9 weeks to go

Howdy! Well, we are 9 weeks away from RACE DAY. 62 Days. I'm getting ready, but like every summer training in Atlanta, it has not been easy. I've been running outside and also taking advantage of the treadmill. We are getting into the time that no matter if i start running at 5:30am or 7:30am or 9:00am, it doesn't matter. Still tough conditions to run in. It's very easy to get frustrated by this, but I cannot allow myself to go down that path. I KNOW what the conditions are like this time of year. Deal with it. There's no whining in RUNNING

Looking back at my Running Journal, I see that I basically averaged about 75 miles a MONTH from JANUARY to JUNE. It's July 24th and I am already a little above 100 miles...So I know I am doing something right. My longest run has only been 12 miles, and I gotta get that cranking. Tried to go for 14 this morning, but just could not hack it. Struggled through 9 miles. Legs have been super tired. Otherwise, I feel fine. (knock on wood) I feel like my aerobic capacity is strong, but with my tired legs and the weather, it puts a damper on what i'm able to do. To help with my legs, I came home after the 9 miler and had a 10 min Ice bath. I've done these before and they help. I rested for a good part of the day and then tonight ran another 5.5 miles on treadmill. Felt pretty good.

I think I'm gonna mix up my schedule this week and maybe just do 2 runs during week and try for long run on Saturday, not Sunday. I just want to make sure my runs are QUALITY. A solid 15-16 miles will boost my spirits. Massage tomorrow will help heal the tired places.

All in all, my spirits are ok. What lifts my spirits are reading the other posts on here from y'all. You remind me how hard it is to get out and run 2 miles. Believe me, I have been there. You make me remember and appreciate. You bring me joy by your courage, your enthusiasm, and simply by finding out more about you. THANK YOU.

And, as always....KEEP MOVIN'

ALEC: Rest

So, after my longest run to date (Saturday), I woke up on Sunday with my right ankle/inner calve in major pain. Limped around all day. I guess that twinge I felt on Saturday morning before the run and what I was feeling towards the end of the intervals was more than just a twinge. Yesterday we had plans to have a whole bunch of people over for a 4th of July BBQ and when I woke up my ankle/calve were even worse. I was not in the mood to host a party because I knew I would be on my feet all day and wondered why I was putting myself through this "running" thing in the first place. But as I was reading all the updates on the blog this morning, I know exactly why I am doing this...because I can!!! Everyone's courageous actions in getting ourselves out there one more day and one more step gives me the inspiration to keep going. I spoke with Angelina after she had done her unplanned run and we were talking about what this "running" thing is teaching me. It's not just about learning how to run a long distance, it's about learning how to know when to push myself and when NOT to push myself. Angelina knows this part of me so well. When we were playing rhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifacquet ball way back when, I was flying across the court trying to make sure I hit every ball and ended up ripping my left hip flexor. Not fun, believe me. But it was that same type of personal action that probably got me to why my ankle/calve is where it is today. I need to slow down and listen to my body and mind. I will rest my legs/feet until they feel better, even if it means missing some training days. And when I get back to running, I will take it slow and not push myself past the plan until I know that I am fully healed. I will not let this discourage me and will be at the starting line on September 25th. My lesson..."quit trying to show off"...LOL (j/k). Until my next run...

DL - I've posted the link to the 5K in San Mateo. Kris/Holly do you want to do it?

ALEC: Day 7 - Angst

Today is my longest training day, thus far. One hour. My legs are feeling stiff and sore. I was feeling angst (or anxt from the more modern dictionary) all day yesterday knowing that Saturday's are my longest training days and I wasn't sure if I could do it. I texted Angelina this morning to ask her for her advice as I'm not sure when to keep pushing or not because the last thing I want to do is injure myself and interrupt my training. Her advice was to give it a go and see how I feel. To take the time to warm-up and stretch. So, I will move forward today. I think I will run on the treadmill (even though it will be a beautiful 71 degrees in SF) so that I have a little more give as I pound the "mill". Will report back after the run.

Still need to get to the running store and get new shoes. I am wondering if that's why my legs are not doing so hot.

ALEC: Day 5 Training

So, I missed yesterday's training. After having felt like I had a good run on Saturday and that my legs felt like they were getting stronger and better, I woke up yesterday morning with a major pain in my right foot. I could tell that it was coming from my thighs and calves and kept stretching and rubbing my foot all day. I decided I better hold off on training until it felt better. Last night my left foot and legs started hurting. So, I did what any athlete would do...I ran for the Ben Gay...LOL. Luckily, I think it did the trick, as my feet and legs feel better today. So, today, I will run what I should have yesterday, which is 35 minutes. I'll be off the schedule of having two days rest (should have been today and tomorrow), but I think I'll be fine. I'm driving a friend up to Santa Rosa today to visit his mom and have decided to run at Howarth Park or Spring Lake. It's supposed to rain today (can you believe that) but the Bay Area weather is always so unpredictable that I figured I might as well train in the rain so that if for some strange, strange reason it decides to rain on September 25th, I'll know how to dress and what it feels like to run in the rain.

Double duty

It's easy to think I will get in a second run in the evening.
It's easy to get ready and get on the treadmill after running in the humid conditions in the morning.
It's easy to push the start button.

It's something entirely different to keep going and finish what I started.

Happy to have done so.

8 miles in AM
4.25 miles in PM
A good day

ALEC: Day Four Training

So, yesterday was my fourth day of training. 45 minutes of walk/run intervals (2/3). I woke up at 4:30 AM yesterday and my allergies were really bothering me. Didn't know if I would make the training or not. But by 10 AM I felt better and headed to the gym. My legs felt tight again, even though the day before they felt great. Wasn't sure how the run would go. But by the third interval, they felt okay and I was in my "groove". I mixed up the intervals:

1 - 4.5 mph
2 - 4.5 mph (2% incline)
3 - 5.0 mph
4 - 4.8 mph
5 - 4.8 mph
6 - 4.8 mph (2% incline)
7 - 5.0 mph
8 - 5.5 mph
9 - 4.5 mph

Total distance 3.21 miles in 45 minutes. Average min/mi - 14.01 (up 52 seconds from my second day of training).

My breathing seems to be getting better and my legs seem to be getting used to it. Overall, I say that I had a pretty good run. Thanks, Angelina, for putting this opportunity out there. Am enjoying the training, the commitment and pushing myself forward.

Sunday

530am wake up call. Sipping Peets coffee out of my DREAM coffee mug. House is still dark save the overhead light above the stove. Chirping birds and cars whooshing by in the distance are the morning sounds. The sky is slowing awakening as am I. My eyes are opening more and I am dreaming of being. of being better.

ALEC: Blind runner to run 100-Mile Marathon

Now, every time I want to stop, I will think of Simon.

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/06/blind-ultramarathon-updates/

So, today my legs and feet feel normal...it's been a couple weeks since they have felt this way due to my over lifting at the gym and then starting to train. I am hoping that this is a good sign that they are adjusting to running and the impact that I am putting on my knees and feet. Tomorrow is day 4 of training and consists of a 45 minutes walk/run (2/3) with the intent of covering over 3 miles.

I finally looked at K-Swiss shoes on the web today....boy, are they are expensive. So, due to the fact that I am conserving money right now until I start working again, I think I will rely on the good old, standard Asics, which is my current running shoes (but they need to be replaced). I have a Groupon to Lombardi Sports and they carry a lot of different Asics models. May do that later this afternoon.

ALEC: Day Three

So, today is day three of training. Same training as day two - 35 minutes of walk/run (2 min/3 min). Will be training at the gym, even though the weather will be nice today. There is a 30 minute workshop at Crunch today at noon that will be talking about keeping the knees strong and safe...it will focus on stretching and proper roller technique. So, my plan is to be training by 11:15 and then on to the workshop.

How I feel today:
Left knee isn't bothering me anymore, but now right knee and foot/ankle are. My calves are feeling really tight, which I'm sure is part of why the knee and foot/ankle are hurting. I plan to only run the planned time in my training today...no going over 35 minutes. I unexpectedly went dancing by myself the night of day two training (had the most awesome time), which I'm sure taxed my legs more than what I should have been doing (for those of you who know how I dance, I'm sure you can imagine the workout my legs got that day/night). So to keep my legs safe, I will stay within the recommended training time.

To do:
Still need to research K-swiss shoes. I also realized, after running in the outdoors, that I need some type of contraption that will hold a water bottle, keys, etc. Keys were bouncing all over in my pocket. I hate to see it, but I may be wearing a "fanny pack"...OMG, I never thought I would say that. Well, if I do end up wearing one, it will have to be stylish :)

ALEC: Second Day of Training

Well, after my first day of training using the 1/2 Marathon app, I decided I needed to up the training a little bit, as the 14 week plan seemed a little too easy for my current fitness level. That pushed me out an extra day, which is why there was no run yesterday. Today's training is a 35 minutes run/walk run. Eventually the plan gets me up to a 2 hour run/walk in week 12. I was going to go to the gym and run on the tread mill but then realized why would I want to run inside when it is 75 degrees here and I can run on the beach and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Pacific Ocean. So, that is where I am off to. Thanks to Mark's recommendation, I downloaded RunKeeper which tracks my activity stats and location and posts to Facebook. Look for that posting later on this afternoon.

How I Feel:
Feel okay today. My legs and feet seem to feel better than on Friday. We will see how I do in the heat. I know 75 degrees is nothing for some of you, but when you are used to mid-60's, I'm sure it will have some effect on my run. Will keep myself hydrated.

Things to do:
Still need to go to the running store and look at the K-Swiss shoes. Also, because of the heat today and running outside, I'm realizing that I will need to buy a bottle holder at some point.