What’s Wrong With This Picture?

piling up ~ unopened

I’ll tell you what’s wrong, I’m a little behind in my running reading. It’s hard to read about running when you are not enjoying it and injured (as I had been the last few months.) This pile of running magazines was hidden under an assortment of mail and paperwork that I discovered the other day.

Yesterday my son had a swim meet and so I brought the Runner’s World Magazine, which is from last month I think, even though it’s June’s issue-you know they are always one month ahead-I’ve never understood that logic.

If you’ve ever been to a swim meet, aside from the gaggling you might engage in with the other swimmer’s moms (and dads), there really isn’t much to do unless you love to watch the other kids swimming. Note: there are over 200 kids on our team alone. My son has been on this team for 9 years and frankly, this mom is tired of “longer than they should be” swim meets. Don’t get me wrong, I love to watch my son swim and a few of his friends, but the rest… meh. He had a great meet yesterday. But the in-between time… zzzzzzz, which equals hours of down time! Not to mention the fact that the person who broke my heart 3 years ago, the one in the My Story post, is there. No, I’m not bitter. Shit happens and if that hadn’t had happened I wouldn’t be a runner so it’s actually all good. Just wanted to vent for a second. 

As I was saying, swim team, well at least this team isn’t always so fun for me. Anyhow… just sitting around (since all my “mom friends” had left early) I took advantage of two things. I sat in the sun and got some color (just in time for my trip this week to Vegas!) and I finally had time to read my running magazine! I read it from cover to cover. Just like old times. I’ll put the other two magazines in my carry-on this week even though I don’t anticipate reading much in Vegas.

This morning I planned a 10 mile run, as I have a half marathon in 2 weeks and I haven’t run more than 8.25 in the last month or so. I ended up running 11.5 because I decided to push myself a bit farther. I’m glad I did, it gave me the confidence that I could pull off the 13.1. If you’ve been reading then you know my goal for this half is just to have fun and finish. I don’t want to get caught up in numbers. Although… I did run exactly or just under what my training plan, the one I’m not really even following anymore, said to run: 13 miles at a pace of 9:47. I know, I didn’t run the full 13, but my average pace was 9:37. So on target for todays long run anyhow. (My initial plan for this race was to run a 1:50 race and PR. But I haven’t done any of the speed work etc, so I am not expecting that sort of time or any PR really.)

I always seem to crank out a faster pace towards the end of my long runs. Maybe I’m excited that I’m almost done. Today I did chew a few jelly belly energy beans right before that, something I will plan on at the half if I start to fade.

perfect combo for today’s hot weather

I also still love my Athleta black Swagger skort. It is my very favorite thing to run in! And, for this long run today I didn’t wear the compression sleeves-the first time for a long run. My calves felt good! I am wearing them now though for recovery… just as a precaution. Unfortunately, I still have some blister issues on the bottom of the ball of my foot. Which makes every foot strike, well… you know, a pain.

When my blisters started to hurt, beginning with mile 2 (ugh), I thought about what I had read in RW magazine yesterday. A man (Matt Miller) from Austin TX lost his fingers and all but two toes from frostbite when he was stranded overnight after a fall on a mountain glacier a decade ago. He then became a runner kicking ass on a half marathon just over a month after the amputations. He’s run 5 marathons since with amazing times. Thinking of him gave me the extra motivation to push through the pain in the ball of my foot. I mean, that is nothing in comparison. I can’t even imagine what running without toes feels like. I thought of him a few times during my run.

I have missed reading my Runner’s World Magazine. Those types of stories make running so much more sweeter motivating me to do more than I ever think I can. So, thank you RW and Matt for your inspiration today!

Who’s That Girl?

It’s me!! Really. I imagine that I may not look as recognizable at first when I’m running around town – just another runner out there. And, that’s what I am. And that makes me happy! I look like everyone else now because I am not running in my compression sleeves anymore. Look: bare legs!!

naked legs

This past week has been the happiest running I have had in months! I am so excited! I think the new shoes combined with the physical therapy has equalled happy running. I am actually excited to do the half marathon in a couple weeks. Even though I am not going to run it for a PR… well… um… after todays run I am feeling like it could be a possibility. But no! I am not going to even entertain that thought at that race. Just want to do it and have fun. No expectations! I mean it!

So, pretend that I’m not showing you my splits right now for today’s run. By some runner’s standards these are not all that fast, but for me… it’s great. It’s where I was a few months ago before injury. YAY!!

speedy michele today!

Alright… you didn’t really see that. And I’m not thinking “wouldn’t it be great to keep that pace up for the half,” nope.

Here is what is lame. I actually ran just under 6 miles. I had just one tenth left to make 6, but stopped because I had hit the end of my path and wasn’t watching my tracker. So you can’t see that in that last mile I was booking. I looked at my pace and it said 7:40. Oh Yeah!

This is why I picked up the pace after that slower fifth mile. I was running towards home, about half a mile away, and I see this guy standing on the sidewalk outside the gym looking my way. At first I was thinking… why is he watching that woman walking towards me? Then I could feel that he was waiting for me. Still I wasn’t sure who it was. That is until I was about 10 yards away. Then yay! It was my friend and amazing ultra runner, Andrew. He said… “I thought that was you, but wasn’t sure.” And then commented on how I wasn’t wearing my calf sleeves. OR… let’s go out on a limb… he wasn’t sure it was me since I was running so speedy! Okay, just kidding.

What he said next is what got me all pumped up. He said he wanted to come to my run club and had some people who wanted to come too. Not tomorrow, but in a few weeks since I have to cancel next week’s club unless folks want to venture to Vegas, cuz that’s where I’ll be. The exciting part about Andrew wanting to come to my run club is that he is the head of another club for a competitor-of which I ran with last summer, so shhh… I hope it’s ok to say that. That just made me so frickin happy. After all, we should all support one another out there. I would still run with them if I could, just that I work on their run club day. Anyway, hearing that just got me fired up. So I pushed hard the last half mile and it felt fantastic! I had some serious adrenaline in my Brooks Adrenalines! Awesomeness!

So that’s the scoop… I run now like everyone else! I have bare legs! Those dorky calf compression sleeves were once my trademark, but no more. They are going in the drawer and I’ll wear them on Sunday’s after my long runs for recovery.

Floating

Yesterday I was floating in my new Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 shoes. Their advertisement on facebook for this shoe says that you will feel like you are floating. I must say… I was! These are not my first pair of Adrenaline’s. I have a pair from a couple generations ago. They were good then and I am happy to be back in them again… so far. It’s only been one run afterall. But I am hopeful for a bright (bright pink) future in them. In fact, I don’t know why I let the sales guy talk me into the Trance last summer when this shoe was working perfectly fine for me. Sometimes the best things for us are right in front of us, and not something we think is going to be better on the horizon.

i seem to have a thing for pink lately

I wore them for my Athleta Run Club session. We ran 4 miles. It was really nice out and the loop we’ve been doing from the store is perfect as the bulk of the run is shaded. As always, spectacular views of the bay and San Francisco. Connie has been consistent in showing up for club and it’s been great as she is prepping for a local 10K on Memorial Day that I agreed to run with her. Note that I am going to run WITH her. I am not going to run this race for me, but for her. I will be there encouraging her the whole way. I believe that to be my role here, as I am the leader of this club and want to inspire others to run and love it the way I do. It is also a relief to let go of wanting a PR. Right now, post injury is not the time for such thoughts. I also spied the countdown on my blog referring to the impending half marathon in… 23 days! I am not really trained for that race. I realize I have 3 weeks, but I haven’t run but one 10 miler since the marathon in March. I am planning on an 8 mile run this weekend. Earlier this week I was thinking I would pass on the half. Then a running friend and the coach of my son’s high school cross country team came in the store the other day and we talked aobut it. That was when I decided to run the 10K as a companion (similar to Sonja running the Turkey Trot 10K with me last fall-thank you S.C.) and this half marathon as a training run, per her suggestion. See… I am wise enough to listen to others. Taking off the need to PR is very liberating. I can still run and have fun. And chocolate and champagne at the end of that half.

my faithful run club go girl, connie -note that there are no calf sleeves on my legs!

Last Friday I started physical therapy on my calves. I’m still reeling over the therapists comment when she first saw my calves: “Wow, you have BIG calves!.” Um Thanks… I think. I don’t really like my calves as far as body parts go. I think they are not as defined as I’d like them. Even though today she remarked that they are strong, they don’t look like it.

In a nutshell this is what she said I need to do: Stretch. Like, all the time. Bascially stretch my calves this often-breakfast, lunch, dinner and the snacks in between. As if I don’t have enough to do. It’s not just doing calf stretches either. I have six different exercises to  perform on a um… daily basis. Okay, I haven’t been super diligent in that department. I mean, I already do stretches (some of the ones they want me to do) everyday as it is. But I haven’t really added calf raises everyday. I did them twice in the last week. I also was only suppose to not run more than 4 miles on my runs. I ran 5.25, then 6 and 4 yesterday. My calf felt fine for each of those runs I’m happy to report. In fact, I have been feeling so good, that for my club run I decided to forego all the usual stuff, the annoying apparatus that I usually put on for a run, and run free. That’s right. The new shoes meant ditching the silicone toe covers. I have to see if I get blisters afterall. And since I was doing that I thought, why not ditch the compression sleeves. I mean, I am soooo sick of wearing them! Even though someone recently told me they were sexy, lol, I’m ready to run without them. I don’t like that I’ve been dependent on them for almost two years! So, my lower body was naked for once, and it felt great!

Today at therapy I said the calves were feeling better. But, I am still having some plantar pain in my stupid left foot. Always the left foot. Sometimes in the right. She worked on my foot so much, including ultra sound, that it is still slightly throbbing now as I type this. She added… yep you guess it… more stretches. She said my left foot is so tight and my toes too, that I need to stretch my toes back throughout the day as well. I felt the “poor Michele” sigh come out of her a few times today. I guess I am so used to the tightness that I didn’t realize how bad they really are. My legs are also a little fatigued because she made me do a bunch of calf raises. I guess I will need to get to work on that!

This weekend I will attempt to run 8 miles, on Mother’s Day. A gift for myself. I may even venture out without my compression sleeves, my handicap, but even as I write that, I’m not sure I’m brave enough.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mother’s out there!!

The End

Dear Saucony Pro Grids,

I am so sorry, but I think our time together has come to an end. I tried over and over to make things work between us, but we are just not jelling. Each time we get together it starts off great, but a few miles in you start to do that thing you do. You know. You push me at just the right places and make me irritated which eventually leads to pain.

I will always remember our time together… I think. You did bring some good into my life. You helped me heal an old wound and for that I am grateful.

I wish things could be different, but sometimes some relationships are just not meant to be. I know we will still be friends. I’ll keep you in the back of my closet, for just the right occasions. But for now, I need to move on. I know you will be fine and there will be many more relationships in your future.

Fondly,

M

PS. Your cousin, Mr. Kinvara II, is still hovering around, so I hope you don’t mind if I check out the possibility of a future with him, although it will be limited as I believe him to be a bit of a troublemaker!

27 Candles… A Birthday Run

Today is my birthday. Yeah!!! I am 47, but I sure don’t feel that old. Well, maybe my calf does a little, but too bad… the mind is in charge here, so calf, get with the program. We have a lot of miles to still cover and I’m counting on you. In fact, I’ve decided to celebrate this one as my 20th anniversary of my 27th birthday. Because, that is how old I feel inside—27 and fabulous!

Last Friday the foot doc gave me the green light to try running since I had major improvement with my plantar fasciitis. (NOTE: I asked about the shorter leg measurements and it’s only a bit more than half an inch, not over like I imagined, which I said was normal… right? But the doc told me that for my size it is rather significant, so there you go.)

On Sunday I went for my first run in over a week. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I had a new friend to run with, which was exciting in itself, and we headed for Phoenix Lake for what I thought would be my typical loop (5 miles) to and around the lake and back. I always park my car in the small town of Ross and run in the mile or so to the trail head as parking right there is extremely limited. The doc told me to do a run/walk (actually on my treadmill), but heading out was too good to resist.

We started off running, but only made it half way around the lake, maybe 2.5 miles when we just stopped running. Not because either of us couldn’t run, but because it was just lovely out and we decided to walk and talk and ventured off hiking up a trail from the main path. In fact, I never ran again that day, so my run turned into a hike, lounge atop the hill in the sun (yes, I got a little burned) and enjoy the scenic views this area had to offer. I must say, it was the most spectacular run/walk/hike/lounge I have had around that lake. A cool treat of gelato followed. It was a perfect (and much needed) day, culminating with a generous dinner at Morton’s steak house with my family to celebrate my son’s 18th birthday. Seriously, how the hell do I have an 18 year old?

Then on Monday, feeling like I didn’t do a proper run (but not regretting it for a second), I set out on my typical 6 mile loop around my town, which was really stupid since I haven’t run much in the last week and am coming back from various injuries. I think I was still high on my previous day’s fabulous activities and got a little over ambitious. Oh well. The first 5+ miles were great filled with goofy smiles and random laughter. But, just like the week before, I  started having some tightness in my calf (the bad one), so I stopped running a quarter mile from home and walked the remainder. For a second I was a little bummed out, but then that feeling dissipated. I really believe all the injury nonsense will settle down soon (yes, I am feeling very optimistic, and not just because it’s my birthday!!) and I have set up my physical therapy appointment for Friday–I can’t wait.

brookfield ~ off the beaten track®

I don’t think it’s too horrible either because I was able to pull off wearing these fabulous new platform shoes (from Athleta.com – sizes are limited) to work for my 4 hour shift yesterday on the hard concrete floor with no adverse effects!! Things are looking up!! Mine were in grey and were another fabulous return I scooped up on Monday!

Today, for my birthday, I did a shorter run. Nice and easy. It was just a little over 4 miles and thank goodness—no calf pain! Hooray!!

another steller day, marsh run

I could have skipped running on my birthday, but for me, that is a treat, not a chore! Plus, I have some fabulous (how many times have I said fabulous?) plans for dinner at one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Sushi Ran in Sausalito. So burning a few extra calories is never a bad idea. This is the first of many celebrations–Vegas later this month–yeah baby! I’m pretty excited. So far, it’s the best birthday in a very long time. Turning 27 (for the 20th time) is looking pretty damn fabulous.