Back on the wagon - New Shoes

After a rocky 2 weeks post half-marathon, I ran today with no pain! Granted, I only did 22, very boring, minutes on the treadmill. It felt it good. I think I need to change my schedule to be able to run outside in the daylight. I won't make it through the winter if I have to rely on the treadmill! Any thoughts on a winter workout routine???

I ran in my new Asics GT-2130 running shoes for the first time - my trade in for the Saucony Trigon 5. I bought the Saucony's a week before the half and actually ran the race in them, but they killed my right foot!! Between the blister on my toe and the pain in my arch - they had to go. So my running store let me trade them in (so nice of them!) I can't officially review the Saucony Trigon 5 because I only ran 20 miles in them. They just didn't feel comfortable on my right foot. The Asics seem to fit well so far and no knee pain yet! The shoe genius at my favorite running store said I pronate with my left, but not with my right. It makes fitting me with shoes a challenge. The Saucony Omni 6 I had for 5 months prior to the half marathon were comfortable, but they didn't hold up well. I wore down the right side of the right sole to the cushion. Not a good sign! So I'm trying the GT-2130.

Go Team!

Here is our team picture from the Half Marathon - don't we look great! Notice we are all women (with one token male!)

Before - After

I pulled these off the race photo page - I was shocked when I saw the finish line picture - the pain was written all over my face. The first photo is from Mile 4 - don't I look happy??!! The second one is from the finish line - so sad!
I vow that I will smile at the finish of my next race!

Post Half Marathon Recovery

As you saw from my half marathon race report, I am having some serious knee pain while running. But I am on the road to recovery! I'm doing everything I can think of to rest and stretch my IT bands:

* I had a therapeutic sports massage last Thursday - trigger point therapy on my IT bands and hips. It hurt like heck! He left bruises on the side of my legs!
* I have been stretching my legs and taking pilates - seems to be loosing my quads and hips.
* I've been using the foam roller and the stick on my IT bands - also hurts like heck , but feels so good!
* I started light weight training on my legs and hips to balance my quads. My right leg is weaker than my left, so I'm doing leg lifts, hamstring curls, side raises and abductor exercises with one leg at a time.

I did run 3 miles on Saturday, but the knee pain returned at mile 2 - had to walk the last mile home :( I think I need to trash the new shoes and switch back my old saucony omni 6! The trigon 5 are killing my right foot. It may be a loss!

Today, I ran 10 minutes on the treadmill (with my old sneakers) prior to my leg strengthening. Not bad. I may try 3 miles tomorrow. Everyone I've talked to says to ease back into it, so I'm taking it slow.

Pain is temporary, pride is forever

On Sunday, November 11, 2007, I ran the furthest I had EVER run before to complete the 2nd Annual Seacoast Half Marathon in a record 2:48:49 (a record for me that is!)

It was a BEAUTIFUL day – about 40-45 degrees F, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Matt, my Dad, sister, mom, and family friend – along with my running partner L and her husband were all there to see me off. I was so grateful to have such a big pit crew! The race got started at 9AM sharp. The start of the race was fairly uneventful. It took me about 35 seconds to reach the start since about 1000 of the 1200 runners were ahead on me. I ran with a couple of ladies from my running group for the first 2 miles or so. I did the first mile in 11:09, the second in 10:49. An 11 minute average - I was on my way!

I saw Matt again at an intersection near mile 2 and handed off my vest. I felt great! No knee pain, so stomach issues – I was on a role. As recommended by my running mentor, I stopped at the mile 2 water stop to stretch my IT band. I finished mile 3 in 11:30, but started feeling a hot spot under my right big toe – the new shoes!! OHH NOO! I stopped to adjust my sock, stretch my legs and was off again. I finished mile 4 in 12:04. Running along the ocean was beautiful, tranquil, and just wonderful. What a perfect setting for my first BIG race.

I ate a cliff shot at the mile 4 water stop, and I finished mile 5 in 12:37, and mile 6 in 12:00. I stretched every mile, messed with my sock again, but I was still feeling ok. It was then I saw some spectators with a sign that would become my mantra - “Pain is temporary, pride is forever.” So true that would be.

A little before mile 7, I saw my dad and lil’ sister on mountain bikes. They started riding with me at cheering me on. It was then, I was starting to feel the knees throb. Mile 7 split, 12:32. At about 7 and a half miles, my knees started screaming - it felt like ice picks in my knees. I took out the Biofreeze that I stashed in my fuel belt and rubbed down my knees. By the next tenth of a mile, my knees were numb (for now)! I saw my pit crew just before mile 8 and did a full crew hand slap. L jumped on the course and ran with me for about 0.25 miles to the mile 8 mark – which I finished in 13:49. I had my second cliff shot then, and was feeling well fueled, but the pain was really starting to slow me down. Mile 9 was a 14:34, and mile 10 was 13:35. Then my knees really started to hurt again. So much for Biofreeze! I had just a 5k to go, I was on the home stretch, and I wanted to just finish.

About halfway through the next mile, I stopped, sat down, and tried to stretch my quads to relieve some of the pain. Nothing seemed to work. Mile 11 took 16:06 minutes. It was then I thought – I can probably walk faster than I can run at this point – so I started power walking. My knees stopped throbbing and I was moving faster. Yipee! Mile 12 was a 14:03! I actually passed some walkers!! (There was a walking category in this race.)

I wanted to finish the race running, so pain or not, started I running(sorta)to the top of South St hill. I saw Mike, the only guy in my running group, half way up the hill and slapped his hand and yelled, “my medal will look just like yours!” At the top of the hill I started tried to pick up the pace – using the “pain is temporary” mantra - I was so close. I saw my running coach just before the finish, and she jumped on the course to talk me through the last tenth of a mile. Once I saw the finish line, I got a bit choked up. I was thinking that it would over soon - I did it! Weeping a bit, I crossed the finish line in 2:48:49, just 11 minutes before the DNF cut-off. I got my medal and made it out of the corral to give Matt, my Mom, and L a big hug. I FINISHED!

The sign was right - the pain is temporary or at least short lived, and once it's gone,the pride of finishing something as big as a half-marathon IS forever.

Now I am, once again, on the ibuprofen, ice and stretching regimen. I’m calling my doctor tomorrow to see if I can heal my knees/IT band before the spring. I want to make this ½ marathon a learning experience by getting fitter, recovering well, and curing my IT band issues so I can come back next year get a rocking PR in the half marathon - but right now all I want to do is rest!

At the finish...

3 days to the half!

ok, peeps. We are down to the wire! Only 3 days to go to the 21k, 13.1 miles, half marathon!!

Yes, my knee/leg/IT band thingy is still hurting. I ran 7 miles last Friday and my leg kinda went numb. After the run, I actually broke down and bought new running shoes a good 100 miles early. I was wearing down my right shoe more than my left, which could be putting stress on my right leg/knee. I got the Saucony Trigon 5 Guide. They are a lot like my Omni 6, but with a little less support to allow my right foot to maintain a normal position. So far they feel good, but my knee still hurts!

I did finish the Great Bay 5k last Saturday. When I say finish, I mean I went 3.1 miles in a certain amount of time (my slowest 5k yet!). My knee was throbbing! My friend L passed me at mile 2 as I was limping along. I didn't have a full 24 hours between the 7 mile run and the race. NOT SMART! I met up with the owner of the running store I frequent (a lot) after the race. She said to take it easy this week - RICE (rest ice compression elevation). I have not run since the 5k - and only plan on a 30 minute run tomorrow so I can get in a good stretch. We'll see how it goes. If all else fails, I will be run/walking the 21k on Sunday.

I'll keep you posted!