12200

One week to go

I was really starting to have doubts this week. Every time I would try to run, I got very tired and had to walk part of it. Never got over 4 miles. I thought I was psyching myself out of running longer. Today I'm convinced the heat and humidity were just more than I was used to. After the cold front passed through and it stopped raining this morning, I carbed up on a pancake and syrup, hydrated, stretched, and walked out the door with a fully-charged iPod and nearly-dead Garmin watch. Thankfully the battery on the watch lasted the whole run or I probably wouldn't have taken the extra lap around the block to give me 7 miles. Not only that, but with the exception of mile 2, every mile was faster than the one prior. I knew things were going well when I saw 4 miles on my watch, because I almost always have trouble after mile 3.

I put this week's times in my spreadsheet and I also passed 300 miles for the year, today.

I just hope the weather next Saturday morning is as perfect...and now I need to get used to running without my music.

Goal acheived

After my not-favorite day, I actually ended up having a really good week. I was back to running the next day, doing 3-4 miles during the first half of the week. On Thursday of that week I ran 5 miles just to see if I could. ORRRC had a 10K race on Saturday, so I took Friday off, still not sure that I really wanted to try 6.2 miles for the first time in a race. But I did, 6 weeks before my original goal date. I took my time on the relatively flat (except up and over Taylorsville Dam) out-and-back bike-trail course, on which I had to pass the place where I had previously passed out.

Shin splints are still a struggle, but I keep doing exercises to strengthen those muscles, and need to add a bit more rest into my schedule. Maybe some strength training on days off, instead.

I found this picture from last October and it's pretty difficult to look at, at this point. I'm still stuck around the 220 mark, but I know I can run 10K at that weight if I have to, and I still think I can get to 199 before the end of the year.

Not my favorite day

I think it's safe to call this a memorable week. Last weekend I finally got back to comfortable 5K runs, just in time for a timed ORRRC race with 250 other people. Finally passed 200 miles on my Thursday run after sunset. Did my first 4-mile run since 1 April this morning (Saturday). My weight is going back in the right direction, though I'm no longer confident I can get below 200 before 15 September.

Then I got a text from my mom asking me to bike with her. It never crossed my mind until late that I had only eaten a banana and some Gatorade because I wasn't hungry and it was only 10 AM. After riding about 7 miles on the bike trail north of Taylorsville Dam, I coasted into the parking lot and lost my balance as I was simultaneously slowing and pulling my shoes from the pedal clips. I was mad that I fell, but wasn't badly hurt and even told the woman who asked twice that I was fine. I picked up the bike and my sunglasses, walked over to the car. I realized my elbow was bleeding and asked my mom to grab some napkins from my glove box. She noticed my face was pale and I started feeling dizzy, so I leaned back against the rear quarter panel of the car. I closed my eyes to try to let the dizziness pass, but the next thing I remember I was sitting on the ground next to the car with three people around me and water being poured on my head. I felt okay, but I knew I didn't sit down and I was hearing that I passed out. I passed out a second time and woke up laying down, where I stayed until the ambulance got there. I really didn't want to to go the emergency room, but everyone told me I should. All tests were fine. I got a unit of saline fluid through an IV and was finally released after a couple hours. Never tested low for blood sugar even though I probably should have eaten something more before the bike ride. The P.A. at the E.R. chalked it up to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response


Not my favorite day.

Back...for real

I'm finally back to running.

My post-injury goal was to be running again by June 15th, since that was exactly 3 months before the Air Force Marathon. I was able to start back on the 11th, but I still didn't fully understand my shin splints until the 13th when I was volunteering at a water stop for a trail run. The guy working with me gave me some leg exercises with a paint can hanging from my foot. It strengthens the shin muscles to balance the calf growth that occurs in a new runner.

I've also changed the way I run, taking shorter steps and landing mid-foot with my body weight over top, not behind, my foot.

Any pain that was left is nearly gone, and I'm building my endurance back up, but still only at about 1/2 my previous time/distance I was running in March. I keep adding 1/4-mile every few days, so my body is getting used to it again. I'm sure I can be ready by September 15th, and I want to be down to 199 pounds by then.

More than 13 miles last week, running every day.

Over 160 miles for the year. Should have been a lot more, but I can't change that now.

2012

For a few months,  I really thought this was going to be a great year. I was running 3-5 days a week. I lost 25 pounds. I got more hours at work.

It's disheartening how quickly things can turn around.

I've been dealing with shin issues since mid-March. Every time I think it's healed, it starts to hurt again. I've gained 5 pounds back. I'm losing my job. Then today I managed to break both the outside water faucet AND my lawnmower (I tried to go too close to a stump and got the blade stuck. Now it makes noise and vibrates severely).

It's a bit overwhelming.

5 months

I've only run once this month. Only April 1st I ran 4.6, but the first mile caused some shin splint pain. I've taken some real time off to rest, but I was concerned about a stress fracture. X-rays didn't show anything, so I'm on Naproxen through the end of the week, only biking and walking on occasion. My weight loss has halted, so I'm going to have to work harder on the nutrition side (hoping to run the 10K at 200 pounds in 151 days. Will be about 50 pounds less than I was January 1st.)

I also bought a pair of compression sleeves for my calves. Supposed to help with shin splints. Increased blood flow and reduced vibration. I'm hoping this is the end of this problem because I really need to get back on my feet and log some miles. Can't wait to pass 5 miles.