I'm seven days away from marathon #13, and the biggest worry on my mind right now is my left foot. No, not the award-winning Daniel Day Lewis movie...my actual left foot. My battered, worn-out, geriatric-looking foot that has been through stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, a ruptured posterior tibial tendon that was replaced with a tendon from my big toe and the latest: arthritis in my big toe and in the midfoot joint back behind the big toe. In the past year, the arthritis has made itself known, and that it's not leaving -- and it's been a battle. So much so that I didn't do the spring marathon I was signed up for when the pain really flared up. A couple of cortisone shots later, I salvaged a summer of okay training, and I've gotten to this point where I'm ready to go.
And with that, I want to thank my foot. That same foot that I curse time and again and that has cost me so much money and heartache, and the foot that sometimes won out and convinced me to do one less rep, or cut the tempo short. It reminded me that training is a balancing act, and walking a fine line between injury and improvement.
Dear old foot, you look like you're 85 years old, far beyond your 33 years on this earth, with bony, exaggerated joints and a scar as evidence of the wear and tear you've endured. You don't like to be woken up quickly and heaven help the person who relies on you for too many repeats on the track -- turning left is NOT your favorite thing. You've carried a body for thousands of miles, through multiple adventures and glorious PRs, and led the way to cherished friendships and a marriage. And aside from running, you were also obedient to ballet positions, soaring jumps and endless turns, showing your versatility to not only run miles, but dance.
It's understandable that you'd be a little worn out and battered. You've lived through enough adventures and experiences to make for a wonderful life so far. You helped me achieve goals I never imagined, and I'm thankful for that in more ways than one. In fact, you taught me to never give up or underestimate myself, and now I get to apply that same lesson to dealing with you. I will never underestimate you, despite how you look or how achey you feel. I know you're capable of so much.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
When Training Gets Real
As soon as the calendar turned to the month of September, things got real. I'm running the Detroit Marathon on Oct. 20, and holy crap -- it's time to get serious. That's not to say I haven't been training or following a plan -- I have -- but I've found there's always a point during marathon prep where it's like a switch flips, and the workouts and long runs are numbered, and damnit, there's an urgency to make everything COUNT.
For this marathon, I went back to a friend who has coached and guided me through numerous marathons and other races, including the PR summer of 2006, as I affectionately call it in my mind, when everything clicked and we both got more and more excited with each race and corresponding PR leading into the mother of all races for me, the Chicago Marathon. I set a 14 minute PR, broke 3:10 and felt unstoppable! Injuries unfortunately sidelined me off and on for years, and I tried some other things as I tried to claw my way back. I always found myself thinking back to what he had taught me, though, and the training he had guided me through. As a result, I went back to him and June and asked if he could help me again.
If there's one thing I've learned through my training experiments over the years, it's that enthusiasm and belief are critical. Without them, there's doubt, and running becomes a chore. My friend has always believed in me and has made running FUN, always lending a word of encouragement no matter how blaaah a workout may go.
We started off in June and he told me bascially this: Forget the runner you were, and what you've done before. You're starting from scratch. Do what I tell you, even if it looks a bit crazy, and this just may work.
My number one strategy for "starting from scratch" was going Garmin-less. My friend lives at altitude and is a stud runner himself and has always had me do the majority of my runs by time and effort. Up until a couple years ago, I didn't have a Garmin. All of my PRs -- marathon included -- were run Garmin-less, as was all the training leading up to them. However, in recent years, I'd become OBSESSED with mileage, pace, etc. Turns out that's the express route to crazy town -- at least for me. And the switch was definitely needed. I ran all June and July without a Garmin, and my gawd, it was BLISSFUL. Try it some time.
My friend was also honest with me: I have lost a lot of the turnover I once had. In theory, this helps you run more efficiently. Lose your turnover, it becomes harder. So, June and July were dedicated to getting it back. My first time on the track in a year was to do just a couple of 200s and 400s -- and untimed, just to get the feel of them and not be worried about time. It was PAINFUL. I put on my racing flats for the first time and my arches screamed. My hips and hamstrings felt like they needed an oil can to get moving more quickly. I remember emailing my friend after. "That felt so awful," I said. "Don't worry," he told me. "It will get easier."
So, every Tuesday, I've headed to the track in the early morning for workouts that have increasingly grown longer, but always kicked off with several 200s. I admittedly feel like an old lady doing these. But the times are coming down, even if it's sometimes ever so slightly, and I'm seeing glimpses of my old body and ways of running (sorry, I can't totally forget about the runner I used to be!).
My other workout of the week is typically a long tempo -- my NEMESIS. Something about tempos has always messed with my head. First of all, I used to always run them at more of a 10K-type effort -- and without a Garmin. Then, I started doing them with a Garmin...and WAITWHATAMITOOSLOWOMGTHISHURTSHOWCANICONTINUEOW! (Just a glimpse into my crazy brain during a tempo.) Yes, I can sometimes lack focus...and that's kind of critical for running long. I need to work on it, because I know tempos are what will help my fitness the most. It's just that sometimes, they also suck the most.
For the rest of the week, my run times have slowly been creeping up, and now I've got my midweek 90 minutes and 60-70 minute runs for the other days. And then, of course, the long run on Sunday.
If I can complete this training, I should be in decent shape to get the marathon done. I'll be honest: I've done 12 marathons and my goal isn't to just finish another one. I want to run strong, not fall apart, and have my training and hard work shine through. Don't we all, right? I'm not like my husband and other people I know, who can all go out for a run and get lost in the miles and then "oops, I got lost in the run ran 12 miles after work and it was so EASY!" I'm pretty aware of where I'm at in a run almost always. I enjoy training, but I like to be done. And the marathon distance never gets any less daunting to me.
SOOO, as training for this month heats up, I'm fully aware that this is it -- this is the time to get it done. I've got a hell of a ways to run next month, and I'd like to run strong, and maybe accomplish a couple goals I've got in my head, as well. ;)
Onward and upward, friends.
For this marathon, I went back to a friend who has coached and guided me through numerous marathons and other races, including the PR summer of 2006, as I affectionately call it in my mind, when everything clicked and we both got more and more excited with each race and corresponding PR leading into the mother of all races for me, the Chicago Marathon. I set a 14 minute PR, broke 3:10 and felt unstoppable! Injuries unfortunately sidelined me off and on for years, and I tried some other things as I tried to claw my way back. I always found myself thinking back to what he had taught me, though, and the training he had guided me through. As a result, I went back to him and June and asked if he could help me again.
If there's one thing I've learned through my training experiments over the years, it's that enthusiasm and belief are critical. Without them, there's doubt, and running becomes a chore. My friend has always believed in me and has made running FUN, always lending a word of encouragement no matter how blaaah a workout may go.
We started off in June and he told me bascially this: Forget the runner you were, and what you've done before. You're starting from scratch. Do what I tell you, even if it looks a bit crazy, and this just may work.
My number one strategy for "starting from scratch" was going Garmin-less. My friend lives at altitude and is a stud runner himself and has always had me do the majority of my runs by time and effort. Up until a couple years ago, I didn't have a Garmin. All of my PRs -- marathon included -- were run Garmin-less, as was all the training leading up to them. However, in recent years, I'd become OBSESSED with mileage, pace, etc. Turns out that's the express route to crazy town -- at least for me. And the switch was definitely needed. I ran all June and July without a Garmin, and my gawd, it was BLISSFUL. Try it some time.
My friend was also honest with me: I have lost a lot of the turnover I once had. In theory, this helps you run more efficiently. Lose your turnover, it becomes harder. So, June and July were dedicated to getting it back. My first time on the track in a year was to do just a couple of 200s and 400s -- and untimed, just to get the feel of them and not be worried about time. It was PAINFUL. I put on my racing flats for the first time and my arches screamed. My hips and hamstrings felt like they needed an oil can to get moving more quickly. I remember emailing my friend after. "That felt so awful," I said. "Don't worry," he told me. "It will get easier."
So, every Tuesday, I've headed to the track in the early morning for workouts that have increasingly grown longer, but always kicked off with several 200s. I admittedly feel like an old lady doing these. But the times are coming down, even if it's sometimes ever so slightly, and I'm seeing glimpses of my old body and ways of running (sorry, I can't totally forget about the runner I used to be!).
My other workout of the week is typically a long tempo -- my NEMESIS. Something about tempos has always messed with my head. First of all, I used to always run them at more of a 10K-type effort -- and without a Garmin. Then, I started doing them with a Garmin...and WAITWHATAMITOOSLOWOMGTHISHURTSHOWCANICONTINUEOW! (Just a glimpse into my crazy brain during a tempo.) Yes, I can sometimes lack focus...and that's kind of critical for running long. I need to work on it, because I know tempos are what will help my fitness the most. It's just that sometimes, they also suck the most.
For the rest of the week, my run times have slowly been creeping up, and now I've got my midweek 90 minutes and 60-70 minute runs for the other days. And then, of course, the long run on Sunday.
If I can complete this training, I should be in decent shape to get the marathon done. I'll be honest: I've done 12 marathons and my goal isn't to just finish another one. I want to run strong, not fall apart, and have my training and hard work shine through. Don't we all, right? I'm not like my husband and other people I know, who can all go out for a run and get lost in the miles and then "oops, I got lost in the run ran 12 miles after work and it was so EASY!" I'm pretty aware of where I'm at in a run almost always. I enjoy training, but I like to be done. And the marathon distance never gets any less daunting to me.
SOOO, as training for this month heats up, I'm fully aware that this is it -- this is the time to get it done. I've got a hell of a ways to run next month, and I'd like to run strong, and maybe accomplish a couple goals I've got in my head, as well. ;)
Onward and upward, friends.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Head case
I ran a lackluster 5K today results-wise, but it's one I've done every year since 2008 and it's kind of become a tradition for my husband and me, and it's a lot of fun, regardless of the time. It was already in the mid-80s and humid as all get out at start time, and it's hilly, and I can think of a million excuses for why it was about a minute slower than what I thought I was capable of at this point in my training. But, the only person who really cares is me, and it's time to get over it and move on. Besides, I'm not training for a 5K...I'm training for the Detroit Marathon and I have a lot of work to do.
Anyway, I was exchanging texts with my coach about it afterward and lamented about how it's not as easy as it used to be -- it being running the times I was running about 6-7 years ago, and even further back, when I ran with abandon and no concept of limits. His response: If you want it, get after it.
I'll tell you what: that statement slapped me upside the head. My head has become my worst enemy in recent years, after injuries and challenges that have sometimes seemed like they're reversing my progress. And most of the time, where I fall short is when I have the opportunity to make a choice about truly "getting after it." I've eased up on workouts at paces I didn't think I could handle without even giving them a chance, and I've cut the number of reps short for fear of injury; I've raced and stayed in "places" I thought I belonged because I lacked the confidence to maybe go around someone I'd gotten used to finishing behind.
Injuries and a couple of "down" years can really mess with your confidence and create doubt. My best times came when I didn't think about times, paces or places and just ran hard. It's so simple but I think the biggest challenge for me has been getting over the initial disappoint and realization that I'm not there anymore at this moment. I think I've gotten too caught up in focusing on that, though, and not just forging ahead 100 percent toward a goal really getting after what I want.
It's high time I stop doubting and start dreaming again and not thinking, but just doing.
Anyway, I was exchanging texts with my coach about it afterward and lamented about how it's not as easy as it used to be -- it being running the times I was running about 6-7 years ago, and even further back, when I ran with abandon and no concept of limits. His response: If you want it, get after it.
I'll tell you what: that statement slapped me upside the head. My head has become my worst enemy in recent years, after injuries and challenges that have sometimes seemed like they're reversing my progress. And most of the time, where I fall short is when I have the opportunity to make a choice about truly "getting after it." I've eased up on workouts at paces I didn't think I could handle without even giving them a chance, and I've cut the number of reps short for fear of injury; I've raced and stayed in "places" I thought I belonged because I lacked the confidence to maybe go around someone I'd gotten used to finishing behind.
Injuries and a couple of "down" years can really mess with your confidence and create doubt. My best times came when I didn't think about times, paces or places and just ran hard. It's so simple but I think the biggest challenge for me has been getting over the initial disappoint and realization that I'm not there anymore at this moment. I think I've gotten too caught up in focusing on that, though, and not just forging ahead 100 percent toward a goal really getting after what I want.
It's high time I stop doubting and start dreaming again and not thinking, but just doing.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
New Beginnings
Wooo-eeee...it has been a LONG time since I updated this! So, what have I been up to...hmm. Not much. Well, actually, I've run a couple marathons since I last updated this, but not as many as planned. Had a massive elbow injury in 2009 that required surgery. Had a couple of stress fractures, got mono, couple other setbacks...that's it on the injury front! Now for the good stuff!
I got married earlier in the summer -- DEFINITELY a highlight of my life, as it should be. Life's been chugging along real well over the past five years for sure, since I last updated this. On the running front, I recently took a chance on an opportunity I would have never imagined I'd have just a few months ago. I now run for the Oiselle Volee team, a group of women across the country representing Oiselle, my favorite women's running clothing company and all that it stands for. Just check out the team manifesto. I am so honored and excited to be among those chosen to help represent Oiselle and carry out its values.
I'll be honest -- my running has been very up and down since 2007 and I've wrestled with the question, why do I run? As mentioned in earlier entries, I had a pretty major injury in 2007 that was a turning point for my life. Prior to the injury and the very long layoff that followed it, distance running came pretty easy. I put in the work, and the improvements followed like a perfect trajectory. I qualified for Boston on my second try. I chopped off chunks of time and, frankly, took it for granted.
Unfortuantely, I also took my health for granted, and didn't treat my body well. I wasn't kind to it and continued to push it despite nagging injuries and a tank always close to "E." When I got injured, I had to re-evaluate everything, and I've been working on this transformation ever since.
Today, I don't run for PRs that are "just around the corner." I have hopes that I can get back to PR shape someday, but it's no longer with the "at all costs" mentality. I sacrificed a lot back then and lived a life always teetering out of balance. I'm a happier person now, and while my most recent marathon was about 31 minutes slower than my PR, it was among my most joyful -- and the way I plan to continue to run. I now run for health, camraderie and because I simply can't imagine not doing it. Nothing beats the feeling of pushing yourself just a little more than you thought you could -- no matter how fast or slow it is in relation to where you may have once been.
During one of my injury layoffs, I remember saying, "I'll never complain or take a run for granted again." I can't say I've held true to this, but I'm a lot more cognizant of it these days, and thankful! I can't wait to carry this out as part of the Oiselle team. I'm thankful for the past, but looking to the future, and so glad I get to take flight with the rest of the birds!
I got married earlier in the summer -- DEFINITELY a highlight of my life, as it should be. Life's been chugging along real well over the past five years for sure, since I last updated this. On the running front, I recently took a chance on an opportunity I would have never imagined I'd have just a few months ago. I now run for the Oiselle Volee team, a group of women across the country representing Oiselle, my favorite women's running clothing company and all that it stands for. Just check out the team manifesto. I am so honored and excited to be among those chosen to help represent Oiselle and carry out its values.
I'll be honest -- my running has been very up and down since 2007 and I've wrestled with the question, why do I run? As mentioned in earlier entries, I had a pretty major injury in 2007 that was a turning point for my life. Prior to the injury and the very long layoff that followed it, distance running came pretty easy. I put in the work, and the improvements followed like a perfect trajectory. I qualified for Boston on my second try. I chopped off chunks of time and, frankly, took it for granted.
Unfortuantely, I also took my health for granted, and didn't treat my body well. I wasn't kind to it and continued to push it despite nagging injuries and a tank always close to "E." When I got injured, I had to re-evaluate everything, and I've been working on this transformation ever since.
Today, I don't run for PRs that are "just around the corner." I have hopes that I can get back to PR shape someday, but it's no longer with the "at all costs" mentality. I sacrificed a lot back then and lived a life always teetering out of balance. I'm a happier person now, and while my most recent marathon was about 31 minutes slower than my PR, it was among my most joyful -- and the way I plan to continue to run. I now run for health, camraderie and because I simply can't imagine not doing it. Nothing beats the feeling of pushing yourself just a little more than you thought you could -- no matter how fast or slow it is in relation to where you may have once been.
During one of my injury layoffs, I remember saying, "I'll never complain or take a run for granted again." I can't say I've held true to this, but I'm a lot more cognizant of it these days, and thankful! I can't wait to carry this out as part of the Oiselle team. I'm thankful for the past, but looking to the future, and so glad I get to take flight with the rest of the birds!
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