So much for leading the pack. I ran 2 miles on Monday and then 3 today, and my leg hurts something awful. I was looking forward to running when I left for work this morning, but at about 11:00 I was dreading it because I knew my leg would hurt. I did it anyway, and then took two ibuprofen. All better....
Two of my friends at work who are running expressed an interest in the MIT program and so I have been giving them information as I get it. Last Saturday, one of them went to the orientation at 7:30 am (the first run started at 8) and then when she got out of the orientation she panicked and left. I never saw her. I guess trying to make your way through a couple hundred people in a high school hallway can be intimidating, even when you are an adult!
My first several times going to the Saturday runs I was very nervous. I spent half my morning in the bathroom until I absolutely had to go. I was ok once we started running, and felt great afterwards, but I had knots in my stomach before I left. It can be very intimidating to run with a lot of people, and then try to keep from looking like an idiot, or someone who shouldn't even be out there. When I first started running, I told my husband I wouldn't run anywhere except the cemetery so no one could see me except the dead.
But the MIT coaches are very encouraging, if not totally organized. They didn't really have a coach for anyone slower than 11:00 m/m pace, and removed the mile markers too soon in my opinion - us slow half marathoners were not going the distance the full marathoners were, and still needed to know where the first couple miles were (although having the Garmin Forerunner takes care of that issue for me!). But no one makes fun of you, and there are lots of different types of runners that come out. Everyone is supportive, and as they do the loop and pass you they will cheer you on. Even though it can be scary, I feel as though I would not stick with a training program if I didn't have a group to run with. And it's a great feeling to see them on the race course - if you have on your MIT gear someone will give you a "Yeah MIT!" as you run by.
This time it looks like they are more organized, too. The swag is nice (a very nice technical shirt and hat) and they already have a speaker schedule posted on their website. They have some new coaches and I think there are a lot of new people who will take some time to figure out where their pace is at.
The sport of running seems be at an all time popularity high. Almost everyone I talk to is running (or hates it - there is no in between!) or wants to get started. It's very exciting. It's a sport where you don't have to rely on anyone or anything but your feet. And elitists are few and far between (despite this ad to the contrary - some people will do anything to sell their product)- most people are really supportive.
I'm not sure why I felt the need to write this particular post, but I did. So there.
My new favorite show: The Closer. Gotta go.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Leading the Pack!
The winter Marathoner in Training (MIT) session started today. I was so energized. There were a lot of people and about half of them were new. The motto of MIT is "Run a Marathon, Change Your Life" and we were asked to raise our hand if running changed our lives. I raised my hand emphatically. Some of my running friends from the last time were there, which was nice. One of them is training for the Disney Marathon, so she's up to 20 miles! She and I met each other when we were getting lost doing a six miler some time in June, so it's great to see how far she's come.
I was so excited to start running again. Unlike the majority of last season, I actually started with the 11:00 m/m pace group and ended up leading them, sort of. I broke off and went on my own ahead of them after the first mile. I had my music player, my new winter running pants and some terrific adrenaline. Most of the group I was with only did three miles, including me. We went from the high school and then on the bike path and turned around. The last .75 miles was an eye opener for the newbies. It's the same hill we went DOWN when we started, but when you have to go back up it to get to the end of the run it can wear you out if you are not used to it. Quite a few people were walking up the hill. When we got to the end I heard one of the participants at the water station exclaim, "No wonder I could do an 11:00 minute pace when we started - we were going downhill!" Yep. It's a great way to start, but a pain to finish.
I got a huge kick out of one man at the water station who commented to me - "Looks like you were leading the pack!" I needed to hear that, after all the pain and PT and trepidation from my shin splints that I've experienced in the last year. When I got into the car I had to call my husband and tell him all about it (even though I only live five minutes away).
Now at 8:30 p.m. my legs are throbbing. I guess it's the price you pay for the "rush" of the run.
Two weeks ago I was limping when I would start out my run because my legs were so tight. And afterwards I would practically limp home. I resolved to see the doctor again. I did see the doctor again this week, but when I went to see him my legs didn't hurt nearly as bad. I felt like I had taken my car into the shop and it wouldn't make that annoying noise for anyone else to hear. Nevertheless, I asked about orthotics, and I go in next week to get a cast of my feet. In the meantime I am trying to run a little differently - stick my chest out more and run a little more from my hips/quads. I think I have been using my lower legs for the majority of the work and this might be part of the problem. It seems to be working pretty well but we'll see how the next few weeks play out. How much do you want to bet I'll have ITBS next?
I was so excited to start running again. Unlike the majority of last season, I actually started with the 11:00 m/m pace group and ended up leading them, sort of. I broke off and went on my own ahead of them after the first mile. I had my music player, my new winter running pants and some terrific adrenaline. Most of the group I was with only did three miles, including me. We went from the high school and then on the bike path and turned around. The last .75 miles was an eye opener for the newbies. It's the same hill we went DOWN when we started, but when you have to go back up it to get to the end of the run it can wear you out if you are not used to it. Quite a few people were walking up the hill. When we got to the end I heard one of the participants at the water station exclaim, "No wonder I could do an 11:00 minute pace when we started - we were going downhill!" Yep. It's a great way to start, but a pain to finish.
I got a huge kick out of one man at the water station who commented to me - "Looks like you were leading the pack!" I needed to hear that, after all the pain and PT and trepidation from my shin splints that I've experienced in the last year. When I got into the car I had to call my husband and tell him all about it (even though I only live five minutes away).
Now at 8:30 p.m. my legs are throbbing. I guess it's the price you pay for the "rush" of the run.
Two weeks ago I was limping when I would start out my run because my legs were so tight. And afterwards I would practically limp home. I resolved to see the doctor again. I did see the doctor again this week, but when I went to see him my legs didn't hurt nearly as bad. I felt like I had taken my car into the shop and it wouldn't make that annoying noise for anyone else to hear. Nevertheless, I asked about orthotics, and I go in next week to get a cast of my feet. In the meantime I am trying to run a little differently - stick my chest out more and run a little more from my hips/quads. I think I have been using my lower legs for the majority of the work and this might be part of the problem. It seems to be working pretty well but we'll see how the next few weeks play out. How much do you want to bet I'll have ITBS next?
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The True Cost of Christmas Spoons
Ok so I'm lazy. Lame. Whatever you want to call it. Christmas shopping stresses me out. And the thought of standing in line at the post office? Forget it.
Yesterday I took my two year old out shopping and I found one thing on my list after 2 hours. I drove all over the place, maneuvered around lots of people, and picked up after my Little Tornado tore store shelves apart. He LOVED the bookstores. I had to take the Little Tornado, you see, because my six year old was having his inaugural Pokemon club meeting, and the last thing five six year olds want hanging around is a two year old, and LT would not understand. So he came along with me.
After that delightful experience yesterday, I resolved not to do anymore physical shopping if I could help it. I'm now halfway done with my shopping, thanks to Amazon.com. But at what cost? One of the items I purchased for my brother who just recently became a father with twin girls is a set of baby spoons. But the spoons don't come from directly from Amazon so they have to be shipped separate from other gifts I bought. The shipping for the spoons cost almost as much as the spoons themselves!
At least if my nieces are true to their heritage, they will use those spoons with gusto, and not look back. We like to eat, you see.... My brother even has a food fetish - he takes pictures of his food before he eats it. Like this one, and this one, and this one. You get the idea.
And speaking of eating, I ran again outside. 2 miles. I limped for the first few steps then loosened up enough to run with a dull pain. I wore my new running pants since it was so cold outside. When I was done and limped home, I resolved to call the doctor again for some deep tissue massage and a prescription for orthotics. It's my last resort.
Yesterday I took my two year old out shopping and I found one thing on my list after 2 hours. I drove all over the place, maneuvered around lots of people, and picked up after my Little Tornado tore store shelves apart. He LOVED the bookstores. I had to take the Little Tornado, you see, because my six year old was having his inaugural Pokemon club meeting, and the last thing five six year olds want hanging around is a two year old, and LT would not understand. So he came along with me.
After that delightful experience yesterday, I resolved not to do anymore physical shopping if I could help it. I'm now halfway done with my shopping, thanks to Amazon.com. But at what cost? One of the items I purchased for my brother who just recently became a father with twin girls is a set of baby spoons. But the spoons don't come from directly from Amazon so they have to be shipped separate from other gifts I bought. The shipping for the spoons cost almost as much as the spoons themselves!
At least if my nieces are true to their heritage, they will use those spoons with gusto, and not look back. We like to eat, you see.... My brother even has a food fetish - he takes pictures of his food before he eats it. Like this one, and this one, and this one. You get the idea.
And speaking of eating, I ran again outside. 2 miles. I limped for the first few steps then loosened up enough to run with a dull pain. I wore my new running pants since it was so cold outside. When I was done and limped home, I resolved to call the doctor again for some deep tissue massage and a prescription for orthotics. It's my last resort.
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