It's Time!

It's hard to believe, but it's officially time to start training for this year's half-marathon, which takes place the last weekend in April!

Erin and I have been running pretty steadily each week, so I feel that I'm ahead of where I was last year in terms of fitness. We ran 7.5 miles today in 38-degree weather, and it went OK - just over an 11-minute mile pace. I really have to step up my running during the week, though. Right now I only do Sundays, which has to change! I honestly don't know how I'm going to find the energy for those 5 a.m. mid-week runs, but it has to be done. We're starting with one early-morning weekday run this week, and I'll do the treadmill one day during my lunch break at work.

Things are a little more difficult since I'm working away from home this year, but I'm determined to make it work.

These Shoes Are Made for Running

A few weeks ago, I did something I should have done a long time ago: I went to a specialty running store to get some running shoes that really fit my feet. In the past, I've just picked out some shoes at chain stores that I thought would work, but I didn't get an expert opinion or advice. Let me tell you, it makes a difference!

I've written before about my Achilles heel and ankle soreness, and I decided to get serious about finding a solution. I went to Fleet Feet Nashville, and the guy who helped me was so great. He analyzed my foot structure and callouses, and he watched me walk and run outside the store. It turns out that I turn my feet in a little when I run - kind of pigeon-toed - especially on my left foot, which creates a pull on my tendon and ankles. He recommended that I get Mizuno brand shoes, which I'd never heard of. Apparently, they're less flexible and tend to hold my heel in place. He also fitted me with an insert that helps support my arch and hold my heel in place.

Amazingly, I could tell a difference after only one run. It was refreshing to deal with people who really know what they're talking about and are trained to help you find the right gear.

I've also cut back a bit on running for the moment, which is giving my joints a break. I'm down to one five-mile run a week - sometimes two. I'll be picking up the schedule in a couple months when Erin and I start training for the half-marathon again. I can't believe it's almost that time again!!

We were out on the trail this morning for our usual run, and the weather was gorgeous. I really look forward to this hour of me time every week.

Here's a shot of Erin this morning in her movie-star glasses :) ...

and me ...

Famous Last Words

OK, so I've been vowing to blog more, and I have not followed through... I don't have time for the details now, but I have a lot of new stuff going on in my life - good stuff. Mainly, a new job that is physically demanding and leaves me exhausted at the end of the day, with no energy for blogging! BUT I've still been running pretty faithfully, with the exception of last week. Erin and I ran on Tuesday morning at 5:15 a.m. (with a headlamp strapped to my head because it's so dark!), but we skipped Thursday. Erin had something planned that morning, and I was just in need of a break. We skipped today because our husbands were camping together with our older kids, and I had no one to watch my 2-year-old. We have another scheduling conflict this week, but we should be back on track by Thursday. I did go to an outdoor yoga class yesterday, which was awesome. If I had more time, I could easily get addicted to yoga. It was a good workout - different from running, of course, but I still broke a sweat - and I felt so calm afterward (but am sore today).

I still have some running issues - a lingering Achilles heel soreness along with ankle soreness. It's so annoying. I love running now, and I don't like to take time off because of soreness. A lot of what I get out of running is mental, and I really feel it when I miss too many workouts.

The Heat Is On ...

... but we're still running! I haven't posted in a while, but I've still been running three days a week (5 miles each time) with my trusty running buddy, Erin. I've only missed a couple of times this month when she was on vacation or when my husband was on a trip. So I'm feeling pretty good about our tenacity in the face of 100-degree heat and wilting humidity. Seriously, folks, it is soooo humid in Tennessee right now. An excerpt from a local TV station's weather report:

"Temperatures for most of middle Tennessee are expected to be in the mid to upper 90s this weekend. High humidity levels will produce heat index values around 105 degrees. Dangerous heat levels will occur for those who are outdoors, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours."

That's why we're running at 6:30 or even 5:30 a.m. during the week. Today we ran at 7:30 a.m., and - despite thunderstorms last night - it was hazy and hot and almost hard to breathe. Erin said her knees were sweating. We were soaked.

On the bright side, we're still doing it. And let me tell you, I need to run. I missed one day this week, and I could tell in my mood, my attitude, my (lack of) productivity, sleep - everything. Running clears my head and puts things in perspective somehow.

There's also the sense of accomplishment I feel at the end, when I'm finished, drinking hot coffee and relaxing, and I still have the whole day before me.

On Sundays there's usually a big breakfast waiting at the end.

Indulging without guilt = priceless.

Morning Moment

I went running solo today for the first time in awhile - just four miles. I saw a sweet sight on the trail: A rumpled, unshaven, tired-looking dad was walking along the trail with his little girl, who looked to be about 3. As I passed them, I saw the dad was holding a teeny-tiny newborn baby asleep in the crook of his arm. I knew immediately that the mom was home catching a few moments of peace while the dad got the kids out of the house.

Ah, I've been there. Sweet.

Limping Along

Hello, running blog. I am still here! I think the last time I posted was two weeks ago... yikes, I am slacking. But hey, it's summer. And I mean really summer in Nashville, with temps in the 90s and wilting, oppressive humidity.

I was out of town last week and didn't run a bit. I ate and drank and didn't think about running. :)

I came back home yesterday, though, and Erin and I ran at 7:30 a.m. It was already hot; we ran 3.5 miles and walked 1/2 mile. My heel feels pretty good, and I'm just working on hanging in there. Did I really run 13 miles just two months ago??

Hot!

We started out early for a Sunday run - 7:30 a.m. - and it was already about 85 degrees and steamy with the sun beating down. We ran three sweaty miles before deciding to walk the last 2.5. Erin was feeling queasy, and I didn't mind the slowdown since my Achilles was sore (I thought that pain was gone but no!). Did I mention it was really hot?

Maybe Tuesday will be better. At least we got out there - that did feel good.

And the big news that I can't believe I haven't posted: The trail is open again! It's all intact but not nearly as shady since so many big trees were uprooted and washed away. Still, we are just glad to be on a nicer route with some shade and a river view.

Taking a Break

I've had a little break from running, since Erin has been on vacation for about a week. My family has been doing some traveling of our own, and it's been nice to give my ankles and Achilles heel a little rest time. The soreness seems to be gone, which is a relief! (Yes, I could run on my own, but I made the executive decision to embrace rest and sleep so as to avoid burn-out.)

I hope we'll start up again Sunday with a short run to get back into the routine.

Still Going

This past week we ran Sunday (about 5-6 miles) and Thursday (around 5 miles). There's plenty of light at 5 a.m. now, and it's already pretty warm - even that early in the day. Not too bad yet, though. Erin found a new route that takes us out of that boring loop, so that helps keep us going.

My main problem at the moment is that my ankles are sore - both of them. I'm not sure why it's happening now, when we're not running very intensely at all. So I'm wondering ... do I take a break or keep it up?

I don't want to take a break from running - I'm happier and more productive when I run, and of course I'm still eating as if I run 25 miles a week - so I'm just taking each run as it comes and trying to work through the soreness.

ChiRunning?

Have you heard all the buzz about ChiRunning?

USA Today did an article on it recently, and I'm curious about it. It's basically a way of running that uses gravity and core muscles to transform running technique and avoid injuries. I've been experiencing some ankle pain and a lingering Achilles soreness, so it caught my attention. Founder Danny Dreyer says that humans through the ages have run with no shoes or minimalist shoes, and that our current shoes actually contribute to injury by restricting the foot and causing more impact to the knees, hip and heel. His technique focuses on hitting mid-foot instead of heel-toe. I haven't tried it yet, but I think I'll see if I can get the gist of it next time we head out. Why not, right?

Here's a short video of him explaining the technique.

Video Finish

I remembered recently that I have a video of me and Erin finishing the half-marathon, so bear with me while I revisit that day with the short (very short) video.

This video is from Marathon-Photos.com. For about $12, the company e-mails a video of you finishing the half-marathon to you and 10 other people. Then you can download a copy and keep it. This sounds really cool, but I think it's only really worth it if you're lucky enough to be on the side where the camera is located - and if the camera is a little closer to the finish line. We were about as far away from the camera as you can get, so you have to look closely. A few seconds into the clip, you can see me in a red shirt on the far, far left, and Erin (in a white shirt) is next to me. We put our hands up as we cross the finish line. Don't blink or you might miss us. Check it out!

And save your money. :)

Back At It

After a brief hiatus, we're back at it.

Erin and I ran about four miles this morning and five miles last Tuesday, and we ran about five miles again last Sunday morning - in the rain. Yes, the rain is pretty much a staple around here these days. It was warm, though, and sort of drizzly, so it wasn't so bad. We were soaked at the end, and I had my husband take a picture of us. Here we are - a couple of drowned rats.

Our new route is basically a half-mile loop in a circle that has no damaged homes. We just run the same loop over and over for an hour or so. Boring, but bearable.

It feels good to be working out again.

Why I've Been MIA

If you've heard about the devastating floods in Nashville, then you know why I haven't been posting. Our neighborhood was among the many that were flooded, and many, many homes just down the street from us are severely damaged or destroyed. I'm so thankful that our home was not affected, but so many of our neighbors' homes had the first floors saturated. The neighboring subdivision had even worse damage, with water up to the roofs in some cases. Fortunately, no one here was hurt.

We had no power for two days, and we couldn't leave to get ice or food because the roads were closed. So, needless to say, running has not been a priority. And then there's this: Where will we run? Our beautiful trail that I write about so often is completely under water and most likely destroyed. The neighborhood streets are littered with mounds of drywall, soggy insulation, furniture, tricycles and other belongings that are drying in the sun or waiting to be hauled off to the landfill. Some areas are open, but I'm not sure how I feel about jogging through that - even if we go early. It seems wrong somehow and so trivial in the face of all that has happened.

I'll leave you with these photos of our running trail. The first shows the entrance to the trail, completely submerged, along with the first floor of a neighbor's home. The second was taken after the floodwaters had receded quite a bit. I'm afraid we won't be back there for awhile.

Spreading the Love

We ran five miles again yesterday, bright and early as usual - but still dark out at first.

Jerod said: "It's a beautiful morning for a run .... zzzzzzzzz" and fell back asleep. Did I mention that he has started running, too? He runs during the workday a few times a week in Centennial Park and around here on weekends, and he's started lifting weights again. He's already feeling the positive effects, and he says our consistency has inspired him. It's good to be spreading the love.

Yesterday was a beautiful morning - clear and cool, maybe 65? Perfect for shorts and a long-sleeved T-shirt. It's funny how we consider five miles a short run these days. We ran and talked, and I noticed that my Achilles tendon is hurting a little on my left foot. I'm taking the day off today and tomorrow to let it rest, and we'll pick back up with a medium-long run on Sunday. (Erin is not taking these days off, however. She took a yoga class Thursday, lifted weights Friday and will probably be running on Saturday.)

OH! My friend Sarah mentioned a relay race coming up in Tennessee in November. I've never done anything like this before. It sounds like a great race, so I'll find out more details about that. Thanks for checking in!

Back in the Saddle

This morning I woke up at 5 a.m. to the pitter-patter of rain outside, and I peeked out the back door to view the drizzle. I figured Erin would (like me) want to take the day off.

Me (texting): Hey - don't want to go in rain, do you?

Erin: I don't care. It's just a little rain. :(

Me (after grousing to my husband, because I don't want to be the wimpy one): Damn ur tough. OK.

Erin: Yep!

And so we went. By the time we started (about 5:20), the rain had stopped and it was a nice, cool, damp morning. We ran five miles and felt pretty good. I would have been upset at myself if I had gone back to sleep.

We Did It!

Here we are! That's me on the left, and my running buddy, Erin, after the Country Music Half Marathon yesterday. I finally have a moment to tell you about yesterday's race ...

First, we did it!! We finished the whole thing, and we RAN the whole way. That was really our goal - to run the whole way. Our chip time was 2:26:28, and we averaged an 11:11-minute mile. Not too bad, especially when you consider the HILLS on this course. We didn't really train for hills, and we didn't realize how many sneaky, long uphill climbs Nashville has downtown and in the surrounding area. I never noticed all those hills while cruising along in a car. But it didn't phase us too much - just slowed us down a little, I think.

About the text messages/race tracking. It worked OK, but they didn't send out a text when we finished - the most important part! So my family wondered if I had disappeared after mile 10. Oh well - new technology.

Anyway, we had a pacer in our corral, and she was running a 2:30 pace. She held up a sign the whole time so people could follow her. We were saying to each other, "Man, it would be so great if we could stay with her," but we just pushed that out of our heads because we didn't want to get started too fast and kill ourselves. Turns out that we ran ahead of her most of the race, but she passed us near the end. We still finished in less than 2:30, though, so we were completely happy with that.

So here's the rundown, in detail:

First, I got in bed late the night before because our 5-year-old had the Country Music Kids' Marathon Friday night. That was really fun, but it wasn't exactly a relaxing evening. We finally got the kids in bed around 9 (the kindergartners didn't run their 1/2 mile until 7:15 p.m. - what is up with that?) Anyway, I probably got in bed around 10:30 after setting out all my clothes, shoes, socks, rain jacket, hat, etc. I also had to figure out how the chip fastened on my shoes, etc., and pack my little gear bag, which I had to check at the starting line and pick up after the race.

Then ... our 5-year-old woke up crying with ear pain at 11:30. We gave him some Tylenol and he slept in our bed with us - never a good sleep night when that happens, but he seemed OK (no fever) so I wasn't too worried. So then our 2-year-old woke up around 2 a.m. crying. He's been doing this lately - just a phase. So I dragged myself upstairs to snuggle with him. I woke up around 4:30 in his bed, and of course you might as well just get up at that point. (I'm actually amazed that I didn't contract pink eye or a stomach virus right before the race. That's just how it usually happens around here.)

Took a shower, ate half a bagel, half a banana, drank some water and headed out to catch a ride with my running buddy at 5:30. Drove downtown, got out and joined the hordes of people getting ready for the race. That was really cool, except there were already lines for the Porta-Potties. BUT there was no rain, which was awesome. We just walked around and found our corral and waited for the start. There was an early start because of the predicted weather, and that was good. Weather was actually perfect - 65 degrees, overcast and breezy!

We were in corral 25, so it took awhile for us to get to the front. Then we started out at an easy pace. It was so cool to be part of that whole event. There were tons of people cheering on the side of the road, bands playing, and we were just running down the center of Broadway. Kind of surreal, in a good way.

The weird thing was how crowded it was. I didn't really expect that. We kept having to sidestep people in front of us and kind of run around people to keep from tripping or bumping into people. That was pretty much how it was the whole way. No chance of getting lost or going on the wrong route.

Let's see ... so we drank the Cytomax and water offered by volunteers along the way, which seemed luxurious since we didn't train with much water along the way because there's nowhere to keep it. We actually felt really strong throughout the race, and there was a lot to see and hear - lots of music and people cheering and partying on the side of the road. The miles were ticking by pretty quickly, it seemed, and it only started to get pretty hard around mile 11. Still, we knew we were almost finished, and there was so much going on, it was easier than running in training. It was like, "This is it!!" Adrenaline and all. I'm not saying it was a breeze or anything - it was just exciting, so we weren't too focused on pain. People were talking and joking with each other. There were lots of funny signs to read. My favorite:

"Your feet only hurt because you're kicking so much ass!"

It was really inspirational. There was an old guy in front of us the whole way, and his shirt said, "I know I'm slow. Get over it." And he was so NOT slow. Lots of people were running for different causes and friends/family who had passed away. That was sobering.

There was an elderly lady wearing a little black lace skirt over her shorts - kind of defying the whole aging thing. There was a guy running while juggling, a guy dressed as Elvis, girls in cowboy hats - lots of characters.

But back to the race ... so we passed the 12-mile mark and headed down the hill (so glad to go downhill!) to LP field. People kept saying "You're almost there! You're almost there!" and I was thinking, "Well, where is that damn finish line??" My legs were on autopilot at this point.

Then Erin grew rocket boosters and started stepping it up, and I was like, "Hold on there!" and had to pick up the pace. But we were on flat land at this point, and we rounded the corner and saw that awesome finish line. We totally kicked it in!

Then I had a wave of nausea, and I saw someone had thrown up an orange on the ground. I eyeballed a trash can and thought I was going to throw up in it, but thankfully I did not. Then we got our medals, and we heard the announcer say severe weather would hit in about 30 minutes. So we found Erin's husband and kids and headed to the car.

On the way home, I thought I was going to throw up, so I hung my head out the car window in the rain like a dog. It felt so good. I didn't throw up. At home, I crawled into a hot bath, drank water and ate a banana and chocolate bar, then crawled upstairs for a nap. I felt much better after that.

It was a really awesome experience - a fun race that was tough, but doable. I cannot imagine doing a whole marathon, but I liked the half. We want to do it again next year.

Some things I learned: Try to eat something during the race, even if it's an energy bean or a banana. I think that's why I was feeling so bad afterward, but I hadn't trained with that so I was afraid to do it during the race.

Also, I would definitely run 13 miles before the race - or very close to it. Those last few miles were tough, and that's when a lot of people started to walk. We were exhausted, but I felt our bodies had been there before, and we knew we could make it.

So there it is. Waaaay more than you wanted to know.

This has been a fun ride, and a very long-winded post. Thanks for reading to the end. I reached my goal, but I'm not going to stop blogging about running. Erin and I have decided to continue our four-day-a-week running schedule, with some modifications. Our weekday runs will be 4-5 miles, but our weekend runs will be shorter.

And the pressure is off for a while. That's nice. But I'm going to start looking for a shorter race to do as another goal - just something to keep me motivated.

Thanks so much for reading! Check back soon. We're running again Tuesday morning. :)

Finally, It's Time!

OK, so we ran two easy miles on Tuesday, and two easy miles on Thursday. It was weird running so little distance. But kind of nice, too.

Finally, tomorrow is the BIG DAY!!

The weather forecast:

The National Weather Service has said Middle Tennessee faces a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms on Saturday that could include hail, damaging winds and isolated tornados.

Seriously?? Well, we've run in rain before. But hail, damaging winds and tornadoes? This should be interesting.

I bought a light-weight, breathable, weather-resistant jacket at the Health Expo the other day, so that should help a little. The plan is to be ready by 5:30 a.m. The race starts at 7. Erin's husband is dropping us off near the starting line around 6, and he'll pick us up after the race. I signed up for race tracking, so some family members will get text messages as we cross mile markers. Pretty cool.

My worry is that we'll start off too fast, so I really want to take it easy - just like we do on our weekend runs. I just want it to be fun.

So stay tuned! I'll be back to fill you in on the details. :)

11.5!

Today we ran 11.5 miles. The day was gorgeous - sunny and in the 60s. I would LOVE to have this weather next weekend. We felt pretty good, although Erin had some stomach cramps because she ate bacon before the run. So no bacon next Saturday! I've been wondering what to eat, and all research says to eat only what you've tried during training. For me, that's bananas - and maybe half a bagel with some cream cheese. If we eat around 5:30-6 a.m., we should be OK when the race starts at 7.

The 11.5-mile run went well. I mean, it wasn't easy, but it was doable. I think it's important that we've run more than 10 miles twice now. It was painful at 11.5, but our bodies were like, "OK, we're familiar with this pain. We can handle it." Sort of a muscle memory thing.

On Saturday we ran four miles in the afternoon. That was really hard - probably because it's always hard to run in the afternoon ... and that Sonic cheeseburger may have had something to do with it.

Now we're looking at two miles on Tuesday, two miles Thursday - and then the BIG DAY!

Counting Down to the Country Music Half-Marathon

So... Erin and I ran six miles this morning, as usual. It's never easy to head out the door at 5 a.m., but I always feel like a million bucks when I'm done and can relax with some hot coffee. That's the best feeling. Six a.m. and I've already accomplished something major.

We'll run 3-4 on Saturday, and then a long run - 10 or 11 miles - on Sunday.

Nine more days until the Nashville Country Music Half-Marathon!

Getting Closer

Today we ran five miles, and I wore my brand-spankin'-new shoes. I need to break these shoes in before the big day, but I think I'll have plenty of time - especially since I have about 25 more miles of training before the race.

I found out that I have high arches, and these Asics are supposed to give me lots of support. They felt great this morning, and I think my old, broken-down pair contributed to some lower-back pain. Or maybe 12-plus miles will just do that to you.

Anyway, today's short run felt good, and we'll be running the 1/2 in less than two weeks!