Good Newsish...

Today was supposed to be my 2nd 20 miler but I biked 37 miles instead, because of my ankle. I don't really know what an equivalent workout on a bike is...Any help would be appreciated. That's not the good news though...When I saw my Dr. last week, (who actually ended up being the PA,) he told me that if the radiology department saw anything else on my X-rays he'd give me a call...Well, low and behold, I received a telephone call yesterday from good ol' Dr. Frampton and he said they noticed "agitation and trauma" on my bone. I don't really know what that means, but he said since he knew I really wanted to run this race, he'd okay me to see the podiatrist and they'd run more tests. (I go to my husband's University's health center, so they have a different chain of command than your average doctor's office.) So, the good news in all of this, is that I'll get a better answer about what's going on, and will hopefully be able to still run my race. (My new appointment is on Monday.) Thanks to you all for your advice about cross training...It remotivated me to get out the door.

I'm injured...

Don't feel like blogging about it because I'm pretty upset still...but I'm not counting myself out of the race yet...I have to rest for a few weeks(?) per doc's request...I'm thinking it was possibly caused by my stupid new shoes...He thinks it's a stress fracture he can't see yet or a weird case of shin splints near my ankle...what?!?! At any rate, the pain I complained about above my ankles in my last post has become so unbearable in my right ankle that I limp when I run. (It doesn't really bother me when I walk or bike though, so I've been biking.) Anyways, as my running bloggy friends I know you are all nice people...but don't give me any pity comments please because I don't want them...Just thought I'd account for why I'm missing in action. Hope you're all staying injury free!

Best of Times...Worst of Times...

This week I missed 1 and a 1/2 runs which was super lame. The first one was just because I was still SUPER tired from my 20 miler last Saturday. The second one had to be cut short and I couldn't make it up because I was running at night. (Had to go home to watch my son so the esposo could leave.) My legs were also really heavy this week from my 20 miler and I've had pains above my ankles...I have no idea what that means. They don't hurt right now though. On a positive note, yesterday I was supposed to run 16 miles with 12 at marathon pace and I averaged an 8:10 mile for the 12. I wanted to run faster than an 8:20 pace and I succeeded in that and didn't feel like I was overly exerting myself, (except for maybe the last 2 miles.) This week I'm hoping to stick to my schedule and find more motivation. I really had to convince myself to do my runs last week. Maybe I underestimated how much 20 miles would take out of me. Glad my schedule is still pretty easy this week.

First 20 miler, 10 miler with 6 LT miles, and Runningcompanyshoes.com

I was supposed to log 54 miles this week and I fulfilled that goal. Holla! I felt accomplished, because not only did I do my first 20 miler, but I ran 1 mile less this week than where my schedule peaks. That means it's not a stretch to accomplish any of my workouts from here on out. This was also my 8th week of training. Just 10 more to go!

On Thursday I did a 10 mile run with 6 miles at lactate threshold pace. I accidentally ran 11 and did the 6 LT miles at an average 7:54 pace. That's a little slower than I've been running that. My body wasn't really tired but I kept having to remind my head to stay in it for some reason...It's amazing how much of running is mental.

Today I ran my first 20 miler. I think the 18, (probably more like 19,) miles I ran last week, really gave me confidence for this week. I didn't time myself last week and I ran on a bike trail in CA, so the circumstances were different for several reasons. I knew I ran slow last week, so my goal this week was to stay within 45 seconds of my marathon goal pace, (8:20.) Realistically, I know that I'm probably not going to run at that pace on my first marathon, but that's close to what my half marathon times translated to on the McMillan Running Calculator so I just went with it. (Yes, I know that the calculator is usually off, but I had to set some sort of time goal to base my training runs on.)

The following is how my 20 miler broke down today:

I decided to run 5 miles 4 times on a treadmill. I chose to run the 20 miler on the 'mill today because 1) I'm lame, 2) I caught a cold again at Disneyworld...(the esposo's whole family got one, and the last thing I want to do is get sick again like I was before,) 3)I find reasons to not run in the snow, (just see reason #1), and 4) It's easy to see how fast I'm going.

The first 5 miles I ran at an average 9:05 pace and the second 5 miles I ran at an average 8:57 pace. After mile 10 I went to the bathroom and filled up my 20 oz. water bottle again. The 3rd set of 5 miles I ran at a 8:57 pace again, and the last set of 5 miles I ran at a 8:49 pace, with the last mile at an 8:41 pace. Miles 16, 18, and 20, I also ran at a 1.0 incline, just to spice things up.

Besides when I went to the bathroom, there wasn't a lot of time in between my sets. I decided to restart the treadmill every 5 miles because it times out after an hour of running and I didn't want to have to count from wherever I ended. I'm curious to know how much running on a treadmill and having to stop will effect my performance on race day. I also wish I could figure out how to not go to the bathroom on long runs.

My long runs are making it apparent that I need to learn how to fuel properly. I drank 20 oz. of Gatorade, 20 oz. of water, and 1.5 GUs. (I know I should be fueling more.) This is something I'm going to work on...I've now tried a variety of gels and shot blocks and they all make me want to puke. My favorite thus far have been the Hammer gels, so I think I'm going to buy those again this week.

One more thing, Maureen from RUNNINGCOMPANYSHOES.COM contacted me after she read my lament on my blog about not being able to afford new Waverider 12's. Although, I still can't afford another pair of shoes right now, (I only get shoes for Christmas and my birthday,) I looked at her website and she has the new Waverider 13's for $80.95. That's a FREAKIN' STEAL! I wish I would have found her website before Christmas. Anyways, check her website out and see if your favorite shoes are in stock! I know I'm going there when I can afford a pair.

It's Official! Signed up for the LA Marathon!

I waited for awhile to sign up for the LA Marathon because the price was steep. 125 dollars? Really? Well, I'm proud to say I'm lucky bib number 15,006...There's no going back now! I'm super excited about the course because it starts at Dodger Stadium and ends at Santa Monica pier. There's also supposed to be a landmark every mile...I can't wait! Take a gander at the course video below:



Looks fun doesn't it?

My 3 Running Related Christmas Gifts

1. Mizuno Elixir 4- I asked for these shoes for Christmas, probably against my better judgement, because I had never tried them on. I've run in Mizuno Waverider 12's for a long time and LOVE them, but my cheap source for running shoes was out of them when Santa went to get them. The Elixir's are in the same performance/training class as the Waveriders and are suggested for normal pronators on Runner's World. These shoes aren't actually that bad but they have less support than the Waveriders and seem more like performance shoes than training shoes. On a positive note, they are super light, but as I mentioned, my Waveriders are WAY more supportive and I like that for training. I'm going to live with these Elixirs though, because I can't afford another pair of shoes. I'm thinking I'm gonna rotate my shoes with way too many miles on them for shorter runs. (I know I shouldn't do that, but I'm living with what I've got and doing what I can.)

2. Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Waterbottle- I first saw this water bottle at a local running store and when I picked it up I knew I had to have it. It's ergonomically designed to make it easy to grasp while running and holds 20 oz. of water. It also easily hold my skinny phone and fuel, by the way, which I LOVE. I already have a Nathan fuelbelt, but having something around my waste irritates me sometimes while running. (I used both the water bottle and the fuel belt during my 18 mile run last week, however, and neither bothered me, but I felt a little weighed down with water.) Another great thing about the hand held is that when I run at the gym, the water no longer goes up my nose when I don't stop and take a sip. LOVE THAT!:) Anyways, I'm trying to decide whether I'm going to run with a water bottle in LA. I'm thinking no, but if I do, I'm gonna use my water bottle, not my fuel belt.

3. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman- Mark Bittman has been profiled in Runner's World because he's a runner and I loved his recipes there. I also read his book Food Matters and agreed with his simple and natural philosophy on eating. So far, I've made two recipes from How to Cook Everything and they've received rave reviews from the esposo.

Anyways, I love reading about what people think of running gear on other blogs, so I thought I'd give my two cents on these items.

So far, this week has gone as planned running wise and I have a 11 miler with LT miles scheduled for today. I also started my 100 pushups goal with a plan found here. HAPPY RUNNING!

2010 Goals

I've loved reading everyone's goals for the new year in running bloggyland so I thought I'd add mine to the mix. I was inspired by Tal Mom's and Aaron's very thorough goal lists...I'm not quite the high achiever I guess because I've decided on only 3 athletic goals for the year...They are as follows:


1. Run the LA Marathon
2. Run a sub 1.40 half marathon
3. Do 100 push-ups

These 3 goals seem attainable with the other life goals that I've been thinking about. I received a few running related items for Christmas that I'll blog about later this week. Tomorrow I have a 7 mile run scheduled with 6X100 strides. I have to admit, I enjoy doing lactate threshold miles much more than I do strides...But, I plan on trying to run my scheduled week to a "T" this week. (I haven't exactly done that the last few weeks because of traveling. I'm supposed to run 54 miles this week and I hope I can do that. My body feels fine since my 18 miler 2 days ago though. Although I was feeling knee pains yesterday that I don't usually feel,I'm thinking the glass is half full this week!

I'm back...

I just got back from 2 weeks in Florida and California. I ran my first 18+ miler yesterday. I scaled 2 fences, popped a squat to go #1 in a field, was screamed at by an old guy who stopped me to ask me if I wanted to be his running partner...(I think I figured out he was yelling because I had my earbuds in and he thought I was still listening to my IPOD...) Anyways, I survived the run and it built confidence for running a full marathon. I didn't get all the miles in I was hoping to the last few weeks, but this week I'll definitely be back in business! Happy New Year.