Thursday, April 28, 2016

{weeks 9 & 10} It's race week!

Just a quick update...and dealing with 3 non-running related injuries. Or in other words, I've unintentionally tapered for 4 weeks for a half-marathon on Sunday, May 1st. In this break, I finally got smart and last week stopped ALL exercise/activity (even my glute exercises!) for a week--not just running. 

I've started back running this week with low miles (no ankle pain!) and on Sunday I will run not race the OC 1/2 Marathon. Ten or so years ago I used to run one 1/2 marathon a year without training for it. I wasn't a runner and it was a challenge to myself. 

After this race, my goal is to get as strong and healthy as I can so when I start serious marathon training in August I'll be good go!

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

{weeks 7 and 8} at this point I just want to be able to run

At the Foothill 5k finish line
It's now been 9 days and counting since I've been able to run {sad trombone}. I was looking forward to last week because it was a scheduled recovery week with lower mileage and scaled-back hard runs. It has ended up becoming a week on NO RUNNING.

Earlier in the month, I was walking down the stairs at home (in the dark) and missed the last step. I landed hard with my right foot. Although shaken, I didn't feel an injury so I carried on with my activities. As the week progressed, especially after Thursday's 10 mile run with tempo intervals, I really started to feel something (bruised heel? sprained ankle? broken bone?). The pain was localized on the inner part of my side heel. Hmm...

Then Friday, April 1st (joke's on me) happened and my husband tried to pick me up in an awkward way. We heard a CRACK (snap). It didn't hurt at the time, but slowly the pain built and I started suspecting a bruised/broken rib on my left side. I immediately googled "running with a bruised/broken rib" and found out it is possible to continue running as long as your form doesn't change. However, it will be difficult to take deep breaths. Easy running is okay; sprinting/racing will be hard. Hmm...

On to Sunday's Carlsbad 5000. I was looking to this race and meeting up with my Oiselle Volée friends. No way was I missing this. So I raced. I had to stop at the midway water stop to catch my breath. I never stop or even get water during a 5k. Also, my heel/ankle really started bothering me. I finished in 24:29 which is slower than I wanted but it is faster than my most recent 5k a couple of weeks ago. After I finished, it hurt to walk and breathe. 

Carlsbad 5000-the last time
I ran this month

On Monday, I went to the doctor. Both my chest and foot x-rays were negative. It turns out I don't have a broken rib, but have torn rib cartilage. Apparently, it's treated the same as a broken rib. Same pain. Same length of recovery (6 weeks). Same treatment (Motrin and ice). Sigh. But what really bugs me is my "sprained ankle" (for lack of a better diagnosis). I could run easy with my rib thing. Can't run at all with my foot thing. 

View from the Foothill 5k trail


This past Sunday, I joined some Oiselle Volée team mates for the Foothill Challenge 5k. It was meant to be my entry into trail racing, but I ended up walking it in about an hour. Although it was depressing to not be able to run, it was great having my friends wait for me to cheer me in at the finish line. 

To end on a better note, I went to physical therapy last week and my glutes and legs are strong! My single-leg squats on an upside down BOSU are getting closer to perfection! I've also been going to a sports chiropractor for ART on my tight IT bands. My legs have been feeling a lot better. I feel like my legs and glutes are primed and will be ready to go once I can start running again. I need to re-assess my goals for the OC 1/2 marathon, but I'm okay with that. I just want to be able to run. 


Friday, April 1, 2016

{week 6} Five for Friday


In the spirit of posting at least SOMETHING, I bring you the Friday Five


ONE. I will be racing my first true 1/2 marathon (running 1/2 the LA Marathon does not count) of 2016 toeing the line for the OC 1/2 Marathon in exactly ONE month from today. It's also been a year since I raced 13.1 miles. Not nervous yet. 
TWO. I just registered to enter the lottery for the St. George Marathon (October 1, 2016). I will find out if I am lucky enough to race on May 18. The race is capped at 7800 runners. Crossing my fingers! If I do make the cut, I will have to start my training plan on May 30 (Advanced Marathoning by Pete Pfitzinger).
THREE. I am racing the Carlsbad 5000 this Sunday with some of my fellow Oiselle Volée teammates. I <3 racing 5ks. This is my third since coming back from injury. I plan to beat my most recent time of 24:39 and hope to PR (or come close to my previous fitness) with a time less than 22:44. I'm racing for BEER! Pizza Port is the sponsor and they have crafted two custom beers just for the race. AND each race entry gets TWO FREE beers. 
 FOUR. I missed a step walking down the stairs at home a couple days ago and I bruised or sprained or something to right inner heel. I skipped my planned easy run today and may skip my long run tomorrow. It bums me to miss runs but at least I know I've been working my training plan and getting fitter. I am able to do things (run tempo!) I wasn't able to do so well before last year's injury and I've regained most of my running endurance (although I have not yet run more than 15 miles). 
FIVE. NUUN has finally updated their athletes page. There are a lot of badass nuun athletes out there. I'm on there too. You can see my profile HERE. I use nuun everyday to #stayhydrated. I also use plus for nuun for hard workouts (speed, tempo or long). It has a bit of carbs to give some much need energy. Use it in combination with either nuun active or nuun energy. I find it gives me a needed boost. 
That's all for this week. Looking forward to some fast racing on Sunday! (By the way, I just realized I missed my blogoversary on March 19! I've been blogging (as Perpetually Rungry) for a year! Happy Miles!)