Starting over

Well it's been almost three months since I ran the half and I'm finally running again.

I took a few weeks off because I was having weird foot aches after the race and decided that not running was the best thing to do.  It worked but then I got sick and couldn't shake it for about 2 weeks.

Then the weather got cold and the holidays came along.  I hate the cold weather.  And I don't like running in it.  Trying to convince myself the take off my warm clothes and put on cold tights/capris and compression tops just doesn't appeal to me.  Often times I put my running clothes over the heater vent so they aren't as cold when I put them on.

Did I mention that I don't like to be cold?

So anyway, I started running again this month.  I figure if I am going to run another half marathon (or possibly two...did I just say that???) this year I need to be prepared for it, not only for the running part but also for the physical part as well.

I'm running and cross training and hoping to have a stronger core for the next half.  My lower back was sore for a couple of days after Nike and I know it's because my core wasn't as strong as it should have been.

I'm running 4 days a week and cross training on the others.  My running days are Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.  Not ideal but it is what it is.

The weekends are a given because I can run in the mornings or really anytime and I'm running on Mondays and Wednesdays when my daughter is at soccer practice.  I drop her off at the park and pick up the trail there.  Three days of running in a row is probably not a good thing but I'm going to see how it goes.  I'll be glad once there is more daylight in the evenings so I can change up my schedule.  I'm not running far at the moment so hopefully all will be ok.

Since it's been so long since I've last run I'm basically rebuilding my base (UGH!).  Weekday running is set for 30 minutes each time and on weekends I'll choose a distance.  I'm running for 30 minutes 1) so I can ease back into running and 2) so I can measure progress.  Hopefully the distance covered over the 30 minutes will increase over time meaning that my pace is improving.

That's something I'm hoping to improve upon this year but for now I'm just happy to be running again.

Checkin' in

It's been 3 weeks since my last run. I want to run but I've had weird foot issues since my half so I've decided to not run and let whatever is going on heal.  My feet are feeling pretty good now so I'm hoping to run again this Friday since I have the day off.

I'm also considering running in a 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  We've done this race for the past 2 years but this year, if I decide to do it, it'll be just my 10 year old daughter and me.  We will run at her pace so this will just be a fun run for me.

I hate daylight savings because it's now dark by 5pm.  I'm thinking that I either need to run on Monday and Wednesday afternoons while my daughter is at soccer practice (I'd have about 1 hour of daylight to run in) or get up early and run.  I noticed that by 6am this morning it was light enough to see which would give me 30 minutes to run before having to get ready for work.   I won't run in the dark because I'm nervous about not seeing something on the ground or uneven pavement and rolling my ankle again.

I'm thinking that instead of running for mileage this winter I'll run for time and get my longer runs in during soccer practices, shorter runs in on the days I would get up at 6am and speed workouts on Saturday mornings.  This would be a complete flip flop of my normal running schedule which had my long runs on Sundays and shorter runs during the week.  I don't know yet, something to think about though.

My local Lululemon store is offering free track workouts with a run coach on Saturday mornings and I really want to go to those, schedule permitting of course.  We are now in the midst of not only soccer games but basketball games as well, so my weekends are crazy.  Three games this past weekend!

I'm inquiring about the half marathon course for a race in March.  If it's flat I'm thinking I want to run it but I'm worried about training in wet weather.  I don't mind the cold so much but training in rain is not my cup of tea.  I've posted the question on the race's Facebook page so we shall see what people say. I need to make a decision soon because it's now 20 weeks away from the race.

Hopefully it's nothing

So ever since the Nike half I've been having tenderness on the top of my right foot, the outer part.  Looking at pictures of foot anatomy it's either one of the tendons on top of my foot or one of the metatarsal bones.  God I hope I didn't do something serious.  I can walk fine but the tenderness is always there.  I think I better not run for a while until it goes away.  In the meantime, I plan on resuming strength training and stretching.  I can really feel that my muscles are tight and I know that can lead to injury.

I'm eyeing another half in March.  Early bird registration ends 10/31 but I'm not ready to commit just yet.  I know that the coming wet weather will affect how much I run and I don't know that I want to commit to training in cold wet weather.

The good news is that a local running store is going to announce training groups starting in January.  That might be a better time to reassess how badly I want to run this particular half. Regardless of what I decide to do I really would like to run with a group because I think it will help to make me faster.  Hopefully by then whatever is going on with my foot will be history.

Speed, and I use that term loosely

I've been running almost 3 years, give or take some time off last year due to tendonitis and a broken ankle.  But 3 years is 3 years and I feel like I haven't made much progress with regard to my pace.  I guess it never was an issue until now.  I'm comfortable running 10:00-11:00/miles.  I've run 5ks, 10ks and now a half marathon but now I feel like I want to be faster.  I suppose that's a natural progression for runners.

I'm a slow runner and I'm okay with that, however, I would like to be a faster slow runner.  Pace doesn't define me.  I know that I'll never win in my age group but I'm still competitive with myself and improving my pace is something that I'd like to work toward.  I've worked up from 0 to 13.1 miles, something I never dreamed was possible, but now it's time for another goal, another challenge.

I've been reading up on how to improve pace.  Tempo runs, intervals, strides, fartleks, hill training etc.  I'm aware of these methods and have even done some of them but not enough to have an impact on my pace.  I don't like running fast, it's hard and it makes me tired and out of breath, but if I want to get faster I'm going to have to run faster.

I'm not really sure what to start with but I'm thinking I might do some fartleks and maybe some intervals.  Since I'm currently not training for anything at the moment I think working on improving my pace will give me something to focus on.  I'm sort of feeling like "what do I do now" now that my half is complete so this will give my running some purpose and another goal to work towards.

~~~~~

So I went for a run Saturday morning.  I wanted to shake my legs out and get some mileage in but my right foot has been a little sore since my half so I only ran 2 miles.

Thought I'd run out of my comfort zone and speed things up a little.  I told myself to not look at my Garmin because I know that once I see that I'm running "fast" I tend to slow down.  It was hard not to look but once my Garmin beeped at 2 miles I was happy to see the result - 19:08, 9:33 average pace.  For me this is fast and I was able to maintain it for 2 miles.  Yay me.

Post race thoughts

Here's a couple things I didn't include in my novel of a race report:

My Lululemon arm warmers (I was going to link them but they aren't on the website anymore) were awesome!  I wasn't even sure if they would stay up but they did and I loved them.  Super soft and super warm.  Eventually I pushed them down and I stayed cool even though half my arm was still covered.

For my next half (and there will be one!) I need to make more of an effort to take in everything, including my surroundings.  I think I missed some pretty sights and fun things on the course because I tend to look down at the ground due to my fear of stepping on something and rolling my ankle again.

Loving that my knees don't hurt.  They never did.  I'm only sore in my quads and a little in my lower back.  Definitely need to do some core work.

It started to rain pretty good once I crossed the finish line and I guess since I was no longer in motion I got pretty cold.  Cold as in my lips were blue!

Minimal training in the last month or so before this race is reflected in my official time. I know this is my first race and it was a difficult course and I should be happy and I am but the 2:41 is knawing at me. I know I can do better.

I'm already looking for another half.  Next time it'll be on a flat course though :)

Nike Women's Half Marathon Recap - Part 2

So race day arrives.  I was worried that I wouldn't sleep well the night before but I actually slept like a baby and awoke at 4:45.  We were out the door by about 5:10.

We arrived in S.F., parked and walked a few blocks to Union Square.  Thank God there were other runners to follow because we really didn't know where we were going.

Wow oh wow, I could have never imagined the energy that was there from all the people filling the streets of Union Square.  I used a porta potty (hard to do in the darkness) and then texted Bootchez, my running partner so we could find each other.

Finally I heard someone yell "Lisa!" and I looked to my right and there she was.  After some introductions and a few pics we headed off to our corral.

We were packed like sardines in the corral.  I felt something poking my foot so I had to take my shoe off and could barely bend down to do so, it was that crowded.

After a few more pics we began to hear some cheers but since were kinda far from the start line we had no idea what was being said.

Finally we started moving and as we rounded the corner we could see the start line!  I fumbled to take my iphone out and get these pics:


(taken by my husband before the race offically started)



Almost to the start line:

There was a lot of weaving in and out of people the first few miles.  And since we were running amongst tall buildings I lost the signal on my Garmin.  I didn't realize that's what had happened though.  I heard the beep and thought I had bumped arms with someone and accidentally paused it.  I fiddled with it starting and stopping it and my blind eyes could not read the display so I didn't know if I had paused or restarted the damn thing.  Finally I got a signal but was annoyed that not one mile into the race my Garmin was screwed up.

Also, I had my music on (it was low and I only started it so I wouldn't have to remove my phone from my ifitness belt mid-run) and the same song kept playing.  WTF???  So I had to take the phone out and try to get my playlist to shuffle but it wouldn't.  Ugh.  Finally I got it to start and all was good.  I didn't really listen to the music but it was there in case I needed it.

Miles 1-3 were basically weaving in and out of slower runners and walkers, hopping on the sidewalk and trying to avoid dropped jackets.  A little frustrating but we enjoyed the scenery, vibe and entertainment.

Crowd support and entertainment were awesome and really energizing.  At about mile 3 there was a little hill.  I think I ran it and then there was another smallish hill that I think I ran/walked.

Mile 6 was the beginning of a 1 mile climb.  The road narrowed at this point and it was really congested.  I ran slowly until I had to walk.  We stopped to take a pic which provided a brief rest.

Then it was back to the hill.  Bootchez suggested walking the middle portion of the hills and surging at the top.  OK, what the hell.  So as we approached the top we ran.

We had a brief break from the hills but then another one began and then another.  OMG, they never seemed to end.  We ran, walked, and surged.  Man oh man I had read that the hills were tough but one cannot appreciate how tough they are until you are actually on them.  This gives you an idea of what they were like.

(mile 8)

We stopped once so Bootchez could use the porta potty and then we headed DOWNHILL.  I LOVE DOWNHILLS!

Somewhere at mile 8 I heard someone yelling "mommy" and over my music, the crowd cheering and the runners I recognized my daughter's voice.  I had not expected to see my family until the finish line so this was a really really nice surprise.

She didn't realize that the sign she made for me was backward until her brother kindly told her :)

Here is the sign in all its glory.  She was so proud!

And this is a somewhat blurry picture of Bootchez and me at mile 8:

(notice many of the people are walking)

It began to rain shortly after this picture was taken and I began to get tired and had to take more walking breaks.

At around mile 9 the race volunteers were handing out orange slices and I took two.  I had to walk and eat them because trying to chew, breathe out of my mouth and run all at the same time didn't work.  I welcomed an excuse to walk anyway.

I felt bad that I was walking and felt that I was slowing Bootchez down but she assured me that all was good.  Can I just say that I had THE best running partner ever.  She encouraged me when I needed it, told me not to worry about the time and was just so supportive.  I had no idea that I would need that as much as I did, especially in the last few miles.

We continued on and finally rounded a corner and there was Ocean Beach and a DOWNHILL.  We booked it here.  At the top of this hill you could see the finish line and finishers village.  So close but yet so far!

We made our way into Golden Gate Park and it was here at mile 10 that the 3 mile incline to the finish line began.  I was pooped and was really struggling but Bootchez was there supporting and encouraging me.  All I wanted was to finish and get my necklace.

Somewhere along the way I spotted Katye - Long Legs on the Loose.  She heard me say her name and turned around.  I told her she didn't know me but that I read her blog and had one too.  She asked the name of my blog and I told her and she acted like she knew it (after the race I realized she may have remembered me because I bought a Bondi Band from one of her fundraisers).  Anyway, sweet girl that she is she turned around (she had been running back into the runners) and ran with us for a minute or two.  Thanks Katye, that was fun!

At this point it was all about getting to the next mile.  At mile 12 (aka chocolate mile) we grabbed some Ghiradelli chocolates from the volunteers and headed toward mile 13.  It seemed it would never come.

All I wanted to do was walk and I developed a cramp under my left rib cage at about mile 12.5.  And OMG, we rounded the corner and there it was:

I was holding my side but I was determind to run (albeit slowly) to the finish line.

Bootchez was AWESOME, pushing me to the end.  Look at her fist pump here:

My son was taking the finish line pics and sadly didn't get one of me crossing the finish line so I will have to wait until the race pics are published.

But I did get these pics:

13.1 miles

Chip time 2:41:27

Eleven minutes slower than I had hoped but given what I now know about this course and the walking breaks we took, I'm totally good with this.

Amazing and hard are the two words I have been using to describe this race.  I'm so glad I bit the bullet and registered for this back in March or April.  And I'm really lucky to have shared this with Bootchez.  Her enthusiasm and energy were inspiring and I loved every minute of it.  It was an amazing experience and one that I'll never forget!

And yes, I would totally run this race again!

p.s. L.B., I changed my blog header just as you suggested :)

Nike Women's Half Marathon Recap - Part 1

I'll start this race recap with the expo first.

My daughter and I went to the expo on Saturday morning.  I had heard many things about this particular expo and even though some of those things were negative, I was looking forward to actually going to my first race expo.

Walking up Powell street towards Union Square I could see many people sporting their TNT apparel as well as Nike race apparel.  I was excited to get my own.  I already knew I wanted to get a cap and zip hoodie.

Rounding the corner of Powell and Geary streets I saw the expo tent and all the billboard sized signs for the race.  There was definitely a buzz in the air.

Bib pick up was really quick and easy.  The volunteers filled my pink (yay!) race backpack with my bib, chip, course map, and lots of flyers and coupons.  We proceeded to get my pace bracelet and then walked around to see what else was there.

The tent was packed and true to the comments I had read about ths expo, it was disappointing.  Not much to see or do.  There were smoothies, Gatorade samples, Nike sport bra fittings, custom Nike shoe designs, a DJ, massages, an area where you could sign up to receive messages from either Mia Hamm, Serea Williams, or Joan Benoit.  Whoever you chose would call you at 6am race day to give you some words of encouragement, then call someone of your choice when you passed mile 6 and then I would get a congratulatory call after I crossed the finish line.  Seemed cool enough and my daughter was excited that Mia Hamm was part of this so I signed up and of course all phone calls were from Mia Hamm.  There were probably a few other things to see but I can't rememer at the moment.  Pretty uneventful :(

Outside there was yoga, Kashi cereal and Ghiradelli chocolate samples, and the Power Balance pace leaders.  We got a few samples and then headed across the street to the Niketown store.

First though I had to see my name amongst all 20,000 runners on the wall of names.  On our way to see this look who I ran into:

Dmity and Sarah of Run Like A Mother!

It took a few minutes but we were able to find my name.

We made our way inside the store.  Four floors of Nike stuff.  It was a madhouse!  There was a DJ playing loud music, someone talking over a microphone and intervewing runners and all the buzz and excitement that came from the hundreds of people in the store.  Employees were carrying armfuls of inventory to replenish stock - it was a sight for sure. 

You name it and they had it.  From jackets, sweatshirts, t-shirts, tech tees, shorts, capris, arm warmers, water bottles, hats, jackets, engraving on your ipod/iphone, customized messages on shirts and more.  I'm sure they made a ton of money; they got $90 of mine :)

We had a soccer game to get to so after one final picture we headed home.

Mission Accomplished!

I did it.

13.1 miles.

It was hard.

It was AMAZING!

The hills killed me.

But in the end I got this:

I'll write more tomorrow.

I'm pooped and my S.F. Giants are playing right now.

3 days!

So 3 days left.  Three days.  Wow, I cannot even believe it.  The morning DJs were talking about the road closures on race day and I felt a few butterflies.

The expo opens today but I won't be going until Saturday.  Between now and then there is a lot to be done:

1. Get my race stuff ready (I decided on shorts, less chance of chafing)
2. Go to the expo to get my bib and chip
3. Go to Niketown to get a jacket and a hat
4. Daughter's soccer game Saturday afternoon
5. Son's homecoming dance Saturday night (still need to get him a tie)
6. Grocery shopping on Saturday because I won't be doing anything on Sunday other than running and watching some SF Giants baseball!
7. Eat some more carbs and drink some more water
8. Hoping to run a few miles this evening

I've been eating more carbs this week than normal and I'm sure feeling it. I hope I run off all the calories I've eaten and will eat this week otherwise I might not be able to button my pants next week :)  I'm pretty sure I'll be taking Monday off.  I have no idea how I will feel but I do know that I will be exhausted so if anything I can at least sleep in and rest.

I've received some really good advice (thank you!) about prepping for the race as well as actual race day advice.  As a result I will bring pretzel sticks and start eating them after the halfway point.  I've got my GU Chomps, Sharkies, Powerade/water mix and now the pretzels.  They will fit nicely in the little pocket of my water bottle and I'll put the energy chews in the second pocket of my ifitness belt.  That way if they get squished they won't be reduced to powder like the pretzel sticks would. 
 
My plan is to walk the hills and run the rest.  I do want to stop and take pics along the way and just enjoy the experience as much as I can.  That said, I hope to finish in under 2.5 hours as I don't want to be running for any longer than that.
 
Bootchez and I have been emailing back and forth about the race.  We won't be able to meet up at the expo on Saturday because I'll be there in the morning and she won't be there until later that afternoon so we will meet for the first time ever on Sunday morning.  She'll be the one in the pink tutu; I'm sure she will be easy to spot.  Thank God for cell phones.  I'm looking forward to meeting her and having someone to share this race with.  This little race though is only a training run for her - she's running an ultra soon.  God, I cannot even imagine.

6 days

So this week, the week before my first ever half marathon, is going to be about hydration and a few carbs.

Fueling properly has always been something that I struggle with and since I'm pretty picky about what I eat and given that I can't eat a lot at once, I'll be eating carbs in small amounts every day leading up to Sunday.  Also, I'm only drinking water this week and will forego my beloved Diet Coke.

I'm still not sure what I will be wearing on Sunday.  I have my t-shirt and arm warmers but I am at odds as to what to wear for bottoms: shorts, capris or a running skirt.

I pulled out a black running skirt yesterday and will wear it this week for a short run to see if it's comfortable enough for 13.1.

I'll be going to the expo on Saturday morning with my daughter.  I thought it would be fun for her to see all the runners and to experience an expo.  She wants to go with us on Sunday to the race to cheer me on and I think it will be a fun experience for her to see such a large race up close and personal.

I'm not even going to mention the slight soreness in my throat right now.  Nope, not going there.