A long time comin'

I can't believe I haven't written here in over a year. Here's a short synopsis of what I've been up to- if anyone still reads this.

1) I ran Midnight Madness on 12/31/08. Did okay.
2) I finally had foot surgery on 4/1/09 to take care of my neuroma and metatarsal problem. I was in a walking cast for 6 weeks.
3) I started working out- walking and running again on 6/2/09.
4) I started watching what I eat using fitday.com on 8/2/09. Since the original injury in 2006 I gained a considerable amount of weight.
4) I threw my back out in September and had to take a hiatus for about 3 weeks.
5) I added weights, cardio other than running, and more yoga into my routine in Ocotber.
6) I ran the Anthem Turkey Trot in November, Midnight Madness on 12/31/09, and Year of the Tiger 5k on 2/13/10. I ran my best time in a long time at this race: 36:23.
7) As of today I have lost 23 lbs.
8) My next race is a 5k on 3/21, then Pat's Run on 4/17.
9) I'd like to lose about 13 more lbs. and then I'll think about a half marathon.

Okay, that brings me up to date!

Turkey Trot!

Oh, boy. This has been quite a bad month, running wise. I have been sick sick sick. The morning of the Phoenix 10k, I couldn't even walk up the stairs without getting winded. So I stayed home. And then I relapsed!

So I finally ran today after 3 weeks off.

I did the Anthem Turkey Trot this morning, a 5k. I walked the first mile and ran the last 2. I felt pretty good, but I would say that I've still got some residual sickness going on.

Well, that is all. I'm going to try to get back to 3-4 times a week this week, and go back to yoga as well. I've basically done nothing for 21 days. Time to get back on the horse!

workouts

Monday 11/3: 2 mile run (bridle path), 1 hour yoga
Tuesday 11/4: election party, no workout
Wednesday 11/5: worked late, no workout
Thursday 11/6: 3 mile run, bridle path

Running this evening was absolutely refreshing. The temp was a perfect 70 degrees. I had a nice 3 mile run and then went and got a pedicure right after. That was fantastic!

Looking forward to the Phoenix 10k this weekend! I'll swing by Runner's Den tomorrow to pick up my packet.

yay!

I can't believe that I hit my goal of 5 workouts in 7 days last week. They weren't strenuous workouts by any means but I really have been struggling to do more than 4 per week for a couple of months now.

October mileage totals are very low, thanks to my little 12 day hiatus and a laziness hiccup earlier in the month. However, here's to a much more productive November!

Thursday 10/30: no workout
Friday 10/31: 3 mile treadmill

October total: 30.3 miles

Saturday 11/1: 3 mile treadmill

Weekly total: 14 miles

Sunday 11/2: 5 mile bridle path

Phoenix 10k is one week from today.

back

So I hit a minor detour in my training. I was slated to do the Bisbee Stair Climb on 10/17. The night before the Stair Climb, I became violently ill and could not keep anything down for 36 hours. I spent the weekend in my hotel room barfing my guts out. I guess I got food poisoning, but I don't know for sure.

The incident knocked me out for 12 days. The week after I got sick I was pretty weak so I didn't run. However, I'm back on track and have done 3 workouts in 4 days. So I can still do the Phoenix 10k but I'll just be very slow!

Sun 10/26: 3 mile jog (bridle path)
Monday 10/27: 2 mile jog (bridle path) and 1 hour yoga
Tuesday 10/28: no workout
Wednesday 10/29: 3 mile jog (treadmill)

progress

I've done something active every day this week! Eating is okay, but having a Starbucks in the library where I work is something I need to avoid. The pumpkin spice latte is back for the fall! And it is so delicious! Especially with a chocolate chip cookie. Gotta stop that. I only did it once, I swear!

monday 10/13: 1 hour yoga (learned new poses that really help my IT bands and hips)
tuesday 10/14: 3 mile run, treadmill

oy vey

So no workouts Wednesday-Saturday. Eating was a little bit better, but not much. I really need a kick in the pants. Today I did 5.3 miles. About 1 mile of it was running and the rest was walking because I ran into a friend of mine on the bridle path. She was out walking so I joined her and we had a nice chat while enjoying the fall weather.

Wed. 10/8: off
Thurs. 10/9:off
Fri. 10/10: off
Sat. 10/11: off

Mileage for the week: 8

Sun. 10/12: 5.3 miles, walk/run combo.

Progress

I ran Monday and Tuesday, and took yesterday and today off. I got a massage today and had the therapist focus on my lower extremities and I feel a lot better. The soreness including shin splints have subsided! I hope to be able to run tomorrow and Saturday as well.

Tuesday 10/7: 3 miles
Wednesday 10/8: off
Thursday 10/: off

Onward and Upward

Despite not wanting to run today I got on the treadmill and did it. I ran 3 miles in 39 minutes, and that is including a 4 minute walking warmup.

After the run I went to yoga.

Since my brisk walk yesterday I have some shin pain and pain on dorsiflexion- some overuse pain. So I have been icing and took some tylenol.

I hope the pain subsides a bit because I have one more run scheduled for tomorrow before my rest day on Wednesday. It's not injury pain, just some muscle soreness that goes away for the most part when I move around. It's the sitting around that exacerbates the issue!

Monday 10/6: 3 miles, 1 hour yoga

a wash

Last week was a wash. I can't believe how quickly I can go downhill. No workouts Tues-Sat. and a bad week of eating things that are not good for me. The only ting I can do is move forward, however, so I briskly walked 5 miles today.

I hope that my resolve will be stronger this week. I only have one evening away from home this week so hopefully it will be easy for me to get back on track.

Tues 9/30- no workout
Wed 10/1- no workout
Thurs 10/2- no workout
Fri 10/3- no workout
Sat 10/4- no workout

Mileage for the week was 8.7 miles.

Sun 10/5- 5 miles brisk walking outside, 1 hour 21 minutes.

les runs

I ran yesterday- 2.5 miles, and did a one hour yoga class. Tonight was an impromptu day off because I went out to dinner.


September total: 51.4 miles

At least I broke 50 miles! Compared to last month's 40.85 that is a good increase. Not too much but enough to continue fitness.

I am doing the Congo Run for Women 10k this Sunday and on 10/18 I'm headed down to Bisbee for the Bisbee 1000 stair climb. It's a 5k through town on some of the historic stairs. Looks like fun!

Mon 9/29: 2.5 miles, 1 hour yoga
Tues 9/30: no workout

more

I just did 10k on the treadmill. It wasn't difficult until the last half mile or so. I took walk breaks every 6 minutes and halfway through I stopped to go to the bathroom. My total time was 81 minutes. Afterwards I stretched out well and took a shower.

Even though i've been lamenting about my inability to run 5 days per week, I tallied up my miles for September and I've done 48.9 miles with 2 more days to go. I anticipate that I'll finish September with 53.6 miles. I ran 40.85 in August so this is a decent (and manageable) increase. I don't think I want to go more than 60 miles in October. Slow mile buildup is the key to not getting injured!

Speaking of injuries, yesterday my foot felt like a dead fish flopping in my shoe for about the last half mile of that 5k. Today on the treadmill, I had a couple of twinges but nothing that was debilitating. I hate to do the majority of my miles on the treadmill but the surface really seems to be forgiving on my foot. And at least I'm able to run somewhere!

Sun 9/28: 6.2 miles

run

I ended up with 13.6 miles this week. No workouts Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. This morning I did the Moon Valley Grasshopper Bridge 5k. I didn't race it at all, just a nice leisurely 5k since I have been doing all of my running on the treadmill. I jogged the first 2 miles without stopping to walk and then I walked at the mile 2 water stop and then on the part on the soccer field. I don't like running on grass at all. I couldn't feel my foot for the last half mile or so.

I'm doing okay but I would really like to try to run 5 times per week. I can't seem to do more than 4 days per week.

Wed 9/24: no workout
Thu 9/25: no workout
Fri 9/26: no workout
Sat 9/27: 5k race

Edited to add: Results are finally posted and I came in at 44:12. Like I said, I didn't have any particular goals for this race, just get out there and have fun. I know I could have pushed harder, but why risk injury?

a las corridas

I did 3 miles tonight. It was hell, pure hell. Actually, it wasn't that bad, I had energy, foot didn't hurt too much, didn't cramp and even sprinted the last tenth of a mile. Well, sprinted is using the term loosely, but it was a sprint for me!

It is always a battle of will and motivation for me. I have such a tendency towards inertia that getting on that treadmill or going to that bridle path for a run is so hard sometimes. But I know if I force myself to start and push through the dread and the discomfort and pain that the outcome is completely worth it.


Monday 9/22: 3 miles
Tuesday 9/23: 3 miles

I'm on track for 16.5-19.5 for the week.

run

I did a little more than 4.5 miles today plus a 90 minute dance class. Toward the end of the run I had nothing in the tank. I wanted to do 5 miles but had to go to class. 4.5 is good enough for today!

Sunday 9/21: 4.5 mile run, 90 minute dance class

more

No running Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but I did 5 miles today.


Wed 9/17: no workout
Thurs 9/18: no workout
Fri: 9/19: no workout
Sat 9/20: 5 miles treadmill

THat brings me to 13.5 miles for the week. I really should have done another run this week, but it didn't happen so oh well.

Tomorrow's plan is a higher mileage run (5-6.2) plus 90 minute dance class and the usual Sunday chores.

more running!

So I have kept up on the running this week- on schedule and on target. However, no yoga this week. I taught late on Monday and have to teach late tomorrow night too so I can't make the class.

Monday 9/15: 3 miles
Tuesday 9/16: 3 miles

The plan for the rest of the week is Wednesday rest, Thursday 5 miles, Friday rest, Saturday 6.2 miles. That will put me at 19.7 for the week.

I think I am making a goal of 20 miles or thereabouts per week. And, it is getting easier! Not nearly as painful as 2 months ago.

update

I didn't run Thursday or Friday, which means I only did 4 days of running this week. However I made up for the mileage on Saturday with 10k (6.2 miles).

Today I did all my chores and managed to run 2.5 miles and go to dance class. I swept and mopped the floor, cleaned the cat box, took out the trash, scrubbed the outside trash can, went grocery shopping, made dinner, and have finished 3 of 5 loads of laundry. Damn!

Thursday 9/11: no workout
Friday 9/12: no workout
Saturday 9/13: 6.2 miles

Mileage total for the week was 17.2 miles.

Sunday 9/14: 2.5 miles, 90 minute dance class

I think I'll bump a couple of my 3 mile runs up to 5 this week and do a 6.2 mile long run again on Saturday.

good stuff

Last night I did my requisite 3 miles on the treadmill. I've clocked 11 miles this week and am still on track for 17. I also went to yoga. The class was so crowded it was hard for me to concentrate. But our new room will be renovated on Monday so I am looking forward to spreading out and being able to move without being inhibited.

My neuroma bothered me on last night's run. It was pretty painful. This morning when I woke up when I took my first step it twinged as well. I don't know how long I can go without seeing the doc. I know that I have to have surgery, but I'm just getting my fitness back! Surgery would cost me 6 weeks. Tonight, another 3 miles on the treadmill.

Wed 9/10: 3 miles, 1 hour yoga

Wewt!

I got home at 6 and immediately got on the treadmill. 3 miles, did not stop. I started with .25 miles walk as a warmup, which takes about 4 minutes. Then I ran 1 mile without stopping! I can't remember the last time I did that. I took 4 walk breaks total, and finished a bit under 39 minutes. This is a vast improvement.

Monday 9/8- no workout
Tuesday 9/9- 3 miles running, treadmill

Tomorrow I get to go back to yoga.