Running in the Rockies

[I never had time to post my run on Tuesday.] Kept it closesr to 2 miles per Sasha's recommendation. But I still think I want to run one more practice 5K before the race on Saturday.

I finally went back to that initial chiropractor who took x-rays of my hips. I wish he hadn't ever said anything in the first place because he scared me quite a bit and was actually wrong in his initial assessment. He initially said my hip looked like it was "wearing down". But on Monday, when we actually went over them, he said that they look fine, but that I need to take it easy. He thought I'd been running all my life, but I told him I'm just beginning and was never even in sports in high school. So, any wear and tear is just because of life; not from 2 months of running!!! I have some curvature in my back, and my hips and knees have had to compensate throughout my life. Anyway, the long and the short of it is - don't take medical advice from a chiropractor!

I have a friend who's an avid runner and also a Physician's Assistant. When I was explaining my hip problem, she said that it sounds like my IT band. (I think this is what Heber said that it was too.) She recommended Yoga. In fact, she said if it wasn't for Yoga, she probably wouldn't be able to run at all. And she's done Boston in 3:33. So, I'm going to keep running, try to squeeze in Yoga somehow, and see an orthopoedist (just in case).

Took a different route - less hills and all sidewalk. (I usually take a trail that's a little hilly.) It was a beautifiul Autumn morning!!!!

I need to remember to take my knee brace tomorrow and difinitely to the race on Saturday too because my knee keeps trying to flare up and slow me down. Hip felt great.

Last practice 5K before my race . . . Ummm . . . Blast. For some reason this whole morning, I've been thinking that today is Thursday and that I have tomorrow to take it easy. It wasn't until just now that I realized that TODAY is Friday. Oops. ha, ha, ha. What an idiot. Oh well. It's only a benchmark 5K anyway. In fact, I probably shouldn't have even signed up for it this early on in my training. Sasha is quite right about my distancce - I feel great for the first 2 miles and then I struggle with my silly knees the last mile. So after this race, I'm going to stick to 2 miles for 3-4 weeks. I'm not really sorry that I'm racing, though - I needed something to motivate me and make me excited about running. I just feel a little dumb today that I botched my prep. Oh well. Can't undo it; the accomplishment tomorrow will not be in my finishing time, but in my finishing!

BTW, I have an Orthopedist appt next Tuesday.

My first race!!!! Where to begin. . .

Well, all day yesterday I worried that I was going to hurt myself if I ran the race today since I wasn't thinking and ran 3 miles that morning. I called my brother, Heber, and he recommended that I massage my legs to help them recovery quicker; and if I still didn't feel good, that it wasn't a bad cause to simply donate the $20 registration fee to (hee, hee). Actually, I had already thought of that; and this morning when I woke up and my legs felt a little sore, I thought about it again. But, I didn't think that I was feeling sore enough to really skip my very first race. So, I got ready and headed out the door.

It was a 5K run or a 3K walk for the Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers Memorial. The weather, though chilly in the low 50's while waiting around, was great for running and there was no breeze. It was a flatter course than I've ever run in my practice runs, so that was very helpful! I didn't take my Garmin, so I wouldn't be distracted by how much farther I had to go. This was good for that reason, but also bad because I'm not really sure what my correct finishing time was! When I came in, I saw the clock say 36:37, but on the unofficial report, I came in at 35:55. I'd love to claim the faster time, but I think the 36 is more accurate. And even at 36:37, it's over 4 minutes faster than any of my practice runs. My knee only hurt for about 15 seconds a little after the first mile, and then it didn't bother me at all! My hips felt great too! And I cranked up my iPod, so I didn't even pay attention to my heavy breathing (which was quite distracting, actually, when I could hear it in between each song - ha!)

I was able to run almost the entire time, which was amazing for me!!! I only walked about 4 times, and only for a short distance. I don't know my splits since I didn't have my watch, but I felt great the whole time! I told my husband that he did such a great job massaging my legs, that he saved me from a potentially horrible race!!! Plus, he might be stuck doing it next time!!! ;o)

The best part of raccing was the distraction of having other runners around me and coming in at the finish line to a smiling husband and my 3 girls!!! Overall, I am very happy with my first race. I was able to run without hurting, enjoy the moment, and come in at a time that I was secretly hoping for (anything around 36 mnutes was my hope, but I would've been content with anything faster than 40:00 which is what I was doing in my practice runs).

Yeah!!!!