Trying to Get Back to Respectable

Below freezing and slightly windy.  Wasn't a bad run just chilly.  My leg was bugging me again.  I put a hot wrap on it to try and get it to loosen up.  I will be spending some time tomorrow trying to stretch it out.

Ran it in 38:50.  Made sure I took it easy since it was an easy run.  I am trying to make sure EZ runs are done at a reasonable pace so that I don't get hurt.  My leg didn't hurt too bad, I know the pain is there but it wasn't to bad.

Ran in about 56:50, really trying to watch my pace.  My leg was bothering me during some of the run.  I think it is getting a little worse, probably need to spend some time stretching.  The pace was about 8:27.  This was a fartlek run, I ran 6- 30 second runs at ~6:40 pace.  I am starting to get used to the treadmill, but I really want my leg to start feeling better.

This was supposed to be a 5 miler but my leg was bothering me.  It was not just a little pain, it was starting to shoot and it was getting worse as I went on.  Since this is the beginning of the program I thought I should take it easy.

Held off on my long run to rest my leg.  Didn't want to have any more problems, I did stretch and I did ice today.

Decided one more day of rest may do the trick.  I iced in the evening and stretched in the morning.  Felt a little twinge when leaving work so I held off.  I will be giving it a try tomorrow.

Still feeling the twinge in the calf, stretched twice will ice tonight.  Lets see how it feels tomorrow.

Normally an off day or cross training so I decided to bike.  This didn't bother me, I stretched twice and iced at night.  Should be ready for a run tomorrow.

Once again didn't run, but I rode the bike.  There were times today where I felt it but it still is not terrible.  Stretched twice and iced.

Tried to get some mileage in, my leg is still bothering me.  I am using new shoes so I have more support now too.  Hopegully this clears up soon.  26:21

Felt better, by the end of the run I was starting to feel my calf some.  I ran 3 miles in 25:30, which is about what I should be doing for this training, just need to get the mileage back up.

Ran it in 40:54, felt good no real problems, guess the key is going to be stretching everyday and try to strengthen the problem areas.

Not to bad run, the treadmills were shutting off, so I ended up getting breaks.  Legs feel pretty good. 

Leg started to hurt again, 25:20.  I am going slow, but I am starting to have problems again.

Not to bad, my leg bothered me some but overall not too bad.  I have my pace down very well.

Didn't feel too bad.  My plantar facisis was irratating me some.  If it continues I may need to go out and get new insoles, unfortunately the shoes are new and have "special" insoles.

Ran from home today, the arch in my foot is starting to bug me with the one pair of shoes.  I am trying to watch my miles during the week so I can put in quality long runs on Saturday.

Going to need to play it about the same as last week, my leg was feeling a little off tonight but as long as I can stretch and watch my mileage I should be okay.

My foot was bothering me on this run, my left knee started to bug me as well.  I am taking off tomorrow, hopefully this will help it heal up.

Arch was really bugging me, I will try with these shoes on Saturday (off the treadmill) and see how it goes, if it goes like the treadmill I will be buying inserts for them.

Yesterday nothing was clean so I postponed my long run until today.  I felt good, finished it fairly quickly, and had no significant problems.  I think that the treadmill is causing my foot problems, hopefully I can make it through this training program and get my marathon done.

Ran on the treadmill and the foot felt okay for most of the run, by the end of the run it was starting to get tight.

Finished in 1:30.  Felt okay, through in a very large hill and after the hill it was hard but after a few miles I was able to pull it together.  Need to make sure I am increasing my during the week miles.

24:30, 5 x 1 minute speed ups.

1:38 which isn't too bad, threw in that hill again this week.  Feeling weak by the end of the run, think I need to start getting my miles up during the week, shouldn't be hard, the problem is that treadmill and how it hurts my foot when running on it.  I gotta figure something out though, I will start getting outside during the week now seeing as the sun is staying up just a little longer now.

1:46

2:09.  This week was a very very stressful week, add on the fear of running 16 miles after I was hurting so bad last weekend.  So here is the thing, I am starting to try and increase my 'during the week' long run in order to gain some more strength in my legs.  These long runs hurt and I am not sure if I have a reasonable enough base to get the marathon done.  The reason my runs during the week have been so short is because I am trying to avoid any injury.  The long run on the weekend makes my plantar hurt some but not enough to avoid the run or cut it short.  By the end of the run today I was getting knots in my right calf and my quads were burning.  I really need to get this marathon done because I don't want another eluding me.  I think if I can slow the long run down some I might be able to get through it easier.  I am really not sure what I need to do now that my base time really is gone.  My major goal now is to complete the marathon but the goal I think can be achieved is finishing in under 4:00 (which is completely possible seeing my time today). 

Besides the running, life is allright minus my work life which is absolutely miserable.

1:54.  Today was no ordinary run, there was intermittent rain and somewhere between 18-30 mph winds.  The first 6.5 miles was a little rough, the second 6.5 felt better but they ended up being a little slower, and the final mile was reasonable.  Running into the head winds did not help things but overall cannot complain about the run. 

51:17.  Beautiful day, 61 degrees.  I ended up pushing a little more then I needed to but it was well worth it.

2:35.36.  Time may look pretty good in relation to all of my other runs, but this was no average run.  This was pretty much the same run as the 16-miler but it did not feel the same at all.  My body did not want to handle this run at all, it started off at a reasonable pace but just got sore and tired and my brain did not want to focus.  I ended up walking about 4 times, almost every part of my legs that could hurt did.  I am beginning to think that a marathon will not be a smart idea for May, but I will try to continue training with a smiliar intensity and shoot for the half.  But we will need to see.

(Attitude after the run: defeated)

Wanted to try for 7 but the hamstring has been irratating me, that is why I took off yesterday.  Heating it and stretching it again tonight.  Just gotta keep stretching and listen to what the body is saying!

1:51, needed to have a fast long run according to the plan I am using.  Little bit of pain here and there nothing to bad, I think I will be good this week.  Felt strong for most of the run, much better then last week. (Attitude after this run: Hopeful) 

3:10.  Boy that was a long run today.  Most of the miles went smooth, about 20 my legs were getting to the point where I needed to walk just a little.  After hitting mile 21 my hip started to bother me and I needed to walk/run the last mile.  I still have hope for this marathon, just at a reasonable pace.  I am feeling like I am getting there and I am the closest I have ever been.  I actually felt better then when I did the 18 mile run. 

I am going to call it 11 today because it was a little short (10.8 or 10.9). Either way it was not the 18 it was supposed to be. Diaster is the word that would describe todays run. My hip started bothering me on my first 6 mile loop and then became almost unbareable the second 6 mile loop so I cut the loop short and quit. I know that quitting is not good but I think that it was in my best interest today, I did this to save myself any injury heading into next weekends 24 miler, with the marathon only 3 weekends away I need to make sure that I am healthy and when I get done over half of todays run I guess it isn't to bad. Disappointed to say the least, but I am getting so close to getting my first marathon I can taste it. I need to just stay healthy and I think in a month I will be able to say I did my first marathon. (Any suggestions on hip stretches would be great). The next 3 weeks hardcore stretching, I need to keep myself healthy.

This was supposed to be a 24 miler, but with having the whole week off, I could not handle and had to call it a day at 12.  This run felt very similar to that 18 miler a few weeks back when everything went wrong.  So everything felt tired and on top of that, my hip was irratating me some too.  I did not have many problems with my calf, so that was good.  Still have some hope for that marathon in 2 weeks, however if that doesnt happen, I have another 1/2 or full marathon in June that I will be prepared for.

Pretty good run, the hip and calf were a little problematic, but overall pretty good.  I think that I will be doing the half next weekend as I have been struggling during the week just to make sure I get my long run in on Saturdays.  Today I negative split and had a pretty good time for 10 miles (1:13.22  38:22 for the first five and 35:00 for the second five)  I think I am ready for a good half marathon next weekend.  I just wish I could stay injury free for a while so that I can get my marathon in, next attempt will be June 13th.  I am crossing my fingers.

Overall not a bad race, last year I ran the half in 1:34.  There are a few reasons I would imagine I had a worse time: 1.) I was training for the marathon 2.) This course was different from last year's race because the director had to change it due to construction in the area 3.) This year it was in May not in early April and 4.) The injury bug has been hitting me on and off during my training. 
There were a few things I would like to take away from the race: 1.) I was fully prepared to handle 13 miles at a reasonable pace 2.) If trained properly I would have had a much better time and 3.) I love half-marathons and once I get my first marathon under my belt I hope to get more half-marathons run.
I would have to say that I am pretty pleased with my run, and now I need to get on track with training for the marathon on June 13th.  I am going to shoot for 8:00 per mile pace or 8:15.  I just need to make sure that I get my self injury free.

Still feeling the half marathon, just going to ease back into the marathon training.  I am thinking that the 13th of June will be the day!

Starting to feel back to normal after the race this weekend but still a little slow and not much turn in my legs.  I think I will be ready for a 5 miler tomorrow.  Starting to think that I am ready for new shoes, feet have some blisters and I am pushing 400 miles.  They still feel pretty comfortable but I think maybe having some new shoes may fix some injury problems and get me ready for that marathon.  Overall, I think that I am getting on track and should be ready for that 14 miler this weekend.

Legs are almost back, I ended up with about 8:00 per mile pace.  However, I am a little tired tonight after the run.  Feeling like Saturday should be a good day.

Plantar was bugging me a bit.  Rest tomorrow then the 14 miler Saturday!

This was supposed to be 14 miles but my IT band was bothering me and since this was still the week following the race I don't feel awful I couldn't finish it.  Rough run hopefully next week is a little better.  (Getting new shoes today!!!!)

Had to run late today because I needed to take the puppy to the vet (and found out nothing was wrong, what a mess).  Tried out the new shoes today and they feel pretty good.  I believe that I need to focus on stretching my IT band from now on (along with my normal everyday stretching).  I had to take off yesterday because the IT band was bothering me and that really made me upset.  I just hope that I can get myself together to get the marathon in June run, if not I better start making new plans.

Had to do my run after bowling today.  Not that bad of an idea, really loved the new shoes on the road.  It was a little dark, and really cloudy but cool.  Ran a pretty quick 3rd mile which was quite refreshing.  Hoping that I can get all stretched out before Saturday's long run.

Finished this in 1:40.34 (8:08) pace.  Not to shabby, I am going to work off the Hal Higdon Intermediate plan for my longer runs, and I will try to either increase slightly or keep the same mileage during the week (all depending on how the body feels).  I am still hoping for the June 13th marathon, I am thinking that if I can get through the 20 miler next week I can get through the marathon and then I will register for it. 

After the run today it was quite the busy day.  I had to go food shopping then got the yard taken care of because it was such a beautiful day out.  I even got to plant my garden, which has a little less plants then last year but I am hopeful this year since I do not have to take summer classes.  What a great day!

Not a great run, but I did it.  Yesterday was a fast run, I had to fast, had a terrible eating day and then had bowling tonight.  The best part about the run was taking the puppy out with me.

Round two of the blog tonight:  I was hoping for that June 13th marathon but I went to check it tonight and it was full.  I really wanted to wait until after this weekends 20 miler.  My plans for the rest of the year were to run a few more half marathons and the warrior run.  Now I am not sure what I need to do, I checked a bunch of marathon calendars and they are either inconvenient or later in the year which would mess around with my other plans.  I am just not sure what I want to do yet.  This year I was planning on getting a 5k under 20:00, run a marathon, get a few half marathons, put down a good time in the run for the diamonds and have a good time with the Warrior Dash.  Guess I need to sleep on it and try to decide how to proceed (really didn't need any more crap this week). 

So I made the decision to run 2 5k's on June 5th and one on June 12th.  So today I started with the end of some plan I found on the net.  The next two weeks will be seeing lots and lots of speed.  Today I ran the 6.04 miles in 43:50 (7:15 pace).  So I imagine that a 5k should be a little faster, hoping that the speed workouts will help me get below 20:00 minutes in at least one of these 5k's.

Today was repeat hills, I warmed up with about a half mile, then did about 200 hills, then finished with a half mile cool down.  Helped the calf a little bit, so all in all a pretty good workout. 

The workout helped me get my head a little back together.  Today I spent much of the day thinking about how one decision can have such a huge impact on your life.  For the most part all of the decisions I have made make me feel good except for the whole what do you want to be when you grow up.  I used to tell people I wanted to be a bum because then I would not have to work and I really feel that would be an ideal occupation minus the fact I have bills to pay.  These bills unfortunately are quite necessary if I ever want to have a family (mortgage, school loans, etc..) I just feel like if I would have chosen some other degree or occupation I may in fact be happier.  Since I made the decision to be what I am, I sometimes wish I had the guts to open my own running store since I have some business sense.  The only problem is I have no confidence in myself to be successful and end up bringing in enough money to support my life.  While my life is not so full of expenditures I still buy things and have bills.  What a day!!!

Well today was 12x400's.  I ran the first 10 in between 1:28-1:30.  I ran the last two in 1:25 and 1:18 respectfully.  Leg bothered me yesterday so I took off and today it felt pretty good.  I more then likely will be taking a rest again tomorrow and then having a nice comfortable long run Saturday.  Temperatures here are high almost 90 or a few degrees higher.  Good thing I like warm weather, it is a shame I don't run as fast in warm weather. 

I think I decided to to get probably 4 5k's completed in June and get my miles up by the end of the month in hopes of having a pretty good time in that half marathon on August 22nd.  I am thinking that I want to get my body in great shape and also get myself injury free.  Time for some reading and researching on what I need to do to get completely injury free and in good shape.

Trail run.

Ran 8x400 today getting ready for my Saturday of 5'k's.  Ran the first in 1:33 (didnt feel good), then 1:28, 1:27, 1:26,1:25,1:24,1:23,1:18.  Overall, I am thinking that this could be a good race on Saturday morning.  If this weekend doesn't break the 20:00 mark I have the 2 weekends out of the next 3 to try for it.

Started off pretty good but got much harder.  I am glad that I am getting a chance to get some 5k's in but I am going to need to get back to longer runs so I can be ready for the half marathon in August.  Need to stay injury free though.

Saturday I did something I never did before, ran 2 5-k's.  The first 5-k was at 9am, JesVic 5-k and I ran it in 19:57 reaching my 2010 goal of being under 20:00 in a 5k.  Pretty easy course one reasonably sized hill but mostly flat and downhill.  I finished 18th overall out of 210.  Not to bad of a race and I am looking forward to doing it next year.

The second race was at 5pm so I had plenty of time to relax.  The sun however was out and the temperature was way up.  The course was definitely filled with rolling hills, and proved somewhat of a challenge.  I ended up finishing it in 20:11, good enough for a third place overall. 

I was pleased with both races and running two races in one day was actually easier then what I thought and I am glad to help two really good causes.  I would be interested in doing it again some time.

Today was 8x400 again.  Today I was a little sore still from the races but I ran better. 

1:30,1:30,1:26,1:25,1:23,1:21,1:20,1:15

This was better then last week, hopefully I am moving to a faster 5k this weekend then what I did this past weekend.  I am hoping for a nice 19:45 or so.  Feeling pretty good very little aches and pains.

Comfortable run today, weather was gorgeous and I felt pretty good.  Right leg is a little sore again but nothing I cannot control right now.  I am starting to wonder if I am missing something because I cannot get this right leg to get fully healed, if it isnt my lower calf it is my hip.  I need to do some research and determine what I can do to make it better, because more distance is coming in a few weeks.

Glad to have been out running again since the back injury.  I think I am better, unfortunately I have bowling again tomorrow night and am afraid my back will not make it through.

8x400's again, YAY!!!!!   1:34,1:29,1:27,1:26,1:24,1:22,1:22, and 1:17.  Not my best round of them, I understand that I am coming off a few not so great weeks but still not terribly satisfied.  I wish the second 1:22 was just a shade lower, I like lowering the time each time, I feel like it will help when it counts.  Overall, I am not feeling to bad, my plantar is starting to remind me it is there but not too bad.  I am starting to get a hankering for some long runs and some half-marathon training. 

Funny side note: I have had 3 people in the past 2 days ask me what 13.1 means since they see my car and it has one of those magnets on it.  Amusing since it has been on my car for over a month.

Had a pretty good race, would have loved to be under 20:00 min but there was a decent amount of hills and kinda long ones at that.  The description was 'mild' hills on the course but after all of my experiences these were a little more then mild hills for a 5k.  The other added fun was the 80 some degrees and high humidity.  Overall great to have run this and will run it next year, but on to half marathon training to get ready for the 22nd of August.

Start of half-marathon training!

7x400's this morning.   1:30,1:25,1:22,1:23,1:20,1:19,1:18.  Not to bad for a morning run in colder weather then usual.  Pretty happy with the results.

Today was a very hot run.  I got slower mile by mile, it was close if not 100 out there today and tomorrow is supposed to be just as bad.  Running felt good the heat just didn't.  But I love summer so I am not going to complain I am glad that it isn't winter.

This was supposed to be a tempo run, since the night was screwed up I did the run like a tempo run but on a hill course so I did it in about 39:33 (20 out and 19:33 back).  I am pretty pleased, wish I would have been on flat ground to see if it did what I was supposed to do, but oh well.  Also, the heat was somewhat of a factor, the high was in the high 90's.  I did the run at 7:15 so it cooled off some but it was still very warm.

EZ run tonight and boy did I take it easy.  I ended up doing it in 8:45 per mile pace.  Once again it was hot, I had to eat dinner before the run and it was a little later then normal.  Glad that I was out of the sweltering heat though.

This was a 10k race that wasn't actually a race.  I ran it in 43:30, which translates to 7:00 per mile pace.  I am happy and I hope that times like that will happen when it comes to half-marathon time.

Today was an okay run.  I ran decent pace for the first two miles, felt like I got much slower and ended decently.  I am feeling okay, not to many aches and pains so I cannot complain.

These were 8x400's.  I ran them on the treadmill as the track is closed off now due to renovations.  I remember why I hate running on the treadmill now.  These weren't too bad but slower then when I run on the track as I was having a hard time trying to convert the mile time into 400 time (brain fart).  I know that I ran the last one at 1:15 but once again on the treadmill I don't always trust what it says.  Oy!  At least I had an awesome night bowling!!!

Pretty fast run today even though I didn't need to do that.  I enjoyed the pace but probably should have taken it a little easier.

Moved Saturdays run to Sunday and I am going to move Sunday's run to Monday if my foot isn't bothering me.  Today something pinched in my arch and I don't know what it is.

Wanted to do 10 but my plantar was bothering me again.  I need to find a way to get rid of this thing.

Decent race, didn't think I would do well but I did surprisingly well.  My plantar facitis is acting up some again but didn't bother me during the race.  We will see what happens.

Not to bad of a run.  I tied my shoes tighter and it seemed to help for some of the run.  I am trying to get this PF to go away.  It will sooner or later.

Today was 9x400.  I had to run it on the treadmill again, I set it at 1:20 for the first 8 and then about 1:17 for the last one.  My foot was feeling better today so that is a plus.  Now I just need to keep the stretching going and hopefully it will work it out.

I ran this in 1:16.54 which is 7:39 pace.  I felt pretty good, there were a couple tight things and my PF was irritated for part of the run.  I pushed through and it feels okay now.  I am just glad that I can still run longer distances since I have been doing shorter things and have not been doing many long runs.  I really turned on the power the last 4 miles, I wanted to see what I could do.  Today was supposed to be a 15k race but I haven't done a long run so I chose a long run with a nice pick up at the end.

Back to the running.  I felt pretty good, I have football tomorrow hopefully it won't do anymore damage.  The hamstring is feeling much stronger now that I took enough weeks off.  I am feeling like I will be ready for the Warrior Dash in September just gotta string a couple good weeks together.

Back to it I hope.  Leg is as close as it can be, I think.  The ribs are hurting but I am going to try to push through it, I need to feel like a champ finally since I have been a total bum.  I need to get back in shape and quick. 

Felt pretty good, run the 3 miles at about 8:05 pace.  I didn't feel like I was pushing too hard and everything felt decent.  I just hope that it keeps up like this.

Felt pretty good.  Did it in about 8:10 per mile pace.  I think that I need to continue to do yoga to get stretched appropriately so I dont have the problems with my plantar faciitis.

Today was the first time I ran in a bunch of weeks, so to run a race it was quite a stretch.  My hamstring began to ache mile 4 and then hurt 6-9.  I am feeling great now a few hours after the race and I believe I am ready to get back to training.  Up next maybe a Halloween 5k but more importantly the Run for the Diamonds on Thanksgiving (another 9 miler but a few mile hill with a very steep incline).  Last year I ran that in 1:04 and I hope to match or beat that this year.  Getting back to today, I am thrilled that I was able to run a great time for a gimp hamstring.  My teammates (my sister-in-law and her friend) were amazing in their legs to keep us high in the standings (15 out of 53).  Fantastic course and I would reccommend to anyone, Runner's World had high marks on it.

Had football last night and aggravated my hamstring again but I wanted to get a run in.  I don't think I hurt it anymore but it was painful to get through.  I only have one more week of football (good thing) and then I will be able to get rid of this nagging problem. 

Leg is still a little wobbly and I still feel like my gimp leg is dragging behind a little, but I am getting my miles in.  I am hoping to get a long run in Saturday, that would make me quite happy.  We will see though.

The hamstring only wanted to give me a five mile limit today.  Thats okay, I am working everything back up, felt my plantar a little towards the end but overall nothing to be concerned about.  Glad that the hamstring only gave me 5 as I had to come home and try to make the dog flea free.  I think she may be for now but I will need to get the house flea free soon.  Can't do it today because I have to go to some wedding.  I truly do not enjoy weddings.  Oh well.  I think maybe off tomorrow to give my hammy a break, probably be on the stationary bike again.