Christi

Yuck.. so after not running for 1 week and 2 days due to a pulled calf muscle I tried running on the mill today. Started out with a .75 walk then stretched really well-then bumped it up to a 10 minute pace for a mile or two-my calf was still tight-stretched some more. At the height of my run I ran between 8-8:30 pace for about a mile with stretching in between. Calf not terrible-but could definitely feel the tightness and the spot where it was pulled last week-not wanting to re-pull it-I kept it easy and didn't push it. (I don't think I could've gone faster without reinjuring it). I am bummed that it is still so injured and bummed that I am supposed to run a marathon in 5 weeks from Saturday! Yikes! I  am so sad bc training has been going really well until now. I am just going to RICE and take it easy so I can still run it...hopefully I can be back training full force real soon. My plan was to run under 3 hrs-but that wont happen if I cant train!!! arrrgh

Did 3.5 easy outside today. Walked for .5 to get my leg loosened up. Then did a slow mile. stretched it out. came inside and ran 1.5 on the mill at an easy 9 minute pace. Calf was still pretty stiff and hard to loosen-but it did feel better than 2 days ago. 

Ran 6.75 on the mill today-we are making progress!! Walked .75 to loosen it up. Then stretched and started running at a slow 10 minute pace and eased into a nine minute pace for a while. Then I started picking it up slowly-8:30 pace for a while then 8:00 pace.  Ran one mile at 7:30 pace, then one mile at 7:15 pace. yeah! Calf was feeling a little sore-but much better than yesterday. It seemed to loosen up and feel better about 3-4 miles into the run. Anyway once I hit about 6 miles it started acting up a little bit again so I ran to 6.25 and then walked .5 to cool down. I am definitely making progress and it definitely felt better than yesterday. Hopefully by the middle of next week I can start doing more speed again and hopefully by next Saturday I can do a long run. Marathon is 5 weeks from today!! I think if (not if when )I do the marathon I will only taper the last week or so. I am trying to think positive thoughts.....