Staying positive....

I had an ART 'epiphany' this morning. After no running for 5 days, my shins still weren't feeling better last night, so I called and got a last minute appointment this morning. My doc knew right away why I was there-


"You did speed work last week, didn't you?"

NAILED! Damn...

I have been thinking that was the culprit of the flare up as well. We talked (well, he talked, I grimaced) as he worked out my shins and calves about the benefits of the long, slow run and tempo vs. speedwork.

He is a firm believer that with someone who is injury prone (a la moi), speed work just isn't worth it. The results it may produce are often overshadowed by the harm it inevitably causes, whether it be in 2-5 days of recovery time or aggravating injuries.

After how great I had been feeling, and how bad my legs feel this week, I am leaning towards agreeing with him...

I need to make a hard and fast decision about NO MORE speedwork SOON, as I REALLY want to be able to train for and complete my first marathon at the end of this year. Tempo runs can feel just (if not more) rewarding as a good speed session if done correctly.

It is just so hard b/c my hip feels GREAT, as in, I don't 'feel' it at all. My head is so ready to be back to 100%, and I feel like I am doing my best to take care of my body more post-injury.


Its OK, 2 steps forward, 1 step back still gets you in the right direction.

Summer in the City

I have written previously about how I strangely enjoy swimming in the 20-yard pool. For some reason I just feel like the time passes faster in this pool.

I also like this pool because it is quite close to my work, and if I slip out early enough, I can usually get through a work-out without having to share a lane. Sharing a lane in a 20 yard pool...not so much fun. Even when the pool is 'crowded' the normal lifeguard won't let more than 2 people per lane, so you can split the lane and not worrying about circle swimming (and lapping people every 4 lengths)....

Last night? Not so much. It has been HOT in the city, and I guess this translates into more people taking their work-outs indoors. I got to the pool at 4:15pm last night, had to wait for a spot in the pool, but was able to split a lane for about half my work out. In the middle of 4x500 descend, the following occurs:

1. The (deceptively) cute old lady in the lane next to me, complete with the flowered cap with a chin-strap, stops me and asks if I can 'stop splashing so much', b/c I am getting her face wet.
...I just politely smile, bite my lip, and push off.

2. The girl I am sharing the lane with gets out, and two people get ready to jump in. I have just finished my 2nd 500, feel GREAT, and am excited to start really pushing the effort. I look at the lifeguard, HOPING she won't let them both get in. She just shrugs. I look up, and as NICELY as possible, tell the two getting in that I am in the middle of a set...The guy responds, "yeah, we know what circle swimming is, thanks."
...I think, "this isn't going to be good" and push off.

3. The guy proceeds to 'circle swim' never stopping to let me pass. He will stop at the wall, see me coming, and push off right in front of me. When I speed up to pass him (mind you, I only have 20 yards), he starts SPRINTING so I can't get fully around him. I end up basically doing my flip turns on him, but continue to complete my 500. I pass him 3 times in this 500.

4. He stops while I'm at the wall (first time he has stopped), and SCREAMS, being totally serious, "Why are you swimming so fast? Can you just swim at my pace so you don't ruin MY work-out??"

really?
REALLY?

...I just laugh out loud and push off for my last 500.


Luckily I was swimming hard and felt great, and was able to get the frustration out in the water.

Random-ness: Ready, GO!

We are in the middle of a crazy heat wave right now on the East Coast, it is in the upper 90s with heat index well over 100 and the humidity is just unbearable. It's like August on the East Coast, but worse, and it's only June! Is this my punishment for getting an extra 6 weeks of summer in India and South Africa during the east coast winter? The heat wasn't even this bad in India!

The heat is making it easier to accept the fact that I wont' be running much this week. After thinking I was doing all the right things, upping the miles 10%, upping the long run 10%, my legs just need a week off.

I was really angry that my legs were flaring up this weekend, but when I looked at my training, I haven't backed off my legs and had a 'rest' week in about 5 weeks, and with my RACE! this weekend, now is as good a time as any to take an easy week. My shins are actually feeling better today, and the nagging in my hip that has been around since my speed/hill work-out last week is gone. I MAY do an easy-peasy 2-3 miles in the next few days, but that is ALL.

I rode for an hour yesterday when it was 97 degrees. It was not as bad as I was expecting, and had wanted to ride longer, but went through my liquids VERY quickly and didn't think water could sustain me for the extra time.

ALSO, so exciting! My good friend from swimming in college who I was supposed to do Eagleman with....QUALIFIED FOR KONA!! It was a brutal day, but in her first Half Ironman, on ONE training ride of 35 miles, she rocked it out. She was FREAKING out after the race and didn't know what to do (take the Kona slot of the Clearwater one), but everyone convinced her this may be a once-in-a lifetime thing and she should just do it. And if she can do so well on ONE 35 mile bike, just imagine if she put a bit more time into training for Hawaii. This is the same girl who qualified for Boston in her first marathon with I think one run over 14 miles. INSANE. I am so so excited for her, and selfishly excited for someone to ride long with over the coming months as I get ready for my first half in September. And who knows, maybe a little trip to Kona may happen in October if I can swing it??

I'm going for the super-long-randomness today:

I am SO SO EXCITED for my race this weekend. This was my first Tri ever last year, and I got 4th in my age group and I think 17th overall. I also rode the entire, flat 12 miles bike course on the small ring b/c I honestly didn't know how to shift the gears on my bike. I also thought I was going to die off the bike as it was my first Brick ever. SO EXCITED to see what I can do this year.

Placebo??...

...or just stupid???

On Wednesday my ART guy said I was officially at the point of 'maintenance' therapy, which means appointments only ever 2 weeks as I continue to train heavily and especially as I up my miles for the marathon. My shins hadn't felt so good since early last summer.

And today....my shins are KILLING me. Do you think it is mind over matter, that I had come to rely on the ART and 'believed' it was helping, so it made me feel better?

Or am I just stupid? Stupid as in:

Running 18 miles last week.
Running 8.3 miles as my long run last weekend
Running my first speed/hill workout the same week I ran 18 miles.
Running 7.8 miles this weekend...

all while never getting the insoles or motion control shoes the doc rec commended?


Yeah...I'm going to go with stupidity on this one.

Back to the doc tomorrow, to get scolded, then straight to the running store to get new shoes. I swear. I AM racing next weekend, I haven't been so excited for a long while.

*********************


I've been pretty bummed this weekend on top of the shin pain. Eagleman was supposed to be my first 70.3. It is about an hour from where I grew up, a beautiful part of Maryland where my family vacations, and about 10-15 people from my team, including one of my best friends from my college swimming days, are competing as we speak.

I have them in my thoughts on this HOT HOT east coast day, the heat makes it a little easier to swallow that I'm not there, but I'm still bummed. Makes me so much more committed to getting my body and mind in a good place to complete a half at the end of the summer (with the hope that a work trip that is looming doesn't interfere with the plans...)


....off to see the USA-Argentina soccer game at Giants Stadium tonight, hopefully I don't melt in the heat!

Hills!

Last night I joined the running group, and after 17 miles and a long run of 8 last week, the coach let me start to 'ease' back into the group workout.

I ran 3x long Cat Hill repeats (the group did 5-8), from the bottom cross walk near the Boathouse to cross walk near the Met...1/2 mile up, 1 mile round trip. 90% effort up, recovery on the way down. It was SO HARD but felt GREAT. Well, great as in 'I want to die, I hate this' great.

On my walk/run/jog/hobble home around the res, I was a bit worried I had overdone it, my calves were sore, my face was on fire...but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

My knee was a bit sore this morning, and my hip is a bit achy now (not painful though). ART tonight to work it all out.

Good stuff- so happy.

Also got my number and wave assignment for the race on the 15th. Things are good.

Gluttony

Gluttony, defined:

Friday night, I went here. It's one of my favorites. But I only had a margarita...which I drank in two sips. Whoops.

Saturday night, I went here. Two Hogaardens later, my fave, I was happy in bed at 10pm.

Last night, I went here. After a 8.3 mile run and hour swim, I couldn't fit enough in my mouth. THE best turkish food I have ever had.




Then, on the way home, I bought a scale.



(and I wonder why I can't for the life of my drop 10 pounds?! ha)

June is going to be good.

So far, in June I have:

Run 8.3 miles. With no pain.

Swam the fastest 100 I have in years (1.06). Then I did it again.


Bring on June 2.