Injured yet again

I woke up on Monday morning, got out of bed and my right calf felt immediately tight. Really tight and sore! I was sooo disappointed! I knew I wasn't going to run on Monday anyway since I just did 12 miles the day before. I then was walking down my stairs and felt my left hamstring was sore. Man did that run do a number on my body!

So then I also took off again on Tuesday morning. I was awake and even tweeted about going to run at 6:30am but I just couldn't bring myself to get out there and do it. One more day off to help my sore muscles.

So I decided on Wednesday to go ahead and get my butt out there. They were still sore but when I walked it was fine so I tried it out. Did 5 miles total. Ran my new route again too along with an addition to the new route. Whoa! Look at me changing it up!! But when I walked up stairs or used my calf muscle for anything that's when I felt the strain. Today it feels fine so I'm not so worried about it affecting my training.

The "leprechaun" said hi to me again. Last week I ran past a guy on a hybrid bike (I could tell cause he was sitting up really straight and had his handlebars high) and he said "Top of the morning to ya" that day and he said it again on Wednesday. Wow.

I don't think anything else of significance happened on the run. I went out and bought a second pair of the compression shorts because I enjoyed them so much! Luckily I had a gift card for MC Sports so it didn't cost me anything either. :-)

NoMeatAthlete commented on my last post about my marathon training and had a really good idea. Instead of doing 20-16-6-Taper-Taper-Marathon, I'm going to do a 20-6-16 or a 20-10-16 then 2 weeks of taper before the marathon. That makes me feel a lot better with my training now!

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 858 ft Location: Sycamore, IL Elev. Gain: -3 ft Date: 07/29/09 Up/Downhill: [+206/-209] Time: 06:17 AM Difficulty: 2.5 / 5.0 Weather: Fair 57 F temp; 89% humidity 57 F heat index; winds NW 3 Performance Distance: 5.00 miles Time: 0:46:36 Speed: 6.4 mph Pace: 9' 19 /mi Calories: 533 Map Elevation (ft) Pace (min/mile) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 9' 01 -0' 18 6.7 +0.2 +13 ft 2 9' 08 -0' 11 6.6 +0.1 +20 ft 3 9' 29 +0' 10 6.3 -0.1 -20 ft 4 9' 32 +0' 13 6.3 -0.2 +10 ft 5 9' 16 -0' 03 6.5 +0.0 -26 ft Versus average of 9' 19 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

Categories: 5 miles, DeKalb Nature Trail, marathon training

Falling behind?

Jesse: Training for Chicago Marathon, week after mine. He just ran 16 miles on Saturday. He's way faster than me.
Jen: Training for Chicago Marathon, week after mine. She ran 14 miles today. Using Hal's Intermediate Training plan. She's way faster than me.
Kim: Training for Kansas City Marathon. Using Hal's Intermediate Training plan. She ran 12 miles last Sun July 19. She's way faster than me.
Dana: Training for Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon. Using Ran 16 miles Sat, July 18. She's way faster than me.

Those are all the blog folks I know that are training for a marathon this fall. Most of them are ahead of me in mileage. I am following a Runner's World training plan because Hal didn't do it for me in my first marathon. I think I ran too much. Four days a week is too much. Anyway, so my plan has me doing this:

June 28 - Plan: 9 miles | Actual: 8.7 miles
July 5 - Plan: 10 miles | Actual: None
July 11 - Plan: 5 miles | Actual: 10 miles
July 18 - Plan: 12 miles | Actual: 6 miles
July 25 - Plan: 14 miles | Actual: (July 26) 12 miles
Aug 1 - Plan: 16 miles
Aug 8 - Plan: 5 miles
Aug 15 - Plan: 18 miles
Aug 22 - Plan: 20 miles
Aug 29 - Plan: 16 miles
Sept 5 - Plan: 6 miles
Sept 12 - Plan: 20 miles
Sept 19 - Plan: 12 miles (TAPER)
Sept 26 - Plan: 8 miles
Oct 4 - Race 26.2

Those plans were thrown out the window when I didn't run at all on July 5 and then became sick for a few days and I couldn't get in my long run on July 18 and only did 6 miles. I can't jump from 12 to 16 next week. There's no way possible to do that; both physically and mentally.

What am I to do? Luckily, this training plan has me running 20 miles twice, so I could always cut that down and just do one which worked out for me earlier this year.

So looks like new plan will be still to follow the progressiveness of it but just push the weeks back.

July 26 - 12 miles
Aug 1 - 14 miles
Aug 8 - Will be in Madison. No run, a ride instead of 50 miles (if no ride than I will run 16 miles somehow)
Aug 15 - 6 miles -- need a rest after 3 weeks of buildup weeks
Aug 22 - Corn Fest 10k Race. Need to get in 18 miles here all before working Corn Fest (I'm officially crazy)
Aug 29 - Will run on Sun Aug 30 cause of plans on that Friday night. 20 miles
Sept 5 - Be in Madison again. 16 miles.
Sept 12 - 6 miles
Sept 19 - 12 miles (TAPER begins)
Sept 26 - 8 miles
Oct 4 - Race 26.2

I'm kinda worried about having a 6 mile the week before my real taper begins. It should be another 20 miles but I don't want to do a 20-16-20! That would be tough! Maybe a 20-16-14? But then on Marathon Day it would be 5 weeks since I did any mileage of significance. That would be like a major taper.

Even with these changes, I'm still having some issues with getting in all the mileage I need. Plans & life is getting in the way. Just hope no more sickness comes up. That would really throw a wrench in my plans.

So, got any suggestions to help me with my dilemma?

**EDIT**
Forgot to mention anything about my 12 mile run today. I wore my compression shorts and HOW DID I RUN WITHOUT THESE??? They are fantastic!! Like a second skin and didn't ride up and I didn't have any body image issues wearing them! I had about 4 Shot Bloks and nearly all of the water in my bottle. I actually started earlier than I thought I could; 6:45am so that was awesome even though I went to sleep around 1am and woke at 6am. Came across some runners and 1 really friendly biker, which is totally unusual! I used my iPod which is good since running on the Great Western Trail is incredibly boring, flat, straight and blah. I came in faster than I had anticipated; about 3 minutes which worked out to be 15 seconds per mile.

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 871 ft Location: Sycamore, IL Elev. Gain: +17 ft Date: 07/26/09 Up/Downhill: [+164/-147] Time: 06:43 AM Difficulty: 2.6 / 5.0 Weather: Fair 65 F temp; 86% humidity 65 F heat index; winds NW 12 Performance Distance: 12.00 miles Time: 1:56:47 Speed: 6.2 mph Pace: 9' 44 /mi Heart Rate: 176 bpm (Avg) Calories: 1284 249 bpm (Peak) Map Pace (min/mile) Heart Rate (bpm) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Heart Rate Elev Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 9' 41 -0' 03 6.2 +0.0 172 +23 ft 2 9' 44 +0' 00 6.2 -0.0 168 +7 ft 3 9' 44 +0' 00 6.2 -0.0 169 -10 ft 4 9' 58 +0' 14 6.0 -0.1 174 +9 ft 5 9' 27 -0' 17 6.3 +0.2 175 -13 ft 6 9' 36 -0' 08 6.2 +0.1 178 +4 ft 7 9' 39 -0' 05 6.2 +0.0 179 0 ft 8 9' 41 -0' 03 6.2 +0.0 179 0 ft 9 9' 57 +0' 13 6.0 -0.1 180 -3 ft 10 9' 55 +0' 11 6.0 -0.1 180 +13 ft 11 9' 46 +0' 02 6.1 -0.0 181 -10 ft 12 9' 30 -0' 14 6.3 +0.1 184 -3 ft Versus average of 9' 44 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

Categories: 12 miles, Great Western Trail, marathon training

The beginning of it all again

I ran tonight.

Yep, just a little more than a week after my first marathon, I ran. Only a measly 3 miles but it was enough for me. To get my mouth watering again.

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to do the Go! St. Louis Marathon on April 19. I still have until Dec 31 to decide & sign up.

The problem is which training plan am I going to go with? I've got one that is 18 weeks & I run 4 times a week and a 20 mile run once (Hal Higdon). It's what I used for this last marathon. Or I could do one that is 16 weeks & I run 3 times a week, running 20 miles twice (Runner's World). It's a tough choice. If I do the 18 week plan, well, I'm already behind. If I do the 16 week plan, I start on Monday.

Tough choice. This is when I wish I could have a personal coach to help me. I don't think I'm going to concentrate on time in this race; just keeping healthy, feeling good & finishing.

Categories: marathon training

Finally shoes!

I was up in Rockford yesterday and went to Dick's Sporting Goods. I had a $20 gift card to use. And I wanted to look at shoes. So on the way to the back, we passed by a clearance table with a bunch of shoes on it. So we started rifling though the table and was looking for running shoes for me and Brent. They were mostly old shoes, like models no longer made and sizes that are odd (like 11 & 12 in women's). I saw a lot of my old shoes, the GT-2110 by Asics but they were size 6. I missed those shoes so much. They were nice to run in. Then he found them in size 11 but wide width. I tried them anyway on but alas they were in fact too wide.

After a few more searches through containers then Brent found a discovery of just size 11 of the GT-2110! I tried them on and they were decent width wise but a bit long. I'm now thinking I need like size 10.5. The special was buy one pair get the second half off. So after a few more searches Brent found another pair of GT-1110 (a much older model and part of the 1000 series). So after trying on that, I decided to get both. Then with my $20 discount, both pair were only $53! How excellent!

Sure the shoes were older model but that's OK. My Nimbus' aren't cutting it anymore. Problem is they are both size 11 and we'll see if I can run in them. Plus the problem is my Nike+ adapter. It's laced up in my shoe. So I don't know how that'll happen everytime I want to switch my shoes.

In running news: finally went running outside today. It was nice and sunny and then actually somewhat warm. It was awesome! Brent went with me and we ran 3 miles (I ran 3.1). At a slow pace too which was nice. We could actually talk a bit during the first part of the run! I just wish this weather would stay. With this much snow this winter, I think I'm done with winter. I want the nice weather to stay and spring to come!

In race news: I found a 5k in Bloomington, IL to participate in. It's going to be nice because it will be the weekend before I start my new job! The day before St. Patrick's, so it's a St. Patrick's Day run. And then we're going to go out the night before, stay the night with my friends down there and dinner after the race. Yay for celebration!

In other race news: I did not sign up for the Rockford Marathon/Half-Marathon. Yesterday was the deadline. A little too pricey for me now and I haven't been really training too well. So I decided that my first marathon will be the St. Jude Marathon on December 6th. I will be raising money for it again too. I'm excited. So I will start my Marathon training in August with still doing 5k & 10k this summer. I'm excited!!

Categories: marathon training, shoes, St. Jude Marathon

hot hot heat

Does anyone else remember that October 12 of last year it snowed?? Much different than now. This weather just needs to go away. Could be a record temperature tomorrow of 89. Average is supposed to be 67. I feel bad for the runners in the Chicago Marathon, all 45,000 of them! Ouch. Luckily, my race begins at 8am and I'm only doing a 5k so I'll be done by 8:30am. :-D

In other quick running news, I got up at 5:45a to run at 6:30a. Yea, I'm crazy. My blisters didn't bother me though. I think that was cause I was wearing new bandaids. I also did finally buy my running shoes today. Now I just have to wait 5-10 business days. I also bought something called Quench Gum. I heard about it from another runner so I'm going to try it out. I also bought some Jelly Belly sport beans to see if it'll help me out tomorrow in my run.

So no one is taking me up on my offer to train for a marathon with me. Not yet. I'm hoping someone will. Otherwise running 15 and 20 miles by myself is just going to get boring and I'm going to _have_ to learn how to push myself.

Categories: Chicago Marathon, marathon training, shoes