Monday, September 29, 2008

2nd Trip to Physical Therapy

While the IT Band was feeling much better on this visit to the physical therapist, my leg itself felt like someone took a sledgehammer to it. =p

Click to Donate Now!


Total Miles Logged: 136.46

My run for today

Distance: 4.01 miles

Duration: 43 minutes, 30s

Pace: 11.12



Click to Donate Now!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Total Miles Logged: 132.45

My run for today

Distance: 6.01 miles

Duration: 59 minutes, 46s

Pace: 9.56


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!!


Click to Donate Now!




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.



Click to Donate Now!


Total Miles Logged: 126.44

My run for today

Distance: 4.01 miles

Duration: 45 minutes, 45s

Pace: 11.23


Knee held up pretty well as long as I stopped every mile to stretch it. I hope the physical therapy can help improve this :(




Click to Donate Now!


Saturday, September 20, 2008

Total Miles Logged: 122.43

My run for today

Distance: 18 miles

Duration: 5hrs, 30 minutes, 4s

Pace: 18.33

A beautiful day for a run in San Francisco! Today's course was a preview of what we can expect the day of the event.

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 :(


Click to Donate Now!


Friday, September 19, 2008

Total Miles Logged: 104.43


My run for today

Distance: 4.01 miles

Duration: 42 minutes, 24s

Pace: 10.34



Click to Donate Now!

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

Click to Donate Now!


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!


Click to Donate Now!

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!


Click to Donate Now!