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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