Running For My Life

Usually when you hear the term “snowblind” you think of when it’s snowing so hard you can’t see (or if your a rock star “snowblind” may have something to do with that white powdery stuff that you snort up your nose!).  But for me this morning, it had more to do with the driving snow that was going right into my eyes during my 8-mile run.  When I was heading either south or east, the snow was blowing straight into my eyes, causing an awful stinging pain.  Curses for my long eyelashes!

As for the run itself, it’s really hard to get in a groove when there are 3-5 inches of fresh powder on the ground, but still, it was a fantastic run.  I didn’t have any hamstring/hip/foot pain.  And unlike last week when I tried to return from an injury by doing big miles (12 per day), this week I am easing myself back into things with 5 yesterday and 8 today.  Tomorrow I will shoot for 10 (which should be interesting since we are supposed to get another 12-14 inches of snow by tonight) and hopefully I will be ready for a 20-miler this weekend.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/09/2010
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:10:30.00
• Calories: 1022
• Distance: 8 miles
• Average Pace: 8:48.63/mile

I was all but certain that this morning’s run was going to be marred by my messy right hamstring.  I wasn’t a matter of whether there would be pain or not, but just how bad the pain would be.  It hurt much of last week, then I raced on Saturday and made it worse, and yesterday it was tender and sore all day.  But somehow this morning the knot came untied and it felt great.  I went 5 pain-free miles (just a little tightness in the beginning) and now, a few hours later, I am still feeling no effects.  Awesome news!!

However, my recent battle with injuries is keeping me from getting too happy about this news.  I went from a foot injury to a hip injury to a hamstring injury with virtually no breaks in between.  This has me asking “what’s next?”  I am going to try to stay positive and think that only healthy running is ahead.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/08/2010
• Time: 05:30:00
• Total Time: 00:42:33.00
• Calories: 645
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 8:30.64/mile

This was a fun one!  The course is crazy.  The first and last .8 mile are on snow/ice covered trails along Lake Geneva, and the middle 1.5 miles are on a road with an insanely steep hill.  As for the race itself, not much excitement.  I started out in 2nd place and finished in 2nd place.  The leader was about 60-90 seconds ahead of me so there was no drama.  My time (21:13) was slow for a 5K, but considering the course, I was happy.  My hamstring was bothersome, but it held up.  However, I think I made things worse as it hurts more now than ever.  We’ll see what the week brings….

Also thanks to my good friend Bill Flaws at RunningintheUSA.com for the picture.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/06/2010
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 00:21:13.00
• Calories: 391
• Distance: 3.1 miles
• Average Pace: 6:50.49/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/06/2010
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:26:46.00
• Calories: 388
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 8:55.71/mile

I was hoping to get in 7 miles, but had to cut it short at 2.  My hamstring is still messed up.  We’ll see if another day off helps.  I probably shouldn’t have run at all and just given myself another day off.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/04/2010
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 00:17:43.00
• Calories: 257
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 8:51.76/mile

I was really looking forward to heading outside this morning after yesterday’s way-too-long run on the treadmill.  But Mother Nature had other plans.  When I woke up this morning, we had about 2 inches of fresh snow and it was still coming down pretty good, so it was back to the treadmill.

I decided to take it slow this morning, wanting to do the 12 miles at around an 8:20 pace.  My hamstrings were tight the entire run and during the end of the 11th mile, my right one told me enough was enough, and that was the end of the run.  I need to make getting outside a priority because my treadmill is shredding my hamstrings, especially the right one.  On the other hand, if it weren’t for my treadmill I probably would not have ran at all this morning due to the snow.  I’m not sure which is better: running and increasing my risk of injury, or not running at all.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/02/2010
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:31:57.00
• Calories: 1394
• Distance: 11 miles
• Average Pace: 8:21.39/mile

After a down week to allow for some mental and physical healing, I resumed normal marathon training this morning with a 12-mile run on my treadmill. My hip issue seems to be resolved thanks to two off days and a steady diet of ice, ibuprofen and stretching. I also saw my PT yesterday who recommended some new stretches and strength-building workouts.

This morning’s run was a mental challenge. Once you get out of the “long daily mileage” routine - even if only for a week - it’s hard to get back into it. After about 6 miles, the run seemed really long and tedious. There were a few times where I was tempted to jump off the treadmilll and call it a day. But I forced myself to hang in there and finish the run.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 02/01/2010
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 1:34:29.00
• Calories: 1557
• Distance: 12 miles
• Average Pace: 7:52.44/mile

The two days of rest and the light training week were evident in the InStep RACC 5K. My time of 18:57 was 20-30 seconds slower than where I should be at this point, but considering my recent situation, I was more than pleased to get under 19 minutes and 3rd in my age group.

The race is run on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds and the course was fast and flat with very few sharp turns. After the race many runners said it was one of their fastest 5K times. That didn’t make me feel much better, but all things considered I can’t complain.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 01/31/2010
• Time: 08:30:00
• Total Time: 00:18:57.00
• Calories: 375
• Distance: 3.1 miles
• Average Pace: 6:06.6/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 01/31/2010
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:17:34.00
• Calories: 255
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 8:47.09/mile

After two relatively pain-free days, I am back to where I was late last week.  In other words, this morning’s run didn’t go as planned.  So it looks like I will be elevating this to a Code R where R = Rest.  So no more running until Sunday’s InStep RACC 5K, which I was planning to do at a slow pace with my son anyway.  Hopefully next week I can resume normal training.

I feel like I am out of alignment, which is causing pain on my right side.  It’s not only the hip, but all the way from the hip joint up to the outside of the pelvic bone.  These kinds things scare me so I will have to get it looked at.  By the way, this is the first injury I have had in two years that has caused me to take time off, and the third ever (back injury in 2002, achilles injury in 2008).

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 01/28/2010
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 00:24:48.00
• Calories: 376
• Distance: 3 miles
• Average Pace: 8:15.87/mile