Perseverance Through Running

Running and Garage Sales

2010-06-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

So Memorial weekend threw out the back again.. Lifted 4 gallons of milk and bent down to put it under the shopping cart and that movement threw it out.. Just pulled muscles I guess.. Opposite side of the surgery side so thinking it was just weak.. So had to take a week off but got back out monday the 7th had an ok run.. Would run a mile walk a quarter then run again. Did about 3 sets of those.. The weather was absolutly perfect though.. blue skies, sunny 55 when left 62 when I got back.. Very nice... was a little sore for the next couple days then busy so got out again today the 11th.

Today was our famous yearly sub division garage sale so I ran and stopped to hit the garage sales on the way. Kill 2 birds with one stone.. It was kind of fun... Got my 4.25 miles in but with many stops along the way... my kind of running!!

2010-05-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

May 24th

I think I tried to kill myself today.. not really but I went running around 11:00 this morning and it was like 76 when I left and 78 when I got back.. Went like 5.2 miles and it was way to hot!! I had to run a mile walk a mile.. I was dying.. But good news I had a good pace. Usually was in the 8-9 min pace but got very nauseated and dizzy.. Not a good idea to go so late in the morning..

May 28th

Todays run better as far as temps go.. 68 when I left 72 when got back. 4.2 miles in but I felt like a brick running in place.. Couldnt get much out of the 10-11 min pace. It was horrible.. I am wondering if it has to do with what I eat for breakfast before I go out.. I wait like 1 1/2 hrs before I go but really made me sluggish today.. There seems to be alot of controvesry on if or what you should eat before running. Think I will try something diffrent next week and see if that helps..

2010-05-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

May 18th

Have been resting for the last week due to some achy knees and back.. Feeling better tuesday so decided to run that evening.. Got in 3.70 miles. Felt good most the ma through.. The last half mile I cold feel my knees start to get sore so I walked the last 1/4 mile home. I am not sure if it was because I had a week off or if I just had more energy or what but I was running faster tonight,, I even got down in the 8-9 min mile pace and I didnt even feel like I was working any harder so that was nice. Experiencing a little pain in my hip again.. not sure if it is just a little sore muscle or what so I want to be careful where I had the stress fracture before.. I seen to do pretty good if I keep my mileage under 5 miles so maybe I will have to stay here for a while.. At least its better then nothing...

2010-05-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Mon 10th

Feeling really sluggish today.. I dont know if it's because its monday or all the crap I ate over the weekend but just didnt have it today.. Forced myself to go though cuz I knew I would feel better about myself once I did, but I really struggled today.. I decided to work on distance today.. Walded a half mile then started running.. Felt like I was running in place.. I didnt get much out of the 10 min pace but that was ok since I was just concentrating on distance.. Occasionally I got in the 9 min pace and then sometimes I dropped in the 11 min pace...I kept saying I wll go this far then walk a little but each time I got there I was able to keep running... I pushed myself all the way to the corner of my street so that was good but about a half mile from home I really started feeling my knees hurt and my hip was hurting just a little.. I am not sure if its a little bursitis from back when I fractured it or if it was just strain not sure.. My back has been occasionally twinging on the nerve this weekend too.. not sure whats going on.. It really doesnt bother my back much to run but when I am walking around and I move just right I will feel it rub against the nerve a little.. Not sure if stretching helps or hinders it.. a little of both I think.. Got in 5.47 miles... should have maybe stuck with 5 but didnt really map out my route.. Think I will hold off and do weights tomorrow instead of today and just stick with my P.T exercises. See what the rest of the day brings..

nothing the rest of the week.. Having some minor set backs with back and knee's decided to give them a rest.. Guess the increased mileag was too much for them.. Hope to get back out there soon.

Interval Work

2010-05-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

Monday- distance and interval work... I didnt have the energy today and seriously thought about forgoing running today, but I knew I would feel better once I got out there so I did.. I was pretty tired ,but, but my legs seemed to carry me through. I worked on distance the first half of my run. speed walked 1/2 mile then ran for 2 1/2 miles. By then I was already pretty tired.. I stopped and speed walked to slow down my heart a little and catch my breath then decided to do some interval training. My goal was to do 2 min intervals but found out I wasnt ready for 2 mins so I did 5 1min intervals instead.. It actually felt pretty good to run fast for a min.. I got that butterfly in your stomach burn all through my body.. It felt great.. I definenlty was done after a min though there was no way I could have done more.. Maybe next week I can increase.. after the 5 intervals I went back to a slow run home to my corner of the street then walked the rest of the way.. Got in 4.7 Miles.. I even noticed my first 2 miles of running I moved into the 9-1o min pace so I am slowly starting to increase my speed so thats good.. came home and did all my P.T exercises with some light weight lifting.. A good day!!

Weds.5th
Worked on intervals and distance today. warmed up with a slow run then did 7 intervals of faster running in 1- 1 1/2 mins to 1 min slow running. Had to stop and walk for 3-4 mins to catch breath and slow heart down and then finished the last 2 miles running comfortably and a walk the last half block home. I felt pretty good that I was able to run most the whole way.. Was hoping for a little longer in my intervals but I am sure it will come with time.. Finished with weights and P.T Did same route but got little less on mileage.. 4.65 Miles

Thurs 6th
Rode bike today 9.50 miles. Very windy today. Struggled. felt like I was going so slow. Was surprised that you dont burn as many calories biking as you do running..I would have rather ran but am trying to give my body a rest in between running days.

Fri 7th
Raining and windy outside. Did 30 min on elliptical and 15 min running on treadmill.. I swear the calibrations on the treadmill is off.. I swear as fast as I was running my distance should have been farther and the calories burned more.. Maybe you just dont notice it as much when your outside.. I dont know.. total miles was like 4.16 miles if I remember right..

Sat
slacker today.. raining and windy and didnt want to get on treadmill.

Pushed it Today

2010-04-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Woo Hoo.. Today I got my farthest yet since my comeback.. I got 4.29 miles today with running 3.50 miles of it straight before my cool down speed walk.. Yeah!!! It about killed me though. I was pretty tired... I am just trying to get my lungs and body back into shape so just concentrating on my distance right now... The very last half mile I tried to pick it up a little and I was really pushing it by then because I was getting pretty tired but I did it and it felt pretty good. I could feel the burn along with the exhaustion... I about killed over when I finally stopped to a walk but I was glad to have gone that far running straight with no walking in between.. My back did really well.. My knees hurt when I was speed walking at first for a warm up but went away by the time I started running.. Go figure shouldn't that be the other way around??

Anyways I was able to come home and get the rest of my P.T done and did some weight lifting.. Feels great to be getting back into shape.. Of course it would be better if I could loose some weight..
I havn't done anything else this week because it has been cold and windy so I have procrastinated.. Last week I went running Monday and ran through something and got the worst case of hayfever I have ever had.. Went biking weds or thursday. First time out since surgery and went around 7 or so miles and thought i had done pretty good but by tha night my knees were killing me.. I have never gotten sore knees from biking before,, I must be really out of shape...

I am hoping to go again tomorrow and get better results.. Hope to start working on speed next week maybe do some intervals to help with getting my lung compacity back and distance..

Finally A time to celebrate!!

2010-04-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

Yes!!! I am finally back from a very long, tedious, painful vacation. It's been a long time since my last post. So to give a little update.... I had surgery on my lower back after just healing from my hip stress fracture. They went in and shaved off the 2 bulging discs in my back and lifted the nerve root and cleaned up the floating debri around there. The Doctor said this was the biggest and worst bulging discs he had seen in 25 years of being a surgeon.

It has been a very slow process to heal. I seem to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back.. I have finished my Physical Therapy as of last week and have been given the go ahead to start back into my fitness regimen as long as I start slow and take it easy and gradually build back up... Yeah.. I have been waiting for this day for so long... It has been a horribly depressing 8 months but now I am so excited to be back!!!

I started my first 2010 outside running adventure about 2 1/2 weeks ago.. Other then the 10 min elliptical training I have done 3 times a week at P.T I havnt done anything else. So on the 1st of April I went speed walking and did really well. I was able to get in 2.26 miles with very little discomfort. Then on the 5th I tried addidng just a little running in with my speed walking and again did great..got in another 2 miles. then I came down with a sinus infection and couldnt do anything for a week.

On the 14th I got in 3.07 miles with walking and running mix.. I got a bit sore after this one I may have over done it or just maybe stretched wrong or something so I backed off for a few days.. It has been bothering me a little ever since so I was really quite nervous about going out today but the weather was beautiful and it was just calling me so I tried stretching really good before I left and out I went..

I walked the first half mile then ran 3/4 of a mile then walked another quarter mile then was able to run 1 1/2 miles without stopping and then finished with a .44 walk.. I was so proud of myself.. It felt so amzing to run again.. I had that burn all through my body that doesnt hurt it's just a butterfly burn that makes you feel so awesome you feel your whole body working together and burning.. It felt amazing.. I didnt want to stop but I knew I better not press my luck... I average somewhere around 10 min miles right now when I am running. Not too fast but it will come.. I am not in the best of shape after doing absolutly nothing for 8 months and have put on a bit of weight so my lungs have been fighting against me the last few times out but it's getting better each time.. I was able to come back and do my normal P.T and start a few weights. Hope I am not too sore tomorrow but I felt really good the whole time.. Maybe just a little achyness but nothing major... So a total of 3.44 miles today.

Its amazing the change in my mood after I have completed a run.. I just feel so much better.. Alot of people have told me I shouldnt go back to running but its hard to explain to them just how good it makes me feel and how much my body craves it. You just feel so much better after a run.... I hope I continue to be smart and listen to my body and gradually ease back into it.. And hopefully (knock on wood) I wont have any injurys this year and my body will cooperate with me... I am going to try and mix it up a little with biking to help give my body a rest from the pounding so hopefully this will help..

Anyways I just wanted to shout out that I am finally back and am loving it... Dr. said I probably shouldnt train for any marathons this year but maybe by fall I can sneak in a 5 or 10k.. Right now I am just running for fun and not worrying about speed or distance (well as much as I can anyways.) I still find myself constantly watching the forerunner for my speed and distance but its a hard habit to break, but I really dont care about the speed right now just as long as I can do it I am happy....

So yeah for me!!!!!

"Back" to catching up.. Surgery

2010-01-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

Wow it has been quite a while since I have been on here... Well there hasnt been anything to post about any great runs dang it.. As most of you know who follow this. In August I was training for my first half marathon and ended up stress fracturing my hip and finding out I had 2 herniated discs in my back pinching my sciatic nerve.. Well come November my fracture finally healed. I no longer have any pains or problems with that thank heavens. It took 3 months to finally recover from that but I am still struggeling with my back..

I started back injections and physical therapy for it but unfortunatly it hasnt helped.. we had scheduled an appt. with a second neurosurgeon to get a second opinion, but before I could make the appnt. I had a big set back.. Last week I woke up and as soon as I got out of bed I knew it was going to be a pretty bad day. I walked to the bathroom and lifted the toilet lid and that movement pinched my nerve a good one and put me in horrible pain.. So I hobbled to the kitchen to take 20 mg of lortab and those of you who are familiar with pain med dosage this is an extremely high dose.. This is what the Dr, had prescribed me to take. So I have been taking this amount for a couple weeks.. Anyways I thought maybe a good hot shower would help relieve some of the pain so I got in but was miserable.. I couldnt even pick up my legs to soap them off or bend over or anything.. I just cried. So I got out and again I just slightly bent to grab a piece of T.P to wipe the tears and that movement about killed me.. It squeezed the nerve again and just near put me down.. So now on top of the horrible pain I was already in I was having these waves or spasms of the pinching pain as well traveling all the way down my leg and to my toes. My leg was completely numb from my knee to my toes.. It felt like I was walking on a stump..
I was so much in pain.. I cried out for my mom who was staying with us for the holidays or my hubby to come help me get dressed because I couldnt even move.. They got me dressed and put me into the car to go to the ER..

The ER was a whole nother story in itself.. Suffice to say it was the worse ER experience I have ever had.. the Dr.s forgot about me numerous times then admitted to lying to us on some test results because they had lost the results.. What a nightmare.. They ended up giving me 2 shots through the muscle in my arm of pain med plus a valium to try and quiet the waves or spasms and then ended up giving me an IV of pain medication before they finally sent me home after being there all day.. So as you can imagine with all that pain med on top of what I had already taken at home I was pretty high... As a result I think all the pain med ripped a hole in my guts... LOL I had to go off all pain meds for a while to see if I can get my stomach feeling better so it has been a rough week.. Also at the hospital they called and paged my neurosurgeon and he never bothered to call or come in..

So we called this new Dr. that we had previosly sched an appnt with for the second opinion to see if they could get me in sooner which he did.. And come to find out he was the Dr. that was on call for that day I spent in the ER and he was supposed to have been notified by the ER staff about me but never was. He said had he been called he would have dome surgery on me right then.. Dang I so wish we would have thought to have the ER call him.. We didnt even think about it because of we hadn's really met or seen him yet.. So anyways after meeting with him we have set to have surgery on Weds the 13th and I am so looking forward to it as bad as that sounds just so I can finally get some relief.. It has been such a horrible 5 months of being in pain and not enjoying life because of it.. Dont get me wrong I am very nervous about having back surgery but I am just praying it works and makes me better.. I want to be through with all this and get back to a normal life and hopefully eventually get back out running...

They told me I wont be running for probably 3 months. So I am hoping by May I will be back out there running and feeling the breeze against my face and getting my body back in shape and feeling good about myself again... It's been so long since I have been able to run I have dreams about running and how good it makes me feel and I cant wait until I really get to experience that again. It's crazy to think it will have been 9 months of completely no physical exercise. My body is so in withdrawls.. once I am post op 6 weeks I can start to bike and possibly do an eliptical machine so that is at least something to get me started and get my lungs built back up before I start running but it just doesn't give that high you get and feel when you run.. Owell at least it will be warming up by May so my runs will be nice..

Well here is hoping for a speedy recovery and that it will take care of everything and I will be back out there training for my first half once again....

Still out of the Game

2009-11-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well I am still out of my game for a while.. I have finally made it off the crutches but still am having pain in the area that was fractured.. The doctors told me it could take 5-6 months to fully heal.. So not the awnser I wanted to hear... In the meantime I also found out that I have 2 herniated discs in my back on the L4 and L5 of my lower spine with the biggest bulging one compressing my sciatic nerve which has been causing all the pain and grief in my other hip so it has been a really tough couple of months.. I go in next week to start P.T and injections in my spine for pain relief versus having surgery on it.. I hope it works.... It has significantly imroved since I first started with it so I am confident that no surgery will be required.. I still really hurt with some things I do but at least I can stand to walk and sit and lay down without too much pain..

I was so hoping to be out running again by now but it doesnt look like that is going to be in my near future. I still cant even go from a sitting position and go to run to go get the phone or chase my kids around without having pain in my fractured leg so I have a feeling its going to be quite a while before I will get my running shoes back on.. It really is quite depressing not to be out there running.. Whenever I am outside and go past my running spots I'm like oh man I should be out here running... It sucks.. However if I get the go ahead next week I think I am going to try and do my stationary bike and see how my leg will tolerate that so at least I can do something physical... We will see....

I so cant wait to get back out there and get my body back into some kind of shape....

Finally a diagnosis

2009-09-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yeah we have a diagnosis.. I went back to the orthopedist to review my scans to find out I do have a femoral neck stress fracture and am now confined to crutches for 1 month.. Funny thing is I have been walking on it now for 5-6 weeks. And now they expect me to have no weight bearing on it.. They say its serious in a way because if it was to break all the way through i would have to have 1 of 3 things done a total hip replacement or a big screw put into the bone or have the bone replaced.. He said for someone my age thats pretty serious cause it can cause blood restriction to my head which is very serious so they want to take pretty strict measures that I dont injur it any further... Good thing I didnt go running on it today!! Ha ha ha just kidding.. I still cant walk to well without a sleight limp and pain so I knew it was going to be a while before I could run.. He said dont plan on any physical activity for at least 2 months and then we would see.... Holy crap 2 months are you kidding me.... This is going to kill me.. It already has been horrible not getting out there to run.. My body is in withdrawls..... WAAAAAAAA

Owell at least I and the doctors know that I am not crazy when I say I still have a bit of pain and I know there is something not right... Kinda a relief to finally know....

Owell here is to being a gimp for a while and being cooped up and bitter because I cant get out and run or bike exspecially when the weather is so beautiful now and nice and cool... AAARGGGHHH WAAAAAAAA

So Unbelievably Bummed!! Update on Injury

2009-09-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

So a quick update from my last post..
Wed the 19th
Still having some leg problems from my pulled muscle and being stupid I went and did my 7 mile speed run trying to still stay up with my training program for my half... Very bad idea.. I was hurting from the beginning of the run but thought maybe as it loosened up it would feel better.. Never did.. By mile 4 I was really slowing down and I think I was running with a diffent gait trying to favor my leg and I think that really screwed things up more.. By mile 6 I was barely running and had to finally stop and limp my way back home.. I was in so much pain in my hip and upper leg that I couldnt even walk. I had to use crutches for that day.. I went to a chiropractor for my back originally and he tried to help with stretching it out but it didnt seem to help much.. I was hoping that it would take just a few days and then I would feel better but that wasnt the case.. Of course I have been doing alot of walking and some biking on it as I have toured around Northern MI with my family this last month so I know that hasnt helped.. I have had to take pain killers and muscle relaxers just to make it through all the walking around we did.. I finally went in to see a Orthopedist last week who thought I might have some bursitis going on so he gave me a bursa shot in my hip..

After a couple days that seemed to help my hip quite a bit. I was finally able to walk somewhat normally with just a minor limp but my leg, groin and hip flexor area was still in pain.. I think it is finally starting to feel a little better now and I can almost walk without a limp but it seems to still really hurt when I go from a sitting position to taking that first step. It gives me a fast jolt of stabbing pain in my hip flexor area at the top of my thigh and all the way across my groin and into my inner leg. So tomorrow I am being sent to have a bone scan to check to see if I may have a stress fracture there.. It's not common to get them there but possible.. I dont really think I do but I figured it wouldn't hurt to get it checked... I think its probably just a bad pulled muscle that is taking its own sweet time to heal...

I cant believe its been 4 weeks now since I have ran.. I am so bummed.. It's like having a runner's depression. My body is just feeling horrible and out of shape.. I just long to get out and run again.. It's amazing when you can totally feel and see a diffrence when you are running and then when you take a time off... Of course since I have stopped lifting weights and running or biking I have also dropped 3 pounds which is kinda nice but shouldnt it be the other way around?? I am not sure which I like more having the stronger, leaner, bigger muscles( at least that was my goal) or wieghing less... Why cant I have both??? Waaaaaa

Anyways there went my half down the drain.. Hopefully it wont be much longer and I can get back out there and get back into a routine again.. Hopefully I will find another half somewhere I can do before the year is over.. I didnt have to much luck finding many races out here but I did hear of one in Detroit in Oct I think it was so guess we will see..

With all these injurys over my running year it almost makes me think maybe I am not meant to be a runner.. Maybe this is god's way of saying hey hello your body is not cut out for running... Then again maybe this is just my pitty party talking too....

I am so sick of injury's

2009-08-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Mon Aug 17th

Did long run today since didnt get the chance to do it on Sat.. I hate running first thing in the morning because it takes so long to get my body warmed up so for the first 2 miles my body hurts and feels stiff.. I pulled my inner top thigh muscle almost where it goes into the hip flexor last week doing to much weight.. Ever since then my legs have been sore.. And the running has aggrevated it more.. Hope it heals quickly.. Got in 8 miles with avg pace of 9.58 which was better then I thought.. I was constantly watching my garmin which I really didnt want to do but I couldnt help it and I was constantly dropping below the goal pace in the mid to high 10 min range and it didnt even seem like I had changed my pace but I guess I did.. But then there were times I was in the 8 min range so I guess it averages out. So that was good... My highest mileage so far..... But Today I was really tired and sore and my knee started hurting around mile 6 and really nagged me all the rest of the way. I barely made it today.. I def dont think I could have done a half today.. And I got 3 diffrent huge blisters on my toes.. Ouch!! Hope weds running goes better.. I am going to skip the easy run and try the scheduled tempo run to get me back on track.. I was supposed to have an easier week last week with less mileage but I somehow forgot about that. I was supposed to do an easy 3 miler on Sat so I dont feel to bad about getting my long run in.. I should have just sticked with the sched for today and did a light run so I guess I will do the easy run on Sat instead since I did my long run today and stick with the speed work for weds.. That should put me back on track..

Wow have I confused you yet??

Tues 18th-
13 Mile bike ride according to map my run.. Felt a bit longer then that but I didnt have an accurate way of measuring until I get the cadence for the forerunner so had to use the map my run website..

Aug 19th
Goal was to do 7 miles 3x1600's at 8:06 pace.. with 800 jogs in between.. I knew that I wasnt going to be able to do it that is pretty fast for me.. I was still hurting up in my leg from lifting weights the week before and mondays long run really aggrevated it.. I am definently not the smartest person. I thought I could go do my speed work today and maybe the pain would work itself out.. My dad came along on his bike.. It was great having the companionship.. It made it go alot faster but it also hindered me alittle in the fact that when I was really hurting I should have stopped but I didnt want him to have to wait for me so I kept running with the pain and now I am really paying for it..
The good thing was for the first 2 miles of speed work I hit my goal which really surprised me.. The first mile I got in at 7:31 and the second mile was at 8:00 pace so that made me really happy but by the 3rd mile I was really starting to hurt and I had to slow down considerably and did that mile in 8:51 then the last 2 miles of easy run I dropped clear down into the 12 min mile pace and walked the last .25 mile well actually limped home. I was having alot of pain in my hip and thigh and down into my groin. I tried doing some rolling and an ice bath which was painful in itself but didnt help too much I have been limping on it eversince and because of the limping it is starting to cause pains in other areas... What a mess!!! I ended up pulling my muscle that goes from the outer hip across the front hip flexor into the groin and down the inner leg.. I have never experienced anything like this.. It hurts so bad.. I have actually had to resort to using crutches or a cane.. I went and saw a chiropractor lastnight hoping he could help get me lined back up and he said I was a mess.. Just what I wanted to hear.. I have alot of muscle tightness everywhere and said I needed some work on that so I guess I need to go find a massage therapist.. Plus I have a very mild case of spinal bifida which is why I have a weak lower back and have always struggeled with it.. So I am not sure how long I will have to take off from running to heal but I am hoping its not too long since my half is only 4 weeks away..

Aaaghhh this is so frustrating... If its not one thing its another.. Knee's, shin and now this...

Vacation Running..

2009-08-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

Mon aug 10th

Increased my mileage for this day.. 4.01 miles in 10:08 Had no problem with the pace in fact avg pace was 9:33 I actually had some times where I broke into the high 7 mile pace.. I was excited about that.. I knew this week would be hard for my sched because of going on vacation..

Weds.
Dissapointed.. went outside in Fort Madison Illinoise to run and couldnt find any roads except the freeway to run on so only did a mile then went and finished up the rest of my run in the hotel excercise room which sucked.. The room was like 85 degrees they offered no towels no water nothing.. Their treadmill sucked.. I was wanting to do intervals today but didnt work out to well.. Got in 2-3 reps of 5 mins going around 7.6 in speed with 3 min rests in between but ended up running out of steam to fast and had to cut back alot and ended up doing more of a mild tempo run instead.. Was going to do 5 miles but only ended up with 4.6 and couldnt do anymore..Wasn't the best idea to do this type of run then go spend all day walking around in Nauvoo in 90 degree humid weather.. I had a hard time today.. Over did it I think!

Thurs
Had a great bike ride with my dad today.. We figured we went somewhere between 12-15 Miles.

Couldn't get my long run in on Sat because of traveling all day back home. I hate getting off my schedule but there was nothing I could do about it..

Recovery

2009-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Well I was feeling healed enough to attempt running by the end of the week, so on Thursday I got on the Elliptical so there wouldn't be any jarring and did really well. I got in 6 miles.

Friday- Went on easy run just to make sure the jarring didn't cause any problems and did fine.. got in 4.84 miles with a avg pace of 9.18 I even was able to get part of the time in the high 7 min range so that was good.. I think that was the first time I have broke into the 7 min range and it didn't even feel like I was trying that hard so that made me feel good.. Did full body weights today being careful with back.

Sat.-
It had been pouring rain all day so I really wasn't planning on doing my long run today plus I was a bit sore from doing weights Fri. but around 4:00 it stopped so I decided to get my butt out there while it had the chance and get it done.. It was pretty humid but there was a bit of a breeze which helped and was a little bit cooler in temp which helped make it tolerable.. Right as I was heading out the door we had decided we were going to go see the new harry potter movie so I was limited in my time.. Only got in 6.44 miles with avg pace around 9.32 I have noticed that I have been doing better in my paces lately.. I was supposed to stay at a pace of 10:14 for my long runs but I kept it easy and comfortable and managed to stay in the 8-9 min range so that is good. I still struggle just a little with my tempo runs.. Hopefully they will come... I registered finally for the half so now I'm stuck.. I have to commit.. Hopefully I will stick with it and be ready.. I am going to re test for the physical agility test in October (I know call me crazy) so this time I am going to get together with another girl who is doing it and a firefighter and we are going to practice the dummy rescue thing.. I just pray that during these practices I don't strain my back again before the test.. I am really going to have to focus on my strength training and get my back stronger.. Anybody have some great exercises or weight lifting moves to strengthen the lower back?? Oh ya and I finally lost my middle toe's nail that has been black for the last 2 months. Now if my baby toes nail on my other foot wood just come off....

Monday 10th
Got in 4 miles today.. goal was 4 in 10:08 My avg pace was 9:33 so happy about that.. It was so hot and humid today it about killed me. I was wet before I even got out my driveway.. We have been having such crazy storms here leaving us wet and humid and hot. It is so hard to run when its so humid it just sucks the life out of ya... Of course I was reflecting back on last years running and I swear that I was running in the 8 min range miles but that was just trying to figure it out by map my run and my watch.. Didn't have any fancy GPS gadgets like I have now so maybe my mileage or timing was off.. I don't know just seems like I am not running quite as fast.. Hope that changes..

We are heading for Illinois for vacation tomorrow so I am hoping I will still find the time to get out and run and keep up with my training while on vacation.. These next few weeks will be hard because my parents will be here and we will be traveling around the state and sight seeing, so its always a little harder sticking with the exercising when they are here.. But I just have to stay with it so I don't loose what I have gained so far.. I really want to be ready for the half and I don't feel any where near ready right now.. I am not sure I could do a half right now.. I am not doing it for any kind of record although there is that competitive side to me but I just want to be able to finish it with running the whole way and to be able to say I did it..

Here's to successful training.

Contest Giveaway

2009-08-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Check out my friend Julia's blog for her great giveaway of a nutrition book for athlete's.. Super cool.. I need this so bad.. I have really been struggeling with what to eat and how much and when so this would be the perfect gift to win for me. Good luck everyone!!1

Well I took the Physical agility test on Sat and failed horribly.. Not only did I fail but I injured myself as well.. AAARGGH so frustrating.. So those of you who follow this.. I was testing to become a firefighter/EMT and one of the hardest points of the test is the rescue excercise where you have to pick up and carry or drag this 120 pound burlap dummy 50 feet then up 2 flights of stairs turn around then come back down and go back the 50 feet and put the dummy back down in the starting spot all in like 2 mins.. Also you have a 60 pound air tank strapped to your back with this square plastic thing on the front of your chest and a firemans hat on so all together about 180 pounds of weight on your body that you are trying to get up and down some stairs.. It was so very hard.. I had practiced a few days before but I didnt have the air tank on and that made a huge diffrence.. I tried to do the carry under the dummys arm hold and go backwards up the stairs.. My tank kept hitting the stair case and knocking me over and I was falling back on the stairs and trying to drag myself with the dummy up backwards and I just couldnt do it.. you get 2 chances and the second time I tried dragging it by the legs and did better but still did not finish in the time allotted.. I needed about 50 more seconds..

In the process I ended up pulling all the muscles in my lower back, scraping my arms up and scraping my ankles up on the metal stairs causing them to go black and blue.. See pictures on my other blog..I couldnt even walk by the time I got home and have spent the last 3 days pretty much on bed rest.. today I can walk and it seems to be improving but I definently cant run this week.. I think I will try and see what thursday or friday brings and see if I can do a light run or at least the elliptical... So there goes a whole week of training down the tube.. I'm so bummed but it must have not been meant to be at this time.. I may try again at the next test in November... ..

I Hate Humidity

2009-07-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Man these last 2 weeks it has been raining off and on every day. It has been so humid here.. The humidity makes it feel like 5-10 degrees warmer.. Luckily it has been only in the mid 70's to mid 80's... But definently too hot to run in.. It has really been affecting my energy..

Mon. 27th

2.50 Miles.. I dont know if it was because I ran first thing in the morning and so I did not stretch per reccomendations from running book or just what exactly but I felt so stiff and sore and it was really hard to run today.. Goal was to run 2 miles at 10:14 my average pace was 9:53 so that was good..

Weds. 29th

Tempo run Goal 5 miles 3 miles at 8:40 Did lower body weights before running while waiting for breakfast to digest. I knew this one was going to be hard.. the last tempo run like this one I did on treadmill was brutal.. Did really well for the first 2 1/2 miles of speed run then pooped out and had to stop and catch breath for a min then started back up and was able to get close to goal.. The last mile of speed run I had slowed down quite a bit I was ranging from 8:45 to 9:15 speed so I figured I wouldnt do as good on this one.. Plugged data in and 1st mile of speed run my average pace was 8.23 2nd mile was 8.40 and 3rd mile was 8.49 so only 9 secs off goal so I was pretty surprised.. I knew the first mile would be good because when I started out my paces were around mid 7 to 8 min so I could actually slow down a bit.. By the second mile I was slowing down quite a bit. I was actually falling below goal and was having to speed up I think thats why I got so winded and had to stop for a breather.. thank heavens it gives you an average pace for the mile.. All in all I think I did quite well...

I felt much better on todays run.. I think the lifting weight helped loosen me up quite a bit.. I only had tight lower leg and ankle on the bad leg for about a mile and a half then it loosened up really good.. Even my knee was not as bad.. I even ran without the knee strap so I was quite happy that it didnt feel worse.. Once I stoped though my shin started tightening up and had to keep stretching it out and icing it and the knee. I am not sure why but that leg for some reason is more tighter then the other one and has always been that way.. My hamstring is way tight in that leg and I think that is what is causing the shin splints in this leg.. I can tell the muscles are alot weaker in my hams and especially that leg.. If I can just get it to loosen up I think that would help my shin splints alot.. I really try to stretch that leg extra good but still cant seem to get it to loosen as much as the other leg.. Any suggestions?? Finished the morning with upper body weights...

All in all a good run...

Ok so all these people say they run to loose weight but it obviously isnt working for me.. I run but still havnt lost a pound.. So I have started to watch my calories and I am trying to reduce my calorie intake by 500 a day.. Can I just say I really hate counting calories... On the days I run I dont have to much of a problem but the days I dont run I dont make the calorie goal.. I guess I am going to have to do some form of excercise everyday to be able to stick with this cal reduction.. I still havnt been able to figure it all out with what to eat after and before my runs.. Like today I lifted weights and ran so I burned double the calories and I must have not ate the right foods or amounts afterwords because all day I have just felt tired and sluggish like I needed to eat something or needed some kind of energy rush.. but nothing I ate seemed to provide that for me.. I felt the same way on the days I do my long runs.. Any helpful tips on eating and trying to loose weight while running?

Friday 31st

Long run today.. 7.67 miles
Even though I didnt get out until 12:30 in the afternoon it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.. It was around 74 degrees when I left but there was no humidity and that made a world of diffrence.. It took almost the whole run for my leg to finally loosen up and not hurt but the last mile or two I didnt feel it at all which was nice.. It took long enough.. But also the last mile or two my knee started hurting a little more so that was a bummer.. But at least through most of the run it did pretty well.. I figured I better do my long run today because tomorrow I dont think I will be up to it..

Tomorrow I am taking the physical agility test to become a firefighter/EMT It is a pretty hard test.. I dont think I would have a problem with the test if it wasnt for the fact that they time you so that makes it pretty hard.. The one I think I will struggel most with is dragging a 120 pound dummy 15 feet then up a flight of stairs then back down the stairs and another 15 feet to the target.. I went up to the firestation to have a friend who is currently a firefighter give me some tips and show me what they will be doing and just with practicing carrying the dummy 100 feet was hard.. My hams were so tight and sore after it and that wasnt even going up and down any stairs.... I worry about carrying all that weight and doing the stairs with my bad knee... should be interesting..... I am pretty nervous..

2009-07-29T04:50:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about.

New Shoes

2009-07-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Monday-
Went for my light run today.. Training sched said 2 miles at 10:14 Actually went 2.9 I think I was good with my pace.. I decided to lift weights before my run because my running book said you should lift before runs.. So I gave it a try.. My legs and body felt really strong on the run which felt really good but I felt kinda pooped though.. I didn't have the energy.. I think my feeling sluggish was also all the junk food I ate the night before.. Sunday's we usually piece all day on junk food.. I'm sure that didn't help.. Other then that a pretty good run..

Weds.-
Got my new Garmin Forerunner 305. I was so excited to use it.. I spent tues night trying to get it all set up and learn the ropes of it for todays run.. I followed some hints from Julia's blog. She recently has gotten one too and was trying to figure some things out and got some good advice so I tapped into it as well.. Apparently the alerts dont work on the interval workouts which was what I was doing today so that didnt help me out with my pace and on the interval workouts it doesnt even show your pace all it does is show the time and your remaining miles. So that kinda bummed me not to be able to watch my pace but it ended up working out to my benefit.. I just concentrated on my effort. I was to run 2 1600's in 8:11 with 800 jogs in between. When I got home and plugged the garmin into the computer to download the data I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was faster then my goal was.. My first speed lap was done at a 7:59 pace and my second lap was done at an 8:05 pace so I was really pleased with that.. I had a great run overall and felt pretty good.. Although it was hard it wasnt as bad as my first tempo run on the treadmill.. I think the calabarations on the treadmill were off because I dont feel that I was running that hard out side.. Got my 5 miles reccomended run in..

Fri.
Only got in 3/4 of my kickmax dvd in.. Had to many phonecalls and then the fridge repair guy showed up so couldnt finish it.. plus my energy level was way down anyways.

Sat.
Long run today.. training sched reccomended 6 at 10:14 I programmed in under quick workouts a 7.5 mile run at 10 :14 This time it did show my current running pace then about every so often it would show an average running pace.. It still didnt seem to beep or alert me though when I was below or above my goal and I am not sure why.. I set it up to I am pretty sure the right way but i dont know..I constantly watched my pace through out the run and saw that I was always running a little faster then I should be according to the current pace shown I was always around the low to mid 9 min pace so I had to keep forcing myself to slow down to try and stay in the high 9 to low 10 pace.. It was a fairly easy run today.. It was a bit on the warm side today though.. I got out way to late it was pouring rain when I was originally going to go so I waited and didnt get out until around noon and it was around 78-80 degrees but with the humidity it felt like 90 it really zapped the energy out of me quick.. I noticed by my last 2-3 miles I was slowing down alot and didnt have to hard a time keeping it in the 10 min range.. There was even some times I fell below my goal pace and had to force myself to speed up.. Plus by mile 5 my knee started hurting a little more.. I didnt quite get my route just right.. I went the same way I always do for my long runs that I have been wearing my pedometer with and using the garmin today I came in short by quite a bit.. My pedometer showed usually around 7.4-7.7 but the garmin showed 6.85 miles today.. So that tells me my pedometer was a bit off.. I was a little dissapointed not to get in the mileage I wanted but I was so tired and hot today that I dont think I could have gotten much farther anyways.. It's amazing what temps can do to your runs.. I remember the first long run I did this year which was only a few weeks ago I got out early in the morning and it was nice and cool and I felt so great and felt like I could have done a half with no problem but today I know I could have never done one.. The heat really drains it out of you..

I went and got new shoes today.. I thought maybe my knee and shin probs could be due to my shoes (even though I have had them all along LOL) so I invested in a new pair.. I had somewhere around 4-500 on my current pair so it was probably time anyways.. I got some Brooks Glycerins..I like the purple shown but because I have such big feet all they had was blue in my size.. I am excited to wear them on Mondays run and see how they do.. I also got some energy beans and some gu gel to try out and see how they do on my longer runs.. I worry because I have heard to many scarry stories on the gels and stomach probs, and there isnt really any bathrooms or water around on my long runs so I am going to have to figure something out..
Any suggestions?

Half Training..

2009-07-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

So this week I decided to start training for a half Marathon that I am still contemplating on doing in Sept.. Still havn't made up my mind.. Anyways for this first week I was supposed to do an easy run of 2 miles on mon. A tempo run of 5 miles on weds and A long run on Sat.

Mon.
I was only supposed to go 2 miles but after all this time of doing more miles it was hard to stick with just 2 miles. I was pretty close at 2.76 It was hard not to keep going but I really wanted to stay fairly close to the training plan I got off runnersworld.com.

Weds.
This was probably one of the hardest runs I have ever done.. I had never done a tempo run before so I knew this would be a little challenging.. I was supposed to do 5 total miles with 1 mile warm up 1 mile cool down and 3 miles at 8:40 I decided to do it on the treadmill so I wouldnt have to keep stopping and try and look at the pedometer.. I figured it would be easier.. I failed the first mile at tempo I was off by like .16 of a mile and I thought I was running pretty fast so by mile 3 I stepped it up quite a bit but still didnt make it. I was off by .5 so pretty close but I was so tired by this point I had to step off the treadmill to catch my breath before jumping back on to do mile 4 I was able to get about half way and then I had to slow it down I was dying but I was able to speed it up towards the end and came pretty close again I was off my just a couple of points. It was hard to do a whole mile for cool down I usually only speed walk like .25 miles when I normally run so it was hard to do a whole mile I slow runned for about .7 miles then walked the rest.. This was a way hard run for me.. My legs were screaming by the time I was done.. My knee was really acting up.. It actually started really hurting when I slowed down to walk. It felt better to run go figure..

Fri
Ok I was pretty dumb today. I did full body weights and my kick max dvd then went out and shoveled and hauled and spread mulch in my yard for 4-5 hrs.. As if it wasnt bad enough to do the weights then the kickmax dvd, but I didnt get a chance to do the weights earlier in the week so I really wanted to do them... I was so wasted by the time I finished in my yard I was ready to pass out and my whole body just hurt.. I didnt know how on earth I was going to do my long run the next morning.

Sat
Not as sore as I thought I would be but still pretty sore.. Decided to stick with my sched and do my long run.. Was supposed to do 6 miles at 10:14 My first mile by my pedometer it said I was right on but according to the trail markings it said I was off by 15 secs so I dont know which one was more accurate.. I headed off on trails that had no mileage postings from then on so I just went off my pedometer. All my remaining miles said I was somewhere in the 9 1/2 to 10 min range which was pretty good.. I ended up going a little farther then I should have but on the last couple long runs I have been averaging in the 7-8 mile range so I really didnt want to decrease when the whole idea is to increase my mileage so I went 7.43 today.. A little bit of probs with knee starting around mile 5 but leg did really well today.. I wish I could get a pain free run with my knee but just dont think it will ever happen.. All in all a pretty good run.. But tonight I am so sore I can hardly move.. I think all the sore muscles has finally kicked in and I am really feeling it.. Good thing tomorrow is a rest day and monday is an easy run..

Refreshing, Soggy Run

2009-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

This one is a little lengthy!!!

So I just have to tell about my run today.. after Thursdays speed run I developed a anterior ? shin splint just opposite side of where I have been struggling with pains since last year. So I was not to happy about that.. But at least it wasn't really bad.. I ran a little farther then I had planned on Thursday and I think with the exertion I was using and then the hills it just put a little too much stress on my leg.. I knew I should have stuck with the treadmill... Owell I rested on Fridays and decided I would try my long run on Sat. depending on how it felt.. I did a little research on shin stretching and went back through my running book and realized that it says that if you run first thing in the morning like I have you shouldn't stretch until halfway through your run or wait until after your run.. I forgot about that and have been stretching before my runs so maybe that is my problem is I am stretching cold muscles and have been doing more damage then help?? There is so many conflicting story's out there about stretching that I don't know what I should really be doing but I think I will start waiting to stretch until half way into or after my runs...

So On to today's run... I woke up about 7:15 and decided I could prob run so I headed out by around 7:45.. Just as I got all my clothes on and was about ready it opened up and started raining.. It was supposed to come in last night but it was a little late.. I really debated on going but decided it might be kind of fun so what the hay... It started thundering and lightning so it was kind of cool to listen to.. It was just a light steady rain when I left nothing too bad but about a mile and a half into my run I had just made it out of the subdivision and was getting ready to head down the pollyann trail and I stopped to do a little stretching and I could see this big dark blanket coming for me.. I immediately knew I was in trouble and I had no where to go.. It just opened up and poured so hard.. I knew that about a half mile from the start of the trail there is a bridge that I could take shelter in but I would have to run into the blanket.. i immediately shot it in gear and started running but within seconds I was totally drenched and dripping everywhere.. My shoes and socks were soaked and I was just sloshing around.. I was trying to cover my ipod and watch so they wouldn't get to wet.. I couldn't even open my eyes the rain was coming down so hard it was like standing in a shower only harder... By the time I made it to the bridge it was starting to lighten up a bit so I stopped at the bridge and did some stretching and tried to wait out the worst of the downpour..

I was hoping my husband would come find me to take me home which he did come looking for me in the car but to no avail we never found each other.. The bad thing about the trail is there is not very many access areas to the main road so it's hard to see anyone on the road.. we must have just missed each other at the bridge.. Anyways after about a 10 min hold out at the bridge I decided I wasn't going to get any wetter so I decided to finish the run. I think I might have cooled down a little to much because as soon as I started back out my knee started hurting. I continued to run through it though.. And then there is a spot on this trail where it breaks of from the trail and goes into a bunch of other small trails around a lake.. I ran it last time I did my long run so I figured i knew where I was going but somehow I got lost and was running in circles.. These trails are like being up in the Forrest and all you can see is the lake and tree's and thick vegetation.. They are awesome running trails but a little disorienting if your not familiar with them.. And to top it off I had to go potty and wasn't going to make it back.. Lucky for me there were no other crazy people like myself running or biking the trails today so I was able to jump off the trail and go tinkle in the vegetation without being caught thank heavens.. Of course it was a little difficult when your clothes are soaking wet and stuck to your body but it all ended up ok..
I finally made it back onto the trail and decided to head for home cutting out one of the loops I did last time on my long run.. My knee was just hurting too much to keep going and I had had enough with all the stops and go's.. I had to stop a few times because my ipod kept cutting out on me I think due to the moisture in its ports.

Of course by the time I got back on the trail it had stopped raining so I was able to finish up the last 2 miles in dryer weather.. Other then the few setbacks with the rain and my knee I felt really good.. I never got hot or winded and it was really a easy run.. And to my surprise that even with cutting out the extra loop I still got in 7.73 miles in 1 hr 18 mins. Of course there was alot of down time in that time but I was not worried about time at all.. I am however a little surprised because the last time I did my long run with the added in loop I got 7.31 miles in according to map my run but my pedometer said 7.73 today so one must be off just a little or I made up alot of mileage when I got lost but it didn't feel like it was all that much more distance..

When I got home I was still dripping from my shorts and when I got my shoes and socks off my feet were pruned it was quite the run and of course an hour later the sun came out and it got hot.. I should have either got out earlier or just a little later... Owell I can now say I have ran in a downpour..

I am so excited we just got a new home gym unit delivered today and I cant wait to use it.. We had gotten one from walmart called the gold's gym s45 or something like that but when we got it all hooked up and went to use it I couldn't even move the pulley with my legs and that was with all the weight off.. Something was not right with it so we took it back and went shopping around for something else... We found the most sweetest gym.. It is so nice and easy to use and I can hardly wait to start using it.. You can do pretty much any weight exercise on this machine its like having 20 different machines all in one... I figures it would probably not be a good idea to work out on it today where I did a long run but on Mondays when I do just a easy short run of just 2-3 miles I will do a full body weight workout.. Yeah.. You can check it out below.. Awesome!!

Outside speed intervals

2009-07-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Weds- rest

Today (Thursday) I decided to work on speed intervals again but this time I took it outside.. It was a beautiful day.. Started out a little later then I wanted but didnt sleep well last night so coudnt quite make it out of bed at 6:30 so headed out about 8:45 It was quite a bit harder doing it outside because I couldnt control my speed or the hills.. I was probably running harder and faster today then when I did it on the treadmill judging by my breathing and feeling like I was wiped out.. I really had to concentrate on the 2 mins of recovery trying to get my pace slowed way down so I could catch my breath.. The 4 mins of faster running was the longest 4 mins. I think thats part of my prob running outside is I tend to run just a bit faster then I do on the treadmill so I had to really force myself to a real slow jog... And of course the hills didnt help.. Luckily there isnt to many on my route.. I walked most of them in the beginning for my warm up and my first interval had 1 but I had pretty good energy for that one but my 3rd interval had one as well and it slowed me down a bit thankfully it was a short one..

I know I was running faster because I got almost a whole nother mile more on this speed workout then I did on my one on the treadmill last week in the exact same time which i think is pretty amazing unless my pedometer calculations or the treadmill calculations are off.. I got in 4.66 Miles in 45 min 46 secs

My knees did really great today and my shin only twinged a little right at first and then felt great after that so that was a relief.. Other then feeling really pooped when I finished I felt really good..

There is a half Marathon coming up in september I am thinking of doing.. I am a little hesitant.. Not knowing the area and never running one before makes me a little scared. I wish I knew someone who was going to do it or had a running partner to kinda show me the way so to speak.. guess I will have to think about it some more.. It would be a great accomplishment if I did.. OK people I need some encouragement!!

Tearing Up The Sand

2009-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

More catch up... So on Thursday i went and played some beach volleyball for 2 1/2 hrs.. I dont think that was such a wise decision.. It really tore up my knee's and aggravated my shin leg problem.. I wasn't too happy with that.. Even my feet muscles were sore.. Crazy!!

Friday-- Attempted to do my kickmax dvd but about 15 mins into it the power went out so there went that and I had family coming in that day so I had way to much to do so I ended up doing squat..

Saturday-- got up to do my long run but still felt to sore in my leg and knees and thought it would not be good to start a run already hurting so again nothing..

Monday 6th--- Feeling a little better but still sore. Went running anyways.. Leg felt good after the first mile or so but the knee continued to feel bad.. I got in I am guessing 4.45 miles.. I mapped it on map my run and it says 4.25 but I ran it with my new pedometer last week and the same distance said 4.49 and today (going the exact route) I accidentally switched to to km instead of miles and when I calculated it out it said like 3. something which wasn't right. So I am going with what the pedometer said the first time..

Tues 7th---- Kickmax dvd.. Almost made it through all the exercises.. Still cant get through all the lunge switch jump thingys.. Those really kill my legs.. Knee's and leg is still hurting but I dont want to not run either so I am not sure what to do.. I just dont want to have a repeat of last summer with my leg but it's so hard not to do anything.. This is so frustrating.. I would like to know exactly what it is and why it's happening.. Guess I will just watch it..

mid week review

2009-07-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

Increased pushups to 15, crunches still at 100 and added 50 oblique crunches and 25 dips.

Monday 29th 4.49 miles..

Tues off

Weds
Decided to do interval work on the treadmill.. As much as I hate running on the treadmill I think its the easiest way right now to do speed intervals because you can be in control of your speed.. And because I was so focused on the intervals it made the time go by pretty fast and wasnt so boring.. I hope I did them right.. If anyone has any diffrent ideas or has advice please share.. this is what I did.. Got on and speed walked for a warm up for about 7 min around .4 miles at around 3.8 speed then increased to a slow run at 4.2 speed for 2 minutes then increased to 6.0 speed for 4 mins then repeated this 3 times on the 4th and 5th interval I increased to 6.2 speed for the fast run and then just for fun on the 5th iterval after the 4 mins i ran 1 min at 6.8 and 2 mins at 7.0 then dropped down to 4.2 for my 2 mins then dropped to 3.8 speed for a 2 min cool down.. Took about 45 min and gave me 3.9 Miles I was pretty pooped by the time I was done but it felt really great.. It was a good workout for being on the treadmill..

First long run this year

2009-06-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to share my run today.. Well let me back up a couple days first.. Weds I ran 3.72 Miles. When I left it was 83 degrees and very muggy it was a very hard run.. The heat and humidity just sucked the life out of me and I really didn't think I would get my whole route in but I managed to push though it.. However by evening time I started feeling pain in my inner shin again the same exact place that I had trouble with last summer..
For those of you who have followed this blog knows that last summer I really had a hard tine with my leg.. at first the doctors thought I had a deep inner shin splint that ran right up just above my ankle up to the middle of my leg or calf.. And it just wouldn't get better well of course I kept kinda running every so often on it but then they thought it was a stress fracture but with the MRI they found no fracture so I dont know what was causing it.. They thought it was because I increased my miles to quickly and ran to much, so needless to say I ended up taking a whole lot of time off from running because of this.. Anyhow so this winter and spring I didn't really do to much running and my leg finally healed after 3-4 months and it has been doing really great.. I have just gotten back into running more often now and have slowly increased my mileage wanting to be very careful not to have a repeat but after weds run I started hurting again.. I was so mad and frustrated.. I cant believe this is starting all over again.. i really thought I was being careful.. I dont know if I didn't stretch enough or maybe too much who knows..

Anyhow so Thursday I did nothing and Friday I did my kickmax DVD but didn't start it until 9:30 at night and got done about 11:30 by the time I finally finished it.. I had to take a little break in between to put kids to bed.. But I was pretty excited because I had great energy and I was able to get through almost the whole DVD without dying off and having to stop.. There was only 1 exercise I couldn't do the whole series too and that was the jumping lunges. I get through the 1st 3 sets but then my legs start shaking and hurting and my legs give out but I was able to rest a sec and jump back in for the last set of 8. So that means my legs are getting stronger.. I was pretty happy about that but this DVD still kills me..
So anyways I got to bed about 1:00 with the help of a sleeping pill because I was so wound up from exercising so late and I really wanted to get up early sat to go for my long run before I started my garage sale at 9:00 but I thought I would probably be wiped out to get up which brings me to today....

I had my alarm set for 6:30 to just see if I could get out of bed after 5 hrs of sleep and to my surprise my body already started waking up at 6:00 so by the time 6:30 came I had no problem getting up.. I decided to go do my run before eating so I could get it in before it got to late. I was leery running with the way my leg had been hurting and going without any food and energy in my body to sustain me for a long run. I had no idea how far I would be able to go with my leg, and knees and no nourishment.. I really wasn't too sore at all like I thought I would be after kick max just 8 hrs earlier so that was a nice surprise..

Let me just say I had the best run yet this year.. It was my first long run for the year and it was great.. The weather was nice and cool probably high 60's when I left and I was able to run in the shade for most of it.. And no humidity and it made a world of difference on how I felt.. I had plenty of energy my breathing was nice and steady. I didn't get tired at all.. My knee was bothering me a bit and there was a couple of times when I had a couple hills to go through that really bothered them but thankfully they weren't long hills they were just right for a good challenge for my legs without killing me off.. I could feel the first few miles my leg was tight but by the time I got to around mile 4 it was loosening up nicely and I had no pain at all so that was a huge relief..

So other then my knee hurting some it was darn near the perfect run.. My body felt like a machine..I couldn't believe how good I felt for not running this long in over a year.. It wasn't quite the runners euphoria nor felt like I was gliding but it was pretty darn close.. I really felt like I could have done a half marathon today and been just fine despite the lack of no training for it.. There was only 1 big pain I didn't take into consideration.. Since I hadn't been running this long yet this year I didn't think to put on any glide and I had a little shorter and looser shorts on then I normally wear and my inner thigh on one leg really got chaffed as well as my under arm.. By the time I was finishing the last mile I was really feeling the burn of my chaffed skin... OWIE!!! Other then that it was such an awesome run... I got in 7.31 Miles in 71 minutes.. I did walk a little for my warm up and cool down probably about .6 a mile total.. And for being my first long run I felt pretty good about that.. I was really not trying for any speed today....

I'm not sure if I could have gone much further then I did without some nourishment however because by the time I finished I was pretty shaky and a little light headed and it was starting to warm up a bit.. But I really loved the early morning run. The temp was so much better and there was hardly any traffic out and it was just beautiful.. My music really kept me pumped.. I dont know how anyone can run without music...

Anyways that was my run today.. I hope to have many more like it minus the burns.. And I pray that my leg will not start back up with the pain like it did.. I dont want to go through another summer like that.. Is there anyone out there that has had this type of pain before and knows what you can do for it other then icing and not running on it? I just cant not run.. My husband said maybe you will just have to stop running and switch to an elliptical and ride your bike and the very thought just made me depressed and mad.. There is just something about being out side and taking in the beauty and feeling the wind and air and taking in the smells and the way your body feels when you are running outside.. You just cant get that on an elliptical or a bike really.. It's just not the same.. Now that I know what its like to be a runner I just cant imagine not running.. Owell here is to a hopeful running future....

Goals

2009-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

I really need to get up earlier and run.. Lately by the time I get around to running after my kids swimming lessons it somewhere between noon and 1:00 so in the heat of the day Not good!! It was about 75 when I left so nothing too terrible but with the humidity it felt more like 90.. I thought I left all the humidity back in jersey but I should have known that with all the lakes and ponds out here that the humidity would be bad here too... Since running out here I have experienced more hills instead of nice flat roads.. It's been challenging and its really killing my knees especially going down them.. I hope to get better at it.. I can feel my legs starting to get stronger again so that is good.. I started to increase my mileage a bit.. I am planning to kick it up to 4 by next week.. we bought a golds gym xr 45 strength training weight machine over the weekend and I cant wait to get it set up and start using it.. Finally I have something that can build my legs up.. It has a pully system for your legs so I can do all the exercises my P.T had me doing for my knees so that will be great..
Today I set another goal.. Of course I keep setting new goals and end up not sticking with them but I really hope to stick with it this time.. Besides running 3.62 miles today I did 10 pushups , 100 crunches and 25 dips.. I want to do these everyday well at least 5-6 days anyways despite whatever else I do so I guess we will see..

Catch up

2009-06-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

I havnt been doing very good on getting on here and posting.

Last week

Tues- 3.11 miles
Thurs- Kick max
Fri- 3.11

This week

Weds-Kick Max

Can I just say for any of you runners who really want a good cross training workout you should try kick max.. Oh my gosh it will lick your butt.. It is a awesome full body workout.. And it's a killer on your legs.. It really strengthens and tones them.. I have never sweat like I have doing this dvd.. There are parts of the leg excercises (jumping squats, lunges and curls) that I cant keep up with and do all the reps they do because the burning and pain is so intense. I was still sore today from last weeks workout.. It really works the hip flexors, butt, quads, calves and hams.. It totally kills me... But now after doing it 3-4 times I am getting a little more endurance with it.. Hopefully soon I will be able to stay with it and do all the reps and exercises... This is such a great workout for runners it really helps with building and strenthening your whole body.. I would highly reccomend it.. If any of you are interested I have a dvd that I will burn for you and let you try it out if you want to pay for the shipping and cost of the dvd..

Wow now that I did all this promoting for their dvd I think they should pay me something.. LOL
Anyways thats been my 2 weeks so far.. I am hoping to get out running tomorrow.. Today it has just down poured all day.. I have never seen it rain so hard.. But tomorrow is supposed to be dry hopefully so I am gonna try and get a run in if I am not to sore from today..

Update..
Thursday the 18th 3.60 miles Ran the pollyann trail today.. Ran some hills drn near killed me but felt pretty good after run was over..

Kick Max

2009-06-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to do my kick max dvd and holy crap I am outta shape.. It's been about 2 years since I did it last and I am totally exhausted.. Physically as far as my stamina or endurance goes I was able to keep up with it due to my running but when it came to the leg workouts it about did me in.. There were a couple of the bursts that I pooped out on becuase my legs were cramping so bad and were pooping out on me.. Wow talk about a killer workout.. I used to do it every so often when I was teaching aerobics at a local church for some women in the area and I was in pretty good shape but since we moved out of state and I no longer have that I have really gone to pot.. I can definently tell now that I am going to have a hard time even walking tomorrow.. I am hoping that if I keep up with doing this once or twice a week in between my running I'll get back in shape in no time.. I have really missed getting out there and running like I was at this time last year.. Hopefully as soon as school gets out here I can start going outside and running the trails around here. That is if my knee's will cooperate.. I have really been hurting lately.. I started back up with the celebrex so hopefully that will help..

Slow Start

2009-05-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

Ok so have pretty much been out of it for a while.. With all the house hunting and moving and then unpacking and to top all that off as soon as I got here I got pretty sick which turned into a sinus infection which hasnt gone away yet and its been 2 weeks and then of course I either got sick from the antibiotics or it was just a fluke that I came down with a stomach bug so I really havn't done much since I have gotten to MI.. and there are some great trails I am dying to go try.. Also with logan out of school and the other kids with still a couple weeks left I cant go out and leave her so I am stuck with the treadmill thing for a couple more weeks until school gets out then I will be able to start going again. It will be great come fall when she starts going to school full time. Then I can go anytime during the day...

So today I was really depressed when I couldnt fit into the capris I had worn last summer so I got on the treadmill and was able to speedwalk a mile then run 1 mile to finish with a quarter mile cool down. So not too bad for starting back up again.. I hope I can work up fast and get back into a really good system and good mileage without the aches and pains.. I think with all the trails up here I am going to be doing more biking then I have been so that will be a good workout for the inbetween days. Now if I can just get the motivation and energy back.. Its amazing what a few months can do to ya..

Falling Behind

2009-04-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Wow I really have been slacking lately.. But i do have an excuse with all my traveling lately and getting ready to move.. I have been having some activity but not as much as I would like.. I have also been neglecting to get on here and record my activity so here is a quick catch up..

The week of the 23rd I only got some biking in on friday.. My parents are up staying with us until we move and my dad just had knee surgery a month ago and he still could kick my butt on the bike.. It took everything I had to keep up with him.. Go DAD!!!!

Then we headed to michigan again and I got on the treadmill in the hotels gym on the 1st and ran 3.06 miles then went and swam some laps.. It felt great to put in a little more distance this time.. I was really looking forward to doing the Diana's run 5k in May but unfortunatly we wont be here for it so I will have to see what is going on out in Michigan for races.. Although I havnt really had the training this summer.

Owell hoping for a better week this week. I'm really looking forward to getting settled in to our new home in Michigan so I can get back into some kind of routine and hopefully get my body back in shape..

Weekly Cap

2009-03-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well last week I didnt do anything because of being out here in Michigan house hunting so we spent most of our days being out, but this week Steve had to work so I was confined to our hotel room with no car so my choices of doing anything was very limited so I did get in some running this week.

Monday
I got to go check out the hotel gym and I did 10 mins of the stair master and 10 mins of biking, did some weights then ran 2.5 miles.. It was a great workout.. Maybe a little much after too long of inactivity because by late afternoon I was stiff and sore and hurting.. I have been batteling some kind of nerve or muscle or both in my dairy'er that has just been killing me for the last 2 weeks and I think the excercising today inflammed it and made it worse.. I sit on it just right and it sends shooting pains all the way down my leg.. AARRGGHH

Tuesday
Today it was like 65 degrees here so I headed out side.. They have a sidewalk type path that runs along the street of the hotel that I decided to run.. It felt great to be outside.. I got in a 2.35 mile run in..

Weds
Had appnts in the AM so it was a rest day..

Thurs.
Did the hotel gym again today.. Biked 15 mins, then ran 2.3 miles then did some weights.. Aching again tonight.. I must be getting old... I would hate to see what I felt like without the aid of my celebrex..

Fri
I dont know if I will do anything. Flying home today but steve has to work a half day so maybe I will go run.. I will update if I do when we get back..

Recap of last week

2009-03-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

I decided I would start blogging once a week on my activity. I think it will be easier this way as long as I remember to keep track of my miles and what not..

Thursday I di full body weights after a long time of nothing.. I was quite a bit sore by that evening and then dummy me I went rock climbing that night and my arms were so tired and sore.. That wasnt such a great idea..

Friday easy steady run. 3.03 miles Wasnt as bad as I thought it would be with my legs being so sore..

The rest of the weekend I slacked.. And so far have not gotten back into it yet.. It's been so cold here and we got our first real big snow storm monday so I just havn't been able to motivate myself to get on the treadmill.. Tomorrow I have early morning appnts after kids get off to school so it probably wont happen again.. In fact I doubt anything will happen for a while.. I have a freind coming in from utah on thursday and we are spending the weekend in The Big City and then I am off to Michigan house hunting for 2 weeks so my running will prob go down the tube for the next few weeks... AArrgh I just realized all this now.. It makes me crazy that I wont be doing anything.. I feel so much better when I can get out and run... Maybe I will have to see if the hotel we will be staying in has a work out facility.. Something is better then nothing I guess...

Thank Heavens For Drugs.

2009-02-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

I finally made it out today..I was dressed to go yesterday morning thinking it would help motivate me but it was so cold yesterday and breezy that after standing out in it for 15 mins with the kids at the bus stop it quickly unmotivated me... I was going to get on the treadmill but came home and got on the computer and got lost into cyberspace and before I knew it the day was half over.. So I really have been slacking. Today was better.. Temp wise it was about the same but only a very slight breeze which make a big diffrence out here.. With the humidity and wind chill factor it felt like in the teens yesterday but it was really 25.. Today it was 25 degrees when i went out but much better.. Still a little cold for my liking but I really needed to get out and run.. My knees felt really great today... Just a little twinging in the right one.. I finally got the Dr. to give me a couple more prescriptions for some celebrex and it has made a world of diffrence in my knees..

I was planning on keeping my miles low but after I finished up 2 I decided since I was feeling pretty good I would go take my dog around the block for a cool down brisk walk.. It ended up being more of a run but as long as I felt good I figured it was ok.. Right towards the end I could feel the right one aching a bit so I went home and iced it and now feel pretty good. Hopefully if I can stay on the celebrex I may get back into this a little better..

All in all a pretty good day!! 3.03 Miles

Funny Excercise Diary!!

2009-02-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

I got sent this diary in an email and thought it was so funny!! I can sympathetically relate..

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
_____________________________

TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the heck would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other crap too.
_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny witch to find me. Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine --which I sank.
____________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that witch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the stupid barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
________________________________
SATURDAY:
Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little brat) will choose a gift for me that is fun --like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!! In three words, I can sum up everthing I've learned about life.....
IT GOES ON!
-Robert Frost

2009-02-17T14:11:00.000-08:00

I havn't been doing to good keeping up with this thing.. Of course there hasnt been much to blog about.. After the last blogged run I think I had over done it with mileage because my knees really ached horribly for 2 days.. I could hardly walk.. So I took a little time off. I had gotten my MRI's back and the Dr said they were ok. I had some cartlidge wear under the knee cap on one and some fluid in the other but that all I could do was P.T and rest and ice and maybe if I cant get them under control with decreasing my mileage for a while that I may have to stop running which I wasnt to happy hearing.. I was not really impressed with the DR. I had been doing therapy and it didnt seem to help all that much.. I was doing better in the summer but still not great. And it seems like lately they have been getting worse.. So I attempted to run again next week after a little break and kept my mileage low. I lost the sheet I tracked my mileage on but I think it was around 2 miles with 1 mile of it being fast walking and my knees did much better but still kinda hurt..

They are still not doing great so I have not been doing anything.. I may try and go out again tomorrow or thurs depending on weather to see how they react.. I think I will wait until I move in a couple months then get a second opinion on them.. I was so hoping to do a half marathon this summer but I just dont think I will ever get there.. I just dont want to give running up. It just makes me feel so much better and there isnt really anything that takes the place of it and gives you quite the same high as running does.. Of course with moving to another state my time will be very hectic so I dont know how much running I will get in..

So I'm a little bummed out with my running progress but hopefully it will get better..

First Run of 2009

2009-01-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the double post today but I wanted to blog on my first run of the year....

Well I was going to wait a while to run due to some knee problems but I woke up this morning feeling pretty good and it was actually 10 degree's warmer then it has been for a while and I have really been itching to get out and run lately so I decided why not let's give it a try... I tried to stretch out some before heading out hoping it would help.. It was 28 degrees so much better then the 18 and 19 that it's been.. I was only planning on going a couple miles since it was my first time out in 6 weeks. I figured my lungs would probably give out on me any further then that but to my surprise I did quite well. I tried to do a good warm up fast walk to get the blood flowing.. It was quite cold starting out, but after the first mile I finally started warming up and feeling the blood flowing and was able to breath without my gloved hand over my face.. When I first started running I was thinking I was not going to make it far I was already breathing hard and feeling like I was gonna bring up a lung, but I soon was able to even out my breathing and it was pretty smooth sailing from there..

My knees had a little pain but nothing to drastic.. I had a band on my right one I dont know if it helped or not.. I have heard so much controversy on whether or not they really help or hinder but I thought I would wear it anyways, My chest started hurting about a mile into it but I remembered last time when I took a couple months off and then started back up that the first couple times running again I had some chest pain but then by the 3rd time out it was gone so I wasn't to worried.. I was able to run the whole time other then my warm up and cool down.. I really felt pretty good and I could have gone further and wanted to , but I thought I better not push my luck too far..

I ended up doing 3 miles and got back home and saw my poochy Lucky standing at the door thinking he was ready to go for a walk so I decided why not and walked about another 1/4 mile and ran the rest giving me another .9 of a mile giving me a total of 3.91 miles today.. Much further then I thought I would go but I felt really good and I hope it wasn't too much for just starting up again.. I could really feel my knee's when I started running again with the dog but once I got running I didnt feel it anymore so I dont know if that was a good thing or not.. I came home and Iced them so hopefully that will help.. They are a little sore now but not to bad and hopefully they wont get any worse as the day goes on..

So all in all it was a really great run minus the few nagging pains.. A great start to 2009.. Hope it stays that way... Here's to :

My Miles for 2008

2009-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

I started running in March of 2008 and found I really loved it despite nagging pains from my knee due to 2 previous surgerys.. I decided to blog this so I could move it off from the side of my blog so I could start my running log for 2009 plus give me something to go back and refer or compare to.. As you can see there was quite a jump from first starting out to my next couple months I think that is why I got the stress fracture in my leg as you can tell that put me down significantly in June and July. There on out it has been kind of hit and miss with injurys and pains.. I hope to eventually get back to how I was running in May and get a few more races in this year. That might be a challenge because I have been having knee problems and will be having some MRI's done on them to see if another surgery is necesary. Hope not!! Plus we are expecting to move come June so that will screw up any races in this area so I will have to see what happens and where we go.. I may have to forget the races this year...I am shooting to do the Diana's Run again in May so at least there will be one race.. Unless I need surgery... that may put me out for a while.. Guess we will see what happens... I hope it turns out to be a good year and I can continue my love of running..

Running/Speed Walking/Weightloss Log
March 15th --------------------2 Miles
March 29th --------------------2 Miles
March 31st --------------------2 Miles
---------------------------------------
April 1st ------------------1 1/2 Miles
April 2nd ----------------------3 Miles
April 3rd ----------------------5 Miles
April 9th ----------------------5 Miles
April 10th --------------------6 Miles
April 11th --------------5.2 Miles +3
April 15th -----------------6 Miles +1
April 16th --------5.8 Miles N0 +/-
April 17th-------------7.30 Miles -1
April 23rd- --------------5.26Miles -2
April 24th-- ---------------7.23 Miles
April 26th-----------------3 miles +2
----------------------------------------
May 3rd----------------5.45 miles +1
May 5th----------------6.83 Miles +1
May 6th-------------------7.30 Miles
May 7th-----------------7.72 Miles -1
May 8th ----------------5.68 Miles
May 13th---------------5.93 Miles +2
May 15th---------------7.51Miles -2
May 16th----------(B)8.35 (R) 1.? -3
May 17th-------------10.25 Miles +1
May 19th-------------5.21 Miles +2
May 21st ---------------6.40 miles
may 23rd---------------6.40 miles +1
May 27th---------------3.82 Miles
May29th---------------5.92 Miles
May 31st 5K race----3.1 Miles 24:45
----------------------------------
June 2---------------6.42 Miles +2
June 5th-------------7.12 Miles -1
June 6th -------------5.44 miles -1
June 17th-----------(B)9-10 Miles
June 19th---4.34 Miles B 9-10 Miles
------------------------------------
July 1st---------------2-3 Miles
july 14th----------------3.59miles
July 15th-------------(B) 9.09 Miles
July17th----------------4.64 Miles
July 22nd---------------2.3 Miles
July 28th---------------4.50 Miles
July 29th-----------(B) 12.08 Miles
July 30th---------------4.33 Miles
------------------------------------
Aug 7th-----------------5.58 Miles
Aug 8th------------------B 9.34 miles
Aug 9th--------------------6 Miles
Aug 12th-------------------5.9Miles
Aug 14---------------------5.92 Miles
Aug 16th-------------------6.78 miles
Aug 19th-------------------6.85Miles
Aug 20th-------------------5.17 Miles
Aug 22---------------------9.26 Miles
Aug 26th-------------------5.92 Miles
Aug 28th-------------------6.85 Miles
---------------------------------------
Sept 1st--------------------5.44 Miles
Sept 2nd--------------------6.41Miles
Sept 13th-------------------3.36 Miles
Sept 15th-------------------3.52 Miles
Sept 23rd-------------------3.4 Miles
Sept 30th-------------------3.84 Miles
---------------------------------------
Oct 14th--------------------4.55 Miles
Oct 16th--------------------3.83 Miles
Oct 18th--------------------5.93 miles
----------------------------------------
Nov 1st---------------------3.05miles
Nov 10th-------------------3.05 Miles
Nov 12th-------------------3.92 miles
Nov 17th-------------------3.78 Miles
Nov 22nd------------------3.05 miles
Nov 24th-------------------4.25Miles
--------------------------------------
Dec 3rd--------------------4.20Miles
Dec 5th--------------------4.25Miles
Dec 10th------3.34Miles (B) 1

Here is to 2009

2009-01-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

I know I have been suck a slacker lately.. Its been 6 weeks since I have done anything and I am feeling like such a fat outta shape couch potatoe.. I have done absolutely nothing these past 6 weeks other then eat and eat and eat some more.. This is what I hate most about the holidays... plus that it is so dang cold to go outside to run and I cant stand to run on the treadmill... I have had such a horrible time with my knees for the last month that I have really been worrying about my continued running.... I am going in to have MRI's done on both of them on Monday to see whats going on with them... I really want to get out and run because I feel so much better when I do but I dont know if I dare chance it with how my knee's have been.. I tried doing some stretching a couple days ago and couldnt believe how outta shape I had gotten.. I could barely get my legs past a 90 degree angle when lying on my back.. How pathetic is that.. I was really tight.. I figured maybe I would work on my stretching a little then give it a try and see how they handle.. I am going to have to put up with the treadmill to start out because its been so cold, but at least my miles will be low so it wont be too bad..

So I am hoping that with this new year my knees will improve and I can work my way back up and get some races under my belt. Well I would take just being able to run again pain and injury free.. Drop some pounds and tone up and feel good about myself again..Maybe start to recognize my old body again... Here is to 2009!!!!!

I'm sick of hurting!!

2008-12-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

Tried to get out and see how my leg was doing.. I could feel it was still sore this morning. I wasnt going to do anything but then I decided to go get on my elliptical. I got a good warm up on that for about .6 miles then decided to go run outside. It was really warm thismorning.. It was 63 when I left on my run.. I didnt get to far about a mile and it started raining so I shortened my run today which was good because my leg and knee was still not good. I just feel like I am running with stumps for legs. they are so not working together and feeling very good.. I just havnt felt very good with my running lately.. I feel more winded and tired and my legs wont cooperate.. Tis the season I guess.. Hope it improves... Owell I came in and finished up another .6 miles on the elliptical then rode my bike for a mile.. Its all I had time for today..
Total miles running 3.34 and 1 mile on bike

2008-12-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Just recapping my past week.. I have been able to increase my mileage slightly.. I am now up in the 4 mile area but still struggeling a little. My first run for the week I figured I would time myself for a 5k and see what I was doing it in. I just didnt have it that day.. I dont know if its the cold or just me but it took forever to feel like I was warmed up and I even hopped on my elliptical before heading out to give me a warm up. My legs just felt cold and stiff and I just couldnt run faster then what I was running. I got the 5k done in 26:45 2 minutes slower then my race time back in May when I ran the 5k. I was pretty dissapointed.. But it also makes a big diffrence I think when it is warmer outside and you have alot of adrenaline pumping and you have many runners around you.. It pushes you to run faster and push yourself to beat the other person ahead of you.. Owell..
Fridays run was ok other then my knee hurt the whole time.. Nothing to bad but nagging and sore.. It also took my leg 2 miles to finally warm up and not hurt.
Today now my leg is not good at all I dont think it was from the running but it seems when I bend down on it at times it pulls it somehow or aggravates it then its sore for like 2-3 days and it just kills to go up and down my stairs... I just dont understand what it wrong with it.. I am just going to have to go have the MRI done to see if we can figure it out... There's days when I dont have any problems at all so I dont pay much mind to it but then I somehow bend on it just right and pull it or something then Im huting for a few days.. I am wondering if I will ever be able to run pain free with no problems or injurys. I thinking I may never gt a half or full marathon in.. Maybe I just wasnt meant to be a runner and this is my bodys way of telling me I dont know!!!

Owell I am gonna give my leg another day or two and see how it does then try running again mid week and see how I do.....

2008-11-24T16:40:00.000-08:00

Just a recap on my last couple runs.. I cant remember if I ran more then just on monday or not.. If I did I forgot to log the miles but I did get out on Sat and it was so dang cold.. I had the hats and gloves and hoodie on with a long sleeve underneath and I thought I was going to freeze to death.. We had such a bitter cold wind on sat. It felt like I was running agaist it most the time. Thee were leaves blowing everywhere and my nose would run and I would have to cover my mouth and nose with my glove to breath every once in a while it was nasty.. I only did just the 3 mile route that day due to the cold and my leg pain. I aggrevated the area where I had my stress fracture and it just wont go away.. It's not bad enough to not try and keep running but painful enough that I feel mostly the whole run. I may have to go have an MRI done to see if they can see whats going on with it...

I did get out today and the weather was pretty good. Started out a little cold but once I got running I kept pretty warm. I even had to shed the jacket on my cool down walk home. Still had problems with my leg hurting and my knee aching a bit but other then that it was a really good run. My body really seems to be aching alot lately. The days I run I have leg and back aches by night time and my tail bone is really hurting tonight.. Even though I am stretching really good after my runs I still managed to pull my ITband up in my quad. Maybe that is why my knee is aching so bad. I am wondering if maybe I am out of alignment or something and need to go see a chiropractor.. Probably wouldnt hurt..
I was able to get in 4.25 miles today.

Feeling Good!

2008-11-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

I finally went back to P.T last night after 2 months of inactivity.. To my surprise I only had to drop down a half a pound on my leg extensions and curls due to some loss of muscles in my knee and legs but I stayed the same on everything else.. Plus I wasn't even sore this morning so I was quite happy. I had a pretty good run today. No knee pain and very little leg pain.. I decided not to stretch before my run today.. I have heard it many times not to stretch before a run but rather do a good pre run or walk warm up then do a really good stretch after your run. So I decided I would see how it worked.
I fast walked/jogged for the first .45 miles then did a few quick stretches then ran 3.05 miles then ended with another .43 miles of walking then did some good stretching and i was amazed at how good my legs felt.. I didnt have any pain in my leg that I thought I would due to how it was feeling before my run. I aggrevated it on mondays run and it was hurting a bit but today after my run it felt great.
I dont know if I can chalk it all to not stretching before my run but I will definently try it again and see how it goes..

Total distance today 3.92 Miles

I'm Finally Free

2008-11-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Ok Ok I know I have been really bad lately with my running.. I knew I would be when school started and I had Logan at home with me until november when she would finally go back to preschool. I just cant stand running on the treadmill and my nights are to busy to try and get my runs in then so I have really been slacking.. My body has definently went to pot.. I have gained all my weight back that I had lost and I have lost all the muscle definition in my legs. I am so depressed.. But today Logan started back up in preschool.. YEAH!!!!! so now I can start running out side again.. I have 1 1/2 hrs of freedom all to myself every morning now to do all my exercising or whatever i want to do.. I am so excited. I am determined to get back into shape and get back into running like I was.. I still managed to get 1 run a week in at about 3-4 miles but I really want to get back up to doing 6-8 miles a day...I have had such a hard time with injurys since I took up running. If its not my knees it's my leg(stress fracture, or deep inner shin splint along the side that took almost 3 months to heal). So I worry about increasing to fast to quick and running into the same problems again.. Hopefully I will be a little smarter this time around. I really wish I had some kind of running partner/friend to do this with and keep me motivated. I am hoping to loose 10 pounds before christmas but it is so extremely difficult with the holidays here to not eat all the sweets.. It takes so much dicipline. AAARRGGHH

Anyways I did get out this morning and it felt so great.. It was about 46 degres when I left and sunny.. A little windy and nippy but after the first mile I finally started feeling the blood get back into my fingers.. I was a little worried because I have had some knee pain going up and down my stairs. I dont know if I have done something or if it is just from the inactivity lately. It did hurt today but it was tolerable.. hopefully it will get better... I did however have some chest pain today about a mile into my run and it kept hurting the whole time.. Nothing real serious but it made me a little uncomfortable... I never used to have any problems with running and my heart. I have recently went through a series of tests for my heart because I have had bouts of palpatations and they found out that my heart throws in several extra beats that it shouldnt but that it was fairly common and that everyones heart does it at times.. They put me on magnesium to see if that would calm things down a little and so far I think it has helped but now the last few times I have ran I have been getting some chest pains so I am not sure what to think about it..

Anyways I was able to get my run in before I had to pick up Logan and I felt great other then my chest. I am glad I got it in when I did because now it has turned off gray and overcast outside and has dropped a few degrees and the wind has picked up.. I was able to get in some upper body strengthining today and plan to get back into the P.T tomorrow to start getting back some muscle building in my legs.

It was crazy because of all the trees here the leaves are just everywhere. It was like running in a snow storm except instead of snowflakes it was leaves blowing and falling everywhere. I was afraid of opening my mouth for fear of sucking in leaves. The streets are just covered in them so I had to constantly dodge big piles of them but it was really beautiful I cant complain...

This is what my yard looks like right now.. Except they are in bright reds and orange.

Autumn wonderland

2008-10-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

It was the perfect day for running today.. It was a BEAutiful day about 46 degrees nice sunny.. At first I thought it would be too cold but it was perfect. There was a nice little wind which kept me cool, a little hard to run against but it was nice.. all the tree's are changing and there were just bright red and orange leaves everywhere on the streets it was like running in an autumn wonderland. Just beautiful.. I used today as my long run. I was a bit winded in the beginning but I just kept pushing through and I finally eased into it.. I didnt evn need to stop and walk at all. I even got a couple miles at 8 mins so I was feeling pretty good.. I wasnt gliding and it wasnt exactly pain free but a really good run anyways.. My knee was bothering me some.. But it seemed if I stopped and took 2 min to stretch it really helped and that is when I would get an 8 minute mile so I think it really helped.. I wish I could have had my camera to take some picts it was amazing... I love this time of year....
Total miles 5.93 in 62 mins

2008-10-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah I finally got outside for my run today... Except that I didnt get out until 2:30 this afternoon and I dont know if I just didnt have the energy like I do in the mornings or if it was the crazy high humidity we were having or just what but I had a hard time today. I just didnt feel like I had any energy and after each mile I had to stop and walk for 2-3 min. It was so much nicer to be outside even if it was hot.. I managed to get in 3.83 total miles in 42 min.

Time to get back my body!!

2008-10-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh.. These last few weeks have just killed me.. Since I have stopped running constantly and stopped lifting weights my body has gone to pot... It's amazing how fast it can do that.. I have definently put on some inches and pounds and i have been so depressed about it so today I decided I am going to get back into a routine and some kind of diet.. the last one I was on worked but it is so hard to stay on so i need to find some kind of happy medium.. Anyone got any tips or tricks any advice or diets they have tried that works that is doable?
I did get on the treadmill this morning.. It was a good run other then of course it was on the treadmill.. Have I mentioned I HATE running on treadmills. Between walking and running I got in 3.25 miles in 42.30 mins and then I jumped on the elliptical and did 1.3 miles in 15 min giving me a total of 4.55 Miles..
Ok now I was able to get in 1.3 miles on the elliptical in 15 mins going at a medium to slower pace yet it takes me about 15-20 mins to speed walk a mile. There is something wrong with this picture.. I can do a mile quicker on the elliptical then I can run it on the treadmill.. Doesnt seem quite right.. Anyways I was able to get some ab work in and my upper body I was hoping to get into physical therapy tonight to do my legs but didnt happen..
I only have a few more weeks before logan is in school so I just hope the weather stays good. I am so missing running in this beautiful 75 degree weather.. It's just gorgeous here.. I think I may set up a schedule with a friend of swapping kids a couple times a week so I can do my running and she can go to the gym.. hopefully it will work out.. It felt great to run today.. Hope it wont take to long to get back into my miles and my old body.....

2008-09-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

Yeah with the kids having school off today I finally got an outside run in.. The weather was so perfect.. Nice and cool and it smelled good out side and the scenery was gorgeous.. The tree's out here are just starting to turn so it was really pretty. In a few more weeks it will be awesome the colors and all the tree's its like an autumn wonderland here.. I got some advice about running with straps for your knees and that they actually weaken the muscles in your knee so I have been running the last few times without them and have been doing fairly well. Today my knee started to ache the last 1/2 mile or so but nothing to bad.. It seemed that the faster I ran the more it hurt.. So as long as I kept a nice even pace it was good. I decided to sprinth the last half block or so and thats when I really felt it.

Today I proved my theory that there is definently something off with the calibrations in the treadmill or its just being outside. When I ran last and barely got my mile in at 10 min 20 secs and I felt like I was sprinting but today I went farther in less time so it proves I either run faster outside and just dont realize it because it honestly feels like I am running a slow pace or the calibrations are off on the treadmill. I was able to run 3.84 miles in 40 mins 45 secs. and that was with walking the first .6 miles and the last .4 miles. However I usually stop to stretch after mile 2 but today I didnt I just kept going so I know that shaved a couple mins off but I still think I was a couple mins faster overall.. I so wish I could get out more to do my running. The time went by so much faster then being on the treadmill. And so much COOLER!! I cant wait until November so I can start back up....

slacking

2008-09-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

I have really been slacking lately.. I only ran once this week (Mon). I ran 3.4 miles in 43 min. It is just so hard to get on the treadmill and do it..I dont know what it is if the calibration is slightly off but outside I usually run my miles somewhere between 8 1/2 - 9 1/2 min. I felt like I was almost sprinting on the treadmill and finished my mile in 10 min 20 secs. I just couldnt believe it.. It felt like I was really running to get it done that fast. I swear the calibration has to be off..

Without having the breeze against me or the sceenery it is just so hard.. It makes a huge diffrence.. Since school has started I have been so busy lately with appt for this and that and with logan being home all day until she starts preschool in nov I just havnt had much time to get my running in.. And now is the perfect time for running out side.. The weather has cooled down alot and the leaves are starting to change and it is just beautiful... Im so bummed. By the time Nov comes and I can start running out side it will be cold and yucky.. Owell it better then the treadmill.

The last couple times I have run I was able to do it without any straps or braces on my knee so that was good. My leg problem has been up and down but seems to be ok as long as I keep my miles down. But with all this inactivity I really feel my body getting out of shape.. I really need to get back into some routine and start building back up to where I was...

Anyways Im hoping this next week is better and I can get a least 2-3 runs in and get back to my weight lifting...

Treadmill Run

2008-09-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

I got on my treadmill today and got in 3.52 miles. I was even able to run without any straps or bands on my knee which was really nice.. I dont know if running on the treadmill makes a diffrence then running on the road but i had no pain in my knees today running without the straps.. My leg did well too.. It was still really hard to run on the treadmill and it seemed like it took forever so I am glad i am running shorter distances right now.. Also by keeping my miles low I was able to work on my speed today which felt really good. all in all a pretty good run..

I'm melting

2008-09-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

I finally got out today after almost 2 weeks of resting because of my leg.. I have had the same pain in my inner shin since my last run. the last 2 days it has felt alot better with only twinges here and there so I thought I would give it a try today and see how it felt.. Other then I got way to late a start and it was 80 degrees when I finished and so very humid making it feel like 90 degrees Other then that I felt really pretty good. No pain in my knees or my leg.. Thank goodness. I was really worried about my leg and having to go another 12 weeks of healing but I think the 1 3/4 week of rest really helped. I kept my mileage short I didnt want to press my luck and I plan to make sure I rest in between each run and keep my mileage down for a while.. I think I may have started increasing to gast again.. My book (The complete book of running for women) reccomended staying at the same mileage for 2 weeks then slowly increasing it by like a half-3/4 a mile after that and keeping it there for another 2-3 weeks alternating the lower mileage and the new increased mileage. So guess we will give it a try.. It's just so hard to have the patience to not run further exspecially when your feeling good and you have ran farther before. But if it helps keep me injury free its worth it.. I just hope that by tonight my leg will stiff be feeling good.. This coming week I will try and get back to my weight lifting. I had stopped that to just incase it was aggravating my leg too. So hopefully it will still be ok.
It felt really great to get out other then I was dripping everywhere it was so hot and humid. It felt like I was melting. ..It felt like it was forever since I had ran last and I am so thankful I was able to run without pain.. I was even abe to run the last 1/2 mile without my IT strap and my knee did really good.. I still had my lower knee strap on but eliminating one was nice.. I can tell they are aching a little now and I should probably go get some ice on them.. I just wanted to log my miles before I forgot.. I think I will also try foam rolling again today and see how it goes.

Not Another One

2008-09-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like I may be out for a while with the running.. On tuesdays run I could feel my leg hurting where I had the stress fracture or the deep inner shin splint what ever it was and I couldnt get it to loosen up much and by tues night I was in alot of pain again.. I cant believe it.. I have been trying to slowly increase my mileage sorta and I stretch real good during my runs and I have been doing so good that I cant believe its happening again.. My celebrex ran out so I was without it for a couple days and I dont know if that makes a diffrence but I tell ya I sure was in pain and aches tues night. It doesnt really hurt to walk on it yet so I am gonna rest it the rest of this week and depending on how it feels maybe try running again on monday and see what happens.... I so dont want to go through this again and have to take another 12 weeks to heal. When i was foam rolling I could feel some of the pain radiating from some of the spots in my calfs and some spots in my glutes.. Dont know if these spots are whats causing it but I will try and keep working them with the roller and see if it helps any. Arrrggh I am so frustrated and nervous.. I wish there was a way we could tell just what is is causing the pains and problems with our bodys and what we can do to fix it or avoid them... The only thing I can think that I did diffrent was I usually rest a day in between my runs and this week I ran both mon and tues so I dont know if that was too much or what. It shouldnt be but I dont know.. If anyone has any ideas or advise please feel free to share....

Labor Day

2008-09-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

I didnt get my long run in on Sat. All I can say is it was pure laziness. Being the holiday weekend and all and staying up to late on Friday I just didnt get up early like I was planning so I ended up not going.. So i thought I better at least get out and do something today, however it was not a great run.. my body was just not in tune today with running.. My knees were sore today and I just felt like my muscles were not working together so I felt awkward running. I was getting in 9 min or more miles so I definently didnt have the speed today. I wonder if eating played a part in it.. I woke up early this morning we had a breakfast party we were going to so I had to get out early if I was going to get my run in today. So anyways I ate about 3/4 a bananna and left. I didnt feel too bad but my body just wasnt as strong feeling and as with it as I normally do so I wonder if it has to do with eating before my run.. I would love to hear how other runners do it if they eat first or if they run first.
I absolutely loved getting out that early in the morning though.. it was about 6:30 and the sun was just starting to come up so I got to see the sunrise sorta.. We dont have mountains here so you kinda get to watch it come up above the trees out here but it was beautiful and there were hardly any cars out so I was basically all alone out on the roads it was a great, peacefull feeling. It was pretty cool this morning I was almost wishing I had a jacket for the first 10 min while I was walking for my warm up but once I got running it was nice... I love those kinda runs when your not so dripping by the time you get done.. I think it was 68 when I got back so it must have been around 65 or so when I left. Perfect running weather I just wish I would have felt better.. I tried running a mile without the IT strap but it just made my knee feel worse so I ended up putting it back on.. I hope to get where I can run without any bands or straps on my knee. I think I need to try some baby powder to see if it will help keep the IT strap up on my leg better. Even my toes were sore today.. I am in the process of loosing the middle and pinky toenails again... There black right now and look disgusting. Owell at least I got out today.. I didnt get in as long as I was hoping but I will probably get more distance tomorrow. All in all not to bad of a day. I loved getting done early and having the whole day to get stuff done.. I will have to try and get more early runs in. Well scratch that my kids start school this week so I wont be able to do that unless I leave at 4:30 to get them in because I have to be here at 6:00 for my oldest to get ready for school. she has to be gone by 7:15 so I dont think I am going to go that early. And whats a real bummer is I used to when school was in I would go why logan was in preschool but she doesnt start school until Nov. So now I will have her home so I wont be able to go outside running at all unless I go at night otherwise I will have to start going on the treadmill until november.. Oh what a bummer.. I hate running on the treadmill. It just seems so much more tiresome and longer then running out side... hmmmmmm Guess I will have to see how evening running works.. Im usually so busy in the evenings running kids around that evenings might not work either. BLAHHHHHHH

Total miles 5.44 in 65 mins

My First Ice Bath

2008-08-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

I actually could walk today with minimal pain after my foam rolling experience. I was still sore but I was able to go running this morning. My knees and legs did really pretty well. About mile 4 I started feeling an ache in my knee and thought as the further I went the pain would increase but it never really did until the last 1/4 mile when I decided to start sprinting, then I could feel the pain on the lower outside of my knee. I figure it was my IT band. But all in all not to bad... my physical therapist was not in again today so I stayed home and did all my arm, abs and leg weights. I decided to try the foam roller again today with much apprehention.. I was so sore yesterday that I would be walking along and I would all of a sudden get a burning and pinching sensation in my IT bands where I had rolled on some knots and trigger points. I so did not want to experience the pain again but I thought if it would help my running and knee pain it was worth it. I was actually able to roll today and I even was able to get 3 sets of 10 in on all my muscle groups. I was so amazed.. I still had alot of pain with the IT bands and my lower quads but still manageable with only minor screaming this time.. I really tried to go slow and put alot of pressure on the real sore spots that had lots of knots on them to try and hopefully break them up and get rid of them...

My friend Tall Girl Running suggested after rolling this time to take an ice bath afterwards to help with any inflammation and that it would probably make me less sore tomorrow so I did and to my surprise it was not as bad as I was thinking it was going to be.. I put straight cold water in (our water is not really cold cold more like cool cold) and then hopped in and added my ice bin from the freezer. I was able to spend 20 min in there then took my hot shower.. It actually felt pretty good. As of tonight I am sore I think mainly from the weight lifting and a little sore to the touch as if my IT bands were bruised but not as bad as I was last time so hopefully it helped.. I will see how I feel tomorrow. I was so happy I was at least able to roll this time around so I know the rolling is helping and breaking up all the knots. Thanks Angie and Jen for the idea...

Total miles 6.85 in 72 mins

Oh My Gosh Pain!!!!!!

2008-08-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

So after my long run and crazy wokout on friday I took the weekend off to recover. Sat I was a little sore but nothing to crazy. I was just really wiped out.. Sunday I think I was a little more sore but the weird thing was is Monday morning I woke up and my back was hurting on one side and shooting pains down into my glute and leg and it just hurt to do any bending as well as my upper back and neck was tight too.. I dont know if I slept on it wrong or if I had done something from lifting weights on friday. My knee was still hurting as well as my inner calf too so I decided not to run monday..

Today I was still a bit sore in my back but thought I would go running and hopefully it would loosen things up.. Other then my knee aching most of the time I did pretty good.. My calf was pretty tight to start but eventually loosened up. By the last mile my knee started feeling somewhat better although I still had to keep stopping and adjusting the IT strap because of it sliding.. I also had to stop and walk about a block today to give my knee a rest and it seemed to help alot with the pain.. It didnt hurt much after walking it for a couple mins. I was even able to get a 8 min mile in. I did a lighter run today knowing i was going to do all my weights again today. Little did I know the worst was yet to come.

When I got home I noticed my foam roller finally came so I couldnt wait to go in and try it out..I started with my calfs and I did ok I did 3 sets of 10 rolling pretty fast I think the hardest part was how sore my arms were getting from holding me up to roll. My calfs were pretty sore.. I didnt realize theyt were that sore until I began rolling. Then i moved up to my hams.. I was able to do 3- 10s as well those were pretty good. Then I moved to my lower back and I seriously thought I was going to die. I couldnt even roll at all. The pain was so horrible I seriously thought I could pass out from the pain... All I could do was lay against the roller with my weight and hold my breath and grit my teeth. I have never felt so much pain...HOLY CRAP!!!! I would just lay there then roll like 1/4 " then repeat the gritting and breath holding. I then did my quads and did ok I was able to do a few but the slower I went the more painful it was. Next my IT Bands Oh my gosh pain!!!!! It hurt so bad.

The slower I went the worse it was so I knew I really needed to get in there and break those knots up so I started down close to the knee which was wear it was the worse and I just layed there in the spot with my weight and held it there for 10 seconds. I could literally feel the pain radiate all the way through to the other side of my knee. It took everything I had not to scream... Then I would roll it up just a tiny bit then hold it for 10 and eventually made it up my leg to my hips then I tried to start over again.. I was only able to do it twice before I had had enough. I then went and did my calfs over doing the real slow movement again really getting in and kneading the areas.. I really didnt think I was this tight and had that many knots in me but boy was I wrong.. The pain is like this burning stabbing sensation.. At first on my back I thought I was doing it wrong and pinching my skin but then realized I wasn't pinching it, it was the little trigger point knots that I was rolling over and causing immense pain and burning from them.. Geeze louize.... Hopefully as I do these more and more I can get where I can actually roll over them without crying.. I am sure as they break up and loosen the pain in my knees and legs will improve greatly.. As soon as I tried to get up and walk I was so dang sore everywhere.. I hope I can walk by toninght.. I thought I would try and do some more rolling tonight to try and loosen them up again if I can bear the pain.. I dont know if theres too much of doing this or not but I am sure it couldnt hurt..

Total miles 5.92

Dont Reccomend This

2008-08-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Yes...........I think I'm back.... I had a pretty good run today.. I decided to do my long run today since I am leaving early in the morning for the Philadelphia Zoo. Once again got a little bit of a later start then I wanted.. I left about 10:00 and it was pretty warm today but it could have been alot worse.. I think it was around 70 or 75 so not real bad... I tried to run as much as I could in the shady spots.. My oldest daughter came along with me today on her bike.. Even though I dont talk to her because I usually cant talk without getting more winded it was still nice knowing she was there.. She carried a bag with my water in it in case I needed some.. The plan was to go 8.5 miles. My knees felt really pretty good today as well as my legs. Only until about mile 7 did I feel my ITBand start to tighten up and ache.. I kept having problems with my IT band strap. It always starts to slide down my leg as my leg gets sweaty so I have to keep stopping and take it off and try to dry it and put it back on. I swear I wrapped it so tight it was cutting off the blood supply to my leg.. At one point I took it off but then my knee started hurting on the lower inside which was strange because I didnt think the IT band strap had anything to do with the lower and inner part of the knee but as soon as I put it back on the pain eased back up so I just had to deal with stopping evey half mile or so to readjust it.

I think i stopped maybe 4 times to take a drink of water and stretch my legs and knee a little and readjust the strap and that was it. Even with my knee starting to ache just a little towards the last mile or so it was still bearable so I decided to go around the block one more time since I was feeling so good and to my amazement I got in 9..26 Miles today.. I feel like I am finally back to where I was before my leg injury.. Now if I can just get to where these miles are my normal runs and my long ones are more like 12-14 miles.. I just am scared of pushing it to much to fast and getting another injury.. I felt really great afterwards, but then I think I did something not so bright... Ya I know shocker!!! I did my upper and lower weight workouts as well and I think I just about killed myself.. After completing my upper workout I was so shaky and exhausted. I felt sick to my stomach almost.. I thought maybe eating would help and it did some but not alot.. And I knew I had to get in my P.T lower body workout still since I wouldnt be able to go in tomorrow and my week was already thrown off from them not being in the office. I really didnt think I would make it but I did it... Barely!!!

I am just glad I get 2 days of rest so my body can recoop.... Other then all the walking around I will be doing tomorrow at the zoo... I just feel so exhausted and horrible tonight.. Not like real bad but just wiped out I think that was a little more then my body could handle all in one day.. I think you shouldnt do weights on the day of your long run. I definently wouldnt reccomend it.. Other then my left knee feeling a little sore and my legs stiffening up a little I dont feel to bad but I am sure I am really going to feel it tomorrow.... But hey I am still really hiped up about my distance today.. A great run!!!!

Much Cooler

2008-08-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today was so much cooler. I got out an hour earlier and a cold front had moved in last night so it was really nice today. I wish it could have been this cool yesterday.. I still wasnt quite in my element today.. My knee was hurting just a little before my run but seemed to do fine most of the way until the last half mile or so.. I'm not sure I could have done much more distance today so I am glad I was only doing a light short run. I went my normal route today but backwards and I didnt realize how much of a slope was in the roads until I tried to do it backwards and found I was running up steeper inclines.. I cant complain it's still pretty flat but you definently notice it in your legs and knees when your running up steeper inclines.. There was alot of shade today so with the cooler temps it was so nice. I still didnt feel quite like I wanted to, I guess those effortless gliding days are few and far between but it was a pretty good run all in all.. I'm hoping my P.T is in today so I can get my lower body workout done.

Total Miles 5.17 (R) 3.16 (W) 2.01

Dragging

2008-08-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

I didnt get out monday like I was planning. I was having some twinges going on in my inner shins so I thought I better not chance it and rest so I could run today.. I am glad I did because today they felt great and I had no pain in my knees either.

Once again I got way to late of a start. I didnt get out until 10:30 and it was pretty hot and humid.. I mapped out a new route today so I was excited to run it. It was part of my old route going backwards then I added a new loop of the park that we usually go ride our bikes around. I'v always wanted to come run the trails but have waited until my distances increased. The only thing I dont like about running the trails is on map my run the park and trails dont show up on there so I try and map it out from memory of the trails hoping I come pretty close, so I am not sure how accurate my miles were today. While waiting for my breakfast to digest I decided to do my upper body weights to help pass the time until I could run... I am not sure if that was a good idea or not. Todays run I seemed to really be dragging my feet and felt worn out.. Finally by mile 4 0r 5 i kinda started getting that tingle of your leg muscles all working together and its kinda that good feeling so my legs were like robotic plugging away but it felt like I was dragging my upper body. I'm not sure if it was just the heat and humidity wiping me out or if it was from lifting weights.

The route I did today didn't provide much shade so I was in full sun and it was tough.... It was a nice change of pace though to run this new route and it even provided a potty break at the park about half way through so that was nice but unfortunatly the drinking fountain was not working which is so dumb and made me mad.. Here this is a sports park and they dont have the drinking fountain working.... So I had to slurp some up out of the bathroom sink faucet.. Hey whatever works i guess. My legs felt like they could have kept going but the rest of me was dead shortly after beginning.. I made it though and I am glad I did and my knees felt great today as well as my legs so all in all it was a good run. Almost perfect if I would have left earlier this morning.. I was planning on doing my leg weights at P.T tonight but I guess they closed today and didnt bother to mention it to me so I guess I will do them tomorrow but it kinda throws my sched off a bit.. Owell I think I will do a light run tomorrow then do my P.T weights.

Total miles I think 6.85 (W) 1.43 (R) 5.42

Out of my Groove

2008-08-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

I was kinda dissapointed in what was supposed to be my long run today.. I got a really late start since I went to bed really late or should I say early this morning. I had a pretty big breakfast and I dont think I waited long enough afterwards.... Seems like everything was throwing my groove off today.. I took a water bottle with me thinking that since it was my long run I would need it around mile 5 or 6. I was planning on going around 7 today.. I'm not positive how long your long run should be compared to your normal runs but I thought that would be a good distance but nothing cooperated with me today. It was really throwing me off trying to run with a water bottle plus my cho strap i had above my knee kept sliding down my knee as I would run because of my leg getting sweaty so I had to keep stopping and pulling it up and tightening it. Finally after 2 1/2 mile I decided to swing past my house and drop the water bottle off and the strap and do a quick potty break. I headed back out but soon felt that I was not going to be able to make a long run. I think my body was not happy with my breakfast. I thought I would try and just go my normal distance and then do a long run on tues. so I kept plugging away hoping I would make it without having to turn around and run for home. By mile 5 I was feeling a little better but I still couldnt get my groove on.. My ipod headphones shorted out on one side so I had to stop and attempt to fix it but didnt have any such luck. It's weird but when I run everything has to be working together so when you have something like sound coming out of only 1 side of your headphones or a strap falling down you leg or trying to carry something as you run it just really throws off your groove if you know what I mean.... Shortly after mile 5 My hubby and my youngest caught up with me on their bike and decided to ride along side of me. My youngest is only 4 so she had to keep stopping to take a break.. So I would have to stop and run in place with her cuz she didnt want me to leave and get ahead of her.. I finally convinced her she was tired and asked if she wanted to go home so my hubby took her home and I finished my last mile. My knee was not coopertating with me either despite my stopping every couple of miles to stretch so I knew I better call it quits.. If it had been feeling better I think I could have gotten in 1 more mile to get my long run in. I did get a little more distance in then my normal runs but not what I wanted.. Owell I will shoot for next week sometime.. Maybe thursday because Sat we are going to go to the zoo early in the morning.
All in all not to thrilled with todays run..

Total miles 6.78 (W).99 (R)5.79

Sore Toes

2008-08-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

Oh my piggys hurt so bad... On tuesdays run my baby toe on my left foot rubbed the whole time on my shoe making it bruise and swell up a little and it was so sore and on my right foot my middle toe got the biggest of all big blisters on it and so I tried lubing them up today with some glide stick and wearing some extra thick socks which seemed to help some but my blister was still really big today and my pinky toe was still really sore.. I hope they are feeling better by Saturdays long run.. My distance now is just about doing them in.. I remember when I was running these distances before I had some mild blistering and bruising but not quite this bad.. I dont know what the diffrence is.. Maybe its my shoes I dont know..... All I know is oweeeeee right now.. Its so funny because I lost my pinky and my middle toenails so I had to polish my skin where the nails used to be so it didnt look to dumb.. And now the nails are starting to grow back but they are coming in thicker then the rest of my toes so it looks funny and it bugs me cuz it feels like i have 2 inch thick nails growing and i have to cut some of it off to look normal.. Makes me wonder if i will ever have normal toenails again on those toes....

Anyways had another good run today. Knee pain was very minimal so I cant complain. My only complaint would be I got out to late today and it was pretty hot and humid with the storm coming in so it seemed to take alot more effort today and I was really tired and hot.. Oh did I mention it was really HOT!!!!!! I got in about the same distance today as last time.. Walked .45 for warm up, .38 for cool down and ran 5.09 in 71 mins... My son came with the first 2 miles so I spent alot of time running in place or really slow.. He complained again of knee pain so I told him he better stick with running around the block or waiting until he can run without knee pain..
I also did my weight workout today and P.T lifting and then came home and did a few more.. Seems like I was doing exercising a good half of the day by the time I get everything done... My upper body was still pretty sore from tuesdays weights so it was really hard to do them today.. I'm hoping I wont be as sore tomorrow...

All in all a very good workout day..

Shocked!!

2008-08-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day.. I had taken monday off because it was raining all morning and then by the time the sun finally came out I had already gotten ready for the day and didnt feel much like running.. Today was a beautiful day. A little on the warm side when I finally got out but still a good day. I had some leg pain in my right leg down in the inner shin which scared me a little but after a few mins it went away.. That was a relief. I stopped and stretched after mile 2 which is 1 1/2 running since I walked the first half mile and decided to just see how long it would take to run the next mile to kinda see where I was. I figured I was right around 10 min miles since i was trying to take it easy but to my surprise I ran it in 8 mins 5 secs I couldn't believe it.. I wasnt even trying to be speedy.. What a shock.....Of course the next mile was closer to 10 so i slowed down a bit.. I stopped and streched again after mile 4 because i started feeling some pain in my knee just a little and it was amazing because the stopping and stretching every couple miles really helped with my knee today. I was able to run another 8 min mile with no pain at all. Of course this time I was paying a little more attention to my speed so I think I ran faster but still it wasn't like I felt like I was pushing myself for speed. I slowed my pace a bit though the last mile and I was feeling so good today not having any knee pain that I went farther then I had planned but I figured as long as I felt good why not??? As I am sure you have all found out I am not the brightest when it has come to running... I matched my running distance of what I had done for my long run on Sat... My knee only started hurting the last block so maybe I should have stopped a little sooner when I wasnt having any pain but you dont know until you feel it how far you can actually go..

All in all I think it was a great run.. It wasn't effortless today like I have had before but I will take a day of no pain running over an effortless run anyday... I did all my strength training today and went to P.T to do my weights and I have noticed that I have gotten alot stronger in my legs and was able to increase the weight on most all my exercises so that is good... I am excited.... I will probably be stiff and sore tomorrow but for now I feel great.. I dont think it will take me long at all to get back up to where I was before my leg injury if I can keep having days like today... as long as I dont increase to fast I should be ok.. I think that is what may have caused my leg injury, going up in miles a little to fast and often... So we will see... I'm not sure what they say about how frequently you can increase your mileage without causing problems. I will have to go back to my book and research unless anyone out there can let me know.. Anyways an awesome run today......

Total miles 5.9 (R) 5.20 (W).70 65 mins with stretches

Long Run

2008-08-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

I went down to the track at the highschool this morning and did my long run.. Well as long as I could for trying to come back slow... I was a little scared that my legs would hurt because i felt some twinges in them before I left. But everything was good. I had no pain with running other then my knee but even that didnt start until mile 2 so that was better then it has been, I was able to run 5 miles with a 1/2 mile warm up and 1/2 mile cool down giving me 6 total in 70 min and that was with stopping and doing some stretching after running a mile. So not bad for my first long run coming back..I think it was a mile more then what I ran on thursday so that was good.. I was a little worried because I was still really sore from doing weights on thursday. I am glad friday was not a run day.. After running I thought I would go run the bleachers since I was there. I started out pretty strong for as tired as I felt but I pooped out quickly.. I was only able to do 5 sets of 1/1... I am pretty surprised that tonight I dont feel more sore in my legs.. It's been a long time since I have ran bleachers... It kicked me....... It was still really hard to get my miles in on the track.. Its just so boring and hotter then running through the neighborhoods, but I'm sure my knees and legs appreciated it..

I had a friend call me today from our ward that told me about some races that she has done.. I'm kinda excited.. There is a half marathon in delaware called the trail dogs. which is kinda hilly and one in Baltimore that is a trail run which actually has you running through a river twice.. She said it's was really great and beautiful. You get to run around a lake and she said it was so diffrent then running on flat pavement. Its one of those that you just run to run it and dont worry about time and how you are doing.. I might have to look more into them. I think one is in october and one is in march... We will have to see.

Best Run in 12 Weeks

2008-08-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have really slacked lately with my running.. I was still having some small pain with my leg and knee plus I'v been so busy I havnt ran for a week.. Today I finally got out and went running. My son accompanied me the first 2 1/2 miles. We only ran about 1 1/4 miles of it and walked or I ran in place as he walked the rest of the way. He said his knees was hurting him.. I wonder if he had done something yeaterday in karate because he has never complained of his knees before.. Maybe he will suffer from our family predisposition of arthritis in the knees.. i hope not.. So anyways I dropped him off home and took a potty break and decided to head out again. I ran an additional 2.79 miles giving me a total of running 4.04 miles and walking 1.54 miles. I think that has been my farthest dinstance in a while and the best part about it was I had no pain what so ever in my leg so I think that my stress fracture or deep shin splint has FINALLY after almost 12 weeks healed...This was the first time running that I didnt feel at least a little twinge or ache or had some pain 6 hrs later, but tonight the leg is feeling wonderful.. HOORAY!!! My knees however are not so hot... My knee that has had the surgeries started hurting as soon as I started running and kept it up the whole time but it was at least manageable and I was able to run with it.. I did my P.T exercises and weights today as well so its a bit sore tonight. I'v iced it 3 times today hoping it would help..

I'm really hoping now I can get back on track and get to where I had left off before the injury. If I can just get my knees to cooperate things will be bliss... I think it has alot to do with keeping my muscles loose and stretched. I havnt been doing so good on that lately so I think thats why my knee has been hurting as much as it has. I could feel my IT band was tight today. So anyways I am really excited now and am anxiously waiting to get things going again.. Now if I can just keep it up with no more injurys.

The plan is to bike tomorrow and then run on Sat. I think Jen's idea to run and lift on the same day and then rest or cross train on the day in between is a better plan. Thanks Jen.....

Totoal Miles 5.58 70 mins

Effort

2008-07-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got a good Bike ride workout in.. I went 10 1/2 miles then later went with my kids another 1 3/4 mile so good workout..

My son decided he wanted to go running with me today on my route.. We decided not to go to the track today and just stay around home. I was going during the hour that I have to wait before I can eat so I didnt have the fuel I think I needed. Austin however had just barely gotten done eating so I wasnt sure how he was going to do either.. It was alot more humid today so it felt really warm and sticky outside. We should have left earlier. We warmed up by walking the first almost half a mile then we started running we made it about 1 1/4 miles and decided to stop and stretch. I knew he was getting really tired and struggeling a little. We were only able to go about another almost 1/4 mile and he said his side was hurting and had to stop and walk so we walked a while then picked back up to running but wasnt able to go about a block then had to stop and walk. He decided to head back home and I decided to keep going a little longer. So I ran the rest of my planned route once I dropped him off at our street. Today there was no gliding it was all effort.. My leg was a little sore I think from doing weights yesterday. I think it irritated it a little plus my knee was a little sore as well as my outer hill on my foot.. It was weird I had never felt pain in my side of hill like that. Other then my knee by the time it was time to quit I had most of my aches and pains loosened up but I knew I needed to quit if I was going to be able to walk tonight.. And now I'm having a little bit of pain in my right leg just under my knee on the inner side where I had my injury on the other leg. So now I am getting a little worried. I am wearing ice packs right now because I didnt do it earlier when I got home from my run and maybe thats why but I am hoping it will stop the pain and whatever may be going on with it.. Thats all I need is another bad shin splint or stress fracture in the other leg.. There's no way I can go another 2 months without running. guess I will watch and see.. It kinda makes me wonder why I am having such a hard time with injurys right now.. It seems when I first started all i had was problems with my knees which was a given with my 2 surgerys on my knee and the really tight muscles i have but since going to physical therapy and trying to strengthen them up now I am getting injurys everywhere else.. What is up with that???? I bought new shoes and my muscles have gotten alot more flexible but for some reason I'm having probs.. Aaarrghh this is so frustrating. there was one point where I had felt like my knees were much better and my legs were great and I was running anywhere's from 6-10 miles now I run half that and have pains..

Owell maybe I am making more out of it then it is.. Maybe my legs are just a little worn out from the weights I did yesterday on them and I should have not ran today but instead rested.. I went back to where I was doing physical therapy yesterday and used their weights to do the exercises I was doing when I was doing P.T that I am supposed to be continuing to do but havn't with my parents visiting and all the vacationing we were doing and the leg injury. Maybe being my first day back to doing all the weights was a little hard on them and I should have rested.
So I have a question to you experts out there....... If I am doing weights on tues and thurs. Do I run the same days before or do i run the day after. Does my rest days mean no running and maybe just biking or how should I do it????? I thought when I was reading my book it said run like every other day with cross training in between like biking and weights but maybe I misunderstood... Maybe its better to run, do weights then bike the next day or rest with no activity..
Any tips????
Anyways it was really fun to have my buddy with me today. Makes running funner.. Hope he continues to want to go with me.

Total miles today 4.33 (W) 1.14 (R) 3.19

A New Running Buddy

2008-07-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

I havn't had a chance for a while to get out and run so today I couldnt wait to get out there.. I havn't had any pain in my leg for a couple of days so I thought it was time to get out there. Of course upon waking this morning I could feel it a little.. I swear it's psychological.. Its like my mind knew it was going to run today so it started feeling the pain. Owell I paid no attention and decided to take all my kids and head to the highschool to run around the track while they played. I should have left alot earlier then I did. When I woke up it was still overcast some and it was still wet from lastnights rain and cool so it was perfect running temp, but by the time I got all my kids fed and ready and got the heating pad on my leg for a while it was already 9:00 and had warmed up alot and the sun came out.. I have a hard time getting a good schedule.. I have a medication that has to be taken on an empty stomach 1 hr before a meal so I try and take it as soon as I get up then have breakfast an hour later.. I should have gone running during that hour I was waiting but because my kids were not ready and I had to heat my leg for a while that by the time I was ready to go it had been an hour and was time to eat. I didnt want to go running without eating so I had to eat some then of course you dont want to run immediatly after eating so it is really hard to get a decent schedule out of all this...

Anyways I did leave as soon as I ate and figured I would have a few mins anyways to gather my water and I pod and load the kids up and drive there and that would have to be long enough.. I walked 1/2 mile for warm up and ran another 1/2 mile then did some stretching and continued my run.. My kids tried running a little ways with me but ended up pooping out shortly into it and found it was much better to play and ride their scooters. Logan however ran 1/2 mile with me I couldnt believe it she is only 4.. I couldnt believe she did that then towards the end my son decided to join me and he ran 1 1/2 mile with me staying right with me at my pace. He was awesome.. I think I found a new running buddy.. I told him if he kept coming out with me and building up he could come do my routes with me and we could run in a 5k together. He was pretty hiped up about it all and came home and ran 1 more mile around the block. I think I got some naturals in the family.... Of course his karate training has him really conditioned so he kinda had an advantage... But the 1 1/2 miles he ran with me made the time go so much quicker for me I would love for him to build up his distance and come with me on my runs.. It's great having a partner.. Its 4:20 pm He just asked if he could go run around the block again... I told him he should wait and gradually ease into this running stuff so he's not to sore tonight, but he said its just so fun.. So he's off again.. LOL

I however did not like running on the track as well.. Yes the ground was softer and less impact for my leg and knees which is what I need on my recovery back from my injury but it was so boring and the scenery never changed and there were no shadey trees to run under like my routes on the road.. It made the time drag out alot longer. Plus it was alot hotter too with the black track and no shade. My little logan she is so fair skinned and her face was bright red and she was just sweating. She has a hard time in the sun. She gets really red and sweats more then most kids do.. My leg did do much better though today and I came home and iced it and I have no pain what so ever right now so we will see what tonight brings but I think it will be good so maybe for now I will have to put up with the track.. Maybe I can alternate every couple of days.

It felt so good to get out and run today.. I didnt think so at first.. The first 2 miles I was kinda out of breath and not feeling as good as I hoped. Probably running on a full stomach without the energy absorbtion..... This not running very often is taking a tole on me, but by mile 3 I'm not sure what happened whether my breakfast energy kicked in or the energy water I had drank right before something but all of a sudden I had this tingling through my body. A really good tingling feeling. It would be hard to imagine or describe unless your a runner and have experienced this before but its like all the muscles in your body all of a sudden become one and they all work together giving you this rhythem. Instead of it being an effort to run there is no effort at all and you feel great and instead of feeling like you are running you feel like you are gliding. It's effortless and it feels so good.. I knew my body was finally warmed up and going good and had a great rhythm going on, but I was having some pain in my knee and I knew I had to stop and call it quits to make sure my leg heals and I dont push it to much to fast. The dr. told me to gradually build back up to where I had left off which was around 6-8 miles a day so I decided to stop. But it was amazing it felt great and I havn't felt that good running in a long time.. I walked a lap around for a cool down and headed home.

My plan is to run Mon, Weds and Fri with biking and weights on tues and thurs. Schedule pemitting. Hoping this will get me back into things.

So for totals today with my warm up and cool down I walked total 1 mile and ran 3 1/2 miles for a total distance of 4 1/2 miles.. Not to bad...

2008-07-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

I finally got back to the Dr's yesterday. I have stopped my physical therapy now due to insurance so I have kinda fallen off the wagon as far as my exercises go for my knees and legs.. Once my parents came out and we went on vacation my excercises that i'v been doing for therapy went down the drain.. I was short on time yesterday so I only got in 2.3 miles on the treadmill. My leg has still been bothering me a bit. After talking to the Dr. again we are kinda thinking it may not be a shin splint after all because of the time its taking to heal.. He wants me to kinda watch it a little longer because Im just starting to notice some slight improvement so he said even if its slow its good so as far as running is concerned I am just supposed to start out as if I have never ran before and only do it a couple times a week and short distances and slowly build back up to where I was.. He also wants me to run on a track or grass for a while so I think I will start maybe going down to the track at the highschool.. It's kinda out of the way for me and more of a burden but if it will help for a while I guess its worth a try.. He said if I dont notice it getting better or if it starts getting worse that it's probably a stress fracture that is not good because it can lead into an actual fracture which I would not be able to walk on at all.. so he said if this is the case I will have to take off 2-3 months from running and do something else until it heals.... gosh it has been so hard with the 6 weeks of doing very little running now that I cant imagine taking off 2-3 months doing absolutley no running..

He also said there is a spot just under the knee that is the size of a silver dollar that can get bursitis in it and if that is what is going on they can give me some cortizone shots in it to help and I still would have to rest the leg.. Either way this is no fun and I am not down with the stop running idea!!! I am just praying that it is just taking a real long time to heal what ever it is but that I am on my way up and will start to be able to build back up and get to where i was when all this happened.. You know it was bad enough when I was batteling with my knee but now my leg too.. It almost makes me wonder if I am not supposed to be running.. I'm just hoping that maybe I was just a little haste in my training and was jumping the gun a bit to much running the distances I was to soon. But I cant imagine now after finding out how good it makes me feel and that I can actually do it and be pretty good at it that quitting is an option. Maybe a setback for a while but I will keep trying.. Anyways I am supposed to give it a little more time then if it still isnt getting better I have to go get a MRI done.. So for now I will keep doing what I am doing and run every couple of days low miles and maybe start heading to the track and will just have to watch it..

So Hot

2008-07-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my leg was still hurting a little and I had so many things going on that i didnt get anything in for excercising. So I got up early to take steve to the train station and thought i would get my run in before it got to hot.. I came home and decided to put a heating pad around my leg hoping it would help loosen it up because it was still twinging a little. so by the time I finally left to run it was already 8:00 and very warm outside.. Thank heavens we have alot of trees here to make the roads shady.. I speed walked almost a mile then started doing an easy run. I stoped about 1 1/2 miles into it to try stretching a little and see if I could get my leg to loosen more.. I had my bands on my knee so it was doing ok, a little sore but not to bad and my leg was twinging a little but nothing i couldnt handle and nothing like it used to when I would try and run on it, so I think its improving as long as I dont over do it. I am seriously thinking I might have had a stress fracture.. I was reading my book about the diffrence between a shin splint and a stress fracture in the same area and my symptoms sound a little more like the fracture given the time that it has taken to heal.

There was one spot today I had to stop and walk about a half a block but was able to run the rest and then walked the last .25 miles for a cool down. So not to bad today. I got in a total 4.64 miles with walking about 1.25 of it. I came home and iced the knee and leg and will then heat them up hoping it will help. We will see what tonight brings... I think I need to get an earlier start if I am going to continue running outside. It was so hot so early. By the time I finished I was just dripping wet. YUCK!!!
I think I will try and get some biking in tonight after it cools down a little..

Great Workout

2008-07-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up and got out of bed and started walking and I thought oh ouch.. my leg was pretty sore. I thought crap I just made it worse.. However I went and did my biking this morning and got in 9 miles and came home and decided to but my heating pad on it and see if that would help. at first it felt just as bad but then it started feeling ok.. Like it had loosened up and wasnt to bad to walk on.. So I'm not sure if I should run tomorrow or not.. Its definently better then it was when I tried running before I just dont want to go back to that point. I guess I will see how it feels tomorrow and judge then. Maybe another day of biking then run on thursday... I wish I had an expert telling me just what I should be doing.. I go back into the Dr Next week so guess i will see what he thinks..

It felt really good to bike today.. My legs were even a little sore today so I know they got a good workout. I ride on the hardest gears the bike will go in no matter if I'm going up or down a hill. So I have to really stand up and dig in on the hills which about kills me but its a great feeling. Plus the hills around here are not to huge and often. I get a good work out though.. Maybe someday I'll be able to keep up with my dad.. LOL Your quite the biking stud dad!!!!

Coming Back

2008-07-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to run today. I just couldnt stand it anymore.. I thought I would start out really slow and try to work my way back. I put a heating pad on my leg today hoping it would loosen it up a bit and I didnt do any stretches before hoping that what I have read on not stretching until the middle or end of your run actually worked. I hopped on the treadmill and speed walked a half a mile then started a slow run for another half mile. Then I stopped and did some stretching hoping that it would be enough. I was really worried about my leg but the last couple days it has felt pretty good so I thought i would give it a shot. I headed out and started out real slow, Just a real light run. I could feel my leg a little bit but not too bad. I figured I should keep things real slow for a while and not worry about distance or time for a while and just worry on wether or not i could even run without causing more problems. I had a little bit of pain in the bottom of my knee but i also wasnt wearing any of my bands so not to bad considering. I ran another 2.59 miles and decided to call it quits.. I felt a little twinging in my leg and in my knee so when I got home i got ice on both of them hoping that would work. I figured by tonight i would know if I was again to premature on running on my leg.

Well tonight my leg is a little sore but not like it has been in the past with running on it.. So I am hoping that it is finally healing and i didnt make anything worse.. Its definently been long enough.. I'v had it now for about 1 1/2 months. It should have been healed by now and probably would have had i not tried running on it every 2 weeks.. so I am really hoping that it will only get better from here on out. I figure if I start all over so to say with keeping my miles down for a while and just run at an easy pace maybe i can work my way back to where I was.. I plan tomorrow to just bike and let it rest then i will try running again on Weds.. Oh I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It has been so hard not to be out there.... Physically I think I did good. I was able to run the whole time and I felt good and wasnt out of breath so even though I have only ran twice in a months time physically Im still doing ok. It's just my body that went to pot after this month + of no running and no dieting with my parents here. I definently have my work cut out for me...

So here's to a new start. Praying everything goes smoothly. It felt so good to get out and run again.

Total miles 3.59 1 mile warm up 15 mins... 2.59 run 25 min

Still Waiting

2008-07-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well i still havn't been able to do much running.. I tried running back on the 17th and still my leg wasnt doing to hot and then i tried it again while I was at the cayman island it felt pretty good running but by that night i could hardly walk. I give up... I dont think this is a shin splint or if it is it is really taking a long long time to heal. I am getting so frustrated. I so want to be back out there running. My body really misses the feeling, and the uphoria of it.. I have been biking though.. My dad has been visiting and he is a big biker so we have been pedaling it and he has been kicking my butt at it.. It has been good for me.. Although I hate to have my dad show me up...I meet with the Dr. again on the 22nd and hope to come up with some more awnsers to this leg problem. I dont know how much longer i can take of not being able to run.. My body has lost its stamina and iv started putting the pounds back on.. Of course it didnt help being off the diet while my parents have been visiting. Hopefully I'll get back on my routines and hopefully soon I will be able to start running again..

The hoyt's

2008-06-20T19:01:00.001-07:00

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Back in the saddle again...

2008-06-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to try running this morning fter 2 weeks of nothing. I may have jumped the gun a little to soon.. It was kinda painful the whole way. The first couple miles it was pretty bad. I was kinda doing a limp run i'm sure I looked funny the way I was running. After a couple miles into running it loosened up some but it still hurt a bit. It feels as though the shin splint has spread throughout the whole bottom part of my leg. It kinda hurts all over.. I had to stop a couple times and walk for about a half of a block to let my knee and leg rest.. After walking a couple mins my knee would feel better but not the leg. I managed to get in 4.34 miles walking about 1-1 1/2 miles of it so not to bad. I came home and decided to hop on my bike and me and my dad decided to go hit some trails. I think we ended up going about 9-10 miles. My legs were burning but it was a good ride. And it didnt hurt my leg or knee to much to do it. I think i will just bike tomorrow and maybe try running again sat and just try going only 3-4 miles again.. maybe I can slowly get back into it until my knee and leg feel better.

2008-06-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Well I still have not been running. My leg is still not better. The doctor told me it was a deep inner shin splint in other technical medical terminology. And that it will just take time to heal and said by mid July i should be good. I was thinking are you serious I am not waiting until July to start running again.. I definently hope it wont take that long to heal.. I can feel its doing a little better but sometimes after doing my physical thereapy or stretching it gets more aggravated. so I dont know... Its very frstrating... I want to be out running already. I have been trying to do my bike this past week and now that my parents will be here for the next 3 weeks I will probably be doing more bike riding.. My dad is a big bicycler. But I am really hoping to be running along instead hopefully by the end of this week.. I just dont want to do it then end up right back where i started with it.. Its just so hard once you start doing something like this then have to stop for a while. Your body just feels like it needs to be out there doing it.. Kinda strange to explain but you would just have to be a runner to understand.

So anyways Im really hoping it is feeling better by the end of this week. We will see I guess... I doubt I will be doing the half marathon in august now since I have had this injury. It just wont give me enough time to train so I will have to try again next year. Maybe there will be a 10K sometime in the fall that I can find and do.. I would like to go back to utah and hit the SLC and Ogden races. We will see.!!!

Owie

2008-06-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

Got a late start today.. I was trying to upload the treadmill trainer program to my ipod and was having technical difficulties so I ended up just having to finally get up and leave or else I would have had no time to run. So I got a real late start today.. I did a real easy run today. I averaged about 9-10 min miles. I was able to run the whole time which was good. However this new pain in my lower leg that runs along the inner side of my shin bone is so sore and the more i run on it the more it seems to get irritated no matter how well I tried to stretch it. When I started out this morning it felt like I was running with a block in my leg. I could feel its tightness on the side and after about a mile or two I was able to finally stop running with a limp. I must have looked kinda retarded..i was hoping running would maybe loosen it up but I think it just did more damage. However after all the squats and lunges yesterday I was pretty sore this morning in those areas but I think the running really helped with those areas. Anyways I think I am going to forgo the long run tomorrow and give it a few days to recoop and maybe the P.T can reccomend something tomorrow. I hate having injuries that put you out of commission like this. But right now it hurts to walk on it.. Plus my knees started really aching after the run today so maybe its best I rest for a few days...

Anyways I managed to get in 5.44 total miles in 55 min and 45 secs

Race Time In

2008-06-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

So they finally posted the times for the 5K i ran last saturday. My time was 24:47 I was 14th place in all the women and 28th place over all. There were 195 total runners. But only 7 female runners in my age category. So I guess 1st place out of 7 is not too bad. Plus 28th place overall out of 195 is pretty good. I was surprised that only 7 of my age category raced. Thats not many...Owell

I didnt run yesterday due to it raining plus for the last couple days my lower leg on the side has been hurting. I talked to the P.T. and he said it could be a number of things a muscle or the sheathe around the muscles and to keep stretching. I wasnt going to go today either we had a downpour last night and things were still really wet and overcasted plus my leg still hurting so I just threw some sweats on but after walking my kids to bus stop this morning I decided why not so threw some shorts on and got logan off and came home and stretched real good and left. I got a little later start but made really good time today. I was still kinda tired today so I ended up walking a little more today but still made awesome time. I got in 3 intervals of 3:1 ratios then pooped out so had to walk a few mins then started running slow for a bit did another interval walked a min or two then just did a easy run most of the rest of the way with just little increases here and there. even with the little walking I had time left over after completing my normal route so i went a little further and went around my block. I had to walk half of it due to my knee starting to hurt but did pretty good.. I then came home and did a bunch of strength exercises with weights, some lunges and squats and my knees did alot better then I thought they would. So now my arms and legs are pretty jiggly and shaky. I will probably feel the soreness tomorrow. After all that I'm feeling that sorenedd in my lower leg alot more. It really hurts after I'v been sitting a while and I get up and go to take my first couple of steps. It's kind of to the inner side of my leg in between the shin bone and the calf and it feels deep inside.. Anyone know what it might be?? I kinda thought maybe it had something to do with my foot arch because it was a little sore last night as my calf a little so who knows maybe its all connected together.
Anyways I will do just an easy steady pace tomorrow and see how I feel.. Im thinking of doing this treadmill training program and wondering if I can do it outside.. Guess I'll find out... Man all the rain last night brought all the critters of newjersey out I never saw so many diffrent animals. I felt like snow white in the forrest. To hear more check out my other blog..

Total miles 7.12 Miles in 72 min walked about 1.8 of it.

2008-06-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

I didnt get yesterdays run blogged so wanted to take a sec and catch up.. I walked my mile for warm up. Did my route. I ran a real easy steady pace today which I thought was just a good average run but it ended up being alot slower then I thought. My miles were coming in at anywheres between 9-10 min miles. So as I started thinking about it, It is no wonder I felt like I couldnt increase my speed on Sat during the 5k.. It was because I was already running at 90% of my max at this point.. Thats how I was able to get 8 min miles... It must have been all the adrenalin and the trying to keep up with the other runners that pushed me to go faster. So what felt like going slow to me was actually my faster running.. Its hard when your with other runners verses being by yourself. Its hard to judge how fast you are really running. I am glad to have had the adrenalin and the feeling of trying to keep up because that pushed me to run harder i guess but I also wish or wonder how I would have done had I started out a little slower which is my normal pace for me as a warm up so to say then picked it up. Would I have been able to get a faster time in and not felt so exhausted? hmmm Well I got my book finally on running so hopefully I will find my awnsers to alot of my questions.

Anyways I was able to run most of my route today other then my warm up mile so that was good. Its good to see the change on how I have progressed from a month or so ago when I couldnt even run a mile without hurting and having to stop and walk. So I am glad Im this far and hope to continually get even better. I'm looking onto some mp3 training programs for the treadmill. Training for a half marathon. Think I will give it a try and see how it goes. I guess you just download it off the computer onto your ipod and there you go jump on the treadmill and do what it says to do.. Sounds pretty easy.

My last mile I was starting to hurt a little with the knees so I think it will kinda be like 2 steps forward 1 step back. I'll just have to kinda baby them a while and try to listen to my body and hope to keep progressing. Im amazed i have come this far with them.. A month ago I didnt think I would be running at all.. So I took today off and rested and I plan to go out tomorrow.

Total miles 6.42 in 67 min

BitterSweet

2008-05-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today was a bittersweet day for me.. first I will start with the bitter...

Last night I got about 4-4 1/2 hrs of sleep. That wasnt the plan but my husband decided the dog needed to have a haircut and bath so we stayed up until midnight doing that then he decided that we needed to put away the 4 loads of laundry on our bed since I didnt do it earlier in the day so that kept us up until just about 1:00 Am. I was definently not happy with him. Anyways the plan was to get up at 5:50 AM to have about 1 hr to get ready, eat, stretch real good and get on the treadmill and warm up before I had to be there at 7:00. About half way into my sched my darling husband said I better get my girls up and get there hair done so they could go to the church activity this morning. I was like are you serious.. So this threw me off my sched big time.. By the time I got their hair done I barely had time to inhale my breakfast as I was stretching at the same time. Forget my warmup!!! And I was off about 10 to 7. Geeze if I would have only known..............

I was like the 5th ot 6th person there and had to sit around for 1 1/2 hrs by myself just watching people... I wish I would have stayed home to stretch and warm up some.. I tried stretching some while I was there, and there were some who was running around the school building for warm up which i should have done but I didnt really want to do it by myself and I heard someone say that if they go warm up before they loose all their energy. So I just paced back and forth the whole time.... I really did not feel prepared for this run. I was just to tired and not mentally where I was hoping to be.. But some good news the weather was holding off for us and it was just overcast with a slight breeze. No rain so this was an awnsered prayer. I didnt have my camera with me for not wanting to carry it with me on the run so I didnt get any pre race picts other then the ones my hubby took just as he got there just as we were lining up to get ready to go.

I was right up front with only a couple people in front of me. The gun went off and we were on our way about 10 yrds into it my ipod went flying off my shorts and landed on the ground so I had to stop and go back and pick it up and try to dodge the runners trying to run around me... HOW EMBARASSING!!!!! Then i got myself hooked back up and I was back in the crowd. I had already wasted precious seconds... Oh was I so glad this was only a 5k. As soon as I got running I was already out of breath and felt exhausted. I then began to get scared and I kept saying I am never going to make it I am going to have to walk some of this. Should I just stop now and turn back..It kinda kept going through my head as I was breathing really hard.. I just couldnt mentally get to where I needed to be.. So I just said to myself slow down a little try and regulate your breathing and DONT STOP running.

Finally after the first mile I started feeling a little better as far as my breathing was going but I just could not pick my speed up. I just had to keep the same pace the whole way for fear if I tried and push it I wouldnt be able to keep running. and I hated not knowing the route because I wanted to be able to speed up a little the last little bit but I had no idea where the finish line even was. Well I was able to run the whole way. My knees did really well. I was worried a little before the race because my left knee was still aching some and I could still feel some of the pain in my right IT band, but as soon as I started running I didnt feel them at all so I think the resting yesterday really helped.

Ireally dont think I could have done more then a 5k today. When i finally saw the clock and finish line I tried to pick it up a little but i dont think it was soon enough to help much. I was trying to remember my time I did the 5k earlier in the week to compare and I thought my time had been 24 min 45 sec and when i saw the clock I thought oh crap Im mot going to make that time hurry run!!! I am not positive what time I got officially. They have not posted it yet on the site but steve took a picture as I crossed the finish line and the clock said 24 mins 47 secs but as I look at the pict it looks as though I am past the finish line a bit at that sec. So i am guessing I might be around 24:45 Come to find out that was actually 1 min faster then my run on weds. So that made me feel better. Although I think if I wouldnt have been so tired and mentally where I should have been I think I would have done even better. I wish I could know what my time would have been had i been just where I wanted to be. Owell!!

Now the sweetness......... They gave finishing medals to the first 250 finishers and then gave trophys to the first 3 in all the categorys. I knew I wasnt going to get anything more then my medal so I was really debating wether or not to stay around for the after party awards ceremony. But I thought since this was all new to me why not!! The fastest female was a 14 yr old. and Most of the fastest males were all teenagers as well. There was even this cute little 10 yr old that took third place in fastest female...

When they got to the 30-34 yr old category they said first place goes to Raigon Hoyt. I sat there for a sec and thought did I just hear them right... No way. But when no one went up I was like holy crap its me...... I couldn't believe it.... I dont know how many there were in my age category and maybe there wasnt many and that is why but I still am pretty proud of myself. I couldnt believe it. My family had left by then so I just couldnt wait to get home and show them the trophy.. I still cant wait to go in and find out how many women in my age category raced. but all in all I was pretty surprised... It ended up being a great race after all...

And not to long afterward just as we were getting to Austins game it opened up and dumped. Lightning, thunder, wind, hard rain.. I was so thankful not to have had to run in that or I know I would have pooped out... We even had a tornado warning come across the radio......

I can now say I have officially done a certified 5K race.. I never would have thought I would be doing this and I cant wait to do more. I'm hoping to do a half marathon come august so we will see...

What a bittersweet day!!!!!

Praying For Sunshine

2008-05-30T06:53:00.000-07:00

So I heard on the radio this morning that tomorrow is supposed to be windy and thunderstorms and lightning for most of the day... aaaaggghhhhhh!!!! I so dont want to go run in a thunder storm with wind.. Dang.....Getting a decent time is going to be hard enough but then doing it in a storm... Just shoot me now..... They said they race would happen come rain or shine so looks like it will be a wet one... blahhhhh.. Ok so I am a little nervouse. Not bad. I think I was more nervous for my friends a few weeks ago when they were running a marathon lol... Owell it will be an experience. I will keep trying to do my sunshine dance and hopefully it will work... I wish I knew what to expect..

The race starts at 8:30 and i am supposed to get my kids to a primary activity at 10:00 then a baseball game at 12:00 and a birthday party at 2:00. what a crazy schedule..i know they are having some kind of after race party where they hand out the awards and medals so i guess I have got to go to that. I so wish I had someone going through this with me for my first time. Some kind of buddy support. Owell Guess I will learn.

Knees are kinda stiff and sore this morning Im hoping I can get it all worked out today. I am not sure what is the best thing to do other then stretch them out maybe put some heat on them, and hope for the best tomorrow.

Well stay tuned and i will report how tomorrow goes...

Thanks to all who is following my crazy running blog..

1 more day

2008-05-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today my leg was a little bit better. I tried to stretch really good today and I could still feel the pain of the IT band. I got alot later start today then I wanted to so didnt get the distance I wanted but did ok with the time I had. I was able to run most of the time today.
I tried doing some interval work and at first I tried doing the running hard for 3 min then running easier for 1 min before starting again but by the 2nd lap I was finding it difficult to go the whole 3 min with only 1 min cool down so I had to increase the cool down to 2 min and the hard run for 2 min. By the 4th or fifth time I was able to increase it slightly. I only stopped to walk a couple mins today to give the knee a rest so other then the .75 of the first mile I walked for warm up I only walked .2 the rest of the time so total time walking was still under a mile so that was good.
By the time I was on my last block or so the knee started getting sore and I know it has to do with my sore IT band. I am getting nervous about what if it is still hurting on sat for the race and what if it hurts my knee.. Do I still run through it where its only a 5k or what? I think I would since this is my first race and i have no idea what i am doing and I already paid my registration fee.. I plan to rest tomorrow and do nothing but stretches hoping that it will loosen up and relax. I had an appt to go see P.T today but had to cancel because of other appnts so Im a little worried cuz I was hoping to go in there and have him work on it and make it loosen up but guess I will have to do it on my own. any suggestions on what to do or try?
Guess I am just anxious. My knee has been doing so good up until now and I started getting the pain along side of my knee that I hadnt had for a while so it just makes me a little nervous. I dont want to cause any more damage. Owell I will just hope for the best.. Todays run was so much better though. I could actually breath and it was alot cooler. Its amazing what the air, humidity and temps can do out here in just a day.

Total Miles 5.92 in 59 mins

Getting nervous

2008-05-28T09:39:00.000-07:00

Well I have really been slacking over the weekend. I didnt get my long run in on saturday nor did I go out on monday with it being the holiday so I am way behind on my training. I did however get out yesterday for a quick little run. I thought i would go time myself again doing a 5k to see if I could improve my time any and see where I thought i could be for Saturdays race. I didnt get out until about 11:20 and it was so humid yesterday I thought I was going to die.. There was a storm coming in and the air was just thick. I warmed up with walking about .6 of a mile then started running. I felt like i couldnt breath because the air was so thick. I was tired after just starting. It was the hardest 3.1 miles I'v ever done. At times I really didnt think I would make the whole way running, but i just kept pushing.. I dont think I really tried to speed up much except for the last 100 ft or so I was to worried I would poop out it was just so hot.. I could feel the heat radiating from my face and my breathing was really hard. I did however manage to improve my time slightly. I did the 3.1 miles in 25 mins and 45 secs. So a little better. When I finished I was pretty gasping for breath and light headed. I chugged some powerade to try and help cool me down a bit. I think if this is how the weather is going to be like through the summer here I will have to convert to running on the treadmill at home or getting out really early in the mornings...

Saturday I went and finally got me some good shoes.. They felt pretty good on yesterdays run. I also got a couple knee bands and a IT band strap. Yesterday I thought I would forget the brace and just use the straps. Surprisingly my knees did really well. So hopefully from here on out i will just use the bands. I also finally got some body glide. Hopefully this will help with the toes and the ouchy underarm rashes. Also got a few packages of these gummy vitamin energy things to try on my long runs. They are called cliff shot bloks electrolyte chews. They are supposed to help with the energy without having any caffein. We will see if it works.

I went to physical therapy last night and did my stuff for the knees and we tried doing some hmm cant remember what they are called its the machine where you use both legs in a sitting position and push the weight up to a straight leg position not the leg press but the other one. Anyways it was the first time using that machine and today my it band running along the side of my right leg is so sore and feels bruised. I must have done something to it.. So today i didnt go out running. I think i will try heating it and stretch it out and see if i can loosen it up a bit then try running tomorrow. I'm not sure how much I should be running these next 2 days with the race being on Sat but i figured if I do some light small running like keep it around the 5 mile distant I should be ok.. I still have no clue to what I am doing come Sat. I have emailed the race people twice and no one will respond to me. I know where we are supposed to meet and I think we pick up a t shirt but thats all i know. So I am a little anxious and wish there was someone I knew that was doing this with me. There is also a 10k race in a week on the 7th I thought about doing but I dont know if its good to do another race so soon and how to do my running for that week . I also got wind that there is a marothon here in August that I am thinking of doing a half in so I will hopefully find out more details on that this weekend. Wow busy busy.. Anyways if anyone has advice please feel free to drop me a line. I could use all the help I can get...

I need sleep

2008-05-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

I think my body is just to worn out!! I went to bed about 1:30 again this morning and was up at 7:00. My kids dont get the whole sleeping in on a no school day stuff. Today's run was hard.. The wind was blowing a bit and I had to stop a couple times because my hat blew off and my ipod wasnt working right and it all just threw the groove off. Knees were a little sore today after last nights physical therapy but after the 2nd mile it started getting better until the last mile then they started hurting a little. Nothing to bad though.. I tried throwing in some speed intervals here and there but wasnt consistent. Just here and there. But i did increase my time a couple mins today which was a little surprising. I am hoping I feel better tomorrow for the long run. This week didnt go exactly as I planned. I think my body just needs some good sleep!!!!!

Total 6.4 Miles (R)4.90 (W) 1.50 in 66 min +1

Didn't Have It

2008-05-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well Monday night I didnt get to bed until after 1 AM so yesterday I was just to tired to do anything for excercising. and lastnight not much a change, I went to bed about midnight and once again was wiped out this morning and everything was still wet from the rain through the night and it was gray and cold looking outside so I did not plan to do any running again today. But when I walked the kids down to the bus stop the weather started improving, the sun came out and it really wasn't that cold so i thought ok guess I'll go running so I hurried and threw some exercise clothes on and took logan to school and came back and stretched for 15 min and headed out.

I was a little worried because I had not eaten enough to really go exercising and I had not drank anything other then a few swigs before I left so I really didnt have the strength or energy to go running but I was gonna give it my best effort anyways.. I warmed up for the first mile speed walking then I decided I was going to run a 5k and time myself and see just how fast I could do it to give me an idea as to how I might do on the 31st. so I started out running my first mile at an easy slow pace wich ended up taking 9 mins then in the second mile i tried doing little intervals of running faster for 3 mins then going back to a light easy run but after 2-3 times of doing this I was finding myself getting tired quickly and it didnt really improve my time because it took 9 min again to complete the second mile so i just stayed at an even pace up until the last block then i stepped it up and ran harder to the finish. I ended up doing the 5k in 27 minutes. I dont know if that is a good time or average or below average but thats how I did... My knee felt great I was able to run the whole time.. However after that run I was pretty tired so I walked a bit and had a hard time trying to convince myself to start running again. I was ready to go home I just did not have the energy. I just didnt have it today!!!

However I forced myself to pick it back up and ran for about a mile then my knee started hurting so i felt like I really didnt want to start causing more probs with the knee after its been doing so good so I walked for a few minutes then ran the last almost half mile home. I was kinda bummed I had figured I had only went about 5-5 1/2 miles but when I got home I mapped it and it ended up being 6.40 Miles so not to bad after all. But I was pretty wiped out. Its amazing the diffrence you fell when you dont get enough sleep or have the right fuel in your body when doing something like this.. It makes all the diffrence. So all in all not to bad of a day..

I would like someone to let me know how my time on the 5k was as compared to the norm stats with runners.

Totals- 6.40 Miles in 71 min

Speed Increase

2008-05-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ok so today I thought I would work on what I think is what they call intervals.. Logan had no school today so today was a treadmill workout. There was no way I would attempt to try and run pushing a 4 yr old in our stroller plus it is pretty cold outside today.. But after the workout I almost wish I would have. It is so much dang harder to do it on the treadmill versus being outside.. The one bonus to doing it on the treadmill was I was able to watch my speed for this interval training wich made it nice.. But the downfall is Its so boring and you sweat so much more and I will swear that the distance does not match up with what the treadmill says verses mapping it outside.. I'll explain..

Today I started out speed walking for the first half mile wich the treadmill said took just past 10 minutes which is wrong cuz I know I can speed walk almost a mile outside somewhere between 12-13 mins. Then after walking that .53 miles I started a real easy slow run at about 4.6 in speed. I ran at this speed for about 2 miles then I started my intervals. Wich by the way I ran the complete time other then my walking warmup and walking cool down. Yeah!!! So I increased my speed to 5.6 and ran at this speed for 3 min then went back to my nice comfortable 4.6 speed run for 1 min then back up to my 5.6 speed for another 3 then 4.6 for 1 min. I did this 4 times then on my fith interval I kicked it in and decided to go for it and I tripled my speed and did 3 mins at 6.6 speed then back to my 4.6 where I stayed for the remainder of my run. I ran another mile and a half about and speed walked the last .3 miles. The last interval was hard but doable... They say dont increase to much that your gasping for air and turning it into an anaerobic workout so I was close but just under i think I really had to try to control my breathing but think I did well. So other then speed walking a total of .8 of a mile I ran the rest and I only got in 5.21 miles in 68 min.. Now I went back to the last time I got that distance and it was back in the middle of April and it was right after I really hurt my knee and I speed walked the whole entire time. in 70-75 min.. I ran practically the whole time in a faster speed no less in 68 min and got the same distance. Something does not add up here. So I'm guessing had I been outside and mapped it my distance would have been more like somewhere in the 6-7 mile range. Does anyone else have this problem???

Anyways It was a nice change to a normal run. Hopefully this will increase my speed a little. my knee did really well again. A little soreness along the bottom but not anything to bad that I couldnt run through. By the time I was running hard it was feeling pretty good. however I think It might have just very mild swelling because its hurting a little to have ice on it and the dr. said that when it hurts like that when you ice it its because it has some fluid in it that hardens when you ice it so it stiffens and hurts a little so I must have a little swelling but not bad. All in all a good day... I think tomorrow I will do a diffrent kind of interval training where i do 3 min of cardio which will be a light easy run on the treadmill 2 min of weight training and 1 min abs. Do about 7 reps of these anc call it good. Then do a easy run on weds with speed increases. Thurs Interval doing the 321 then easy run on fri with no speed intervals then long run on sat.. Rest on Sun as always.. So for you experienced runners does this sound like a good training week or do I need to change it up some???

Next week sometime I want to go time myself doing a 5k to see what kind of time I can get since I might do this 5k race on the 31st. What is a good average speed for a 5k???

A New Record!!

2008-05-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Today was the best day..... I had my own little victory!!!! wooo hoo I'm so excited. Today I went on my long run that I have been wanting to do.. My knee was a little sore due to the new stretches I have been doing for my IT band that has been causing all the problems with my knee. I wasnt sure I would be able to go to far but thought I would try anyways. For the first couple miles it was a little sore but nothing bad so I ran through it. I walked the first mile for a warm up then began to run. Just taking it easy and a good steady light pace. Around Mile 4 I had no pain at all for about a mile or so then a little achy but not too bad. So every time it started to hurt a little I stopped and speed walked for a few mins .54 miles here then .43 there and every time I started back running after giving it a few minutes of speed walking I would have no pain at all. I couldnt believe how much a diffrence doing those stretches helped my knee.

It did so great so I just kept running after I thought I had gone somewhere between 8-9 miles I thought I better head home and not push it where this was my first long run and not to over do my knee even though I was feeling great and could have probably kept going at least another mile or 2. But I decided to stop. My knee had no pain, no swelling. I stretched really good afterwards. I was so excited at how well I did. I was on cloud nine... The thing that hurt the worst were my under arms by my armpits. They ended up rubbing against my tank and got nasty red raw rashes. They hurt so bad. I looked like a retard trying to run with my elbows up at a 90 degree so they wouldnt rub. But the pain was bad so I didnt care but it was to hard to run like that very long...Sorry for the gross pictures of my armpits. But atleast I will remember them this way... I better get some baby oil on them or something until i find some body glide all the runners say to get..The pictures dont show their justice. They are redder then this. Didnt have good lighting.

I wanted to hurry and go map my run just to see how far I went.... get this........ drum roll please................... 10.25 miles in 1 hr and 53 min. Wow I am so proud of my self. At around mile 6 1/2 i checked my time to see what i thought i could run a 10k in and with the walking I had done I figured I could do it in 60 mins but that was with walking and running slow. If I pushed a little harder I could probably do better then that. A couple times one being the last half mile I tried running faster and harder. The first time around the ninth mile I could only do it for about 2 min before I got a little tired and winded but after a few min I tried it again on the last quarter to half mile even with a good wind against me I kept it up all the way to my house. It was great...

I think I could have done a half marathon today the way I was feeling. I might have not done well on speed but I think I could have done the distance. Once I start working on my speed now and doing intervals "hoping that i understand enough to do them right", hopefully I will start getting a little faster.

The best part of it all was my kids went with me today.. They rode their bikes. after mile 2 my son went back home but my oldest Allie who is 11 and my 6 yr old Jessica stayed with me the whole time. I couldnt believe my 6 yr old who just learned to ride her bike without training wheels a couple months ago rode 10.25 miles. wow I was so shocked.. I didnt want to take her because of that reason but she was a trooper. I'm so proud of them...

And now 7 hrs later I am still feeling great. no pain in my legs or knees. I feel them a little but still feel great. A little soreness in my feet. They ache like I walked around disneyland all day. And I have made my 3 toes go black again. I may end up loosing one after all. They are more black then they show in the picts. And my arms still hurting, but other then that I feel great. And to top it all off I fit back into my old shorts from last summer that was too tight. So I know I am finally starting to loose some inches with all this running... Yeah!!!!! The running today threw my diet way off. I had a late breakfast and decided to try and wait 2 hrs after eating to see if that changed anything with my running however with having to eat every 2-3 hrs with this diet I should have been eating again when I left so I threw my sched off a bit and we ordered pizza tonight so I had to have some. But hey after that run today I deserved it..... All in all a perfect day for me......... Wish I could have been in a real race or marathon.... Yhere is a 5k coming up in 2 weeks I'm thinking of doing...... We will see but I think I am more then ready I just worry about with it only being 3 .1 miles I worry about getting a good time in exspecially if my knee starts hurting and I have to speed walk for a little bit. Guess we will see how it does over the next week or so.

Total Miles 10.25 in 1 hr 53 min (R) 6.67 (W) 3.58 +1

Not as long as I thought

2008-05-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

I couldnt log into my blog last night for some reason the blog website was having technical difficultys. It was a beautiful day Yesterday. Warmer then I thought because of the cloud cover. I was wishing I would of had a tank on instead of long sleeves. There was alot of humidity in the air. I guess it does that here before and after storms. I was making pretty good time yesterday so i thought toward the end i would change my route a little and what I thought was adding a bit more distance but after coming home and mapping it out it ended up not being that much longer.. I would have gone a little farther if i would have had the time but had to go get logan from school. So I ended up doing 7.51 in 86 min.
I met with the Physical Therapist for the first time last night and I guess alot of my knee problems has to do with my IT Band. He said I had really tight hamstrings and that i had 10% more to go to be able to straighten my knee totally straight from a sitting position. So not to bad but not good enough for a runner. So he gave me some stretches to be doing to get my hams to loosen up a bit. hopefully we will have my knee back into running shape pretty soon. Today because of all the rain i did my recumbant bike for 30 min and did about 8.35 miles on a harder intensity hoping it would help build up my muscles and then ran on the treadmill for 15 mins and did about 1.3 miles or maybe it was 1.03.. Cant remember.. I just remember it being so much harder and hotter to run on my treadmill then it is doing it outside. The time goes so much faster when your outside. Plus you dont get so hot... And i dont know if it was just me but on the treadmill it seemed to take longer to get a mile in then when i am outside. hmmmm
Anyways today was awesome. I woke up and weighed myself thinking i would be a pound or two higher because i had a brawt last night instead of my turkey or chicken and the fact that it was at 8:00 at night. But to my surprise I was down 3 pounds to what I weighed in at yesterday. WOOOOHOOOOO Now if I can just keep it up over the weekend. I finally broke my 3 pound cycle!!! I lost 6 pounds total this week from what I was on monday morning...YEAH And that was even with having some yummy double chocolate oreo icecream almost everyday. Finally!!!!!!!!
totals 7.51 Miles in 86 mins (R)5.32 (W)2.19 no change for thurs
Friday (B)8.35 (W)1.? 45 mins and -3 woo hoo

Exciting News

2008-05-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

I am so excited...Today i thought I was going in for some physical therapy on my knee but I guess I was following up with a diffrent doctor. I went to see a surgeon the first time and now i followed up with just a reg. M.D. in the Orthopedic dept. and he told me that I could still run and that there was no reason I couldnt do the same activity I was doing before other then if it hurt to do it not to do it until I work back up to it gradually and that there has been no literature out there that suggest running damages your knee. So as long as I dont do to much of it and work back up to it he doesnt see why I couldnt continue to run. He gave me a new brace to try so we will see how it works. I have to go to physical therapy to try and stimulate and build back up the muscle on my knee or leg that has gone kaput due to injuriung the knee but then i should be able to get back to where I can do it with little pain.. so yeah this is alot better news then thinking I would never be able to run although I was doing it anyways... LOL I know I'm bad... So now I have something to look forward to... I tried to search for a marathon in my area but they all seem to have been in may and cant find one for a little later so guess i will have to wait until next ear. But anyways I was real excited to hear that.. Its funny how several diffrent doctors can vary so much on their opinion on stuff like that.. I dont know who is right but as long as one tells me I can I am going for it.....

Today was a hard runnig day for me. I totally fell off the diet wagon this weekend and ate horribly so that was probably why I felt so yucky and didnt have much energy today. Plus I had to do a potty break inbetween the run and just didnt feel motivated enough to go back out in the little time I had left so I slacked today.. But all in all still not to bad.. I did develope 3 blood blisters under 3 of my toes. One of them was so sore I thought I wouldnt be able to run for a while. I started to look infected. Steve suggested I stick a needle under the nail to pop the blister and help relieve the pressure. I thought no way but eventually I did and it is getting better. Still pretty bruised and I almost lost the nail but I think i will live. So strange never went through anything like this before.. Any runners got any advise on how to help protect the toes???

total miles 5.93 (R) 4.02 (W) 1.91 69 min
+2

Running in the rain

2008-05-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

This was me today.... I wasnt even going to go today I woke up and saw it raining and said guess I wont be running today but i put on my excercise clothes anyways thinking I would just ride my recumbant bike today so I was behind sched. today. After I dropped logan off I came home and finished breakfast and by then it was just barely misting so I decided to hurry and go.. I knew I wasn't going to get my 8 miles in I wanted to but I thought something was better then nothing. I took a new route today and I wasnt really impressed with it. There was a long stretch that didnt have sidewalk or any designated area along the side of the road for bicyclers, or walkers and its a little narrow road which has a fair amount of traffic on it so it was a little nerve racking. Because of not getting going in the morning i didnt get hardly any water in so no energy going and it just threw me off. It was hard getting through the morning.. I think I will try for the 8 miles on sat.. Anyways to get back to the running in the rain..... About 1 mile into the run it started coming down and i didnt really want to turn around and go back so I just kept going and I got pretty wet. had rain running down my face I had to squint my eyes.. Kinda crazy but after a mile and a half it finally stopped and I was able to finish my run and dry out a little.

All in all not the greatest day but it was better then nothing.

total miles 5.68 in 71 min. (R) 3.74 (W) 1.94

Got My Groove On

2008-05-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Today was another great day!! I was surprised at how well I did. My knee held up so good today. I didnt even start getting sore until about the 6th mile but just some soreness no sharp pains or anything. I think with all the drugs Im on for my knee the celebrex and the glucosamine its making a huge diffrence.. Could I do as good without the meds??? I doubt it but hey do it while I can hu?? i think the walking in between my runs really help as well.. I dont know if anyone else has this prob but the first mile I speed walk and I swear my legs start to tighten and my shins start to hurt and I cant wait until I hit the mile marker so I can start running. It seams that as soon as I start running the pain goes away and everything loosens up.. Isn't that weird??

Today I saw a bunny along the way it was so cute and not at all afraid of me. we have a couple baby bunnys camping out in our flower garden in the yard. I also saw about 10 squirrles which is the norm around here. We are infested with the creatures in NJ. However we have a breed of squirrles out here that are black in color and they are kinda rare you dont see as many of them as you do the gray ones and i saw 2 today. We had one die in our yard last week. I think its leg was broken. Anyways it was fun to see all the little animals along the way. I increased my route a little today and was doing great on time. Tomorrow I am going to try and increase my distance just a little more if i can fit it in.. I just cant believe how well my knees felt today. I thought around mile 4 or 5 I would start to get the pain like usual but I didnt.. And now it's a little achy and i'm sure it has innflamation but still feels pretty dang good. I wonder how bad it would feel without the celebrex?

Anyways I really had my groove on today...

Total miles 7.72 in 89 minutes (R)4.26 (W)3.46 -1

Cruizin

2008-05-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. Got started a little later but not to bad. I was really gonna try to stick to the walk a mile run a mile and did it for the most part but i ended up running mile 2 and 3 and walking most of 4 instead. My knee was feeling good so i thought why not.. Come mile 5 it really started hurting again about 1/4 of the way into the mile and I kept saying oh come on I gotta finish this mile I can do it.. of course I should have stopped and walked but I didnt. But I walked mile 6 and the beginning of 7 then I ran the rest of the way and my knee felt great. It was really weird but by the time I hit mile 7 I was beggining to feel warmed up and like the blood was flowing and felt pretty good like I could have kept going however I was out of time and had to go pick up Logan from school. And I knew that if I would have my knee probably would have went kaput...My knee was a little sore afterwords and a bit swollen but ended up relaxing and felt good the rest of the day with very little pain. I can run up and down the stairs pain free... Yeah!!!!! I was quite surprised after going that far again.. It did much better this time around on my route then the last time I did the 7 mile course.. I think the walking almost half of it really helped.. I was making really good time. I was alot farther today with the same distance then I was yesterday. I felt like I was cruizin.. All in all a great day..

Total (R) 4.18, (W) 3.12 7.30 Miles in 84 minutes Almost a half mile more in the same amount of time as yesterday..
Weight- No change.. Of course it would help if i wasnt indulging in the chocolate oreo icecream we bought over the weekend.. Sooooo yummy

Great Day

2008-05-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

It was such a nice day today...I tried to stick with the speed walking 1 mile then running a mile and so forth.. Sometimes I cant quite go the whole mile of running because of my knee but then I make up for it somewhere else when I dont walk the whole mile. Most of the time today my knee did great just toward the end did it start to bother me. The last mile I couldnt run much but all in all I think it did pretty good. I think my knee brace causes more tension in my leg in other areas like my hip flexor and shin for some reason i feel it tense up as soon as i put the brace on and start walking but i know it helps with the knee pain. Maybe I will have to look into a new diffrent brace. I almost feel better with the leg and shin once I start running. I still ended up doing about half and half. I know its against all reccomendations but as long as it continues to do ok I dont see to much harm.

Of course being the weekend I didnt stick to diet to well and of course gained another pound but hopefully I'll loose it this week.

Total miles-6.83 (R) 3.78, (W)3.05 in 84 min

+1 lbs

Wogging???

2008-05-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should change my name to wogging??? I havn't done anything for a week now. Mainly because I havn't got more then 4-5 hrs of sleep every night for over a week so i have just been plumly to tired, no stamina or energy. And the weather has been kinda gloomy and cold and wet this whole week so it gave me even more excuse not to go. Well at least I am sure my knee's benefitted from the nice rest. SO my husband came home last night and I was able to get a pretty good sleep in and I decided to go out this morning and see what I could do.. It was gloomy and cold still. There was a good little breeze going on so my hands were pretty cold at first but once i got a mile into it I warmed right up and had to shed the jacket. It turned out to be just about perfect. Cold enough to keep you from feeling any heat and kept me from sweating.

I decided to try and walk a mile then run a mile and see how my knee's handled it. After the first mile of walking I still kinda had a pulled muscle in my back quad that I couldnt get stretched out that was kinda bugging me and I started getting a shin splint so i stopped and stretched a little more then decided to run. After the first couple min my legs warmed up really good and the shin stopped hurting as well as the quad. I stopped after that mile and went back to speed walking. my knee handled it great. I could feel it a little at the end of the mile but I think it did well. I started to run again after speed walking the 3rd mile and about 2/3 the way into it the knee started hurting a little so I decided to not push it so I stopped and went back to speed walking. Walked another 1-1/2 miles decided to see if I could run again and was surprised to find I could without hardly any pain so I did about another almost a full mile before I started to feel the nagging again and finished the route speed walking. I was going to go further but had to do a potty stop so decided to end it there. All in all I think I did pretty well and my knee did ok. Of course I went against Doctors and therapist advice but i fugured as long as I dont over do it and push myself to much I think I will be ok. I think it's just unrealistic to say I never will run again because I know I will. I just dont do well following orders exspecially when I feel like as long as I dont over do it and I feel good and try and speed walk at least half of the way who knows maybe I can work back into being able to run and maybe not. Maybe I will just have to deal with doing kinda both. Right now I can deal with doing both. We will see what tonight brings and see if my knee's still feel good. So maybe I will change this to a wogging blog LOL What do you think?????

Total miles 5.45 (R) 2.48 (W)2.97

weight +1 I think.. Cant remember what I was when i last posted.

Check this out.. And I thought I was being so clever and making up a new word on my own....

Wogging... A New Exercise
It's Easier Than Jogging and Burns More Fat Than Walking

How would you lose more weight than you would by just walking and by doing something that's easier than jogging? If so maybe "wogging" is the excercise for you.Well what is wogging and how fo you do it? As the name suggests, wogging is moving at a pace that is more than a walk and less than a jog, There are even two different ways to wog. So you can chosse the one that's right for you. The first way to wog is the "steady wog". Simply wwalk at a quick pace swinging your hips as you go. You are not bouncing as you would at a jogging pace. In fact, you should concentrate on landing the heel of one foot while the other is till in the air. One of your feet are always on the pavement so that there is no jarring to the body. It is similair to race walking, but not quite as fast. Have you ever seen racewalkers? You will notice how they sway thier hips, the majority of thier movement is concentrated in the lower body. Swaying the hips both helps and allows for increased speed. Feel free to swing your arms as you wog along but exaggerated arm omvements are not necessary. . The second way to wog is in a "intermittent" fashion. That is, you are constanlty changing the pace at which you move along. You can stroll for awhile, pick up speed, stroll again, then go very slowing. The added benefit of the changing pace is that it fools your body into thinking more effort is needed. Eventually the body sets it's fat burning level at the highest pace. You may be going all different levels of speed but your body is revved to the highest it level it might need. There are many benefits to wogging. Everyone knows that walking is great excercise casue it's fun and easy .. but if you are just strolling the recommendation is that you keep at it for an hour. Lots of folks like to jog becasue it burns more calories but that's known to be tough on the joints and for some it's even painful.Whichever form of "wogging" you chose, you will get the best of both worlds. Wogging allows you go at your own pace..again and again. You'll burn alot more calories, without the wear and tear of jogging. Nexttime you lace up those sneakers why not give "wogging" a try. ?

Changing My Name

2008-04-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Well I guess it's official I will have to change my running blog to a Walking blog or a Biking blog... The Doctor said no more running.. I figured he would but i was still praying for a different outcome. He said my knee caps were not tilted and I had no damage to them and that I probably just inflamed them up a bit when I started running and they just needed some time to heal. So he wants me to go back to doing some physical therapy and take some anti inflammatorys. He said I could bike and do an elliptical machine but no running unless I'm playing a sport, but only then. He didnt say anything about speed walking though and I forgot to ask. I will have to ask the physical therapist in 2 weeks when I go in. I would think that I could probably get away with speed walking as long as it doesn't hurt. So that is going to be my plan. I will just speed walk every day. Not as exciting and fullfilling as the running was but it will have to do.....

Thanks to all those who gave me support and encouragement on my running. It was really exciting to start something new and find out I could do it. Maybe in my next life eh? Owell hopefully they will be feeling good tomorrow and I'll get my route in... I think the hardest will be out there walking and trying to fight the urge to want to pick up and run. exspecially when I am not having any pains in my knees and I am feeling good and think that I can do it... I tend to stray at times and do opposite of what I am told. hahaha Hopefully I wil stay smart and resist temptation. LOL

Saturday's Run

2008-04-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to get on here and jot down Saturdays run before i forgot about it. I didnt have much time to get my run in due to activites scheduled all day. But I did manage to get almost half my route in running about 2/3rds to 3/4 of the way with out much discomfort. Towards the end knee started aching so i stopped and walked but did alot better then I thought. I didnt get anything in today. Just to busy of a day and it has been raining all day long and I didnt feel like running soaking wet. Tomorrow I go have my knees checked out so we I will see what they say and hopefully they will have some good news that I can continue to run. Not likely but I will keep my fingers crossed.

Totals Sat 3 miles in 51 minutes +2
Not sure I want to keep track of the weight thing anymore. LOL to depressing. Over weekend didnt stick with diet to well gained back 2 lbs.

No Energy

2008-04-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

I think my not going to bed before midnight the last 3 nights have caught up with me today and is taking it's toll on me. I started out walking about 2/3 a mile then decided to see if I could run today. I made it about .66 of a mile then decided to stop. I didnt want to push things to much. Today the knee's are aching a bit. I didnt wear a brace on my left knee and it was hurting a little so I didnt want to make things worse. I should have put a brace on it.. I did about half my route and decided I had had it. No stamina today!! It was 69 degrees when i had left and when I got back it was 72 already. and with the humidity here it feels alot hotter but it wasnt to bad. I decided to ride my bike the rest of my route give my knees a little rest. They felt pretty good pedaling.. Was short on time today so didnt get in as much as I had wanted but all in all not to bad a day.

miles (W) 3.27, (R) .66 Bike 3.96 Total 7.23 miles 71 minutes
weight- no change

It's a start

2008-04-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Well after my big run on thursday and the havock I did on my knees i am slowly getting back into the game. I took the week off hoping to recover from my last run and let my knees calm down. After about 4 days the swelling in my right knee the one i had surgery on twice finally went down but my left knee has continued to hurt. Im getting a little worried because its doing all the stuff my right one did before i had to have surgery on it. Everyday i get up and hope to have no pain with walking but it hasn't been the case. But today was better. I decided to give them a little test run today and attempted to see if I could fast walk the dog for a mile today with no pain. I stretched real good and left. I was able to do the whole mile with no pain. I felt the right knee just a little kinda like it was not a perfect 100% knee but not to bad either. So I decided to drop the dog off and go do my route just speed walking and see if they would hold up. My only problem was I had drank 33 oz of water before my walk so I knew it was not going to be good. I ended up having to cut my route down so I could swing by the house to go. And with having to walk it cuts down my distance i can get in the time I have. The last oh 8 houses to go I decided to just slightly run just to see and about 2 houses in my knee started hurting so i stopped walked a few seconds then started to run again and was able to finish the rest of the way with no pain.... I figured it's a start and it was alot better then I thought I was going to do. I would rather have been running but hey I could at least speed walk with no pain so It's a start.. Maybe I can work my self up again. I am not going to give up just yet until I talk to the doctor and see what he says.

Over the weekend I didnt stick so great with the diet so i gained back a couple pounds but then lost them once i got going again and have now lost 2 more. So yeah I am excited for that. Its finally starting to come off I hope...

Totals 5.26 Miles in 77 min
-2 lbs

2008-04-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Ok so i woke up a bit sore in my legs this morning after yesterdays awesome run.. but really not as bad as I thought i would.. My knee is still swollen and hurting. It was so hard driving logan to school this morning and seeing the beautiful weather and my run route and thinking I should be out here running. I want to so bad. Even if I could I think today would have been a rest day for my body anyways. It's funny how the running has become like an addiction. I actually crave it. I would have never thought I would crave to run. What a bummer I just cant seem to get excited about riding a bike. hmmmmmmmmmm

Well on a good note.. I Pigged out last night on my yummy apple pie. I had a big bowl with 2 scoops of icecream and it was so good. I was hoping it would see me through today of not being able to eat or drink anything. Isn't it funny when you can eat but dont for some reason your fine you dont feel or think anything about it but when you know you cant then its like you feel like your starving and its horrible.. Kinda funny... Anyways after eating that last night and with it being at 9:30 at night i thought for sure i would see the results on the scale this morning. But yeah for me my weight had not changed. So I was excited.

Anyways thats about all for today folks. Wish I was blogging more on a great run instead.

Amazing But Dumb (7.30 miles)

2008-04-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today started on such a great note. I stepped on the scale this morning and i was down a pound when i expected to be up after what I ate yesterday. We had a good friend from utah who used to be my hubbys counter partner in utah He was out here doing some training and came over last night for dessert. First of all i had a turkey patty for my protein but I needed a carb and I was fixing my family french toast so I ended up having 2 french toast for my carb and no veggies. Then at 9:00 at night i have a small bowl of cinnamon apple craizen crumble with a scoop of vanilla icecream Yummy!!! I tried to be conservative and i did well but i was sure i would be higher today but to my wonderful surprise I was down a pound YEAH!!

Then to add to the excitement I had mapped out a new course last night on map my run and was excited to give it a try. It was going to be 7.14 miles and i was nervous because that was adding a whole mile and a bit to my normal run and it was alot longer with no short cuts by the house in case I needed a bathroom plus I didnt think my knee would handle it, and I only have about 1hour and 35 min to get all my excercising done before I have to pick logan up from school. So I knew i was going to have to run more of it then walk to get the further distance in. I had a protein shake with some oatmeal for breakfast thinking it was so liquidy as having just water and then i had only about 6-8 oz of water before my run hoping that i would make it back before I had to go. I got a little later start in then I wanted but figured i could still do it if I hurried. I left at 9:20 walked a couple min then began my run. My knee started in about 1 mile into it and i got a little worried but i pushed through the pain and kept running. I stopped only a couple times through the route walking for a min or two. I had to change up the end because I realized I still needed to run my dog and i didnt want to complete the route go get logan then have to come back after 10-15 min then try and run again to get my last mile or two in so I was able to grab the dog walked all of about 2 min before he did his thing and ran the rest of the mile pretty fast to make it back in time...

About the last mile or so i really struggled i was getting pooped and my knee was really talking. At times through the route I tried slowing down my pace thinking it would help, but I felt I was already going slow and couldnt go much slower and still be running. I really tried focusing my pain somewhere else and I think because I was hurting in my knee it made me compensate running a weird way because i kept getting a pain in my hip or backside cheeck area on the same leg and I didnt have any pain anywhere else. But i did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My body isnt even sore tonight at all except for my knee which is twice its size. I really should have walked more and ran less but i really really wanted to do this. Once i stopped and streched and cooled down all of a sudden i couldn't even bare weight on my knee as long as i kept is straight as a board i could walk but if i bent my knee at all which you have to do to walk normally it was excruciating.

Now comes the really sad part of my day. I called my old physical thereapist to talk to him about my knee and what i should do and he said absolutely no running. Only biking after i give it a week to heal. I'v already had 2 surgerys and might have to have a 3rd now and down the road I may have to have the total knee replaced and he said that if that happens I will never be able to go do stuff with my kids like hiking or biking, outdoor stuff because it will be like a big boulder on my knee. And that I was way to young for this to be happening to me and that i should avoid going down any stairs that going up is fine but its really bad to go down them which my house is full of stairs. so needless to say I was really bummed out and i said are you sure i will never be able to run he said not unless I want my knee replaced. So i am really upset because i was really starting to enjoy being a runner and i think with the speed i have I could have done really well in a marathon which i was going to stive for in a few months. aaaaggggghhhh Im so mad. I am still going to see what the doctor has to say about it when i go in in a couple weeks but I have a feeling its not going to be good news. The therapist said at this point my muscle has shut down and is not working and it has to heal. DARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I may have to change this blog to a biking blog.. LOL Owell it was really great while it lasted. Today other then my knee was the most amazing accomplishment day for me. physically i feel great, my body feels great otherwise and i want to do it again. This is going to be so hard after getting into this routine. waaaaaaaaaaa

Total miles 7.30 Miles in 77 minutes ( can you belive that) I finished with the dog at 10:37 Wow

weight - 1lbs woo hooo

Discouraged

2008-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and the first thing across my mind was I couldnt wait to go running. I was already pumped. However as the morning went on and I got all my kids off to school I decided to go drive some diffrent routes to check mileage and by the time I got back and ready to go my spunk had worn off and i was no longer as energetic. I walked the first 1/4 of mile 1 to warm up then started running and immediatly the knee started hurting and i was like oh no not yet this early into the run. I was so bummed i was looking forward to running more and walking less today with as good as i felt yesterday but it was not the case today. I ran to about the mile 2 mark and started walking and it hurt just as bad to walk as it did to run if not worse.
I was so discouraged I thought great i am not going to make it today. I am going to have to walk. But I started running again after a min or two because i think it felt better to run then walk. I finishe the 4 miles with only walking every so often for only a min or two. Then i grabbed the dog walked a few min and was able to run most of the rest of the way pushing through the pain.
All in all it was a pretty discouraging day... I felt like I walked half of the distance. but on a good note after driving my route to check mileage and how much i had ran i ended up doing the same amounts as yesterday except this time when i drove it it measured less which i dont understand because i did the same route but just backwards and it only measured out to be 5.8 miles and yesterdays was 6 miles even.....Go figure
Owell.... hoping for a better day tomorrow. I want to find a new route but there just isnt enough areas up here that are safe for runners against traffic so I I'm constantly going around the same blocks day after day. My neighbors are probably going hey didnt she just pass here a few minutes ago? LOL
I had to make Jodys Taco Ring last night and of course had to eat it. How can you not eat something that is so beautiful. Of course it was not part of my diet so unfortunatly there was no change in my weight progress but hey thats ok at least i didnt gain right??? Jody's recipe for this awesome dish can be found on her blog with a picture to go along with it. Just click on her underlined name.. Going to try the BarBCups next. Sounds yummy!! boy this is so not helping my diet...

Totals 5.8 miles in 71 minutes (walked 2, ran 3.8) Better time though!!
Weight No change

First Running Blog

2008-04-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Yay, I finally got my running/weightloss blog up.. I'm so excited.. It's only taken me all day. to check out my earlier running blogs go here.
Well I didn't run or walk over the weekend. I came down with the flu and had a horrible head cold, the body aches, you name it. So today i was feeling better but still took alot of convincing of myself to get out this morning and run. Among all my other problems with my body i have a bad lower back too and I think running last week jarred it somehow and i keep getting these lightning bolts of pain that shoots through my lower back so its been hard to walk around the past few days. I took a muscle relaxer last night and it nocked me out and left me groggy and sleepy this morning and it took all i had to get up and get kids ready for school and i thought that maybe if i went running the cool air and being outside would help clear my head and wake me up a bit hoping to rid my body of the effects. It started off pretty nippy this morning but about 2 miles into my run i was shedding the jacket and it was nice.. I was a little worried about the knee today and thought i may have to just plan on speed walking frome here on out but i was really wanting to run and wasnt going to give up on running so for a change i took the pooch out first and speed walked 1.4 miles, dropped the dog off, went potty and headed out. I was able to run most of the way with stopping a couple times to walk a few houses to rest the knee then start up again. And with doing this my knee did great. I elt it some and towards the end probably the last half mile it was getting sore but it did alot better today. I am hoping maybe i can just build up to the running the full time on it.. I made an appt to see an orthopedist in may so hopefully if i am carefull and baby it a little we will be ok. It felt so good to get back out and run today. physically other then the knee i felt great. I could have gone further if it wasnt for the knee.
One thing i did that wasnt so smart today is I drank 34 oz of water before leaving and i knew i wasnt going to make it very far before i was going to have to find a potty. Luckily my routes take me by my house so i can stop back if i have to. By the time i got the first 1.4 miles in with the dog I was needing to go. I was able to get my 4 mile route in before having to swing back in again, but i got back out and finished the rest of the route. I dont think I will do that again. I just felt so dehydrated this morning. Probably a side affect to the muscle relaxer.... I do really pretty good getting my 100 oz of water a day even a little more when I run.
After calculating my time and distance I figured when I run I average about 1 mile in 11 minutes. I dont know how that compares to experienced runners but i thought it was pretty good.
As far as my weightloss this weekend......... Not so hot. I did pretty good with sticking to my diet until sunday. i needed a carb for breakfast and instead of something good i had a bagel with cream cheese and I put a roast in for my family to have after stake confrence and I had to have some with a baked potatoe with butter and sour cream and cheese. So bad, but it tasted so good. Then of course I had some ice cream for dessert. So of course my weight went up a little but hopefully I'll get it back down. Like I said I usually bounce up and down alot depending on what i eat the day before.
All in all it was a great day and I cant complain to much. my goals- loose 21 pounds and run 7 miles by end of month

Total miles 6 (walked 2.2 and ran 3.8) Time 79 minutes
Weight loss + 1 ( I guess it should say weight gain today)