Overdoing it... Again...But I feel Great! 2-23-06

Track practice was tonight with my ankel taped to the point that it barely moves-wow I feel like an athlete. We ran .25, .50, and then a full mile and then worked our way back down. Sophal and I started out strong with our first run and kept increasing our pace even with the running and walking. I'm still supposed to stick to 30%, but Sophal pushed me and I ran 50%. We increased each run and I felt so good that we ran our last 1/4 mile in 2:15, 15 seconds faster than our first run. Running feels great, the walks not so hot as my calf and foot cramp more. I blame it mostly on Sophal and partly on my own stubbornbess and competitive nature. No, I love that she pushes me to do better, but at the same time I've had a lot of people tell me not to push myself too hard to avoid the risk of hurting myself to the point of not being able to run the marathon.

Buddy Run February 21, (Week 3) - From Gimpy to Running 30% Max

Sophal and I met at the Campbell Track, as running the trails in the dark did not seem that appealing tonight. The track is fairly well lit and went from being packed to very comfortable. It also has a nice assortment of upper and lower body equipment for extra strengthening exercises. Overall, training went well, but I'm not sure which one of us is the worse influence as we're both competitive and did our speed walking and jogging, each of us pushing the other, which is fine unless you happen to be injured, which both of us are. I'd say we were pretty even throughout the night until we decided to put to rest the question of "who's faster?" and did a 50 yard sprint, which was an enormous mistake as the tendon in my foot that had been fabulous all night in the athletic tape wrap started throbbing and I slowed down the last couple steps. We had been neck and neck, but Sophal had me by a stride or two, that's ok I'll get her next time.

We ran 30% of the time, which was all the PT and coaches agreed I should do, and except for the sprint it went great. The only problem I had was the next day, when we had a small show in the office, as I couldn't walk for the first couple hours until the many ice treatments and ibuprofen kicked in. It was pretty funny to see me hobbling around the office as several coworkers think I'm crazy for doing this because of the pain, which will go away once my body gets accustomed to running as I've already learned the hardest lesson of running the hard way and that is that athletically fit and running fit are completely different and just because you can run really far in the beginning from being athletically fit doesn't mean you should as you should ease into running long distances.

5K Time Trial - February 18, 2006

Two sweatshirts and one running outfit, you'd think one would be warm enough at 7:15 a.m. in Los Gatos, but it's still freezing. Ok, so Ramesh, originally from Minnesota, is strolling around in shorts and a tee-shirt, while the rest of us freeze and try walking or jogging to warm up. Today is the big time trial, which will determine which Wave we train in for Thursday track nights and Saturday runs. There is a huge line to see coach John, three times as many people compared to Thursday, for tapings and general complaints. I had my ankle taped the day before at physical therapy so, I'm good.

Sophal is having ankle trouble, but doesn't need to be taped, so we decide to power walk together. She's not to happy with my references to our little 2 person team as the gimpy squad, but we're having a great time trying our speed walking techniques out and correcting the other's form. Ok, so she's correcting mine, but I remind her more often to increase the pace. We pass several groups of walkers, and are even neck and neck with a team of run-walkers for the first mile, but eventually they pass us. There are two dogs ahead of us and we ask to borrow the horses, walking is hurting more than running as we both experience shin-splints after the first half mile, which is pretty sad. We pass landmarks-our mentors cheering us along, though we're not sure how far along we are as couldn't hear what John was saying. We see Rol, an honoree, ahead and at eighty plus years of age he's still faster than we are and keeping a better pace, we jog to catch up and inevitably every time he ends up five to ten paces ahead. In the last mile, we somehow pull ahead of Rol, maybe it was our rambling that made him hang back.

I wish I could remember what we were talking about, as we were having a great time laughing and joking the whole way (making fun of mentors that were too happy, joking that we had mimosas before walking-we had a couple people convinced, making fun of ourselves, etc.). We look much happier than all the runners and I'm sure felt better, which is the only solace I can take in having to walk the time trial. (Ok, so I could have run the later half of the race, but my foot was hurting and I really do enjoy being able to walk without limping too much.)d The last lap around the track, we were racing each other and I came out about 2 steps ahead. No, we're not competitive at all and having passed a runner made it that much better even though we average 13.7 minute miles speed walking. So we will fall into the last wave, but the good news is that we can move up later in the season and being able to run will quickly fix that. Also, Sophal and I will continue our speed walking training, expect to see us in the 2010 Olympics.

Track Workout #2 - Gimpy All the Way - February 16, 2006

What’s my foot status? That’s a complex answer. I waited until Tuesday to try for a run, and went for a simple 1 mile run; unfortunately at .5 miles my foot cramped out and I had to walk back to my office. If I can run the marathon on my toes or heals, I’m ok. So I went to physical therapy on Wednesday for ultrasound and heat therapy. No more cute shoes for now, only my sneakers—that’s ok, I want to run and the itch is so bad I can’t stand it, get me out there, I’ll do whatever it takes. So I missed Tuesday’s buddy run and got to sit on my rear instead at home, now it’s Thursday and I’m excited about track practice, but no running, I can walk around the track.

John wrapped my ankle and told me to walk or jog lightly if I thought I could handle it. The track workout looked intense and it was fun to watch as I walked around the track. My teammates were doing interval runs at 1-2-3-4 minute paces varying between jogs and fast-runs. I would have loved to try this, the ultimate endurance test. After walking the track at a brisk pace, I decided to try the light jog and my foot seemed ok, but started to stress a little so it was back to walking. Then during our last part of our cool down exercises (walking on toes/heels), I tried the low skipping and towards the end of that, my foot had a fit, which stopped that right way. Lunges, easy as pie so I did twice as many as needed, funny thing is many of the people behind me kept going, guess they weren’t counting.

After all is said and done, what I want most right now is to be able to run the timed 5k on Saturday, which will determine which Wave I run with, grouping me with people that run at a similar pace. We’ll see how PT goes tomorrow...

Group Run – How I Hurt Myself- February 11, 2006

The day after our track run I felt great, no pain it was all easy and I was looking forward to an easier 6 mile run-walk. I even felt confident enough to go for 7. We were running at Lake Alamaden Park in San Jose and the scenery was great, minus the goose droppings all over the place. I started off with Helen again for a 6-1 run –walk, but my outer foot started hurting around the .25/.5 mile mark. I was hoping to run it out, but at the 2 mile mark I told Helen I was going to have to turn around. My foot was throbbing and I sat at the side of the trail and rubbed my foot. Chris was there and I told him what was wrong, he said that he had had a similar problem when he started running and that John would probably recommend running a golf-ball along the bottom of my foot. Ok, so I sat for awhile and see my girlfriends pass me up.

I’m so frustrated, I was ready for my run and something this stupid is holding me back, I might as well have stayed in bed. Granted I didn’t sleep that well the night before, thought I had a sinus infection. I could have, and actually should have, asked for a ride to the start, but I really hoped that walking it out would make it feel better. Wrong! It got worse there was one point I thought I might cry from the pain, Tim and John come up and I talk with them about the pain in my foot. John says that it’s probably the tendon in my foot so I need to soak and massage it, ohhh a bath, now that I can handle. Also, I can do the golf ball thing.

My foot actually managed to hurt worse the longer I went and got to the point I couldn’t put any pressure on it. The soak and massage was a very temporary relief, try about six steps. So I went and took a nap…and that’s where I discover after half sleeping for about 4 hours that my muscles are achy and I take my temperature, 101.7, oh yes, I have the flu…(Monday Update -wait no I went to the doctors and it’s sinusitis and bronchitis. Good news is that I can run/exercise and the doctor recommends it now if I can get my foot to feel better…)

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Track Workout #1- February 9, 2006

Our track workout started with a 10 minute run around the track. I think I went around it 4 times; actually it was a little more than 10 minutes so this makes sense. As each lap is approximately .25 miles. So there is mile 1 for the evening. I'm not sure if my legs are tired from Tuesday's run or the bottom of my feet are just tired, it's difficult to tell. Maybe I'm just bored there aren't as many people to talk to, we're all concentrating on running, our pace and finding someone to talk and run with is more difficult, so I'm bored as I run. The only redeeming fact is Chris and the other mentors cheering us on as we run around the track.

After our warm up we do a group stretch and divide the team into two groups. The other half moves to the other side of the track and we pair off. We're doing team relays, though we're not racing. Each of us will go around the track 8 times, at a pace faster than our regular running pace. My partner gets to go first and then it begins. One time around, then a second, then a third, and then I stop counting. Chris is on our half of the track cheering us on, telling us how good we're doing at first, this is great, after awhile I want to see him run around the track and keep that smile then my mind wanders off to the 10 other things I'd rather be doing than running around the track. To put myself back on track and keep myself from complete boredom I try to concentrate on my pace tapping one out with my right wrist, but that just starts to bug me and I must look really funny doing it, plus I can't seem to stay with it. My feet are exhausted I'm probably not keeping a good pace, or a consistent one at that, but I'm making it around faster than some slower than others, but I'm making it. At lap I'm not sure what, John tells us that we're only running 6 each, which I swear is the next run, but am told I'm wrong. He then says we can do a 7th as a group run, but no pressure. Sure, of course not when everyone else is running, so I go again.

After the last track run, my favorite part of the night starts; forget running I like the conditioning, that's what I thought track night was about. We walk on our tippy toes, and on our heals, first time through with toes pointed forward, then toes outward, and finally toes pointed inward. After this, it's skipping low then skipping high. To round off the night, lunges 10 total-the easiest part of the night, please can I trade lunges for a lap I could have done another 10-20 easy maybe more. I guess I didn't realize how much I had done that night because after eating I crashed.

First Buddy Run - Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at Los Gatos High School

Sunday was definitely painful- the muscles in my legs were revolting and if I sat for any period of time getting up took all of my strength. Monday wasn't much better, so I went for a light 30 minute cycle at the gym, which really paid off as I was feeling much better this morning.

Shoes - fixed and now no more excuses for not running as far as I should.

We have a lot of Mentors and PR at the run - Colleen, Allie, Caitlin, Chris, Rick, Jen S., and Jay. Feeling extra confident I'm running 4 miles today and we break into our running teams by distance. Melanie and I run with Allie, Caitlin, and Jay, who all have the head lights to light our way as we run the Los Gatos Trails. When we start running, I discover I'm the only novice runner in the group and don't want to hold the team back - we're running straight through no run-walk this time. Oh yes, we can walk if I need it, but pushing myself to see what I can really do sounds better, I think. As we run, Allie and Caitlin point out the mile markers-railroad tracks 1/2 mile and bathrooms mile 2, what wait a second, I just ran 2 miles straight. What was our time? 22 minutes. We turn around and head back, they point out the 3 mile marker on our way in, what was it? I'm not sure, the muscles above my ankles feel a little weak, breathing is fine, not sure why, but it is. At mile 3.25 I walk and Jay hangs back with me, I feel like a quitter, but as I start to run again, my ankles just aren't feeling it. I'm still proud of my 3.25 mile run straight through, and do little runs here and there on the way back, but walking seems to be overtaking me. I've now learned that my next short distance will have to be a complete run because at that point, as the coaches said, it's way too hard to try and run-walk after a straight run.

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First Run - Saturday, February 4, 2006

I'm not sure if it was excitement for the first run, or worry that I wouldn't wake up in time to make it, but I had difficulty getting to sleep. I behaved the night before at a networking event, no drinking and I left early to get to bed at 9:30. Oh well. It's raining when I leave my place, wow I should have bought a rain slicker on Tuesday.

I made it to the park at 7:30 am after a great oatmeal breakfast, which I think will get old quick. Nervousness subsided and I realized I was excited to be there for so many reasons: my first run-putting my fitness or lack thereof to the test, making a difference, and getting to see what TNT is all about. After check-in, to make sure they don't lose us on the trail, I talked with a couple of my teammates and we decided on a run-walk. Being me, I suggest we try for the 6 mile option and it seems that I have complete buy-in until we finish our group stretch and they ask for a raise of hands for the 6-mile group. I raise mine and go to the start line, and find myself with my mentor and one of my teammates, in addition to the hard-core runners.

I think I'm crazy, but our motto is we can always turn back. We go for a 6-1 run-walk, which is running for 6 minutes then walking for 1 minute over and over until you reach the end. The 6-1 is what my mentor Helen runs, and she has the really cool little watch that tells you what you're supposed to be doing. The great thing about the first runs is commitment, if you decide you're running 6 miles you run to the 3 mile mark and run back. There are chalk marks on the trail, indicating the mile and half mile markers in addition to the water stops at mile 1.25 and mile 2.75. Mentally I've committed to this and in my infinite wisdom, keep going for all 6, I've raised my hand and I'm not quitting. Plus I have to beat my girlfriends. Getting to the first water stop is easy, mile marker 2, not too bad, mile marker 2.5 I'm still good, and then we get to the 3 mile marker, I'm feeling good but not too sure I can run it back all the way maybe another mile or two and I'm done. I'm able to keep at the 6-1 pace for 4-4.5 miles and then have to take a 2 minute walk, my knees and ankles are hurting and then I keep running. We run past the 1.25 mile marker, no water, want to finish running, when I first saw them I wondered if I'd be able to bribe them to drive me back to the start/finish line. Run into the coaches ahead- Tim, John, and Dave- and talk to Tim about my shoes, my inner knees are hurting so I need more shoe support. We see the quarter-mile mark, and run to the finish, amazing feeling not only to finish the longest distance I've gone on, but even more so to have everyone cheering as you finish.

Food and drinks are out, the only thing I can think is how hungry I am and how badly I need to stretch. Got to love multi-tasking. Helen and I had talked about an ice-bath because of the distance I covered, but I decide to go to breakfast. I eat more than I normally do and when I get home I pass out for a 30 minute nap.

Waking up, my legs hate me, I have re-discovered several major muscles and tendons that I forgot could hurt. Nevertheless, I go dancing later that night for Elaine's birthday and am "gimpy", eventually I feel a little better, but know tomorrow is going to be worse.

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Pre-Training Thursday, February 2, 2006

Tonight we went to the Running Revolution for shoes & gear and for running tips. Heidi gave the presentation and here is what I walked away.

1. Shoes are the most important piece of equipment
2. Being female means that a good sports bra is second. I got to learn that lesson the hard way, in January when I was trying to pre-train.

There is this thing called a glide-stick, which I will eventually need to purchase because Heidi informed that us that we will chaff in areas-arms, thighs, and other places, though I am not sure I want to know where.

I will need to buy a little blinky light for when I run and a little light to light my way. The first one goes on my shirt, water belt, pants or something and the second goes on my head.

I will also need a water belt, which I will use on our longer runs once we start, and eventually fill with electrolyte infused drinks - glad I like Gatorade. This will keep me going in addition to the carbohydrate gels, which sound like fun. On the other hand, I can just get the gels, with electrolytes, but these are a must try on the longer runs before marathons and long runs.

Dehydration and the thing right after it, look a lot alike, but the latter one can kill you. Wow, that's a happy note. That's why we have to drink electrolytes every 45 minutes, was that it, or was it water. I really needed to take notes during this. Oops, my excuse is that it was dark.

There was a table set up with a variety of electrolyte drinks. They warned us that we might not like some of them and to be careful of the gag reflex. Yeah, drink #4, not my friend, instant gag reflex. Ew, ew, ew. I think that was actually harsher than a shot of vodka, guess I didn't like that one much and will not be filling my water bottle with that one.

So this is a little more expensive and a little more physically demanding than I imagined, but it's better that way now I can look forward to the run and all the little shopping trips to get me ready.

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