that's a total of 2 and half miles. With the warmup, cool down I ended up running about 3 1/2 miles. It should have been 4 1/2 but I got confused at how many times we were supposed to go down and back on the trail. And I will be honest in saying that while Mike and Sarah really were sprinting, I was jogging and I didn't push myself as much as I could have or should have but at least I was out there. It was my first time running speed intervals, I will do better next week. Please click here to donate.