Dear Knee and IT Band,
Hi, how are you? Well, I know how you are, actually. You are loud complainers, both of you.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and ask for you to feel good tomorrow during the Heart Mini. Knee, please don't blow up. You are feeling better today! That's good! I'll take it easy on you tomorrow. IT Band, I'll roll you some more today. Stay loose, dude. Stay loose.
Please cooperate so I can have a fun 9.3 mile run with all of my friends, and not feel more left out than I already do.
Thanks,
Steph
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Knee Woes
For whatever reason, my left knee has decided to stage a huge protest. After yesterday afternoon's run, I noticed it was tight and hurt. Then when I got down on the foam roller, I could barely do my right side because I couldn't use my left leg to help propel me. I still chalked it up to just being oddly sore. All night it hurt and woke me up. And this morning it was no better. I can't put weight on it to get up or sit down, and it hurts to bend it.
I guess I'll see what happens. I wouldn't be able to run on it right now, but maybe by Sunday it will be better. I'm really really hoping. I feel sucky right now.
I guess I'll see what happens. I wouldn't be able to run on it right now, but maybe by Sunday it will be better. I'm really really hoping. I feel sucky right now.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
HMTD31: Run in the Rain
1. I'm sick sick sick of working at the flavor house. April 11th can not come soon enough.
2. I want a vacation. On that vacation I would like to get up with the sun and spend my time walking around outside, sitting and staring, and going for leisurely runs in beautiful land.
3.0 miles is what I did in 29:44. I should be happy.
2. I want a vacation. On that vacation I would like to get up with the sun and spend my time walking around outside, sitting and staring, and going for leisurely runs in beautiful land.
3.0 miles is what I did in 29:44. I should be happy.
Monday, March 14, 2011
HMTD30: 7 Hilly Miles
Sunday around one o'clock I ran from the house in the hilliest direction I know: to Duke Blvd. (I suppose I could do hill repeats over there some day!)
The weather wasn't as nice as it had been Saturday, but it was still a very pleasant run. I had on my make me faster tights and then two layers of short sleeve shirts with arm warmers. And my headband. Perfect. The sun came out from behind the clouds a couple of times and warmed me. I think it's going to be warmer for the race this weekend...maybe even shorts weather!
I felt really good in the beginning. Pace felt easy. But up one hill and my pace dropped a lot and I felt tired. It's the state of things now. During the boring stretch on Duke, after sucking wind up the bigger hill, I couldn't stop comparing myself to myself back in the fall. For a while it was me, the empty road and disappointment. But I pulled myself out of it with the hope I have for the Pig and thinking about maybe doing more fun trail races this summer. My knee started hurting pretty bad at mile 5 - IT band pain. I rubbed the side of my thighs while I was trying to fall asleep last night and found the tightness no problem. Foam roller here I come!
The race this weekend is going to be fun fun fun because a bunch of awesome people are running it: Daryl, Jess, Roman, Casey, Greg, Joe (half), Anne (5K)... That might be the most people I've ever known at a race! Despite my lack of fitness, I'm still really looking forward to running with everyone...or at least starting with everyone as the case may be. I don't have any goals; I'm not in a good enough shape for anything but a finish. I want to finish strong and feel good – that will make me happy. And I'm so curious to see how everyone is going to do! I hope everyone does great and we have good weather! I'm looking at this as a training run towards the Pig. Then we'll see what I can get done for May 1! Woohoo!
The weather wasn't as nice as it had been Saturday, but it was still a very pleasant run. I had on my make me faster tights and then two layers of short sleeve shirts with arm warmers. And my headband. Perfect. The sun came out from behind the clouds a couple of times and warmed me. I think it's going to be warmer for the race this weekend...maybe even shorts weather!
I felt really good in the beginning. Pace felt easy. But up one hill and my pace dropped a lot and I felt tired. It's the state of things now. During the boring stretch on Duke, after sucking wind up the bigger hill, I couldn't stop comparing myself to myself back in the fall. For a while it was me, the empty road and disappointment. But I pulled myself out of it with the hope I have for the Pig and thinking about maybe doing more fun trail races this summer. My knee started hurting pretty bad at mile 5 - IT band pain. I rubbed the side of my thighs while I was trying to fall asleep last night and found the tightness no problem. Foam roller here I come!
The race this weekend is going to be fun fun fun because a bunch of awesome people are running it: Daryl, Jess, Roman, Casey, Greg, Joe (half), Anne (5K)... That might be the most people I've ever known at a race! Despite my lack of fitness, I'm still really looking forward to running with everyone...or at least starting with everyone as the case may be. I don't have any goals; I'm not in a good enough shape for anything but a finish. I want to finish strong and feel good – that will make me happy. And I'm so curious to see how everyone is going to do! I hope everyone does great and we have good weather! I'm looking at this as a training run towards the Pig. Then we'll see what I can get done for May 1! Woohoo!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
HMTD29: Spinning
I spun for an hour last night after I got home and played with the dogs for a bit. It went well. I'm not sure if my cyclometer is set right now that it's on the back wheel. I will have to check on the trail with the mile markers when I get out there some day. Or ride to the end of the street, which I know is a half mile. It's still at least a gauge of effort comparatively. I did some intervals and while doing them I tried to keep my speed above a certain mph for a half mile. It got harder to do that as the intervals went on, so that is good.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
HMTD28: 4 miles
This morning I ran 4 miles. There really isn't anything too special about the run. It was a pleasant cold temperature. I felt pretty good. Had some hard times breathing. Things are growing, if anyone is wondering. My lungs were full of it and I was hacking for about 2 hours after the run.
I went down Montgomery Road and then into the neighborhood that is behind the old Shell station. I haven't been back there in a while. There are some really cool homes and some really awful homes – quite a mix. It's pretty entertaining to look at.
First, coming into the neighborhood, there is a house on the left whose owners must LOVE black and white. The driveway going to the attached garage is a checkerboard of black and white tiles. The driveway to the detached garage in the back is painted white. There are a bunch of yard knick-knacks that are all painted black and white, such as a little fake well. The entire house is trimmed in black and white, and brick is white. The mailbox is too. It's pretty crazy. I don't even think I've seen all of it while I run past. It's kind of like trying to look at a house with too many lawn ornaments: you simply can't take it all in.
There is an absolutely gorgeous dark wood siding house that is tall and new with a 3-car garage. It had to be a case where they tore down the previous home and built this one. I love love the color of the wood. I imagine it's a lot of maintenance, but it looks so welcoming and cozy (even though it's a large house).
On the back stretch of road is a house that looks like it's trying to be in Florida. It's peach, and there are facade walls in the front to make kind of a court yard. It reminds me of a small scale house that could be seen from our apartment in Florida. There is also a humongous water feature off to the right. It's so big and odd looking – as tall as the house!
Those are the ones that stand out to me now. It's just funny to me how unique so many of the houses are from one another. And it kept me entertained looking around and thinking about them. That neighborhood's loop is about 1 mile. So tacked on to the 1.5 to the Shell station, it was a perfect 4 miles when all done.
I saw today in my facebook feed that the Heart Mini is 13 days away. Huh.
I went down Montgomery Road and then into the neighborhood that is behind the old Shell station. I haven't been back there in a while. There are some really cool homes and some really awful homes – quite a mix. It's pretty entertaining to look at.
First, coming into the neighborhood, there is a house on the left whose owners must LOVE black and white. The driveway going to the attached garage is a checkerboard of black and white tiles. The driveway to the detached garage in the back is painted white. There are a bunch of yard knick-knacks that are all painted black and white, such as a little fake well. The entire house is trimmed in black and white, and brick is white. The mailbox is too. It's pretty crazy. I don't even think I've seen all of it while I run past. It's kind of like trying to look at a house with too many lawn ornaments: you simply can't take it all in.
There is an absolutely gorgeous dark wood siding house that is tall and new with a 3-car garage. It had to be a case where they tore down the previous home and built this one. I love love the color of the wood. I imagine it's a lot of maintenance, but it looks so welcoming and cozy (even though it's a large house).
On the back stretch of road is a house that looks like it's trying to be in Florida. It's peach, and there are facade walls in the front to make kind of a court yard. It reminds me of a small scale house that could be seen from our apartment in Florida. There is also a humongous water feature off to the right. It's so big and odd looking – as tall as the house!
Those are the ones that stand out to me now. It's just funny to me how unique so many of the houses are from one another. And it kept me entertained looking around and thinking about them. That neighborhood's loop is about 1 mile. So tacked on to the 1.5 to the Shell station, it was a perfect 4 miles when all done.
I saw today in my facebook feed that the Heart Mini is 13 days away. Huh.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
HMTD27: 3.8 miles...after a long week
Well, it's Saturday, and I hadn't done anything since last Saturday. As mentioned briefly in the previous post, I pulled my lower back while working on my bike. It ended up being really bad and left me unable to do anything for a week. And what a long week it was. I hate that I missed a week of training, especially after two very good and promising weeks. Oh well, challenges are good.
The turning point in my back getting better was finally going to the doctor and getting pain meds and a muscle relaxer. It would have probably gotten better faster if I could have just taken a day off completely and slept on the drug. But I took it every night, and with each pill, it got better. Once again, I am reminded how fortunate I am to live without chronic pain.
So, today my back just feels like it's sore from shoveling or yard work, so I ran 3.8 miles. I didn't expect my run to go well at all. Not only was I not biking or running last week, but I was barely moving. I couldn't walk upright and did as much activity as one does while having the flu. However, I managed to run easily at a 10:20 - 10:30 pace and got it down to 10:12 by the end. About half way through the run I stopped to stretch, and then got a wonderful rejuvenation which caused me to pick up the pace on the way back very nicely.
I am really happy to be feeling almost 100% again. It's been a very discouraging week.
The turning point in my back getting better was finally going to the doctor and getting pain meds and a muscle relaxer. It would have probably gotten better faster if I could have just taken a day off completely and slept on the drug. But I took it every night, and with each pill, it got better. Once again, I am reminded how fortunate I am to live without chronic pain.
So, today my back just feels like it's sore from shoveling or yard work, so I ran 3.8 miles. I didn't expect my run to go well at all. Not only was I not biking or running last week, but I was barely moving. I couldn't walk upright and did as much activity as one does while having the flu. However, I managed to run easily at a 10:20 - 10:30 pace and got it down to 10:12 by the end. About half way through the run I stopped to stretch, and then got a wonderful rejuvenation which caused me to pick up the pace on the way back very nicely.
I am really happy to be feeling almost 100% again. It's been a very discouraging week.
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