Update***** (read previous post first)

Notes:

When driving before planned run and you think "Well it is pretty shady on this third of the course"--it does not mean the other 2/3 will be shady. Or that the 1/3 you just drove will STILL be shady.

ZENSAHs are pretty amazing (wore my calf guys for the first time today--just because I needed something exciting to get me out the door)--but they do not cool you off.

No one can look stylish in a fuel belt. Ok maybe some people can, but I don't.

When wearing a belt with water bottles, it feels perfectly normal when standing in your house...and then you take three steps into your run and...you feel them (though I really didn't mind wearing it--got old towards the end when the bottles were empty and the belt was sliding all over me).

Water doesn't fuel you. When it is hot. And all you ate for the day was some PB toast and vanilla flavored Goldfish--well, fuel would be good.

When scheduled run is 10. And before you leave you already move it back to 9. You will probably find a way to make it 8.26 miles instead. Would have been shorter if I was certain of which road to run down to shave another mile off the run.

Most importantly--when your mind is telling you to stop, stop, stop--and you refuse to give in...well. That's a good thing. May not have been the fastest or prettiest. But it was a good one to start toughening up my mind again. Pretty sure I can outrun that bitch Irene.

WAAAAHHHHHHH

Didn't do the 2 mile easy run yesterday--foot was sore. Plus I didn't want to do it.

Yoga X was ok. Considering we skipped 1/2 of it. Because the damn DVD was skipping. Though neither of us really tried fixing it. Yoga in a studio is a lot easier to do.

I have to run my 10 miles today. I have to. But it will probably be 9 because that is what the loop is...it's hot out there in the sun. I think I may run with Russ's fuel belt. Have never done it before. But today might be a good day to have one.

I HAVE TO DO THIS. I will let you know...(should I mention that while driving home from school this crossed my mind while thinking about doing this run "You've got to do this run. Orrrr you can just stop. Stop training for a race you may or may not do. Run 3 times a week. Average 15 miles a week. And just be done with the damn training schedules."  That thought literally made me smile. Like a welcoming, happy smile. Not a "Oh Amy, stop being silly....Let's hit that 10" smile. )

Workouts

What I didn't do today: a 6 mile tempo run,

What I did do today: a 6 mile easy run. Which wasn't all that easy.

What I am about to do: P90x workout 3 (bi's and tri's I believe). And I WILL do Ab Ripper.

What I did yesterday: Plyos--love that work out.

What I will do tomorrow: 2 mile scheduled easy run and Yoga X--can't wait to do it. Haven't done Yoga X since early 2010. Before I did HSY. I think I am going to enjoy it more now that I know I've got the form down. Plus 90 minutes of yoga in a basement is going to be easier to handle than 90 minutes of yoga in a 100 degree room.

Ok--off to play with Tony. I am still hesitant to say I am fully committed to P90x...I'll get back to you on that one.

No energy to title

Yesterday's thunderstorms meant no run last night---I forced myself to do P90x--first workout....Russ is planning on Bringing It again--so I figure I could join him...though it can't be daily because of my running. My shoulders are killing and my abs hurt (I was very proud that I made myself do Ab Ripper--I have a tendency to convince myself to skip it).

Today I ran 4 miles--it was good. Beautiful day--though super windy at the boulevard. At 1 1/2 miles I felt my knee tightening but I just pulled up my posture--and I think that helped.

Plyometrics tomorrow...

I just went back and recalculated my running plan to lessen the mileage (I am already "behind" with my training and realistically should only do 4 days/week...don't want to worsen my foot)...The way the program has me finishing seconds faster than my last year's time.

Foot

Did elliptical and Jillian workout yesterday--no foot pain whatsoever since I had taken pain reliever after waking up (so it really is pretty much just when running). This morning had minor pain--Excedrin took the edge off...only pain now is upon rotating it. So I should be good for a run...hoping to get in 6.

If I have to be an "every other day" runner leading up to the 1/2, I think it is fine. I plan to also really pick up the cross training.

I know that my foot is probably a tendon or some tissue or something. But there is this teeny fear that it is another stress fracture. I have suspected my left leg is longer than my right for some time, and I think it takes a beating on the road. I remember my dr. told me that I may not have the bone structure to handle longer runs (though I trained for my first half with no issues. But then again, I followed a 3x week running program). The biggest issue would be that two stress fractures in a year may indicate some bone density issues. And yeah, I think I just got a little ahead of myself.

My body actually prefers evening runs--7ish. But it has been awhile since I have done that. Now at 7ish I am t-i-r-e-d. Though I am a little excited for an evening run....I honestly can't say the last time I did one.

Most likely a day off from running tomorrow (unless I have no pain)--maybe I will X it up. Russ is restarting the program and it is always more fun (and much easier) to maintain it with someone else.

This is the most boring post I have ever done. It is putting me to sleep. Which is fine. Since Greta is napping right now.

Spoke too soon

Ow. My foot. OW.

Go Figure

Well, this was a pleasant surprise.

Two days off
Excedrin upon waking
Running on the boulevard

aaaaand, no pain! My foot ached a bit, but I think it is just going to be annoying until I can take serious time off. I just hope that as my runs increase, my pain doesn't. Anyhow, my knee didn't hurt! I have to say I was nervous as I approached mile 1. Then 2. And then I figured I was "safe". It was just a 4 mile easy run. In suffocating heat. But I was so happy.

Hope to do 6 or 7 this weekend just to keep things safe. And then try to get into the training for the 1/2 that I have had to set aside.

Awesome.

Because as you can tell from my other blog, life is just full of awesome right now.

Ran 5 Monday. On the treadmill. Felt like shit And my foot hurt. And an unexpected surprise...my knee, which has not bothered me in 2 years, killed like a mo'fo'. In the same way it did 2 years ago. Felt fine first mile or mile and a half and then. BOOM SUCKA.

Tuesday, 3 miles easy. Foot still hurt. Kind of more than it had been. Knee felt great, hooray! Until 1.2 miles. Jabbing. Knife. Pain. In. Knee.

Awesome.

Extended Trip

Ever been on vacation and thought, "Damn. I wish we could extend this..." (if you haven't, well then your vacations SUCK). Anyhow, in the spirit of that notion--I have extended my running vacation! Just because I can! Return trip will be scheduled for Monday though. I can't afford extending it any further than that.

Please hold me accountable for that. Otherwise I may just stay on vacation. Forever. 

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

So for the first time in awhile, I am taking a running vaca. I knew I would take at least 2 days off after B2B, just because I could. But with my foot pain, I settled absolutely for 3. While I could probably handle an easy run today, my foot still hurts and frankly, I want to be itching to run. I don't like it when running becomes a chore. I know by Friday I will be ready for a run. Keeping it an easy 5 or so that day. And maybe a total yoga day as well--meaning doing Hour or Power post run and then a special bonus class that evening (it is a meditation/relaxation class, so no physical exertion). I think I need this mini vaca.

On the other hand, I rode a bike for the first time in YEARS yesterday around Peaks. It was a rented bike. Older. And since I don't know the first thing about changing gears, I just stayed in the same gear the whole ride. And I loved it. Still kicked Russ's ass--even though he cycles. And knows how to use gears. Most people were just leisurely pedaling around ...but I can't sit on a bike and just half ass it. Me in my flip flops. Him with Greta riding in the attached trailer. Tour de France, Peaks style. (note: only one sketchy moment. Where Russ took a turn at the bottom of a steep hill a littttttle too fast. Spilling his iced coffee that he had in a little holder in Greta's trailer. All over Greta. She was pissssssssssed. And yelled at him for going too fast.)

B2B

Well. The race is over. It really wasn't a good one for me. 23 seconds per mile slower than last year. And only 30 seconds overall faster than my first ever B2B (with my haphazard training and shitty shoes). Yes, it was warm and humid and I know that factored in to some extent. But even going in to it, I just wasn't feeling it. Just not feeling "strong" is the only way I can describe it. The upside is that at some point during the race, I just knew it wasn't happening, and I was ok with just doing what I could. So I wasn't pissed off at least that I sucked.

I am very excited about the Maine Half. Just not sure what I should do to make myself feel better.

And my foot realllllllllllly hurts today (I did something to it during the half the other weekend and it has been sore since).

Some days of rest. A bit of time for perspective. And hopefully a less-sore foot, and back at it again.

Tickity tock

Number? Check

Clean running outfit? Check (I think?)

New super hair elastics that had best hold this thick horse mane hair of mine? Check

Gu? Check (yes, I will gu pre-race. And quite possible mid-race. Psychologically it may be needed.)

New playlist? Working on it...

Charged Garmin/ipod? SHIT WHY AM I SITTING HERE BLOGGING? I HAVE STUFF TO DO!

Nervous belly and on the verge of diarrhea? CHECK

HAPPY NIGHT BEFORE B2B BITCHES!  (PS why did Joanie not invite me to B2B party welcoming the Elite Runners?...I thought running a 10k in anything under an hour made you elite?)

Twas the Night before B2B and all through the state
Runners were nervous, some practicing their gait

Athletes were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of PRs danced through their heads

And I sat on the couch, with nerves and some fear
Praying to have the run of my career
(ok--maybe pretending I have a running "career" is a stretch. But it rhymed).

And I'm out, sorry that's all the energy I have to expend on a poem tonight--I've GOT TO CHARGE THE GARMIN.

And we wait...

If I am slotted for two days off from running before B2B, you better believe I am taking it for what it is. Meaning no cross training. And apparently it also means fueling oneself with frosting because I went to town on some frosting this morning. (Note: frosting is not a very good breakfast.).

Yesterday's last speed work out was good. I felt good. Granted the speed portion was only 2 800s. Then I did yoga. And once again, I didn't properly hydrate so I feel hung over today. And unlike a hangover, I don't even have any fond memories of the night before.

Sad my BFF won't be at my side this year...

Greta Runs

Greta just donned the Garmin, ipod and set off for a run (in the house).
She just came back to the living room and said "My all sweaty."

So I asked her about her run:

How did your run feel? Good

How far dd you run? 2

How fast were you going? Too fast (She seriously said that. I love that kid.)

She is already gearing up for another run.

How far do you plan to run? 2

What will your pace be? 2-1 (um, if it is 21 mm I am not overly impressed)

You need to be safe. What will you do if a dog comes after you? Run

Who runs faster mommy or daddy? My run fast. I run fast. Like you.