Tuesday, May 31, 2011

May GoTheDist Final thoughts

After a strong finish in the April challenge I decided to go for it in May and increase my run and biking miles to a new high. I felt stronger then I had in a long time and knew that I could meet these goals with no problem, but it was not to be. Around that second week I started noticing something was off and in my usual fashion I tried to brush it off and keep going. Along with the challenge goals, I have been training for a duathlon set for the end of June. The more I ran and trained the more exhausted I felt. On the 13th I was scheduled to run a 5k and an old knee injury reared it’s ugly head at mile one. I ended up doing run/walk intervals and still managed to complete the race with around a little more than 12 minute pace. Between the knee and my exhaustion I knew a doctor’s visit was necessary. The doctor told me needed to have my meds adjusted and take a week off of EVERYTHING. OMG that was a tough week I kept thinking about losing mileage. It was also really hard to watch my training buddies move forward with training and having to modify my workouts to take it easy. What? They said no workout, well I didn't run. Bad patient. After a week I got clearance from my doctor to run and train again. I had to cut my mileage by half and slow down. This actually wasn't so bad I had gotten to the point where I couldn't run for more than half a mile without gasping for breath. With the slower pace I've gone as far as 4.5 miles without a break. That's awesome.


This month showed me that is not all about the numbers. I need to take better care of myself and reach out for help at the first sign that something feels wrong. By the end of the month I only got to 70% of my goal but you know what that's okay. Onward & Upwards!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Power of Thought

Yesterday I ran my first race.....ever. EPIC FAIL! it was doomed from the beginning I tossed and turned all night and dreamt that I fell during the race and everyone laughed at me. Just had a bad feeling. When we got to the site of the race there was some confusion because a part of the site was flooded but they decided to have the race anyway just change the course a little and decrease the distance. So my 5k was now a 2.79 miler.

My knee had been hurting off and on for the past couple of weeks (I blame all those stupid Burpees) but I have been running my normal schedule so this should have been no problem. Met up with some of my gym bffs and we were off. I felt good the first mile even though is was raining and my breathing was labored I'm used to that. Just kept saying to myself look at all these people around you keep going. Was making pretty good time too. Then it happened I heard a pop in my knee and felt a sharp pain. Dang it I somehow twisted my knee. I told my gym buddy to go on and I slowed to a power walk. I was tempted to stop but wanted to at least compete the run. This kind of crap never happens when I run alone. Okay it probably does but it doesn't effect me as much because there's no crowd around me. So anyway I walked and ran and walked and ran for the next 1.8 miles I was timed at 32 minutes. After the race my friends tried to make me feel better but I was in a funk. I've been running for 2 years and couldn't finish a 2.8 mile run without a problem. I was thinking maybe my best runs are behind me and I should give up on running, I'll never get back to where I was before the accident.

I came home iced my knee and wallowed in self pity, then I took a nap. Woke up to a better attitude. I'm going to run. It's as simple as that. I will start by retraining myself in running, the first thing is to take a week off. I have never really given myself time to heal, now is the time. While I'm on break I'm going to research running with injuries and find the best program to rebuild my distance. I have to do this for me. Believe it or not I love to run and want to make it work for me. A really smart person once said "The past does not define me" I'm believing this and moving forward.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

MIA

Where have I been. Vacation! The husband surprised me with a trip to Orlando for my birthday, he plans a trip every year and just gives me some pointers on what to pack. Well Orlando was sooooo much fun we stayed a week and I got to meet one of my awesome twitter friends (Hey Mo) for lunch which really took the trip up a notch. It was warm and sunny the whole time we were there, almost let Florida knew I was there and wanted to bring out it's best for me. You know for my birthday, it's all about me lol. After the trip I returned home to the staycation portion of my time-off. This is pure genius on my part a second week off. I am so relaxed and rejuvenated. Hopefully it'll last and I'll be able to keep the work related stress in check for awhile. :)

But don't think my workout suffered because of vacation. No I'm much to anal for that. I continued my running managing to get around 20 miles in a week. I did do way more miles on the treadmill than I like but all that is changing as of now. I have started running outside again and it's been hard. The knee has been aching again and all the pollen out there is effecting my breathing. My pace is much slower then I like and I really need to work on that. I've decided that now that it's warmer NO MORE TREADMILL. I have signed up for a 5k (my 1st) on May 14th. That gives me two weeks to get back into the run outside groove, even in the rain (which I hate).

Trainer Larry also cut me no slack while I was on vacation. He made sure I had every killer workout the rest of the tri team was doing. I can't even describe the looks I got from people in the hotel gym. They must have thought I was either some kind of fitness nut or insane. One guy asked if I was a personal trainer. I found that hilarious because at the time I was on my 200th burpees and having a tough time catching my breath.

Well back to work tomorrow. I'm going to start the day with a 3 mile run. My plan it to start running on the mall in the morning before work like I was doing last spring/summer. This will work out better than running at home in the dark, much safer. My new running schedule will be 5 miles S; 3 miles MWT & 6-8 miles F. We'll see how this work I can adjust it as needed. Tri training sessions are on M & Thurs and Spin Class on Tues/Thur. There is a class Mon night I don't know that might be a little too much, maybe sometimes. I have to check the gym schedule to see what else is being offer this month but, I do know that I'll be doing the Saturday boxing class and my ab workout 4 days a week. WOW this looks like a lot when it's written down. No wonder the husband thinks I have a problem. LMBO

Let me go I have to get my clothes and lunch ready for tomorrow. I'm trying something new, BEING PREPARED, now that's funny

Oh one last thing my son got me an ipad for my birthday, well he ordered it on my birthday (gotta love him). It'll be here about the 5th so I should be writing in here more because it'll be more convenient.