It's fun reaching a new personal best. Every long run I do now, I hit a new longest run-fun! I was a bit worried that I may not be able to finish 14 miles, with the hip trouble, and replacing the weekday runs with bike riding. This weekend's schedule was 14 miles. I had planned to meet a new friend at the trails on Paris Mountain, but she bruised her ribs and just didn't feel up to it yet. Phil was out of town at a bike race Saturday morning, and I didn't want to go to the trails alone with him away. So I went grocery shopping instead, and worked on cleaning out/ organizing the garage.
That meant today I needed to get in my long run, absolutely today....so I told Phil that I would need to go this afternoon. I put a few new songs on my ipod, mixed up a big jug of gatorade, grabbed some sport beans and got going. I went to the gym to run treadmill, since it is a bit more forgiving than the road. I started out slowly, gently. My hip felt pretty good...I got to four miles and so far, so good. Five, six, seven- OK, I've made it halfway. Around 9 miles, my hip and left knee started to bug me. 10- ok, only 4 more miles. Hip sore, but OK. 11miles, pretty sore, but not limping. 12 miles- noticeably limping. I straighten up my back and hip is a little better. Miles 13 and fourteen were a constant switch between walk/run. It felt so great- I couldn't believe I made it to 14 miles! I got off the TM, noticeably stiff and limping, but I went and stretched for a good long while. I stopped at the grocery store- the cashier told me my hair looked good! I couldn't believe that.... got home, and climbed into an "ice bath". (I just turn the knob all the way to cold. I'm too chicken to put in ice!!)
I am feeling pretty psyched that I can manage 14 miles...I just have to keep this up!!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
I waited a week to hit the trail again. During the week, I have gone to the gym and rode the bike or walked on the treadmill since my hip was hurting. It hurt worse after walking the treadmill, so I am going to do long runs on the weekend, and ride the bike during the week for the time being. Luckily I have been working a lot with an orthopedic doc who runs, so I am going to ask him about this injury and what I should do about it.
Yesterday my wonderful husband went trail running with me. He didn't really want to, and he especially didn't want to run for 2 hours. But that is what we did. The trail running is not 2 solid hours of running though- it's running when you can and walking when you can't run. The course we took was different than the run course, but was probably about the same distance. We had a great time, and both agreed that it was much more fun than having a "date night" and going out to dinner.
Luc was very jealous that we got to go out on the trails, so today I took him there. He wanted to do the hard trails, so we ended up doing the sulphur springs loop which was the hardest part of last Saturday's race. He had a hard time, but he kept on going. I was quite proud of him!
Luc has been watching a lot of "Survivorman" and "Man vs. Wild" lately, so he packed a good bag, if a bit overkill. Of course, I ended up carrying his backpack and my fanny pack for most of the hike, which I knew I would end up doing. I was just glad to have him out "doing" instead of just "watching". And I was especially glad that he had packed a roll of TP. I tried out the new accelerade endurance formula, and it didn't sit with me very well... so I did get to teach Luc how to go to the bathroom in the woods without messing yourself!
Training is taking it's toll on me. I have been limping around from the hip problem. I am having a tough time getting out of bed to get to the gym at five in the morning before work, and I am really tired by 8 PM. Luckily my family is very understanding. And very loving! Several years ago, the word simplify was a very important word to me. Now, I feel like "endure" is the word for this season in my life.
Yesterday my wonderful husband went trail running with me. He didn't really want to, and he especially didn't want to run for 2 hours. But that is what we did. The trail running is not 2 solid hours of running though- it's running when you can and walking when you can't run. The course we took was different than the run course, but was probably about the same distance. We had a great time, and both agreed that it was much more fun than having a "date night" and going out to dinner.
Luc was very jealous that we got to go out on the trails, so today I took him there. He wanted to do the hard trails, so we ended up doing the sulphur springs loop which was the hardest part of last Saturday's race. He had a hard time, but he kept on going. I was quite proud of him!
Luc has been watching a lot of "Survivorman" and "Man vs. Wild" lately, so he packed a good bag, if a bit overkill. Of course, I ended up carrying his backpack and my fanny pack for most of the hike, which I knew I would end up doing. I was just glad to have him out "doing" instead of just "watching". And I was especially glad that he had packed a roll of TP. I tried out the new accelerade endurance formula, and it didn't sit with me very well... so I did get to teach Luc how to go to the bathroom in the woods without messing yourself!
Training is taking it's toll on me. I have been limping around from the hip problem. I am having a tough time getting out of bed to get to the gym at five in the morning before work, and I am really tired by 8 PM. Luckily my family is very understanding. And very loving! Several years ago, the word simplify was a very important word to me. Now, I feel like "endure" is the word for this season in my life.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
7 miles in Hell
Yesterday I participated in the Paris Mountain 11K Trail Run. I had never run a trail before, but it sounded like fun. My husband signed up, my BFF, and several people from the gym I go to. I have thought trail running sounded like a nice change from pounding pavement, so I wanted to give it a try.
The race started out running the first half mile on pavement, to sort of "thin out" the pack. I started close to the back, because I know I am slow. It was hard right away, what with my coming out of an injury, and it being held on a mountain and all. The start of the trail was not bad, pretty soft from a bit of mulch and not too many stumps or rocks. I was only getting aggravated by the threesome behind me who were holding a full blast loud conversation. I stopped to let them pass, eating a couple of sport beans. I then settled into a rhythm, sort of. On the road, you just sort of settle in. On the trail, you may shorten or lengthen your steps depending on the terrain, or need to hop over things. But I stuck with a couple of other women who were doing the same as I was, making slow but steady progress.
We ran up and down hills, around trees, over rocks and little streams. We came to a spot where we crossed the road and on of the other girls asked the course marshal how far we had gone- only a mile! Trail running is much more brutal than running on the road! Anyway, we continued to trudge on.
I was feeling pretty worn out as we continued to climb....then what do I see before me but a stone stairway! We walked up this forever long stone stairway that was a straight drop down on one side- it made me very nervous! Once we got off that stairway, it flattened out a tiny bit before continuing to climb forever upward. We stopped at one point to sit on a rock for a minute and catch out breath. That helped out a lot, and at this point we were about 2 miles into the race. We started chugging along pretty well, but then I had to stop and vomit. I really did feel much better at that point but I was feeling so dehydrated. I caught back up with the girls and jogged along with them for a while, and we caught up with Melissa. I walked with Melissa until we got to the water station. We were both probably dehydrated and not feeling great. The water was a lifesaver, and we were back into the woods. By this time, we were running back down the mountain. This was somewhat easier on the muscles, but harder on the joints. It was also tough because there were so many tree roots that just wanted to reach out and grab you! But it was definitely more fun. We alternated running and walking, and it felt so great when we knew we were getting to the finish. We could hear microphones and clapping- they were already holding their awards ceremony! I finished just in time to hear them announce Phil had won third place for his age group! (My husband is a stud!)
Melissa and I finished in 2:09. That was about what I was expecting, and we were told by several people that that was great for our first trail run, and that the Paris Mountain Trail Run is one of the hardest around. This was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done. I can't wait to get back out on a trail!!
The race started out running the first half mile on pavement, to sort of "thin out" the pack. I started close to the back, because I know I am slow. It was hard right away, what with my coming out of an injury, and it being held on a mountain and all. The start of the trail was not bad, pretty soft from a bit of mulch and not too many stumps or rocks. I was only getting aggravated by the threesome behind me who were holding a full blast loud conversation. I stopped to let them pass, eating a couple of sport beans. I then settled into a rhythm, sort of. On the road, you just sort of settle in. On the trail, you may shorten or lengthen your steps depending on the terrain, or need to hop over things. But I stuck with a couple of other women who were doing the same as I was, making slow but steady progress.
We ran up and down hills, around trees, over rocks and little streams. We came to a spot where we crossed the road and on of the other girls asked the course marshal how far we had gone- only a mile! Trail running is much more brutal than running on the road! Anyway, we continued to trudge on.
I was feeling pretty worn out as we continued to climb....then what do I see before me but a stone stairway! We walked up this forever long stone stairway that was a straight drop down on one side- it made me very nervous! Once we got off that stairway, it flattened out a tiny bit before continuing to climb forever upward. We stopped at one point to sit on a rock for a minute and catch out breath. That helped out a lot, and at this point we were about 2 miles into the race. We started chugging along pretty well, but then I had to stop and vomit. I really did feel much better at that point but I was feeling so dehydrated. I caught back up with the girls and jogged along with them for a while, and we caught up with Melissa. I walked with Melissa until we got to the water station. We were both probably dehydrated and not feeling great. The water was a lifesaver, and we were back into the woods. By this time, we were running back down the mountain. This was somewhat easier on the muscles, but harder on the joints. It was also tough because there were so many tree roots that just wanted to reach out and grab you! But it was definitely more fun. We alternated running and walking, and it felt so great when we knew we were getting to the finish. We could hear microphones and clapping- they were already holding their awards ceremony! I finished just in time to hear them announce Phil had won third place for his age group! (My husband is a stud!)
Melissa and I finished in 2:09. That was about what I was expecting, and we were told by several people that that was great for our first trail run, and that the Paris Mountain Trail Run is one of the hardest around. This was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done. I can't wait to get back out on a trail!!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Ouch!
Oh yes...I do have a running blog.
Where did I go? Well, after the lovely run I last posted about, I started having a lot of pain in my left hip. I have been resting it, and riding the bike. I thought it was better, so last night after the bike ride I did a test half mile on the treadmill, at a slow speed. It felt OK, the hip didn't hurt.
Today, when I got out of bed....it's hurting again. Not real bad. I am going to ride the bike the rest of the week, then on Saturday I have an 11K trail race. I think I should be OK because I am just going to take my time, and walk as much as I need to. I am hoping this hip thing goes away because I am getting frustrated with it!!
Where did I go? Well, after the lovely run I last posted about, I started having a lot of pain in my left hip. I have been resting it, and riding the bike. I thought it was better, so last night after the bike ride I did a test half mile on the treadmill, at a slow speed. It felt OK, the hip didn't hurt.
Today, when I got out of bed....it's hurting again. Not real bad. I am going to ride the bike the rest of the week, then on Saturday I have an 11K trail race. I think I should be OK because I am just going to take my time, and walk as much as I need to. I am hoping this hip thing goes away because I am getting frustrated with it!!
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