Winter Running! (and JFK!)

Well it's been a month, so I figured I'd update all of my devoted followers on what I've been up to! So for the 3 of you, here it is:

It's winter! And I am training! This is new. I haven't actually trained through a winter in a really long time. I've run...but mostly inside and never for very long distances. Usually for spring marathons (OK, for Grandma's Marathon) I don't really get going until February. But I don't have that option this time: I am training to run 50 miles!

My first "long" run outside in years was a success!

Winter running is a challenge for everyone, but for me the biggest challenge is that I have cold-induced asthma. It's landed me in the ER twice in the past 4 years (as the result of very short runs in the cold) and, well, the goal is to not end up there again. So what can I do? Well, for one thing, I can adjust to it gradually. Which is what I have been trying to do and so far so good. Thankfully(?) it got pretty cold for DC during November so my lungs had to adapt to the 20s and 30s pretty early in the season. That's cold for the mid-Atlantic in November.

But then I went and hopped a plane to Wisconsin, where I am now. It's obviously much colder here. So I've been doing a mix of treadmill runs when I have to, and outside runs when the temperatures get up into the teens.  I also bought a "Buff" face mask thingy that has worked out well. So far so good.

So that's what I've got going on right now. I'm hangin' in Wisconsin. Writing a paper. Taking some (take-home) exams. And trying to keep up with my training.

I head to Duluth in a little over a week. Given the temperatures they've been having, it's quite possible that I'll be relegated to the treadmill for my runs over vacation. It's not such a terrible thing. Yes, I feel slightly less hard-core than some of my Duluth running friends. But it gets the job done.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the JFK-50, the race I was supposed to be running as a part of my fundraiser, before I got hurt, was a few weeks back! Though I couldn't compete, I was at the race anyway, crewing and pacing, and it was an awesome day. My coach and friend Wendy ran a stellar time and placed 16th overall female. You can read all about that here.

Me and Michele, waiting for our runners to come through

My day was spent first crewing, and then pacing. What does that mean? Well, 50-miles is a long way to run, so it helps to have some people there to assist you along the way. The first access point for friends and crews was at mile 15ish and that is where me and some other pals first parked ourselves to assist the 5 runners we had in the race. They dropped clothes, changed shoes, grabbed food, replenished Gu stashes, topped off water, etc. We were there with their stuff - and some chairs - to help them with their effort. Kinda like a pit crew.

OK, who am I kidding, I stood there with my camera waiting to take pictures while everyone else did the work.
 

Tim getting his chip moved as part of his shoe change.

Tim, husband of Coach Wendy, came through looking great. This was good news as he came into the race with a pretty messed up ACL. Wendy arrived a bit too chipper to have just run 15 rugged and technical miles on steep trails. But that was all part of her race plan (to take it really easy at the start) and she executed her plan perfectly. 

Wendy: "That felt so easy! I'm fresh as a daisy!"

After crewing, I got ready to pace my friend Vivian. By "pace" I mean "run with." It's nice to have some company when you run 50 miles, and my plan was to run with Vivian from miles 15 to the next crew stop at 27. And that's what I did. We chatted (OK, I talked her ears off, she was probably happy to see me go!) and ran on the beautiful C&O Canal towpath alongside the Potomac River. It was beautiful. During this time I was incredibly bummed not to be running the race myself. That said, I was grateful I was healthy enough to be out there to take in 12 miles of the course -- and glad to have a friend I could help along the way.

Vivian and I at mile 27

All in all it was an incredibly fun and beautiful (if cold!) day. It definitely got me energized to keep training hard to run my own 50-miler in the spring. 

OK. On with winter running. And, as previously promised, I do hope to have my spring 50-miler picked out soon. Definitely by the end of the year!

Back At It

Quick Update:

I'm in my fourth week of official "training" right now and it's feeling really good. We (Coach Wendy and I) have been easing me back into it - adding miles really slowly - and so far so good. Last week I ran 27 miles. This week I will run 30. It feels like a far cry from the 50 mpw I was doing before I got injured, but I know I'll get back there.

It's hard - really hard - starting from scratch. It's one thing to start from scratch when you've taken some down time after a big goal race. It sucks starting from scratch when I lost it all due to a stupid, quirky, injury.

People have asked me if the injury was a sign that I am not supposed to run so much. I can answer that one easily: no. The injury was an anomaly. They happen. It was not an overuse injury. And neither my physical therapist nor my doctor think there is something fundamental about my bio-mechanics (or whatever) that mean I shouldn't run. I am true believer that everyone can and should run (and by everyone I mean everyone, even the people who claim they have bad knees) and I'll argue that one until I am blue in the face.

So I am back at it. What's my plan? My tentative plan is to run my 50-miler in May, after exams and before graduation. Registration for the race isn't until December, so I want to wait until I am officially "in" before I confirm. But I don't think it will be a problem.

I'm still fundraising! I am fully committed to completing my 50 for 35 challenge and I am excited that it is now back on track. Thank you to those who have supported me thus far. If you haven't, I'd love to have you as a part of my journey, supporting the amazing Jacob's Ladder School and Therapy Center. Click here to learn more and contribute today! No amount is too small, every little bit will help me towards achieving my goal! Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!

Ready for a New Start!

Since August 22nd, I haven't been able to run. I've tried a few times, but always with bad results and feeling guilty for doing so. In my attempt to figure out what went wrong -- I was running really well with no pain or problems and then suddenly one day there was an intense pain shooting up into my butt/lower back on the right side -- I saw many, random doctors. It seems a bit funny - or maybe crazy - in retrospect!

First, I went to urgent care. I was in Janesville, WI visiting my stepmom the day after the pain initially started and I was certain I had some sort of fracture. The urgent care docs were worthless -- they didn't really listen to what I was telling them -- and sent me home with 30 days worth of 800mg Ibuprofen. Thanks.

That same afternoon, I went to a chiropractor. This was at the suggestion of a couple of running friends who said it sounded like I could use an adjustment. I got a local reference (in Janesville) and saw the doc. He took x-rays and couldn't see anything wrong there. We did do an adjustment but there wasn't a lot more he could do since I was going to be coming back to follow up. The next day I flew to DC to start my last year of law school.

It took me a while to figure out what to do once I got to DC. I really thought I'd just rest for a week and hope it calmed down. It didn't. So I went to another urgent care. Why? I don't know. I was in severe, constant pain with every step I took and the clinic at school hadn't opened yet. Getting into a specialist was going to take a few weeks. So I got an oral steroid from the urgent care doctor with the hopes of combating the inflammation and bringing down the pain level. It didn't.

So, next, I decided to see my pain doctor. I decided to skip the orthopedist because every time I go to an orthopedist they tell me my options are pain injections, physical therapy, or surgery. I figured I'd cut out the middle man and go straight to my pain doctor. I say "my" pain doctor because he treated me previously for a herniated disc in my neck. So I was a returning patient. He didn't want to do anything until he knew what we were dealing with, so he had me start physical therapy and get an MRI. I made an appointment to see him again in a week.

In the meantime, I started with a physical therapist. I wrote about that here. I have been seeing the physical therapist - and doing at home exercises - ever since. In the meantime, I have also gotten 2 pain injections into my SI joint. The injections decreased the pain significantly, which tells us that we are likely targeting the right spot. My physical therapist has spent time adjusting my sacrum - which she found to be out of whack - to get me centered again and to take the stress off my SI. It seems to be working.

Is my pain completely gone? No. But I'm not "in pain." And I rarely feel it. It is hard to know if what I do feel, when purposefully stressing the area, is just residual pain from the injections and all of the exercises I have been doing, or whether the injury is not quite healed. Whatever the case, it's time to move forward.

We did a lot more intense stuff in PT this week (plyometric type stuff) to test the area. It all went really well and today I was cleared to run! She said I should go for 20 minutes and run/walk. 2 minutes running, 30 seconds walking, etc. This is going to be torture for me. I don't run/walk. Ever. What I love about running -- and the thing about it that feels so amazing for me -- is getting into a rhythm; getting my HR up and going and having it stay there. But I'll follow the rules. I want to get back to high mileage as soon as possible and I know that that will take patience at this point in the game.

Thanks to all of my friends and family for their support and patience with my whining over the past month and a half. I have learned a lot about myself - and my love of running - through this process. It has really been eye-opening on levels I could have never predicted. I need to run. More than that, I truly love to run. It is a healing activity for me on so many levels: emotional, mental, and physical. If I have to come up with a reason for suffering from this quirky injury, I can definitely point to the soul-searching I've done and realizations I've come to about how important it is for me to run, to run consistently, to stay fit, and do everything I can to make sure I can do that for a long time. This will mean much more attention to my core and my body as a whole. More strength work, more stretching/foam-rolling, smart training, and, most importantly, a consistent effort.

Anyway, I see today as the beginning of a new journey. Soon, I hope, I will begin a new training cycle. I don't see this as the end of anything. I will still be in PT for at least another week - we will see how I progress and if all is well, next week will be my last week! And I hope to take all of the stuff I have learned with me and to not take my running, or my health overall, for granted. I've done that all too much in the past and it's too precious, for too many reasons, to lost sight of its importance.

And, as always, I am fundraising and would love your support! Click here! And thank you in advance for your generosity.

Difficult Decisions, Dreams Deferred

Well, unfortunately, my injury has not been healing as fast as I dared to hope. As such, today I made the very difficult decision to postpone my "50 for 35" challenge. I will now take part in a 50-miler this spring instead of at JFK this fall. To say I am bummed is an understatement. This challenge and all that it stands for - the hope it gives me and the passion I feel about why I am doing it - is so incredibly important to me.

I know, I know - it's not over, as my close friends and family keep telling me. It's just postponed. But I was really excited about hitting that Appalachian Trail with some of my favorite running friends in November. But if I've learned anything in the past couple of years - during which time life has thrown me a lot to handle - it is that life is not easy and it is most definitely not fair. That said: life gives you additional opportunities to fulfill your dreams and complete your goals, as long as you are open to seeing those new opportunities, owning them, and, well...rocking the sh*t out of them.

That's what I plan to do this spring.

I have a race picked out but I want to wait until I am fully cleared to start training hard again before I officially register and announce which race I'll be doing. For those of you supporting me in this challenge, rest assured that I won't let you down. I cannot say enough how important it is for me to accomplish this goal and finish this journey.

And, as always, when things feel unfair and crappy, a little perspective is always good. My dear friend Kara Goucher had to make a similar decision recently. You may have read about it here. Talking to Kara about my struggles in running and, well, in life in general, always gives me great perspective. And not just because she's a pro and running is her job -- the implications for her are far greater when she finds herself injured and unable to perform. It's more about who she is. I've known Kara since Jr. High and through all of her struggles and triumphs she has remained, from my perspective, so level-headed and able to joke about and accept even the saddest and most frustrating disappointments and she always looks to find a silver lining. Always. I am so thankful I have her in my life for constant pep talks, support, and as an amazing role model.

So that's what I'll do with my disappointment. Let it go and focus on what I have to look forward to. I am already excited about the race I hope to run in March. And, well, when I get back to running I am going to work my darnedest not to take it for granted! I love running. I absolutely love being a runner. I miss it terribly. When I get it back, I am going to treasure it like never before.

My fundraising page will be updated soon to reflect the postponed race date. In the meantime, I would still be grateful for your continued support! I am still so incredibly grateful to the people at Jacob's Ladder and the smiles they put on my nephew Henry's face every single day. I am also grateful that I was able to support such an amazing place as I undertake this challenge. Henry and I are both lucky to be paired with them as we pursue our goals!

Week 20: Some Results

Well after not so patiently waiting, I finally got in to see my doctor. I saw him last week Thursday and he ordered an MRI. My problem was not presenting as sciatica, because that shoots pain down the leg. (I have pain shooting up from my butt into my lower back). So he guessed it was probably a disc bulge of some kind, which is what I assumed as well. It took me a week to get in for the MRI, which I had this past Wednesday and yesterday, Thursday, I saw my doctor for the results.

Before I got my results, though, I met with a physical therapist yesterday morning. I am always skeptical about physical therapy. I had it a lot as kid with all of my sports injuries. It usually resulted in me being the proud owner of an array of different colored therabands and not much else. But, as I am pretty desperate here, and my doctor recommended it as an option, I thought I'd give it a shot. Fortunately I really liked the place I chose (randomly from my insurance website) and really liked the therapist. After examining me, so did not think the symptoms were presenting as a disc problem. She was able to deduce that that I have a slight tilt in my sacrum...and her assumption/guess is that I tweaked it at some point and it just hadn't gotten itself back into place. So we did not exercises, etc. to work on that. (Knowing I would get my MRI results later that same day.) And, yes, she sent me home with some exercises and a theraband. Which I am proud to say I have already used! Nothing like a little motivation and a time crunch to get me to follow the rules.

The news from my doctor was good. There is a slight disc bulge but no more than is to be expected from anyone else my age. So while it's possible it's causing the pain, it's not particularly likely. My doctor is still not convinced of a diagnosis (he is a pain doctor, so he is less focused on specific or particular diagnosis - or having some precise "answer" or "cause" and more on pain management, which is why I am coupling with PT). He had the records from my PT and together we decided that I would get a pain injection in my SI joint. Not only might this reduce my pain (that has been debilitating and severe since the day it started, August 22) but it will also give us some answers. If it works, and the pain goes away (even if temporarily) we know it's an SI thing. So I got the injection. So far so good - it seems like it may have worked. You never know for a couple of days...it takes the medicine 2-4 days to start working, and you always have soreness from the injection for the first day or so afterwards. But I am walking without severe pain for the first time in three weeks. So I am happy and hopeful.

I may not be as fit and prepared as I would have preferred to be come time for JFK, but I am feeling more and more confident that I definitely will be there. (If, for any reason, I am unable to be I will pick a 50-miler in the Spring at which I will complete my challenge.) Who knows, maybe this was a fortuitously forced rest for some reason I'll never know.

Whatever the case, I feel like I might finally be on the other side of this thing and am feeling good and relieved. Still a lot I don't know, but finally getting some answers. And some relief! Hopefully I will be running again soon. In the meantime, I am owning the bike and pool. 10 weeks until the race!

Fundraising has gone well, but still a long way to go! I appreciate support in any amount. To donate, click here.

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40
Week 8: 34 
Week 9: 43
Week 10: 44
Week 11: 40 
Week 12: 33 
Week 13: 49
Week 14: 50
Week 15: 38
Week 16: 50
Week 17: 14, Injured, cross training
Week 18: Injured, cross training
Week 19: Injured, cross training
Week 20: Inured, cross training

Sidelined

I've been dealing with a disappointing and frustrating injury that has had me sidelined for the last week and a half. It's been a huge bummer on lots of levels. I moved back to DC a week ago and have been getting settled in for my final year of law school. I was excited to get back into town and go on some of my favorite running routes with my extra time before the semester started. No such luck. I am not sure what the injury is yet - I have pain in my lower back/butt that results from weight-bearing. So, running. And, well, walking. The pain has moved to different areas, so I am fairly certain it is nerve-related. Based on my history and experience (I have a herniated disc in my neck), I am guessing it is a herniated disc in my lower back. I see the doctor this week and will hopefully learn more.

So, the bad news is I haven't been able to run. Fortunately, pain only comes from putting weight on it so I have been riding a stationary bike at the gym and keeping up with my strength/core workouts in order to keep up my fitness. I also plan to start water jogging this week. This isn't altogether unfamiliar territory for me. In both high school and college, when I was a sprinter, I tore my hamstring (each of them, four-years apart!) and was relegated to the pool. Though it's not ideal (it's boring as hell) it is a great way to, again, keep up fitness and endurance when regular running isn't an option.

I am optimistic I will get this figured out and I will be back on my feet - and on the trails of DC - within the next week or so. Whatever the case, I am confident I will be on the starting line in Boonsboro, MD in November!

Mostly, I am bummed because I am really missing running. It's good for me (and you!) on so many levels and I am mourning the loss of it right now.

Fundraising has been going well! I've raised $1,180 so far! Thanks to everyone who has contributed. I'm well on my way to my goal of raising $3,500 by November 23rd! If you would like to donate, you can do so here.

Week 16: Imperfect

Well, it finally happened: I wasn't able to complete my weekly mileage. First time this training cycle! It was, though, not because I made an excuse and skipped. (I've been super good at doing that in the past!) It was because my body just wasn't cooperating this weekend. It might be that my training has caught up to me. It's probably at least in part (possibly a big part) some medication I took. Whatever the case...my weekend runs (yesterday and today) were amazingly difficult and disheartening. Feeling like that during runs carries more weight when you are training for an ultra and have asked all of your friends and family to financially support a cause. I worry about my mental toughness. What happens when it gets miserably tough at JFK?

I have to finish JFK! I keep telling Wendy, when things aren't going my way. You will. She responds. Every time.

Whatever the case. I still put in a 50 mile week. So that's solid. I just hated feeling so awkward and rotten out there. I can take ownership of not doing enough strength/core work. I've gotten really lazy about that. And I'm feeling it with lots of niggles. I really can't mess around with that stuff. I've gotta be solid going into this thing.

Oh, also, I registered for a 50K like it was no big deal and would just be a helpful part of my training. It will be my first ultra and it is something I am just going to do in passing. Seriously: How did I end up here?! I'm a sprinter! ;)

Fundraising, though, has been going spectuacularly! (That's not a word). As of Friday I've raised $945! Thank you, everyone! I'm well on my way to that $3500!

Again, if you want to join my journey virtually, you can do that here: https://www.facebook.com/events/493045564117335/

If you'd like to support me financially, you can do that here! http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/

And again, thank you, in advance!

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40
Week 8: 34 
Week 9: 43
Week 10: 44
Week 11: 40 
Week 12: 33 
Week 13: 49
Week 14: 50
Week 15: 38
Week 16: 50

Halfway to JFK!

Not much to report, but it felt important to note that I am HALFWAY through my JFK training! Crazypants! Today marks the end of week 15 of my 30 week training program.

Last week, week 14, I ran 50 miles equaling my highest mileage week ever. I ran a 50-mile week leading up to the NYC Marathon in 2011...and I believe I ran one leading up to whatever marathon I ran before that. The difference this time was that it wasn't the culmination of my efforts. In fact, it was just run of the mill. I ran the miles and got them done without any drama. The longest run was a 20-miler, and though I definitely felt it, I completed it at a decent clip and felt pretty great at the end. This is good news. It was by far the easiest 20-miler I've ever run.

This week, week 14, was a step-back week. I ran 38 miles and it felt like nothing. Really. It did. I put a wee bit of speedwork back into my training and really enjoyed that. It felt great and I'm not feeling any lagging effects. On Wednesday, I did a fartlek. Today, I ran a couple miles at tempo/half marathon pace and did some 100-meter strides at the end. It all felt invigorating and none of it felt strained. Again. Good news.

Looking at my schedule, which Wendy just updated for me (I get it weekly on Sunday night), assuming all goes well next week will be my highest mileage week ever: 55 miles. It will be a challenge. I am psyched.

Fundraising update: I've raised over $500 towards my goal of $3500! A big fat thank you to those of you who have donated thus far. It takes me a while to get updates on my fundraising...so if I don't thank you immediately, that's why. I get reports from the school every one or two weeks. Hopefully they will start updating my fundraising page soon so that it shows both how far I am towards my goal and who has donated to my efforts. Again, to all of you: thank you! I'd love for any and all of you to "join" me, virtually, on my 50-mile/$3500 journey. You can do that here: https://www.facebook.com/events/493045564117335/

If you'd like to support me financially, you can do that here! http://jacobsladdercenter.com/50-for-35-fundraiser/

And again, thank you, in advance!

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40
Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half)
Week 9: 43
Week 10: 44
Week 11: 40 (trail marathon)
Week 12: 33 (5-miler)
Week 13: 49
Week 14: 50
Week 15: 38

49 Miles

I ran 49 miles this week.

Because of my work schedule, I didn't get any really long runs in this week. But I did get in 49 miles. The most I've ever run in a single week - in all of my marathon training - is 50 miles. And it's only week 13 of 30.

The good news is that it didn't feel like too much. At all. I'm tired for sure -- but not overwhelmingly so. I worked on my feet for 8 hours after both of my long runs this weekend...and came out unscathed. So I am feeling pretty good. Up we go.

We did have to scrap speed work this week. At the beginning of the week my hamstrings were very tight. That's an old and nagging problem that we don't want to mess with. So we decided to just get in the miles. I am still getting faster, though. That is, I am running at my desired "feel" (easy pace, long pace, etc.) and my paces are getting faster and my HR is staying reasonably low and I am feeling better and stronger. I am guessing the tightness was the result of the trail marathon extravaganza and the 5-mile race within 6 days of each other. That was a bit much. But it was good for my focus and mental toughness. I had to run both of them on tired legs...which is frustrating. I like racing and I like setting PRs. But more than that, I want to arrive at this 50 prepared and healthy.

Not much else to report! I had a great week of training. Was focused and determined to get every mile in despite a crazy busy schedule. Proud of my commitment. As Wendy can attest, this is my first ever training cycle where I have not yet missed a single mile or workout. I have, though, been a bit lazy on strength and core work lately. Gotta get back on that: it works.

Also, just a reminder that I'd love your support on this journey to 50!

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40
Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half)
Week 9: 43
Week 10: 44
Week 11: 40 (trail marathon)
Week 12: 33 (5-miler)
Week 13: 49

Races, Trails, and a Cause

So I am desperately behind on documenting my JFK training. So here's where I've been:

Week 8 - Grandma's Half Marathon
We cut my mileage back a bit this week so that I wouldn't be totally tired going into the half marathon. Even though I wasn't shooting for a particular time, and wasn't really racing the event, we still decided to taper a bit. I was glad we did. As a result, I totally enjoyed every second of the run. This was my first time running the half after running the full marathon for years. As such, as I reached each landmark on the course I felt remarkably fresh! It was a super foggy day, so views of the lake were missing. That was a bummer...but the weather was otherwise so perfect for running that I couldn't complain. The entire 13.1 miles were pure fun.

Week 9
Mileage was back up a bit this week and was topped off my a "course preview" run on the trails that would make up the trail marathon that I was running in a couple of weeks. I was REALLY glad I chose to do this trial run. The course was, in a word: grueling. Major climbs on rocks and mud....steep hills, etc., etc. - it was like nothing I've ever experienced. That said, I loved it. I really do love trail running and definitely see myself focusing more in that direction in the years to come. I simply enjoy being out there in the woods...it provides a lot more fulfillment than pounding the pavement. Anyway, I did 16 miles of the 26.2 mile course. It took me a LONG time but I am grateful I knew what I was in for come marathon day.

Week 10
Again, mileage went up a bit, topped off by a MISERABLE 18-miler on Saturday. It was hot and muggy and I hated every step. It happens. The plus side of a run like this is that it allows me to work on my mental toughness. I literally felt like my legs were lead from the first step. And I was immediately depleted and groggy from the humidity. I did stop at mile 9 and bought some Gatorade (something I rarely drink these days...I've become a Nuun girl - thanks Kara!) but it tasted like liquid heaven. I clearly needed the salt. I drank the entire thing...and it wasn't small. That helped a bit but the rest of the run was still a slog. Alas. It's in the books.

Week 11 - Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon
This trail marathon was insanely difficult and incredibly fun. It was like no other experience I've ever had running. And, to be honest, it consisted of a LOT of hiking (i.e., I wasn't running the whole time or even most of the time). I can't run over boulders and it's silly to run up super steep hills (at least I think so)...so there was a lot of power hiking. It took me 3 hours longer than my average road marathon. Yep. Now, another thing that made it difficult is that I didn't taper at all. I've never run a marathon that wasn't a goal race...so I am usually tapered and fresh. Going into this with tired legs added to the challenge. One of my main struggles was nutrition. I can't figure out what to eat when I am out there that long. The aid stations were stocked with all kinds of food...but I found I wasn't able to actually eat any of it. That is, I could get my mouth to dissolve it and swallow it. So I ran for over 7 hours on Gu Chomps and watermelon. Needless to say, I was starving at the end. I also went into the race after 4 days of GI problems that unfortunately continued during the race. So I got lots of practice taking visits into the woods...(I'll leave that one there...let's just say I was proud to only have to stop - for that reason - three times!) I also had some bizarre nausea during mile 9, which made no sense. I was actually dizzy and couldn't get my head straight. It wasn't until the next aid station, where I downed some Powerade, that it finally subsided. That issue didn't return for the rest of the race, thankfully. I also took S-Caps (electrolyte pills) for the first time ever during this race. I've never tried them at all, but Wendy wanted me to give it a try and practice with them. Not sure if they "worked" or not because I never knew why I would need them. But, despite the issues listed above, I felt pretty good during the whole (very long!) race. Overall it was a great event, well organized, great people - I am glad I did it.

Week 12 - Park Point 5-miler (week ending 7/21)
Decided fairly last minute to run the 5-miler this week. A bit of a crazy choice, given the state of my legs after the trail marathon. But it's the first time I have been in town and available to do this race in probably 10 years. Plus, Wendy said she did want me to do some speed work this week (we're working on trying to snap me out of a bit of a rut of very slow, plodding miles) so she thought the race was a good idea. I knew I wouldn't be able to run it fast. And I knew it wouldn't feel particularly good. But I decided to do it anyway. I was correct: it was tough. But it was also super fun. A beautiful night (albeit a bit warm) and it was just fun to run on that course as part of that event again after all of these years.

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From here on out, we start to build miles. I won't race again until September when I am doing a half marathon and marathon to spice up my JFK training. Looking forward to just trying to gain some major fitness and endurance in the next couple of months.

In other news: Many people wondered if I'd lost my sanity when I signed up for JFK. I am happy to share a bit of the story behind why I decided to participate in such an extreme running event. You can read about it by clicking here. (And there's also a link on the right side of this page.) I'd truly appreciate your support!

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40
Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half)
Week 9: 43
Week 10: 44
Week 11: 40 (trail marathon)
Week 12: 33 (5-miler)

Behind: Update Coming Soon!

I have been crazed with my summer internship and, of course, lots of running! For now, I'll just update my mileage summary and give a list of what's coming soon!

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40
Week 8: 34 (Grandma's Half Marathon!)
Week 9: 43
Week 10: 44

I am currently in Week 11, which will end with a crazy, grueling trail marathon! I'll soon catch you up on that, the Grandma's half, my torturous 18-mile training run during Week 10, and much more!

I'll also let you know about a plan I have to make this 50-mile training cycle particularly meaningful.
(Teaser: see the right panel of this page!)

Week 7: More Miles and Old Friends

Week 7 of 30 was another solid week of training. It's hard to believe I am almost 1/3 of the way through this cycle. 30 weeks sounded like so much time when I first made the impulsive decision to sign up for a 50-miler. But the time is flying by!

This week I did what I would consider to be my first real back to back weekend "long" runs. Most ultra runners agree that back to backs are the key to being well-prepared for an ultra distance race. Basically, you run long runs on both Saturday and Sunday so that on Sunday you are running on tired legs. This prepares the legs to keep going when they are tired - as they obviously will be in a 50-mile race. This weekend's runs were still pretty short: a 12 on Saturday followed by 8 on Sunday. Still, I felt the results of the back to backs on Sunday - the 8 felt harder than it seemed like it should have! But I plugged through and felt good completing a solid, 40-mile week.

My 12-miler on Saturday, in addition to being my longest run of this 30-week training cycle, was also my most challenging. I was in Madison, WI visiting my friend Kara as she preps for the USA National Track Championships in Iowa this coming weekend. I've been in Janesville, WI, just 35 or so miles away from Madison. So I drove up and spent the weekend catching up with a great old friend. 'Twas loads of fun. On Friday, I arrived early enough to watch her team do a workout on the track. I LOVE tracks so I enjoyed just being there. Then, on Saturday, I left the hotel before Kara so I could get started on my slow-paced 12-miler before she headed out for her workout. Despite my earlier start time I had the pleasure, during this workout, of having Kara and her teammate Shalane catch up to me - and blow by me - just 4 miles into my run. Always a good confidence builder. ;)

Anyway, about half of my 12-miler was on trails and hills, so it was much more challenging than the relatively flat bike path I have been running on so far this cycle. This is exactly the kind of workout I needed, so it was great for me physically and mentally. But it made my 8 on Sunday feel tougher than I think it otherwise would have. Whatever the case, I got in the miles.

It was fun to be in Madison - such a great town. It's been a long time since Kara and I have been able to spend that much time catching up! We realized we first became friends in 1992 (in Jr. High) and felt very old. (Watching her very young teammates practice also makes one feel somewhat ancient...oy.) Saturday afternoon, I accompanied Kara and Shalane to their second workout of the day. One run was enough for me so I just watched. And took pictures. Snagged this gem:

Nothing like hanging with some pros to make you come home and hit the core work!

This week I will have somewhat reduced mileage since I will be running the half marathon on Saturday. Not too reduced, though. As I told Wendy (and I have to remember) this half marathon is not the (or even a) goal. I really just hope we get some decent weather and that I can enjoy the experience.


Training Mileage Sumamary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32
Week 7: 40

Week 6 / Half Marathons / Missing My Dad

On Sunday I completed Week 6 of 30 of my JFK 50-miler training. I was travelling and in school for a big chunk of time again, so my mileage didn't move up much. I ran 32 miles. Everything is still feeling great - for which I am truly grateful! I have been working hard on strengthening and stretching my problem areas and it seems to be paying off. Core work works! Excited to start upping my mileage this week.

The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (or as I call it, the Grandma's Half) is coming up in just 11 days. Crazy! I've decided that I am not racing it all out - I am just not in shape to do that. I'll push the pace a bit to give myself a good workout, but I am not "racing." There's no way I can come close to my PR...and I have been so healthy that I do not want to risk injury during this base-building period when things have been going so well. Mostly I want to just enjoy running by that beautiful lake on that awesome course. It will be hard, though. I am really, really going to miss my dad.

This past March 16th, I ran the Rock 'n' Roll USA Half Marathon in DC. The start was less than a mile from my home, so I figured, why not? I was really looking at it as a way to kick my butt back in gear. I had not been running much at all, so I was not expecting anything in the way of a good time. I just wanted to get out there, get inspired, and start training regularly again. At this point had no idea what I might even be training for. I just knew I missed running and was having trouble getting back into it.

The race was fun. OK, it wasn't all fun. I had horrible abdominal cramping the whole time, had to stop twice, and my hips were screaming at me from about mile 5 on. But I finished the race satisfied. I ran what I thought was a fine time, about 10 or 11 minutes slower than my PR. Given my fitness level and issues, that was just fine. Most importantly I left the race course excited about running. I went home, showered, got some work done and took a nice nap. Nothing better than a post-race afternoon nap!

Then at 6:30pm the phone rang. It was my brother. My dad had had a heart attack. We didn't know anything except that it happened at his home and the paramedics were not able to revive him. He recovered, but what followed was both the most hopeful and heartbreaking 10 days of my life. In the end, my dad just couldn't hang on. He passed away on March 27th.

My dad loved Grandma's Marathon weekend. He especially loved when I ran the race (half or full). He was so incredibly proud of my athletic pursuits and never missed an opportunity to tell me so. I love Grandma's Marathon weekend not only for the race, but because of the family gatherings that follow. It's hard to comprehend that I won't see him that evening after the race; that we won't share a beer and some ribs or burgers until I simply cannot keep my eyes open anymore.

On March 16th I ran my 16th half marathon. I told my dad about it in the hospital. It was the last time I got to impress him with my athletic achievements. In 11 days, I'll run my 17th half marathon at my favorite event. I'll enjoy it, but it will be bittersweet. I connect running Grandma's with family time and fun. I still intend to experience both of those this year...but there will be a huge piece missing from the weekend...and an even bigger hole in my heart.

This year will be my first half marathon at Grandma's since 2004! I ran my first ever half marathon at Grandma's in 2003. Since 2004, I have run the full marathon in Duluth in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. It will be nice to go back to starting the race a bit closer to the bridge!

Today, Wendy had me do some speed work. Speed work always reminds me of my high school track days: I love it. During my cool down, I thought about all of the memories and sadness I referenced above. And, well, I thought I'd share them here.

Me and my dad after I set a PR at Grandma's Marathon 2011. Party time!

Training Mileage Summary
Week 1: 30
Week 2: 31
Week 3: 36
Week 4: 36
Week 5: 27
Week 6: 32

Weeks 4 & 5: Quick Update, Quick Catch-Up

I am trying not to go too long between posts. But I don't have much to report. Training is going well - really well, actually. For me "really well" means I am having no injury problems (barely a niggle!) and I am still really, really enjoying my runs. Those things are far more important than hitting any sort of time or distance benchmarks. I completed week 5 of 30 on Sunday, June 2.

We are starting to work in things other than just slow, base-building running - and I really enjoy mixing it up with different types of workouts. Last week it was hills. I actually LOVE hill work. My body is naturally suited to stuff that requires power and strength and I love the challenge. This week I am starting to work in a little bit of speed work so it's not a total shock to my system (like it was in the 10K) when I run a half marathon in a few weeks. I'll be running the world's best half marathon at Grandma's in my hometown of Duluth, MN on June 22. I still haven't decided if I will be racing it (i.e., pushing hard to try to hit a decent time) or just running it (i.e., just getting in a good workout as part of my training). Either way, I'll be running it faster than I have been doing my training runs and I don't want to completely piss off my hamstrings and hips.

This past weekend and this upcoming weekend I am in DC taking a summer class. It is a condensed class with VERY long days over the weekend...so we've had to be creative with my miles and scheduling. As such, we are pretty much in a holding pattern as far as my overall weekly mileage goes. I think that's a good thing, though. It's giving me the chance to start slow and really get my body used to running 6 days/week again. That said, I am looking forward to getting through this class, getting past the half marathon, and really starting to increase my mileage. So far in this training cycle my longest run is 10 miles (which I've done twice, and quite comfortably). I'll max out at 10 again this week.

I do need to give a public shout-out to my ever amazing coach and friend, Wendy. I am certain I am getting far more detailed attention and care - with regard to my training plan, scheduling, adjustments, overall fitness and health goals, etc. - than I would get if I was paying some coach online or at a gym to help me. I am extremely lucky and very grateful. Thanks, m'dear! Let's keep rockin'!

Training Mileage Summary

Week 1: 30 miles

Week 2: 31 miles

Week 3: 36 miles

Week 4: 36 miles

Week 5: 27 miles

Week 3: "Fast-Twitch No More!"

It's been a busy week! On Wednesday I relocated from DC to WI. I'll be living here with my step-mom for the next several weeks while I finish up some schoolwork and take a summer course. And log lots of miles, of course. Fortunately her house is right near a great system of running paths that intersect with some great trails - so it'll be a great place to run. Looking forward to it.

Had some fun yesterday running a local 10K. It was a teeny tiny event (at least for someone like me who is used to big city races!) Even compared to events in Duluth, this was tiny. There was a 5K and a 10K and there were 170 total racers. I was a bit hesitant going in - 5Ks and 10Ks HURT. Because you run them FAST. Yes, this perhaps sounds silly coming from me, the former 100 meter dash specialist. (As my friend Kei punned on my Facebook page when I whined about the difficulty of short, fast racing: "Fast twitch no more!") But I've been logging lots of really slow, low-HR miles lately. I knew what that burn was going to feel like. And did it burn. It was tough!

Before the Race

I went out WAY too fast and completely died. I was toast by the third mile. I thought I could hold a faster pace because I ran an 8K in early March...so I was using that as a gauge. Well, a lot has happened since early March. My body was just not in the same place. It HURT. It was a major exercise in mental toughness, though, which Wendy LOVES (because I am a wuss and I don't like pain) so I was proud that I hung on and toughed it out.

The best part of finishing, other than finally being able to stop the madness, was having my step-mom and grandma there cheering me in. My step-mom had the cowbell that she and my dad used to ring to let us all know when it was time for dinner when we were kids. (Yes, I am serious, there were 7 kids and we lived in a really big 3-story house.) Since I live away from where most of my family lives, I rarely have "fans" at races. So this was a total treat. 

Finishing the race - totally spent!

Today I ran a 10-miler and it was definitely a challenge running on my tired legs from the 10K yesterday. But it's great to be getting up in mileage as well. On short runs you can't get into the same groove and mental space you can when you're out there for more than an hour or so. So though I was tired, I really enjoyed being back in the saddle of real distance training.



Training Mileage Summary
Week One: 30 miles
Week Two: 31 miles
Week Three: 36.2 miles (the 0.2 from the 10K, of course!)

Week 2: Patience and Jefferson

I just finished my last run of Week 2 of JFK training. All of my runs felt great this week - mostly because I decided to return to low heart rate training. I've done this in the past, it's worked every time, I am starting near zero, I've got plenty of time: ideal opportunity to return to what works.

Now, for me, this type of training takes two things: (1) patience, and (2) massive pride swallowing. Why patience? Because in the beginning I have to run so slow. The program I follow is (very) loosely based on the methods of Phil Maffetone (MAF). And I mean loosely. Basically, I use the 180 formula and, in these beginning stages of training, when I am just trying to get my fitness back, I stick to my number as best I can. For me, that number is 146. Basically, I try to stay at 146 for my entire run, give or take. I am healthy, so I can basically use a range from 146-151.

This may seem arbitrary and stupid, but like I said: it works. I was first introduced to low heart rate training sometime around 2007 or 2008 when I was working with my former personal trainer and good friend Melissa Simmens (runner and completer of many ultras). She had tried every training plan - Higdon, Pfitzinger, etc. - but she couldn't get her Boston Qualifier. She spent one training cycle doing MAF and BOOM: BQ.

It works, because it forces me to slow down and gradually build my fitness. When I don't do it, I tend to go out, run too hard, get tired, get frustrated, get burned out. And, actually, it's REALLY fun to see my progress. Within a matter of a week or two you see changes. My paces drop almost daily as I continue to run at the same heart rate. Being able to actually see my improvement in a concrete number is really fun! Especially during a long training cycle.

Now, the MAF program, when actually followed, includes a lot of additional things that I don't do. Why? Because I don't want to and I don't enjoy them. And because simply using that number has proven useful for me in the past, every. single. time. I. have. done. it.

It does take pride-swallowing though. Especially in these early weeks. I am out there on the National Mall at 6am with all the hard core runners and I am plodding along about 3 minutes per mile slower than I'd prefer to be running. It can also be a HUGE challenge to stay slow enough, especially in the beginning. But, alas, it works.

This week I enjoyed running around the Tidal Basin quite a bit. The water is really high (lots of dead fish on the path!) and everything smells so fresh (not the fish, but the stuff in bloom).

And who knew there was a George Mason monument hidden on the other side? Not this girl.

Been enjoying visiting this guy:

Jefferson Memorial

In other news: My wonderful coach and dear friend Wendy finished her first 50-miler yesterday! It's wasn't her first ultra, she ran a 60K last year. Anyway, I won't reveal her results because she will likely blog about it and I don't want to steal her thunder. Let's just say I am exceptionally proud and confident that I am being trained by someone who knows how to prepare to run 50 miles! We're going to have a fun journey together between now and November. Congrats, Wendy!

Training Mileage Summary
Week One: 30 miles
Week Two: 31 miles (yeah, I cheated and added one)

Week 1 of 30!

Well, my first week of JFK 50-miler training is in the books! Interesting, because I didn't even know I was running the race until Tuesday!

That said, Wendy and I had already started working together again, just to get me back into shape for whatever goal I ended up choosing for summer and beyond.

I got 30 miles in this week which is actually pretty impressive, considering I was pretty much starting at zero. Longest run was 7.5

On March 16th I ran the Rock 'n' Roll USA half marathon, just for fun. I wasn't well trained or really in shape at all, and I didn't have a particularly great race, but it was good to get back out there. I ran 2:05 something which was solid considering I had some major nausea problems and had to wait in line for a potty stop. 10 minutes off of my PR isn't bad all things considered. I was feeling good about the effort.

Then that night my dad had a heart attack. Over the next three weeks my life would change completely in a way I could have never imagined or even feared. During the time while he was sick and up until he died, I didn't run a step. Not one.

The next time I ran was 4 miles on April 14th with a good friend who knew that getting me out running again would be a good way to help me deal with my grief. She was right. That said, I didn't run again until April 25th. I've been completing some short runs consistently since that day and it is starting to again feel like something I want to do. Since it is something I need to do, that's a good thing. Every run feels better than the last. Alas, I am getting in shape. It's good to be back.

I ran more miles this week than Wendy wanted. But they were feeling so good that I just kept extending runs. I am not a very good listener when it comes to coaching, but she already knows that!

I've been dealing with some minor injuries with big names: Trochanteric Bursitis of the hip and Femoral Acetabular Impingement. They're not awesome but they aren't tragic either. The first one means that the outside of my hip hurts, the second one means the front of my leg near my groin hurts. (Both are hip injuries, just different parts of the hip.) They seem to alternate. Both are just mild, if concerning, pain. Funny enough, for anyone who has followed my running for any length of time, my hamstrings have been completely fine. My hamstrings haven't been fine since the 10th grade!

Lincoln, inside his Memorial

So, here we go! I still don't even know my plan for next week but I think we are going to try to keep the mileage pretty similar. I am in exams, so that's no fun. But the runs are a nice relief, even if it is tourist/school group season here in the District.

I like to have pictures in my posts, so I'll leave all of you, my three readers, with this:

For most of my runs this week, I visited this guy at dawn. He's about 2.5 miles from home. It was pretty spectacular with the sun just coming up and the steps still a bit damp from the dew. I even got my workout on by sprinting up the steps each time I visited.

Lincoln Memorial

Fifty for my Thirty-Fifth

I posted this on facebook, but I felt the need to do a blog update too.

I am running the JFK 50-Miler! I GOT IN!

It's 2 days after I turn 35.

It's finals time right now so I don't have the time to elaborate or really write much of anything else. But I want to get this blog going again. So here it goes.

Fast-Twitch girl is gunnin' for 50.

Bring it.

More to come, including my motivation for running this race and how I want to make it about more than just a personal accomplishment.

In the meantime, here's a couple of pics of me at a trail race back in March.