Nine More Weeks

Remember my last post on getting new shoes? Here is a comparison pic: old versus new

I meant to post more on being halfway through half-marathon training, and now we are over half way! We are on week 14 and only have 9 more weeks to go until the Rock and Roll Half on November 3rd! Woohoo!

It's hard to believe that it's getting closer and closer. But it seems like I've been training forever... which, I pretty much have been doing since January 1 of this year. The build up and anticipation is certainly increasing as it gets closer, as well as our weekly mileage! I have no idea how I will handle the crossing the finish line... will I break down into an emo mess and weep like a baby? Or will I finish strong and feel like kicking ass upon crossing the line? Maybe I'll be crawling up the chutes, barely able to walk, and crying from pain!?! LOL Hopefully not that last one. I'm pretty sure lots of catching of breaths will ensue and trying to find water will be the first thing on my mind. Who knows! All I know is that I can't wait to find out!!!

We (the Pooler CREW Training Group) did 8 miles this morning on a dark golf course. It was pretty neat, as I've never run on such a course. It was a great change of scenery - even though the first half of the run was in complete darkness (thankfully the blue moon was still out at 5:30 am!) and there was some dense fog lingering over us. The 2nd half of the run was much better and cooler as the humid fog lifted and the sun started coming up.

Another old vs new comparison... Inside of my overpronating right heel

I've got a new injury this time around... It's called um... *something* bursitis (I will fill in the blank later when I feel like getting up to get the paper in my purse with the correct term)!! It's basically some fluid buildup at the back of my knee from my uneven leg lengths (due to scoliosis) and overcompensation of the shorter leg. It's nothing that inhibits my running, but it is one of those minor aches that gets annoying throughout the day and you'd just rather not have it exist. It only bothers me when I extend my left knee. I feel some minor discomfort at the back of my knee. I went to a free injury clinic at Fleet Feet after the 8-miler today and that's what the physical therapist told me. He suggested icing, compression, strengthening exercises and a heel lift (to lift my shorter leg up a bit). I actually have one from another PT that I threw in a drawer somewhere. I used it a few times, but decided it sucked. I might try to find it. I was apparently using it wrong. I was supposed to put it under the shoe's insert, not over it. (Duh!) Apparently this was caused from over striding from sprinting. With my last few runs, I've been trying to sprint at the end, like the last 1 to 1.5 miles of the run because I have energy saved up and I ALWAYS love to see how fast I can go for however many miles we do... Bad idea!! I need to save that stuff for actual races, not training runs...

Other than that I think I'm really getting stronger - especially with the crossfit class I'm going to. It's pretty intense, but I like a good intense workout where I'm not running on pavement for hours at a time! I'll blog more on that at a later time.

Speaking of getting stronger, I decided to start a Plank-a-Day challenge, where you pretty much just do a plank for as long as you can (time it) every day for a month and see how much longer you can do it by the end of the month. The plank position is one of the simplest ways to increase your core strength and stability – something I know I need in order to further reduce my chances of injury when I run.

I found out about Plankaday via a new blogger that I follow: Cherierunsthis.com! Cherie is a fitness blogger from PA who posts lots of recipes, workout tips and fun photos! Check her out if you can! I can't wait to do the Foodie Penpal this month! (I'll blog about that later too).

But it's another fitness blogger who started the Plankaday challenge: Lea at runningfordummies.net. She's got a leaderboard going and I'm currently #11 at 2:23 minute plank. Not bad for my first time! Lea holds 7+ minute planks!

I'm not sure if I was doing it properly, but my abs (and surrounding areas) were shaking for the last minute or so, so I think I at least got some real plank action going on! I'll have to have Joel check my form tomorrow. Lets hope I can keep this up every day! It only takes a few minutes of your time, so I have no excuse not to do it! Join me!!!

New Running Friends and Update on my Hip

The last part of April and beginning of May, I decided to start moving up to 6 miles for my weekend long runs. My weekday 5Ks were getting a tad bit slower, from averaging in the 29 minutes to now back to the 30 minute range. It's getting hotter so I wasn't too worried.

During this time, I ran many 2012 PRs (thus far):
6.2 miles at 01:04:32
4 miles at 38:34
(non-race) 3.1 miles at 29:06
and 1 mile at 8:40 (listed below as 8:35, but it was also short according to my watch, so we will go with 8:40)

Hip Update:
During my last 4.25 mile run, I seriously felt pain after the 4 mile mark - it was supposed to be a 6+ mile run, but I had to end it early. I guess all the running on the bum hip caught up with me and it just flared up on me at that point. It sucked. I had to walk back home.

I went to an orthopedist the week before who referred me to a Physical Therapist who told me that my hip injury was due to a tweak during a treadmill run... I knew those things were EVIL!! He recommended rest and very light, non-repetitive activity (including running and even elliptical) for 2 weeks. It would probably need a full 4-6 weeks to heal. He wasn't able to pinpoint exactly what was causing my strain, and also told me take Ibuprofen twice a day for 2 weeks - which sounded crazy. So at the advice of my new friend Jennifer (read on below), I went to see another trusted PT, who runs marathons. He told me that it was my IT band. He pretty much said to take it easy, do other forms of cardio in the meantime, but it would take about a month to heal. He told me to use a foam roller on it, which we have, and to do a few of the same stretches that the other PT told me to do. I also got a chance to try out the Alter-G treadmill which takes off some/most of your body weight so it doesn't impact your joints when you run. It was awesome.

So for now, I'm going to try to give it a rest for maybe a week or two more and slowly get back into running. I want to join the RnR Half training group soon!!!

Let me tell you, it SUCKS not being able to run, especially after I meet some new awesome running buddies!!

My first new friend I met through Dailymile.com. Cori lives quite a way from me, but luckily she was willing to drive 40+ minutes to meet me at Tom Triplett Park one morning to do a 5 miler. It was nice to have someone to run with that is around my pace. Chatting away while running makes the time go faster and more enjoyable! She has a blog, Workin' on my Fitness, which I will be adding to a blog list on the side of this blog soon...

Cori then introduced me to a Savannah Mothers Running group on FB (momsrunthistown.com Savannah Chapter), where I met a few more awesome potential running buddies. Hope to have another meetup again soon!

Jennifer and I after the Savannah Mile

Through this group, I met Jennifer, who just so happens to be my 2 doors down NEIGHBOR!! LOL She has a 12 year old who runs as well - and is quite FAST! We did the Savannah Mile on Saturday, and I hope to do some runs with her as soon as my hip is healed. She has a blog too: Running, Our Way.

So even though I can't or shouldn't run for a while, I really can't wait to get back into it. These girls are really motivating and supportive. I just wish I could get out there dammit!

For now, I am going to try to work on my strength (full body), make my hips stronger, continue to go to Bikram (just have to save up for another month session) and MAYBE start working on my diet... I also need to break out the rowing machine at some point. Just have to clean out that damn garage first!!! :)

Happy belated Memorial Day!

Getting Faster

So the screencap above are my latest runs from March up until my last run a couple days ago. The two runs at the top (my last two) are starred because those are my fastest paces for 4 miles (9:37 pace) and 3.1 miles (9:24) for the year!! It seems like after I broke my 30 minute 5k time, I have been keeping up with it! It's a good feeling. I am trying to increase my distance slowly - by adding a few more 4 milers in during the week (although doing 4 around the 'hood is one of the most boring runs EVAR!). I was going to do my usual 5k lunchtime run today, which I was seriously going back and forth multiple times as to whether I would go or not... I was about to put on my running gear when I changed my mind at the last second NOT to go. My left shin has been a little achy and my right hip (which has been bothering me for the past 3 weeks) is still tight and sore. I'm not running a race any time soon, so I decided that I need to give my body a rest and NOT push it today. Plus it's over 80 degrees out there. Ugh.


I want to calculate my month to month progress (average pace) and report it here. Garmin's website does it, but it doesn't show the time, it shows the average speed (like 6.0 mph, etc). For my purpose, I will need to break out the calculator! I'll try to do it on my next post.

I also want to schedule a physical therapist consult to see if they can help me with my hip issue. I don't want to make it any worse. Icing helps, but it comes right back.

I signed up for another 10 classes of Bikram (which I have to use in 30 days). I went yesterday and I will probably go tomorrow night. I also got one of my friends to do the other yoga classes with me! We will go to that one every Saturday morning (if our schedules and families allow). I went for the first time in over a month and even though the poses were not as physically demanding as Bikram, I still got a great stretch. And it's more fun with a buddy!

I REALLY need to start working on strength training. So far, the yoga has DEFINITELY helped with running and knee pains. So I am sure that with the extra strength training, I will reap more benefits. I really need to work out my core and flabby arms. Once we get our home gym set up in the garage (Our shed will be built this month - come hell or highwater!!! The shed is where everything in the garage will eventually be stored), I will be able to cross train on my rowing machine and use Joel's weight bench. Then maybe after I get the strength training down, I will finally work more on my diet!! One step at a time!!! :)