Races

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The Best Laid Plans…

Plan #1:  Run a Half Marathon in April and then cut back on mileage and work on speed until July. Start training in July for a Half Marathon in Sept.  Run another in LA in November.

I ran the Lake George Half in April and then reduced my miles.  I ran several successful 5ks – several under 28 minutes!! Life was good. Then on June 12…pain in the heel!

Plan #2: Stop working on speed and running 5Ks until pain goes away.

I rested and then ran slowly and did not run any races…pain persisted so I went to the doctor. X-rays revealed no fracture or bone spur.  MRI showed inflammation & swelling where the heel bone meets the Achilles tendon. PT & rest prescribed.

Plan #3: Stop running all together and go to physical therapy until you are allowed to run again. No 5k races or training for Half in September.

I did not run or  play tennis for 4 weeks.  I went to PT 2x a week.  Did all the stretches, took anti-inflammatory drugs and iced several times a day. Gained 8 lbs.

Plan#4: Start running again. Build up the miles slowly.  Continue to stretch & ice.  Run some 5k races. Walk/run Half Marathon in September but run the November Half.

I continued PT until insurance stopped paying.  I started running at a slow pace with a lot of walking.  I went back to the doctor to order orthotics.  The pain still persists. 

Plan #5: Continue running and building up the mileage.  No 5 or 10K races (except the Half in September) until after the Half in November.

I considered stopping running (for a minute.) But it will be hard enough not to race.  If I enter a race, I know I will try to run fast, not stop, not stretch.  Running on my own, there will be no pressure.  So if it hurts, I can stop.  Maybe the orthotics will help.  Maybe the pain will disappear!!

Plan #6: TBA

4 days old!

Happy Running! Stay safe (if you are hit by Irene)!

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Two and Eight

2 and 8 are my lucky running numbers so I am hoping for a good week!

Update on Last Week:

I didn’t meet my goal of 15 miles since I was rained out 2x but I did run Wed, Thurs, Sat.  for a total of 12.5 slow miles (with some walking as part of each run).
I played Tennis  once & did Yoga once
3  low cal root beer floats (diet root beer & lite ice cream – 100 calories)
2 lbs lost

Goals for this Week:

run 17 miles
play tennis
It’s week #2 of Half Marathon #4 training (week #8 of Half Marathon #3 non-training)

This Week’s Schedule:

Mon: dinner w/friend after work
Tues: tennis after work
Wed: last PT
Thurs: hair appt
Fri: Mah Jongg
Sat & Sun – at the lake (weather permitting)

Running for the Week:

Mon: 3.5 mi before work
Wed: 3.5 mi before work
Fri: 4 miles before or after work
Sun: : 6 miles in BL (Bolton Landing)

Happy Running!

 
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(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

I’m running the NYC Marathon!

Only kidding!

On the same day, I’m doing something almost as absurd.

I’m running a Half Marathon!

In Santa Clarita, outside LA!!

I mentioned this race before and why I wanted to do it.

But that was before I was injured.  Now it’s less than 12 weeks away & I’m not fully recovered.

BUT I’M DOING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wish me luck!!

Happy Running!

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Update on Half Marathon #3

If you remember, I was REALLY REALLY looking forward to this half marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My training was to have begun on July 4.  It did not.  I was injured. 😦

I feel like I am starting all over… and this half is in less than 6 weeks!!!!!!

So now what?

For Half Marathon #3 on Schroon Lake, I plan to:

  • Enjoy the weekend at my friend’s house on Schroon River.
  • Go to my 1st Expo.
  • Meet up with running friends.
  • Encourage & be happy for my running friends.
  • Take lots of pics (so I’ll be prepared for next year).
  • Run/Walk (walk a lot esp the hills) the 13.1 miles.
  • Not run it and get re-injured!
  • Cross the finish line running & smiling (without looking at the clock).
  • Get my finisher medal (so finish under 5 hrs).
  • Have fun… and not be depressed or disappointed!!

Any advice for entering a race that you haven’t trained for? 

Has anyone ever walked a race?

How do I be patient and walk when everyone else is running?

Does this count as a Half Marathon for me?

Happy Running!


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It’s Monday & I Have Goals Again

Update on Last Week:

I ran Tues, Thurs, Sat.  for a total of 13 slow miles (with some walking as part of each run).
No Tennis – rained out
No Yoga (PT appt ran long)
2 root beer floats
2 lbs lost

Goals for this Week:

15 miles
tennis
yoga
week #1 of Half Marathon #4 training (more about that in another post)

This Week’s Schedule:

Mon: PT after work
Tues: tennis after work
Wed: yoga after work
Thurs: PT after work
Fri: Dr appt am & BBQ at the marina (OFF from work)
Sat & Sun – at the lake (weather permitting)

Running for the Week:
Mon: 3.5 mi before work (rained out- moved to Tues!)
Wed: 3.5 mi before work
Fri: 4 miles
Sun: : 4 miles in BL (Bolton Landing)

Happy Running!

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Orthotics Anyone?

Sean's Run

I was happy! I was running! I was running fast!

That ended on June 11, 2011!

Since then — one month of painful running followed by PT and no running!

Now it’s on to slow short runs…but NO RACING!!!

Everytime I read the newspaper or my e-mails or FACEBOOK, there is mention of a 5K race!!

Summer 5ks are very popular in my area.  There’s several every weekend.  I used run in them.  My hubby is probably happier since we have had more boat time and he doesn’t have to wait around for me.

I am sad!

Wednesday I went to PT and PT guy#1 wants to extend my PT 2 more weeks.  He also wants me to continue stretching, walking and running longer.

So I ran 4 miles yesterday in perfect weather.  The run was mixed with walking but I ran.

Today, I still feel good and went back to my foot doctor.  Since the real pain is gone, he said there’s nothing left to do. (I still wonder if I didn’t go to PT, stretch, not run or play tennis and ice, would the pain still be there???)

He wants me to get orthotics! I pronate and I need arch supports  to put less pressure on my Achilles.  A mere $350!!

So I have to get a letter from my insurance company stating that they will cover it, then make an appt, get measured, get them made and gradually get used to running in them…just 3 months or so!!!

Yeah, right…I have a half marathon in 6 weeks.  Well, that’s out as we know.  I WANT TO TRAIN FOR HALF #4 –that means run pain-free and it’s in 12 weeks…

On a positive note:

I’ve seen 2 good movies this week:

 

I am playing Mah Jongg tonite.

We are going up to Lake George tomorrow for a weekend of boating & relaxing.

Happy Running! Orthotics anyone?

 

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July is Over…Thank God!

Those 26 miles were ALL painful walk/runs. The worst running month ever.

July Recap –injured  heel (inflamed achilles tendon)

  • no good runs
  • no half marathoon training
  • no races
  • no tennis
  • several yoga sessions
  • several PT sessions
  • many great weekends on Lake George 🙂

So except for the wonderful summer weather, I am not sad to see July end!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome August!

I am hoping to be pain-free! 

I am hoping to start running again!

I am hoping to gradually increase my mileage.

I am hoping to start training for Half Marathon #4.

I am hoping to run a 5k before the end of the month.

Happy Running!

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TTT – the Good and the Bad

 

 The Bad:

1.  I’m sick of obsessing about my foot (heel).   I’ve researched my symptoms to death on the Internet.  I have everything and yet nothing.

2. I’m having race/run envy.  See my last post.  Everywhere I look, there’s a jogger or an email or FB post about a race. Does that only happen when you can’t run??

3. This is week#2 of Half Marathon training and I’ve decided not to run again until my heel stops hurting or the doctor says I can or both.  (Ultrasound is scheduled for tomorrow!!!!!!!)  Marathon #3 is Sept 25 but the real crisis is Marathon#4 which is in LA on Nov 6.  It’s too soon to freak out about that one, right?

The Good:

Amanda's Baby Shower

1. The girl I mentor is having a baby in 5 wks and I gave her a shower on Tuesday.

2003 HS reunion

2.  Some of my high schools will be in Vermont this weekend.  I haven’t seen them since in 8 yrs & we may rendez-vous.

Lake George

3.  The weather this summer has been beautiful & I have spent lots of time on our boat.  We’re going back up this weekend for 3 days!

Happy Running!

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What’s Up Next (in My Dreams)

Still in pain and supposedly training for a half marathon in September but you know how I love races…So…. (if I were healthy…)

This 5K is on July 23. I have run this race 3 times and I love Saratoga!  My friend Mary has already signed up.  It is also halfway from my home to Lake George.

OR

This 5k is also on July 23.  I have run the Susan Komen 5K race 3 times in Albany in Oct.  I have 2 friends who have signed up.  I have MANY friends who have had this terrible disease!!! I have never run a race in Vermont.

AND

This 5K is on July 30.  I have run this race twice but in Albany in Dec.  This is a NEW location.  It’s at an amusement park and it’s in Lake George plus I have July 29 off from work.

AND

This 10K  is on Aug 6.  I have never done a 10K.  It is in Lake George.

AND

This 5K is on Aug 13.  I have run this race twice already.  Each time I won socks – one 1st place AG and one 2nd place AG award.  The race ends with a downhill and it’s on the way to Lake George.

So, there you have it!  My races plans… (provided that my heel pain disappears and I can run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Happy Running (and racing)!

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New Week & Ignoring My Injury

Update from Last Week:

My goal was 12  miles and I  ran  for a total of 11 miles. (Heel still hurts so ran/walked most of my miles)
No Races  
No Tennis 
I  did yoga once.

The Weekend:

We spent Sat & Sun on Lake George.  We slept on our boat at the marina in Bolton Landing.

relaxing on the island with friends Sat.

During the day, we were on Commission Point.

playing mah jongg Sat eve.

7 of my Mah Jongg friends were staying for the weekend on Schroon River.  This is only 15 minutes from where our boat is docked.  I snuck away for a few games.

Running 5 miles around the Sagamore grounds Sun am.

I didn’t run Wed, Thurs, Fri or Sat. 

They say: No Pain. No gain! Sun. morning was too beautiful not to run.  And even in pain, I felt better than sitting around.  My heel is the same – just a nuisance pain which I can run on but don’t want to push it until I get the diagnosis.

swimming in the lake on Sun.

playing "Washers" on the island on Sun.

A great weekend all around.  And I discovered a new soft ice cream place in Warrensburg!! (which is on our way home and near the GU where you can rent a move for #=$1)

This week’s schedule:

Tues – baby shower
Wed- yoga
Thurs – mall w/bf
Fri – ultrasound on my heel, mah jongg after work
Sat & Sun – boating on Lake George

This week’s running:
(This is tentative, of course, depending on the condition of my heel)

Mon –  3  mi  – after work
Wed – 3  mi  – before Yoga
Thurs – 4 mi – after work
Sun – 6 mi in Bolton Landing
 
Week Running Goal =  16 miles 
July Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a race or 2

Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles

 Happy Running!