Confession

Today marked the official two week mark for me not running. So, of course, I decided to "test the waters" a little. I went to the gym and walked for 15 minutes on the treadmill. Then I SLOWLY ran for 5 minutes. That felt okay. I walked again for 5 minutes, ran again for 5. Worked my way up to running for 10 minutes and started to feel a twinge, so I stopped right away. I switched to the stair climber, then did some strength training. I'm 'fessing up about running a little, but I'm calling it a victory because so many times in the past, I would've felt the twinge and kept going.

Good news: I'm slowly, stubbornly learning to listen to my body. Bad news: it still hurts to run for very long. Back to crosstraining I go. The stair climber and I are becoming friends.

Okay now I have an important question. A bunch of my running pals are into the compression sock thing. I really love my "armies", but I typically just use them to keep my arms warm in cooler weather until I heat up enough to take them off. Do I need compression for my legs when it's too warm for tights? I admit I like running in tights because I actually do feel like my muscles don't get tired as fast, but if I'm running in capris or shorts are compression socks really going to help? What about hot weather? Don't they get too hot? Obviously, unlike arm warmers, you can't strip these off while you're still moving if they do get too warm. Weigh in, people! I want to know.

Compression socks. Hot or not?

XGames

Tomorrow it will officially be two weeks since I've run. TWO WEEKS!! As difficult as it has been for me to abstain from my favorite form of stress relief/endorphine high/exercise, I have been doing pretty well. (Although my family might say otherwise, as I've been a bit snippy and snarky without my steam release valve!) Crosstraining has always been a very weak spot for me, and I'm having to learn the hard way that it truly is beneficial. Running every single day can definitely contribute to overuse injuries, and alternating with another activity can only make you stronger and more well-rounded.  I've tried to make this search for something else to enjoy into a game; I call it my "XGame." The object?  Try as many new crosstraining things in a week as I can.

So far I have spent my two weeks off doing elliptical, stair climber (the actual stair tread one!), stair master (the not actual stairs one!), stationary bike, swimming laps, water aerobics, Zumba, yoga, walking, and strength training. I have to say, I did not find myself terribly enamored with any of it. I spent my 45 minutes on the elliptical staring at people running on the treadmills. I tried to imagine I was running, too. It didn't work. I was bummed out for the whole workout. It would take way too long for me to recount what I disliked about each and every other workout I tried, but suffice it to say that NOTHING seemed to feed my need for endorphines the way that running does. However, out of everything I tried, I think I liked the stair climber best. This is the machine with actual stairs that go around on a tread, so it really is like climbing stairs. It's the one and only workout that had me dripping in sweat like I do when I run. I just don't feel like I'm getting a good workout if I'm not drenched when it's over! Strength training is something else I didn't totally hate. I find it boring and not nearly as intensely gratifying as a good run, but when I do a lower body workout I imagine my leg muscles getting stronger and making me faster when I am able to run again.

Between laying off the running, trying out new workouts and physical therapy,  I hope that my hamstring is resting and healing and becoming stronger. It better. I'm not going to be able to hold back the running monster much longer...although now I might be willing to swap in some days of climbing the stairs and strength training. Maybe. In the meantime, I still might need to buy this shirt: CAUTION: Injured Runner. May Bite.

What do YOU do for Crosstraining? Have a suggestion for something I should try? Let me know!

Hood to Coast. It's AWESOME.

I mentioned in a previous post that I was going to see the movie "Hood to Coast," a film that documents several teams' experiences running the almost 200 mile relay race that runs from Portland's Mt. Hood down to the coast.

I am suppressing the urge here to type in all caps because I am so excited about how fun and inspiring this movie was! I loved following the people running this amazing relay. There were veterans, elites, casual runners all the way down to people who had NO idea what they were getting into. Young people, old people, ridiculously fit people and ridiculously unfit people. There was Kathy, with 75 marathons under her belt , who had a heart attack during her last attempt to run the relay and came back for another try after triple bypass surgery. In one scene, she brings her cardiologist the elevation and description of the legs she wants to run. He looks at her and says, "I don't know what you're smoking, but you're NOT running leg one." Of course, she does. Then there was Rachel, a casual runner who believes it's better not too train to much and isn't sure what they do for bathroom breaks during a race. She's certain they wouldn't have people running at midnight and then ends up running one of the toughest legs of the race at 1:30 in the morning. When she's done she can't stop saying how awesome it was.

For those unfamiliar with the Hood to Coast Relay, you basically gather a team of 12 runners who each run three legs of the race. The legs vary in difficulty and length and continue all day, all night and into the second day until your team finally reaches the finish line at the beach. After seeing the movie, I TOTALLY WANT TO DO IT! (Sorry. I tried to suppress the urge to scream with adrenaline-filled enthusiasm, but I can't even type quietly about it.) Apparently, it sells out yearly and entry is through a random drawing, so just getting in might be a challenge. It's on the bucket list, though. For sure. And while I have some running down time, it gives me something exciting to dream about. Check out the Hood to Coast and other relays like it. You might want to put one on your bucket list, too!

Time-out.

Well, I finally have a diagnosis for the nagging hip/butt injury I've had for over 6 months now. No, it doesn't appear to be Dead Butt Syndrome, though that might be funnier. I have high hamstring tendonitis. It's likely an overuse injury, and, according to my orthopedist it is probably due in major portion to my aversion to crosstraining. A runner needs to be well-rounded. No matter how often I've heard that crosstraining should be part of every runner's training plan, to me that meant mixing up intervals, speedwork and hills. I never seem to enjoy anything but...running. Now I'm faced with a rehab program that includes yoga, swimming and strength training. I also have a bike sitting in the garage that needs riding, if I can just get up the nerve. Although I'm still glum about not being able to run for at least a couple weeks, I'm hopeful that this forced foray in crosstraining will help me learn to enjoy some things besides running that will ultimate help me become a better runner.

So far, I have done water aerobics (eh...not that exciting), laps in the pool (BORING), yoga (I can't seem to relax or slow down enough) and some lower body and core strength training. The strength training I like. I imagine the muscles getting stronger to help propel me along faster once I get back to running. The rest, I'm hopeful that I will learn to enjoy. Or at least tolerate.

This something that's needed to happen for a long time. I am resolved to make the best of my running time-out, to learn something new, and hopefully come back better, stronger and with the realization that there are things I can do, and SHOULD do, besides run. Even though they are not as much fun.

Frustrated.

I haven't been very prolific with my posts of late. To be honest, I've been a bit down contemplative. Last year, 2010, was an absolutely amazing year for me. I finished my second half marathon at Surf City and set a new PR. I finished my FIRST full marathon in San Diego, and even though it wasn't a great race for me, it was a PR since it was a new distance! I went on to have fanastic half marathons at Nike Women's and again in Los Angeles, then completed a 10K and set a new 5K PR for myself. The year culminated with ANOTHER new half PR in Las Vegas. That's five, count them, FIVE BIG races, two shorter ones, and FOUR PRs set. In short, I busted my rear. Literally. All my hard training paid off for me last year, but as we ease into 2011, all that hard training appears to have taken a toll on me. I am dealing with ever increasing pain in my hip, knee tendonitis that flared at Los Angeles and hasn't gone completely away, and as of Monday of this week, plantar fasciatis that I haven't dealt with in YEARS that seems to be creeping back on me.

Several doctor visits and physical therapy visits later, I am still waiting for someone to tell me exactly WHAT is wrong with my hip. I cut my running mileage in half and had no relief. I started stretching more and cross-training more, and still no relief. I have only one small race on my calendar for 2011 so far because I just don't know when I'll really be "race ready" again. It is frustrating!! The icing on the cake? My 40th birthday is this year. I feel like my body is saying, "Well, sure hope you had fun, because I'm going to fall apart now."

I have faced challenges before and I know that with the Lord's help I can tackle whatever comes my way. Good grief, I wanted to run ONE half marathon before I turned 40. I have run FIVE plus a FULL marathon! There's a bible verse in 1 Thessalonians (5:18) that says "Be thankful in all circumstances..." I have SO much to be thankful for. I need to take the advice I offer so often to others, "suck it up." I'm working on that. Right now I'm reading two great books that I hope will help lift my mood...

















And if those aren't enough, I'm also going to see "Hood To Coast" on 1-11-11. If you want to catch it in your town, go to http://www.hoodtocoastmovie.com/ to find out where it's playing. My hope is that all this helps me get over the discouragement of being injured...THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!

Running Naked

It's been raining for about six solid days here. I tried a treadmill run over the weekend, but there was about 210% humidity in the gym, and the smell of sweaty bodies was...unpleasant, to say the least. I took a few days off, because I'm supposedly resting up after my busy year of racing, and because I caught a nasty respiratory bug from my son. Merry Christmas to me!! I also headed back to the doctor for another check on my hip. More MRI's were ordered, more consults scheduled...it seems they can't pinpoint what the REAL trouble is or why it's not improving. More updates on that when I actually know something new which, if the current course is any indicator, could be a while.

Today I'd had enough. I had to go out and run. Yes it was raining, and yes I am recovering from a head cold. I know, I know. Running in the rain is probably a dumb thing to do when you're already sick. It had to be done, though. I was going bananas (not to mention making my family bananas with my cranky, haven't-been-for-a-run lately attitude.) Due to the serious downpour going on outside, I decided to eschew all of my "gadgetry" since most of it does not like to get wet. Those that know me are very likely gasping and passing out on the floor now. I am quite possibly the biggest nerd in the running world. I have my iPod, my Nike+, my Garmin, my heart monitor...I am WIRED when I run. I am an information freak. I like to know where I'm going, how far I've gone, how far I'm going, what my heart rate is, what my pace is, what my pace was, what the incline is, what my predicted finish time is, and the air speed velocity of a laden swallow. If it can be calculated, I want to know it. I spent last year practically drooling over all my data, calculating and figuring and PUSHING myself in order to set that new PR in Vegas.

Today, I decided it would just be me, my shoes, and the rain. Okay, I wasn't COMPLETELY naked. I did wear clothes. Electronically, however, I was denuded. I didn't even take my cell phone. It felt a little weird at first, being completely "dark"...not knowing my pace and having only my best guess as to how far I'd been. After the first ten minutes, it became blissful. I didn't care what my pace was. I listened to the rain and the water rushing down the storm drains (did I mention it's been raining for almost a week?) I heard the sound of my breathing and my wet shoes as they hit the asphalt. My constant thoughts while running in the last six months have been things like, "Hurry up, you're falling off pace," and "If you don't push yourself you're never going to get faster." Today, for the first time in a long time, I let go of the training mindset and just enjoyed the fact that I was out for a run in a rainstorm. It wasn't my fastest time, it wasn't my longest run, but it was the best run I've had in a long time.

I have got to run naked more often.

Amazing Vegas!!!

Wow!! What a way to end a great year of racing! I am overwhelmed by what a fantastic weekend we had in Vegas! In the first place, it meant so much to me that my whole family was there to support me. Coming to a race is usually a pretty boring event for them...let's face it, if they are lucky, they might see me start or MAYBE once on course, then they mostly just sit around at the finish line and wait for me to show up. Not that I love to subject them to that kind of boredom, but knowing they're waiting for me at the finish line really makes a race special for me.

Then, well, it was VEGAS!! Running along the strip is totally surreal!! There you are, running past the Mirage, the Tropicana, the adult video stores...yes, parts of the run are through a bit of a seedy part of the strip...but it really was an amazing experience. The streets and pedestrian bridges are FILLED with people cheering. In fact, I think that Vegas might've had the most spectators I've ever experienced. Of course, there were also a few elderly ladies with their ziplock baggies of pennies who decided to play Frogger across a sea of runners as they attempted to get to their favorite slots. That was interesting. And there was the pirate with the parrot on his shoulder who squawed out dirty comments to the runners as we went by. The parrot, not the pirate. And the hundreds of people running dressed as Elvis. Like I said, surreal!

Another high point of the weekend was meeting Meb Keflezighi at the race expo on Saturday. Oh. My. Gosh! What an inspirational guy. The nicest guy you'd ever want to meet, too. He took time to chat with me and wish me good luck. I figured I had to have a great race after being wished good luck by an Olympic Silver medal marathoner! (He showed me his Olympic medal and his NY Marathon medal, too!! Let me hold them! Yes, I was geeking out!)

Dogged as I have been by hip and knee problems in the last few months, I was thrilled with my race and set a new PR! If all that isn't enough, I got to see Meb again at the finish line and he congratulated me! The whole weekend was a dream for me. Thank you to everyone who helped and supported me in getting there. I'm going to take some time to rest and think up how in the world I'm ever going to top this amazing weekend and this amazing year of running!