The past 2 days I hit the gym for a deuce, practicing sinking prevention and ran a few boring miles. Today was 800 yds followed up with a 4.25 mile run. Yesterday was 850 yds (I think) and 4 miles. I feel like a truck. But today I did manage a 1/2 mile surge at ~7:50 pace, rested at a relaxed pace and then another 1/4 mile at 7:50 and then dropped it down for 1/3 mile to 7:30. It felt good to get some speed in and I have an off day tomorrow b/c I'm off at a business seminar in Boston all day - no chance to run.
My legs feel tired.
The good news is there wasn't any pain w/either run. I had the TM on 1% elevation if only to burn a few more calories and not pound the crap out of my legs too badly.
So the initial diagnosis for the tingling in my calf seems to be Exercise-Induced Compartment Syndrome. A friend of mine (happens to be one of the guys I run w/sometimes) is an ortho surgeon and gave me an over-the-cell phone diagnosis (via text messaging). I should get an examination but if it doesn't get any worse, I'm not too worried about it. Another friend/running partner of mine, also a friend of the ortho surgeon, is a PT. Her Rx = no hill workouts, foam roller and ice. The 'no hills' is gonna to kill me - flat terrain doesn't really exist around here.
Strange diagnosis b/c there really isn't anymore pain (knock on wood) and when it was painful, it wasn't in my shin.
As I posted in KR, my monthly mileage total is ~55 miles...ouch! I have some swimming and biking (I didn't track those totals), but nothing to write home about. That's gonna hurt on November 23 - that's about the only thing I'm confident about right now.
The 10% rule is probably going to have to go out the window over the next several weeks.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
peer pressure and more information than you wanted...
Crike...people actually read these things???
Now that I have 10 minutes during someone's should-be nap time (she's actually fussing in her room right now) I can actually have a sip of coffee and drop a few thoughts here.
Maria, it's in the upper left calf. I believe it's the gastrocnemius (outer part, about 4" below the knee). Weird thing is that the skin is numb to the touch and light massage is also numb. Only when I put a fair amount of pressure on it can I actually feel it. The good thing is I did the foam roller last night and there was no pain...at all. Not that it means anything - I thought I was in the clear 2 weeks ago and it flared up just as bad.
I first noticed it after coming back from vacation - at the beginning of my run on Tuesday Sept 2. I did my normal post-lunch duck and run from my cube (from work) and made it about 0.5 miles and had to stop and limp back. I took the rest of the week off and did some stationary bike and lifting. Week of Sept 8 I worked up progressively in mileage 2 (slow on TM) -> 4(TM) -> 5 -> 4 -> 8...but I think I ran the last few a bit fast. I just looked back and my pace, other than Monday/Tuesday on the TM, was 8 - 8:20 mpm. The following Monday I went out for 6.2 miles and woke up Tuesday knowing I wouldn't be running that day or any day soon. So, back to the gym for more bike/elliptithingy/pool/lifting/stretching and icing at home every night.
This week I eased back into it even more. Since I can't seem to control my pace right now, I stayed on the TM despite it being some of the best running weather we've had yet.
I'm getting pissed b/c I'm supposed to be coming into the 'heavy' weeks in my training.
Following are my scheduled and actual miles run:
Week of - Scheduled - Actual
9/1 - 39 - 6.1
9/8 - 36 - 23.1
9/15 - 37 - 6.2
9/22 - 41 - 6 (so far - 5 on the TM planned this afternoon)
I'm having to revise my schedule but not sure where to go w/it so I have to play it by ear...or by calf. Today was supposed to be an 18-miler and I wanted to run at least 3 20-milers prior to Philly. Ideally, I would have run 5-20 milers (actually 2-22 milers and 3-20 milers).
It's been 5 weeks since I have had a solid week. That's a problem.
So you can see why I'm slightly nervous about my conditioning for a marathon in 8 weeks. I had grand plans of a PR but now it's all about survival. If I make it that far, I don't think I'll be tapering much - probably just doing to treat Philly as a really long run and see how it goes. I do think I'm going to start fast to get some miles behind me. I don't fare well when I'm on my feet too long. Everytime I have run a marathon over 4 hours I cramp in a horrendous way - despite drinking every mile, eating Gu, self massage, etc.
I'm not going to post my running schedule ahead of time - that's what got me in trouble last time. I think the running gods read my ROTD and sniped me. But, if you care to make suggestions, I'm all ears.
(for those of you who haven't met me, you'll see that I really am ALL ears when/if you do).
I'm not going to be able to hit 50 mpw this training cycle - not enough time between now and then and I really don't have the time during the day to bang out consistent 10/12 mile weekday runs. This spring I was able to because I was at home and had help from a friend or two watching DD while I ran.
We'll see how this coming week goes. More ice. More TM. More bike. More swimming. Hopefully more miles.
Cheers
Now that I have 10 minutes during someone's should-be nap time (she's actually fussing in her room right now) I can actually have a sip of coffee and drop a few thoughts here.
Maria, it's in the upper left calf. I believe it's the gastrocnemius (outer part, about 4" below the knee). Weird thing is that the skin is numb to the touch and light massage is also numb. Only when I put a fair amount of pressure on it can I actually feel it. The good thing is I did the foam roller last night and there was no pain...at all. Not that it means anything - I thought I was in the clear 2 weeks ago and it flared up just as bad.
I first noticed it after coming back from vacation - at the beginning of my run on Tuesday Sept 2. I did my normal post-lunch duck and run from my cube (from work) and made it about 0.5 miles and had to stop and limp back. I took the rest of the week off and did some stationary bike and lifting. Week of Sept 8 I worked up progressively in mileage 2 (slow on TM) -> 4(TM) -> 5 -> 4 -> 8...but I think I ran the last few a bit fast. I just looked back and my pace, other than Monday/Tuesday on the TM, was 8 - 8:20 mpm. The following Monday I went out for 6.2 miles and woke up Tuesday knowing I wouldn't be running that day or any day soon. So, back to the gym for more bike/elliptithingy/pool/lifting/stretching and icing at home every night.
This week I eased back into it even more. Since I can't seem to control my pace right now, I stayed on the TM despite it being some of the best running weather we've had yet.
I'm getting pissed b/c I'm supposed to be coming into the 'heavy' weeks in my training.
Following are my scheduled and actual miles run:
Week of - Scheduled - Actual
9/1 - 39 - 6.1
9/8 - 36 - 23.1
9/15 - 37 - 6.2
9/22 - 41 - 6 (so far - 5 on the TM planned this afternoon)
I'm having to revise my schedule but not sure where to go w/it so I have to play it by ear...or by calf. Today was supposed to be an 18-miler and I wanted to run at least 3 20-milers prior to Philly. Ideally, I would have run 5-20 milers (actually 2-22 milers and 3-20 milers).
It's been 5 weeks since I have had a solid week. That's a problem.
So you can see why I'm slightly nervous about my conditioning for a marathon in 8 weeks. I had grand plans of a PR but now it's all about survival. If I make it that far, I don't think I'll be tapering much - probably just doing to treat Philly as a really long run and see how it goes. I do think I'm going to start fast to get some miles behind me. I don't fare well when I'm on my feet too long. Everytime I have run a marathon over 4 hours I cramp in a horrendous way - despite drinking every mile, eating Gu, self massage, etc.
I'm not going to post my running schedule ahead of time - that's what got me in trouble last time. I think the running gods read my ROTD and sniped me. But, if you care to make suggestions, I'm all ears.
(for those of you who haven't met me, you'll see that I really am ALL ears when/if you do).
I'm not going to be able to hit 50 mpw this training cycle - not enough time between now and then and I really don't have the time during the day to bang out consistent 10/12 mile weekday runs. This spring I was able to because I was at home and had help from a friend or two watching DD while I ran.
We'll see how this coming week goes. More ice. More TM. More bike. More swimming. Hopefully more miles.
Cheers
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Suffering
From a calf strain...again. Usually it's my right calf, but now it's my right. So I'm on the DL. These are supposed to be my heavy mileage weeks in preparation for Philly. I think I'll still be able to run the 26.2, or at least run/walk it, but the PR is definitely out of the mix now. I was really going to try and get after it this fall too.
Disappointing.
So, I'm not running the rest of this week, after a 24ish mile week last week, 6.2 the week before, and 6.2 this week, I'm pretty much going to have to start over whenever the discomfort disappears.
Sucks.
Disappointing.
So, I'm not running the rest of this week, after a 24ish mile week last week, 6.2 the week before, and 6.2 this week, I'm pretty much going to have to start over whenever the discomfort disappears.
Sucks.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
A Dog Day Post
Just getting this bad boy going again.
I had a successful spring racing season - set a PR in Boston followed by another 3:37 marathon (20 seconds slower than Boston ) at the VCM. I could have had another PR if not for a rock in my shoe at mile 20.
I can't figure out why I haven't signed up for Philly....or another fall marathon yet. I guess I'm just afraid that the rug will get pulled out from under me...as it usually does in the fall.
Still debating on how to tackle a fall marathon - if I do one. To shoot for a PR or not. I won't be able to put the same volume (of miles) in that I did this spring so I have to shoot for the quality workouts but I know I won't be hovering around 191 this fall either. So...it'll come down to strength and confidence.
An "E" ticket ride for sure.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
16 Miles in "Flurries" = a PR?
The Derry Boston Prep 16-miler was today. The weather forecast said light flurries on and off throughout the day.
I got up this AM at 7 (with DD) and once again the weather folks were off a bit. We already had 3" on the ground and there didn't seem to be any let up.
One of my running friends came to my house @ 830 to ride and pick up Scoot (another friend) to head to Derry - all seemed good. Until they said it was a 10 AM start. I had it in my mind that it was an 11AM start. Oops.
We couldn't drive any faster - the road sucked and were really greasy. The way over to the start we were debating if the race was going to be held or not. We ended up calling the race director's phone...and sure enough, the roads were 'safe' to run on.
Long story short, we got there, stretched out - sort of, on a wet gymnasium floor, changed, did our 'bizness' and headed to the start. Oh, and it was still snowing. The roads were all covered in snow - about an inch or two. The plow guys seemed to have slept in this morning. Everyone was saying a dusting, and that's what we got. It's just when you're tackling 16 miles, and hilly miles at that, even a dusting can be super treacherous.
My plan was to push myself and shoot for a PR. I thought the conditions were going to throw a wrench in the middle of it all.
We made our way to the start line and started to worm closer to the front - I only got ~70 yards from the front and we all started moving - had no idea the race was starting. Chaos...my brain was going nuts, not knowing what/how I wanted to run the race.
The first mile was way too crowded...too many people on a small 1 1/2 lane country road, slogging through the snow. I started w/Scoot (he just ran Disney 3 weeks prior in 4:00) and found our other friend ~ mile 1. My goals were different than theirs. We ran mile 1 in 9:42 - ouch.
The road 'opened' up a little around 1 1/2 miles - the snow had been pretty well pulverized into slush, so I tried my best to find openings and put some of the masses of people behind me.
I felt okay to start. I cranked up the pace to below 8 mpm (not really intending to run that fast, but it was mostly downhill) and held onto a quick pace for a bit. My pace was all over the place b/c we had a single track through the snow on the road so you were sort of locked into the pace of the person in front of you. To pass meant you had to wait for another track to open up or brave the 2" of packed/unpacked snow that had accumulated.
This race has a really nasty elevation profile - constantly going up and down. I get more nervous for this race than I do all others. The conditions, as witnessed today can really throw any strategy or goal for a real loop.
My splits - as best I could manage:
Mile 1: 9:43 (~40 seconds from start line - crowded start)
Mile 2: 7:39
Mile 3: 7:23
Mile 4: 7:38
Mile 5: 8:48 (hit my lap button late)
Mile 6: 7:35
Mile 7: 7:56
Mile 8: 7:49
Mile 9: 8:11 (avg, 16:22 X 2 miles)
Mile 10: 8:11 (avg, 16:22 X 2 miles)
Mile 11: 8:43
Mile 12: 8:44
Mile 13: 8:29
Mile 14: 7:41
Mile 15: 8:11
Mile 16: 7:23
Total: 2:10:12 (watch), 2:10:35 (clock time)
I hit my watch well before I hit the start line...so I think I lost close to a minute. It was a chip timed race, giving splits at the 5m, 10m, 1/2 mara and finish....but not a chip timed start.
I hit a 2 minute PR. Even in those conditions. I felt strong on the hills, slow but strong. And I was able to really turn out a good kick on miles 14 and 16. I started to bonk on mile 15 but the Swedish Fish saved the day.
One last note.
I never tried Gu on a long run...until today. On a whim.
I think I'm going to live by those little buggers from now on. I took a lemon-lime at mile 8 and felt completely buzzed from mile 9 to 13. My legs were super energized for the hills and I had energy. I think I'm going to add Gu to my marathon repertoire from now on.
Pretty psyched, but I know I could have shaved off a few more minutes - getting rid of the slow start and pushing myself in a few other areas of the race could have led to some Clydesdale Hardware.
Live for another day I guess.
Next up...the 1/2 at Hampton in 2 weeks. A new 1/2 marathon. Going to be a SLEAZY 13.1 miles for sure.
I got up this AM at 7 (with DD) and once again the weather folks were off a bit. We already had 3" on the ground and there didn't seem to be any let up.
One of my running friends came to my house @ 830 to ride and pick up Scoot (another friend) to head to Derry - all seemed good. Until they said it was a 10 AM start. I had it in my mind that it was an 11AM start. Oops.
We couldn't drive any faster - the road sucked and were really greasy. The way over to the start we were debating if the race was going to be held or not. We ended up calling the race director's phone...and sure enough, the roads were 'safe' to run on.
Long story short, we got there, stretched out - sort of, on a wet gymnasium floor, changed, did our 'bizness' and headed to the start. Oh, and it was still snowing. The roads were all covered in snow - about an inch or two. The plow guys seemed to have slept in this morning. Everyone was saying a dusting, and that's what we got. It's just when you're tackling 16 miles, and hilly miles at that, even a dusting can be super treacherous.
My plan was to push myself and shoot for a PR. I thought the conditions were going to throw a wrench in the middle of it all.
We made our way to the start line and started to worm closer to the front - I only got ~70 yards from the front and we all started moving - had no idea the race was starting. Chaos...my brain was going nuts, not knowing what/how I wanted to run the race.
The first mile was way too crowded...too many people on a small 1 1/2 lane country road, slogging through the snow. I started w/Scoot (he just ran Disney 3 weeks prior in 4:00) and found our other friend ~ mile 1. My goals were different than theirs. We ran mile 1 in 9:42 - ouch.
The road 'opened' up a little around 1 1/2 miles - the snow had been pretty well pulverized into slush, so I tried my best to find openings and put some of the masses of people behind me.
I felt okay to start. I cranked up the pace to below 8 mpm (not really intending to run that fast, but it was mostly downhill) and held onto a quick pace for a bit. My pace was all over the place b/c we had a single track through the snow on the road so you were sort of locked into the pace of the person in front of you. To pass meant you had to wait for another track to open up or brave the 2" of packed/unpacked snow that had accumulated.
This race has a really nasty elevation profile - constantly going up and down. I get more nervous for this race than I do all others. The conditions, as witnessed today can really throw any strategy or goal for a real loop.
My splits - as best I could manage:
Mile 1: 9:43 (~40 seconds from start line - crowded start)
Mile 2: 7:39
Mile 3: 7:23
Mile 4: 7:38
Mile 5: 8:48 (hit my lap button late)
Mile 6: 7:35
Mile 7: 7:56
Mile 8: 7:49
Mile 9: 8:11 (avg, 16:22 X 2 miles)
Mile 10: 8:11 (avg, 16:22 X 2 miles)
Mile 11: 8:43
Mile 12: 8:44
Mile 13: 8:29
Mile 14: 7:41
Mile 15: 8:11
Mile 16: 7:23
Total: 2:10:12 (watch), 2:10:35 (clock time)
I hit my watch well before I hit the start line...so I think I lost close to a minute. It was a chip timed race, giving splits at the 5m, 10m, 1/2 mara and finish....but not a chip timed start.
I hit a 2 minute PR. Even in those conditions. I felt strong on the hills, slow but strong. And I was able to really turn out a good kick on miles 14 and 16. I started to bonk on mile 15 but the Swedish Fish saved the day.
One last note.
I never tried Gu on a long run...until today. On a whim.
I think I'm going to live by those little buggers from now on. I took a lemon-lime at mile 8 and felt completely buzzed from mile 9 to 13. My legs were super energized for the hills and I had energy. I think I'm going to add Gu to my marathon repertoire from now on.
Pretty psyched, but I know I could have shaved off a few more minutes - getting rid of the slow start and pushing myself in a few other areas of the race could have led to some Clydesdale Hardware.
Live for another day I guess.
Next up...the 1/2 at Hampton in 2 weeks. A new 1/2 marathon. Going to be a SLEAZY 13.1 miles for sure.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Monday Icicles
Whoa, it was cold today.
And I didn't realize it had been so long since I had logged in. My bad.
5.1 chilly miles today. Today is the first day of my stay-at-home stint, caring for our little girl. So far, so okay. She's a handful, that's for sure. I went to M&D's house so they could watch her while I ran. Thankfully Mom was there - DW got a little fussy and I think that Dad was entirely freaked (turned off) by the situation. Dad is retired and home - mom still works at her insurance agency (she's the boss). So, I'll be there again tomorrow to get my 6 miles, leave DW there and hope for the best.
Other than that, everything else was smooth. I was pretty friggin busy doing chores, errands, feeding, changing - not much "me" time other than my run. If that's the way it's gotta be, then so be it. I can't wait to be able to use the baby jogger. I have a hand-me-down and I hope it's functional. I don't feel like spending more (big) $ on baby garbage that has a very limited life.
I could get used to this I think.
I don't dare suggest, as in seriously suggest, that it's time for another little one.
Yet.
Cheers
(I still have to post 'my story' here. How I got started, what's behind me, etc. In due time)
And I didn't realize it had been so long since I had logged in. My bad.
5.1 chilly miles today. Today is the first day of my stay-at-home stint, caring for our little girl. So far, so okay. She's a handful, that's for sure. I went to M&D's house so they could watch her while I ran. Thankfully Mom was there - DW got a little fussy and I think that Dad was entirely freaked (turned off) by the situation. Dad is retired and home - mom still works at her insurance agency (she's the boss). So, I'll be there again tomorrow to get my 6 miles, leave DW there and hope for the best.
Other than that, everything else was smooth. I was pretty friggin busy doing chores, errands, feeding, changing - not much "me" time other than my run. If that's the way it's gotta be, then so be it. I can't wait to be able to use the baby jogger. I have a hand-me-down and I hope it's functional. I don't feel like spending more (big) $ on baby garbage that has a very limited life.
I could get used to this I think.
I don't dare suggest, as in seriously suggest, that it's time for another little one.
Yet.
Cheers
(I still have to post 'my story' here. How I got started, what's behind me, etc. In due time)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday, December 27
No time to log on since my last post so - Paige duty and we were out of town away from the 'puter (not an entirely bad thing).
So, my normal running schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - Thursday and Sunday are off days and I try to squeeze a little pilates or weights in - whatever I can.
I didn't get the chance to run on Monday - we were getting ready to go to my parents house for Xmas and then make the voyage to RI to the IL's house (always an adventure). So packing, feeding, changing, etc precluded me from my 3/4/5/6 miles. (I was outvoted). I was hoping that I could make up the mileage in my other 2 midweek runs - no easy task as my midweek runs are starting to increase in distance (5+ miles each run).
Tuesday we were in RI. We got there ~930 and MIL wanted to wake DD up - at 11 f'ing PM. I got outvoted...again. So, she was up, and again at 3 AM (normal) - however her Xmas was a tough one. She was really fussy and slept almost the whole day. I think the extra wake up call at night messed up her 'schedule'.
So, I fed her early AM on Tuesday and went out for my run. I was hoping to put in 8, but ended up with 7.4 - on a very hilly route (the first mile is all uphill). I did see Santa on his Harley buzz by ~ mile 6...that was cool. I took it easy, the weather was cool, but warm enough for shorts, a compression shirt and a windbreaker (heavy). I think I finished in 1:02 or so. I was exhausted at the start, not knowing if I could run 3 miles, but caught a second wind on the downhill and felt actually pretty good.
Wednesday I ran at home. We left RI late AM and I texted my friend up here to see if he was available. He was going for his long run b/c he was heading to their ski house - so I joined him for 10+ miles. Easy, slow - again, warm enough for shorts, but it got cold. We ran it in ~1:29:00 - nice easy slow pace. I have 10 scheduled this Sat, so I might try and bust out some speed on Friday (tomorrow) - we'll see.
Dinner is calling.
Later
So, my normal running schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - Thursday and Sunday are off days and I try to squeeze a little pilates or weights in - whatever I can.
I didn't get the chance to run on Monday - we were getting ready to go to my parents house for Xmas and then make the voyage to RI to the IL's house (always an adventure). So packing, feeding, changing, etc precluded me from my 3/4/5/6 miles. (I was outvoted). I was hoping that I could make up the mileage in my other 2 midweek runs - no easy task as my midweek runs are starting to increase in distance (5+ miles each run).
Tuesday we were in RI. We got there ~930 and MIL wanted to wake DD up - at 11 f'ing PM. I got outvoted...again. So, she was up, and again at 3 AM (normal) - however her Xmas was a tough one. She was really fussy and slept almost the whole day. I think the extra wake up call at night messed up her 'schedule'.
So, I fed her early AM on Tuesday and went out for my run. I was hoping to put in 8, but ended up with 7.4 - on a very hilly route (the first mile is all uphill). I did see Santa on his Harley buzz by ~ mile 6...that was cool. I took it easy, the weather was cool, but warm enough for shorts, a compression shirt and a windbreaker (heavy). I think I finished in 1:02 or so. I was exhausted at the start, not knowing if I could run 3 miles, but caught a second wind on the downhill and felt actually pretty good.
Wednesday I ran at home. We left RI late AM and I texted my friend up here to see if he was available. He was going for his long run b/c he was heading to their ski house - so I joined him for 10+ miles. Easy, slow - again, warm enough for shorts, but it got cold. We ran it in ~1:29:00 - nice easy slow pace. I have 10 scheduled this Sat, so I might try and bust out some speed on Friday (tomorrow) - we'll see.
Dinner is calling.
Later
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