recap :: MoHud2013 week 19

Thank god the spin studio doesn't judge me when I hobble in, fail to stand for the climbs and sport my knee brace the entire class. Side note: I really don't recommend doing an entire spin class seated.

I'm trying not to focus solely too much on my missed miles. This is my fourth consecutive week of posting zero in the mileage column.

remember me?

Monday: rest
                scheduled - cross
Tuesday: 60min spin
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: rest
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: 30min spin; 30min total body strength
                scheduled - 6mi  
Friday: rest
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: rest
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: 60min spin
                scheduled - 12mi

Weekly mileage: 0mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 24mi

recap :: MoHud2013 week 18

Finally. Activity other than walking the two blocks to my office. This week I realized my disdain for the elliptical - again. Doctors continue to suggest that as an acceptable replacement training tool. Sorry doc, I know you went to school for an uber long time and while I value your professional opinion, you're wrong.

After mustering 35minutes I quit and opted to pedal. And then sat around some more.

At least it's not this:

summer 2012. accessory of the year.

Monday: rest
                scheduled - cross
Tuesday: rest
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: 35min elliptical; 20min recumbent bike
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: rest
                scheduled - 5mi  
Friday: 60min spin
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: rest
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: rest
                scheduled - 7mi

Weekly mileage: 0mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 18mi

recap :: MoHud2013 week 17

Rest rest rest. What do you so when all you training time is now unoccupied?

Easy answer: enjoy summer. Yes. However, it rained more in upstate NY in June and July than it does in Seattle (true story).

[source]

So in lieu of training. This is what's been happening:

I've been sampling Oatmeal Stout on the couch, 

missed the coaster...I know.

watching Marley meticulously carry his bone around the house as if it was his child,  

ice and compress as if I was active, 

craft outdoor flower vases from mason jars, 

note: this looks cute for a week, then the flowers die and
you have to do something about it. #notmaintenancefree

hanging out with his crazy ass and his squeaky dragon, 

enjoying local craft brews in St. Patrick Day delights on the porch,  

and when I've run out of fun on a Saturday, I take advice written on wooden plaques. 

Monday: rest
                scheduled - cross
Tuesday: rest
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: rest
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: rest
                scheduled - 5mi  
Friday: rest
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: rest
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: rest - on Boilermaker Sunday :(
                scheduled - 10mi

Weekly mileage: 0mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 21mi

recap :: MoHud2013 week 16

So remember way back when, when I was having...concerns blind fear about finishing the Warrior Dash? Well, it was, indeed the epic fail I nervously anticipated. Thankfully I didn't have to need the medics at the Dash, but my injured ass didn't even make it to the start coral.

photo cred: ME. because I was standing with a camera and
backpack of post-race crap for my 2 favorite warriors.

After a lovely 15th week of  MoHud2013 training was complete, I started week 16 with a rest day followed by an easy 3mi treadmill jaunt. It was raining (hence the treadmill) but all was well and I enjoyed a quick, pain free three miles watching Arrested Development. Then I decided to meet my mom for quesadillas, stepped up the tiny, minuscule, less than 6 inches step into the restaurant and felt a weird snap/pop/rip/tear/overalldisgustingsensation in my right knee.

Great. Not thinking anything of it, I took a Tylenol with my quesadilla and enjoyed. 

Blah blah blah, by the time I got home my knee was swollen, hot to the touch and I couldn't walk on it. Terrified, I hobbled to my orthopedist's office and his colleague diagnosed me with ITB syndrome (seriously, I've been foam rolling like a boss and even got a Tiger Tail) and patellofemoral syndrome. He also suspected my kneecap was tracking the wrong way when I ran (gross), told me "now is probably not the right time to continue training". Fail. 

Before I left, I got another orthopedic accessory and (more) advice to cool it with the marathon training for another year (obviously unacceptable - this is the part I stopped listening).

I followed his advice and did NOTHING for the rest of the week. Lesson: don't go for quesadillas during a marathon training cycle?

Monday: rest
                scheduled - cross
Tuesday: 3mi
                scheduled - rest
Wednesday: rest
                scheduled - 3mi  
Thursday: rest
                scheduled - 4mi  
Friday: rest
                scheduled - 3mi  
Saturday: rest
                scheduled - rest  
Sunday: rest
                scheduled - 9mi

Weekly mileage: 3mi
Scheduled weekly mileage: 19mi

...any time now.

Still zero hope of running. Since my treadmill fail I haven't been cleared to try it again. I'm feeling particularly annoyed after a weekend full of races in the area, races I planned to win finish in the middle of the pack. I was never one to look forward to winter running, but if I don't hit the road soon I might actually lose my mind. I've been doing a lot of spinning and pilates to take my mind off of it... it's not working but I'm hopeful that all the spinning will help me fly up hills eventually.

When my bones decide to stop betraying me, I must remember how many times  since August 13th I thought the following:
- I wish I never skipped a run because I was too tired, hungover, cold, "forgot" to set the alarm,  didn't have a buddy, wanted to watch Bravo, wanted to go to brunch, etc.
- Always get out of bed and on the road because you never know when you won't be able to anymore. 
- I will cross train. I promise.
- Stop focusing on arbitrary number goals, focus on improvements over time.
- Shut up and follow your plan. 
- Don't complain.
- Stop whining.

for real.

six days til m-day.

I thought my week out post would be a gleeful overview of all the pasta I planned to enjoy within the next six days. However, consuming massive amounts of pasta and not running doesn't quite have the effect I intended. So I'll only be eating pasta once this week, I won't be tapering, but I am lucky enough to experience the "no running" induced mania many of my running friends are sure to find this week.

Wheeliechair ride around Target, thanks Q!

I'm missing running so much I re-signed up for the marathon. Not to run, clearly, but as a volunteer and to cheer like a banshie for all those runners who cross my path (especially my fantastic cousin who is looking to BQ). I also recruited one of my favorite wheeliechair pushers to volunteer with me! In turn, she recruited me to participate in my first race since my bones began to crumble beneath me the incident. It's a trail 5k run in late October - seems ambitious, yes, only we're not running the 5k. We will be dressed up as zombies trying to capture flags from runners as the pass. I signed up to be a hunter - running for short distances at a time. Best part: when you arrive you get a zombie makeover. Win. This might even be more fun than running in the race.  


This week is the week I can hit the gym again. I'll be sporting my ankle brace with my running shorts and I'm only allowed to use the bikes or elliptical, but it's something.

no more marathon.

[okay okay okay - I know I said I was trying to work on being a consistent poster... still working on it.]

Post DNF failure, I took a little run break for a few days to assess the situation. The assessment turned out to be something felt really strange, I was walking pretty ridiculously and I decided to make an appointment with an othopeadist (because I'm 97).

I had my appointment thinking I'd leave with a tendonitis diagnosis, sit out for a week and be on the road again in no time. Following the exam and a series of x-rays, the doctor ordered an MRI of my leg for the next day and told me to put no weight on it as he thought it could be tendonitis, but x-rays indicated a "stress overuse injury".

Me: "When you say no weight, what do you mean?"
Doc: "You can't use your leg."
Me: "I have a spinning class otnight, can I go to that?"
Doc: "No, I think you use both your legs in spinning."
Me: "I'm registered or a 5k this weekend, can I do that?"
Doc: "No, that would mean using your leg."
Me: "If I do a training walk instead of run, can I get mileage in this week?"
Doc: "Nope. You just can't use your leg. You can only use your right leg and keep your left leg elevated while you use crutches. You can not put any pressure on your left leg. No exercise, no walking, no standing, no stretching it, no pressure."
Me: concentrating to figure out how serious he was... "Okay."
Doc: "If you use your leg and do more damage, you'll be sitting out for longer. You can aquajog if you want to exercise."

Fine.I went home mad and dug up the family crutches that have supported many family members through injury and sat on the couch.

crutch pool with the pup.

Sidenote: Crutches suck. They hurt and you can't carry anything when you're using them. You also can't use a purse, you have to trade your Michael Kors tote for a Northface day pack in order to go to work with all of your supplies. Don't get hurt badly enough to require crutches ever. 

MRI day was here and I crutched myself into the exam room. Sat for 30 minutes while this crazy jackhammer tube took all the pictures the doctor needed and planned to leave immediately. Well, the radiologist stopped me on my way out the door and asked what I planned to do with my leg, starring at it unwrapped sporting a flip-flop. I must have looked confused because he elequently stated, "you're going to have to do something with it - that's fractured across. Have you been running a lot?" Stunned, I explained that I've been training for an October marathon, so yes. He laughed outloud (literally lol'ed) and exclaimed "Well there goes that marathon!!" gleefully.

I cried the entire way back to my office and talked myself out of what he said because clearly he had to be an alarmist. Two hours later my doctor called to schedule a cast fitting for the next day.

But if anything was going to lift my spirits,  it is certainly this little gem that I picked up at the orthopedist the next day.

Meet my newest accessory - Black Beauty.

So along with that lovely new shoe came the news that I would be on crutches for at least three more weeks. After intently examining my MRI results, I came to the conclusion that my ankle looked like a kid drew their rendition of an earthquake straight across the bone. Now that I had evidence, I actually believed what they were telling me so I composed myself enough to ask how long it would take to heel. Eight weeks. I should be ready to walk normally on October 8th - the day after the race I've been training for since January.

rest day training partner

I’ve always wanted a dog. When I was little I begged for a golden retriever or a lab (all the cool kids had one). When I realized my dream I found myself with a spunky cocker spaniel crying when we put him in his crate and peeing on the kitchen floor two inches shy of his puppy pad. He's cleaned up his act a bit now and thankfully pees outside and only cries if someone comes within a millimeter of stepping on his paw. When he was a bitty baby, his crazy parents decided it would be a great idea to take him on a walk! Fantastic. Being idiot newbie puppy owners, we thought quick 1.5 mile loop through the park was a great idea. No, we didn’t care at all that it was February and freezing with snow on the ground. Marley cared. He loudly voiced his displeasure (again with the crying) and decided to park it on the pavement. The walk consisted mostly of me carrying a small, whining puppy in my arms on a path through the park… in February.

Bitty Baby

I guess I should have known then that Marley was not going to be a running partner, but I held out hope. Some other clues should have been his short legs, hatred of a leash, inability to walk in a straight line and frequent stops to smell another dog's pee the roses, but alas, I was young and naive. As time passed and pup spent more of it snoozin’ on the couch, the prospects of having a running buddy in my beloved canine were quickly fading.

Not loving the leash. Not loving the snow.

That didn't stop me from trying. Twice I took the poor pup on a "run" (ahem...well crafted jog/walk that involved a lot of tripping over paws, pup, leash and my own feet). Each time was a sloppy disaster and had to be discontinued before we hit 1/4 a mile. Embarrassing.I still feel pangs of jealousy when I see a runner and (wo)man's best friend running side by side on a nice fall day, but I've moved on.

Marley plays an integral role in the training plan and has exceeded my expectations as my rest day training buddy. He truly excels at rest days (just like his mom!). Lounging is his forte, he loves to snuggle and there is never enough time for napping. Recently he has taken the liberty to appoint himself resident pre-long run breakfast companion. Toughing it out and waking up at 6:30a on Sundays with me, Marley knows the pre-run ritual well. He fancies peanut butter on toast and never misses the opportunity to snag a stray crumb or beg to lick the peanut butter off the knife (for the record - this is gross and he's never succeeded in swaying me).

Marley Sockhands. On the couch, duh.

r & r

I knew that the 20+ week training plan would be foiled at some point and last week was that week. Life interfered with my training plan and I had a bit of a break. I just assumed I’d be sidelined for a while because I sprained my ankle while stretching or something (it happened before… yoga circa 2002). And so there I was with a nine day hiatus from pounding pavement.

As luxurious as my mini-break sounds, I was bummed because my scheduled long run was in the double digits, the first time this training plan. When I finally mustered up the energy to lace up my kicks it was for a local 5K with 549 participants and the route lined with spectators. No pressure.  Much to my surprise, my legs felt great and I was able to keep up reasonably well. The first mile was annoying, but once I stopped whining about it in my head worked my way around the crowd and was able to settle into a comfortable pace it was great. I ended up finishing 21 seconds over my 5K PR.

And now the best part:  a peanut butter and jelly (or as my Gram would call it, "peanut butter and jel") sandwich station. Yep. After the finish a table of snacks greeted you. You could find the usual suspects; water, bananas, oranges, granola bars (gross)…but beyond the monotony of typical post race snacks was the best idea ever. A table with a few kinds of bread (sliced in half), various peanut butters, an impressive array of jellies and jams in multiple flavors and a whole lot of plastic knifes – genius! Why doesn’t every race offer this?? Regardless of time, it’s clear we were all winners at the snack stand.

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