Fashion Faux Pas!

Clearly I need a fashion makeover for running at night and cold weather! Charity is accepted! I look so ridiculous there's no chance of being dragged into a molester van!

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Runnin Against the Wind

This is how I felt during my run the other day with 18 mph headwinds! Im glad to see these little ducklings survived!

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Advice Wanted

I decided to post my running schedule for the rest of my training until the half marathon. I was hoping my friends who are runners could help suggest whether or not this is a good plan. I have my long runs set up on my days off and short runs on my much hated day shifts. I also have three days of rest scheduled before the day of the race. Let me know what you think!

Feb 19 - 4 mi
Feb 20 - REST
Feb 21 - 7 mi

Feb 22 - 2 mi
Feb 23 - REST
Feb 24 - 6 hard
Feb 25 - 2 mi
Feb 26 - 3 mi
Feb 27 - REST
Feb 28 - 9 mi

Mar 1 - 2 mi
Mar 2 - REST
Mar 3 - 7 hard
Mar 4 - 2 mi
Mar 5 - 4 mi
Mar 6 - REST
Mar 7 - 10 mi

Mar 8 - 3 mi
Mar 9 - REST
Mar 10 - 7 hard
Mar 11 - 3 mi
Mar 12 - 5 mi
Mar 13 - REST
Mar 14 - 11 mi

Mar 15 - 3 mi
Mar 16 - REST
Mar 17 - 6 mi
Mar 18 - 2 mi
Mar 19 - 3 mi
Mar 20 - REST
Mar 21 - 9 mi

Mar 22 - 2 mi
Mar 23 - REST
Mar 24 - 7 hard
Mar 25 - 2 mi
Mar 26 - 4 mi
Mar 27 - REST
Mar 28 - 10 mi

Mar 29 - 3 mi
Mar 30 - REST
Mar 31 - 7 hard
Apr 1 - 3 mi
Apr 2 - 5 mi
Apr 3 - REST
Apr 4 - 12 mi

Apr 5 - 3 mi
Apr 6 - REST
Apr 7 - 6 mi
Apr 8 - 2 mi
Apr 9 - 3 mi
Apr 10 - REST
Apr 11 - 9 mi

Apr 12 - 2 mi
Apr 13 - REST
Apr 14 - REST
Apr 15 - REST
Apr 16 - RACE DAY

I recieved this training from a Lieutenant at my department. He has run many, many marathons and suggested this 3-week rotational schedule. Fingers crossed, it will have me ready for my race in time. I am a little concerned in the fact that I don't have a 13.1 mi run scheduled, mainly because it's down to the wire now and based on the schedule, that distance would be the following week. I am hoping that the excitement and atmosphere of the race will carry me through.

Any advice is appreciated and welcomed!

Thanks!
Charli

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The "Octopus" Run!

Last night after day shift, I went directly home and went for my long run.  I was thinking about it all day long and was actually pretty nervous for it.  I was mostly nervous because I was afraid my knees wouldn't hold up or that I would have to call my roomate half-way out and have to get a ride home.

I projected a running time of 100 minutes for my 8-mile run (hence, the name "Octopus" run.  Eight for the 8 legs/miles and "pus" for not being a "pus").  I figured I would have to walk a bit and maybe stop to stretch, etc.  I was surprised to see that I finished it in 91 minutes, 9 minutes short of my projected time.  I would really like to shave more time off the 91 minutes, but for my longest run so far, I really can't complain. 

My knees held up alright.  I say "alright" because they definitely got tighter 3 miles into the run.  The pain and tightness pretty much stayed consistent throughout the run and by the end, I really didn't feel any pain at all.  I drank some Recoverite after my stretching and iced the knees, too.  It seemed the most fatigued part of my body was my lower back.  I have tried to improve my posture, which I hoped, in turn, would help the knees, but by the end of the run, all I wanted to do was hunch over and give my back a rest.  Only a little bit of knee soreness after the run.  Tonight, I am scheduled for a short 2-miler, which I'll do after work. 

Tomorrow is a rest day and then Friday, I have a 6-miler planned.  I think the following week I have another long run in store for me, somewhere around 9 miles.  I'll definitely need some luck for that one!

I'm stayin' strong and keeping positive!

Reality CHECK!

Well, it's under 9 weeks until my half-marathon and I am really feeling stressed.  I really feel like I lost an entire month and a half due to over-training and knee pain, but I feel like I'm finally back on track.

Work has been overwhelming lately and I've been working incredible amounts of overtime.  It's been hard to fit in my training, but I have managed to stick by it and still haven't missed a day since I started on Thanksgiving.  On Superbowl Sunday, I was feeling pretty hung-over and said that I was going to skip my workout to give my knees a rest (lousy excuse, or is it?).  I got into my PJs and got in bed at 2100 hrs.  I just laid there and stewed.  I tried reading a book to relax and fall asleep, but my guilty conscious weighed on me. I couldn't help but think that my half-marathon was so close and I felt like I had made ZERO progress.  I got my butt out of bed and headed to the gym.  I felt like I had a lot of friends supporting my goals and me, but I also felt like I had asked a lot of friends for training advice and knee advice, but never heard back from any.  I was at a point of total frustration.

I went to the women's locker room, feeling completely down and out, and saw a heavy set woman, probably in her mid-forties sitting on the bench, staring into the mirror.  She probably weighed 260-280 lbs.  I had just heard her conversation with another stranger regarding soft-drinks and how hard it was for her to cut them out of her diet.  I couldn't tell if the stare into the mirror was a look of passive courage, or one of despair.  Sadly, it looked more like one of despair.  I wanted so hard to tell her that she was doing great and that we all have our own obstacles.  No matter how skinny, or how fit your are, it seems like we're just never happy.  What's the good in that?  Why can't we just find satisfaction just in the simple fact that we are out there trying our best.  This was a reality check for me.  I hit the treadmill and put it at a 1% incline.  I ran 6.7 miles, the equivalent of a quarter marathon, the equivalent of a "half" half-marathon.  I suddenly felt more positive. 

Thanks to Stefhan, Liz Jaquez and Nancy Lin who have really jumped in and supported me fully.  Stefhan has looked around for awesome orthopedic doctors and researched my knee problems.  Nancy is always positive and upbeat and helped with some training advice.  Liz has proven to be an avid follower of my blog and even sent me an email informing me of some awesome new tights, which is the topic of my next paragraph.

Liz pointed out to me the CW-X Stabilyx tights.  I ordered them from backcountry.com for $100 and they arrived the next day (today).  I tried them out today on a 6 miler outside around the neighborhood.  I have to say, I was thrilled with the results.  I definitely noticed next to no knee pain in my left knee.  My right knee was a little tight, but the tightness didn't come on until mile 4.  I believe I can attribute this to the new tights.  Google them and check them out, I really think they were worth their money already.

Well that's enough for now.  I don't want to bore you entirely.  I'll let you know how it goes as the countdown to the HALF-MARATHON BEGINS!!!