The Second Half of My Marathon

If I run two Half-Marathons, it's almost like running a Full, right?

Ha, I know that is so not true.

This weekend Jer and I venture up to Sarasota to run the Sarasota Half Marathon which will be my second Half Marathon to date. The race got great reviews last year and is supposed to be a beautiful course, so it should be a good time.I am excited to not only run the race but also do it with Jeremy. It will be the first race we have run side-by-side since the Race for the Cure back in 2000.

Mostly though, I am just looking forward to getting out of Miami for a few days. Sometimes, life is hectic here. Going back to my parent's house is always relaxing and Sarasota/Bradenton is just so much more laid back than Miami. We just need to get away for a bit.

So my last few runs have been pretty good. I am still having trouble getting out of bed at 6am to go lift at the gym, but I do manage to get in at least 3 runs a week, pretty honorable if you ask me.

Last week I ran another PR for my 3.2 mile course around campus. I ran it by myself and logged in at 28:04. That was a great feeling.

Saturday, Jeremy and I slept in untill 8am and then went for a nice 9 mile run through Coconut Grove. Even though we slept in, the weather was still perfect. Sunny, in the 70's and low, low, low humidity. It was awesome. The perfect day for a long run.

Here's my recent activity:
2/21 - 3.2 miles - 28:04
2/24 - 9.03 miles - 1:30:04 (a little over a minute per mile faster than my training pace for the Miami Half)
2/25 - Gym - Lift/Abs/ 30 minutes, Elliptical
2/26 - 5.6 miles - 54:33 (humid again)

I am going to do one more slow 3 mile run tomorrow morning to get loosened up and then that's it before Sunday. Since my last time was 2:24, my goal for this one is around 2:15. I think if the we start out slow and the weather cooperates (they are predicting a high of 68 and partly cloudy) I should be ok...hopefully. If not, as long as I come in around 2:20 I will be satisfied. But running with Jeremy pushes me a little harder, so hopefully I'll do myself proud.

Oh, and we signed up for another race tonight. The Celebrity 5k on March 25th. Apparenty, there is a red carpet invloved somehow. Miami is a funny place.

Life After the Race

Good news, I didn’t lose my toenail. It only came off a little bit, but since the nail is small, it barely made a difference. The pain is gone too. Can’t say the same about Jeremy’s though. His big toe is a hot mess ever since the marathon. Poor guy.

So, we pretty much have our whole year planned as far as running is concerned. Since the training and race experience for the Miami Half was such a success, I have decided to sign up for the Sarasota Half Marathon, which is actually in two weeks. It is in my hometown and where my parents live now, so it will be nice to run in such a beautiful course that I know so well.

We have also already signed up for not one but TWO full marathons this year. My first will be the Columbus Marathon, October 21st. I love Columbus, Ohio so much and since it is where Jeremy and I met, it will be really special for me to do my first full there. He is even going to slow down and run it with me. I can’t wait to go back, see the leaves turning colors, go to an Ohio State football game and hang out at all our favorite places again. We are also going with our friends Kevin and Marissa. Kevin went to Ohio State, so he is excited to go back as well.

Then we signed up during the registration blitz for the Miami Full for next January. If you signed up before a certain date, you got a percentage off, so I got in for around $40. Not too bad. That way, Jeremy can run it with his normal group and I can train with my Footworks group again.

I have been doing pretty well keeping up the running since the marathon. The only problem is thatmy appetite is out of control. I can’t seem to eat enough. Also, since it has been cooler the last few weeks, it has made it really difficult for us to get motivated to get out of bed in the mornings to run. I know this is stupid, since all I do is complain about the heat and humidity down here, but when it’s in the 40’s and the windows are open and you are under all the blankets snuggled between a warm husband and a purring cat, running just doesn’t sound like so much fun.

However, we haven’t given up completely. We have been running at least 3-4 times a week still and even manage to get to the gym every now and then for a lift session. Soon, we will be on a more regular schedule every week which should include lifting 2 times, two regular runs, one long run and a leg session/ hour-long cardio day at the gym. We just haven’t been able to get into that motivated place yet. Also, since Jeremy has been training for marathons non-stop pretty much for the past year and a half, I think he is getting a bit burned out.

To mix it up a bit, we have been finding new places for our Saturday morning long runs. Two weeks ago we ran up South Beach. We started at Smith and Wollensky’s and ran to the Eden Roc Hotel and back for a nice 8 mile run. The weather was beautiful and my new running sunglasses worked like a charm.

Last Saturday we woke up a bit later since it was nice and cool out and drove out to Key Biscayne. We did a 10-mile run through Crandon Park and back over the Rickebacker Causeway and bridge. It was a great day for a run, sunny and cool until we got to the bridge, where is suddenly got windy and bitter. But we finished strong and I ran it at the fastest pace I had ever run that distance. Then on Monday of this week, we braved the cold (low 40’s, freezing for Miami) to go on our golf course loop. I ended up with a PR for the course at 52:24 /5.6 miles, so that was pretty exciting. Amazing what cold weather and no humidity can do for your running. Here is a rundown of my last few runs:

2/5/07 - 5.6 miles / 53:33
2/9/07 – 5.6 miles / 53:00 (PR)
2/10/07 – 8.1 miles / 1:20:09
2/15/07 – 5.6 miles / 53:31
2/17/07 – 10.74 miles / 1:43:09
2/19/07 – 5.6 miles / 52.24 (PR)

All in all, pretty good, not too much slacking in there. Even got a couple of PR’s for the golf course route. Running with Jeremy has really been helping out my speed. Well, that and the weather.

Of course, it will be in the 80’s again by Saturday, so I will have something new to bitch about.

More Marathon Pics

Here are some more fun shots from the ING Miami Marathon courtesy of Action Sports International.

Me. This is the very best picture on there, and it's rough.


Jeremy, hot husband.


Tracy and Lesley, my running buddies throughout training and the race.


Andy and Glenna, so cute.


Kevin and Marissa. He ran the last mile in with her after running his marathon so he could cross the finish with her for her first marathon.


Good times.

So today was my first run back since the race and the feaking weather is killing me. I ran 6 miles with Jeremy at 8am and it was in the upper seventies with about 80% humidity. What a difference it makes starting at 8am as opposed to 6am. I wont be making that mistake again.

Other than that the run was ok. My legs are a bit heavy still, but not too bad. We ran at roughly a 9:30 pace which is 1:30 faster than my Half Marathon time, which may have been another reason for feeling so rough today.

Also, I think my toenail is coming off. I am afraid to take off the dark nailpolish to look at it. It is killing me though. At least it's not the big toe. Stupid wet shoes.

13.1 Wet, Humid, Wonderful Miles

I did it. I am officially a half-marathon finisher! Here is my proof.



I am quite proud of my time too, considering my long run average was much slower, the weather (more on that in a moment) and the fact that it is sometimes hard to get a good pace in a race with thousands of people. Last week I was hoping for 2:40. Then the day of the race I figured I would be able to do 2:30. So to come in at 2:24:05 is quite an accomplishment. Especially since the whole race I felt like I was holding back. Anyway, here is my event rundown.

Saturday morning Jer and I met up with Kevin, Marissa and Eddie at our house so we could all drive down to South Beach for the expo. The expo was extremely well organized and spacious since they moved it from downtown to a bigger facility on South Beach. We wandered around and got all our loot. They switched the cotton tshirts this year to a dryfit running shirt which is ok but it's pretty heavy. I guess it's good for people who aren't from Miami but I don't think I'll be running in it much down here. They did give out really nice dryfit running caps too which are white and extremely light (good for the blazing sun). The hat totally made up for the shirt.

After the expo we headed home to relax for a bit. We filled up on turkey sandwiches, fruit and tons of water for lunch. We watched Talladega Nights to laugh and unwind. Then we caught a broadcast of the P.F. Changs Rock-N-Roll Marathon they were playing on one of the ESPN's. It was exciting to watch the runners, just regular people with one shared goal, and the crowds cheering them on. I couldn't believe in a few hours it was going to be me.

Later we ran down to the Knight of the Gables where Footworks was throwing the pre-race pasta party. We didn't eat but just stopped by to show support, say hello and wish everyone luck. Then we headed home for our own pasta party. We made whole wheat pasta with homemade garlic toast for dinner. Later, I relaxed in a hot bath for about an hour, which I think from now on will be my pre-race must-do. It made a huge difference. Afterwards, Jer and I drank hot tea and laid out our stuff for the morning.



I didn't think I would be able to sleep, but I was out by 11pm and slept really well. I was worried a bit about the weather report saying there was going to be thunderstorms in the morning and a high of 79 degrees. The weather had been so nice all day, they could be wrong, right?

The alarm went off at 3:15am. Yes, that's right, 3:15. I felt pretty good and walked outside first thing to check the weather. Hot, thick air hit me like a brick wall as I noticed the puddles on the driveway rippling from the light shower. Maybe this is the worst of it. Maybe this is the "thunderstorm" in which they speak. It will clear up, South Florida rain never lasts long, (I'm sure you can see the ominous foreshadowing here).

So everyone met up at the house and we carpooled to downtown Miami. We found parking and made it to the Foorworks tent by 5:00am. I found Tracy and Lesley who I was running with and said my goodbyes to Jeremy and everyone else. We decided to try and find some Port-O-Potties with a shorter line and for some reason figured that the ones right in front of the corrals would be the ticket. As we stood in our half-hour line, the light sprinkle came back, which quickly turned to one of those crazy South Florida rainstorms that unleashes itself relentlessly for about 20 minutes. Everyone and everything got soaked. I kept telling myself I could deal with the rain as long as my shoes and socks stayed dry and I held up that false hope for about 10 minutes, then it was no use. By the time we lined up in the corrals my feet were squishing with every step and I was wringing out my clothes in a last ditch effort to lose some water weight.

When the announcer counted down to start we barely heard it since the speakers were covered in garbage bags to protect them. Fortunately the excitement helped our spirits and as soon as we crossed the start we felt a million times better. The rain died down to a light sprinkle about five minutes into the run and I barely felt a drop after that until it stopped completely. Of course at that point it was in the 70's with over 75% humidity. Love that tropical weather.

The course was beautiful. We started at the American Airlines Arena downtown and headed over the bridge towards the beach. Ran past the Port of Miami, cruise ships and Star Island. Headed up Ocean Drive on South Beach, back up the other side of the beach through some beautiful neighborhoods, over the Venetian Causeway, back through downtown and ended up at Bayfront Park. It is definitely a beautiful course and I recommend it for anyone who doesn't live here. While the crowd support is lacking a bit, the scenery really makes up for it. As I ran through my city, I wondered how I always forget how beautiful it can be. Here is the course from above:



Our pace was good. We started out slow, but not too much slower than our Saturday morning runs. My plan was to run slow at the start, keep a good pace, skip the walk breaks after mile 10 and run it in at the end if I could. My plan actually worked great. Running with Tracy and Lesley helped me so much. We talked about random stuff the whole run to keep us busy. We made each other take the walk breaks in the beginning when others didn't want to. We stuck with each other during bathroom breaks and all helped to pace each other perfectly. Their families were there to support them and since most of my friends were already running, their support kept me going as well. So at mile ten we stopped the walk breaks and at mile twelve they told me to take off. I felt so good I wanted to see how well I could run it in without killing myself. I felt like a rockstar, passing everyone that last mile. It really is a testament to how well the walk/run program worked for me that I could take off the last mile and run it in at such a good pace and feel great. Here is a rundown of my splits:

1) 11:49 (start, rain and bridge)
2) 11:12
3) 11:35
4) 10:50
5/6) 23:54 (No mile marker at 5, plus a bathroom break)
7) 11:06
8) 10:49
9) 11:17
10) 11:09
11) 10:43 (no walk breaks)
12) 10:07 (no walk breaks)
13.1) 9:30 (big finish)


More pictures here...

I really felt the whole time that I could have been running it faster which makes me feel good, but I was scared to take off and get too tired at the end. Plus, since it was my first, I just wanted to enjoy myself, the surroundings and my company. So I have no regrets, other than wishing the race was held today (one day later) instead (Sunny, high of 65 degrees). Oh well. At least at this point I am used to running in the rain and humidity. Although the huge blisters covering the bottom of my little toes from the wet shoes are a new adventure.

The end of the race was great. I relaxed at the Footworks tent, ate, drank beer, told race stories and watched all my friends come in. Due to the weather, everyone finished this years race a bit slower than the year before. Jeremy came in at 4:27, which he is not overly thrilled about. I just keep reminding him that he finished, didn't quit, didn't get injured and that is still a pretty damn good time. Of course he doesn't believe me. I know how hard it must be to work so hard to improve on something, only to have it end up worse. I think he just needs a cooler climate to run in.

The rest of the day was pretty good. We hung out alone with pizza and ice cream. Watched Get Shorty and the Simpsons and went to bed by 9pm. Life doesn't get much better than that folks.

P.S.
Congratulations to Mark and Ali who got engaged at the start of the race!!!

Training's Done

I can't believe how long it's been since I updated this.

I've been busy as hell, but the good news is that I've been running. A lot. Jeremy and I have been running together which has been good for making me go out and do longer runs. Instead of being lazy and sticking to my 3-4.5 miles around campus, I have been getting my butt out of bed a couple times a week at 5:30am to drive to the Coral Gables Country Club to run around the golf course (5.6). It always seems like a horrid idea when I'm in bed, but once I'm up running around the course with J, talking about our day ahead, and watching the sun rise above the banyan trees and the fog settle on the golf course, it seems like the best place in the whole world. It's been a great way to start the day. Of course the days we sleep in is nice too.

Running more with Jeremy has been great for both of us, but especially me because it pushes me to run a bit faster. He never makes me, as a matter of fact, he is always encouraging me to slow myself to a comfortable pace. But running with him makes me want to push myself harder, and I love it. Not only have my 5.6 mile runs progressively gotten faster, but I have run my fastest 3.2 mile loops after running with him. Here's a look at my runs since I last updated.

1/4 - Elliptical 45 minutes, stretch
1/6 - 13 miles - 2:40:12 Good run, felt great until walk breaks around mile 11. Hurt to start running again.
1/7 - weights
1/8 - 5.6 miles - 56:41
1/10 - 5.6 miles - 55:05
1/13 - 10 miles - 1:50:05 - Good pace, ran closer to race pace.
1/15 - 5.6 miles - 53:40 - PR for course
1/17 - 3.2 miles - 29:02 - PR for course
1/22 - 5.6 miles - 56:53 - Slow taper run
1/24 - 2.94 miles - 27:36 - Slow taper run

I am feeling a bit anxious since I haven't run too much in the past two weeks. I missed the long run last weekend due to Mercy's bachelorette party. I know I am tapering, but it still makes me nervous for how things will go on Sunday. I just feel like it's been so song since I did a long run. Now I know what people are talking about when they say the taper makes them nutty. I thought they were crazy before, but now I see their point.

So now it's just chill time till gameday. Basically trying to eat well, sleep well and drink a lot of water. I think my plan for the big day is to run with the training group, specifically Leslie and Tracy and take walk breaks up to ten, then depending on how good my pace is, how my knees feel and how tired I am, I will just run the rest of the way in. I can do 3 miles without stops and the last time I did the 13 mile run, after mile 10 the walk breaks hurt more than they did good. While I was running I felt great, but then I would stop and starting up again was killing me. Anyway, I guess we'll just see how it goes Sunday.

Oh yeah, I have my miles logged since I started my training. Since 9/30/06 I have logged 244.35 miles. Not too shabby.

Merry New Year!!!!

Holidays are fun. But it's a good thing they end quickly. If not I would be 400lbs and constantly drunk.

I feel a little better this week about my training. My long run on the Saturday before Christmas was good. It was scheduled 10 miles but we made it 12 at the end. We ran a different route this time through Key Biscayne and Crandon Park. It was a beautiful morning as we ran along the water and watched the sun rise. Good stuff. We felt good at the end so Leslie, Tracy and I decided to run the Rickenbacker Causeway back and forth one time to add another 2 miles. The bridge is a lot harder (and more windy) after a 10 mile run, but it was ok and we finished strong.



I had a good run with Jeremy on Christmas morning around my parent's house in Sarasota (5.75 miles/57:00). We figured out we like running together. I think he just likes the walk breaks I make him take, but whatever. We had good conversation while running and decided maybe we should try running together once a week. Which will be good for my training, maybe not so much for his.

When we got back to Miami on Thursday, he took me for a run that he usually does with a friend of his. A 5.6 mile loop around the Coral Gables Country Club. It is a beautiful run around a great neighborhood. We ran and decided which houses we would buy or not buy when we win the lottery. That was a great run. The weather was cold and I ran a good pace 5.6 miles/53:23.

Saturday our long run was a Hash Run. It was a beautiful course through Pinecrest (more lottery homes) and we ended up at Joanne's bakery where we didn't get beer :( but were rewarded with a huge, free breakfast of fruit, juices, coffee, bagels, and other assorted breads and pastries. The run ended up being about 9.5 miles and we set a good pace, no one got lost and Mercy even showed up! It was actually pretty fun and all the new courses have helped to keep the boredom levels low.

Today, after our long (but fun) New Year's weekend, Jeremy dragged me out of bed at 5:15am to go run the golf course with him. It sounded like a good idea until I started actually running. It was horrible, the worse run I have had in awhile. It was hot, and humid (82 degrees in JANUARY?!?!). I was stiff, felt dizzy and all sorts of other crybaby stuff. If I hadn't been with Jeremy I would have quit at mile 0.5. But I finished it cause I have to be a tough guy around other people. We ran it in 5.6/55:57. Not horrible with walk breaks and I finished strong. I think I was just feeling like a baby.

Other than that, I have the big 14 miler this Saturday. The longest run before my mini-taper. Half-Marathon in 26 days!

Yuletide Cheer

Haha...right.

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like it's not really Christmas? It just feels different for some reason this year.

This past week I have been so busy with working, baking, shopping, wrapping, stressing and getting sick that I have only had a chance to run once, on Thursday morning. It was a nice 3.2 mile loop (30:40) that came just in time when I felt I was about to crack under the holiday stress.

My long run Saturday actually went great. A nice 10 mile run. Ran it slow again but I felt so strong at the end I didn't even care. Tomorrow morning we have another 10 miler with the option of making it a 13 at the end. I am really hoping to feel good enough to make it a 13 and get that barrier out of the way. But since I am getting a nasty cold, I don't know how great I will feel after a 10 mile run. Stupid germs.

The Nike Run Hit Remix was a lot of fun last Thursday.



Jer, Kevin, Marrissa and I all went to South Beach together and ran the 5 mile run which featured entertainment every mile from 90's phenoms, Young MC, Vanilla Ice, Digital Underground, Coolio, and De La Soul. The run was great, a little dark at first, but overall put together well. We ran it strictly for fun, so we weren't overly concerned with our time and started at the back of the pack with the 11-12 minute groups (even though the guys run a 8-9 minute mile pace).

At about mile 2 there was a 40 second Florida DOWNPOUR that soaked everyone for a minute. It ended quickly enough so no one thought much about it. We wound around and ran down Ocean Drive then ran the last mile and a half on the hard sand of Miami Beach. It was sprinkling a little and of course we thought it would end soon enough. We finished the race slow (54 minutes) but felt great. We somehow lost Kevin and Marissa and while we were waiting at the end, a hurricane of biblical proportions decided to come through and soak everything in it's sight. I hadn't seen rain like that in months. It was a complete downpour with 25-30mph winds, out of nowhere. It must have lasted 30 minutes (unusual for a Florida December rain). There was no place to go for cover and everyone was exposed on the beach, so needless to say everyone was drenched. I was standing in water up to my ankles as we waited at the bag check to get our stuff (nightmare). They had to shut off power to the main stage and cancel De La Soul because the wind and rain where tearing the stage apart. I would have been more dry if I had jumped in the ocean and swam for an hour. Of course by the time we made it back to the car, the wind and rain had stopped and it was a lovely evening. How I love Miami.

At least I got a medal :)

Tomorrow after our run, I'm off the Sarasota for Christmas with the family. Maybe then the Christmas spirit will finally creep in.

Happy holidays!

Tired and Unmotivated

I'm not sure why some things make you want to run forever and others make you stop in your tracks. I have felt so tired and unwilling to make an effort to run since Thanksgiving and I'm not sure why. Well, I kind of know why, I just have a lot going on. But it's nothing that should keep me from running, the one thing that actually makes me feel better.

The funny thing is the last few times I've run have been great. My Turkey Trot was fun. We had perfect, cold fall weather and I actually got a PR for a 5k course (28:31).

Here are more pictures from The Turkey Trot and Thanksgiving weekend.

Anyway, I have been running, just not as much as I was a few weeks back. The weekend of Thanksgiving I was home at my parents and decided to take a few days off to let my legs heal. It seems as though I was having the beginnings of an IT band problem in my right leg. Pain in my hip flexor was ultimately making my knee feel weak and numb during my runs and causing extreme pain towards the end. I learned some new stretches which seem to have helped a bit and it hasn't been as bad as it was the week before Thanksgiving.

After Turkey Day I had two good runs during the week.
Tuesday - 3.22 miles / 31:08
Thursday - 4.58 miles / 47:32

Then my long run on Saturday was great. It was a 10 mile run and really humid, but for some reason it seemed really easy. Probably because I had taken it easy that week. Then Sunday I spent 2 hours sweating and lifting in the gym.

Last week I only ran once.
Monday - 3.22 / 30:40
It was a great run, and my best time for that loop. But then I took the rest of the week off before my big 12 mile run on Saturday which was a total mistake.

It started out ok. The weather was great and I had Tracy there to talk to me the whole time which was nice, but around mile 10 my hip and knee started acting up. I had a much harder time starting up the run again after walk breaks and it was way harder than I expected. Luckily, Tracy just kept talking and kept me distracted until I made it back safe and sound. It wasn't that I felt like I couldn't do it, it was just really hard at the end. I guess it was about time I had a crappy long run. Hopefully this week will be better.

So this week I have been trying to run and stretch more. So far,
Monday - 3.22 / 30:23
Wednesday - 3.22 30:29
Both great runs. Monday is my best time so far. I think today I would have beat it by a long shot but I had to stop for traffic for like 10-15 seconds towards the end. Oh well.

Tomorrow I am going to South Beach to run the Nike Run Hit Remix. A 5-mile run that has stages set up throughout the course with crazy-ass bands from the 90's playing. Young MC, Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Digital Underground and De La Soul are all performing! How awesome is it going to be to run my as Young MC is singing "Bust a Move"??!?! Oh, and the best part, Gerardo is the MC! That's right, RICO SUAVE BITCHES!!! I really can not contain my joy at the absurdity of it all.

Double Digits!

OK, first of all...
GO BUCKS!!!



How awesome was that game?!?! I missed Columbus so badly yesterday. I really wished I could have been there walking home drunk and happy from the Varsity Club.



However, something even more amazing happened to me yesterday...my 9 mile run. Actually, it WAS a 9 mile run, that turned into a 10.7 mile run!!!! That's right people, I am officially in the double digits!

We had a 9 mile backwards run scheduled for 6am. The weather was in the LOW SIXTIES with low humidity and really windy. Mercy met me at my house and we drove out to Hobie Beach on Key Biscayne instead of our usual start in South Miami. It was a beautiful and much needed change of pace that got the group remotivated for training.

We started our run by going over the Rickenbacker Causeway and back.




It was still nice and dark out while we ran it and the view of downtown Miami was beautiful. The bridge was a decent climb, but nothing we couldn't handle, especially since we were all adrenalized from the cool morning air. Having Mercy with me really helped the run fly by since we talked the whole entire way. We ran into Coconut Grove and back and felt so great when we hit the nine mile mark that we decided to run the bridge again. This sounded like a fantastic idea, until we were running back. It seemed a hell of a lot steeper after another 8 miles. Our time was slow as hell but I've decided not to even think about my times on Saturdays and just focus on the accomplishment of building my mileage. We ran it in 2:06:05 but that includes 4 water breaks and minute walk breaks every five minutes, so it really wasn't too bad. And to top it off, I wasn't even sore today.

So, other than that, just planning for Turkey week. We have lots of family coming into town and lots of running planned. I've got some training runs Monday and Tuesday, the 5k Trot on Thursday, and Jer and I are planning a 10 mile run Saturday at my parent's house. We'll see how easy it is with my 8mile/minute running marathon husband.

In the Mood for a Race

I found two upcoming running events to sign up for this week which makes me happy since my routine is getting a bit stale. Nothing gets me more motivated to kick it up a notch than signing up for an event.

First, I signed up for a 5k Turkey Trot on Thursday.



I was going to sign up for my first 10K, but I figured I could just run a so-so 10k or try to improve on my disappointing Race For The Cure time. I think I need just a bit more training to run a 10k the way I would want to for a race.

Then there is the Nike Run Hit Remix on Miami Beach December 14th.



It's a 5 mile run that starts at 8pm on the beach and has performances throughout the course from Digital Underground, Coolio, Vanilla Ice, Young MC, and De La Soul! Helllooo?!??! How freaking crazy is this? And, you get a free Dri Fit. It's all around awesomeness.

Anyway, my runs this week were a little slower since I have been feeling pretty tired and my legs feel like sand bags. However, unlike in August, at least the weather is cooperating so the runs and workouts are never all that bad.

Saturday - 7miles/1:23:53 group run with 11minute/5:1 pace
Sunday - Gym -Lift, 30 minutes elliptical, 30 minutes stepmill - (Really hard day)
Monday - Slept
Tuesday - 4.6 miles/47:52
Wednesday - 3.2 miles/31:52
Thursday - Gym -45 minutes elliptical
Friday -Slept (woo-hoo!)

So, tomorrow is a big day. I have my first 9 mile run, which is pretty exciting. We are also starting from a new location out by Key Biscayne and running over the huge bridge twice. It's someone's sneaky way to work hills into our flat Miami training. But it should be pretty nice. The sunrise over the water and downtown Miami as well as mild weather in low 60's should make the 9 miles a bit less intimidating.

I hope.

I Run Like a Girl

I really want this shirt bad. Maybe Santa is reading this.


It seems as though my seven mile run was no fluke and I really am a runner. Ever since that run, my confidence has been sky high and I am finally figuring out what style of running works best for me. I'm learning how I should pace, if and when I need walk breaks, that I NEED to use body glide, that dry fit socks and underwear really DO make a difference, that I need to keep hydrated the day before a long run and I need to eat a bar an hour before I run to keep up my energy. All the things I thought were a bunch of bullshit before seem to really be true. Imagine that.

My eight mile run was great. actually, it was even better than the seven. It was another humid, overcast day. But we kept a great pace and I felt really strong at the end. I also finally started talking to other people in the group since Mercy has had so many things going on and hasn't really been able to make it out anymore. It really was a great day. Another rockstar moment in running.

This week I kept up the same schedule as the week before, but changed my morning runs to 4.6 instead of the 3.22. I needed to break up the rut and start adding more mileage during the week. All my runs this week have been really good and I even broke through my ipod barrier after my shuffle broke this week (stupid ipods). I had this thing where I couldn't run by myself without music. But since I had no choice this week, I sucked it up and did it and it was great. It was actually quite relaxing first thing in the morning with just the birds chirping and my feet pounding. A good way to start the day. Anyway, my schedule was:

Sunday - Gym, Abs, stretch, Lift, 30 minutes elliptical, 30 minutes stepmill, level 7
Monday - Run, 4.58 - 46.49 minutes
Tuesday - Slept :)
Wednesday - Run, 4.58 - 47.09 minutes
Thursday - Gym, 30 minutes elliptical, 15 minutes stepmill, stretch
Friday - off

So, today we had another 7 mile run to give us a bit of a break. The weather was beautiful and other than my legs feeling a little heavy, I did great. Once I stretched, they were back to normal. I also invested in a knee strap.



I look like a total dork, but whatever. This thing works! I felt my knee swelling after 2.5 miles, but it never got painful and I have been walking pain free all day today. It was totally worth me having to step to the side and adjust it every walk break because it was sliding down. That's what I get for having chickenlegs I guess.

The Run

Finally, I know what it is like to truly feel like a runner.

Last Saturday I had my very first 7 mile run, the farthest I have ever attempted. And while I was a bit nervous at overcoming the mental block of my new distance I knew my legs could do it. My ankles have been much better in the past two weeks (not perfect but better) and my knee has been cooperating as well.

I don't know exactly what it was that made the run so much better than I had expected. The fact that Mercy couldn't come that morning bummed me out a bit, but may have ultimately helped me stay focused instead of talking the whole time. The weather stayed nice and dark for a long time and although it was extremely humid that morning, it was nice and breezy and rained a few Florida showers throughout the run (downpours that last 2-5 minutes then stop), which helped to cool us down. I also ate a Powerbar that morning which is something I never do, but for some reason thought I might need it. Now I know the importance of a little food to keep you energized before you run. Whether it was the Powerbar, the walkbreaks, the group dynamic or whatever, I finally experienced the kind of run that we all dream about. The kind of run where you can stop thinking about running and just enjoy the surroundings. The kind of run where you wonder what you were bitching about all those other times. The kind of run where you wonder how many more half-marathons you will have time to train for this year.

I have often had dreams in the past that I was running at night, in the dark and felt like I could run forever; this run was the closest I have ever come to experiencing that feeling. It started out dark and breezy and after about mile 2 I finally felt tired, but it passed after about one minute. I stuck myself behind one of the guys in our group and just stayed there until I got my pace under control. The walk breaks, water stops and slower pace than I run alone really made a huge difference and three miles into the run, I lead the pack of runners with two other girls the entire way back. When I was done I knew I could have easily run at least two more miles. I felt like a rockstar. I felt like a runner.

Tomorrow morning is my next long run, 8 miles. Ha! Let's hope last week wasn't a fluke.

Anyway, I got a few other decent workouts in this week:
Sunday - Gym- Weight Training, 45 minutes Elliptical, 15 minutes Stepmill
Monday - Run - 3.22 miles - 33.25
Tuesday - Slept :)
Wednesday - Run - 3.22 miles - 31.31
Thursday - Gym - 30 minutes Elliptical, 15 minutes Stepmill
Friday - Slept :)

But the cooler weather really needs to come back. It's November for the love of God.

Thank You Autumn

FINALLY!!!
Cooler weather made it's way to South Florida this week and along with it came some fantastic runs. Well, maybe not fantastic, but definitely a lot better than any I had encountered in the past few weeks.

The saga of the ankles continue but nothing too dramatic has happened with that. The pain has been way down and there has been only a slight bit of swelling, usually in the evening. I went to the doctor again today for an ultrasound on my legs to check for blood clots, but he said they looked pretty good and I would get the results back next week. Let's hope the results end up 0-3.

So I was really good about getting up early all week to run before work. With longer hours at work and the time change coming, it was getting impossible to run in the evening anymore. So I made the decision to kick it into high gear and start getting up at 6am instead of 7:45am (which has always been one of the best things about my job). Surprisingly, it wasn't that difficult and I am amazed at the amount of energy I have after a morning run. I am so much less sleepy in the afternoon and it's easier (obviously) to fall asleep at night.

Anyway, Monday was bloody hot and miserable. My legs felt like lead and I stopped a couple of times, but at least I ran. Then we had a cold front come through Monday night and by 6am on Tuesday it was in the low 60's and windy outside. It wasn't the best run, but it felt a hundred times better than the day before. Then Wednesday, it was still cool and windy and I ended up having the best run in weeks, no stopping and at a decent pace. What a difference 15 degrees and lower humidity can make.

Mon - 3.22 miles 34 minutes
Tues - 3.22 miles 32.58 minutes
Wed - 3.22 miles 31.20 minutes
Thurs - 45 minutes elliptical
Fri -off

So tomorrow is the long group run and at 7 miles, it will be my longest run to date. Even though it's supposed to be hot and stormy and Mercy will probably not be there, I am still pretty excited. I guess it will be a true test of my will.

I'm back baby.

Wow, a lot has happened and not happened since I last updated. It's been a crazy few weeks with work and doctors but hopefully things may be starting to look up.

The week after my first run with the training group my ankles swelled up like balloons. The right one was so bad I couldn't wear normal shoes for a week and just lived in my flip-flops (which is not that different than normal, but whatever). I went to the doctor and he said it looked like either Rheumatoid Arthritis or Gout. He was suspecting Gout because of a certain diuretic I had been taking for the last 9 months for another medical condition (love getting old, I think I have mentioned that before). One of the side-effects from this medication is Gout. The symptoms sounded about right so I went on with life as a gimp waiting for the results of all the blood they stole from me and the xray they took of my knee.

The day after I went to the doctor, my ankle swelled up so bad it looked like my foot was trying to swallow my toes. It was crazy. My lovely friends at work, one in particular, coined my newest nickname - "Bigfoot", which made me want to laugh hysterically and cry like a big baby all at the same time. It still felt like strained muscles in both feet, mostly just uncomfortable but not unbearable. The massive swelling lasted for about a week and caused me to miss the second training day of the half-marathon. I was not overly thrilled about already missing out because of injury, but since I literally couldn't put on a shoe, I figured I should probably take it easy for a bit.

The next week the swelling started to subside but didn't go away completely and they were still sore. I could only manage one 45 minute session of cardio on the elliptical machine (mainly because of my husband's protests to me running). However, I was bound and determined to not miss week three of training. It was a six mile run which I was concerned with since I hadn't run at all in two weeks, but it went really well. Between the darkness of the early morning, Mercy talking to me and keeping my mind occupied, the slower pace set by the group, the walk breaks, the water stations and the running-pack vibe, I felt great and even though my ankles were still swollen a bit, once I started running they didn't bother me at all. Actually, the swelling went down considerably after I was done. It's a Christmas miracle!

This week Tuesday I did a 3.22 mile run in 32.24 which felt horrible. I had to stop about 2 or 3 times. My pace was faster than I run with the group which probably explains the dead feeling while I was running. I went to the gym on Thursday and tried to run but the treadmill felt very claustrophobic and I couldn't get into it, so I just went and lifted after about 8 minutes.

Then today I did the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Race For the Cure.



Which is always a helpful reminder that no matter how big my ankles and feet get, things could be a lot worse. And even though it was really hot and I felt miserable when I was running it, I did it in a respectable time (31.11) and was surrounded by an amazing group of strong and fearless women, always inspiring.

So yesterday I got the results back from the doctor and am now extremely frustrated. He said they all came back normal (including my xray) and the only thing that was off was my level of cortisone, which was high. This seems about right since I have been getting shot up with cortisone and taking prednisone off and on since January for the other medical problems (the same one I was on the diuretic for). Now I have to go in for an ultrasound on my ankles and see a rheumatologist since even now, three weeks later, I still have swelling, redness and pain in my ankles and it gets better and worse depending on which way the wind is blowing. Whatever. I'm running again, my ankles don't effect it and even my knee has been treating me well, so I will just milk it for a long as I can. Although I feel like I am starting all over again with my training from what I was doing in August at least I am getting back out there and it feels great, even if I am slow.

First Day of Training

I haven't updated in forever since I hadn't been running at all in hopes that my knee would magically heal itself. Unfortunately, I'm no magician, and my knee is just one in a long line of many of my current ailments.

So I took a week off after my last entry which was fine since I was in and out of town for three weeks straight for various functions and I really didn't have a lot of time to dedicate to running anyway. I did manage one run on a Wednesday evening that was amazing. My knee was feeling better so I decided to give it a shot. With the humidity levels a bit lower and after a week of rest, I ran great. I ran a 3.22 mile loop in 31:07 with no stops and felt like a rock star. Until immediately afterwards when my knee started hurting again.

So I rested one more week and tried it again, but after about three minutes I could feel the pain in my knee coming back so I stopped and decided to just take the next week and a half off from running so that I would be ready for training when it started. The only problem is, things are getting worse.

I have always had problems with the joints in my wrists and knees, but this week things just went crazy. My elbows hurt, my knees are stiff, and my right foot is swollen on the Achilles tendon and my left foot is swollen on the front of the ankle and top of the foot. Both feet are in extreme pain like the muscles around them that feels like I may have injured them while exercising. Except, I HADN'T been exercising. When I wake up in the morning, my ankles are so stiff I can barely walk. And for the past two days, I have had a slight fever. It's insane. Anyway, I am definitely making a doctor's appointment next week, something is just not right, obviously.

Anyway, the first day of the half-marathon training began this morning and I wasn't going to let a little bit of swelling, pain and fever, get me down! I know it sounds bad, but actually after I dragged myself out of bed at 5:15am and got on my running clothes and shoes, I actually did feel a lot better. And my knee didn't hurt at all.

Anyway, Mercy showed up and we met up with everyone else at the hospital. There are about 300 people signed up for this half group. I couldn't believe how many people were there. Mercy and I joined the 11 minute/mile group with a 5:1 walk ratio. We were kind of bummed that there wasn't a 10:1 group but once we got running, we felt like it was a perfect fit. We ran a nice easy three mile run which felt great. I wasn't even tired when we were done and it seemed to fly on by. And best of all, my swollen ankles weren't hurting at all. My knee however, is a different story. It hurts again so it's definitely something I need to get checked out. I'm just hoping it doesn't end up being something crazy like rheumatoid arthritis, but it really sounds like it could be. Whatever, I'm not diagnosing myself till I see a doctor. I'm just kind of bummed that I finally begin something I was so excited about doing trying to improve my health and I'm already injured. And worst yet, what if they tell me not to run? Damn.

It's Always Something - Part II

Now it's my knee.

It hurts. And bad at that. My knees have always bothered me. After 10 years of bartending and overextending my knees over the speed rails to grab heavy glass racks, my knees have never been the same. Sitting with them bent for over an hour at work causes them to fill with pain and forget about riding on a plane, it's torture. After a six mile run on Saturday my left knee hurt so bad I could barely walk, then after 2 days off it felt better. Then tonight after another 6 miler the pain is back. It hurts when I touch my foot to the ground, it hurts when I apply any pressure, it hurts when I bend it out and in again.

I read up about it and it sounds exactly like runner's knee except for the 40 miles per week of running that people usually do before experiencing it. Ha. That's kind of a joke. How about 12-17 miles?!!? But I have recently doubled my mileage and it's gotten way worse so who knows. My husband says I have more aches and pains than anyone he has ever met.

Did I mention that I also turned 31 yesterday?
Oh how I love getting old(er).

Here's some birthday pics.

Work lunch on Friday with my birthday pineapple.


Driving to Sarasota, another Florida sunset.


Birthday dinner with J.


Mmmm...cake.


Good times.

Anyway, had a good run with Jeremy on Saturday, We left on a 6 mile loop around 9am on a bright and sunny day (hot). It was actually a pretty nice run and it was fun to run with him. He ran at my pace without making me feel like he was being held back and in return, he inadvertently made me run faster. We finished the 6.02 mile run in under an hour (59:24) and that was with one minute walk breaks every 10 minutes. YAY! Of course, the last mile was brutal as we ran home around 10am facing the afternoon sun and 90 degree temperatures. But I did it and it was kind of nice to get in the sun for a change.

I took Sunday and Monday off and ran tonight in my favorite running conditions. Soggy and humid. The humidity doesn't bother me as long as there is a light rain involved and after a morning shower turned into an all-day event (an unusual circumstance for Miami) I knew I had to take advantage.

I ran two loops around campus with an extra street to make a nice 6.11 mile run. I also did it all by myself, which is the longest run I have done to date alone. I felt great. I did minute walk breaks at every mile, but still ran a decent speed. I finished in 1:03:14 and felt like I had only run my usual 3. I was on cloud nine until I started walking and felt my knee. Now Jeremy says I need to rest it and not run for a few weeks so it doesn't get injured before I start my real training in October. Sigh. Just when I was starting to get warmed up.

Favorite running song of the day: "Days Go By" Dirty Vegas

Thanks Ernie!

Finally, something good to come out of a hurricane.
Less humidity and a slight breeze.

Ernesto came and went Tuesday night without much to write home about. Actually, it was the least amount of rain we have had in a single night all summer. Don't get me wrong, it was great to not lose power, trees, roofs and lives, but by the media reports you would have thought Katrina's pissed-off twin brother was coming to finish the job she left from last year. Needless to say, the media in South Florida loves hurricane season and it's painful to watch in more ways than one. I mean, did we really have to suspend our regularly scheduled programming for two days to report on something that may or may not even be a Tropical Storm? Meanwhile, local Miamians are acting like it's Armageddon. What a mess. Of course this is all totally besides the point and hopefully this storm will not turn back into a hurricane in the northern part of the country or I will feel like a huge ass.

Anyway, one good thing came out of old Ernesto and that was favorable running conditions on Wednesday. I had the best run I have had in weeks in Miami. It was noticeably less humid, slightly breezy and overcast. Perfect.

Then there was tonight. I came home from work with a blazing headache and my ear starting to feel full. I knew I needed to go for a run since this is the only thing that ever helps to alleviate these symptoms. It was HOT, reeeally humid and sunny, all of my favorite things. I set out knowing that I was going to have a tough time, but sucked it up knowing that I would only have a chance for possibly one run this weekend. I started out slow, but kept a good pace. I had a great run considering how hot it was. I didn't stop once and even sprinted all the way down my street to finish.

Wedesday night:
3.22 miles
31:58
no stops

Thursday night:
3.22
31.58 (same exact time)
no stops
I finally got my exact mile markers down to record my splits.
Mile 1 - 10.29
Mile 2 - 9.57
Mile 3 - 9.28
.217 - 2.02

Now it's off to Sarasota to meet up with friends and family for the Labor Day/birthday weekend!

Favorite running song of the day: "Brouhaha" Beastie Boys

Oh Canada!

I'm back from my weekend excursion to Canada, aye!?!

While I wasn't really looking forward to going simply because I was busy and didn't want the hassle of flying right now, I'm so glad I did. I got to spend time with family that I hadn't seen since my wedding three and a half years ago, got filled in on old-school family gossip (lets just say it's weird when you find out your grandparents were normal people with normal marital problems just like everyone else) and got to spend time in Windsor again, the city I used to spend so many summers in as a child.

Oh, and then there was the food.

See, my Great-Aunt Ann is one of those little old ladies that tries stuffing food down your throat as soon as you walk in the door. Everytime I entered the room she was trying to feed me. Oh, and she's Slovak. Since no one else I know cooks Slovak food anymore, I just couldn't pass it up. I mean, how often do you get homemade cabbage rolls that are actually delicious? Not often. Here are a couple of meals I had.

Dinner #1
homemade Slovak pastries and pecan tarts
sausage, cheese and crackers
cabbage rolls
fried chicken breasts
perogies (yum!)
salad
bread (white of course)
beer

Dinner #2
pizza with sausage and ham
cabbage rolls
perogies

Dinner #3
turkey
stuffing
gravy
ham
sausage
mashed potatoes
sweet potatoes
corn on the cob
roasted vegetables
salad
marinated tomatoes and cucumbers
bread
cranberry sauce
creme brulee
pita bread with hummus (don't ask where that came from, but I'm also Lebanese, so it seemed normal)

No, it was not Thanksgiving or any other crazy Canadian holiday, this is just how my family eats up there. Of course there are six people that live in that house, but still, I remember there always being that much food around even when it was just my Aunt Ann living alone.

The best food however was...



Ahhhh, Coffee Crisp, possibly the best damn candy bar in all the world. Is it really as good as it seems, or is it just because I can only get it in Canada, therefore only eat it once every 5 years? Who knows, I brought a bag home with me just to make sure.

Needless to say, I feel like a cow. I did manage to fit one nice run in on Saturday morning. There is a great bike path right up the street from my cousin's house that runs along Riverside Drive. I had a comfortable run in a mildly humid, overcast day with a great view of the water and some beautiful homes. When I later tracked the run on Runstoppable, I realized I ran 5.94 miles in 59:32. Here's my path.



Not too shabby. I stopped after about 3 miles at a bathroom in the marina to get a drink of water and stopped my watch, so I got a few minutes of rest in there before I headed back. But it was definitely a much better run which leads me to believe that I'm not as bad at running as I thought and it just may be the humidity causing me troubles. What a relief.

Anyway, the trip was great and flying was completely hassle-free. Here is a view from the flight home.



Then I came home to this.



Fun. And on the one-year anniversary of Katrina too. People were freaking out. The media was on a hurricane scare-frenzy since there have been no storms during what was suppoed to be, "the busiest year for hurricanes" so far. Cars were lined up down the streets an a feeble attempt to get gas before the storm and folks were just getting mean. Thankfully tonight though the storm broke up and has passed over us and we will have power for one more week. At least until another one rolls through.

Happy Birthday Pops!

My dad is 65 today. Love you daddio!

Having yesterday off from exercise was bliss. I was exhausted and actually went to bed at a reasonable hour (10:30pm). I got almost 9 1/2 hours of sleep. Wow! I felt great today which probably explains why my run tonight was so much better.

Not great, but better.

I ran one lap and to the end of my street for a total of 3.24 miles.

Total time: 32:55

Not too bad. It was still humid, but I was rested, so I didn't almost die, which was a nice change of pace. On a good note, it had been insane all day with thunderstorms and cleared up while I was running so the sunset was crazy-beautiful. When I got home I ran inside and grabbed a camera. Here is a shot from my yard.



I guess Miami weather isn't all bad.

Favorite running song of the day: "Work It" Missy Elliot (before my crap suffle died)

Blame it on the Humidity...

...it couldn't possibly be because I suck.

Ran the six with Mercy tonight - 5.79 miles to be exact.

Whatever. It sucked, but I did it. Seriously, running was so much easier 3 weeks ago. It has to be this humidity, I just can't take it anymore. The only good part about it, is when I start my real training in 5 weeks, it may seem a bit easier in the cooler weather. The sad thing is, it's not even that humid today.



Anyway, we ran the first loop ( 2.9) then walked for four minutes. Then ran to mile 5, walked 1:30 minutes then ran the rest of the way home. We finished at 1:04:24, not great, but who cares? Tonight was all about finishing without passing out/throwing up an anyone. If I had been alone, I probably would have stopped at mile 1. That's the good thing about running with someone else, you really feel the need to not let them down. I highly recommend it for anyone who is struggling, like myself.

Tomorrow I have a day off from exercise, my knees need a rest.