The title says it all...I've been dealing with blisters on both feet and it sucks! I have tried a couple different shoes and finally have decided to go back to the shoes I ran in when I first got back into running. Charm City Running Store has been awesome in working with me! They special ordered the shoes that I needed. I am so hopeful that the new shoes come in quickly and that they ease my blisters!
I am scheduled to run 10 miles on Saturday. I hope to be able to do it pain free by wearing an older pair of shoes that didn't give me problems.
Running is never easy!
Read along with my blog as I discuss weight, schedule and life challenges as I try to get my triathlon training back on track. I will also discuss what I've learned along the way and what new goals I'm setting for myself.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
It Was a Good Weekend
I was without Internet access this weekend, so that's why I wasn't able to post in a few days. So this post might be a bit longer than my normal entries.
Saturday I had to do a long run. Being in Betterton meant that I was not able to run with my training group. I've always had a very difficult time running alone. Knowing that I was scheduled to run 7-9 miles ALONE was weighing on my mind the whole trip down. I mapped out a run that was just over 8 miles. Because of the busy day we had on Saturday, I got up at 6 and headed out.
It was a sticky, humid morning and several areas had quite a bit of fog. I did well until I got into the town of Still Pond. I had planned a break for water and taking in some fuel. I couldn't seem to get myself back together. I struggled mentally and physically for the next mile or so. I gave in an walked for quite a bit. There was even a point where I considered calling someone to come pick me up.
I'm not sure what changed, but at some point I started running again and didn't stop. The rest of the run felt good. I noticed that my breathing was good...I was in the zone! What a great feeling to get through a mental challenge on my own!
I've recently been talking with some friends about doing a triathlon. Any of my long time readers know that this is not the first time I've toyed with the idea of a tri. So when I was talking with my neighbor Maureen Saturday evening, I asked her if she would swim with me Sunday morning. She is part of a group that regularly swims from the public beach to the cottages...a swim that she has been told is a mile.
Sunday morning I was questioning this decision, but I put on my bathing suit and went to meet Maureen. She handed me a swim cap and off we went. I was very tentative at the start...I didn't even put my head in the water because I was worried about where I was going. But about halfway through I relaxed and tried to enjoy the swim.
It was physically challenging. I could only do one stroke for a little bit before I switched to a different stroke because I was tired. I could tell that Maureen was swimming at my slow pace but she was encouraging me the entire way. Here's a photo of us at one point in our swim...I'm the one attempting to do a crawl stroke while Maureen is doing an energy-saving breaststroke. I couldn't seem to get the breaststroke to work for me so I mostly did the crawl or the backstroke. I think I would be laughed off the course if I did a backstroke in an actual race!
So I've realized that if I am going to do a triathlon, I have a long way to go! But my first "open water swim" is under my belt and I feel good about that. Now to conquer my fear of the bike...
Saturday I had to do a long run. Being in Betterton meant that I was not able to run with my training group. I've always had a very difficult time running alone. Knowing that I was scheduled to run 7-9 miles ALONE was weighing on my mind the whole trip down. I mapped out a run that was just over 8 miles. Because of the busy day we had on Saturday, I got up at 6 and headed out.
It was a sticky, humid morning and several areas had quite a bit of fog. I did well until I got into the town of Still Pond. I had planned a break for water and taking in some fuel. I couldn't seem to get myself back together. I struggled mentally and physically for the next mile or so. I gave in an walked for quite a bit. There was even a point where I considered calling someone to come pick me up.
I'm not sure what changed, but at some point I started running again and didn't stop. The rest of the run felt good. I noticed that my breathing was good...I was in the zone! What a great feeling to get through a mental challenge on my own!
I've recently been talking with some friends about doing a triathlon. Any of my long time readers know that this is not the first time I've toyed with the idea of a tri. So when I was talking with my neighbor Maureen Saturday evening, I asked her if she would swim with me Sunday morning. She is part of a group that regularly swims from the public beach to the cottages...a swim that she has been told is a mile.
Sunday morning I was questioning this decision, but I put on my bathing suit and went to meet Maureen. She handed me a swim cap and off we went. I was very tentative at the start...I didn't even put my head in the water because I was worried about where I was going. But about halfway through I relaxed and tried to enjoy the swim.
It was physically challenging. I could only do one stroke for a little bit before I switched to a different stroke because I was tired. I could tell that Maureen was swimming at my slow pace but she was encouraging me the entire way. Here's a photo of us at one point in our swim...I'm the one attempting to do a crawl stroke while Maureen is doing an energy-saving breaststroke. I couldn't seem to get the breaststroke to work for me so I mostly did the crawl or the backstroke. I think I would be laughed off the course if I did a backstroke in an actual race!
So I've realized that if I am going to do a triathlon, I have a long way to go! But my first "open water swim" is under my belt and I feel good about that. Now to conquer my fear of the bike...
Monday, July 30, 2012
Dry Runs and Lost Children
The past 2 Saturdays have started with me running miles and miles in the rain. I was so pleased when I woke up this Saturday morning and saw the sun! I ran 5.5 miles. It was a bit sticky but otherwise a pleasant run. My running partner for the day was a lady named Glenda. For some reason, I was really struggling in the last mile of the run. Normally at that point, I'm OK mentally because I know that I'm almost finished. It was surprising to me to have such a mental challenge. I was grateful when Glenda continually encouraged me to keep going. I love running with people!
Sunday I decided to meet the 5K training group. My plan called for a recovery run and I figured it would be better to do that run with a group. My daughter, Ryann, decided to come with me. The running group broke into smaller groups...the runners and the run/walkers. Ryann went with the run/walkers and I joined the runners. I had a very nice, easy run around Centennial Lake. The loop is about 2.2 miles. When I finished, the running coach, Meghan, told me that Ryann had kept going when the other run/walkers turned back. So I figured I would run the opposite way until I met her and we could finish together.
So I'm running, and running, and running. After a mile in the opposite direction, I know Ryann either took a side path and is lost or she turned back the other way. I was praying that she turned back, but at every offshoot from the main path, I screamed her name. After going another half mile, I started to run FAST. I kept saying, please be at the end, please be at the end, please be at the end.
I came around the final turn and could see where the running group gathered. I saw Ryann standing with Meghan. I started crying. Meghan yelled "I have her!" I could only throw up my hands and whisper "yay, thank you". She then yells "are you OK?" I gave her a weak thumbs up. Finally I got to them and hugged Ryann and thanked Meghan.
At that point, knowing she was safe, I realized how fast I had run that second lap...and I was exhausted...but thankful that she was OK. What a day!
Sunday I decided to meet the 5K training group. My plan called for a recovery run and I figured it would be better to do that run with a group. My daughter, Ryann, decided to come with me. The running group broke into smaller groups...the runners and the run/walkers. Ryann went with the run/walkers and I joined the runners. I had a very nice, easy run around Centennial Lake. The loop is about 2.2 miles. When I finished, the running coach, Meghan, told me that Ryann had kept going when the other run/walkers turned back. So I figured I would run the opposite way until I met her and we could finish together.
So I'm running, and running, and running. After a mile in the opposite direction, I know Ryann either took a side path and is lost or she turned back the other way. I was praying that she turned back, but at every offshoot from the main path, I screamed her name. After going another half mile, I started to run FAST. I kept saying, please be at the end, please be at the end, please be at the end.
I came around the final turn and could see where the running group gathered. I saw Ryann standing with Meghan. I started crying. Meghan yelled "I have her!" I could only throw up my hands and whisper "yay, thank you". She then yells "are you OK?" I gave her a weak thumbs up. Finally I got to them and hugged Ryann and thanked Meghan.
At that point, knowing she was safe, I realized how fast I had run that second lap...and I was exhausted...but thankful that she was OK. What a day!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Quick Knee Update
So I didn't run on Thursday and I will not run today. My knee is feeling good so I'm hopeful that I'll be able to run my long run tomorrow morning. I have found with my knee problems that it's so important for me to listen to my knee when it starts to yell at me. Hopefully this time I listened early enough so that yesterday and today are the only 2 days I miss!
77 Days until the Baltimore Half Marathon!
77 Days until the Baltimore Half Marathon!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Lesson #1 - You Don't Have to Finish
I met my running group on the track today for a workout I've never done before...partner 800's. It was so much fun! The first group runs a lap at an easy pace, the second group joins the first group and they run together for 1 lap at goal race pace, then the first group stops and rests while the second group runs an easy lap. When they are done, the first group starts the process all over again. It was so fun! I was feeling good and hitting some nice solid paces. Then on the 5th round, my knee felt funny...a few steps later it felt very bad. I stopped and walked, tried to run again, and gave up. I knew at that point that I would have to drop out of the workout. I definitely would have damaged my knee if I continued.
I had knee problems when I ran track and cross country in high school. My junior year of high school, the state cross country meet fell on my 16th birthday. I injured my knee in the first half mile of the race...and still finished! I was in so much pain and did so much damage that I was on crutches for weeks and eventually had to have surgery. Stupid, right? Well, it was always drilled into my head that you always finish a race...so I did...even though it was to the detriment of my physical wellbeing.
So today's workout shows how far I've grown. I can actually stop a workout even though every ounce of me wanted to keep going. But I would much rather be able to run my long run on Saturday instead of being dumb today and being out for 2 weeks.
Plus I still ended up running over 2 miles of speed work. That's pretty darn good this early in my training program! I am so focused on getting myself back into shape and eventually breaking that 2 hour barrier in the half marathon!!! So I'm looking at the big picture instead of stressing out over one workout.
I had knee problems when I ran track and cross country in high school. My junior year of high school, the state cross country meet fell on my 16th birthday. I injured my knee in the first half mile of the race...and still finished! I was in so much pain and did so much damage that I was on crutches for weeks and eventually had to have surgery. Stupid, right? Well, it was always drilled into my head that you always finish a race...so I did...even though it was to the detriment of my physical wellbeing.
So today's workout shows how far I've grown. I can actually stop a workout even though every ounce of me wanted to keep going. But I would much rather be able to run my long run on Saturday instead of being dumb today and being out for 2 weeks.
Plus I still ended up running over 2 miles of speed work. That's pretty darn good this early in my training program! I am so focused on getting myself back into shape and eventually breaking that 2 hour barrier in the half marathon!!! So I'm looking at the big picture instead of stressing out over one workout.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Not Every Step is Forward
The last year of my life has been a personal challenge for many reasons...most of which are not running related so I will not go into a lot of detail. Let's just say that every aspect of my life has been upended. We have moved, I changed jobs, my husband and I separated, and the kids have entered into and left several "phases" along the way. Adding all of this up, it has left me with little energy or motivation to run. My mental state and my physical state have suffered as a result of my lack of running. I've gained 20 pounds and have struggled to get it off.
So I have re-committed myself to running. I joined a running group...FINALLY! That has made all the difference in the world in my motivation level. I am so thankful for my new running friends. They have no idea what an impact they have already made in my life...just by being there and helping me to keep going.
A friend recently asked why I have not been posting on this blog site much anymore. I responded "I haven't been running so I don't have anything to say". He reminded me that there are probably other people out there facing similar situations where life has gotten in the way of training...or just running in general. His encouragement has led to this post. I have realized that in life's journey, not all the steps we take are forward. My last 12 months have been filled with steps backward and sideways. But overall, I'm still in a better place than I was this time last year...so I am pleased to see that more steps were forward than any other direction.
I am running again! I am blogging again! I can't promise how often, and I can't promise that all of my posts will be interesting...but I can promise that I will be participating in the Baltimore Half Marathon in October...and along the way I will take many steps. If you are reading this and are interested, I'll do my best to document my journey.
So I have re-committed myself to running. I joined a running group...FINALLY! That has made all the difference in the world in my motivation level. I am so thankful for my new running friends. They have no idea what an impact they have already made in my life...just by being there and helping me to keep going.
A friend recently asked why I have not been posting on this blog site much anymore. I responded "I haven't been running so I don't have anything to say". He reminded me that there are probably other people out there facing similar situations where life has gotten in the way of training...or just running in general. His encouragement has led to this post. I have realized that in life's journey, not all the steps we take are forward. My last 12 months have been filled with steps backward and sideways. But overall, I'm still in a better place than I was this time last year...so I am pleased to see that more steps were forward than any other direction.
I am running again! I am blogging again! I can't promise how often, and I can't promise that all of my posts will be interesting...but I can promise that I will be participating in the Baltimore Half Marathon in October...and along the way I will take many steps. If you are reading this and are interested, I'll do my best to document my journey.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Texts from Friends
It always amazes me what small gestures can do. Today I got a text from Colleen...my running buddy from OC. She just basically said hi and that she missed me. But seeing her name pop up on my text messages gave me an instant dose of motivation. If it wasn't pouring down rain, I would go run right now! (is that an excuse???)
Lisa and I have also been texting for the past few weeks reminding each other to stick with it. Sadly it's been 10 days since we sent each other a text about our workouts. I'm falling down on the job of motivating my friends...I need to get back to it. Honestly I haven't sent her a text because I haven't been doing what I should have been doing. My workouts and runs have dropped off in the last 10 days. I do really well for a week or so then I get unmotivated again. I need some consistency!
Colleen and some of the members of the Ocean City Running Club are coming to Baltimore for a 5K in late June. If the race was today, I'm not sure that I would finish respectably. Actually I know that I would probably not finish in 30 minutes. But I have a few weeks to get myself together. I've got to get going but I can do it. I still won't be anywhere near my best time, but if I can finish in under 29 minutes, I'll be very pleased with the effort.
I'm not exactly on the "couch to 5K plan", but I need to start doing more than I've been doing. I have the same challenge that every other runner has...trying to find time in my busy schedule to fit in a run. When I saw Colleen's text, I told myself that it's not about finding the time, it's about making the time. If it means that I have to get up earlier in the morning, then I need to do that. If it means having Ryann watch the little ones, I need to do that too. If it means asking my Mom to help out, I know she will gladly do that.
I thanked Colleen for her text but I'm not sure she really knows what she did for me. I need to continue to find motivation in the small things. When I lived in OC, running was part of my routine. Now that I'm living here, I need to make running part of my routine again. It's much easier when I'm meeting a group of people and running with friends. But there's no reason why I can't make time for myself and make time for running. It's true that I'm a much happier and healthier person when I'm running on a regular basis! I could find all the excuses in the world not to run...I'm really good at that. And right now when I'm running, my head is telling me all the reasons why I need to stop. But if I start to make running a part of my regular routine again, it will be easier and more fun even if I'm running by myself.
I CAN DO THIS!!! I just might need a little help from my friends. Colleen and Lisa, please keep texting! And if you're reading this and have my cell phone number, please text me too. I can use all the motivation I can get.
Lisa and I have also been texting for the past few weeks reminding each other to stick with it. Sadly it's been 10 days since we sent each other a text about our workouts. I'm falling down on the job of motivating my friends...I need to get back to it. Honestly I haven't sent her a text because I haven't been doing what I should have been doing. My workouts and runs have dropped off in the last 10 days. I do really well for a week or so then I get unmotivated again. I need some consistency!
Colleen and some of the members of the Ocean City Running Club are coming to Baltimore for a 5K in late June. If the race was today, I'm not sure that I would finish respectably. Actually I know that I would probably not finish in 30 minutes. But I have a few weeks to get myself together. I've got to get going but I can do it. I still won't be anywhere near my best time, but if I can finish in under 29 minutes, I'll be very pleased with the effort.
I'm not exactly on the "couch to 5K plan", but I need to start doing more than I've been doing. I have the same challenge that every other runner has...trying to find time in my busy schedule to fit in a run. When I saw Colleen's text, I told myself that it's not about finding the time, it's about making the time. If it means that I have to get up earlier in the morning, then I need to do that. If it means having Ryann watch the little ones, I need to do that too. If it means asking my Mom to help out, I know she will gladly do that.
I thanked Colleen for her text but I'm not sure she really knows what she did for me. I need to continue to find motivation in the small things. When I lived in OC, running was part of my routine. Now that I'm living here, I need to make running part of my routine again. It's much easier when I'm meeting a group of people and running with friends. But there's no reason why I can't make time for myself and make time for running. It's true that I'm a much happier and healthier person when I'm running on a regular basis! I could find all the excuses in the world not to run...I'm really good at that. And right now when I'm running, my head is telling me all the reasons why I need to stop. But if I start to make running a part of my regular routine again, it will be easier and more fun even if I'm running by myself.
I CAN DO THIS!!! I just might need a little help from my friends. Colleen and Lisa, please keep texting! And if you're reading this and have my cell phone number, please text me too. I can use all the motivation I can get.
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