This is the 16th and FINAL week of Marine Corps Marathon training. And today is T-4 days to the big event! Yikes! So far I have not run this week but plan to do yesterday's run today after work. I skipped yesterday's because (1) I worked later than normal; and (2) I had a very important Girls' Night Out with some Team Z Ironman ladies! It was fun and worth it. Besides, my heel needs all the 'rest' it can get before Sunday. So, tonight should be a very easy 3 mile run.
So, back to week 15... Well, I skipped one run last week - the tempo run - as I just did not want to chance hurting my heel any more than necessary. But I did add some sprinting during a run though the neighborhood. Saturday during the run it felt good, especially after the first 10 minutes of running. Saturday afternoon, however, my heel hurt. Sunday my heel hurt and both feet were tired. But I also spent a lot of the day walking around. Walking around Kings Dominion! The park was not crowded at all then starting at 6PM they have their “Halloween Haunt” attractions open. I am such a wimp! I don’t like scary movies and I really don’t like haunted houses. But it was fun and I would do it again – and likely will. Next year! As we bought season passes for 2011, so that will be included.
So here is last week's training:
10/19/10 Run - easy spiral loop in the hood, 4.08 miles
10/21/10 Swim - JCC Masters, PM, 1.62 miles
10/22/10 Run - neighborhood loop with some sprints, 3.43 miles
10/23/10 Run - easy out and back-ish, 7.82 miles
10/24/10 Swim - JCC Masters, 1.55 miles
So far this week my heel feels fine. I'm trying to be nice to it. And since this week's training calls for a tempo run, I probably will not do it so I can continue to be 'nice' to my heel. Hopefully an easy run tonight, easy run Friday, Expo and Halloween party on Saturday afternoon - with time off my feet as much as possible, then Sunday = race day! Yikes!!
Speaking of the Halloween party...Fellow Z'er Christy gave me a great idea for a costume - an Ironman finisher! (Thanks, Christy!!) She said he did that at work last year. And since I have all the gear...
Happy and Healthy Training!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Week 14 – MCM Training...
Well, today is T-10 days till the BIG day – the Marine Corps Marathon. Yikes! I’ve been ‘trying’ to following my training plan this week and so far, ‘eh’. Let’s go back to Saturday.
So, the ‘plan’ called for a 12 mile run at 10:38. I did 12 miles at 11:07. Given my 2 week unscheduled break AND my sore heel this is what I ended up with – and I’ll take it. However, Sunday I managed to go out and run another 3.5 miles at 10:48 with NO heel pain then I swam 3000 meters in a little over an hour. I skipped the Monday run as my heel was again sore (I think it was my work shoes) and went on Tuesday instead and all things felt ‘ok’. I had also worn different shoes to work that day. I skipped my tempo run last night – 5 miles total with 3 at tempo of 9:06 in favor of resting. I was tired and my heel hurt again which was weird because yesterday I stayed home from work – because the plumber was there doing important stuff! Anyway, today the heel feels OK, but I may hold off till tomorrow morning, when I will be home till about 10:15AM at which time I will take my son to a follow-up doctor appointment.
OK --> I was bummed the other week because I had bronchitis. Well...my high school senior son has pneumonia. Bummer. Major bummer. Next week is the last week of the grading period, plus this week - tonight in fact - is the last 'tune-up' race for cross country. Next week is the District Tournement and he is supposed to go as an alternate...
Anyway, regarding my heel: my running shoes now feel great – new shoes, new inserts! I’m really having problems with my work shoes. I’m not wearing heels (Carol!), just regular-type shoes I wear with pants. I’m not sure WHAT about them is bugging it. Oh well, I will get this figured out!
All in all I’ve felt ok with my workouts since Saturday. I can’t believe that as of tomorrow I’ll be in single digit days left till race day! I’m actually excited! I mean I’m nervous about my heel, but still excited about the race. And I’m looking forward to the expo! I’m just trying to stay very positive in general. If my heel is bad after the race, and even if it is not, I will most likely see about getting it looked out. I have so much I want to do and it will certainly be ‘easier’ (which is relative) if the heel feels better! I’m trying to figure out my 2011 race calendar! So far this is what I’ve got:
03/19/2011 – Shamrock ‘Whale Challenge' – 8K on Saturday
03/20/2011 – Shamrock ‘Whale Challenge' –Marathon on Sunday
05/01/2011 – Flying Pig HALF Marathon
Hopefully some Team Z races!
Then, if I get in:
11/20/2011 – Ironman Arizona
I also plan to take a road trip to Lake Placid in July with Carol and who knows who else. I want to volunteer (and cheer) and sign up for Ironman Lake Placid for 2012. And looking further at 2012, I want to become Goofy in 2012! But...I just found out it is still open for 2011...
Happy and Healthy Training!
So, the ‘plan’ called for a 12 mile run at 10:38. I did 12 miles at 11:07. Given my 2 week unscheduled break AND my sore heel this is what I ended up with – and I’ll take it. However, Sunday I managed to go out and run another 3.5 miles at 10:48 with NO heel pain then I swam 3000 meters in a little over an hour. I skipped the Monday run as my heel was again sore (I think it was my work shoes) and went on Tuesday instead and all things felt ‘ok’. I had also worn different shoes to work that day. I skipped my tempo run last night – 5 miles total with 3 at tempo of 9:06 in favor of resting. I was tired and my heel hurt again which was weird because yesterday I stayed home from work – because the plumber was there doing important stuff! Anyway, today the heel feels OK, but I may hold off till tomorrow morning, when I will be home till about 10:15AM at which time I will take my son to a follow-up doctor appointment.
OK --> I was bummed the other week because I had bronchitis. Well...my high school senior son has pneumonia. Bummer. Major bummer. Next week is the last week of the grading period, plus this week - tonight in fact - is the last 'tune-up' race for cross country. Next week is the District Tournement and he is supposed to go as an alternate...
Anyway, regarding my heel: my running shoes now feel great – new shoes, new inserts! I’m really having problems with my work shoes. I’m not wearing heels (Carol!), just regular-type shoes I wear with pants. I’m not sure WHAT about them is bugging it. Oh well, I will get this figured out!
All in all I’ve felt ok with my workouts since Saturday. I can’t believe that as of tomorrow I’ll be in single digit days left till race day! I’m actually excited! I mean I’m nervous about my heel, but still excited about the race. And I’m looking forward to the expo! I’m just trying to stay very positive in general. If my heel is bad after the race, and even if it is not, I will most likely see about getting it looked out. I have so much I want to do and it will certainly be ‘easier’ (which is relative) if the heel feels better! I’m trying to figure out my 2011 race calendar! So far this is what I’ve got:
03/19/2011 – Shamrock ‘Whale Challenge' – 8K on Saturday
03/20/2011 – Shamrock ‘Whale Challenge' –Marathon on Sunday
05/01/2011 – Flying Pig HALF Marathon
Hopefully some Team Z races!
Then, if I get in:
11/20/2011 – Ironman Arizona
I also plan to take a road trip to Lake Placid in July with Carol and who knows who else. I want to volunteer (and cheer) and sign up for Ironman Lake Placid for 2012. And looking further at 2012, I want to become Goofy in 2012! But...I just found out it is still open for 2011...
Happy and Healthy Training!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
MCM Training – or lack there of...
I have not blogged in weeks! Lately, things have not been going all that well...
After a successful Wilson Bridge Half Marathon on September 19 I rested a couple of days, then did an easy run, then did my regularly scheduled weekend long run, on September 25. My plan called for 16 miles. My plan was to do three loops x 5.5 miles from Wakefield Park around Lake Accotink and back, for a total of 16.5 miles. Well, I felt pretty good going into it. The first loop was fantastic and the second not too bad. I met up with Jeff at the start of the second – he was mountain biking around and would catch up with me here and there. The third loop was just miserable however! My legs were a little sore but my right heel was killing me. Seriously KILLING me. I had stupidly(!) worn an older pair of shoes that day. What was I thinking? Oh, wait...apparently I wasn’t! Anyway, I took a few stop/walk breaks during the third and final loop, once to talk to Leanne and another to talk to Jill both Team Z-mates who were out there training, plus I just walked up a couple of hills. I really struggled to finish that last loop. But finish I did.
That night I went to a concert and everything seemed just fine. I can’t remember if I swam on Tuesday morning, but on Wednesday I volunteered at back to school night (my final one!) selling spirit wear then I visited each of my son’s classes. The next day I was feeling pretty bad. I skipped swim and went home from work early. I did stay the entire day on Friday, but Friday we close early. Anyway, I was supposed to do the Maryland Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday (10/3) but was just plain miserable. So I skipped it. Bummer.
Then I went back to work Monday and again left early. Tuesday I called in sick and made a doctor’s appointment. I’d been running a fever of 101* but my lungs were clear. I continued with the fever which was now 102* and aches and pains and by Thursday I’d developed bronchitis, as I went back to the doctor that afternoon. At this point I got an antibiotic and continued to rest. A lot.
The following week, last week, I went back to work but worked shortened days each day. This past Saturday (10/9) I finally went out for a test run. I did about 7.5 miles (not the 20 that I was supposed to). It had been 2 full weeks since I’d run. My right heel was still hurting. I did wear my ‘normal’ running shoes, this time. At that point the Marine Corps Marathon was 22 days away!! OMG. Saturday afternoon I went out and got some new/different shoe inserts and purchased ‘The Strassburg Sock’ to see if wearing it at night helped my heel pain. (The guy at =PR= also recommended new shoes, but I already had a brand spanking new pair at home that I'd planned to start using after the MCM.) Then Saturday late afternoon we (me, Jeff, the boys) drove to Pennsylvania for our NEW PUPPY, Riley!
After a successful Wilson Bridge Half Marathon on September 19 I rested a couple of days, then did an easy run, then did my regularly scheduled weekend long run, on September 25. My plan called for 16 miles. My plan was to do three loops x 5.5 miles from Wakefield Park around Lake Accotink and back, for a total of 16.5 miles. Well, I felt pretty good going into it. The first loop was fantastic and the second not too bad. I met up with Jeff at the start of the second – he was mountain biking around and would catch up with me here and there. The third loop was just miserable however! My legs were a little sore but my right heel was killing me. Seriously KILLING me. I had stupidly(!) worn an older pair of shoes that day. What was I thinking? Oh, wait...apparently I wasn’t! Anyway, I took a few stop/walk breaks during the third and final loop, once to talk to Leanne and another to talk to Jill both Team Z-mates who were out there training, plus I just walked up a couple of hills. I really struggled to finish that last loop. But finish I did.
That night I went to a concert and everything seemed just fine. I can’t remember if I swam on Tuesday morning, but on Wednesday I volunteered at back to school night (my final one!) selling spirit wear then I visited each of my son’s classes. The next day I was feeling pretty bad. I skipped swim and went home from work early. I did stay the entire day on Friday, but Friday we close early. Anyway, I was supposed to do the Maryland Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday (10/3) but was just plain miserable. So I skipped it. Bummer.
Then I went back to work Monday and again left early. Tuesday I called in sick and made a doctor’s appointment. I’d been running a fever of 101* but my lungs were clear. I continued with the fever which was now 102* and aches and pains and by Thursday I’d developed bronchitis, as I went back to the doctor that afternoon. At this point I got an antibiotic and continued to rest. A lot.
The following week, last week, I went back to work but worked shortened days each day. This past Saturday (10/9) I finally went out for a test run. I did about 7.5 miles (not the 20 that I was supposed to). It had been 2 full weeks since I’d run. My right heel was still hurting. I did wear my ‘normal’ running shoes, this time. At that point the Marine Corps Marathon was 22 days away!! OMG. Saturday afternoon I went out and got some new/different shoe inserts and purchased ‘The Strassburg Sock’ to see if wearing it at night helped my heel pain. (The guy at =PR= also recommended new shoes, but I already had a brand spanking new pair at home that I'd planned to start using after the MCM.) Then Saturday late afternoon we (me, Jeff, the boys) drove to Pennsylvania for our NEW PUPPY, Riley!
Riley the Puppy, from Acme, PA!
Up in Pennsylvania the guys all went out ‘spotting’ (they saw about 107 deer and other various critters) while the girls stayed in with the puppies. Sunday was a good day – we went to a bingo tournament to benefit the Kerri Welc Memorial Scholarship Fund. Kerri was my cousin who in 1994 was sadly killed by a drunk driver about 2 weeks before her 19th birthday. She was a college freshman attending on a basketball scholarship. So very sad. But it is wonderful that my aunt and uncle started this scholarship fund. They award the scholarship to two local female students each year to help with college. One of the girls who had received this year’s award was there playing bingo, too. I played about 30 rounds of bingo, 25 of the rounds were 12 cards each!! I did not win a single game! I did win a door prize though – I got a pretty orange mum! Hopefully I can get it in the ground before I kill it. Then maybe it will come back next year! After bingo we brought Riley home. She did wonderfully in the car for nearly 4 hours!
So this week I FINALLY feel ‘normal’. My energy level is much better, though I’m pretty tired at night. And wearing the sock has helped my heel a bit. However...Sunday morning (10/10), I had woken up with a funny knee pain, kind of under the knee cap. Like it needed to pop. I don’t recall doing anything to it...other than I tripped going down the stairs Saturday morning. Then I ran *only* 7.5 miles. Then drove about 4 hours in the car. Who knows? It really bugged me! By Monday after work it was really hurting! But, yesterday and last night it was better and I did manage a 3 mile run, using the brand spanking new shoes and inserts. Today my schedule calls for 8 miles including speed work of 4x1600 with 800 jogs along with a warm-up and cool down. So...I will again strap on my brand new running shoes with the new inserts, hop on the treadmill, and do the best I can.
So now, the MCM is just 17 days and X hours away now. I feel like my fitness level has really dropped. But I know I have a good base (thanks for the reminder, Carol). So I will go out there and just do the best I can. At this point I don’t know if I will plan for the Richmond Half or not, which I had been thinking about, as opposed to the local Veteran’s Day 10K. I will see how I feel the week after MCM. I do however still want to do the Blue & Gray Half with Carol. Only this year it won’t be on her birthday. I did the 5K last year while Carol did the half. In the rain. My runner son may do the 5K this year!
Of course, just a little over a month away is the Virginia Run Turkey Trot. Hard to believe Thanksgiving is that close! And this year I hope to do a New Year’s Eve or Day race. Have to see what is on the calendar. I’m keeping positive about my heel and my knee.
Happy and Healthy Training!!
Up in Pennsylvania the guys all went out ‘spotting’ (they saw about 107 deer and other various critters) while the girls stayed in with the puppies. Sunday was a good day – we went to a bingo tournament to benefit the Kerri Welc Memorial Scholarship Fund. Kerri was my cousin who in 1994 was sadly killed by a drunk driver about 2 weeks before her 19th birthday. She was a college freshman attending on a basketball scholarship. So very sad. But it is wonderful that my aunt and uncle started this scholarship fund. They award the scholarship to two local female students each year to help with college. One of the girls who had received this year’s award was there playing bingo, too. I played about 30 rounds of bingo, 25 of the rounds were 12 cards each!! I did not win a single game! I did win a door prize though – I got a pretty orange mum! Hopefully I can get it in the ground before I kill it. Then maybe it will come back next year! After bingo we brought Riley home. She did wonderfully in the car for nearly 4 hours!
So this week I FINALLY feel ‘normal’. My energy level is much better, though I’m pretty tired at night. And wearing the sock has helped my heel a bit. However...Sunday morning (10/10), I had woken up with a funny knee pain, kind of under the knee cap. Like it needed to pop. I don’t recall doing anything to it...other than I tripped going down the stairs Saturday morning. Then I ran *only* 7.5 miles. Then drove about 4 hours in the car. Who knows? It really bugged me! By Monday after work it was really hurting! But, yesterday and last night it was better and I did manage a 3 mile run, using the brand spanking new shoes and inserts. Today my schedule calls for 8 miles including speed work of 4x1600 with 800 jogs along with a warm-up and cool down. So...I will again strap on my brand new running shoes with the new inserts, hop on the treadmill, and do the best I can.
So now, the MCM is just 17 days and X hours away now. I feel like my fitness level has really dropped. But I know I have a good base (thanks for the reminder, Carol). So I will go out there and just do the best I can. At this point I don’t know if I will plan for the Richmond Half or not, which I had been thinking about, as opposed to the local Veteran’s Day 10K. I will see how I feel the week after MCM. I do however still want to do the Blue & Gray Half with Carol. Only this year it won’t be on her birthday. I did the 5K last year while Carol did the half. In the rain. My runner son may do the 5K this year!
Of course, just a little over a month away is the Virginia Run Turkey Trot. Hard to believe Thanksgiving is that close! And this year I hope to do a New Year’s Eve or Day race. Have to see what is on the calendar. I’m keeping positive about my heel and my knee.
Happy and Healthy Training!!
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