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
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
I’ve been reviewing my training from a couple of years ago when I had my coach. She took me back to basics and though I was really upset at first, she was right. I needed to do some nice easy running and build up my base. I’m thinking that’s what I need now. I don’t react well to just tossing myself into a training program. I take a good strong base first.
What does this mean for the West Palm Half? It’s still under consideration. I might be able to run it just for the heck of it and to give me a baseline for my fitness. We’ll see. I picked up a version of Jack Daniels Running Formula. It’s what my coach based a lot of last years training off of. I’m studying what I did to get in shape and what he says. I’ll keep you posted as to what happens.
November will be the month that I get my food back in order, too. I’ve been so busy lately that I eat crap. Dunkin Donuts particularly. It shows in the 10 lbs I’ve put on. Am I overweight? No. Am I 10 lbs bigger than I was when I was running 3 minutes faster in the 5k? You better believe it.
I kind of gave up on my diet when I was sick. I’m not sick anymore. (At least I hope not. We’ll see what the oncologist says. I feel fine.) My tummy’s been a mess lately and I know it’s because of the crap I eat.
It looks like November will be a month of cleansing and just getting myself to feel good. Of couse, I’m waiting until AFTER my New York blowout. Then I’ll come back home, but on my big girl britches, call the doctor, and do the things I need to do to feel good and run well. It’s time.
Tags: ain't no half-stepping, i'm a fat-ass, Jack Daniels, no. more. crap.
