Brown Socks

Denial---passed

After admitting that I was in denial I went ahead and picked up the Sunmart info packet, from under a huge pile of mail on the kitchen table.  So now I have accepted it.  I will be running this race next week.

I intended to post all about my training- the ups and downs, the pains and the accomplishments, etc... But I just got so freakin' busy that posting on the blog just wasn't possible. Around the same time that I started training for Sunmart I was promoted to a different position which was a huge adjustment for me.  On top of that the job has a travel component- so I have been traveling. Add the training, trying to be a good mom, cleaning the house, etc... at times it was all a bit too much. I was desperately trying to keep my life in order and just never had time to share my experiences on the blog.  Which sucks, because it has been a trip- really!

RECAP:

The training started out with me being very intimated by the group I was training with. Almost all of the members had recently completed the Pikes Peak Marathon and had already experienced the demanding Rogue trail training. I was a newbie- with my longest run at 16 miles. I was pretty freaked out.  Twelve weeks later I look back and see a different runner than I am now. Perhaps a different person as well.

Ups and Downs

When I say this has been a trip it really has! We have run on trails in Austin,  Bastrop, Hunstville and Bandera... Emotionally, it has been a roller coaster trying to keep it all going- being away from my family so much between the running and travel for work. Marcel really missed me at times and I started to wonder if I could finish the training.  I wanted so badly to run the race and do it with proper training, but it was keeping me away from my family and I felt like crap.  Taking off hours on both Saturday and Sunday, or taking off for the weekend, made me feel selfish and guilty- I had this very inflexible schedule that my family had to work around.  But I kept with it because I didn't want to quit. It wasn't easy at times.

On the other hand, the experience was awesome.  I was lucky enough to find a running partner that runs the same pace as I do- not only was it great to have her as support when my legs were tired and my stomach was turning- but she is such an interesting person and her stories passed the time.  Five and a half hours could feel like 2 while chatting about life with Monica. I also learned a lot about myself as well...

Lessons Learned

Once the dreaded Bandera run was behind me, confidence in my running ability grew.  That run by far was the hardest- each mile took so much longer to travel and it took a big mental adjustment to get used to.  It was terribly discouraging at first, but that run will help me in those last miles at Sunmart next week.  Running twice in one day was also a huge confidence booster- normally I am a person who is very strict about food intake before a run.  Also, I always need "a plan" and tend to block out my running weeks in advance. Because I didn't know that I was going to be running later that evening, I ate a big ol' greasy chicken sandwich, fries, and a margarita and figured I'd hit the hay a few hours later. We went out shortly after for our spur of the moment night run, my stomach still full of greasy food, and my run was wonderful.  It made me realize that I need to lighten up on the whole eating and planning thing- sometimes  spontaneous runs are the most rewarding!

I also realized that bad days happen and it wasn't a sign of weakness. To feel so strong one day and so weak a few days later was hard to get used to. Going back out there the day after a painful or crappy run wasn't easy- but getting through the hard days was as important (if not more important ) as the runs where I finished strong and happy. You can feel terrible at the end of a long run, and run a few hours later and feel great! You can run a great run one day and an awful one the next- you never know.

Future Plans

Well, I haven't run the race yet, but I don't know if I will train for another ultra in the near future. This has been a great experience, but I just can't  keep up the mileage and back-to backs for much longer.  It's not that I think my body can't handle it- but I just don't think my life can right now.  Well... obviously my life CAN handle it because I have been doing it for the past 12 weeks, but I just don't want to be "run-o-centric" to the level that I was.  Not for a while. But, as these things go, I may feel differently after Sunmart.

As for now, I think that after the race I will concentrate on getting faster and running shorter distances while still running on trails a few days a week. I'm looking forward to the break- perhaps checking out a spin class with Zack or running a 5K to see if I have become a faster runner.  I'm looking forward to having time to get back into the gym.

One more thing - this training has made my appetite out of control! Taking a break from the ultra training will save us some serious grocery money!

Well, I could blab on for hours- I'm tapering and my longest run is 7 miles this week.  I finally have some time to do so...

Alone with nature...RUN!

Headed down to the greenbelt today after work, armed with a water bottle full of ice cubes so as not to repeat my "overheating and drinking warm water to make it worse death march" that occurred last week at the greenbelt. The plan was to run about 22 minutes out and turn around.  I was feeling pretty strong and comfortable for the first half, stopping at about 22 minutes to drink some water and head back.  As I was drinking my water, standing in the middle of the trail, I noticed that someone had hung a Lonestar beer can on one of the tree branches.  I stood there staring at the beer can, reminiscing about the times that I used to go to the greenbelt and drink that lovely Lonestar beer, waaaay before this whole running thing.  Then, something caught my eye-  a long black, striped  ribbon laying flat across the trail at the tip of my shoe.   I thought, "how strange that that ribbon has survived all of these mountain bikes and is still laying perfectly flat and straight across the trail...".  Then my eyes focused, and I realized that it was not a striped ribbon, but a very long snake.  Without realizing I yelled out "OH MY GOD"  and did some sort of ridiculous hot potato dance and  scared the thing away.  I turned and RAN!  There's nothing like a snake chilling at the tip of your shoe to get you to pick up your pace.  That snake freaked me the hell out.  I used to have a snake as a pet for a few years -a Ball Python - but it was a pet and was fairly harmless (unless he thought your hand was a mouse when you put your hand in the cage, then he bit you).  Wild snakes are another story...

A short while later, some funky fuzzy black animal the size of a large rat went scampering across the trail, scaring the crap out of me once again.  Geez, and all I thought I had to worry about were those damn horseflies! I'm not sure I have ever run that fast on the greenbelt.  I booked it back to the car before a coyote pounced on me.

Comes in handy...

I realized this morning that being a runner can come in handy in my everyday life. This morning, I popped a button of my pants and needed a quick fix before I headed out the door. I found an old race bib in my jewelry box and grabbed the safety pin! Did the trick and I didn't have to root around in the laundry pile and find a replacement pair of pants.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzz

So yesterday I tried a "recovery run" for the first time.  Typically I don't run the day after a long run because I usually feel like I have been run over by a truck.  I  hate running on dead legs, I'm a slow enough runner on fresh legs!  But, I thought I try something new this week. 

Well- it did me good. It was a bit uncomfortable at first because I was very stiff, and I felt sluggish. But, once I got into the groove and found some good songs on my MP3 player, I actually enjoyed it.  It was different from my other runs because I wasn't putting any pressure on myself.  Note to self- do that more often.

So I capped off the week at about 21 miles. All of this running is making me tired! I am not a napper, but I actually napped on Friday evening before we went to the movies. I felt like such an old lady...

Sunrise, Sunset

Last night before I went to bed I put all of my running stuff out so I could jump out of bed, eat a little, stretch and head out to run in the neighborhood this morning. I had my alarm set for 5:30, and was planning to hit the road at about 6:00 for a 4 mile run. But... I woke up at 6:20! I did everything except set the alarm. So instead of getting to see the sunrise this morning, I saw the sunset this evening while I made up for my morning missed run.

I was surprisingly comfortable running today considering how achy my ankles (and surrounding areas) have been since the Loop, and how warm it was out. I drank a ton of water when I got home from work, and headed out a bit after 7:00. The temperature was about 93 degrees, but the sun was no longer blazing.  I think having all the water in my system helped keep my body comfortable.

One thing I learned today though- I can NOT eat a "burrito bol" at Chipotle, then a mint chip frappacino at Starbucks in the afternoon, before a run. Bad news.

Autopilot

When I left work today, I hadn't really decided whether I would go to the gym today or not. I packed workout clothes this morning so that I would have them if I decided to go during lunch or after work. Zack had the day off today, and he told me he planned to go to the gym this afternoon. I gave him a call on the way home and he didn't answer, so I assumed he was at the gym. Instead of getting off at the exit for home, I continued on to the gym to see if I could catch up with him.  I always prefer to do weight workouts with my husband, it distracts me from the pain and dread of the bicep curls. And row machine.  And the shoulder press. I really have a hard time getting to the gym and doing my upper body and abdominal workout sometimes. If I think about it too much, I can't bring myself to go to the gym.

So I get to the gym, and sure enough his car is in the parking lot. I found him on the bike, said hi, and proceeded to start my workout. It wasn't until I finished my first 2 exercises when I realized what I was doing! The dread never kicked in on my way to the gym since I was was hoping to see Zack, and that was really my only focus. 

So my lesson learned today is: to not think about the actual workout and just get myself to the gym (if that is possible). Play dumb. Then I can dread the bicep curls once I am at the gym, but since I am already there I may as well stay and do the darn things.

Sunday Stroll

Marcel and I headed down to the trail for a walk today. We were curious to see all of the activity down at Auditorium Shores, where the triathlon will be tomorrow morning.  Marcel was also hoping to see some ducks.  I pushed Marcel in the jogging stroller and walked the 4 mile loop while we played "I Spy". It was a nice change to be down there walking so casually; I can't remember the last time I was there and just walked. It was nice to slow down and look at the sights.  Marcel had the camera and took a few shots of the trail as we chugged along.

A nice, casual afternoon to remind me  to not take things so seriously-

S t r e c h

Lesson learned today: I must s t r e t c h before/after running on the treadmill during lunch, even though I was very distracted today and I only had an hour to drive to the gym, run, shower, and drive back to work. I am paying for not doing so with achy shins.

Back!

From 3/08/05

After taking a month off from running, and then a month of slowly working back up to 30 minutes of running I am back!. I followed the Doctor's orders (even though I didn't want to...) and my injury (diagnosis: stress fracture) isn't causing me any grief these days. It is amazing that I don't feel it at all I was limping for a week, and in pain for 2 more weeks after that (I still ran though- what was I thinking?). . . .

So, plans plans plans. I hesitate to sit down and mark my calendar up. I will focus on small goals right now. A 10K in April. A 10 miler in May.

What I learned from my injury:
- The treadmill is my friend.
- The middle school track down the street is my friend.
- I will not take running for granted.
- My legs may feel strong still, but my shins and joints are mad at me.
- No matter how much elliptical you do, on the highest settings, it is very hard to keep your cardio up. The first time I ran after a month off, I was gasping for air.
- I can not take the running thing to seriously. It is an important part of my life, but I can't revolve my life around my training. I am going to mix it up a bit this time.

That is all I can think of for now. Looking forward to running and watching the sun come up this week!