The curse of the frozen veggies

What a terrible run. It should have been great, the weather was unseasonable for December, we even had our windows open today. But my legs hurt like hell only 1.5 miles in, and I was terribly slow to boot. I'm not sure if it was the foam rolling yesterday or the compression socks today; both are supposed to help with shin splints, and here I sit with frozen veggies on my legs again :(

I guess this is why people keep training logs - I need more information. If I foam roll again and don't wear the socks, will it get better? Or vice versa? Or how about I just keep running....I know shin splints is a disease of newbies who do too much too fast, but I really thought I was taking it at a "smart" pace, taking walk breaks like Mr. Galloway says, and backing off the mileage because I'd been down for awhile. Oh well, I don't think they're full-on shin splints yet, and by now, I know what to do about them, I guess. Still frustrating.

Race for the Cure

I finally decided to do a 5K first, then a 10K, then a half. I think I want to give my body the benefit of a solid running base before attempting to push it for the longer mileage training programs. I feel more comfortable with this. I know I will get to doing those races, because I still want to do them in my heart. I just don't want to overdo it, then end p with an injury before I've really gotten going. So I am going to run the Race for the Cure 5K at the end of September. I've also joined a local running store's training program, and had my first training run today. I've never run with a group before, and it was a great experience. I found when I fell into sync with a girl who was slightly faster than me, I picked up my pace for the last half of the run. I also picked up some good tips about form and preventing injury from the coaches. I think this will be very beneficial, and I'm really excited about it! BTW - first really great run I've had in a long time, maybe something to do with getting out early enough so that it hadn't gotten too hot yet!

On the road again

So there were board exams. Then we went back to Wisconsin, and my grand plans of daily runs were thwarted by horseflies. (This sounds like excuses, but it's not, really. The only way I could get out of my mother-in-law's property was to run down a half-mile-long driveway surrounded by forest, and get eaten by horsefiles. I'm just not that hardcore. Sorry.)

Yesterday, it was finally cool enough to have an enjoyable run and it felt SO GOOD! I took it easy on myself, and went back to week 3 of the couch-to-5K plan, because I know I won't hurt myself that way. I could also just listen to my body and figure out when I need to sneak a walk break in there, but it was nice to let go for a bit and just listen to the little voice in my ipod instead. I can tell I've lost a bit, but I know I'll get it back with regular training.

What this means is that I won't be doing the Nike Women's Event. That's ok. Right now I'm vacillating between training on my own, at my own pace and signing up for a 5K, then a 10K, then thinking about a half marathon, versus joining a TIT group to train for one of their winter events. (Probably a half marathon. I want to do a full marathon at some point, but I don't want to push my body too too hard unless I have a good base). I think I will go to a preview party next week to see how I feel about it. The coaching and the team aspect appeal to me, as does the cause, I am still a little wary of the commitment-with-a-C, money and time-wise.

On the fence

I had a very nice, easy 2 mile run this morning. I still haven't committed to the Nike Women's Marathon (or half) through TIT. Part of me thinks I can't or won't do it. But I know I'm just scared to commit to something so different than anything else I've ever done before. I know I'd do the half, that's more reasonable with the amount of training time that's left. I need to decide this weekend. Also, my physics and radiobiology board exams are this coming Thursday, so you know, this is exactly what I need to be thinking about (insert sarcasm here). Sigh.




But I know I'll kick myself if I don't at least try. In my gut I know I want to.

Disheartening First Runs

My first two training runs have been less than inspired. I ran three miles on Monday night, after dinner. I ran after eating a cheeseburger; I should have known that would be stupid. About halfway in, I got a nasty cramp in my lower right abdomen, and ended up limping about halfway home. So, my second training run was scheduled for today, and I figured I would get up early this morning and do it before the day got too hot.

News flash to myself: I am going to have to get going a LOT earlier in order to do that.

I got going, and was doing all right for about the first mile and a half. I was even running some hills. I live in a hilly neighborhood - some of them were big! And then by the start of mile two I had it in my head that it was all down hill from there and well, it was not. And it was not all down hill IN THE SUN. I was so hot that I contemplated stopping in some of the local restaurants to beg for some ice water. At this point, I was so dehydrated that I wasn't even sweating - I am not kidding. I knew this was bad, and at this point, I was just hoping to make it home without collapsing. The weather had changed, and relatively quickly. I knew that I was going to have to learn how to be better prepared for my runs - or to time them better anyhow! I have a feeling this is going to be a hot summer. I ended up having to walk at least the last mile home; I am going to have to prepare better because my overall time was awful.

So, today I went out and bought a water/fuel belt. It has a slot for a water bottle in the center, and two little pouches on the sides so that as my runs get longer, I can stash some gels/bars. I have a shorter 3 mile run tomorrow, and I am hoping to get going really early. I remember how great I used to feel when I really got going and got going fast on a treadmill - it sure didn't feel like this, though. It was in an air-conditioned gym. Somehow I want to get back to the way I felt when I was running then.