My half marathon is 5 weeks out. I ran a 9 miler this morning that really made me question running a half. Everything hurt and I had to WORK to get back home. The last 3 miles were done by run/walking. My back has been hurting along with my hip this week and it started tightening up around 4.5 miles or so.
I got a new pair of shoes on Tuesday. Unfortunately, they seem to be causing me problems. I’m going to take them for a spin on Tuesday just to make sure they’re the problem. If so, I’ll stick to my Adidas. The odd thing is that this is just the new version of the shoe that I’ve been wearing. The Brooks Defyance. It seems like I clench my toe more in these. (I always clench me toes. Thus the weird blisters and black toenails. I’m just figuring this out!)
My weight is back up to 120. I’d really like to get it down to at least 116-117 before the half marathon. (I really wish I was at 112-114, but whatever.) I’ve reigned in my drinking, but I’m still eating lots of crap. I can easily drop some weight if I just don’t eat junk.
So…the next 5 weeks I get serious. No drinking (unless I happen to go out with someone – even then just 1 social drink), no junk food, do all my stretching and strengthening, and hit all my runs (unless I just really need some rest – not sure how this back/right side thing is going to go). This isn’t really that big of a deal, but I need it because I have 0 confidence going into this half marathon.
I’m going to monitor what’s going on with the right side of my body. If it doesn’t feel better around mid-week I’ll get a massage or see the chiropractor. I’m almost positive that everything that’s going on right now is due to my tilted pelvis. An adjustment should get me up and running again. This is mostly my fault since I haven’t been stretching or anything. Bad. I know.
I’ll be blogging my way through this, so wish me luck!
Tags: A1A Half Marathon, i suck, i'm a fat-ass
Dear Left Knee,
I’m not writing this letter to berate you or anything. I’m just writing to make sure we are all on the same page. It seems that I finally got Right Ankle with the program after that nasty fall in New York. Sure, my shoes fit a little oddly on that foot and everything but there is no pain. It does appear that everyone is on board with this whole “Comeback in 2010″ thing that we’re doing. Even Lungs. As I’m sure you know, Lungs had blood clots and took a long time to get with the program. But, now they’re ready to go.
Earlier in the year, I made a huge mistake and fell while hiking in Peru. I messed up your IT band badly and could barely walk on you for a while. I then spent over $1200 that I don’t really have rehabilitating you and getting you ready to run. You did great and responded very well to the treatment! I was proud of yout. But now…
You’re hurting again. I’m pretty sure it’s my fault, too. I haven’t used the foam roller or stretched. I’ve done NO strength training. Thanks to the fit issues with Right Ankle and Foot, I’m kind of wearing questionable shoes. (They’ve got about 360 miles on them. Not horribly bad but more miles than you’re used to.) Also, since the weather has been nice and cool I’ve been running rather quickly. You probably don’t like that, either.
So, how about a compromise here? I’m going to ice, take ibuprofen, and use a little heat before bed. I’ll also do all the stretches and strength training that needs to be done. I’ll drop the intensity this week for you, though the mileage will go as planned.(It’s already a rest week. Also, if I notice an increase in pain, no runnign will stop.) No speedwork, though. New shoes are on the way. We’ll rock the Adidas’ until the Brooks that you like so much get here.
All I need is for you to get better. Ok? We’ve all been working really hard and want to run A1A. We’ve got about 6 more weeks of traning to go. I know that you are up to this. We just all need to work together to keep everyone happy and healthy.
Lots o’ Love!
GeekGirl
PS – We’ll review next week!
Tags: A1A Half Marathon, i suck
This morning I had my first speed workout on tap. It was 5 x 400m @ 5k pace. Yeah. I have no idea what that is either, so I just opted to do 5 x 2:00 @ around 9:30. This run was a disaster from the beginning. At 6:45 in the morning, it was almost 80 degrees with 75% humidity. In December. Ohhhh….and it was so windy that I couldn’t breathe while running into it. Five minutes into my warm-up I wanted to turn around and go home.
The first interval sucked ass, but I got down to a pace of 9:08. I then proceed to die/watch my lung land on the sidewalk. Interval #2 I only made it to about 1:45 and then I just gave up. I stopped caught my breath and continued jogging. Fortunately, I was able to turn around. From there I finished the other 3 intervals. They sucked ass and I almost threw up, but they were all @ 9:30 or faster except the last one which was around 10:00. Whatever.
By the time I got home I was exhausted/in tears/ nauseous. I gotta tell you. All I’m wondering is how the fuck am I going to run a half marathon in February. I’m fat (not really – I’ve lost weight) and out of shape. Can I get in shape in 12 weeks? I have no idea. (Yes I do have an idea. I KNOW that I can be in shape in 12 weeks.) My run yesterday was miserable, too. It was only 3 freaking miles.
All I can do is stick with it and give it my all. However, every single step will be filled with doubt and a healthy dose of self-loathing. I’m the slowest person out there. (Not really, but close enough.) Sigh…
Tags: A1A Half Marathon, i suck, i'm a fat-ass, self-loathing
