Great Week of Training!

The events at Boston really opened my eyes and helped get me back into running.  I ran all my scheduled miles this week so I am very proud of myself.

My boyfriend got me a Garmin 210 for my birthday and I have been using it to track my runs.  I'm also attempting to run without music since I intend on running the marathon without it.  I did not use music for the long runs with my training group either.  It's nice to be able to look and my wrist and adjust my pace if need be.

On a side note, my local 5k was yesterday.  I've participated in the race for the past 3 years and make it my first race to start the season.  I skipped out on it this year mainly because I don't think that I'm in shape run a 5k around the same time that I ran it last year.  I feel kinda bad that I skipped it, but I think it was a good decision in the end.

The plan for the week was as follows:

Monday: 3 mile run with The Runner's Edge in Libertyville to show support for Boston Marathon victims.  The run ended up being 2.62 only.

Tuesday & Thursday: planned rest.  Of course I took that.

Wednesday: 5 miles.  I was able to get outside and the temps were PERFECT!  In the low 40s!  I ran it in 44:46, which is FAST for me since I haven't been doing much running.  Needless to say, I was pleased with myself.

Friday: 2 miles.  I decided to run 2.38 since the run on Monday was .38 short from 3 miles.  Also, I'm a super weird person that likes whole numbers.  Total so far is 10 miles.

Sunday: 7 mile long run.  I got in 5 out of the 7 miles.  I ran about 2 with my boyfriend who is not a runner whatsoever and hasn't been physically active due to a demanding job located very far away from home.  I was proud of him for being able to run/walk 2 miles.  I ran 3 pretty much on my own save for a little strut with him.  We walked home the rest of the way.  I will tack on 2 miles one of my lower mileage days this week or run the two another day to make up for it.

Total Miles: 15 out of 17

I am confident that if I can maintain this running schedule that I will be race ready come the end of May and early June.

The Game Plan

So I got an e-mail from the group leader of the running club that I trained with over the summer regarding their winter training program, which begins on December 15.  They hold their group runs at 7:00am at the Lake Forest Train Station.  The dues are $40 since I'm a current CARA member.

I've been mulling over the decision on whether or not to join.  I'm leaning toward joining since it'll ensure that I try to maintain some sort of shape over the winter.  If I'm part of the group, I will feel obligated to do the long runs especially if I paid for it.  And, I won't want to show up unprepared either meaning subsequent runs during the week would have to happen.

I worry about running outdoors as I have never run outdoors during the winter months.  I usually start going to the gym around November/December depending on the weather.  So, that will be a challenge.  I also worry about getting there if the weather is less than ideal.  I rarely drive anymore and have always been a relatively poor driver.  Google Maps tells me that in optimal conditions, it would take me 21 minutes to get to the train station.  Factor in show and my poor driving and it could take more almost an hour to get there.  I think on bad weather days, I'll just plan on going to the gym as opposed to Lake Forest.

Unfortunately, I could not convince my dad to venture outdoors with me.  If I convinced him to sign up, I think I could have convinced him to drive as silly as that sounds.  I suppose I could motivate Jim to drive me since maybe he could work out or do work in the area since I'm sure there are coffee places nearby.  Or, I could make friends with someone and ask that we carpool and I'd be more than happy to help pay for gas so I wouldn't have to drive.

As for the work out plan, I've decided to start going today (no ifs ands or buts).  Here is my proposed plan.  I'm aiming to just get in 1 hour of cardio today, tomorrow and Thursday. 

• Tuesday: 30 minutes treadmill / 30 minutes elliptical
• Wednesday: 40 minutes treadmill/ 20 minutes elliptical
• Thursday: 50 minutes treadmill/ 10 minutes elliptical
• Saturday: 60 minute run - treadmill or outdoors depending on the weather

This is pretty pathetic compared to where I once was, but I've been slacking hardcore since the half marathon (Nov. 18 and I've literally done nothing).  I need to ease back in and not overdo it and get injured (again).  So, baby steps.

I packed my gym clothes, shoes, foam roller and water bottle and they are in my car.  I am going to the gym ASAP after work.  If I go back home, I'm liable to get tempted not to go.  Also, if I sit with my foster cat, it's game over since she's so cute and just wants me to pet her and cuddle with her.

So yeah, it's about time that I get off my lazy butt and back out there.  Wish me luck!

I CAN RUN!

 

Ha, first of all, I will never look that sexy or happy while crossing the finish line.  I'm drenched in sweat, mouth hanging open, hair a hot mess and just wanting to be done with the race.  If you need a laugh - go to marathonfoto.com and look at my pics from the big races.  Let's just say this: it ain't pretty.  SMH.

And, I won't be in the front so I highly doubt I'll break any tape.  The local 5K that I've managed to win in 2010 and 2012 doesn't have tape for the finishers.  And even then, the dude would break it first.  Unless they held out a new one for me, but that'll never happen.  I digress (again).

Anyway, great news everyone!  Grandma Pony can run!  I will be making it to the start of the Chicago Marathon 2012 after all! 

Drat!  I was really starting to enjoy bonding with my comfy couch and stuffing my face with yummy goodies.  Hey, you only live once, right?

I'll start of this post by saying that if the sports med doc told me that my season was over then I planned on going to the cupcake place (literally next door to their office - no joke) to eat both a muffin and a cupcake to drown out my sorrow in yummy goodness.  That didn't happen.  I ate a mini red velet one though to celebrate my release back to the roads.

Anyway, starting today, I'm going to start cleaning up my act so I can get my rear in gear.  Thank goodness for that because honestly, I was literally running myself into debt.  Let's calculate it:

• $300 for Ragnar (which I did not run).  The girls are sending me my costume, shirt and medal.  I'll probably pin these to my wall as a daily reminder about how much I suck!  No, just kidding... I'll hide them and hope never to find them ever again.  Such a disappointment for me here.
• $135 for registration fee for the marathon.
• $170 for the CARA Training Program

And yep, add that up and that's almost a mortgage payment for me down the toilet.

I saw the sports medicine doctor today and he gave me the good news.  I spent more time filling out the forms (since I forgot to do it prior) and talking to this guy taking down my information than actually being seen by the doctor.  He had me do a few tests and this was awkward because I was wearing a skirt.  He didn't ask me to put my shorts on and I felt super worried that Iwas going to flash the both of them.  Worse of all, I was wearing a thong.  SMH.  FML. 

Anyway, we went through a series of tests (all of which I'm pretty sure I failed) and he writes me a prescription for PT w/ the guy from Novacare who saw me last week.  I asked him if I could run and he goes, "Of course you can run!! You can run so long as your knee isn't swollen!"  *smacks forhead*

So to think - all this time I could have been running.  *sigh*  I asked him questions about using KT tape vs. the knee band.  He said the tape is better and that I should ask my PT about how to tape it properly. 

So yeah, it's official.  I am back.  I will try to lay off on the cookies, candies, chocolate, cupcakes, ice cream, etc.  (If you can't already tell I am a sweet tooth - thanks Dad for feeding me ice cream when I was two!)  It's time to get moving and back in shape for the marathon.

The game plan is this:  I will run 3 miles tonight and then join the group for a 5 mile run Saturday morning.  And, we'll take it from there.

I'll keep you posted on my progress!  Happy running to all you runners & hope everyone is staying cool in this awfully hot weather!