Year of Redemption

2014 has been the year of redemption for me and after 2013, I needed it.

I have so many things to be happy about it so I'm just going to list them:

1. Boston Qualified at the Columbus Marathon in October. PR of 3:44:09- a dream for so long but the first time I really attempted to go for it. I'm thrilled, now I barely qualified by 51 seconds so I have to wait til Sept 2015 to see if I get to run it. Must. be. patient.
2. Ran 3 marathons this year without getting hurt (Flying Pig, Columbus, OBX)- I told myself if I was within 10 mins of a BQ time at Cincinnati, I'd run another marathon this year. I did Columbus in October, trained for a BQ time and succeeded but... I had a rough time after mile 16 and ran 9 mins slower than planned (I should have blogged about that...) So, what did I decide to do? Head out the the OBX for a marathon 3 weeks later- I'm in shape, right? Maybe, I can run better.  (yeah, that didn't happen- ran 20 mins slower and felt like crap.  Not my most brilliant idea.)
3. PR'd in the marathon and the half New PR in the half at the Air Force Half Marathon 1:47 (although I really need to focus on the half) and Columbus Full in 3:44:09
4. Joined the Oiselle Flock in July- I've loved Oiselle stuff for years but it was when Lauren Fleshman and then Kara Goucher joined them that I got really excited. They are just awesome.  When I looked into their athletes, I noticed that they didn't have just elites but ordinary runners too. I set my eyes to finding out about joining them and in July they opened up the Flock.  I'm proud to help out the emerging athletes and represent a company that is so supportive of woman athletes. Here's an awesome article about CEO Sally Bergesen from Outside Online. I love having a group of woman who are so supportive. Love my #flockmates!
5. Selected to be a Nuunbassador for NUUN- I submitted my Nuun ambassador application and figured I didn't blog enough to get this, even though, I haven't drank anything other than Nuun for years for my electrolytes.  Score one for: "you don't know unless you try". 
6.  Picked to be a wear tester for a major running shoe company- BTW, cool shoes in Spring 2015 coming your way...can't say more than that!
7. Ran 1607 miles this year -(double of what I did last year)
   
8. Found a training plan that works for me. Love you, Hanson's Marathon Method!
9. Found a chiropractor who works with serious athletes - thanks, Dr. Pat! If you live in Dayton, OH, I highly recommend him!
10. Having an awesome, supportive husband who supported my dreams this year - I couldn't have done this at all without my dear husband.

Now, it's your turn- What were some of the best things that happened this year for you?

 My year in pictures:

Columbus Marathon 2014

Columbus Marathon 2014 with Cub

Cincinnati's Flying Pig Marathon in May

Smashed 4 hr mark, 3:48

1st race representing Oiselle (with Buster)

My number #1 fan, support team!

Family 5k

Pig training and zoo visit!

Training since last week ummm March 19th:
3/20- attempted a tempo run in 80 degree weather...not fun, when you're not used to it! 2.5 miles at 7:40 pace
3/21- 3.1 miles on the treadmill
3/22- running clinic- plyos, strength training, stretching
3/23- 3 miles in the neighborhood
3/24- Spinning class
3/25- 9 mile trail run with Carrie *No heel bruised feeling*  Yay!

3/26- Spinning
3/27-Tempo run at soccer practice- I love that there is bike path right next to the soccer field that goes around the park for a nice 1.15 mile loop. 3.5 miles overall Yes, I'm one of those moms.
3/28- running clinic- plyos,sprints/working on form, etc
3/29- run 1.5 as warmup, spinning class
3/30- rest day
3/21- rest day
4/1- Longest run in a long time 10.3 miles!!!!!! No problems with my heel again!  (fingers crossed)

4/2- Spinning
4/3-30 min tempo run 4 miles. done.  

So, I've decided that I'm doing Air Force Half Marathon on Sept. 15th.  I had been debating between the 10k and the half.  I got 3rd place in my age group last year in the 10k so I was debating how to train (more speedwork) and still get mileage in for Columbus full or half.   Then the 10k sold out...so the choice was made for me.

That's ok...now it's Columbus Full or Half.  I think, if I'm not forced into committing too early- I'm going to see how the Flying Pig Half goes.  I'm hoping to do as well as I did in Columbus  1hr 49min 07 sec.  But....there are hills and I've not lifted or done much speed work this time around.  So, those are my excuses when I don't make it, ok?

My dad w/Buster.  Gee, wonder what my dad looked like as a boy?

Meanwhile, the real reason I haven't blogged in awhile.  It's been Spring Break and we've had visitors!  My kids have had 2 sets of grandparents visit them this week.  Which has been nice, but there is the stress of having guests (clean, clean, clean) and we don't have a lot of space to visit chez nous.    We managed some how.

Cub with his sheepish smile and a Mexican gray wolf @Cincinnati zoo

We ended up heading to the zoo (actually between grandparent visits).  I hadn't been to the Cincinnati zoo in a long time (in kid years- at least 2 maybe 3 years ago).  Wow! It looks fantastic! And what a difference a few years make, no stroller, potty issues, temper tantrums, etc.  It was just a great time for the boys and for myself. DH had to work. :-(
 Cub has been doing research in school on wolves and (thank goodness) the zoo had Mexican wolves for us to see.  He was so excited.

My favorite picture of the boys at the zoo

There's a penguin in there somewhere

Random 6

1.  Training this week (or since last post)
Last Sunday-tried to go out for a 7 miler run after my 5k the day before- failed- got 2 in before my left heel felt bruised again.  It seems I can't run 3 days in a row...grumble.
Monday- Spinning
Tuesday- 6.2 miles in the heat! 80 degrees in Ohio in March?
Wednesday- 3 mile trail run (hoping for a cool shady trail run- but oops, leaves haven't budded yet! Hot and tired.  I had my running clinic that pm too.  More about that later...
Thursday- Spinning class
Friday- rest day= pizza & beer and watching the Ohio University Bobcats basketball team!  Go OU!
Saturday- 3 miles easy
Sunday-7.65 miles (heel started bugging me at 5)  This is so seriously annoying.  I'm going to have to stick my Dr. Scholl's heel pads on top of my orthotics- seriously how much stuff can you pile into a shoe and still have room for your feet?

2. Decisions, decisions-  Air Force 10k or Air Force 1/2 marathon?  Columbus 1/2 or Full?  My time for my Columbus half qualifies me for preferred starting position/seeded at the Air Force Half.  Which is way cool! (and shhhh, I'm not even that fast) So I'm leaning towards the AF half in September and Columbus Full in October. 

3.  How long should I wait to register?  Both AF and Columbus have cut off price changes on March 31. I'm paranoid about the heel...will I be ok?  

4.  Should I submit an entry into the Nuun's Hood to Coast Relay Team?  It would be so cool...but out of my comfort zone...

5.  Go BOBCATS!  Nothing like Ohio University making it to the Sweet 16!
6. Anyone train for a half then turn around and do a full the next month?
 

longest short week ever

Not much going on this week...just seemed to go in slow motion.  I had my dr. appt for my xray on Monday and the xray was negative so now I'm waiting for my MRI.  Of course, that requires approval from the insurance co. so I waited until Thursday to get the go ahead.  So now I'm waiting til Wednesday for the MRI and the follow up appt the following Monday. 
The last few days have actually been good, no real pain while walking just when I get up after sitting and at the end of the day.  Progress!   I've skipped wearing my night splint this week as well, since I never have a good night sleep and I don't have any pain in the am (until today-and it was minor).  I don't know what that means since PF pain is usually the worse in the am. I always assumed mine didn't hurt much in the am since I had the splint on.  I guess we'll see soon enough. 

My running partner tweeted this am that she hadn't run in 1 week. I'm totally jealous.    I got curious and I figured out that I have had this stupid heel issue now for 15 weeks, and I have "really" run since the Columbus Half so that's been 13 weeks.  Boohoo. :-( 

Speaking of the Columbus Marathon, today is the first day to register!  Here's the link http://www.columbusmarathon.com/. 
If you haven't run this and you live in the midwest.  It is a great race experience!  The expo wasn't great but the crowds and course are fabulous.  I WILL be running the half again this year. I'm going to wait to register for awhile- for obvious reasons. 

Time to get ready to head to a birthday party with Buster.  I going to get my workout scrapping the ice off the car.  I'll leave you with the picture Cub scratched out of the ice/snow.  He wanted the cats to have something to see out of their upstairs window.    

2011 Recap

Background:
  I ran in high school.  I was alright as a runner, my PR in HS was 21:50. I loved it, love the social aspect of it but never really set any goals.  I just ran as fast as I could.

After high school, I was an exchange student in Spain where I started to smoke (it pains me to even admit that now!) and continued to smoke through college.  I never ran, I am lucky that I have good skinny genes since I never had to worry about my weight.

When I got my first job, I had the opportunity to be an assistant coach for the HS xc/track team.  I remembered how much fun it was to run again.

I signed up  to run the Marine Corps Marathon in 2001.  I worked with the AIDS marathon training group in Washington, D.C.  I was in the "Alberto Salazar" 12:00 min/mile pace group.  It was a great way to get back into running.  The rest of the time I lived in the DC area, I almost always did a run/walk.  Then I had kids....and stopped running.

Once we moved to Ohio, I started doing zumba and did that for about 2 years before I started actually running again.  I decided to sign up for the Dirty Dude Girl trail run in one of the MetroParks in our area.  I did pretty well for myself (31:30 with tons of mud on the course)- I'd only been "training" for about a month.  Started to train for some local 5ks and the rest is history...

Fast forward to 2011

I'd been doing a lot of local 5ks in the fall of 2010 and continued to do more in 2011.  We had a "wellness challenge" at work where we were on teams and if we worked out a certain amount or ran local charity races we'd earn points. My team was very competitive, so any opportunity we had i.e. 5k races, we took it.  My running partner and I had decided that we were going to do the Flying Pig 10k in Cincinnati at the end of April- so we had a bigger goal.

2 races really stood out for me in the spring before "the Pig".  I ran the Harrigan's 5k in March.  It was a great day to run- freezing in a t-shirt but I had my new Saucony Kinvaras on- super light weight running shoes.  I forgot to start my watch and never saw the mile markers- so I was just going on how I was feeling.  I remember not believing the time when I rounded the final turn and saw the clock 21:40- I bet my high school pr by 10 seconds!  It was a 19 year old PR.  Awesome! Who says you get slower as you age?

The next race was kind of silly, it was our work's "Wellness Challenge 5k".  Anyone who'd been in the contest was supposed to do it.  I didn't know how we'd do but I decided that I was going to try to run again for a good time, I ended up leading the entire race and actually won it overall.  I've never won a race ever...not even in high school- I was always 2nd or 3rd.  I was pretty pumped- the best part the award for 1st place- the lovely rainbow participant ribbon.  Now I know the point was to get everyone out there and moving...but still.  Could I at least get a blue ribbon?

The Flying Pig 10k is kind of like the stepchild to the Flying Pig Half and Full marathon since it's the day before and not a many people do it.  My running partner and I had been following Hal Higdon's 10k intermediate plan and we were feeling pretty good about it.  We had perfect weather- unlike the marathoners the next day- got to love Ohio weather in the spring!  I ran 47:23, got 5th in age group, 19 overall for women.  My first 10k in 10 years and 5 minutes faster. 

After the pig, I was not sure what I wanted to do...I needed to think about a fall race just to keep the momentum going, and around this area, it's the U.S. Air Force Marathon in Dayton in September or the Columbus Marathon in mid October. 

I did both of those, which by then I started this blog so you can read about the Air Force 10k here or the Columbus 1/2 marathon here.

Both were PR's for me but since the Columbus marathon I haven't really run since PF has stopped me in my tracks.
That would be 90 days without running.  With the exception of last Saturday's quick attempt and today's/tomorrow's run (which I've already planned to spend the rest of the day off my feet since I won't be able to walk the rest of the day but hell with it, last week's run was AWESOME even if I couldn't walk later.

So, It was a good year for me and running.  PRs in the 5k, 10k, 13.1.  I can't complain.  Really, I could and you know I do, but it was a good year. Plantar Fasciitis might have me down right now but I know I will shake it- and it's just my heel- I have my overall health which is the most important.   So here's to a great 2012!

Injury update

So the last I left you, I could barely walk after my half marathon.  My legs were shot, my heel was not happy at all with me.  I woke up Monday after Sunday's race and had to hop around the house.  I had a Dr appt at 1 so only a few hours of not moving around.  Here's a video someone posted and it's so true.  Totally felt this way.

Dr appt took a grand total of 15 minutes, with most of it me waiting for him to come in the exam room.  I told him that I thought it was plantar fasciitis and everything I'd been doing and about my race the day before.  His wife had run the full and was feeling just as stiff and awful as I was.  He basically told me to stretch more and that if I wanted a prescription to physical therapy I could have one.  I decided I might as well try PT and see if it would help.  I go back in 6 weeks for a follow up, if PT and stretching don't help he said he'd give me a shot of cortisone.  I've heard that it's extremely painful shot to get (especially in the foot- and I'm not fond of needles anyways).  So here's to PT!

PT people had an opening that day.  Score!  My therapist did the usual measurements for my ankle and calves. I always knew I had tight calves but I never know how tight.  Basically a normal ankle should have about 15 degrees of flexibility.  Both of mine were at 0 degrees!  granted that was a day after my 1/2!  So, after all the measurements, etc.  I got ultrasound to improve blood flow, a nice heel massage and ice. 
Went back on Wednesday, got to do all sorts of stretching and strengthening exercises.  Got warm up on the exercise bike- felt pretty good to do some cardio.  More ultrasound and ice.  Left feeling better.  No longer walking with a limp.  Ended up going to the gym Weds night to ride the bike since its better than nothing. I did 7 miles but man, my butt hurts still! 

Today, I braved not taking any Aleve and felt ok.  Not 100% but as long as a I walked slowly- only a little pain, but if I walked how I normally do- with a misson!- it still hurts.  I'm still walking more on the outside of my foot, since it acts up if I pronate.

GRRR this resting concept is awful!  What have you done when you can't run?

Race Recap: Columbus 1/2 Marathon part 2- the race

Boom!  The cannon next to the State Capital goes off and we're off.  I was in corral B (for the 1:35-1:45 estimated finishers) which was pretty close to the start.  We took off with the fireworks going off, church bells tolling.  It was quite impressive.  I keep nervously looking up where the fireworks were going off, afraid of getting singed by the ashes. (I know they have professionals who make sure that doesn't happen but I need something to worry about), my foot started to remind me it was not 100% happy (even after 2 Aleve).
1/2 mile mark (never seen that before) Carrie and I were right on target 4 mins.  I was feeling great.  I love running in big crowds as long as I'm not having to change my pace to get past someone or slow down.
1 mile 8:04.  Still feeling awesome, foot not bad, Carrie was to quote "not in her happy place".  So we separated a bit, I assumed she was just right behind me.
Mile 2-7:44 feeling great, ran past some DJ playing Pitbull, nothing like Mr. 305 to keep me going.

Between mile 3 and 4

Mile 3- 7:44 again, starting to feel a bit winded, pretty fast 3 miles ( 23:33), we were in Bexley so I took off my arm warmers and prepared to start looking for my family which we had planned to be at the corner of Maryland and some other street. (probably should know it- but I don't).  Ok- there is a water stop with people on both sides of the street, tons of cups flying around, avoided getting splashed. (In my my mind, I wasn't planning a H2O stop there) anyways made my way over to the left side of the road so I could throw my stuff at the fam- nearly cut someone off- sorry about that!  Then I see my mother in law and Buster with my dh's best friend, zipped over and throw down my arm warmers and was off again!  I didn't even see Cub or dh!
Mile 4:  8:05 Oh, heel, I'm sorry, was I ignoring you?  I feel you now...only 9 miles left...  Nice big Golden Lab was tied up in front of a house was barking furiously at all the runners- I just assumed he was cheering us on in "Bark".  I'm sure he was saying "go runners go!"
Mile 5: 7:55 Honestly, couldn't tell you what I was thinking here...on autopilot.
Mile 6- 7:53 there was a guy with a microphone screaming, "you trained for this", "so did you" "no, you didn't train" It was funny, headed under in inflatable start line and mat.  Yay, tweetmytime.com should I have posted an update for my friends- which they did!  So cool.  Anyways, 10k in 49:06.  Not bad, considering my PR is 46:45.
Mile 7- 8:21 Feeling sluggish, heel is bugging me, not happy...oh, I have my Cliff shots- i should probably eat those now!  and note to self:  practice running and eating them next time. 
Mile 8-8:25 still trying to eat, drink water, only 5 to go, come on heel...

Mile 9- 8:12 I think this is were I saw dh and his bff, who actually go me me to look  and got to pose for a picture. Also around here, I was passed my one of my dailymile.com friends- TaraB.  She looked so strong and it was cool to have someone on the course to tell you that you're doing a good job! 
Mile 10-8:34  We headed in to German Village and the crowds were amazing.  I was feeling sluggish and I knew my foot was starting to literally be a pain.
Mile 11-8:58  2 more miles to go, I can do this, I've trained for this, I can do this, I hate plantar fasciitis, this sucks, I can do this, is that a huge pace group surrounding me and passing me, yup, I can do this, I wonder if I walk, if I'd be able to start up again?, probably not, must keep going...
Mile 12-9:15, only one more mile...I wonder how obviously I'm limping? my right side is getting tighter, calf slightly cramped up twice.  Where did this hill come from? Passed the start, getting closer to the end. 
Mile 13-9:05 ouch, ouch, ouch, must keep going, I've gone this far.  I can see the sign pointing the 1/2 milers to turn off.  I might have to hop in to the finish line, this hurts so bad...craaaap.Where the hell is the finish line?  At least its down hill, maybe I could just roll down the hill...

.1 53 sec.  Done!  I actually cried when I passed the line, 1 hr 49 mins.  shit- that still beat my conservative goal that I set myself this summer of 1:50.   My goal before getting hurt was 1 hr 45 so not too bad considering.  Got my metal, space blanket, water, goodie bag, saw dh and his bff on the other side of the fence.  I limped out to meet them.  Then I got a tweet from another friend on dailymile congratulating me on my time and pr!  Love Tweet my Time!  so cool! 

Had to hang on dh for support, since I could barely walk after I stopped moving.  Finally found Carrie, she was only 2 mins behind me!

What a race!  What a year!  Amazing what we've been able to do in a year. Last year this time we were running local 5ks only and our long runs were 5 miles.  I definitely want to do this race again.  The course was beautiful, the supporters were amazing and it's close by!

Now, time to heal the heel.  And for those of you who care, My dr told me to just rest and stretch and go to PT to get it fixed up.  So I will do that, since limping sucks. :-)

Race Recap: Columbus 1/2 Marathon part 1

Saturday my running buddy Carrie and I headed off to Columbus OH for the Nationwide Columbus Marathon and Half-marathon.  Not that it was too far of a drive, only an hour.  Managed to get in around 5 and go swing by the expo to pick up our packets.

They had little stalls for the bib numbers, which you just had to get in line for your bib, and then swing over and get your shirt.  For some reason, for the Half numbers 10,000-11,999 had a line that was about 300 people that winded its way through the expo.  All the other stalls were mostly empty...and guess what my number was?  10,840.  Crap, so we waited in line for awhile, people were getting out of line when they realized it was for the bibs not the shirts or they realized that their bib number was something else.  Eventually we got our bibs, then off to check out the expo.
  Maybe I got spoiled with the Air Force Marathon's expo, but I figured the Columbus marathon would be way better considering how many people run in it, but it was disappointing.  Not a lot there which was good on my wallet, at least.   We did like the One More Mile display.  I bought a shirt for my dh last month from them.  We had fun reading the shirts.   

Dinner of champions!

So after the expo, we decided that we'd stay in for dinner.  The idea of walking around Columbus with my heel reminding me that it hurt every (other) step (thank god for aleve) was not sounding appealing so Carrie brought spaghetti with her.  THE BEST IDEA EVER.  We warmed it up in the hotel restaurant and ate out in the lobby and people watched.   Some guy stopped to talk to us and told us the hotel restaurant had sold out of all pasta.  Score!

  Then we just chilled out in our room. One of my coworkers was running the full and is beast of a triathlete, came down and we just talked for a good hour.  She'd run Columbus a few times so I asked a zillion questions.  She gave me great pep talk helped me during the race.  Thanks Jenny!

Finally decided we should go to bed around 10:00.  Had the worst night of sleep possible...woken up by drunk, laughing people in the hall, dry heat in the room, potty breaks, finally it was 5:15 am.

Breakfast of banana and cliff bar and 1/2 cup of coffee, got out of the hotel around 6:30 and walked with the masses of runners the 3 blocks to the state capital.  I about threw up on the way.  I have a super sensitive nose when I'm nervous and we kept walking by Ginkgo trees- whose leaves smell like throw up when they've been step on. Anyways, coughing and gagging I finally got away from those damn trees.  So the first "mile" long portapotty line...decided to skip it and look for others.  We turned the corner and in a dark alley there was a whole bunch that no one had really discovered yet.  So, clean and no smelly porta potties are a good thing (especially if your nervous like me-see Gingko trees above)

We stretched (sort of) and listened to the band and waited before getting into our corrals.  My heel was feeling great.  Finally, we entered our corral, and waited to get started on the race.  Which I will post later...