Ain't Nobody Got Time for Plank Jacks!

Here is a funny thing about running:  I think about it all the time.  I pin things on Pinterest.  I like or share posts on Facebook from I <3 to Run or Women's Running Magazine.  As I drive home from work, I see runners hitting the payment and think,  "Yeah, I can't wait to get my running shoes on and get out the door!"  Then, I get home.  My dog yaks on the rug- twice.  I don't know what I'm making for dinner.  It's getting dark out.  Oh, and my freakin' leg is giving my fits and everyone keeps telling me to NOT run.  Arrrrgh!

The other funny thing about running is the moment after I decide not to go, I suddenly feel like I've gained 50lbs!  I hate that I think that way, but once a fat girl, always a fat girl.  I am aware that this thinking isn't healthy.  I'm working on it and may always have difficulties with self image, etc.  Blame poor self-esteem, society, what have you.  The bottom-line is that I have chunky monkey guilt when I don't workout.  Sometimes it's good because it motivates me.  Other times, it just makes me feel crappy.  Shrug.

Instead of running as much as possible, I thought it was time to get back into a strength training routine.  I decided to go back to the classes at the Rec.  They have a Butts & Guts class on Monday & Wednesday and an Arms & Abs class on Tuesday & Thursday.  I figure going to these will help me establish a habit again.  I won't lie:  these classes kicked my booty!  I cannot even express my hatred of lunges and squats.  And when the skinny, little instructor tells us to squat and then pulse?  "Pulse, pulse, pulse!  Oh, it's burning!  You can do it!"  I feel like going all Hulk on her.  Seriously, just shut up with the pulses!  Also, I look like a fool doing most of the "guts" exercises.  Remember when crunches were the go to ab move?  I would do a 100 crunches over doing plank jacks!  I don't know how many we did, but I do know that my abs were killing me the next day!  Ain't nobody got time for that!  (I love you, Sweet Brown.  I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of using that phrase!)

The dreaded Plank Jack.

Challenge:  I fail at push ups.  Seriously, even the "girly" ones are hard for me.  Therefore, my personal challenge for myself this year is to be able to do TEN regular ol' push ups. This is like reaching for the moon for me at this point.  Actually, I found a 100 Push Up Challenge here.  Not sure I'll be doing 100 of those bad boys, but the site has some good info.  I'll keep ya posted on my little challenge.  Spoiler Alert:  There will be whining.

Of course, I couldn't go a whole week without running.  Sometimes, I just NEED to run. Running makes me a happier person.  Thursday was sooooo that day for me.  Work sucks--and has no place here on my blog!--and it stinks up my life from time to time. Running washes off the stink of a bad day.  Anyway, Tim and I met up with Leah that evening.  I was able to run 3 miles with no leg pain!  Woot!  Also, I got to FINALLY wear my new running shoes.  Oh, the joy of new shoes-- it was like running on clouds!  (Side Note:  Don't talk about The Walking Dead as you are running at dusk.  You'll think everyone walking in the distance is a zombie!)

My purty new shoes.

On Saturday, we met up with Leah and Jaime.  In my head, I told myself to go for 5 miles, but I would have been fine with 4, heck, even 3.  Tim and I ended up doing 5, and Leah and Jaime pushed on to do more.  (Side Note 2:  Um, Jaime is a machine!  She did a boot camp BEFORE running that morning!  And it wasn't the first time she has done that.  Girl is hardcore!)  We did a few hills and I did end up having to stop because I felt a few twinges. I'll be honest, I don't know if it was just mental or actual pain.  Like, I anticipated the pain, so maybe I just brought it on???  Regardless, I stopped and walked a bit and was still able to get back to running, which I totally failed at during Fly With the Eagles.  Five miles was pretty much my limit.  My hip was hurting by the end, so I imagine if I pushed on, I would have regretted it.

Overall, I'm happy with how the week went.  I plan to try to get 2-3 runs and the classes in this upcoming week.  I will continue to do my stretches and foam roller routine.  I need to remember to listen to my body and try not to second guess myself.

I shared this one on Facebook, but it's worth repeating:

On a personal note, my dog, Jake, is not feeling well.  We take him to the vet tomorrow for some tests and x-rays.  I am hoping that it's not serious and that he will be fine.  It has been hard seeing him so sick this weekend.  I love this little guy, and I my heart is breaking for him.

Mama, I don't feel good.

Race Report: I Believe I Can Fly... or Whine

Fly With The Eagles Half Marathon
2/9/13

Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge
Marion, IL

Time:  2:43:50

Alright, I'm just going to say it:  my time SUCKS.  I know.  I know.  Time does not matter.  I say that all the time.  And I truly mean it.  I do.  My mentality has always been:  Just Do It.  (Thank you, Nike, for the most overused slogan ever.)  The problem is that it's the SLOWEST I have ever been.  I really feel like I'm a better runner now than I was when I started.  I would have been thrilled with this time for my first half marathon, but this was my sixth.  So, the number is just toying with me. Mocking me.  Laughing at me.  And you know, I can throw out plenty of excuses for my poor performance:  I had a stomach bug earlier that week, so I didn't get my training runs in.  My leg has been giving me fits.  I was cold.  Yada, yada.  I can come up with more, but why bother?  That is my time.  I just need to accept it and move on.

Sigh.  Okay, now that I got that off my chest, let's get to the actual event.

Tim and I picked up Leah around 7:45am to head on over to the Refuge for the run.  As I mentioned, I was a bit sick earlier in the week, so I had a bit of nerves regarding how I was going to do on the course.  I had no expectations to have a PR or anything.  I was just thinking of it as a long run.  With 400 other runners.

It was colder than I thought it would be.  I wore capris and a long sleeved shirt that had lighter material on the sides and thumb hole sleeves.  (Side Note:  I LOVE shirts with thumb holes.  All long sleeved shirts should have them!).  I was happy with my choice until I got there and it felt colder than I thought it would.  I tried not to worry about it too much.  The sun was trying to come up, and I knew that once I started running, I would feel comfortable.

We picked up our race bags and to my surprise, the hoodie was BRIGHT ORANGE.  Like, going hunting orange.  Um, I'm all about the new brightly colored running apparel trend- heck, I was wearing a bright yellow shirt!  However, I don't run in hoodies and I don't hunt so... yeah.  After reading comments on the Fly With The Eagles' Facebook page, I realize I am in the minority regarding the color choice.  Seems like everyone loved the color.  Eh, I've never been very fashion savvy, but I do know that a baggy, bright orange hoodie won't do this girl any favors!

After packet pick up and a potty break (super important pre-race ritual!), we hurried back to Tim's car to get warm and ready.  Here's a pic of Leah and I- we are super cute and I like how my Bondi Band says "Run" and then Leah's says "13.1."  Great pic, Tim!

Once we were comfortably warmed up, it was time to get cold again!  The sun was trying to peak out of the clouds, but there was still a slight breeze.  Thankfully, we didn't have that long of a wait at the start.

The first mile was COLD.  My hands and toes were numb and I just couldn't wait to be able to feel them again.  There was one part of the course that was a road with the lake on each side.  That wind was FIERCE.  I felt a bit sluggish the first few miles, but by the time we hit 4 miles, I was actually surprised by our time.  Of course, this is probably the beginning of my undoing.  Soon after the cold lake area, we turned off on a gravel road.  I hated this part.  Gumballs (damn you, gumballs!) and tree limbs were everywhere.  Oh, and the occasional mud puddle.  I just could never find a good path. Also, it was hard to maneuver around all the other runners.  At one point, I stumbled a bit over a large stick.  Tim and Leah were a bit ahead of me and I was trying hard to catch up.  That is when I felt the twinge in my right calf.  Dang.

I told myself to just slow up a bit and push on.  My plan was to run until I couldn't anymore and then walk a bit.  I eventually caught up with Tim as we were turning on a curve.  He was walking and said he was having issues with is leg, too.  We ran in silence for a bit.  I was stewing.  My leg was burning at this point.  Every step down on the pavement (no more gravel!) my calf felt like it was going to burst.  After about another mile or so, my entire right leg ached from my calf to my hip.  I could see Leah far ahead-- that is how flat it was on this section of the the course.  I looked at Tim and said, "I'm jealous of your sister.  She is having a great run.  I totally miss that."  He agreed and grimaced.  He was hurting.  I was hurting.  I just couldn't run anymore.

Tim and I walked in silence.  The fact that it pretty much hurt just as bad to walk as it did to run, was super annoying.  I tried not to get angry.  I tried not to breakdown and cry.  But I totally did.  Snot and tears running down my face, I looked at Tim and said, "I don't want to do this anymore."  We weren't even at mile 8.  Tim did his best to comfort me.  He told me everything I already knew:  it was just a bad run and we just needed to get it done.  After a bit, we started running again.  We came to a bathroom area and decided to stop.  (Side note 2:  it wasn't a port-a-potty!  Yeah, I know it may sound weird to be happy about that, but a port-a-potty may have broken me completely.)

After the bathroom break, we would run a bit, walk a bit.  After mile 10, we pretty much walked and whined.  Tim was having a harder time than me at this point.  He's pretty sure it was his sciatic nerve (totally had to Google the spelling of that!) and it was hurting really bad.  I'm sure if I wasn't with him, he would have had the mindset to push through, but because he wanted to support me, he let the pain get to him.  I feel bad about that, but grateful for his company.  Walking and slow jogging with him was actually enjoyable.  We talked and whined to one another about our achy bits. Here is just a sample of our conversation:

Me:  Damn my leg!  I hate running!  I can't believe I signed up for a marathon!

Tim:  I feel like someone is poking my butt cheek with a hot poker!

Me (looking at the shorts of the runner a bit ahead of us):  Oh, that's unfortunate.
Tim:  I think she peed herself.  
Me:  It's too cold to have pee on your shorts!  Poor girl!

Tim (in a rare, extra whiny moment):  I need a wambulance!

We pretty much walked the last mile.  I wondered if our running family (seriously, I love the fact that we have so many runners in our family!) were still waiting for us.  I expected that we would take at least 2 1/2 hours, but when I looked down at my watch, it was at 2:40 something.  Yikes!  We turned onto the field part of the course and Tim said there was no way he was going to run on it.  It wasn't like I planned on arguing with him or anything.  I didn't want to run either.  We were almost to the end of the path when I heard the cheers.  I smiled and looked at Tim and said, "Well, we have to run now!"

So we did.  We smiled and waved to our awesome cheerleaders, and finished the worst half marathon the two of us have ever ran.  Tim grabbed my hand at the end and I dragged him over the finish line.  I was elated that we were finished.  I just wanted my medal and some chocolate.  Only I didn't get a medal.  I saw folks with medals, but no one actually handing out medals.  I went up the timers and asked them about it.  They were instantly defensive and said  they were just timers.  I was told to talk to the race director.  The race director told me that they ran out and one would be mailed to me.  Rant:  What?  Really?  I just suffered through all that for an ugly, bright orange hoodie and no medal? Also, there wasn't anyone telling finishers that.  I had to seek him out and when he told me, he didn't apologize.  Not cool, dude.  I understand that it is just a medal, but as a self-proclaimed Bling Junkie, I was pretty bummed.

We found our group and learned that Leah beat her previous time!  I am so proud of that girl!  This time last year she was dealing with a knee injury and now she is breaking personal bests like crazy.  THAT is why I LOVE running:  inspiration is everywhere.

 Some of the fabulous runners!

 

Bad days happen.  I wish that it didn't happen to me during a half marathon, but there is nothing I can do but learn from it.  Running has been a bit emotional for me lately, so I really shouldn't be surprised by my whiny meltdown.  All I can do is brush myself off and move forward.  I'm going to take it easy for a bit and figure out what is going on with my leg.  I have races coming up, but I know that if I'm not healthy these events won't be fun for me.  And really, if I'm not having, what is the point?   :)

Half Marathon Madness

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A Lover's Quarrel

Disclaimer:   I am a terrible blogger.  It's unfortunate because I grew up writing in journals.  I used to be so good at taking the time to write down my thoughts, but now I waste my time with too much television.  I am also terrible at starting a post and then just forgetting to post it.  Last year I did race reports, but didn't publish a single one! Lazy.  

I've been having a hard time lately, so I thought maybe this will be a way to get my head back in the game.  We shall see. 

Running used to be my friend.  Running used to be what I thought about all the time, even when I would struggle to get my shoes on and my butt out the door.  Even when I hated running, I would still go back to it like an old friend, knowing that even if I hurt, once I was done running I'd feel that buzz of happiness surging through my brain.  Running was my friend, my happiness.  Then, we hit a rough patch.  At first, I thought it was just a handful of bad runs.  We were just having a few disagreements-- a first of many to come in our future.  But now, after months of struggling, I realize that running and I are having a bit of lover's quarrel- and it is really messing up my plans for 2013.

I suppose in hindsight my difficulties with running really go back to the Rock n Roll Half Marathon last October.  I was all pumped to earn a PR with Leah that day.  A couple weeks before, I ran the MO' Cowbell Half Marathon at a personal record of 2:16:45.  I was feeling fantastic and I felt so ready for this half.  I really did.  Sigh.  But then race day came, and it just wasn't there.  About 8 miles in, my belly was hurting.  It made running uncomfy.  My legs felt like lead.  It made me feel like I was running in quicksand.  Around mile 11 or so, I had a horrible pain in my calf.  It was pretty much all over after that.  (I must add here that despite my difficulties, Leah ran on and rocked it to beat her previous half marathon time!  Woot!)

After that run, I continued to have problems with my calf.  I did the Tunnel Hill 10 Miler and ended up with the same issue.  About 6 miles in, my right calf would start having charley-horse-like spasms.  I am sure hardcore runners would just push through, but I'm a total wuss.  I would walk until it stopped hurting, then struggle to start back running again.  I assumed that it was overuse and since the holidays were coming up, it was a good time to slow down a bit.  I did continue to run -- 3-5 miles or so per run, and didn't have any real issues. Well, there was that one time I fell during an ill-fated night run, but thankfully it wasn't too serious.  Really, the issues seem to start back up when we started training for the Fly With The Eagles Half Marathon.  The first couple of long runs were fine, then my calf started hurting, then my whole leg would start hurting.  Super frustrating.  

The two weeks leading up to Fly With The Eagles I had a series of terrible runs.  The worst was a 3 miler in the rain the day after I signed up for my first Marathon.  (Yes, I said Marathon!  I'll get back to that in a minute.)  After about a mile of running, my leg started hurting.  It started at the calf, but then ended up with my entire leg hurting me.  I tried to push through, but then I got a wicked side stitch and I just quit.  I mentally shut down and just started walking and crying in the pouring rain with Tim.  He put up with me like a champ.  That guy is something special, I tell ya.  I am terribly irrational at times (Yeah, I can admit that without shame.) and he just listens and manages to say the right thing to get me to calm down.  He's a keeper.  

I'm going to do a separate post about the Fly With The Eagles.  For now, as a teaser, I'll just say this:  it sucked.  

Okay, so yeah, I signed up for FULL MARATHON.  I'm crazy cakes.  I've totally lost my frakkin' mind.  I also somehow pulled Leah into doing it.  On her BIRTHDAY.  Bananas.  When I decided to do a marathon, it made total sense.  It's a bucket list item that I thought I could totally do and it felt like this was the year to do it.  Mind you, I thought all of this before I started fighting with running, so now I'm completely scared out of my mind.  What the hell was I thinking?  

So, this is where I am right now.  A hurt runner that just wants to freakin' RUN.  I know I need to rest and figure out my leg issue, but there is also this panicky feeling I get when I think about not being able to run.  Like somehow I'm going to totally forget how to do it or something.  What if my quarrel with running is never resolved?  What if, what if, what if?!?!  AHHHH!

Deep breaths.  Sigh.

On a different note, I now have no issues with saying I'm a runner.  A year ago, I thought I was too chubby or not athletic-looking enough to refer to myself as a runner.  Silly, I know, but it was something I felt weird about.  I will probably never look like the ideal runner, but dammit  I RUN, so I'm a runner.  Simple as that.  I just hope running remembers that, and will start being my friend again...