Back to Where We Started

I just can't kick it.  Everything hurt from the very beginning of this run, and no amount of stretching was making it better - maybe worse, actually.

 Yeah, that's not going to work out very well...

So, we're back at square one.  I'm trying to take it easy (well, except for soccer...), but it's again, getting discouraging.  I'll be looking up a specialists to go from here.  This marathon is not going to work out very well if I can't get the miles in.

I did do a bike ride the other day - only about 13ish miles.  Felt good, but I know there's room for improvement.  There's room for improvement across the board at this point.  Swimming, biking, running are all suffering.  Maybe it's late and I'm tired (post-soccer), and feel like I'll never get anywhere with this.  Darn leg!

D

Running Total:
March:  21.79
2012:  85.07

First POST long run, run...

So, definitely sore tonight.  I actually had to decide after about a mile or so if I wanted to continue.  My legs felt dead, and I was feeling light headed and shaky.  Luckily, I continued on to finish the run.  After about another half-mile, I was back to my regular self.  The run:

There are a couple decent sized hills on this route!  The weather was warm, although super windy. I was feeling crappy at about "mile 2", but I kept on.

Erin kept me company during the run.  August also jumped in for the first mile or so (hence, the double back to the house), but him joining us for the run was not to be.  Aside from general fatigue, my left leg definitely acted up again.  I'm taking a break from my stretching to post to the blog, and I'm already planning on resting tomorrow.  After a solid week of no pain, I guess I should have expected it to kick in at some point.  Oh well - it's all part of the process.

Well, I have a small spreadsheet set up to guide and track my mileage vs. a more formal training schedule.  I've set up a beginner and an intermediate sheet for comparison.  I'm more concerned about following the beginner sheet, whereas Erin would like to go intermediate.  As it ends up, we're hugging the middle right now.  Well... we're actually LITERALLY hugging the middle.  We haven't been running on the actual dates that it calls for, instead, running on the days it calls for rest.  It's sort of screwed up actually.  I'll post the sheet as it plays out now, but my hope is that either we'll change the setup to something that works better, or we'll "get on track".  Also note that the first week and a half, I was still in what was basically a "no-run" rehab break - the mileage will improve.

Beginner:

Now that I'm back running, I'm starting to get back on track.

Intermediate:

I've got a lot of pavement to pound if I'm going to get on this schedule...

Like I said, I'll finagle the plan(s) until I find something that works.  Don't count on me to shoot for the Intermediate plan though - just something in between.

And with this incredibly long post, I'm off to stretch and watch Colbert...

Dar-run

Running Total:
March:  20.02
2012:  83.30

The First Long Run

The temperature was rather pleasant, the wind a little strong, and the sky was of a partly cloudy disposition.  Therefore, it seemed like a good idea to knock out a long run.  I was only shooting for 8 miles, but Erin wanted longer.  Our baby sitter time was also running short, so we compromised.

We'll call this one the "Aldi Run" - since it goes to the Aldi at 67th and Lackman.  Our first big run of the year - very windy, but a good mix of hills and flat running.  Best of all, I didn't die.

We finally ran to the South and West!  In and around Shawnee Mission Parkway is anything but scenic, but once you get past it your into some new terrain - so that was nice.  Erin and I ran a very similar route to this when we were training for our half ironman way back when.  At that time, we ran off of the Turkey Creek trails around 71st st and wound our way over to 67th and Lackman.  That made for a long, 12 mile day.  I think we'll be pulling off those types of runs shortly.

Our pace was a little faster than I wanted to go.  Actually, I think the pace breakdown would put us at a 1:59 half-marathon time! We actually started off fairly reasonably (shooting for about a 9:45ish pace), but as we realized we were passing our available babysitter time window, we picked up the pace.  I suspect our closing 2 miles were pushing a low 8 minute mile pace. Gotta do what you gotta do though.  I think we could have leveled out and finished a half-marathon run in about that 2 hour window, so that's pretty encouraging!  About the wind - we had a strong WNW wind.  The run out to the West was a little rough at times, but what goes around comes around.  Having a sail on the way home would have made for an excellent finish.

Well, that's it for now.  I delayed mentioning this, but I had NO pain in my leg!  The stretching and strengthening exercises are working!  I finally feel like this marathon could happen.  I'm also fairly confident that I could fake a half-marathon if I had to (you know, zombies and such).  I think we're going to look for a late April / early May run to help us get mentally prepared (and replace our long run that week).  Next week, I think we'll step up to something around 10-12 miles - possibly the full Irish Run.  Stay Tuned!

D

Running Total:
March:  14.42
2012:  77.70

Getting Back Into It - Long Way To Go!

Legs feel like Jell-o, but Erin and I got another run in.

It's actually quite hilly.  Honestly, that's why it took us such a long time to finish... that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

August even joined us for this one.  It's a bruiser of a run - actually has several hills that will knock your confidence down a notch or two.  But, I guess I'm good for that right now.  I'm hoping I can sneak another run in (or 2 by the end of the weekend), but the weather is supposed to be lousy, so we'll see what happens.  A treadmill might be in my future.

I think this month is starting out pretty well.  I went and saw the doctor earlier this evening!  I "re-upped" my Advair prescription, got a new rescue inhaler, and had him evaluate my leg.  Consensus - Hip Flexior (sp?).  I'm doing stretches and strengthening exercises, and I was also prescribed an anti-inflammatory that I can take to help with the muscle pain.  He didn't think I could hurt it any more, and I would safely be able to work through it.  Only time will tell, but I'm already miles further (literally) than where I was a month ago.  :)

Need to keep this short - Expect my actual plan (which I put on a spreadsheet today) to come out this weekend.  Also, expect my mileage to start taking off.  Still bums me out that my February was so anemic, but I have a feeling I'll make it up.  To the shower, and off to bed I go!

D

Running Total:
March:  5.34
2012:  68.62