Mojo, Where Are You?

My excuses have been many. Injured? Check. Traveling? Check. Busy due to horrible work demands? Check. No clean running clothes? Check (I know this is lame because I've worn the same running shirt more than once - don't hate, you've done it, too!). The excuses continue to mount. I've had 3...maybe 4 good runs since January. And now it's March. March? How can it be March and my mileage is only tipping in at...hmmm...lemme see if I can calculate this right...16 miles.

Running mojo, where are you?

Break Over

I took a little break from blogging - mostly because I ran out of stuff to say...and stuff to do. I had injured my foot from my overzelous race schedule (you know, running 4 half marathons in 4 weeks) and needed a break. Ahhh, and let me tell you, I feel repaired and refreshed...and plumper (unfortunately). Five weeks of no running kind of adds a little sumthin' sumthin' to the waistline, which is going to require a little extra effort over the next few weeks to remove!

My foot feels normal again and no other body parts are barking at me. I even ran two pain-free miles the other night. And I've been enjoying cross training, which I started this week. Who knew 2 miles on the indoor track could seem like an endurance training event? Yeah, this girl! After 5 weeks of vegetation, I actually feel like I'm starting at ground zero. No worries, this week I've run, biked, and did the elliptical (what do you do on an elliptical anyway? It's not running or walking or stairstepping?). Tonight, I have yoga and and tomorrow is Zumba class with my daughter.

I never knew slowing down could be so fun.

First (Real) Long Run of the Year

Just knocked out an 8 miler bright and early. I smiled the entire run, said hello to strangers and even took a picture of ducks as if it was the first time I saw wildlife. I was happy to be out there running. There was no speed and even though I walked one minute after each mile (to reduce strain to the knee), I still managed to hit 12:00 minute miles. Plenty of room for improvement, but if I'm going to build mileage for the upcoming June half marathon, then I also have to be smart about it. Beautiful day today and I ended the week logging in 20 miles!

Favorite running music today - the Foo Fighters latest!

Oh, the best reward to a long run: sampling Willoughby Brewing's Peanut Butter Coffee Porter on tap at Happy Dog tonight!

Hal Higdon It Is

In my home and work life, I am a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I thrive on chaos (I deal regularly with labor relations issues, so that's a plus) and I love spontaneity and risk. But when it comes to my running, I crave the structure of a tried and true training plan. Thank you Hal Higdon. I am hoping that good old Hal's intermediate half marathon training plan will lead to a successful performance in Alaska. I can't be alone in my excitement of filling in dates and marking up a calendar For long runs, tempos and speed workouts.

While home with a sick kid today, I had the chance to see Spirit of the Marathon on the Documentary Channel. The marathon distance really is a physical and mental roller coaster. And I can't wait to jump back on the ride again. Hmm...I might have to consider a late fall marathon. Between having a great run earlier today, Hal Higdon's training plan and this movie, I'm feeling incredibly motivated!

Getting Back My Mojo

At the risk of sounding very Austin Powers-ish (yeah, Baby), I am getting my mojo back...my running mojo, that is. I have now run (or is it ran) three times and everything just feels right. I've been following the schedule outlined by my physical therapist, which requires only 24 minutes of running for the first two weeks on alternating days using a run/walk formula, which changes with each run. I started out walking 4 minutes, running 2 minutes 4 times. I'm now at 2 minutes walking, 4 minutes running and should be hitting one minute walking with 10 minutes running by the weekend. I find that I'm running comfortably, with no knee pain. My legs feel more engaged so I'm guessing that means less stress on the knees. Love love love getting back to what I know and enjoy!

So, really, Boston Athletic Association? You have to break my spirit by making the qualifying times THAT MUCH HARDER. And, even if the sun shines just right and the rainbows come out with their pot of gold, and I actually qualify...I will be one of the slower finishers. Based upon the graduated scale, I don't have a shot in hell of acceptance. But that's ok. I'll knock off the State of Massachusetts by running the Cape Cod Dunkin Donuts marathon. I'm sure the post-race food will be amazing!

Physical Therapy: Running Analysis

What a humbling experience to undergo a running analysis - to see yourself running in slow motion. On the one hand, I can still see some MILD quad definition left over from 2 marathons, 6 half marathons and a half dozen other races during 2010. On the other hand, I can also see 3 months of a dormant running life taking its cellulite toll! Sigh, not pretty.

Turns out I have a mild care of knock knees. I actually googled this because I didn't even know if it was nock or knock. Thank goodness Google always asks, "Did you mean..." to which I am always grateful that some wiseguy geek programmer didn't write the program message with "Hey dumbass, what you really meant to ask is..." So due to my knock knee alignment, hip strengthening exercises are even more important for me. No problem - I now have a vast library of exercises to pull from!



The running analysis also revealed that my ankles roll the right amount, my heel strike is good, my arm swing and torso alignment is good (the muffin top not so good) and that I'm in the right shoe "for me." Continued work is needed on my hips as my right hip really drops everytime my left knee strikes the ground. Good news overall and I've been cleared to start running again! For the next 2 weeks, I'll follow a run/walk program, but no complaining here. I had my first "run" today with no pain and I'm over-the-top happy!

Best News from PT

Physical therapy was awesome yesterday. I totally enjoy seeing my PT each week and love that she increases the intensity of my exercises. I tried one legged squats today and can actually see the difference in my form. Best news of all, though. She told me that next week I get to run! She told me to pull my hair up in a ponytail because I'm going to sweat!!! I am over-the-top with joy. During next week's session, I'll be on the treadmill having my form critiqued. Apparently, it will be taped from several different angles and then played back to show me where my form is weak and what I'm doing wrong. I can hardly wait. I just know Tuesday night will be like the night before the first day of school - you know, when you toss and turn and can't sleep a wink. I mean, come on, running...I might actually get to start running REGULARLY again!

Hope you're having the best week ever as well!

I Ran

It.was.freaking.wonderful! Just 2 miles on the treadmill at a snail's pace, but it brought the biggest smile to my face all afternoon. Hope your weekend starts off as well as mine!

The Beauty of Doing Something Different

Today I swam. Not far. But I just let my body get reacquainted with the smoothness of water and it felt good. I have been running and racing practically nonstop since January, trying to check off as many states. While I gained multiple states...I began losing my love for running. It started to become work. I also wasn't able to fit in swimming, biking or weekly yoga sessions...causing me to lose balance. So I'm stepping back...and over this holiday season I'll be swimming, biking and doing sun salutations in small doses...and running, but because I want to, not because I have to.

See you out there!