20 miles

Wow!

Yesterday was THE test.

I passed.

It feels so good to have that 20 mile run under my belt.

I headed out yesterday at just about noon. Armed with 2 bottles of water, 2 carb/electrolyte gel packs and a few tissues. (I have been battling a head cold this week.) I went without my trusty iPod this run. Believe it or not, it was nice running without music filling my ears.

I headed out on my course nice and easy (aka: slowly).

It's a little weird running with two water bottles in my hands but I had a plan.

About 4 miles into this run I ditched one of my full, unopened water bottles on the side of the path with the intention of collecting it, drinking it on my way back.

Can you believe that it wasn't there when I came back?

Really, who picks up a water bottle off the side of the road? Who?

Never in my thoughts did it occur to me that someone else might pick up my water bottle...

Gross. I know it was unopened, but I would never have picked up a random water bottle!

Not even to throw away, lets be honest.

But all the same, it was gone when I finally made it back. Crazy.

Oh well. I ran into the Walgreen's not far from where I had ditched my water bottle and drank from their fountain. I still got water.

I ran straight out Metro Parkway 10 miles, turned around and ran back.

At the turning point I sucked down 1 gel pack and 1/2 my water then pitched the rest in the nearby garbage can. These gel packs, they're supposed to give you a little energy boost...

Do they? I can't say if it is physical or psychological - but they do, they're nice to have.

I made it to 10 miles in 1 hour 52 minutes.

A much slower pace than if I were running just 10 miles.

But my goal for this race is "to finish".

I anticipate it taking me 5 - 5.5 hours to finish.

Figuring it would take me 4 hours to run 20 miles, I was right on with my pace.

I had hoped to suck down my 2nd gel pack when I recovered my ditched water bottle (about 16 miles in), but since some random knucklehead helped themselves to it - I had to push through to Walgreens (~17 miles in) so that I could get some water to have with it.

I finished my run in 3 hours and 58 minutes (including potty/water detour).

I was so happy, I cried!

I did it!

Chris, Logan, Steven and Celeste were all waiting for me with hugs and congratulations!

It was AWESOME!

I walked a bit, then sat down to stretch out.

No knee pain.

My feet were tired, my legs were tired.

My hip flexors were tired and sore.

But it was over, I dit it!

Happiness is:

~having that 20 miler behind you instead of looming over you~

~having your family greet you with smiles and kisses when you get home~

~knowing it is NOT impossible~

~dreaming of the finish line~

~a Walgreens with a bathroom and water fountain~

Back to running

After a week off running, I eased myself back into my routine with a 10 mile run yesterday. I am happy to say that it went well. I didn't feel any knee pain at all! So while the knee seems to have moved to the "back burner" - replacing it front and center are worries and nerves about my big 20 mile run this weekend!
I will be so relieved when this is all over!

Cross-training

I felt so much better after such a good workout yesterday and I really wanted to keep that ball rolling... so today I hit the gym again. However, since I want to run this weekend and I book end my long runs with "rest" days... today's workout was in the pool.
An hour worth of laps followed by a spoiling soak in the hot tub.
It was a refreshing change from what I typical considered a "work out".
But no less exhausting.
I need to incorporate more of these "cross-training" days!

Road to Recovery

As my Doc recommended, I rested.

I did not run for three days.

That brings us to today...

While my knee is still feeling "tight,"

and if I push to stretch it completely straight I feel a small amount of pain...

I am otherwise pain free.

So, today I hit the gym.

I've been stressing over the rest, afraid of losing my aerobic capacity to run the long distances.

Even though I am officially supposed to still be "resting,"

I could not resist at least a little aerobic activity.

I opted for the eliptical instead of the treadmill.

It felt so good to be moving again.

After an hour of that I made my round of weight machines and headed home.

As a precaution, even though I was not experiencing pain, I iced my knee.

After a emotional and stressful past 4 days,

my hope has been restored.

I am not worried anymore.

Doctor's orders

It wasn't good news today - but it wasn't all bad either.

I have some fluid build up around my knee and

strained ligaments on the backside.

Dr. Zolo asked, "how important is this race to you?"

I almost cried, I could cry now.

I told her that I have invested too much time and effort to give up now.

The race is just over a month away.

So,

I am under orders to rest this entire week.

I have a series of stretches that I need to repeat 150-200 times a day.

I can run again this weekend.

If needed, if my pain persists,

she'll give me a shot of steroids a few days before the race for me to be able to finish,

and then,

I'll be back on orders of rest until I am healed completely.

I knew this wasn't going to be easy...

but did it have to be this hard???

17 - unsuccessful

I had a rather "unsuccessful" 17 mile run this weekend.

I was in Ohio this past weekend and had a very busy Saturday there. So, I pushed my long run from Saturday to Sunday and mapped out a 17 mile run from my parents house, where I was staying. I headed up the new Crocker Road extension from Lorain all the way to Lake Road. I headed east down Lake to Columbia, to Lorain and back home. I headed out at 9am so it was a nice quiet start to my run, being a Sunday morning. And my run down Lake Road was beautiful... well beautiful until I wiped out!

Yup, I've had my first crash and burn while running. I don't know if it was the crumbled sidewalk, or if I was too busy enjoying the views of Lake Erie, or if I just didn't pick my feet up - but I got up close and personal with the sidewalk. As far as falls go, it wasn't so bad. I scraped up a knee and elbow and I'm going to have a beauty of a bruise on my left hip. Other than that, it was just a little embarrassing - thankfully no one was around to witness... that I know of anyway. There was probably someone who just happened to glance out their front window at that exact moment and who had a mighty good laugh, I'm sure.

As I was making the final turn from Columbia onto Lorain road and looking at the final 3 or so miles back to Mom and Dad's...

my left knee which had been bugging my slightly throughout this run was starting to become more uncomfortable. I started walking - I don't want to risk messing things up now. Race day is only 1 month away, I've invested too much time to screw things up now. I walked about 1/2 mile or so and walking was no more comfortable than running so I started running again because I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. I don't run with my cell phone, if I did I would have called for a "please pick me up".

But then, lo and behold, I come across an old neighbor who happens to be a North Olmsted Firefighter. He was on the scene of a one-car accident in front of the Speedway station near the mall. I re-introduced myself to him and then asked to borrow his cell phone. I called M&D's house but their blasted phone was not working again. I called my husband's cell phone but he didn't answer. I don't know anyone else's numbers! Every phone number is programmed into my cell phone - I never dial them anymore - I just look them up by name and hit send. Oh! I would have killed to have my phone with me! Well, I thanked Jim for letting me borrow his phone and resigned myself to having to hoof it the last 2 miles.

I finally made it home, but the pain behind my left knee had brought me to tears.

Yeah, it hurts - maybe not enough to cry -

but after running 17 miles I was feeling exhausted

both physically and mentally.

I felt defeated.

I can't afford injury this late in the game.

I have a 4pm appointment with my doctor today.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me!!

16 miles, in the bag

As I have been for nearly every "big run" so far in training, I was feeling pretty nervous about heading out for a 16-mile run today. Especially since it has been 2 weeks since my last "big run". (Not part of training, more a part of life - couldn't get a big run in while on vacation.)

Well, I made it. I actually made it. I guess I didn't really think I wouldn't finish - but the nerves I deal with before heading out... make me second guess my sanity, my ability.

I finished it - and feel better than I did after my 14 mile run. This time though, I treated myself to a solo trip to my rec center pool and took a long, long soak it the hot tub. And now, as I sit at my kitchen table, my feet are soaking in my homedics, bubbly foot spa. I just might be able to walk again tomorrow!

As for now, time to partake in a guilty pleasure, ice cream and a movie. The Sound of Music is on tv tonight, I love that movie!