Its been a long journey, and I certainly couldn't have done it without the amazing support and encouragement of everyone I know.
Thank you.
Next stop..... the finish line!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
3rd Trip to Physical Therapist
A world of difference!! Still slightly painful while going through some of the exercise, but I can feel the IT Band improving with every visit.
Monday, September 29, 2008
2nd Trip to Physical Therapy
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 132.45
My run for today
Not a bad pace!!! I tried practicing the 'walk/run' method as part of my race day strategy. I ran for 8 minutes and walked for 2 minutes. At the 6 minute mark, I sprinted for 30 seconds.
I really don't think this would have been possible without the help I've received from physical therapy. It works!!
Distance: 6.01 miles
Duration: 59 minutes, 46s
Not a bad pace!!! I tried practicing the 'walk/run' method as part of my race day strategy. I ran for 8 minutes and walked for 2 minutes. At the 6 minute mark, I sprinted for 30 seconds.
I really don't think this would have been possible without the help I've received from physical therapy. It works!!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
First Trip to Physical Therapy
Holy......!!!! I had no idea my IT Band was so tight!!! At the end of the 45 minute session with the PT, I felt like I'd been put through the wringer.
She employed a technique called ART, Active Release Technique. The definition sounds much less painful than it really is. I'm still not sure which hurt more - the tight IT Band or the ART to correct it =p
But I have to say, when I left the doctor's office, I could walk without pain for the first time in over a week.
She employed a technique called ART, Active Release Technique. The definition sounds much less painful than it really is. I'm still not sure which hurt more - the tight IT Band or the ART to correct it =p
But I have to say, when I left the doctor's office, I could walk without pain for the first time in over a week.
Total Miles Logged: 126.44
My run for today
Distance: 4.01 miles
Duration: 45 minutes, 45s
Knee held up pretty well as long as I stopped every mile to stretch it. I hope the physical therapy can help improve this :(
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 122.43
My run for today
Distance: 18 miles
Duration: 5hrs, 30 minutes, 4s
Pace: 18.33
Even though today was part walking, part running, I have now officially run further than I have EVER gone before! After today, I'll be tapering down my run distance until the actual event.
Today was a tough one for me. My IT Band tightened up around the 11-12 mile mark and wouldn't let go. For 6 grueling miles, I could only run about 1/4 of a mile (sometimes only as much as 1 block) before needing to stop and stretch. It took a long time to finish, but with the help of my running mentor and a running coach, I was able to make it through the last few miles.
And when I got home, I climbed into a nice, frigid ice bath.
I do not heart ice baths :(
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 100.42
My run for today
Distance: 4.02 miles
Duration: 38 minutes, 18s
Pace: 9’54
*I'm in the triple digits now, baby! Total Miles Logged: 100.42
Monday, September 8, 2008
Major Injury Avoided!
Visited the doctor today. She checked stability of my knee, as well as looked for other signs of injury.
The verdict: no injury! Hooray!!! But.... this means the pain is caused by tight muscles in my leg (IT Band) and that will take time and several physical therapy appointments to work out.
No one ever said training for a marathon was easy!
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The verdict: no injury! Hooray!!! But.... this means the pain is caused by tight muscles in my leg (IT Band) and that will take time and several physical therapy appointments to work out.
No one ever said training for a marathon was easy!
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Saturday, September 6, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 96.4
My run for today
Distance: 4.01 miles
Duration: 55 minutes, 32s
Pace: 14’19
Today is the day. Going to throw up big numbers. The big push past 12 miles to.... 18 miles. The longest I've ever tried to run.
However, my body had a different idea. After just 3.5 miles, it felt like I had an icepick in my left knee. I tried stretching and was able to push it the last half mile to the first water stop at mile 4. But that was all she wrote.I thought about pushing ahead despite the pain, but then I thought of all those people I've talked to in the past saying "I was training for a marathon when I blew out my knee." I decided to play it safe and forego the long run. Instead, I headed back to base camp. Walking. :(
Needless to say I felt very disappointed. I felt like I was letting all of you down. Like I was letting my Uncle down. I was on the verge of tears the entire walk back. It was really difficult to not be so hard on myself, but I had really high hopes for that day's run. Unfortunately my body said 'no.'
The scary prospect here is - will this be a marathon-ending injury? I have a doctor's appointment on Monday to get my knee checked out. Stay tuned!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 92.39
My run for today
Distance: 12.01 miles
Duration: 2hrs, 49 minutes, 59s
Pace: 13’39
Something 'not right' happened. I was about 7.5 miles into today's run when...OW!!!! Icepick in my left knee. That can't be good.
I tried stretching it out but nothing seemed to work. At the 8 mile marker I decided to play it safe and just walk the rest of the way.
I hope this is just a momentary setback and not a major injury..... :(
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Updates to come shortly....
Check back often - I'm going to start regularly updating this blog with mileage from each training run, as well as list all the lovely aches and pains that go along with training for a full marathon ;-)
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Saturday, August 9, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 72.36
My run for today
Distance: 12 miles
Duration: 3hrs, 35 minutes, 12
Pace: 15’02
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 60.36
My run for today
Distance: 4.73 miles
Duration: 1hr, 23 minutes, 51s
Pace: 17’42
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 55.63
My run for today
Distance: 10.01 miles
Duration: 1hr, 54 minutes, 27s
Pace: 11’25
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 41.61
My run for today
Distance: 8.02 miles
Duration: 1hr, 42 minutes, 7s
Pace: 12’44
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 33.59
My run for today
Distance: 6.23 miles
Duration: 1hr, 17 minutes, 29s
Pace: 12’25
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Total Miles Logged: 27.36
My run for today
Distance: 9.34 miles
Duration: 2hrs, 3 minutes, 48s
Pace: 13’15
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
OMG!!! Nike+iPod = the best thing ever!!
Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 50 minutes, 24s
Pace: 11'53
Cool things I saw: a jackrabbit, 2 orange tabby kittens
Piece of cake to set up. I hit play and started my workout. And then I just about jumped out of my skin when a lady's voice came on through my headphones and said '1 mile completed.' haha! She also lets you know when you're at the halfway point, and counts down the meters starting at 400m.
After the initial startle, the whole thing was pretty darned cool. Kinda makes me want to run.... more. Tricky, those Nike folks.
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Duration: 50 minutes, 24s
Pace: 11'53
Cool things I saw: a jackrabbit, 2 orange tabby kittens
Piece of cake to set up. I hit play and started my workout. And then I just about jumped out of my skin when a lady's voice came on through my headphones and said '1 mile completed.' haha! She also lets you know when you're at the halfway point, and counts down the meters starting at 400m.
After the initial startle, the whole thing was pretty darned cool. Kinda makes me want to run.... more. Tricky, those Nike folks.
Click to Donate Now!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Let's Inject a Little Technology
Ok, so I had seen the Nike iPod run tracker thing while I was at Road Runner Sports a few weeks ago. The idea sounded great - you put the chip in your shoe, the receiver into your iPod, and it tracks your runs for you. Then you can download all your workout info to your computer when you get home. Nice!!!
When I went back to RRS to pick up the shoes they'd ordered for me, I decided to invest in one. For all my mid-week runs which I'll be doing on my own, I'll use the Nike iPod tracker to log the time and distance. This should be cool!
Click to Donate Now!
When I went back to RRS to pick up the shoes they'd ordered for me, I decided to invest in one. For all my mid-week runs which I'll be doing on my own, I'll use the Nike iPod tracker to log the time and distance. This should be cool!
Click to Donate Now!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Found My Perfect Pace Partner
Ok, this run was definitely more of a challenge than the 4 mile. At least this time the course was closer to home - we started our run at Seal Point Park in San Mateo. For those running the 6 mile route, there was an out and back route of 1 mile (1 mile out, 1 mile back = 2 miles), and then we continue on past the starting point for another 2 miles, take a break at the water station, and then 2 more miles back to the finish line.
My first run partner was Beth, a stay at home mother of 3 whom I'd met during our shopping night at Road Runner Sports. Sad to say, she left me in the dust =p I could only pace her for about a mile - way too fast for me, which caused early burnout. I ho-hummed my way through the next mile and then a team mentor started pacing my walking which made me self-conscious and eventually guilted me into running again.
Eventually I had to walk again, but then another new teammate, Sarah, came along and again paced me - she jogged while I walked. And again I felt guilted into picking up the pace. But I discovered that once I started jogging, she and I were actually perfect pace partners. Yay!!! We managed to run the entire final 2 miles, all the while chatting. Not bad :-D
Came home, ate lunch and promptly passed out for the rest of the day. Oh-so very sore by the time I woke up around 6pm. Damn. I need to remember to stretch more.
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My first run partner was Beth, a stay at home mother of 3 whom I'd met during our shopping night at Road Runner Sports. Sad to say, she left me in the dust =p I could only pace her for about a mile - way too fast for me, which caused early burnout. I ho-hummed my way through the next mile and then a team mentor started pacing my walking which made me self-conscious and eventually guilted me into running again.
Eventually I had to walk again, but then another new teammate, Sarah, came along and again paced me - she jogged while I walked. And again I felt guilted into picking up the pace. But I discovered that once I started jogging, she and I were actually perfect pace partners. Yay!!! We managed to run the entire final 2 miles, all the while chatting. Not bad :-D
Came home, ate lunch and promptly passed out for the rest of the day. Oh-so very sore by the time I woke up around 6pm. Damn. I need to remember to stretch more.
Click to Donate Now!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Run Season Starts!
The first official run of the training season. Luckily the marathon runners had the option to go 4 or 6 miles. I had been dreading 6, so of course opted for the 4 mile route.
The run wasn't so bad, but I definitely wasn't in the kind of shape I thought I was. This is going to be a long training season. At least the weather was gorgeous. Even for 8am, it was already quite sunny and warm down at the Palo Alto baylands trail.
I ended up running with a girl, Michelle, who had moved to California supposedly for only a month, but 9 months later she's still here and loving it. She's currently a nanny and decided to train for a half marathon to help her quit smoking.
Next week.... 6 miles!
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The run wasn't so bad, but I definitely wasn't in the kind of shape I thought I was. This is going to be a long training season. At least the weather was gorgeous. Even for 8am, it was already quite sunny and warm down at the Palo Alto baylands trail.
I ended up running with a girl, Michelle, who had moved to California supposedly for only a month, but 9 months later she's still here and loving it. She's currently a nanny and decided to train for a half marathon to help her quit smoking.
Next week.... 6 miles!
Click to Donate Now!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
What was I thinking??
Since I achieved my goal last year of running the Nike Women's Half Marathon in 2.5 hours (came in at 2 hrs 35 min), I decided to take the leap of faith this year and go for the full marathon.
Not sure if I can do this, but the out-pouring of support from all of you during my challenge last year leads me to believe this just might be possible.
Since long journeys often make for good stories, I've decided to document this little adventure via blog. Hopefully to keep all of you entertained as well as motivated to donate to the cause - the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
~~~~~~~
The first meeting with my new run team was at 10am this morning. Due to an overtime baseball game last night, I didn't go to bed until after midnight. Needless to say, I was a little late to the meeting =p
Note to self.... no more late Friday nights....for the next 5 months.
5 months??!? Yikes!
Click to Donate Now!
Not sure if I can do this, but the out-pouring of support from all of you during my challenge last year leads me to believe this just might be possible.
Since long journeys often make for good stories, I've decided to document this little adventure via blog. Hopefully to keep all of you entertained as well as motivated to donate to the cause - the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
~~~~~~~
The first meeting with my new run team was at 10am this morning. Due to an overtime baseball game last night, I didn't go to bed until after midnight. Needless to say, I was a little late to the meeting =p
Note to self.... no more late Friday nights....for the next 5 months.
5 months??!? Yikes!
Click to Donate Now!
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