Marathon UPDATE: LA Marathon

Well....yesterday I tried to register for the US Surf City and it was SOLD OUT! I was very bummed out that I waited to register but in all honesty I didn't think a Marathon would sell out. But lesson learned! Long story short I looked up other Marathons around the time of Surf City and decided the next best thing to conquer would be LA Marathon!!!!

Since I did learn a lesson from not registering on time. I registered for the LA Marathon today!!!! Here is proof! Now that it is done there is no turning back and no excuses! I feel I am physically ready minus the knee pains but I know I can do it and I will do it! LA I'm ready for you!!!!

Wordless Wednesday - New Year

XMas Run

Well after the last "run from hell" I wasn't scheduled to run on Christmas weekend. So while visiting the family and the holiday I ate and drank more than I wanted and that = weight gain! The drive back wore me out so I didn't go to bootcamp on Monday (good thing I chose not to go since my trainer overslept). But I still wanted to get a run in. I went for a run didn't exactly have mileage in mind. Just wanted a nice run. My run turned to be 10miles. I didn't feel much knee pain I just felt my knee was tight and hamstrings. The day was very nice and warm so I was very very dehydrated and very glad when I reached my destination (home). Once I actually stopped running the knee pain really began. I got home and did the usual....stretch and ice. Well now 2 days later my knee's feel good! Overall pace slower than what I have been doing but happy with minimal pain!

Wordless Wednesday-Holiday Card

2 Halfs in 1 Day

I was dreading Saturday since my trainer told me I needed to run 2 half marathon's in 1 day. I actually wanted the week to go slow so Saturday would not get here....But after Friday comes Saturday and Saturday was here!

I prepared myself since Thursday I don't eat many carbs, but on Thursday I did enjoy some Pasta and Bread for dinner and oooooh some bread pudding for dessert! (regular not whole wheat) and Friday I had my usual oatmeal for snack and and a light lunch and for dinner more carbs....

Woke up Saturday had some leftover bread pudding with almond butter, got ready, had an allergy pill and was on my way. I went up to the top level of the parking structure to warm up and stretch before the run journey began. The weather wasn't the best although it was a little sunny it was windy

I started running, but really had no idea where I was going I just ran I had run through where I had planned to go and I now that route would be 8 miles but I need to explore more to make it the 13.1 miles. It wasn't my best run as far and time and the wind I'm not a fan of. But I guess I could deal with it after all I have no idea on what the weather will actually be like until the day of.

1st Half
I started off and went slower pace that usual not sure if it was the wind that had me going slower or just my body. I went from Irvine to Santa Ana to Irvine and around and was very dehydrated I had to stop at a Del Taco and ask fro water. I did get a funny look from the cashier but she gave me water and that held me off til I got home. There was even a nice old man at the bus stop who clapped and gave me a high 5. Felt good to get that from a stranger and that pushed me a little more to run a little faster. I completed the first half with NO knee pain but did have pain in my hamstrings and butt! I felt my hamstrings get tight at about mile 3 then, the rest after (booty). I completed with pace of 10:50 min/mi not what I wanted, but then again my knee did not bother me so if it means for me to slow my pace and not have knee pain then I'll take it. I would still complete the full under my goal if I stay under 11min

Break
Once my cool down and stretching was done. I had to eat and drink water. I felt sooooo dehydrated not sure if it was the energy gel that I used (Cliff Shot chocolate flavor tastes like chocolate frosting that's what I'm loving right now) or the fact that I had to take an allergy pill. Maybe it was a combo of both. I made myself breakfast/snack and iced. Showered and had to get ready to meet some friends for a lunch. The lunch was hard! I noticed I got a blister from running and any shoe I wore hurt!!! Also lunch was at Lucielles Smokehouse BBQ and I did not want to be "that person" ordering a salad at a Smokehouse. But the thought of heartburn on the 2nd half and my stomach going crazy or puking made me be "that person" I did enjoy some biscuits and a salad with not much dressing. And then I could see the rain come. I didn't want to hurry the lunch, but I just kept looking at the clock and out the window. I really did not want to run in the rain or the treadmill......

2nd Half
Got home from lunch and got ready right away. The rain had stopped it was clear it smelled crisp so I figured I better hurry and get started. I got ready once again (hoping that blister would not bother me) and stretched longer than I did on the first half. Again I had no idea where I was going I just went. This time as soon as I started I could I was going to have knee pains. I hated getting red lights it seemed like after every long light I would get knee pain. I didn't just stand at the lights either I made sure to keep moving and pacing back and fourth for the light to turn green. But that didn't help I was about half way done when I really felt it. I almost cried and all I think of is OMG I don't have my phone I'm in residential area I just felt a raindrop. I have no way to call Norris to pick me up. The good thing is after about 30 seconds of starting to run again the pain would numb again I just kept saying please God just let me finish this and let me hurt when I get home. Well I did complete it and there was no rain, the crisp air felt good! My pace again, not the best but I was able to complete 10:48 min/mi. I found it strange that it was a second faster because I felt myself in more pain that the first half.


DONE: Recovery
I must of had a look on my face when I got home that I wanted to die. Once I actually stopped and got home MY EVERYTHING HURT!!! I get home and first thing Norris says "hey skinny! are you ok"my answer "um uh no my everything hurts, my butt, hamstrings, quads, legs, calves, knees, feet. everything!" I stretch drink water because again I feel very dehydrated and take a hot bath with epsom salt. I did want to have a glass of wine in the tub but had to opt out for a bottle of water. After the bath it was more stretching and icing oh and I can't forget dinner! To my surprise on Sunday I woke up just feeling sore but not hurting like I was on Saturday. I actually got to sleep in and felt okay I made sure I continued to ice. Yesterday I went to bootcamp even though I would of much rather have slept in another 2hours but I need to go and get some good stretching. Today I feel good! I feel very good! My legs don't hurt and neither do my knees. All I feel is my legs a little tight but I like that feeling.

All in all I wasn't happy with the time, but am very happy with being able to do it and the way my body recovered so quick from it! Now I know I am able to run a FULL MARATHON in a day, but I need to be able to do it all at once. I'm getting nervous there isn't much time left and I'm scared I wont be able to do it come the day. I don't want to disappoint anyone that has been with me through this journey but most of all I don't want to disappoint myself.....

40 Laps

I've been slacking again on my blogging....but here is a short recap on my run before last 12.10.11

40 Laps on the Track. I went to OCC since they have the softest track. I ran on Lane 1 and 10:27 min/mi not so bad. I did get knee pain the last mile. 40 Laps was not 10 miles on the track it was 10.25 miles either way I completed, knee pain and all. But nothing icing couldn't fix after the run.

Wordeless Wednesday-When I Run

Hills

Saturday wasn't a very nice day to run outside. The Santa Ana winds were crazy so that meant so were my allergies. But I had to get my running in.

The workout was to run up Chapman in Orange (a nice steep hill). I thought it was 8mile run so that would be 4 up and 4 down. I did my warm up and got started. My avg pace the whole way up hill was 10:37 (that's what my pace was last week when I did 16) I felt I was running much harder since the winds were pushing towards me. Half way up the hill my knee started to bother me and it continued to bother me til i got up to where i need to go. It wasn't as painful as last week but enough for it to bother me. Once I got up the hill I had to turn back around that was distance of 4.5miles. The down hill at first was fun my avg pace was a whole minute faster 9:37 (wish I could keep this pace) and about half way down the butt and hamstrings feel the burn LOL my total distance was 9miles and avg pace was 10:27min/m not too bad considering half was uphill and I worked out all week sore from my last run.

With my knee hurting a bit and my butt and hamstrings feeling very tight. I had to do what I didn't want to do.....ICE BATH! OMG those were the longest 8min of my life!!! My toes turned purple tears rolled down my eyes, but needless to say it worked! Didn't feel too much pain after that. I did ice my knee all weekend and stretched. So I'm looking forward to this Saturday (hopefully no knee pains)

Catching Up

I haven't really blogged in a bout a week, but I have continued training.

So to sum it all up:

Friday last week (11-25-11) I did Intervals on Treadmill incline 5
7mph @ 5 incline: run 30 seconds, get off and rest 10 seconds, repeat until you complete 10 total runs of 30 seconds.
3-5 minute rest
 4 times
1 mile cool-down speed 6.5

Saturday last week (11-26-11)
I went long 16miles. I did start feeling a little pain at around mile 8 by the time i got to mile 13 my knee was killing me (ITB) but I pushed through it and finished. My avg pace was 10:37min/mi