With an 18 mile long run and mileage totaling near the same during the week you'd think I'd have some resemblance of abdominal muscles coming to the surface. Nope. Not even one! Now, I realize to get abs again at 36 after birthing three kids was not the point of running this race( the kiddos living in the orphanage are), but I was hopeful it would be an added bonus!!!! I have a suspicion I do have abs, but they will remain hidden under the thick layer of Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk I keep telling myself I deserve and( heres where the the problem is) can afford( calorically) to eat!!!!
Anyways....... Yep, I made it to 18 miles!!!!! The run was a lot worse in my head this week then the actual run. I didn't collapse into a small writhing ball like last week:-)
I made some changes today that I do believe helped.
I changed my course. I needed a new view to distract me and as a result I felt more like I was exploring the town rather then simply trying to get to the turn around point and be done.
I walked. Not the whole way of course! I have always felt like I was cheating by walking during my run. This week I read in a training blog about the importance of walking to give your body a chance to rest in order to get you through the long runs. Marathoners( it said) will often walk at some point and still finish in record times. So, today when I felt like it, I walked. Sometimes for a minute, sometimes two, some technical difficulities at one point, caused me to have to walk for five. After each time I felt completely refreshed! I was actually kinda amazed at the difference it made. As a result my energy stayed up and I finished the run happy. Something I haven't been doing after my long runs. Of course, I'm happy that the run is over, but I'm referring to that " That was a good run!" feeling I used to get. Trying to maintain my love( like) of running through this experience is important to me.
And despite my telling a " certain friend" that I wouldn't experiment with my tried and true methods, I did. Now, I'm not saying it added anything, but I do have to admit it didn't take away anything. I didn't have any Gatorade today. Just water.
Lastly, based upon this new theory of barefoot running being better for your feet, legs....etc. I paid attention to how my feet felt in my sneakers. Last week I experienced a lot of foot pain and cramping.
Since the whole idea of barefoot running is that your foot is free to open, extend, reach and grab, so I made sure when I stepped I flattened my foot inside my sneaker.( of course this could start discussions on the proper way to land on your foot, but I think the proper way is whatever position leaves you without injury) I stretched my toes out and even wiggled them around at times! I've always had a narrow foot so all shoes tend to be on the wide side for me. Leaving me with plently of room to stretch my foot! It felt good. Hmmmmm, I guess its my own variation on barefoot running. I'm certainly not crazy enough to forgo my beloved cushion in the heel of sneaker:-)
Isaiah 40 :31 " But they that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles: they shall run and not be weary: they shall walk and not faint".
Thank you all for loving, praying, and giving.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
17 miles.....
You wouldn't think that running 17 miles would be that much harder then running 15, but it is!!!!!!
I even set out thinking I'd shoot for 18! Thats what feeling cocky gets you.
Blessed with another amazingly beautiful morning and my 12 yr old running buddy by my side, I set out.
Last night I had salmon and a heaping side of brown rice. Healthy, yes, but I began to have my doubts as to weather it would feed my muscles with glycogen( I've been doing some reading) they same way white pasta does.
I think the doubt was enough to start a creeping feeling that I was running low on energy. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast and burped peanut tbutter for the next two hours.
According to the book I'm currently reading, Marathon, the Ultimate training guide, my body takes 3-4 hours to digest my breakfast. Experienced marathoners will get up extra early to make sure they have time to digest before the race. Hmmmm. Probably explains my burping, but hardly how eating a high carbo loaded bar at mile 8 helps me through the rest of the miles..... I'm clearly missing something.
I drink a lot during my run. A combination of water mixed with Gatorade. I find Gatorade straight to be too sweet. The book also talks a lot about gels and such. Stating that in liquid form my body will be able to "get to" the energy more quickly then if it had to digest it. Of course staying hydrated keeps the energy up too. I'm still working on the balance of drinking enough to stay hydrated with too much that I have to pee constantly. It is a fine line and when you add the weather it just isn't an exact science. The training runs are as much about building strength and endurance as they are experiments to see what works best to make my body perform its best. Information helps, but truly experience is best. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for you.
It is truly interesting if I can remain unconfused.
For my readers( yeah, cuz I have so many) that are fans of high-protein diets, well the book addresses that too, and since the author has been running marathons for years as well as training people to run marathons, well, I'm gonna stick with his theory that carbs are good. And high-carb meals the night before a long run are very gooooooood:-)! Maybe when I get a couple of marathons under my belt I'll experiment, but not for this one!
Anyhow, 17 miles.....
Its long and its hard. I'm not sure what I expect from this point on. Pain, I guess. Yep, got that.
I could finish it and I did. Stopping before I'm home doesn't feel like an option. Its not that I can't breathe anymore or that my legs turn to jello. Its that every other part of my body just hurts. My knee throbs and threatens with every step to not bend anymore. My feet, straight out to my toes, scream at me to stop. The arches cramp. My right upper back feels like it has a hole burning through it. My left shin starts to speak up subtly. Even my right elbow twinges and sends little nerve twinges out to my fingers!
I feel these things with each step. The pain almost becomes rhythmic. I expect it and brace for it. The focus comes off of running and more about the pain. Oh, the joy!
And then, I'm done. I'm home. I wish I could say the pain stopped as soon as I finished, it doesn't, but it does taper off a little as I cool down. Ultimately, I'm left tired and a little sore. Oh, and I feel like I'm gonna puke!
Now, if that doesn't make you want to run out and sign up for a marathon....... :-)
PS: I got some flack about my comments regarding the condition of my legs last week and I'd like to point out that I said "I've accepted" the shape of my legs. I have no ill feeling towards them.
Years ago I read a quote from Jackie Joyner- Kersee. It was something to the effect that she knows she will never have waifer like model legs , but she would always be proud of how strong they were.
I am thankful for my legs. I am thankful that they helped me run 17 miles today.
Isaiah 40:31
They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles: they shall run and not be weary: they shall walk and not faint.
This is my verse today, tomorrow and race day!
Thanks for loving, giving, and praying!
I even set out thinking I'd shoot for 18! Thats what feeling cocky gets you.
Blessed with another amazingly beautiful morning and my 12 yr old running buddy by my side, I set out.
Last night I had salmon and a heaping side of brown rice. Healthy, yes, but I began to have my doubts as to weather it would feed my muscles with glycogen( I've been doing some reading) they same way white pasta does.
I think the doubt was enough to start a creeping feeling that I was running low on energy. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast and burped peanut tbutter for the next two hours.
According to the book I'm currently reading, Marathon, the Ultimate training guide, my body takes 3-4 hours to digest my breakfast. Experienced marathoners will get up extra early to make sure they have time to digest before the race. Hmmmm. Probably explains my burping, but hardly how eating a high carbo loaded bar at mile 8 helps me through the rest of the miles..... I'm clearly missing something.
I drink a lot during my run. A combination of water mixed with Gatorade. I find Gatorade straight to be too sweet. The book also talks a lot about gels and such. Stating that in liquid form my body will be able to "get to" the energy more quickly then if it had to digest it. Of course staying hydrated keeps the energy up too. I'm still working on the balance of drinking enough to stay hydrated with too much that I have to pee constantly. It is a fine line and when you add the weather it just isn't an exact science. The training runs are as much about building strength and endurance as they are experiments to see what works best to make my body perform its best. Information helps, but truly experience is best. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for you.
It is truly interesting if I can remain unconfused.
For my readers( yeah, cuz I have so many) that are fans of high-protein diets, well the book addresses that too, and since the author has been running marathons for years as well as training people to run marathons, well, I'm gonna stick with his theory that carbs are good. And high-carb meals the night before a long run are very gooooooood:-)! Maybe when I get a couple of marathons under my belt I'll experiment, but not for this one!
Anyhow, 17 miles.....
Its long and its hard. I'm not sure what I expect from this point on. Pain, I guess. Yep, got that.
I could finish it and I did. Stopping before I'm home doesn't feel like an option. Its not that I can't breathe anymore or that my legs turn to jello. Its that every other part of my body just hurts. My knee throbs and threatens with every step to not bend anymore. My feet, straight out to my toes, scream at me to stop. The arches cramp. My right upper back feels like it has a hole burning through it. My left shin starts to speak up subtly. Even my right elbow twinges and sends little nerve twinges out to my fingers!
I feel these things with each step. The pain almost becomes rhythmic. I expect it and brace for it. The focus comes off of running and more about the pain. Oh, the joy!
And then, I'm done. I'm home. I wish I could say the pain stopped as soon as I finished, it doesn't, but it does taper off a little as I cool down. Ultimately, I'm left tired and a little sore. Oh, and I feel like I'm gonna puke!
Now, if that doesn't make you want to run out and sign up for a marathon....... :-)
PS: I got some flack about my comments regarding the condition of my legs last week and I'd like to point out that I said "I've accepted" the shape of my legs. I have no ill feeling towards them.
Years ago I read a quote from Jackie Joyner- Kersee. It was something to the effect that she knows she will never have waifer like model legs , but she would always be proud of how strong they were.
I am thankful for my legs. I am thankful that they helped me run 17 miles today.
Isaiah 40:31
They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles: they shall run and not be weary: they shall walk and not faint.
This is my verse today, tomorrow and race day!
Thanks for loving, giving, and praying!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Calm before the storm
Yesterday I only had to run 12. Yes, 12 is still loooooong, but after 15, it felt like a break. Looking ahead in my training, this last week was the calm before the storm. I had been averaging between 28 and 30 miles a week. This week is where I begin the climb increasing that average mileage to near 40. In 4 weeks I'll attempt 20. Just thinking of this causes doubt. But, as I keep reminding myself , God brought me to this, God'll see me through this.
My legs are TIRED!!!!!!! And they are about to become exhausted!!!!!!The idea of the training is to increase mileage gradually. Get to 20 miles( twice) and then the mileage will taper down again for a few weeks prior to the race. This next month will be the hardest and I feel will truly test what I'm made of. More importantly, what my legs are made of. From the looks of them right now, I'd say cottage cheese. I'm shooting for a cheese stick! ( hmm... all this cheese talk, maybe I'm need of some protein). I have high hopes that will change at some point. I can't deny that a part of all this is also to see what positive changes all this running has on my body. I wouldn't mind if in fact my 19 yr old body, complete with abs, were to surface along the way!!!! No, you won't hear me complaining about that!
And so, yesterdays run was rather dull. Beautiful weather again to be thankful for and of course every run I return from uninjured was a good run!
A couple of personal running tips I've learned over time and would like to share:
1) Advil. Love it! I take two before I head out each time and I think it just gives me that certain" something something" to get past any small aches that creep up from knee overuse.
2) Glide. Love love love it!!!! It looks like a deodorant stick. You rub it on any part of your body that rubs another part of your body. Its magic. I've accepted that my thighs will always touch. They are just built that way. But after an hour of "touching" my thighs are just not friends anymore. Those of you who are blessed with " friendly thighs" can relate. No? I am happy to report this product keeps them happy!!!! I rub it on my toes, my arms, my knees..... you get the point!
3) Long shorts. Running shorts are short. Soccer shorts are long. If you look down while running and see tree trunks, your brain thinks it is running on tree trunks. Trees trunks become very heavy to lift after a few miles. A good trick is to hide the trunk part and just let your limbs peek out. Tree limbs are light and wonderfully quick to run on!
4) Any street that has the name hill in it should be avoided at all costs. It is named that for a reason!
On a more serious note..... Check out that Chip In meter!!!!! I am amazed!!!! You are awesome!!!!!!!
Thank you all for loving, giving, and praying!!!!
My legs are TIRED!!!!!!! And they are about to become exhausted!!!!!!The idea of the training is to increase mileage gradually. Get to 20 miles( twice) and then the mileage will taper down again for a few weeks prior to the race. This next month will be the hardest and I feel will truly test what I'm made of. More importantly, what my legs are made of. From the looks of them right now, I'd say cottage cheese. I'm shooting for a cheese stick! ( hmm... all this cheese talk, maybe I'm need of some protein). I have high hopes that will change at some point. I can't deny that a part of all this is also to see what positive changes all this running has on my body. I wouldn't mind if in fact my 19 yr old body, complete with abs, were to surface along the way!!!! No, you won't hear me complaining about that!
And so, yesterdays run was rather dull. Beautiful weather again to be thankful for and of course every run I return from uninjured was a good run!
A couple of personal running tips I've learned over time and would like to share:
1) Advil. Love it! I take two before I head out each time and I think it just gives me that certain" something something" to get past any small aches that creep up from knee overuse.
2) Glide. Love love love it!!!! It looks like a deodorant stick. You rub it on any part of your body that rubs another part of your body. Its magic. I've accepted that my thighs will always touch. They are just built that way. But after an hour of "touching" my thighs are just not friends anymore. Those of you who are blessed with " friendly thighs" can relate. No? I am happy to report this product keeps them happy!!!! I rub it on my toes, my arms, my knees..... you get the point!
3) Long shorts. Running shorts are short. Soccer shorts are long. If you look down while running and see tree trunks, your brain thinks it is running on tree trunks. Trees trunks become very heavy to lift after a few miles. A good trick is to hide the trunk part and just let your limbs peek out. Tree limbs are light and wonderfully quick to run on!
4) Any street that has the name hill in it should be avoided at all costs. It is named that for a reason!
On a more serious note..... Check out that Chip In meter!!!!! I am amazed!!!! You are awesome!!!!!!!
Thank you all for loving, giving, and praying!!!!
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