6/30 On Feet, Hips, Hula Hoops and Muscles

I swear I workout less now than I did when I wasn't marathon training.

I've had to scrap my last two speed workouts due to foot pain. It's pretty discouraging- I was getting to a point back in January and February where I could run 25/mpw without problems. For whatever reason, I have yet to hit my weekly goals for the last two weeks- I was able to complete 14 of 23 miles through June 21, and 17 of 24 miles through June 29. I've never considered myself an athlete, but I do believe that I am in decent shape. I'm having trouble reconciling the fact that I can't just force my body to do what my training schedule dictates. But hopefully that all changes soon!

I saw a chiropractor on Friday afternoon who was infinitely more supportive than my physical therapist. I walked into his office and we had the following exchange:

Him: You're training for a marathon?
Me: Yes.
Him: So, you needed to be healed yesterday then?
Me: Yes. Exactly.
Him: Alright, we'll make you stop hurting now and work through the causes as you continue to train. Let's get started.

From there he did some adjustments in my feet, right knee, hips, spine and neck, and also some weird voodoo neurological type stuff with lasers. I completed the long run on Saturday (9.75 miles!) and was still in a lot of pain afterwards. However, yesterday and today I'm walking with less foot pain, so I'm taking that as a good sign. I see the doc again today, and we'll be working together for the rest of the season. I'm looking forward to it. :)

As I mentioned, I did a long run of 9.75 miles on Saturday morning. The team again met in Mission Bay, and this time we ran through Pacific Beach, down the boardwalk and then retraced our path back to the starting point. I've fallen into a pattern where I'll run the first half with Julie and Jess, and then Julie will leave us in the dust as she runs off with her long legs (being 6'0" must be nice!). Jess and I did manage to finish with negative splits, though! We kicked it up from ~10:30 pace to sub 9:30s for the last couple miles. We are by no means speed demons, but it felt good to have a little gas left in the tank towards the end.

We then stayed for the Honored Teammate Picnic. The San Diego team is divided up into three factions: Central (my team), North County (who we decided has better eye candy and ICE COLD Gatorade), and the walk team (how come we didn't think to join the walk team?!). My parents (hi mom and dad!) met me there around 10:30, and walked up just as I was competing in the Hula Hoop contest. After a hard fought battle, I clenched first place for the Central team! My parents were proud, I got some high fives from teammates and gained instant and life long fame. Perhaps it's a little overkill, but I haven't won anything in years, so I was very excited.

Following my triumph, I had a massage by our team therapist. I told him my feet and hips were in pain, and he asked if the hip injury was related to my hula-hooping ( I really am famous!). We got down to business, and he stretched me out pretty well and suggested that my feet issues actually stem from my lack of hip mobility. He showed me a couple stretches and recommended a book called ChiRunning. I've been hearing a lot about it lately, so I think I'll pick it up this week. It may be a little too new agey for my tastes, but I'm willing to try anything in order to run pain free at this point.

Which brings me to my last point of the post- in an effort to become stronger and more flexible, I've decided to recommit myself to strength training. I had developed a pretty good lifting routine, but I've neglected the iron for a while since I've been skipping the gym. I was trying to avoid driving unnecessarily, but my fitness is suffering as result. I've now tossed a couple gym outfits in my car so I can easily stop by and do some lifting when I have the chance. I hope the increased strength training, coupled with Pilates and spinning classes, will result in a more toned physique, less pain and better cardiac health. Seems like a pretty lofty goal, but a girl can dream right?

And with that I must sign off and get ready for my second voo-doo appointment. I'll keep you posted with the results!

6/21 New Shoes! (Again)

One of the things that our TNT coaches keep telling us is that this whole marathon thing is going to hurt. Yes, we'll feel great raising money for LLS. Yes, we'll be in the best shape of our lives. Yes, we'll be ecstatic that we chose to train for a marathon right in the throws of skirt season. And yes, we will develop aches and pains.

With that warning in mind, I tried to ignore some pain that had been developing in my right foot and ankle over the last couple weeks. I attributed it to an old injury from last summer coming back, and made the effort to ice and stretch thoroughly after each session. It didn't improve, and then I noticed that my left foot was starting to hurt, too! I've sprained ligaments in both feet in the passed, and both times doctors and therapists had told me to be sure to ice and stretch before and after workouts. Unfortunately, these things weren't really helping and the problem was just getting worse.

Wednesday evening I had to scrap my 4 mile run after only .87 miles. Instead, I cross-trained on the elliptical and stationary bike. I decided to take a rest day on Thursday instead of doing my speed workout, and on Friday I rode the stationary bike for 25 minutes and did some situps. I was able to make an appointment to see a physical therapist on Saturday afternoon, and drove over to her office with both pairs of running shoes and my injury history...

But not before I did the 9 mile long run on Saturday morning!! Nine miles is the longest I've run in a while, and it's the longest distance I've ever done. The team met in Encinitas at 7am, and we were on the road by 7:30. I clocked in at 1:45:something, and was able to sprint the uphill finish with my friend Jess. The first two miles of the run were stiff, but after that I had loosened up somewhat. I took a couple two-minute walk breaks, and my pace slowed from 9:45 to 12:00 by the time I finished. I stretched afterwards and iced my feet while we did a team breakfast, and then hobbled back to my car and drove to my PT appointment.

Thankfully, my therapist didn't think it was silly that I had run prior to seeing her. In fact, she acknowledged that I couldn't stop running in order to treat the problem, because then I'd throw off my training schedule! I was SO happy to have someone that understood that quitting running wasn't an option. Working out and being active is what makes me happy- I'm not giving that up because some wimpy doctor tells me to stop running!

After that, she examined both pairs of shoes and realized that the new pair I got last month was defective!! The left shoe was kind of smooshed in the back, and the black pads on the bottom of the sneaker didn't match up at all with the right shoe pads. Way too much spacing in some parts, and not enough in others. She attributed the sudden onset of left foot pain to the defective shoe and ordered me back to Road Runner Sports.

With the shoe problem somewhat solved, she then examined my feet and ankles. Long story short, they're not pretty stiff and not as strong as they should be. She said that my mobility was poor, and that if I don't increase strength and flexibility in my feet, my body won't even make it to the marathon, let alone finish. This freaked me out a little bit, and right then and there I vowed to do whatever crazy strengthening and stretching exercises she gave me to do at home. There is no way I'm not completing this marathon in October! I booked a Tuesday evening appointment and another Saturday afternoon. I can't wait to get this going so I can train in top form.

So, I'm in yet another new pair of shoes- another pair of Asics, but this time the Nimbus Gel 10s (or something). They were out of blue, but they did have a pair of the flashiest purple shoes I've ever seen. Makes me glad TNT colors are green and purple, and that my running clothes are mostly black and white. ;)

With physical therapy, [hopefully] the right pair of shoes, and a commitment to better cross training (elliptical, bike and swimming-yikes!), I expect to get over this little bump in the road and continue on injury free through October.

Thanks again for the support, everyone. I'm off to ice.

6/13 It's for real now

It dawned on me yesterday how much effort training for this marathon will take.

One of the attorneys in the office is an avid cyclist. He just returned from a 700 MILE long ride, and he's currently the only endurance athlete I know. I was chatting with him in the kitchen, and said that I had no idea training for an endurance event would take up so much time. His response:

"Yeah, and you're not even really there yet."

He made a good point- I am only running about 20 miles a week right now (up to 30+ at the end of July). I got pretty quiet after he said that, just realizing how much effort training well would really take. I've definitely been logging miles, and I'm already constantly sore, but it's only been a month! I'd be lying if I said the idea of running 26.2 didn't make me anxious.

I think what I'm most worried about is failing. I used to worry about what time I'd finish, as I really wanted to finish under 4:30:00. Now I worry that I'll get injured before the race, that I won't train properly and thusly won't be able to finish, or that (and this would be awful) I'd get injured DURING the race and have to stop! I don't think I could face all of the donors that have been so generous. I'd feel like such a... Well, a failure!

I know that I'm only responsible for doing the best that I can, but now I've been inspired to REALLY push myself! I definitely haven't been cross training as much as I should be, and I could squeeze in a couple more weight training sessions. The LSAT is done on Monday evening, and not having to go to class three days a week will really free up some time to cross-train and lift weights.

With nervous anticipation, I bid you all a good weekend. Again, thanks for the support!!

6/5 Twenty-four things

Rob and I would have celebrated year 24 together today... I'm not going into the office today, and I plan on just being alone for the most part. I understand that acting like this can be perceived as unhealthy, but I prefer to be alone when I'm sad- it allows me to just feel and express the emotion however I want, instead of considering how my actions may effect someone else.

Anyway, I thought I'd write down twenty-four things that I remember/miss/loved about Robert. In no particular order...

1. I've been thinking about this memory a lot lately: When we were in our early teens, Robert used to participate in the Special Olympics. One weekend he was running the 50-yard dash, and my mom and I told him that if he pumped his arms really hard, it would help him run faster. He looked pleased to have this new information, and went to line up. After the gun went off, every other kid started sprinting down the track, except Robert. We turned back to the starting line and there he was, standing there, feet firmly planted, pumping his arms as hard as he could. In between our laughter, we yelled for him to actually RUN! Smiling, he heard us and then took off- still coming in 2nd place.

2. Robert had the most beautiful eyelashes. They were dark and long and curly. He always got complimented on them, and I was always so jealous!

3. I totally didn't appreciate this aspect of his character until now, but he was SO generous! Everytime I came home from school, he would give me little gifts that he had won at school for being a good student. They were always cheap trinkets or lotions, and I was always a little perturbed that he was appearing to pawn off his junk on me. Looking back, he really was just that nice. He wanted people to be happy.

4. Before he tried to lose weight, the way he'd order at restaurants was like this, "Which will give me the most food?" He loved to eat, and so he did!

5. Once he got on the Jenny Craig plan, he lost maybe 30 pounds! He looked great, and it was one of the first times I can remember him truly accomplishing something on his own. I was really proud of him for that.

6. Our family friend Barbara wrote a beautiful message in his memory book, and mentioned his "full face smile." He really did have one. I don't think a picture of Robert exists that doesn't show off his bright and shining smile- eyes lit up and all.

7. He was great with children. Maybe it was a function of being developmentally delayed himself, but he was always so understanding and gentle with them.

8. He was a hopefless romantic... He wanted nothing more than to get married and have babies. So many conversations started off with, "When I have kids..."

9. And he was a flirt!! No female friend could ever escape his constant proposals. He'd always get this shy smirk on his face when they came around, and then ask when they'd be getting married.

10. Sometimes he'd just call to say hi. Really. I'd pick up my phone and he'd say, "Hi." I'd say, "Hi," and then he'd say, "Ok. Bye." And that was that.

11. Robert was "social butterfly" personified. He was instantly friends with everyone he met.

12. The kid had a crazy good ability to memorize directions! He could navigate the public transportation system like nobody's business. I still get lost a couple times a week.

13. He was protective of me. If I ever introduced a boyfriend to the family, he'd say, "Be good to me sister."

14. Despite his disabilities, he never looked at himself as incapable of anything. He even got his driver's license the October before he passed away. He studied for months and months and months, and was able to take the exam orally. I think we missed the same number of points on our driver's tests, too.

15. Even when we were 23 years old, Robert could never sleep passed 6am on Christmas morning. He was always so excited about presents! I'd force myself to sleep as long as possible just to make him wait. Finally, he'd lose patience with me and bring my stocking into my room and make me start opening gifts.

16. Robert loved to eat lobster. One time he saved up enough money to walk up to the grocery store and buy himself a live one to eat. Somehow he managed to bond with the lobster on the walk home. Once it was time to boil the lobster, it became evident that he didn't understand he had to drop it in while it was still alive. He was obviously a little upset by this, but decided to go ahead with his plan. My dad, seeing that he was distraught, snuck around the corner and waiting until the lobster was going into the pot. As soon as it touched the water, my dad let out a loud, high pitched, "EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!" and Robert screamed and dropped the lobster as he stumbled backwards. Needless to say, he was a little more than pissed. I thought it was hilarious. ;)

17. I wasn't around for this one, but it was told to me by my mom. It goes back to the hopeless romantic/flirt thing... When Robert was in urgent care in the days before his diagnosis, he was really scared, tired and confused- definitely not his usual self. But once, when a nurse walked by, he calmed down for a brief moment, looked at my mom and said, "She's pretty."

18. I fancied myself a ballerina when I was younger. My parents bought me this beautiful (in my 6 year old mind) tutu type dress: gold lamae bodice and poofy white skirt with gold stitching. I stopped wearing it after I stopped taking ballet, but Robert would sneak into my room, put it on, and run around the house giggling. We have a picture of my dad tickling him while he's laughing. I think he could only get the dress 2/3 of the way up his body at that point- it makes the picture even better.

19. Robert knew what he liked, and didn't care what other people thought of his tastes. This explains why, when he was 20 years old, he painted his room a delicate lavender. It may have clashed with his Padres paraphenalia, but he did it anyways.

20. I'd always point out that I was the "older" sibling, and he'd just tell me I was old. Then he'd remind me that he was the only one with a hospital picture, and I'd say it's because he broke the camera.

21. There's a great picture of Robert at 2 years old absolutely covered in red nail polish. He is cracking up and our mom is in the background looking quite unpleased. He was always into something- it was cause for concern when you heard a giggle coming from somewhere in the house.

22. By the time I flew down to San Diego, Robert was already sedated. He was still pretty aware of what was going on around him, though. I walked up to his bed, told him I was there, and held his hand. He squeezed it back, nodded his head that he understood who I was, and then started signing "I love you."

23. His laugh always had a slightly mischevous ring to it, even if he wasn't doing anything wrong. I think he always had something in the works...

24. He had the biggest heart of anyone I know. He rooted for the underdog, he had a nice thing to say about everyone, and was shocked when people were mean to him or to someone he loved. There was an innocence about him, and he expected the same sort of naiveness from the world around him. I think that's what made him such a happy and genuine person...

--

Phew, that was a tough one to write...

I'm headed to the gym for another fartlek workout. Five miles with a 3min hard x 2min easy breakdown. Good thing it's my rest day tomorrow- this run is going to be challenging!!