A Short Break

On Sunday I ran 7 miles! And I ran the whole time! After about mile 2 and up until mile 6.5 it felt really great. I was really really slow and I'm pretty sure I got beat by some people who were running 10 miles but whatever. Seven miles is three miles longer than I've ever run without walking before.

Unfortunately, my left toes were killing me for most of the run. It didn't hurt bad enough that I needed or even wanted to stop, which is good. Really, it felt like I was unconciously holding my toes up in my shoe rather than letting them rest on the sole and bend and straighten with the natural movement of my steps, which would obviously make my foot sore. If I could force myself to curl my toes, that temporarily relieved the pain, though it did return promptly. What made me nervous was that the pain started to extend into the ball of my foot. I'm just completely at a loss as to what this could possibly be.

I know people often get stress fractures of the feet, so I'm hoping that's not what it is. My first reaction was that I wanted to just continue training normally until I fell or physically couldn't run anymore. At least then I would know I gave it literally all I had. Then I started to think that through. If it is a stress fracture, it could progress into a full-on fracture. Spending my summer in a foot cast, unable to float the river or be in the water is just not worth it to me. Additionally, it's not at all worth it to me to hurt myself so badly that I need to quit working out altogether for an extended period of time. That, in fact, sounds miserable.

So my plan is to not run for this week at all, until Saturday. I'll do a short run Saturday and my long run on Sunday. I'm really upset about this because it was finally starting to feel good and not hurt all the time. Hopefully my long run (eight miles) will not hurt as bad this week.

Wish me luck and happy feet!

My Workout Pet Peeves

Seriously, I promise I'll post pictures from the Riverbank Run soon. I'm just really technology impaired and have been too busy to take 2 hours to sit down and figure out how to put pictures on this thing.

Anyway, at The Lift last night we had a substitute instructor. I'm not the type of person who will leave as soon as they see that the regular person isn't there, but it does grind my gears just a bit. I believe it takes at least 2 workouts with someone to get into the groove of what they do, so when a new person comes I feel a little lost. (Yes, I know everyone gets sick/deserves a vacation.) This prompted me to come up with a list of other things I dislike about group workout classes.

1. Techno covers of Top 40 music. If I want to hear a Miley-wannabe singing "I Can't Wait To See You Again", I'll watch American Idol.
2. Working one muscle group almost exclusively in a class that is geard toward a whole body workout. I'm training for a half-marathon for God's sake. My legs are getting plenty of work, thank you. I'm all for squats and lunges but can a girl get a bicep curl please?
3. Slippery gym floors and slippery steps/bosus DO NOT MIX. Let's get some rubber feet for those steps!
4. There's really no need to talk like the Sit & Be Fit lady on speed. (Those of you that grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood on Billings PBS know exactly what I'm talking about.) I know that's not your real voice because I heard you talking to your friend before class so just stop it!
5. Lunges. Just lunges in general.
6. I'm perfectly capable of doing crunches on my own. What I'm not really capable of doing on my own is timed planks. (It's pretty hard to look at your watch when you're supporting all of your weight on your arms.) This is why timed planks are a good activity for a group exercise class, and crunches are a lame activity. Creativity is a must!
7. I know the instructor wants to get a workout too, but when someone is bending exclusively at the waist during squats you should probably take a second to correct that, no?

I'm really not trying to be a grumpus here. I did have a good workout and I've got some sore muscles today so it's not like the whole night was a total loss. And I know all the squats and lunges are good for my running. I'll make sure to say a special thank you to our substitute instructor if I make it through 6 miles on Sunday!! :)

Update

Well, another week has gone by without a post. I promise I haven't just dropped off the face of the planet, and I AM still running. I'm also working on moving into a new apartment so I'm pretty overwhelmed with many tasks and projects that aren't related to running.

I am still planning on doing the Riverbank Run on Saturday, though I haven't registered yet.

This weekend, I was in Great Falls visiting the grandparents, so I missed the Sunday long-run. I did run 2 miles on their treadmill, but just couldn't bring myself to do 5 miles alone on a treadmill. At least I got a run in, right? And I'm going to try to go enjoy the sunshine with an M hike after work tonight. That might not happen, however, depending on what news I get from my new property management company. Sigh.

In other news, I did some clothes shopping this weekend and am pleased to report I bought two shirts in a size smaller than I was wearing before! My body is currently a pear-shaped nightmare but that will....eventually....change. I hope. Regardless, it's nice to see my hard work paying off in more ways than one!

Also, my amazing boyfriend bought me a bike for my birthday! I'm so excited to ride to work this summer and save money on gas as well as get some extra exercise in. I also have lots of friends who I've already been hitting up to come on bike rides with me!

I will definitely post some pictures of the new bike and hopefully from the Riverbank Run in the next week!

The Sock Lesson

Up until recently, one thing I haven't had too much of an opinion on in regards to running is socks. Are running socks really necessary? Or will my funny-stripes Costco socks hack it? The answer, readers, is yes, running socks ARE really necessary, and NO your Costco socks won't suffice.

About three weeks ago, on the would-be 3-mile run that Lisa and I managed to turn into an almost 4-mile run (thanks to some less than stellar directions), I started to feel some rubbing on the arch of my left foot. Stupidly, I didn't stop to fix the problem. I ended up with a blister on the arch of my foot, presumably from socks that were too thin and/or wrinkled.

Last week, I ran my 4-mile run in Billings wearing thick FitSox brand Runner's Edge socks. I didn't even feel the existing blister, and no new ones appeared.

This week, on a similar 4-mile run, I wore thin socks again. I thought they would be fine, because they were supposedly "performance socks." Not so. I now have a blister on the arch of my right foot, and a new blister underneath the old, almost healed blister on my left foot.

Lesson learned. Thick socks = happy feet.

I'm Still Plugging Along...

Dear Readers,

I genuinely apologize for my lack of posts lately! On top of running, there is a lot going on in my personal/work/Alpha Phi lives that has kept me from the keyboard. However, I AM still keeping up with my training, for the most part.

On Sunday, since I was in Billings for Easter weekend, I missed training class. However, I DID have a great 4-mile run with my dad! I think I'm finally reaching the coveted threshold where adding an extra mile on to a run isn't as tough as it once seemed. (I'll get back to you on if I still feel that way after we get to 5 miles in two weeks!)

Aside from that, I've been enjoying some 2- and 3-mile runs with Lisa on Wednesdays and Sundays, (when we don't get lost!) and am either running 1-2 miles, going to The Lift, or hiking the M on off days. I really hate running by myself so it's usually hiking the M or running on the treadmill in front of the TVs at the gym. I know that's not as good for me but at least I'm doing it! I've said it before, but I'm thinking cross-training is key!

My shins are still hurting, but it's not getting any worse so I guess that's a good thing. I'll take what I can get!

I recently got a blister on the arch of my left foot, but that turned out to be a lot more minor than I thought it would be. Nevertheless, I'm saving the thin Gold-Toe socks for short runs and sticking with my Runner's Edge FitSoks for the long runs!

Thank you all so much for your encouragement and positive thoughts! Writing this blog and knowing you're all rooting for me is making this easier and way more fun, AND forcing me not to quit! (Because that would be REAL embarassing.)

Success!

Last night was another 2-mile run, and I did the whole thing without walking!!! (To be fair, I stopped for 30 seconds in the middle to tie my shoe. But still.) I'm so excited because this is definitely something I couldn't have done back in January. Now for that 3-miler coming up on Sunday...

Relief

Last week, I was feeling really discouraged with running. It wasn't feeling like it was getting any easier and it sure wasn't fun. Luckily, I had a couple of good runs last week and I'm feeling a lot better now.

On Sunday, a group run day, we were set to run two miles again. I ran with my friend Lisa, who is definitely a better runner than me. That really pushed me and forced me to run more than I would have had I been running alone, AND it was a lot more fun. I walked a LOT less than the week before! It also gave me a necessary confidence boost so I'm feeling better about the whole ordeal. (Though I still refer to running as "an ordeal." :)) Thanks, Lisa!

I am seriously considering doing the YMCA Riverbank Run on April 24th. It's a 5k, so it is farther than I've gone at this point, but we're set to do 3 miles this coming Sunday and I'll conceivably have done 5 by the 24th, so a 5k will be a piece of cake! Setting a short term goal like this is good for me, because I'm a procrastinator so preparing for something that's not happening until July just really isn't my style. This gives me a reason to run NOW, not put it off like I do everything else! (Also, bonus: I love the YMCA preschool and youth programs and this helps benefit them!)

Life Happens

I'm discovering it is harder to keep a training schedule than I initially realized. Sometimes, life just gets in the way. And I've never been one to let working out get in the way of life. :)

As you probably have guessed by now, I did NOT make it to The Lift last night, nor did I get my mile in. It was Ryan's birthday and I should have anticipated that working out just wouldn't be happening.

That said, I do need to be better about anticipating ahead of time when getting a run in after work just isn't feasible, and force myself to get up early those days for a pre-work gym trip. (Though running in the morning makes me tired and ravenous all day.)

To make up for my lost mile yesterday, I will hopefully be running a mile after work and then meeting Ryan for a hike up the M, weather permitting. I'll also be running quite a bit the rest of the week. I know I need to be better about getting my runs in, or it will never get easier!

Has Anybody Seen My Motivation??

Wow, I haven't blogged in almost 2 weeks! Which also means, unfortunately, that I haven't run in about a week and a half. Whoops. I guess I kind of lost motivation. However, I have hiked the M a few times, and, though I have had appointments and meetings that conflict with The Lift, I've been doing some lifting on my own. I definitely need to get back into the swing of things!!

The Runner's Edge marathon training classes started Sunday. I was out of town and had to miss the first session, so I will be going to my first one tomorrow night. The first run is only 1 mile. I was doing a little more than a mile the last few times I ran. However, I've never run outside/not on a treadmill before so I'm feeling a little nervous about it. I will definitely blog about it on Thursday!

Wish me luck and send good "strong legs and lungs" thoughts my way!!

What Not to Eat...

So, today I learned a very important lesson: do not eat a ginormous lunch less than one hour before you run. It does not feel good. My tummy was turning by the end and I didn't have as good of a run as I think I could have had I eaten earlier and perhaps hydrated myself a little better. (Apparently two cups of coffee and one large iced tea does not a hydrated woman make. Who knew?) So not my smartest day, obviously.

Nausea aside, I had another good, tough run today. There was very little pain in my lower legs, though they're a little tired now. The Runner's Edge training classes start two weeks from tomorrow and I think I'll be ready. I can't believe how fast time is flying!!

I would like to start doing yoga again. Since I had some extra time after my run today, I did a lot more stretching than I normally do. (Though I do always stretch post run.) I noticed that my muscles, particulary in my legs have gotten a LOT tighter since I quit doing yoga every week. My utadasana, or inverted mountain pose, was not looking good! (Utadasana is standing with your feet pointed slightly inward at the front of your mat and leaning forward at the hips to touch your toes. I'm not a yogi so that description is probably way off but just go with it.) A few months ago, I could put my hands almost flat on the ground in this pose with my knees straight. Today, I could barely brush the ground with my fingertips and my knees were even a little bent. Damn! I did a few Downward Facing Dogs and those felt good, so once I get into a good training routine I'm going to try and go back to my Monday night yoga classes.

Anyway, in an earlier post I mentioned my running power song, but I realized today when I was running that I actually have a number of good power songs for working out, so I'll start closing my blog posts with a song that inspired me recently. Most will come from my iPod but a few might come from what Stephanie plays in The Lift or what I hear in spinning. A few disclaimers, though: 1. It's been a long time since I've had a fully functioning computer, so the music on my iPod is way old. 2. I really prefer punk and rock music so I don't recommend downloading these songs for your small children or impressionable friends.

Power Song of the Day: "Billie Jean" by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. While I'm a die-hard MJ fan and would normally be offended that anyone would even try and cover Billie Jean, Me First does a nice job of turning it into a punk song and giving it a good beat for working out. The original is obviously better for any and all other situations, though.

In Stitches and Splints

Recently, I bought The Complete Idiot's Guide to Running, (hereafter referred to as TCIGTR) which has, among lots of other information, a set of workouts that build up to running 30 minutes without stopping. Since I run a pretty slow mile, this will enable me to run more than 2 miles comfortably by the time the marathon training classes start in March. Since they start the training at 2 miles, I figure this will guarantee that I don't embarass myself.

The workouts started with walking ten minutes, alternating running 1 minute with walking 1 minute for ten minutes, then walking ten minutes. They build up from there, adding more running and less walking until eventually you're running the entire 30 minutes. Ideally, it should take 4 weeks of running 4 times per week.

Well, I have good news and bad news. I, like Wesley in The Princess Bride, am a firm believer in bad news first. However, in this case, the bad news is really the main topic of this post so we'll start with the good news.

The good news is I made it through the toughest run yet in the TCIGTR plan. I was very nearly positive I wouldn't make it through this one on the first try, so I'm stoked that I did it. It was really tough, I won't lie, but I'm really glad I didn't give up.

On to the bad news. My shins are killing me. KILLING ME. I asked the trainers at The Women's Club about them, and they gave me some advice: stretches, strengthening exercises, crosstraining, and cutting back my running to 2x per week until they heal.

I'm really bummed that I am having this set-back in my training. Part of me wants to push through the pain and do it anyway, but I know that's a terrible plan. The LAST thing I want to have happen is a stress fracture, which according to TCIGTR can develop from shin splints. So I'm taking it easy this week, doing The Lift tonight and maybe swimming on Thursday, then a short run on the weekend. I'm hoping to add in spinning next week and a bit more running if my legs feel better, but I'm not going to try for four in one week until the week after next. This still gives me just enough time to get to 2 miles before training starts. So expect lots of cross-training posts in the next two weeks.

I'm kind of panicking with how quickly time is going. The marathon will be here before I know it! I also didn't use strong enough wording in the last paragraph: I'm really damn frustrated that I can't run as much as I want to!! (Mom and Dad, pick yourselves up off the floor. Yes, I just said I WANT to run. Don't feel bad, I surprised myself, too.)

Anyway, to my running friends, if you have any advice on shin splints and/or how much or how little I should be running, I would love to hear it!

A side note: A HUGE thank you to the ladies at The Women's Club, who are so knowledgeable and nice. I've never had a gym that had certified trainers at the front desk who you could talk to without an appointment and without shelling out one red cent. Amazing.

A Little Inspiration

Monday night, Anders Brookers, the owner of Missoula's premier running store, The Runner's Edge, gave a talk at the Good Food Store regarding training for the full- and half- Missoula Marathon. I was excited to go and dragged Ryan along. (It turns out we will not be participating as a couple in this year's Valentine's Day Scrumpy Jack Scramble 5k run. I got the "don't even ask" head shake when it was brought up during the talk.)

Side Note: If you ever have the opportunity to try the GFS's Sweet Potato Soup, DO IT. It has peanut butter in it. It's incredible.

Anyway, Anders is also the coach of the Hellgate High School track and cross-country teams, so he knows his stuff. He didn't say much that I hadn't already read on the website, but he did answer some questions on things like the advantages of caffienated vs de-caffienated power gels. He also reiterated that the half-marathon is a very acheivable goal from where I'm at now. Apparently, one could even conceivably make it through the whole marathon at this point, but I'm not crazy enough to make myself that miserable for the next 23 weeks. I do need to be able to do my job without falling asleep at my desk, after all!

We were also told to expect to be hungry all the time. Uh, I already am hungry all the time. What the flip is going to happen when I start running long distances? I will definitely be investing in almonds and other proteins! I should also expect to be tired all the time. Sounds awesome!

In all seriousness, I'm very excited about the marathon and I'm definitely going to shell out the $80 to do the Runner's Edge training classes.

More on my training and progress in the next post!