DECEMBER 2010

WEEK 9: Last week of December starts tomorrow. I've got one more week until 2011 and the realization that the marathon is getting closer and closer is both exciting and nerve racking. I must not look too far in advance and have to stay focused and give constance vigilance to week 9. I finished out week 8 with a spot-on workout from my training plan. This week, I hope to do 3 of 3 complete workouts to get back on track with "the plan". My plan has been siderailed and derailed, and mispelled, and just smelled at points. But, it has jelled at many points as well, and I am thankful for this. I've learned the utmost of patience and had to be extremely flexible as my body becomes the dictator of "the plan", and not so much my head. I'm mentally ready, my cardio is good, my psyche is awesome, and my body is trying to keep up the demands of the constant pavement pounding with each step I take. Running long distances is hard on your body and I am starting to realize that my Goal 1 of getting to Albany is the correct 1st goal for me.

12/27 GOAL: TEMPO, 1 mile easy, 6 miles @ 8:05, 1 mile easy. Frigid weather temps and running in circles for 32 laps is only possible when you run with friends. Temps were in the low 30's, but with the wind gusts, it felt like low 20's....according to the Super Doppler which is always accurate :O. Looking forward to running a half marathon in circles on Wed. at the track! Foot holding up!

DISTANCE: 8
Avg. TEMPO PACE: 7:42



12/29 GOAL: 13 @ 8:38 pace. I was fortunate to have my mom and Danette join me on a run this morning.....but the best part, was when my friend John showed up in his nice work attire and ran a lap with me. John has been sidelined with some medical problems and today was the day where the doctor gave him two big toes up to get moving again. I was lucky enough to be running with my mom's i-phone and able to capture him in sweet motion. I truly have the best friends in the world that are prodding me, encouraging me, and carrying me all the way to Albany and beyond. I am certain this is not the last you will see of John. Maybe he will join me in Albany?


DISTANCE: 13 miles

Avg. Pace: 8:23 (which is my marathon pace for Albany...completely run by accident when the lap paces avgeraged out)

Avg. HR 152

1/1/11 HAPPY NEW YEAR! The goal for today was to run 12 Quarter lap sprints at the track @ a 1:39 pace. I had two friends at my side, D and Todd. I had been looking forward to this workout for 10 weeks. SERIOUSLY!! I even was able to wear my lighter track shoes and test them out and had no problems with my foot. I was running on clouds and flying after wearing my heavy clunker training shoes for so long. I will slowly try to incorporate the use of these shoes more into the training program for tempo and track workouts. These will be my marathon shoes.....they are bright green and crazy! Perfect :). What a great way to start the new year. Friends, feeling good, and of course, running in circles!!

DISTANCE: 6 miles
Avg. Quarter Pace: 131.6 (min.)

31 MINUTE VICTORY!

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS (left)

12/19/10

Yes, it is week 8, which is pivotal. It is the half way point of a 16wk training plan for Albany. Today, I ran on the Clemson track for 31 minutes after taking 2 weeks off from running. I was nervous. Would I be able to complete my goal of running 30 easy minutes? Would my legs remember how to run? Would my hat still fit? Such silly things to worry about...... of course my hat still fit, of course my right foot made a purposeful step in front of my left, and yes, I was able to run for 31 minutes. What does week 8 hold for me? I'm not sure but I'm hopeful 3 easy days of running will get me back on track. I am not worried about paces right now, I am simply running very easy, easing myself back out there. I am so thankful!! :). I've had a solid week 7 of training with 2 very good bike days and a few great swims. Time to rock and roll!

On a side note, the Clemson Track has been resurfaced but it is still closed with a bright yellow sign that says "UNDER CONSTRUCTION". The track looks perfectly finished to me and the lane lines are even perfectly painted. Danette and I have decided to stick to the softer track surface for the majority of our upcoming runs. With a secret side entrance, we jumped quickly onto the track. I felt like at any moment the SWAT team would raid the track and banish us to the Island of Elba when we were caught with our hands in the cookie jar. Luckily, we did not get caught. It is so easy for the sign to remain in place for the next 2 weeks for the holidays when students are away from campus. The track is done and we plan on using it to its fullest extent!

12/21 Clemson Track circles of hope! I ran with a new girl today, Jenny, round and round. I wouldn't mind if we had to run on a 2ft x 2ft ring, at least I was running! Today's goal was to run 45min. which I did accomplish plus a bonus 5 minutes. Nice easy pace, then a little tempo center, then easy. Jenny actually PR'd on her training run with a new best 10k time! :) I am still not wearing a heart rate monitor and prefer to gage my effort on feel as I get back in the swing of running. I am hopeful for a "long" run on Thursday morning.

12/23 Simply run. I did it, my longest run in 3 weeks. Small victories :)

Distance: 8 miles

Avg. pace: 8:51

12/25 Christmas Blessings abound this season. I was able to convince, surprisingly with not too much arm twisting, my mom and fellow friend Q to join at the track on Christmas morning. With the threat of snowfall in the afternoon, it was quite cold. However, our spirits were high and our hearts were warm with the blessings of friendship and the love that non can bestow like Jesus Christ can on such a merriment of days. Today is Jesus's birthday! HOSANNA in the highest. I felt the positive vibes as I actually did a workout from my training plan to the "T" as I ran tempo round and round the track. My mom and Q ran and walked respectively. With their very presence I was able to run the Boston Marathon in my head. Each step brought me closer and closer to my goal of March 5th. Today, friends helped me achieve my goal. Presence is key and and taking hold of each present day to the fullest is possible with the blessings of relationships that are wrapped in beautiful presents on Christmas Day. THANK YOU FRIENDS!!

DISTANCE: 6 miles

TEMPO PORTION: 3 miles at 7:24

MY YOLK

WEEK 7

AHHHH, a possible glimmer of hope? My foot is somewhat better? Is it a metatarsal stress fracture or tendonitis? Not sure. But, I do know, is that all is not lost. I have been swimming up a tsunami and maintaining my cardio. I must stay optimistic. Every morning upon awakening I lay in bed and pray that when I roll to my side and press my foot down into the mocha white carpeting, that it will not hurt, it will be healed. I teeter and totter on the edge of the bed eventually taking a dainty step as if walking on egg shells. I don't want to hear any creaks or crackling. Please no scrambling or anything over easy. Just a sunny side up will be fine please. And, an extra hot coffee please. If I stay in bed the foot is fine, does not hurt. When I start walking around and as the day advances, the pain becomes more constant. Today has been the best day yet. I have not ran in 8 days. I tell myself constantly that I can still run a marathon on March 5th. I am ever so hopeful that with a few more days I can try running again. I truly believe that all things happen for a reason. I may never know the reason, but with my faith I can put everything into God's hands.

PAIN

WEEK 6

Week 6 is officially here. I was suppose to run sprints today, but i've got the dreaded "I" word. I'm hoping that if I don't acknowledge it, it won't exist and will eventually become a figment in my imagination. The top of my foot hurt immediately after running Saturday's 5k. Ironically, it did not hurt during the race at all, but as soon as I stopped and jogged back out on the course to finish the last 1/2 mile with my mom, I immediately felt it. It was jarring and created an awkward limp with each step. I tried to "walk it off" with no such luck. I tried to walk thru it pretending it wasn't there. I tried, I really did. With four days of work ahead, I was dreading having to walk on the cold, long hallways at the healthcare center. Usually, I have a lot of pep in my step and am noted to walk with a bounce, but not Saturday, or Sunday, or today, Monday. I was dreading writing this blog because I'm validating that my foot hurts and I don't want to acknowledge it. The good news is, is that it has improved each day. I'm a competitor by my very nature, pushing limits. So, I will stay optimistic, my goal is is still March 5th, to get there healthy, that, after all, is my first goal.

12/6 Lap Swim. Yes, I SWAM, or SWIM like a fish out of water. I say I don't enjoy doning my swimming gear and getting into the pool of chlorine, but it is such a freeing movement and I feel rejuvinated when I'm done. I had fun, practicing swimming in draft with two of my friends and slapping each other's feet and swimming closely side by side. One of them is secretely preparing me for my first triathlon next year and is helping me gain confidence in the ability to swim in close proximity of others during a tri. Good board kick work at the end. I feel good and am thankful to have such wonderful friends.

Distance: 1 mile

12/8 Back in the pool! Right foot has improved, but is still not runnable due to pain located at the top of the foot. I knew that this would be my battle. No, the battle would not be in my head, or in my heart (cardio), it would be a test of time, to see whether my body could weather the storm and structurely stay strong for the duration of training leading up to the marathon. I'm glad I made it to week 6! To the pool I go until the foot pain eases! I also stopped by Go Tri Sports for some shoe analysis and foot talk. I will be determining if it was a shoe problem, or the criss crossing of laces during the 5k, or the hilly event itself, OR whether i just got me another dag gum stress fx. Phooey on that I say! I must stay optimistic. I did some good pool training today, doing some tempo to sprint interval work.

Distance: 1.25 miles

12/10 I'm officially water logged :) Making the best of the situation as I recover with my right foot. The top of the foot is still not allowing me to run. Swimming will have to suffice for now. The only problem in the pool is when I push off the wall between laps with my right foot, otherwise, enjoying the low impact. Doing more tempo and more distance as I try to keep my cardio up. Lots of board kicks using the hip flexors, keeping my core tight. Hoping to be running again next week? Will have to be smart! :) Quick bike spin in the afternoon, foot ok. not so hot when standing out of saddle.

Distance: 1.45 miles

12/11 300 yard warm-up, 1 mile swim constant, 10 board kicks finale! The mile swim continuous is a great workout and really taxes my cardio. I've been working a lot on swimming technique, specifically, breathing on both sides for balance, quick arm turn over, and pacing. Just call me Michael Phelps, or not.

Distance: 1.5 miles