Running can be a pain in the ankle!

On last night's schedule was a short 2.5 mile run. As I was walking down the stairs to leave work, I noticed a pain in my ankle. Once I started to run, my shin, calf and ankle were all really hurting me. Usually my legs hurt for the first 20 minutes or so and then the pain eases up but because I ran a few extra miles last week to finish that virtual half marathon, I imagine I did some damage. I decided after a quarter mile not to risk it and try to give my legs a break until Thursday. I feel badly, like I'm being a wimp for not gutting it out but I'm also scared to try to push through it and end up with an injury that will prevent me from continuing to train. :(

A good dose of perspective

Last week, I completed a virtual, half marathon. The running was real (over the course of a few days) but the competition was virtual. My final time was 3:19:04. This gives me a good idea of where I'm starting at and will be point to compare against when M and I run the Disney Princess Half Marathon next February. Saturday was our first "long run" in working towards the 10k-3.6 miles. I did NOT want to do it. I think I had psyched myself out. I still struggle with the concept that if you're not running the entire time then you're failing. M pointed out to me that our original intent of starting running was to become fit and healthy and that some exercise, even walking half of the distance, is what we set out to do. This made me feel infinitely better! I think I was so caught up in the training plan that I forgot that the intent of signing up to run a race was so it gave us something to work towards, not to focus on being competitive. I'm so lucky to have such a great husband who keeps me grounded!

Rant

My step-mom has been really supportive of our running and she and my dad came to the last two races to support us, which means a lot to me. I think she's feeling inspired because she's been talking about starting walking then a C25k program. I asked her to walk the last race with us and my dad made some snide comment about needing an ambulance for her to finish. Then she mentioned to her mom about training for a 5k this summer (still MONTHS away) and her mom replied something about arranging long term care for her if she has a stroke. I don't understand why people would say these things? They are family and supposed to love and support you. Why would you even joke about things like that? She is working up the courage to work on making life changes to become healthier and needs and deserves everyone's support. I'm doing my best to offer support and encouragement and I hope she will follow through and work on her fitness in spite of the naysayers. If I can do this, anyone can and I hope she believes in herself enough to overcome the negativity.
I've seen it on a messageboard I frequent also, where husbands use "tough love" to try to motivate their wives (which, FYI only has the opposite effect) and have experienced it first hand from my ex-husband. I am so lucky to have met my husband, M. He is the most supportive and caring person I've ever known and being his wife is a privilege.
Okay, off my soapbox for now.

3 mile stare

Ran 3 miles last night, which went decently enough. I think a lot of my struggle is still in my head. Yoga is nice because I'm concentrating on only the task at hand but with running my mind seems to be in a million places at once and I don't have a focus. I'm wondering if there will ever be a time where I can go and hammer out 3 miles in 30 minutes as effortlessly as it appears that stronger runners do or if it will continue to feel only okay and sometimes like drudgery. I'm going to keep trying and hope that I can find my groove.

2nd 5k race recap

I ran 2.5 miles last Thursday in a decent time. I'm running on the roads now, which is out of my comfort zone but does seem to make the time go by faster.
Saturday was our second 5k. I knew going in I wasn't prepared (we were in the car 4.5 hours on Friday night, ate fast food for dinner, over caffeinated = dehydrated and not well rested, etc) so I didn't have a lot of hope for doing much better than last week.
We started out decently. The first 1.25 miles went pretty well. My shin muscle (so difficult to stretch) was totally cramping and M wasn't feeling it either. We ended up walking for a mile or so and finishing relatively strong. Our time was almost exactly what we ran the week before (a difference of seconds) so given everything stacked in our favor, I count it as a success. That being said, it was a very small race and we totally finished DEAD LAST! I wasn't remotely embarrassed though. I didn't know a single person there, besides M. And I beat everyone who was still in bed! :)
Going to run 3 miles tonight on a new paved trail which should be fun to do something different and nice to not have to worry about traffic. We're supposed to get 6-10 inches of snow tonight. Fingers crossed it misses us. I'm so ready for spring!

10k, here I (slowly) come!

Last night was my first night of Hal Hidgeon's 10k novice program- 2miles plus strengthening. I wasn't able to complete the strengthening because my daughter had a school program so I squeezed in the run portion after work and scooted over to the school.
The run was okay. Well, honestly, it felt like a chore. My head wasn't in it and it was a real struggle to not give up. I walked a number of times, which was a disappointment to me. I wasn't hurting at all (second run with no leg pain!) and only had a medium side cramp (thats something new that hasn't happened before) so I'm gathering it was all in my head. Not sure yet how to "check out" and just go through the motions. All suggestions would be appreciated!

First Ever Race Recap

Well, we did it! On Saturday, M and I completed our first 5k race. Overall, I was pretty happy with the experience. We finished in 43:16 which was less than my goal of 45 minutes and a bit faster pace than our training runs but I was still hoping by some miracle that we'd be a lot faster. :)
By some stroke of luck, my legs felt amazing! No tightness or cramping so I didn't have to stop mid-race and stretch, which I was really nervous about needing to do. Because my legs weren't bothering me, I did have a struggle in my head about endurance and we slowed to walk a few times. I think I'll need to work on some tough love pep talks to give myself to keep going. I'm sure the confidence will come in time as we continue to log more miles and races.
The best result of the race is just having completed it and having a lot of the anxiety gone. Now I have a better idea about what to expect, how to pace myself (although I imagine that will take awhile to really figure out), etc. I was really worked up and worried about what other people would think of me, etc but once we got out there I realized quickly that the "fast" runners were long gone that this was our (my) race to run. I was concerned about people at the finish line and being embarrassed of my slow time. The few people who were lingering at the finish line were looking for the people they knew and weren't paying attention to us. Three awesome people at the finish line were looking for us- my parents and our daughter! It was really great that they came out to support us and meant a lot to me.
I'm so grateful to my husband, who has been with me literally every step of the way. We're both really excited about running and liked the race so much that we signed up for another one this upcoming weekend! Stay tuned for round 2...

Off the Grid

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit. Things have been super CRAZY here. Although I haven't been blogging, I have still been logging the miles.
This week is wk8 of the C25k program. I ran partly on the streets on Tuesday, which was definitely outside my comfort zone. I ran back on a different trail than I usually run on and it was still covered in ice in many places. I was committed at that point (because of time and distance to get back to the road) so I had to finish but it wasn't the smartest thing I had ever done. Because of having to slow down to maintain my footing, I wasn't able to find a real groove but I still went the farthest I have gone. I am SO looking forward to nicer weather!

Tomorrow is our 5k race we've been working towards. M ran a full 3 miles last night and said he felt pretty good. We've been running for minutes, not miles, so the race will be the first time I've run 3 miles since I was in the military 15 years ago. I'm certain I will finish but equally as certain that it will likely be about 45 minutes. I guess its a starting point...

I do feel like this program has given me my life back. I feel more energetic and I know I'm healthier. I'm looking forward to continue putting in the work and getting faster.
As a mom, I focus a lot of my energy and attention on my family and really let myself go. This program has made me realize that I'm worth investing in, too.

Letter of the Law

Saturday I completed Wk6D3. The first mile or so my calves kept getting really tight so I stopped 3 times to stretch them. After that, the last 3/4 mile felt pretty good and I was able to pick up the pace a bit. I still struggle with viewing this as a success because I wasn't able to run the entire time, as the training plan is written, without stopping to stretch. I am trying to keep some perspective in that 6 weeks ago I couldn't hardly run 2 minutes, let alone 24, even if my legs aren't quite there yet...Still, it will really feel like an accomplishment to be able to run 3 miles in 30 minutes, strongly, without stopping, as the plan indicates.

Last night was Wk7D1. M and I ran together. We warmed up for 10 minutes, instead of 5, during which I stretched my calves twice. Also, we started out deliberately slower than normal. Again, after an iffy mile or so, I felt pretty good and was able to go a bit faster. I was ready to almost spint the last 1/4 or so and M was complaining of his knee so we stayed at the same pace. Not that I'm taking pleasure in his pain, but it was kindof nice to not be the one struggling to finish, for once.

Mixed Results

Last night was Wk6D2. I ran by myself. The weather was sunny and 30ish- a nice change from Monday's single digits.
I warmed up for 10 minutes and then stretched really well. I then warmed up again for 5 minutes prior to the run portion. My legs were still pretty stiff and crampy but it was manageable. I stretched for a minute or so during the walk interval and then again really well after the workout.
I'm still a bit discouraged but am not giving up. I think if I keep persisting that the legs will improve with time but its getting past this (and not backsliding further) that will be a challenge.

Last night was the last interval run and there's no scheduled walking from here on out. Kind of nervous but I've done the work so hopefully my body will remember that!

Try, try again

After Monday's frusterating performance, I'm back at it again tonight.
I hope that it was just a bad day and that tonight goes better. Fingers crossed!

Not my proudest moment

Last week, M and I completed W5D3 with a reasonable degree of success. We ran (shuffled) for nearly the entire 20 minutes. Twice I had to take a few strides as walking but it only about 30 seconds each time. I struggle with counting the session as a complete success because of the brief walking breaks. My personality tends to see things as they are written and in black in white so I feel bad taking full credit if I can't accomplish it as it was written.

I went to yoga Saturday and swam on Sunday and was rarin' to go for Wk6D1 on Monday.

It was freezing (like 5 degrees) outside so much of my motivation had waned in the weather conditions. The first intervals went okay. By the time I hit the middle, 8 minute interval, my calves were locked town tight. I could hardly take a step. This happened once before, which is what caused me to see the exercise physiologist. Stretching didn't help at all.

I felt so betrayed by my body (I've been doing my part, why wasn't it holding up its end of the bargain) that I lost it. I was crying and cursing. My husband did everything right, trying to comfort me, but I wasn't having any of it! I threatened to quit, etc. I was kind of angry with him too (through no fault of his own). I mean, he runs with me because its important to me, not because it was his idea or anything. And I can tell he is physically holding himself back, which upsets me because 1. I exercise twice as much as he does (crosstraining) and 2. its such a struggle for me and if I had his body I wouldn't want to be held back (he always stays with me no matter how much I encourage him to go faster on his own). I know he understood that my anger wasn't about him as much as it was frusteration at my own shortcomings but it still was a lousy way to act towards someone who I love deeply and who has done nothing but love and support me.

I'm not going to quit. It may take me longer than the prescribed C25k 9 weeks to be able to run a 10 minute mile but I won't give up. I owe it to myself and my family to get healthy so I'll keep putting one foot in front of the other for as long as I can.

Rollercoaster

Last week on Thursday, I ran W4D2 of C25k. It was my best run yet! It felt smooth and best of all, I experienced NO leg pain during! This is huge!!! I had hope that maybe my legs won't always ache during a run and that I'm not a fool for trying to complete this program.
I was super excited for W4D3 on Saturday! I got up and ate a bit and couldn't wait to get out there! Imagine my disappointment when the run was a struggle. It was the first time we had run on the street, off the cleared pathway, which was a challenge because the sidewalks weren't plowed which made for tricky footing. Also, the wind was more of a factor than it had been previously. My legs felt like lead. At one point, I had to walk (which has happened maybe once before during a run interval). My uber supportive husband wouldn't let me quit, though. We finished strong and ended up running our farthest distance ever, by a quarter mile! I know I should be celebrating this small victory but I can't help but feel defeated by my own body since my legs failed to cooperate. I have been really discouraged and have found a reason to miss my run the last few days. No more avoiding, though. Tonight I have to get back on the schedule. I hate the ups and downs and am hoping that if I stick with it, my experiences will be more consistent.

No short cuts

Well, here I am... 33 and heavier than I'd like to be- by a lot! I spent the majority of my adult life in a terrible relationship in which I neglected my body and ate horribly (fast food, frozen dinners, junk food and soda were my four food groups). Obviously, this resulted in me getting bigger and bigger.
I've tried diet and exercise before. I trained to run a relay leg of the Detroit Marathon and ended up with shin splints after a few months. I tried running again about a year later with the same results. I started training last spring and fell and sprained my ankle which resulted in months of pain and cortisone shots.
So, I find myself injury free and motivated again. I'm going to keep trying until I succeed. Which is where this blog, and you, my lovely readers, come in. I started a training program about a month ago (Couch to 5k ) with the immediate goal to run the St. Patrick's Day 5k. I've also been cross training with spin class once a week and swimming once a week to work towards my ultimate goal of finishing a sprint triathalon in August. I need you all to help keep me accountable.
So far, its been going really well. Even though I missed a week being sick, I picked up right where I left off. If its cold and snowing, I still run (no treadmill or gym membership, so I run outside in the often frigid northern midwest weather). I would get injured before because I would try too much at once but the C25k interval schedule has really helped. Unless you've been sadly unfit and overweight you may not understand this, but this week (wk4) I had to run for 5 minutes without stopping. I didn't think I could do it. But I did! This program really gives me hope that I can achieve my goals, which is something that I haven't felt in decades.