Pain

So it's been a week and a day since I last run. Here's why:

I'm hurting on my knees and my cough. As I said last, I still have it. I don't know what to do about it. I'm not coughing anything up like mucus but it's just there like a tightening or a tickle in my chest so I cough. So I'm hoping that a few days rest will heal my lungs.

Now on to my knees. I think I have a slight case of runner's knee again. I wore my knee bands last week on my run but I guess that didn't help with the 11 miles because I woke up on Sunday and my left knee hurt around that area, behind the knee cap. So I've been taking this week off and I kept saying, I'll run today and I said that yesterday and no such luck. It was still tender. I've been keeping it as straight as I can and putting ice packs on it. My goal was to run this morning but I have a lunch meeting with someone. So Monday definitely because I can't run the half marathon with having 2 weeks off running! That's insane!

No worries, I still plan on running no matter what happens.

Categories: runner's knee, St. Jude Half Marathon

11 miles baby!

So I thought I was impressive with my 10 mile run last week. But today I did 11 miles! Boo-ya! Again it was hurtful though afterwards. Like even just walking home I was already feeling the effects. I could hardly cross Bethany Road before a car almost hit me and then honked at me.

I did stop at the music building to go to the bathroom. Bad idea. One, it was really hot inside since it was cold outside. Two, I was sweating buckets by this time so my clothes were sticking to me like crazy. Three, when I got outside, I could see the steam rising off my arms because of my heat and then the heat of the building. I started running again and things just didn't feel right from that point on. But it was just about halfway point so I knew I had to keep on pushing. And I managed to another 5.5 miles!

I also went a different way. I went back through Hopkins Park and then up through the subdivision near Joanne Rd that leads to 1st Street. I knew I was going to encounter a hill but I was going to encounter a hill on the bike path anyway. I nearly died going up that hill though. Blah.

And I still have my cough too. It wasn't bothering me while I was running but after I did a lot. So it's not that it's bothering me while I'm running which is good just afterwards. I hope it goes away!

Categories: 11 miles, long run

Easy treadmill run

Today was just an easy run inside. I got there after work and got on a treadmill. Then this guy in front of me started jogging backwards. Nearly threw me off my balance a couple times just cause I was watching him.

Then I did weights afterwards. Leg press, leg lifts and the hamstring leg curl. It hurt doing the hamstring leg curl. But it felt good at the same time.

Categories: treadmill runs

10 miles baby!

I ran 10 miles this afternoon. I started late but that was fine since it was freezing out! I dressed warm for the run but I was doubting my coverage when I was walking to my starting place.

I knew I had to run and I was a little worried about where I was going to run at. I knew that I could make it down to northend of campus taking my normal route but that would only get me just over 3 miles one way. So I continued on through campus and down to the lagoon. There's construction on the main highway through town so I couldn't cross it so I just ran back up through the campus area. I kinda felt like Forrest again with the whole running as I ran thing.

I did do a bad thing though. Kinda embarrassing to mention this but I didn't go to the bathroom beforehand and I paid the price. Things hurt towards the end of my run.

But other than that, I felt fine with this run. I hurt at the end but I did 10 miles. Only 3 more miles, a 5k, and I got my race! Very exciting times!

Categories: 10 miles, long run

Brick

I was sore after my Monday night run. That was to be expected. Tuesday, I was going to play racquetball but decided against it. I got a rub down instead. My right hamstring was very sore. To the point where when I got up from my desk at work and started to walk, I would limp! As well as the outside of my thigh and my gluteus maximus muscle. Then according to my Runner's World schedule, I was supposed to run an easy 5 miles on Wednesday but I was still sore so I didn't do anything.

Then I knew I had to run on Thursday. But my spinning class is that night as well. So what to do? What to do? Last week, I ran at lunch and then did my spinning class. Last night, I ran 4 miles (it was all that I could squeeze in - I got to the Y late) before the class and then did the spinning class. Surprisingly, I wasn't that sore in the class! I think it's because my muscles are already warmed up. I even did an increase pace where at every mile, I upped the mph by .1. I ended at 6.8mph. That's 8:47min/mi!

That happened to me once before. I did cycling in the gym and then ran. I felt good that time too. That was a real brick (tri-speak for biking and then running followed by the ick feeling :-)). Last night I did an opposite version of it but it still counts.

Saturday, it's going to be 10 miles. I don't know where I'm running it yet. The treadmill was OK but not the best since I can only run for 60 minutes before I have to reset the treadmill again. And I don't have to run for 10 miles in and around DeKalb. I think the Great Western Trail is under construction as well. So I don't know where to go. I'll probably just stick around DeKalb and make it down to campus this time. I'll get to use my new winter leggings!

Once I get my Nano uploaded I'll put the Nike+ workout here.

Categories: spinning

Longest run yet.

Lance is sooo good to me! He told me that I just ran my longest run yet tonight. 9.5 miles! Whoo-hoo!

This morning I was going to run at lunchtime. But then it was way windy and I just didn't feel up for it at noon. So I didn't. Decided that I can run at the Y after work and before the basketball game tonight. I looked at my schedule and I was supposed to run 5 at an easy pace so I got to 5 miles and then I decided that since I didn't do my long run on Saturday and haven't in a while, I went ahead and decided to do it tonight. I'll bypass the basketball game.

The longest run I've had was 8 something. I did a cumulative run of 9.16 one day so I decided to do 9 and then push it over 9 maybe running to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Once I hit 8, I moved my Nano up and then once I hit 9, I kept my iPod in my hand so I could watch it and decided to stop at 9.5 miles. I could have kept on going but I didn't want to push myself to injury and I didn't want to set the bar so high that I couldn't get over it.

I did get hungry during my run. But I kept on going. I also didn't have any water so maybe that's why it worked for me. I didn't have to stop and take a drink or hold my breath to swallow the water. I also wore a short-sleeved shirt instead of tank and tucked the front of it up and under the bottom of my bra. It was nice, showing off my abs and all that! :-)

Apparently it's like running over 140 football fields!! That's quite a thing to think about!

Categories: long run

New path

Today was another lunch run. This time I headed in a different direction than I did the last few times. I headed north along Peace Rd towards Bethany. I followed the path north and when I reached Bethany, I decided to turn right heading East and I was going to follow Bethany Rd that way. Then I glance over and I see that the path continues on north. I didn't know this. So I crossed the street (illegally) and got back on the bike path. Kept going passing my half way point and then at a crossing point, stopped and headed back the way I came. Now I know that it continues north of Bethany!

Today's run: UA HW leggings, warmup pants, long-sleeved UA HW shirt, black rain jacket, hat & headband

Categories: Peace Rd path, running at work

Day after run

I ran 6.2 miles after having 5 days off. So of course I was sore this morning and every time I got up from sitting down for quite a bit. But I wanted to run tonight. I headed on over to the YMCA after work and hopped on the treadmill. I ran 3.5 miles effortlessly. Sure, I got tired around the 2 mile mark as expected but things went well, even up to 3.5 miles. I was wanting to keep on going but I forced myself to stop just so I won't be sore or push my muscles to the max.

When I went to sign in at the front desk, Alex the Spinning Teacher, told me that they are going to start again on Thursday nights. My first session got cancelled because of low turnout and she said that they're hoping it's going to be bigger this session because of the colder weather. So Yay! Luckily, I'll get home right before The Office begins.

Tonight's run: YMCA, sore muscles but still ran great

Categories: spinning, treadmill runs

Sycamore Pumpkin Fest 10k

So after more than a week of an illness, I finally went to the doctor's on Thursday. I was diagnosed with sinusitis. Fun times. Gave me antibiotics and my cough is nearly nonexistent! My doctor said rest and I asked her, so like after the Pumpkin Fest race? She asked if I planned on winning the race, told her no and she said that I can run it. But what I ended up doing was not running all week after Monday's run.

Today was a 10k race today. I was afraid that with my lack of running I wasn't going to do well in it but I'll spoil the surprise; I ran a PR! 55:14 was my time and 55:41 was my clock time. The difference between there are about 1300 people in the race and it took me about 30 seconds to cross the start line.

I compared my numbers last year and I ran 40 seconds better than last year's clock time and ran in an average 8:59 min/mi compared to 9:05 but here are my stats:
Overall finish: 2006 - 553; 2007 - 693
Sex Group finish: 2006 - 128; 2007 - 202
Age Group finish: 2006 - 14; 2007 - 32

Those stats mean that the crowd got a lot bigger. Running is now cool! They say that there are more and more Americans training for a marathon now. That is the ultimate everyday every man challenge.

It was cold this morning; frost on the ground. I might have overdressed again though. I wore my UnderArmor ColdWear long-sleeved shirt. I should have worn the HeatWear instead. The leggings I had were fine. I saw people wearing shorts and I thought they were crazy. It's what I wore last year though.

I saw my editor on the sidelines. I yelled at him a few times before he finally heard me and waved. Then I saw my friend Stacey. She was cheering for me loudly when she saw me. That was pretty cool.

Sunday I'm going up to Rockford and I'm buying UA CW leggings and gloves. Well, maybe gloves, if they have any. I gotta get into my running for the half marathon now!

Today's run: 45-47*, overdressed a bit (UA CW shirt, UA HW leggings)


Best news of all today; I had someone special to see me finish! :-)

Categories: Brent, Pumpkinfest 10k, sick

When will I learn?

I don't think I know how to dress for the running. But considering that the weather here has been up and down, everyone is confused!

The last two times, I under dressed and then over dressed. For today's run, I packed my UA leggings, warm up pants, a tank and then a jacket. That was all. I didn't think I would need a long-sleeved UA shirt. Before I got dressed at lunchtime, I took a quick peek outside and it was cold. Very cold. I immediately regretted not brining the long-sleeved shirt. I almost didn't run then I was told that

But I got dressed with everything and put on the jacket. Once I started running, my arms were warming up. My legs were dandy but my hands were cold. Forgot the gloves (though I found one in my warm up pans) and also forgot to wear my ear headband so my ears got cold.

So I kinda under dressed again today. I have to go by UA or outdoor winter running clothing with my next paycheck!

Today's run: 55*, Windy, kinda under dressed

Categories: clothing, running at work