there's light at the end of my running tunnel

I have a new plan...CROSS-TRAINING. Of course I've always known about it but tried to stay away from it because for some odd reason I thought it would make me seem less motivated or eager to get through my training, but if it means a healthy body, I'm all for it. Soooo, for the sake of my shins I'll be substituting running for cross-training 2 days out of my "running 4 times a week" training period. One day concentrating on hills/intensity/resistance and the other concentrating on speed. Plus, I'll be getting back into lifting 3x's a week so that's a plus.

I've really started to like running and wish I could be out there all 4 days, but to be honest this cross-training is a HUGE relief! I've never been a runner...EVER...so i'm not quite sure my body is up for the challenge of keeping up with running 4 days a week, especially with the pounding my body's taken over the years from being a gymnast. I know running is 90% mental (as well as the other sports i've done in the past), but I'm really not up for potentially having to keep resting all because my shins are shot. Don't get me wrong...I'm psyched for the long runs on Saturday mornings (10 miler this weekend), but I'm just not up for risking my legs on the shorter runs.

I have a confession to make. It's something I've been working on but still haven't seemed to tackle completely. I've been very caught up on running this marathon just so I can lose weight and tone up (shame on me). I keep having to tell myself that this marathon isn't about that. It's about challenging yourself and doing something that you thought you'd never do, and I think this is why my body is in the shape its in. During my runs, especially the shorter ones, all I do is push myself to finish as fast as I can. Obviously this hasn't been working out for me, so why am I continuing to run so intensely? I need a new approach. From now on, at least until race time, I will no longer put myself up against the clock, but instead, enjoy my runs and run them at a pace where I can actually recover on my off days. Time is of no importance. It's about running comfortably and finishing my mileage for that day PAIN FREE!

One last thing...I officially registered for my first half marathon. Oct 19th!

this can't be good

Well, today's the day I'm supposed to make up for yesterday's missed run and it's not lookin' so good. The pain is gradually starting to make its way to the outter part of my left shin (by my ankle) where it feels as though that whole tendon (or whatever is connecting this bone to that bone) is stretched to its limits. Ok, now I'm starting to think I did a real number on my shin during the course of this training and I'm not quite sure what to do about it. Rest, ice, pain killers, yada yada yada, I know the drill, but can I really afford to take this much time off running? Is there anything else?! What about the endurance I've worked to hard to get at this point? Will my body, aka my left leg, be able to hold up on the 10 mile run on saturday? (I refuse to miss it) Experiencing this type of pain before, during my gymnastics years, I'm gonna self-diagnose and say I've got a whopping case of shin splints...CRAP!

I did a couple rounds of ice massages last night and already took my daily dose of aleve, and its feeling a little bit better, but I just want this pain to go away. Rest = healthy and pain free, but its hard to get healthy when I'm walking around in heels all day. Looks like I'm just going to sit at my desk and walk only when its ABSOLUTELY necessary...or just walk around with no shoes on. I'll sacrifice anything for running!! (joking makes it better, right?) Anyways, I think I'll take another day off the pavement to rest my body, and instead join a gym! Time to get my butt back, in gear and start lifting again...and start cross training. I figure if I get my 3, 5, 3's done this week on the elliptical I'll be ready to go by Saturday morning. Let's hope!!

it's race day and i am a runner!

Saturday morning was the Run Jane Run up in South Bend and I pushed through it and finished my first race...a 10k! Every part of that race was great, especially since I was running with Kaity (my marathon buddy!), but ohhh man...today, I am feeling the after shock through out my WHOLE body. I didn't even know it was possible to be this sore after running. My shins, calves, quads, even my triceps are sore and I'm not really sure why considering, up to this point, my training has me running farther than 6.2 miles. I've tried to tell myself that I will get through my run tomorrow morning, but at this point I'm not sure my shins will let me. Tomorrow may just be my first rest day because in NO WAY am I going to sacrifice my body, my upcoming runs and the progress I've made just to get a dinky 3 mile run in. At this point I'll take the guilt of missing out on a training day rather than the guilt of having to stop training altogether and miss out on the marathon all because my shins are sawed to the bone. So rest day, here I come...maybe.

It doesn't feel like it during the run, but once you cross the finish line that feeling of accomplishment engulfs itself through your whole body and all that pain and gasping for air doesn't seem to matter so much. All you keep thinking is how far you've pushed yourself to make it to here and that if you've made it this far there's no sense in turning back now. And THAT is what I absolutely love about running. I didn't think I ever had it in me, but I do, and as I saw my finishing time of 59:38 (11th overall) thats all I could keep thinking. Don't get me wrong, I am utterly ecstatic with that time, but there's always room for improvement.

With all that said, I am so pumped for the Columbus half marathon I'll be running in October...I even managed to convince Kaity to run it with me so I'm set! I've realized that there's nowhere to go from here but up and I'm ready. Gotta start mentally preparing for my first double digit run on saturday. 10 miles...WOW!!

Speaking of 10 mile runs...I need some help/advice for what to do in terms of replenishing my body with the electrolytes/sugars it needs so I don't collapse. At this point, and especially when I'm running for longer than an hour, I know I need something, but I'm not sure what that something is. I've heard of those energy gel's and whatnot and I was even told you can just drink Gatorade during the run and you'll be fine, but it'd be nice to hear what everyone out there uses and when they start using it during the long runs. I just want to make sure I'm doing this right and don't add another injury to the list. Thanks!

i think i may be turning into a real runner

I planned on running this morning before work...i really did. It was only 3 miles so I was thinking it couldn't have been that bad, but my body was begging for more sleep so instead of running I decided to give myself a little birthday present and sleep in (sad how my "sleeping in" is only until 6:45). And now I'm sitting here, wondering when it is I'm possibly going to get the chance to run because I know if I don't I'm going to feel super guilty about it...and we all know working straight from 8am to 10 pm doesn't give me ANY time to fit it in to my whacky schedule. I was thinking, though, that with the condition and soreness of my shins, I'll just give my body another day's rest and do it tomorrow morning before work. Ehhh, no rest the day before a 10k is the best way to go, right?

In other news...yesterday during lunch I decided to see which running clubs I could join and what races were out there that I could sign up for, and being from Columbus, Ohio and knowing I desperately want to go back home for a bit, I think I may register for the Columbus 1/2 marathon. I absolutely love downtown Columbus so what better way to visit than to run 13 miles!!

I must say that going into this marathon my only thought/goal were to complete this ONE marathon and then be done with running forever. Yet, as each week of training passes by I find myself wanting to run more and more, and already I've signed up for 2 other races in the past month. I'm not quite sure but I think I may be turning into a real runner. I LOVE THIS!

crisp mornings and foggy trails

This morning's 5 mile run was just what I needed to feel absolutely exhausted at work...but I am soooo happy its done and out of the way. Plus, I think its awesome that my "short runs" are now up to 5 miles! Hopefully I'm just feeling the "its not quite afternoon yet so I can still be tired until morning is over" effect. But a bit of green tea and water should do the trick to wake me up. I've been managing to get enough sleep before my runs but maybe my body is screaming for more, which I have no problem providing.

One thing I have noticed when running in the mornings is that it's no so bad waking up at 5:30. Of course it takes some getting used to, but I'm much more of a morning person who would rather get her run out of the way first thing instead of expending all her energy at work while dreading the additional work (the run) that lays ahead of her. That, and it's much easier for me to keep a steady pace since the heat from the sun isn't beating down on me, causing me to sweat profusely (hopefully its not too hot and humid for the marathon in florida). It's just more refreshing knowing that I can actually enjoy my run rather than counting down the minutes until I run out of breath.

I finally got my iPod up and working again so today's run took me 42:56 with an 8:32 mile. My calves have been tightening up during the runs (who knows what its from) so I've been ice massaging/stretching them each time I finish. Hopefully it works. The one thing I dont understand though is how runners can submerge their whole bodies into ice baths...i can hardly stand the ice on my shins. Brrrrrrr!

what a beautiful morning!

Before I start rambling on about this mornings run, I want to talk about my first 7 miles (or so) Saturday morning. I made it up to Chicago to visit an old friend I hadn't seen in over a year, and I'm not quite sure how far I actually ran, but I just kept going for an hour and fifteen minutes, which I'm guessing had to have been almost 8 miles. Along the way all I could keep thinking was, "Me?!? Running for this long?!?..Holy cow!" I'm not quite sure how I managed to keep going through the blistering Chicago heat and the crowds (it was the water and air show this past weekend), but running with 2 other girls made it all the more possible...to be honest, 7 miles isn't so bad. All I could keep thinking was that I REALLY DID IT! The funniest part was that all along the way me and Jessica kept making fun of how, when we used to go on runs in high school, I would stop to walk literally 6 or 7 minutes after starting. I couldn't even make it 10 blocks without stopping (she would get so frustrated with me), and just being able to look back at that and see how far I've really come amazes me. I felt great during the run, except maybe the last 10 minutes when I could feel my knees start to ache, but I'm hoping thats just the result of my body getting used to running for over an hour. I know now that after that run, I DEFINITELY like long distances more than a dinky 3 or 4 miles. There's just so much more to look forward to.

Ooook...onto this mornings training session. Let me just say that it was absolutely beautiful. I woke up at 5:45 and made it out to the crisp 57 degree weather by 6. The sun was just starting to come up and the crickets were my music. My iPod had died late last week, and the lack of music seemed to help make my 3 mile run go by very quickly. I had nothing to listen to except my feet hitting the pavement and my breathing, which for that early in the morning, was very relaxing, especially because the sky was so pretty. In front of me was the rising sun and behind me it was the night sky (with hundreds of stars I might add). I really do think waking up that early to run is worth it considering what you get to look at.

My 8 mile run is next Saturday, except that its the Run Jane Run 10K in South Bend, which I'll be running with Kaity (I'll have to make up the other 2 miles after the race is over...I don't want to cut myself short). It's my first long distance running race ever and I'm pretty excited!

early to rise

Despite the fact that my body woke me up at 4:30 this morning, I decided to get my 4 mile run in and out of the way before my day actually began. Ok, so I feel GREAT knowing that by 6 am I am done training for that day, but by the time I get home from work I am ready to crash....and I'm not so sure massive amounts of coffee and caffeine is the solution, especially when training for this marathon. I'd like to keep running in the mornings, but I'm not so sure my body will let me do that 4 days a week, especially when I'm having to wake up at 5 am just to get a run in...or even earlier once the longer runs kick in. Not to mention, running in pitch black (there are hardly any lights on my street) is not the smartest idea either. (I recently started working 8-5 and I'm just trying to figure out when it is I'm going to be able to get myself to train so I DON'T have to run inside on a treadmill or indoor track. I'll wait until its 30 below before I force myself to do that.)

Here's the thing... I'm able to mentally prepare myself for the runs before I start them, but once I get going I think of nothing but the end, and its all because the runs are so short during the week. (Wow...I'm a little shocked I just used the words "short" and "run" in the same sentence...but it makes me happy!) When I ran my first 6 miler last Saturday I looked forward to running. I didn't rush to the end, but instead, simply enjoyed it. I think I'm getting to the point where, for me, the shorter runs are just a hassle because they are something I KNOW I can accomplish 100%, but they're key so I won't skip out on them. I look forward to the longer runs because it forces me to see how far I can go...forcing me to push my body to times and distances its never ran before.

I just have to find some sort of balance in this new and improved life of mine. Any suggestions on how to find this balance?

a new reason to run

The past couple days haven't been so great, but my first 6 miler this morning made that not so great week so much better...and here's why...

I have found a new reason to run: Kate Moore...and her favorite song ("Free Fallin' - covered by an acoustic John Mayer) A few days ago this amazing and loving girl passed away so unexpectedly and ever since then I've seemed to find myself thinking more and more about life and my TRUE reasons for running this marathon. With that said, the runs have been easier, my mind has been clearer, and instead of concentrating on that last step before I can stop and walk, I'm now able to just let myself go. Granted I do get tired and I do wish I could stop at times, but I'm doing this for Kate, my greatest inspiration. I WILL keep going!

Mickey and I finished our 6 miles in 52:53 this morning and while there were some tough points along the way, we kept on going...for her. It was PERFECT running weather and the breeze was great. Mickey was great. I've really found it so much more relaxing when running with someone then with running alone. Just that extra "umph" besides you makes it so you never want to stop.

To my Kate...
"I feel your energy existing in everything beautiful in life--- Every wonderful song, poem, piece of artwork... I will think of you. You live through all that is beautiful. I feel your heart in mine always have, and always will. You are my greatest inspiration. I love you."

...next week my 7 miles is for you.

today i'm holding my head high

I did it! I actually did it! My first 5 mile run EVER without stopping to walk...and all in 43:46 with an average pace of 8:42. I'm just in shock that I actually ran that long without feeling as though my body was about to collapse on the pavement. I was running a tad bit slower than normal, but thats OK! SLOW IS OK, especially now! I'm realizing that the longer these runs get the harder it is to keep up with my normal pace, so now's the time to get my butt in gear and embrace running for hours on end. I think I even got a burst of RUNNER'S HIGH! Just as I was about to finish my last mile, I just started running like no other. I went from huffing and puffing to running a 8:01 mile on the last stretch. I didn't even start cramping until the last 200 meters. I had no idea I was capable of that!

Can't wait for my 6 miler next saturday!