Success!

My run this morning was FABULOUS - 13.5 miles with NO knee pain at all!! I know this is the time it's most important to take care not to re-injure myself, but now I'm a lot more optimistic about being able to actually run the entire LA marathon. I think running just 4 days a week is working out really well, and hopefully after LA I'll be able to slowly build up a better base so I can run fast in San Francisco in July!

Monday - 30 DS Level 2
Tuesday - 3 miles
Wednesday - 30 DS Level 2
Thursday - 3 miles
Friday - rest
Saturday - 3 miles
Sunday - 13.5 miles

Total: 22.5 miles

My left knee is fired

The weekend started out with 3 days of rest because I was sick (I guess that 8 mile run last Sunday may have been a little much). The rest of the week was pretty good and I managed to get in an 11 mile long run on Sunday. The only issue is my left knee is kind of a disaster area. First it was IT band issues, now it's sore along the inside (probably plica syndrome) so I'm still going to town with the foam roller as much as possible, taking ibuprofin, and icing (on top of PT exercises).

M: sick
T: sick
W: sick
Th: 4 miles
F: 30 Day Shred Level 2
Sa: 3 mile run
Su: 11 mile run

Total: 18 miles

Better Together

I get so used to training by myself all the time that I tend to forget how much better it is to run with someone, particularly on longer runs.

My husband and I have a standing Saturday morning 3-mile run date, but the rest of the time, I fly solo. So when my sister was in town this weekend, I was totally thrilled to run a favorite 8 mile loop with her. My knee felt pretty good through most of the run, so although I only ran 2 times this week (I've been feeling pretty sick), they were both really great runs.

Training for the week:
Monday - 30 Day Shred Level 2
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday - 30 Day Shred Level 2
Thursday - 4 miles
Friday - sick
Saturday - sick
Sunday - 8 miles

Total for the week - 12 miles

Getting there...

The marathon is in 2.5 months...my long run this week was 6.5 miles. I have fully accepted that I may be walking a significant portion of the race in LA, and that's okay. I just want my knee to be better, and to finish.

I woke up this morning feeling like I was coming down with something, but forced myself out the door for 6.5 miles. I actually felt really good while I was running (I kept the pace super easy and didn't wear a watch). I only had to stop and stretch out my IT band once, about a mile from home, and the last mile felt good. Progress!

On Friday I went from Level 1 to Level 2 of 30 Day Shred. Holy hell, I am out of shape. But I love it, and I'm going to keep doing it every day because I think it is actually making me more toned.

Workouts for the week:
Monday - 30 DS Level 1
Tuesday - 4 mile run
Wednesday - 30 DS Level 1
Thursday - 4 mile run
Friday - 30 DS Level 2
Saturday - 3 mile run
Sunday 6.5 mile run

Total: 17.5 miles

Scaling back

When I started training for LA I knew I didn't have much of a base. At all.

All was going well for the first few weeks, until that 6.5 mile run on Tuesday. So, I took Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off (well, I did 30 Day Shred on Wednesday and Thursday), ran 3 miles yesterday and felt good, and was planning on attempting 6 today.

I ended up only going 4 because I'm trying to be smarter about this whole managing injuries thing. I'm going to do 30 Day Shred again tomorrow and attempt 4 again on Tuesday.

I am now aware that I probably won't PR or BQ in LA and that's okay. If anything, I just want to get another marathon under by belt and work up a nice solid base so I can make a BQ attempt at a summer or fall marathon.

Here's how the week ended up:
Monday - rest
Tuesday - 6.5 miles
Wednesday - 30 Day Shred
Thursday - 30 Day Shred
Friday - rest
Saturday - 3 miles
Sunday - 4 miles

Total: 13.5 miles

My Running in 2009 & Goals for 2010

I have no idea how many miles I ran, but here are some things I do know:
Number of races run: 2 (a 5K and a 10K, both in Korea)
Number of countries I ran in: 5 (US, Thailand, South Korea, Cambodia, UK)
Number of PRs: 1 (10K in 45:09)
Longest run: 11.4 miles (last weekend)
Net weight change over the year: -7 pounds...WOOHOOO!

A little different from my running in 2008, which had WAY more races (including a marathon) and way less travel.

Goals for 2010:
1. Qualify for Boston (hopefully at the LA Marathon)
2. Run at least two full marathons
3. Set PRs at 2 or more different distances
4. Run at least one trail race

Happy New Year!

That was stupid...

I spent a few months in physical therapy for my IT band in 2008 and have pretty much successfully kept it in check since then. My PT said I could do basically whatever I want as long as I was smart about increasing my mileage and I stayed away from lunges.





But then I got 30 Day Shred and got hooked and what does Jillian Michaels loooove to have you do? LUNGES. So I did them. What an idiot.





My knee was not a happy camper on my 6.5 mile run this morning, and it's still not happy even though I've been icing and advil-ing all day. I am not running tomorrow, and I'll probably just do 30 Day Shred (sans lunges). I REALLY hope I didn't mess my knee up too badly! I'm planning on a track workout Thursday morning, but I won't do it if my knee hurts. I guess I never learn...