One more 5 Miler

So while talking about having 2 more 5 mile runs to do until April 30th, I got more and more frustrated with having to run last night.  The more I thought about running on the TM, the more I didn't want to do it.  I thuoght about running on the track. I would do that. But then I didn't know if the Boot Camp Nazis were going to be there.  (I hate our local BC...they put their shit all over the track and act like they own the place. It really makes a run non-enjoyable).  Not to mention 20 laps in a circle.

So I put on my shoes and went through the hood.  I was a little apprehensive going so late in the day. The sun was setting and a bit blinding.  I didn't want to be out when the sun got behind the trees. I didn't know who was going to be out, etc.  I went anyway.  Nothing exiting about the run, but I got my 2nd to last 5 miler done!!!!


Compression shorts
I don't recommend the CW-X Performance Shorts for piriformis/bursitis issues.  The material is just too thin, compared to their Stabilyx line.  Honest to God, Spanx is more supportive/commpressive.  I still recommend the Stabilyx Capris.  This may be why they are so much more priced than the Performance Line. 

Bursitis and Piriformis
Someone (Kendra?) asked about how I overcame my hip injury (I have bursitis/piriformis).  In truth, I haven't.  But things I did to minimize the pain:

• Went to the Doctor and got the hip X-rayed.
• Took lots of Aleve
• Switched to Advil against Doctor's advice because new job and stomach/intestinal issues don't mix
• Went to Physical Therapy for as long as insurance allowed
• Did all the exercises the PT told me to do at least 4 of the 7 days each week she told me to do them
• Went back to the Doctor to tell him to give me a shot
• Got the shot
• Got new X-rays that showed my hips were uneven, so got a lift (insert) for one shoe.
• Still did PT exercises
• Started running when PT said I could for as long as she said I could
• Still did PT exercises
• Looked online for Compression Pants specific to hips and lower back (Zoot and CW-X). Chose CW-X because the chart (I was 10 pounds outside the size chart...they still fit).
• Try my best to listen to my body while running and slow down or stop accordingly
• Don't listen to my friends who tell me I will hurt myself running, when it hurts more to sit on the couch doing nothing
• Continue (albeit slowly) to lose weight
• Do PT exercises when I finish running
• Accept that I will most likely need a hip replacement at age 60. 

I should have also been lifting weights this whole time, but that didn't happen.

12 Miles and Still Standing

This week was very trying training-wise.  I was travelling, which included standing 7-9 hours a day in steel toes on a concrete floor.  It started ok.  I ran 5 miles before getting on a plane.  It was a painful 5 miles. I didn't want to do it.  I have grown tired of running 5 miles.  I don't like the distance.

Anyway, I finished it, packed and left for the trip.  The next day I got up and went running on the Hampton Inn Treadmill that I don't ever think has been serviced.  It was hot in the room and again I wanted to quit.  But I toughed it out.  Then went to work.  By 5 my legs were like jelly and I was leaning on any cart or table I could find.  Even going to dinner made my legs hurt.

Thursday, I got up and my hip was in dire hip pain.  I hit the Advil and skipped the gym.  After work, the boss and I drove 2 hours back to the airport and I caught a flight back.

Friday, I stretched every hour and was still heavy on the Advil.  I was worried about 12 miles.  My friend was giving me a hard time, which I told her I would listen to my body and go from there.

Saturday at 3AM, McMenamin and Scuttlebutt decided to play. D and I aren't happy about this new development they have decided to make a hobby.  We finally got up and moving around 7. Of course, both pups were sleeping.  D walked them while I ate breakfast, got dressed and shuffled around the house.  Neither of us were into 12 miles.  Still we packed Gatorade and decided to take one car to the Silver Comet Trail.  We got there around 845. Parked and walked to the trail.  D took the keys and we were off.

I didn't see D after about 2 minutes.  I ran my 9:1 thing. I decided I would do that until my times started going up. I noticed lately I've been paying attention to keeping time whereas last year, I was focused on finishing.  Yesterday, I focused on the first 2 digits to be 14 at each mile.  I would switch when the miles started getting longer.  The first 2 miles were hard. I couldn't find a tempo to run at.  But both miles were in the 14s.  Mile 3 was also 14 something.  I got to Mile 4 and the bike depot.  Mile was 13... Whoa. I knew I would see D soon.  He was returning when I was at mile 4.7.  Damn, he was fast.  I was very confused at Mile 5.  12 something.  I got back into Mile 6 at 14.  Better.  I was worried about getting tired at Mile 10.

This course is fairly flat, so I wasn't really straining myself.  Still my watch must be broken was all I was thinking.  I got to Mile 7.  13.  Mile 8. 13.  I was really getting confused.  A.) I wasn't tired.  B.) My pace was definitely going to be faster.  As I ran through Mile 9, I started wondering when I was going to hit the Mile 10 wall.  I got to Mile 10.3, and was still feeling ok.  I decided that I wasn't going to hit that wall.  And I was wondering if I should not drink something while I do my half-marathon.  Last year, my stomach knotted up.  On my long runs, I'm not drinking anything during.  I wonder if that keeps my stomach ok.  This all got me to Mile 11.  The rest of the run seemed really long. Mostly because there are mile markers at .9, .6 and .3.  When I finished, I still had a ways to walk.  And I did.

D met me at mile .1 marker with Gatorade.  I still felt really strong.  He had been waiting for less than an hour.  He said his run was uneventful.

Afterwards we went and got pizza and beer.  :)

12 Mile Comparison: 2010 and 2011
                2010                          2011
Mile 1:    13:48                           14:14
Mile 2:    14:19                           14:19
Mile 3:    14:31                           14:02
Mile 4:    14:36                           13:35
Mile 5:    14:21                           12:54
Mile 6:    15:28                           14:22
Mile 7:    16:05                           13:52
Mile 8:    15:17                           13:59
Mile 9:    16:09                           13:37
Mile 10:  16:17                           13:20
Mile 11:  18:04                           13:52
Mile 12:  18:03                           14:05
Total:      3:07:03 (15:35/mi)      2:46:14 (13:51/mi)

Managed 5 miles

So I still have the cold from hell.  Yesterday, I told the cold it was going to have to go away, for at least 2 hours while I went to run.  It seemed like it  might cooperate.

I started my journey to the gym (from work) with a major road shut down, or so the signs said.  I called D to tell him that I wasn't sure I would make it to the gym, but got side-tracked when we realized we had nothing pulled for dinner.  Hung up and tried to figure that out. Since we were having fish, and we buy frozen fish, the fish at the store would be just as frozen as the ones in our freezer.  So that wouldn't work.  I guess we could microwave defrost it.  That would have to do.

Then talking to my friend J about what keg he should buy.  Being that I can barely taste a jalapeno right now, what beer he should get wasn't top on my list.  I tried to be attentive and helpful.  The one he wanted, I don't like (Duck Rabbit Milk Stout...I think I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't like it). But I told him he should get that anyway. When I stop by on Saturday, if I don't like it, I'll run to the store and get something I do like.

I finally got to the gym.  As I warmed up, I noticed my HR was high for a walk (121).  Usually it is 110.  I still wasn't sure if I was going to run 5 or 3 miles.  I did decide I would forgo my 9 minute run/1 walk, and change to a 4/1 deal.  This did prove helpful.  And for the first 35 minutes I did run faster than usual.  Although at that 4 minute mark, I was done each time.  I still felt decent at 40 minutes so I kept going for the 5 miles.  I got up to 55 minutes and my HR was at 196.  So I walked for 2 minutes to get it to 160.  Weird thing is I didn't feel it.  I slowed down the rest of the running, and finished up my 5 miles at 66 minutes. 

D was there.  I finished my walk, and then went hi and do my stretches.  We agreed to go to Willy's for dinner.  I did my stretches and realized I wasn't really hungry.  Like popcorn would suffice. I waited for him to finish and he agreed.

In other news McMenamin is Houdini.  Even though we have puppy-proofed up to 4 feet high, we have grown a little tired of coming home to this every day:

The McMenamin Party

So I put him in the crate yesterday morning.  When I talked to D at the gym, he asked if I had crated McM.  Yes.  Why?  Because he got out of the crate.  When we got home, I looked at the crate.  It was against the wall, where I left it.  The bed was straight and his toy was there.  The bottom latch was still latched.  We have no clue how he got the top latch undone and how he got out of the little area.  We will be puppy-proofing to 9 feet high. 

But how can you be mad at this?

McMenamin- One ear is always up, one is always down

The 10 Miles that was almost 9.6

So 10 miles was on tap for Saturday.  Friday night, I wanted to curl up and go to sleep. This cold was hitting me hard. Instead, we went to the Park Tavern and saw Kevin Griffin and Ed Roland (of Better than Ezra and Collective Soul, respectively) perform.  It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed it.

Saturday I woke up from a nightmare of a boa constrictor around my chest. Upon waking up, my chest felt tight and hard to breathe. 10 miles was not happening.  Putting my head back on the pillow was.  I didn't do a lot on Satuday but rest.  Between 4 and 8 I felt good.  But by 9 I felt crappy again.  Yay! D felt the same way.

Sunday came and we got up and got bagels and went to the grocery store.  We both knew we needed to get the 10 miles out of the way.  He suggested some route, but between the running on sidewalk, and running far from the house, I didn't really listen to his route, and decided to run by home.  If I couldn't run the whole 10, I would just sit on the steps and wait for him (he had the key).  I was still concerned with the mental block I get at mile 10ish.

We warmed up by walking up Nemesis Hill. I thought he was going to go back down (like I always do) but he started heading to German Shepherd Pass.  Considering how heavy I was breathing going up Nemesis, I just followed.  At the light post, I started running.  He passed me and I didn't see him for awhile.  Most of the first 4 miles were uneventful.  Since we started late in the morning, almost everyone was at church. No one was out walking and most cars were heading to one of 3 churches by our house. 

On the 3rd lap (each lap was 2+ miles) I stopped to retie my shoe.  I saw D with water. Apparently he stopped by the house to get some. He said he had long stopped sweating and was tired.  I was still feeling pretty good with the exception of having to cough up my chest to get my  throat moist.  At mile 7ish, I still felt good.  I thought about running another 6 (instead of 3) so I could cross off my 3 mile run.  I decided to just go with how I felt. I noticed that mile increased by 1 minute. At mile 8 a little boy fell off his bike. I stopped to make sure he was ok (he was).  Starting back up seemed impossible.  I did it but another 30 seconds to that mile.  At mile 9.6, I decided I was done.  I was going to call D and tell him to come pick me up.  My legs were barely moving.  I then thought about the time it would take him to get to the car, and come get me...In those 4 minutes I could be home, or at least done with the 10 miles. I decided to keep going.  Finally I was done, coming back down Nemesis Hill. At mile 10, I walked the rest of the way home.

Then I went back to bed.

It probably wasn't the smartest thing to run being sick. But I needed to know I can run 10 miles.  I have such a mental block with it, that I need to know I can push through it.  So this week is 5,3,5 and 7.  Right now, I don't think I could run 1 much less 3 or 5 or 7. We shall see.

March is done...One more month of training!

March Totals:
Weight Lost from March 1: 3.6 pounds
Weight Lost from Jan 1: 8.8 pounds
Miles run in March 2010: 77.93
Miles run in March 2011: 84.38
Total Runs missed in March 2011: 5 runs missed for 20.5 miles (2 runs missed this week because I am sick 3 mi and 5 mi), one run missed to drink beer for Guinness's birthday (5 mi), 1 run missed for Wagging Tails and Ails Benefit (3 mi), and 1 probably missed because I am lazy (4.5 mi)). 

Looking at my schedule it seems I like to skip my Thursday run. 
Right now I'm sick.  Hopefully, I will feel ok to run a crappy 10 miler tomorrow.  I'm not concerned about the time...I just remember last year that I had problems with the mind playing games on 10+ mile runs at mile 10.  So I just want to get it done.  We shall see if my throat allows me to.

Excitingly Boring Wednesday

Do you all have pollen counts?  I can never tell if it is just an Atlanta thing. It seems to be something made up like the Heat Index. I don't recall either of them when living in Maryland, but it seems Georgia is all over them.  So, a count of 90 is considered bad.  Ours are usually somewhere around 2000-4000.  Today they are lower (400) because of the rain.  Pretty much all spring in GA is miserable because everything is covered in yellow/green (snot-colored) dust, your head hurts, your nose hurts, your sinuses hurt, and if you are a mouth-breather, your digestive system is really messed up.  Add to that, 2 dogs who walk outside at least 3 times a day, and the fact I WILL NOT change my sheets every day to compensate for the 2 dogs who track the pollen into bed, and well, I'm miserable. (You can walk 10 minutes, and your black dog is covered in snot-dust).  I never had allergies in Maryland. D didn't either.

So you will rarely ever hear me talk about the wonderful Spring. 

D is also not feeling well.  We are probably on the big Meth Database with the amount of Claritin we bought and the coupons I keep finding.  So how do we keep training?

Well last night, the answer would be, we didn't.  We went to bed around 830PM.  Ugh...missing another day?  No, I got up at 5AM and went to the gym.  5 LONG MILES...mostly because I didn't want to be there.  But I can breathe better in the AM than in the PM (Who knows why since my office building is sealed, and I don't go outside all day). D will run immediately after work, if he can breathe.

McMenamin and SB don't seem bothered by the pollen.  This week (after last week's Garmin debacle), an IRA statement (mail) was eaten, a cookbook destroyed, and my hand-held water bottle devoured. Also a Mountain Dew Soda Box, a Fiber One Bar Box, 1 dog toy are all gone.  My nail polish has no top.  Each day it is a wonder to see what they can get into next (mostly McMenamin, but SB has a thing for mail).

9 Miles

So I finished Week 10 of training.  22 miles. All on the day scheduled.

The 9 miler was on my list of things worrying me all week. First my foot hurt.  Then would my hip hold up. Then the place I wanted to run was having a 5K so I didn't want to deal with that.  Then...

Saturday came and it was cooler than usual.  57 degrees.  I decided to test out the new capris. I decided to run the neighborhood. I decided I was going to run.

I did the normal Chess/Beer Hill. Chess/Beer Man #1 was getting home (730AM), it looked like from work.  We waved to each other.  Up Nemesis Hill. It was slightly easier to get up.  And up German Shepherd Pass. At the end of GSP, a guy was out and he said, "You are out early." I said, "Yeah, 9 miles today."  He said, "Good God.  I hope the dog will be ok."  I smiled and ran.  The thing was, I wasn't running with a dog.  Oh well.  Mile 1 came and went.  In the middle of Mile 2, I got to a stop sign at the Drug Corner House.  A car stopped, and the guy said, "Your dog is looking really tired. How much further you got?"  Ok, now, I must just be going crazy. Maybe I do have a dog with me.  But no, I don't.  I skipped the Park at the school, because it is when going down hill that my foot really hurts. Plus all the rolling hills will be adequate for the day.  All my miles are getting faster, although I averaged 14:35min miles.  On the 2nd loop, the 2 guys who recycle in a baby carriage asked me if I needed a drink.  I politely declined.  I did almost step on a used condom.  Again, eew, but yay for the usage. 

Mile 5 (3rd loop) I couldn't go down GSP.  A strange car was out sitting at the end of the street. It just didn't feel right so I turned around.  Up Terrorist Dog Hill and Free Clinic.  Recycling Baby Carriage Guys were returning from their trip.  We waved.  Up BellSouth Hill, still looking at the future death trap (unlicensed club with window boarded up on top floor), and I hear foot steps. I keep thinking it is the guy from GSP.  I see a guy at the top of the hill, so if guy behind me does something, he will see it.  Guy behind me is getting closer and closer.  I keep my pace and act cool.  D passes me and waves.  I really need to check my vivid imagination.  He said later that if he didn't know I was out running, he wouldn't have known it was me.  He said my figure has totally changed.  Anyway Mile 5 was in the 12 minute range...

One more lap around the hood, and then back to the subdivision.  I could tell I was changing my stride on Nemesis Hill to compensate for my foot.  I also know the HM is relatively flat.  I stopped by the house to grab some water because I knew I would be done 9 miles before getting back to the house.

Back up Chess/Beer Hill. The other CBH guy was out on the stoop, drinking beer (or apple juice).  He waved.  I got to the end of the street.  A car came.  There was a woman on the corner (on her lawn) with no pants (but this is not the Lady With No Pants that hangs at the gas station). This lady didn't show us her stuff. Instead, she yelled to the car driver, "Hey! You gotta a cigarette?  I don't feel like putting on pants to go to the store." And with that last guffaw from my lungs, I was done my 9 miles!