My First DNS

I was supposed to be running the Fire on the Mountain 50K today and enjoying a day in the woods.  It didn't happen and I took my first DNS.

My mileage for the week ended up at a whopping 8 miles.  Saturday was my final test run.  If I felt fine with no pain in my knee, I was going to at least start the race.  I called my test run at four miles when the knee was in pain and I could tell I was running with a weird form to compensate for it.

We are now operation do everything in my power to be recovered for the start line of JFK.  Surprisingly, I'm fairly OK with this and not too freaked out yet.

I thought I'd be really envious of everyone I knew running the race today and there were a few moments of that, however, overall I enjoyed my lazy day at home.  I spent a decent amount of time in the kitchen.  If I can't run soon, this is going to be a disaster in the making.  Today, it was banana pancakes in the morning, a pot of chili, a batch of potstickers and also picked out all the Reese's Fast Breaks from the Halloween candy and ate those.

The house is clean, laundry is done and I still managed a work out but it certainly was no match for a long run.  I think this is what weekends were like before I got sucked into running.  The day also felt surprisingly long.  Weird, I actually feel like I had a break from work.

But, as nice as it was, time to figure out what I can do to still salvage my attempt at starting and finishing the JFK 50 mile.

Cursed October Running

I'm beginning to think I'm not designed to run in October...of any year.

Two years ago it was my first marathon in October.  It went OK for a first marathon.  I followed that up with my worst half marathon ever at the end of the month.  It was humbling.

Last year, October brought the battle of the bad left foot.  I hobbled through Ragnar and had a near meltdown at Fire on the Mountain in early November.

After a break, I hit the ground running in the early part of this year and things were going quite well.  Actually, I was surprised how well I held up all the way through Highlands Sky, clicking off a half marathon, marathon and two 50K's on the way.  I was a little burnt out mentally by June but physically things seemed to be OK and I felt strong.

Enter JFK training and well, none of it really seems to be going according to the plan even after taking it quite easy over the summer.  I've had a nagging groin pain for a few months that has been annoying but nothing I've been too concerned with.  I thought new shoes took care of it.  I cut back mileage.  I skipped long runs when my body was up to it.      

After two weeks of very odd fatigue, overall I felt really good at last weekend's Freedom's Run.  Sunday after the marathon, I did a few easy miles with this girl.  Nothing much and certainly not back to back long runs like I'd gotten used to in the spring.  I felt back to myself.

The week started off fine.  I felt good and was really thinking I could probably begin building back up.  Then, Tuesday evening after a quick run with one of the shelter dogs, my knee felt off.  By the next day, I decided it was definitely a real issue.  I've never had an issue with my knees.  I took the next day off and started icing.  On Friday, it seemed to feel OK, so I tested it.  Probably a bad idea but the six miles went well.  I followed that with 12 on Saturday but can tell there is most certainly an issue.  Like an idiot, I still ran a few miles today with one of the shelter dogs but it was only 4 miles and I'm definitely taking tomorrow off again.
                  

Fire on the Mountain 50k is this weekend and I fully plan on running it so here's to more rest this week.  At this point, this seems to cycle.  How long till JFK?

Freedom's Run Marathon 2012

Saturday morning had an early wake up call to head down to Harpers Ferry, WV for the start of Freedom's Run marathon.  It was colder than expected and at the last minute I decided to wear pants instead of shorts and picked a long sleeve shirt I hadn't worn for a race before.  As we started to assemble for the start, I recognized 'Ama and said a quick hello (she ended up having an awesome first marathon!).

Just as we were off, Jimmy recognized me who was one of the strange men who came up to run the Appalachian Trail portion of JFK.  Very early in the race, a little pack of people prepping for JFK 50 formed.  I wore no Garmin and had zero goals for the day other than take it very easy and enjoy the day.  

Early in the race, you run a short out and back at Murphy Farm.  It's early in the day and the fog is just beginning to lift.

After a long downhill, we hit the small cobblestone road before heading across the bridge.  One of my favorite parts.  

However, notice how wet the bridge is?  Did I mention it was cold?  At the end right before going down the spiral staircase to hit the C&O canal, it was icy as well.  Luckily, I was going very slowly!

And, there it begins - the towpath.  I told Jimmy he could put his camera away once we hit the towpath.  He could just use the same picture over and over again and say it was a different part.

I should mention that I took about half of these photos and swiped the rest from Facebook.  Most of mine were super blurry.  I need to improve my photo taking in motion skills.  The towpath wasn't so bad but I started some music and had conversation the whole way.       

After leaving the towpath, we hit the hills of Antietam Battlefield.  I fully admit that I forgot how hilly it was...and I like hills!  While going through it, I was thinking to myself that I was pretty impressed I handled this section as well as I did two years ago! 

Around mile 17, Jimmy went on his way to pick up his pace a bit while I kept chugging away slowly.

Around mile 18, there's another short out-and-back section.  I remember this from last time and it was a time where I got a little more energy seeing a lot of other people out on the course (and even recognized one local runner).

I fully expected I would shed my long sleeves early in the race but I never did.  Even when out in the sun through the battlefield the air was still chilly.

I ended up wearing my pack for the race which was the best idea.  I didn't use any of the aid stations (except for one orange slice) but drank my very diluted Nuun, ate a Honey Stinger waffle a few chews during the race and took some salt pills and experienced no stomach issues - yay!

I walked a bit more than expected in the last few miles but given how I've felt over the past two weeks and still have the remnants of a cold, I just tried to go with it because my ultimate goal was to feel great afterwards and get back on track with training.

The last 5-ish miles of the race are on the main road heading back into Shepherdstown, WV.  Around mile 25, my husband went driving by on his way to meet me at the finish.  About a half mile later, running across the bridge, Jimmy had finished his marathon and was finishing up 5 more miles and snapped another picture of me (looking a little more rough here).

I finished the race in 4:27:25.  I was happy with the time for taking it easy during the race.  After picking up my pint glass from the Bavarian Inn, we were heading back to the car and I ran into Tracy.  It was great to talk to her in real life after 'knowing' year for a couple of years now.  She is now a marathoner too!!

After I got some food in me, I felt really good after the marathon.  I was able to walk all the dogs after getting home, went grocery shopping, made dinner and felt great all day.  Today, we had a Miles and Mutts run.  I wasn't planning on taking a dog, thinking an energetic, strong dog would be a recipe for disaster.  I ran really slowly to start without a dog and the dog my husband has seemed to want to go further so I took her off him and completed easy miles feeling really good.  I think I'm back to normal.  I'm not sure how running a marathon can make me feel back to myself again, but it seemed to work this weekend!

Important Details

In about 36 hours, I'll hopefully be getting ready to run a marathon.  I have absolutely no goals for Saturday's race.  I plan to show up, enjoy the day and hope for the best.  People who are often wiser and more logical (aka - my husband) think I should sit this one out.  However, I'm too stubborn for that.  My rationale is I need to get in a long run anyway (haven't done a long run either of the last two weekends) so why not go for it since I'm already signed up.  I plan to take it very easy.  My energy is back and while I definitely have a cold, I'm through the worst of it and it seems to be running its course fairly quickly.  As long as I don't get one of the headaches like I got earlier in the week while running, it should be fine.  If I feel absolutely terrible, I could drop out and the course has a 7 hour cut-off so I could still do lots of walking and still finish. The weather looks like it'll be perfect for the day.  

Since I'm planning on showing up, it's time to decide important things, like what I'll wear.

Do I go for ultra-runner wannabe look?  Compression shorts and hydration pack.  I'm leaning towards wearing my pack since this is to be a training run for JFK 50 mile.  Plus, if I do, I have an easy way to store an extra layer (it'll be chilly to start so I'll need it) and could easily stash a camera which will help make sure I take it easy.  Plus, I'll have the stuff I know sits well with me while running and not take anything from aid stations.  The pack seems like overkill for a marathon but this is likely similar to how I'll look on Saturday.

Finish of Highlands Sky

The other option is walking advertisement for Miles and Mutts.  The race is local enough for it to be practical but when I wore this for the Gettysburg marathon and relied on aid stations I ended up with stomach issues (even though the race as a whole went well).  My guess is the issues were a result of drinking some full strength Gatorade which I'm not used to as much anymore since I don't normally drink it.  But, not having to lug all my stuff with me is nice and part of the reason it makes sense to pay $80 for a 'training run'!

The last option would be to go retro and wore the exact same thing I ran the first time I ran Freedom's Run as my first marathon two years ago which includes my most loved tank top.

Here's hoping marathon #4 goes well!

Bi-Polar Kleptomaniac Runner

After complaining last week about not being able to run, feeling exhausted for going on 2 weeks and being a whiner, I tried to run on Friday.  It went well, I felt good but didn't want to jinx it.  I ended up running 6 miles and started to have hope in the world again.  It wasn't fast but I was instantly in a better mood.  I determined the rest finally paid off and I didn't have to wash all fall race hopes down the drain.

Therefore, I was hopeful about Saturday morning's run.  I'd try to go for a long run of 12-14 miles but taking it very, very easy.  Meeting up with company for the run and a different than usual route should just make the miles tick by.  Perfect!  They didn't, I quit after 6 miles of agony and cried on the way home.  Then, I drowned myself in a delicious breakfast.  Eventually, I decided to stop complaining.

In the afternoon, we planned on going to the National Apple Harvest Festival.  Why we go is beyond me because the few times we've gone, all we do is eat a bunch of fried food that makes us feel terrible, complain about all the people and wonder who buys all the crappy crafts.  Either way, we went again and while I'd hoped to eat all that greasy fried food guilt-free from running, instead I ate my pit beef sandwich, sweet potato fries and pumpkin funnel cake as a way to cope with my current sad state of inactivity.  After dealing with far too many people cramped in a small place, we got our kettle corn, apple cider, applesauce and apple butter and headed towards the car.

Then, my kleptomaniac side came out.  Instead of taking the shuttle, we walked the short (probably .25-.50 miles) between the fairgrounds and where we had to park.  It involved walking through an apple orchard.

I have a very odd fascination with orchards and really any type of produce growing alongside a road and wanting to just grab some of whatever is growing straight off the tree or field.  There's something much more enjoyable than just getting the stuff from my own small garden (which I neglected as the summer went on this year) because it's much more interesting than cucumbers and tomatoes.

I think it started with picking sweet corn.  Several years ago, I remember picking some wild blackberries and on the walk back, picking some sweet corn as well.  We had permission to grab the corn but I think that's when this whole idea started.

Two years ago, when training for my first marathon, I decided one of my long run routes would involve running around the outside perimeter of a nearby orchard.  I had these great visions of stopping mid-run and enjoying a peach straight off the tree.  I didn't steal any peaches but still loved trying to incorporate the orchard in my run.

This weekend was no different and of course as we are walking through the apple orchard, I just wanted to grab an apple off a tree.  I enjoyed it on the ride home and would guess it was a Fuji.  Hopefully no one will find me for stealing one apple!

On Sunday, it was time to run with the shelter dogs.  It was a cold, dreary morning and I planned on taking it super easy.  I woke up with a really sore throat and concluded I was getting sick so perhaps there was a valid excuse for not feeling well the past two weeks.  I just didn't realize I was coming down with a cold.

At the last minute, we shifted dogs we were taking and I ended up with one of the speedy hounds, not who I originally planned on taking on a take it really slow, easy and short day.  I started running and felt perfectly fine.  Insane?  At this point, quite possibly.  Again, not wanting to overdo, I only ran 4 miles with her but they weren't exactly super slow.  Felt perfectly fine and easy.

 
By the end of the day, I've decided I officially have a cold and a very sore throat so I'll continue taking it easy this week to be ready for this weekend's marathon.  Hopefully whatever this is will go away quickly and I just haven't realized I've been sick with all of my bi-polar and kleptomaniac tendencies lately.

Let's Not Talk about Running

Running and I are not on good terms yet.  I'm beginning to feel slightly less exhausted but my legs are still dead.  I've cut out the canine speedwork (so sad!) this week and have continued to take it really easy only running a very minimal number of miles.  Definitely not where I expected to be a week out from a marathon which is to be a long run for a 50 miler that is only 6.5 weeks ago.  But, the good news is I think I am successfully avoiding what was the beginning of an injury and hope it goes up from here regarding my exhaustion level.

I'm not one who deals well with a lot of stress, so a bunch of work-related stress that continues to build each day, trying to figure out how to squeeze in running, keeping the shelter dog running program building, keeping up with side-project deadlines and regular life seems to be catching up.  Yesterday, I felt kind of like myself again and I haven't even broken out into a random crying episode today so things are starting to take a turn for the better!  :)

Enough complaining.

See this picture?

 

It's one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken and I am now one of those annoying people that asks you to go vote for it (vote here, it's #54) if you wish to donate to a small, deserving organization.  $1 = 1 vote.  The good thing about asking random people online to vote for something is it is very easy for everyone to just skip over it if not interested.

I also entered another photo to try to win dog food for a year.  I won't beg for votes on that one though since it's one of those annoying Facebook contests.

I could never be a huge fundraiser.  I hate asking people for money, no matter what it is for.  I also hate it when other people ask me for money because 90% of the time I don't want to donate to whatever they are trying to support.  But, I'll save my non-profit rant for another day.

This weekend when I was sulking and couldn't run, I went and bought new running shoes.  Makes sense, no?  Then, I spent a bunch of time online seeing all these status updates from people participating in Megatransect.  Previously, I had no desire to do it again, but man, nothing like not being feeling 100% and reliving memories from a very exciting adventure last year to make you want to get out there and tackle a challenge.  I was anxiously awaiting Shelly's recap and loved reading it yesterday.  It was a great recap, as expected.

Speaking of reading things yesterday, 3 different blogs I read (not exercising much and being stressed makes me look for mindless activities which equals more wasting time online, can you tell?), mentioned the whole Kip Litton thing.  I hadn't heard anything about it but what a fascinating article to read!

Any other interesting things I should read?  I'm anticipating my next stage of this funk is to start hitting the junk food and desserts more so than usual which could lead to bad things, so maybe some interesting things to read will help!