Being tested: Road kill and illness

Today's run was almost as bad as it gets...minus getting hit by a car or something.

It was my last day in October to run a 5k...Since there was no time to run an actual race. My friend and I decide to go to the US Road Running.com website. You can run your own virtual 5k, 10k or half - register for free and post your results. You can see how you stack up against other runners across the country. Not a traditional way to run a race but worked with my schedule this month. You can actually pay & receive a medal but really- who wants a medal for racing alone? But if you are all about the swag, then I suppose this is another way to get some.

This month my schedule was filled- I had traveled, had lots of early am meetings, longer mileage and I also got sick. Last week, a fever, asthma and general malaise had me home in bed for 2 days only to be left this week with a lingering cough and continuing asthma. I was so determined to hit my 12 miler last weekend, that I ran while not completely in the pink again. I felt pretty good after that run so I assumed I was on an upswing and getting out of the illness.

But while I feel better, I have been very tired and the cough has gotten worse..I laid off running this week til this morning. I knew this run would not only be my only chance to run the virtual 5k for my yearly goal of a race-a-month but also determine if I am well enough to run in 2 weeks for Malibu Half.

This run was HORRIBLE!!!!

It was dark when I set out- but I took my asthma meds and was feeling good. I set off, running through my mind how I can do the course with little interruption or need to hit a stop light, wait for cars, or hit any high hills. I wanted a clean run but right out of the gate- my lungs were on fire and I was hacking like a 20 year smoker. I knew this run was not going to be a personal best but I kept going.About a mile running in the dark, I had to get back on the sidewalk, and as I was running up an incline, my toe caught an electrical metal, square man-hole and I went down- fast and hard! Perfect faceplant! I was so caught off guard I had little time to try to stop myself. Thankfully I was wearing thick supports on both knees and had on a long sleeve shirt (which was so long it went down past my hands, to keep me warm.) All this protected my body from major damage - My knees were still skinned and sore but not to the extent they could have been and my hands were protected by the shirt so I only had the soreness from the fall on my body instead of a road rash and blood.

I picked myself up and started to run again but I was hurting and hit the timer pause button while I got myself together to see if I could even continue. Being stubborn, I hit the run button again and set out to finish. Slower but hoping I might be able to pull it off at the end- nearing mile 2, a shoelace comes undone and I must stop once again to deal- off goes the timer. But mentally I am thinking.."Seriously??? Are you kidding me?? This run has already mentally screwed me over!"  BUT I sucked it up and tied it, hoping no more obstacles were in my future and continued on- coughing and hacking. I was feeling like I had just started running for the first time in my life after giving up cigarettes..Mental games continued: "How do I rebound from this? How do I push on when my lungs are just not on the same page??? How will I run in less than 2 weeks in Malibu when I still am on the mend?"   I stopped and walked after mile 2 for a little bit but did not stop the clock..I just needed to get home and figure out my game plan for my half run. I knew I needed to give myself some time to heal..it's all I can do now.

I completed the run of 3 miles in 31:44 - not horrible but much longer than my best run. After the mileage, I walked home the rest of the way and felt the soreness in my knees start...All I could do was admit to myself that Malibu in not in my near future and I would need to lose that registration money, postopone the half run another week and just do the Palos Verdes Half Marathon..a harder course but one that buys me another week of lung recovery and time to get my mental game back.

Fingers crossed I do not have to lose out on PV too and I am completely recovered when the race gets here. I can't help but feel disappointed and worried, this illness makes me lose some time in what I have worked so hard for this year on race day.

Now off to Walgreens for some Mucinex!  (insert deep sigh here)

12 miles!

Holy cr@p! I ran 12 miles!!!!

And while still recovering from a virus! Yes, I realize not the smartest decision to stick to my training plan while still recouping- BUT none the less amazing to myself.

I got up Saturday morning and under a cloudy sky, I decided to eat breakfast, fuel up and have some coffee & see how I feel about a run...the week behind me was all fatigue, fever and asthma. I knew sticking to my training plan was a dicey idea but I thought- either Sat or Sunday I hoped to do the 12 miles long planned. I used my inhaler, grabbed my water and snacks and headed out.

I decided my goal was to run at least 10 miles but running was harder than I planned and I was feeling like my body was not at its best. I knew this was the virus hanging on so I decided to run as much as I can and as slow as needed. I was thinking as I was in the first few miles that this run might be only a 5-6 mile run...but as I got to 4 miles, I knew that meant 4 back so I was at least at 8 miles so somewhere between 4 and 5 miles I realized I was pushing it and turned around...as I got back in my home area, I was already past 8 miles so I knew I could push myself to 10...and I did. At 10 miles, I thought, it's only one more extra mile out and back to get to my long awaited 12 miles so I decided after going back & forth mentally to quit or keep going...to just dig deep for the last 2 miles. I was hoping I did not fall short and give out at 11 miles- so still jogging between a 11;30 to 12:00 pace due to my body's fatigue, I toughed it out like never before. To make sure I was not pushing myself too hard- I took 1 minute walk breaks every 10 minutes and walked a few extra times at the end of the run to catch my breath.

I ran and extended into my other neighborhoods, waiting to hear my audio prompt that I hit 12 miles. I never wanted a run to end more than that moment and when my iPhone announced 12 miles I stopped, caught my breath and walked the rest of the way home. I was never so tired and proud in my whole life! Also the amazing thing- no knee pain, it had come and left, no hip pain, no foot pain...I pushed past it for the first time ever! Amazing- how you can push past the point when you think you can't go any further..you can push yourself a little farther and still again.  I felt like I might cry, emotions were right at the surface, when I was nearly maxed out but pushed on..and now I see tears in my future at my half finish line! 

I am still feeling like I need some time to recoup further, so in spite of a strenuous run- I might still skip Malibu and do the PV half instead so I can be 100% plus when it's Half Marathon D-day! 

Now I know I can do this 13.1 mile run but am still scared at how hard I will have to push myself to complete it. I am excited though to hit that finish line. 

View from the Hermosa Beach green belt path.

Highs and lows in training.

A couple weeks ago, I made an adjustment to the training plan from my running group. I cut some miles off the long runs so it was not so ramped up and I felt good about my 10 mile runs before I jumped to the 12 miler. The adjustment made sense for me and helped me mentally get up in mileage by tackling one hurdle before attempting the next.

Last weekend I had a 6 mile run but was traveling to visit friends in Vegas. Yes, that means little sleep and more drinks than usual on a weekend! In spite of this, I was determined to get my 6 miles in before I left there. I did so on Sunday morning- the heat, hangover and dehydration was already looming as I left their house for my run. I did it though and felt pretty damn good for not letting the fun take my training off schedule. Then I got home and got a virus. It settled in my chest and asthma prevailed all week. I missed work and one planned run..on the day I was just starting to feel better (but not 100%) - I attempted to run my usual 3 miles. However, I could not make it to 3 miles..my lungs hurt and my body was really tired. I was at 2.88 miles and just had to stop, I was giving in and decided to be happy with the effort instead of the mileage. I coughed the rest of the day and was physically exhausted.

This weekend I am scheduled to run 12 miles- first ever. However, I am still coughing a lot and my body is still achey and tired. Do I run Saturday? Or wait another day to recover more and attempt to run Sunday instead ? I fear this illness is going to slow down my progress or worse- I fear this weekends run will not be 12 miles as scheduled but something far less and I take a step or two back as I recover from this virus. I am worried that like the past, this virus will take a couple weeks off my plans. 

I decided if my run this weekend is bad- I may push my half marathon from the Malibu run to the PV Half run which is a week later and gives me more time to get over this thing and get back on track. But I can decide all that AFTER my long run this weekend.

Wish me luck.

Another long run!

Sunday I ran about 10.5 miles...after adjusting the LA Leggers program to be more of a comfortable mileage climb, I decided to run some of the runs by myself instead of killing myself on their course and killing myself to get to Santa Monica so early in the morning. I figured since I have to run the next couple races alone, I need to learn how to use what they have taught me thus far and develop a strategy that is going to work for me to get thru my first half marathon .....which, by the way, is coming up very quickly now.

I took a new and beautiful course thru the green belt in Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches, and listened to my tunes and tried to concentrate on running slow and consistently. I did the run/walk approach just like they teach us and knew when I hit 5 miles, I was going to turn around home. Unfortunately, my running app only signals me every 2 miles so well after I hit 4 miles, I checked my app to see how much farther was my 5. - That is when I accidentally hit some button...and now it started to chime out directions for run/walking a 5k....argh!!!!  I had turned the brightness down to save the battery and could not understand what I pushed to undo my error. So I just decided (from experience now) where I thought I was hitting the 5 miles and turned to change my route and head back a longer way to be safe and hit my 10 mi goal. 

By mile 7 or 8 my knees were starting to hurt again...not so intense but I knew this ending would be like the rest...very challenging as I ran through the pain and reveled in my 1 minute walk breaks. I was pretty sure by mile 9.5 that I was going to have a hard day after this run...my knees wanted to stop...and not just the left one anymore! The right one was joining in the choir of singing to me about pain. I was not feeling like my leg would give out but I also felt continuing like this does me no good in the long term.

When you struggle- Your mind begins to question whether you should even be doing this, that perhaps genetically you were not gifted with a body to take this kind of pavement pounding. On a whole, my body feels strong, like I can continue to run longer still if not for the knees....so what do you do? I want to listen to my spirit, not my body...but I know I need both to work together. 

I ran a little farther than my house just to be sure I was over my goal and ignored my pings in the knees- but I wanted to go as far as I could take it...I need to get closer to 13.1 before the big day and feel good about it. On a whole this run was better than my first 10 miler- but still not great.

I am still healing from the run, my knees are still sore today, and I keep thinking..."how am I ever going to do 13? " ...I still don't know... But if I have to walk the last mile or two...I will finish that race no matter what...I have to.

Solo training run

Since this was a recovery week, and our long run was only 5 miles today, I decided to run this one without the group. Skipping the early am alarm, driving all the way to Santa Monica , finding parking, and then getting over to our meet up space. Then running, and making my way back to the car, paying for parking, and fighting traffic all the way home......yeah, I decided to do 5 miles in my hood and call it a day. I was so happy to only have to run 5,  a statement that seems crazy but clearly the training is working! 

I did not do the run/walk we do in our training, instead I ran nearly all of it and took only a few very short walk breaks. I also ran my fastest pace at 7:54 (likely downhill) and slowest pace at 11:19 (likely walking pace) but average around 10:20... 

The run overall was good, and I am glad to get it out of the way before the heat this weekend. I hit a few sets of stairs, and at the end one steep incline! I feel good, no knee problems, no hip issues, but yea- I am a little tired.

Next week: 12 miles! OMG!!!! I am terrified! 

Best run song today: Lose yourself - Eminem

Looking ahead & going for it!

Well, This blog may end sooner than planned. After my 10 mile run this weekend, I was feeling optimistic, in spite of the knee pain. I signed up for the Malibu Half Marathon on November 10th!
With only 2 days left for registration, I just pulled the trigger.

I decided, even if I have to walk the last 3 miles, I am going to do this & end this year plus all this training so far on a HIGH note. I am still registerd for Austin's Half Marathon, which I plan to complete as well. But I al looking at this as the GOAL reacher, and a learning experience. I hope to make the Austin run that much better, having completed one already and knowing what to expect of myself. I can feel less pressured there and simply enjoy the challenge & check out this awesome city!

39 days left to train for it! I am both both excited and freaked out. According to my schedule, I get a 5 mile as my long run this weekend- so I am happy about that!  You will hear me complain the week after when I have to run... 12 miles! whew! tired already thinking about it! But like the rest, I thought  were impossible and I am going to prove to myself that I can do it!

Wish me luck as I continue to train!