I have hit a set-back in my training schedule. Shin-splints. Grr...
I felt like I was starting to get them last Friday after my easy run, so I took Saturday off. Ran Sunday with my new shoes, thinking they would help, but apparently the pounding caused by running was enough to cause damage anyway. So far today, I've spent entirely too much time sitting with my feet propped up. I went for a short walk, but they even hurt a bit then. Soooo lame.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Summary of first two weeks
Two weeks down...thirteen more to go.
The highlight of my week came on Wednesday, for one of my 4 mile runs. Let me preface by saying that I don't run in hot weather; I melt. I grew up on the Oregon Coast where 70 degrees is hot. Any warmer than 70 + mugginess and I feel like I'm running in an oven. So when it started raining after my first quarter-mile on Wednesday, I was ecstatic. The rain continued the rest of my run. Rain, coupled with Journey's greatest hits, made Wednesday a total success and bumped my 12 min mile average down to 10 min miles!
Other highlights (and lowlights) thus far:
THE GOOD: I ran 15 miles so far this week. Which is essentially 15 more miles than I ran for the last 10 years :) HUGE accomplishment for me. Woot woot! And at no time during those 15 miles did I feel sick, cry, or fall over. I also discovered that what "they" say is true...running really does get rid of a headache. I also discovered that I am capable of running three days in a row.
THE BAD: I have to drag my unemployed butt to a running store for new shoes. I've been using the same shoes for the past two years. They are a pair of extremely rigid Asics that I bought on clearance at Sports Authority. Which was perfectly fine when the shoes were used exclusively on an elliptical machine. It became bad news when I started running in them. Running in improper shoes= runners knee= ouch!
THE UGLY: Between running and flip-flops, my feet. Nuff said.
The highlight of my week came on Wednesday, for one of my 4 mile runs. Let me preface by saying that I don't run in hot weather; I melt. I grew up on the Oregon Coast where 70 degrees is hot. Any warmer than 70 + mugginess and I feel like I'm running in an oven. So when it started raining after my first quarter-mile on Wednesday, I was ecstatic. The rain continued the rest of my run. Rain, coupled with Journey's greatest hits, made Wednesday a total success and bumped my 12 min mile average down to 10 min miles!
Other highlights (and lowlights) thus far:
THE GOOD: I ran 15 miles so far this week. Which is essentially 15 more miles than I ran for the last 10 years :) HUGE accomplishment for me. Woot woot! And at no time during those 15 miles did I feel sick, cry, or fall over. I also discovered that what "they" say is true...running really does get rid of a headache. I also discovered that I am capable of running three days in a row.
THE BAD: I have to drag my unemployed butt to a running store for new shoes. I've been using the same shoes for the past two years. They are a pair of extremely rigid Asics that I bought on clearance at Sports Authority. Which was perfectly fine when the shoes were used exclusively on an elliptical machine. It became bad news when I started running in them. Running in improper shoes= runners knee= ouch!
THE UGLY: Between running and flip-flops, my feet. Nuff said.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
First Posting
I'm really doing this. I am training to run a half-marathon. Eeeekkk!!
I literally haven't run more than 6 miles at a time since high school. Back then I could run a marathon if I wanted to, but then I (unintentionally) decided to take 11 years off from running. Not completely. I'd run from time to time, but never stuck with it. And that was how I became an eliptical girl. Definitely not a girl who could run a marathon. I could barely run a 5K. Don't get me wrong, I had my reasons. They went something like this, "I tried to run, but I got shin splints" or "My back hurts too bad," etc. I was full of excuses but not good ones.
Then, two years ago, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colits. Without going into detail, UC is this...for some unknown reason, my immune system inappropriately attacks the lining of my colon, causing ulcers. Which is a bad thing, and makes those of us who have UC feel very, very ill. No one really knows what causes UC. It does tend to be genetic, so I assume I got it because my grandma also has it. Once someone has UC, doctors do know that stress makes it worse (READ: law school BAD), as well as any variety of foods (but food affects everyone differently, so it's hit or miss). For me, wheat is bad. For other people, sugar is bad. For me, sugar is oh so yummy.
Getting back to my point....once I was diagnosed with UC, I realized I might NEVER be able to run again. And I became determined to run. This time, I went about it the right way. Instead of laying around for a month and then attempting to run an 8 minute mile (YES, I did this and NO, I couldn't walk right for a week), I progressed slowly. I got on the treadmill and ran a minute, walked two minutes, and repeat. I was bored. Sooooo bored. But it worked. Soon I COULD run my 8 minute mile. Or three 10 minute miles. And so on, and so forth...
That was in February of this year. I took about a month off around the time of the Bar Exam. But now I'm back and ready to kick this half-marathon's butt. Or at least finish ;)
I am currently in my second week of training. I run 5 days a week, take a 6th day for "Active Recovery" (hiking, biking, etc), and take one day completely off. My day off was yesterday, and it was extremely well deserved. Today I have to (excuse me, "get to") run 4 miles. But I will be rewarded with a (bunless) hamburger and the first Ducks football game of the season.
Wish me luck!!....The Ducks don't need any :)
I literally haven't run more than 6 miles at a time since high school. Back then I could run a marathon if I wanted to, but then I (unintentionally) decided to take 11 years off from running. Not completely. I'd run from time to time, but never stuck with it. And that was how I became an eliptical girl. Definitely not a girl who could run a marathon. I could barely run a 5K. Don't get me wrong, I had my reasons. They went something like this, "I tried to run, but I got shin splints" or "My back hurts too bad," etc. I was full of excuses but not good ones.
Then, two years ago, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colits. Without going into detail, UC is this...for some unknown reason, my immune system inappropriately attacks the lining of my colon, causing ulcers. Which is a bad thing, and makes those of us who have UC feel very, very ill. No one really knows what causes UC. It does tend to be genetic, so I assume I got it because my grandma also has it. Once someone has UC, doctors do know that stress makes it worse (READ: law school BAD), as well as any variety of foods (but food affects everyone differently, so it's hit or miss). For me, wheat is bad. For other people, sugar is bad. For me, sugar is oh so yummy.
Getting back to my point....once I was diagnosed with UC, I realized I might NEVER be able to run again. And I became determined to run. This time, I went about it the right way. Instead of laying around for a month and then attempting to run an 8 minute mile (YES, I did this and NO, I couldn't walk right for a week), I progressed slowly. I got on the treadmill and ran a minute, walked two minutes, and repeat. I was bored. Sooooo bored. But it worked. Soon I COULD run my 8 minute mile. Or three 10 minute miles. And so on, and so forth...
That was in February of this year. I took about a month off around the time of the Bar Exam. But now I'm back and ready to kick this half-marathon's butt. Or at least finish ;)
I am currently in my second week of training. I run 5 days a week, take a 6th day for "Active Recovery" (hiking, biking, etc), and take one day completely off. My day off was yesterday, and it was extremely well deserved. Today I have to (excuse me, "get to") run 4 miles. But I will be rewarded with a (bunless) hamburger and the first Ducks football game of the season.
Wish me luck!!....The Ducks don't need any :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
