360 degrees of Awesome

360 degrees of Awesome
Originally uploaded by Becca Elizabeth

The Phillies won the World Series. Oh my goodness.


Tomorrow (Sunday?) The 20-miler. My first time back on the road for a long run since the Achilles Tragedy of 2008.

All right, I get it all ready!

I'm already in a short-term boot and on prescription anti-inflammatory meds. I'd given in to taking a few days off running when I got hit by a mac truck with a cold(?) on Sunday. Pretty much it went like this:
Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat - thinking and psyching myself up for a good elliptical run on Monday
Sunday - BAM, death rattle cough, chest & head congestion and a sore throat

I feel like someone/thing is making it pretty clear that maybe I need to take a step back and take care of myself right now for a little bit.

The plan for this week is to see how I'm feeling after a solid 12 hours of sleep tonight and then maaaaaaybe pick up some good cardio later in the week.

Fun fact: Tomorrow I have a the physical I scheduled to make sure I was healthy enough to run the marathon. I'm going to show up on the tail end of meds, in a boot, with a box of kleenex. Even I think it's hilarious.

Achilles...

Been having major pain in the lower back of my calf. From this handy diagram, I'd say it's a toss up between the Achilles Tendon (tendonitis??) and the Plantaris Tendon. The pain is in the skinny part, but closer to the top than the bottom. And that's just the pain when I push on it.

I have spent the better 1/2 of my afternoon trying to get a podiatrist to see me before I hop on a plane to Albuquerque tomorrow. I'm supposed to have a 16 mile run this weekend...I really don't want to miss it. I'm being good though, and staying completely off it until I see the dr. Thankfully, I got an appointment for tomorrow am. Fingers crossed...

Week 13: Day 1: 5 miles

It constantly amazes me when I get home and the thought "well, it should be an easy 5-miler" goes through my head. Since WHEN have I thought that 5 miles was "easy"!?

That's what training will do to you: when you know that you have runs coming up that will be 3 or 4 times that distance, suddenly 5 seems like chump change.

Last night was a Great Run. I did the whole loop and made it home just as it was starting to get too-dark. No music, not even an audio book (too lazy/hurried to download one before I left) and just the cars, and the sound of my own labored breath. I am excited by the fact that my theory of the first 2 miles being the hardest is holding true. It seems that if I can get past 20 minutes, I can go forever. It becomes a game of "I can make it to the next light, it's only a couple blocks..." and before I know it I can be 5 miles out from home. Of course, this time I was happy to turn around, the ever quickly fading days are a deterrent to my after-work runs.

I might need to get one of those reflecting-vests things. And a road ID. Maybe some mace...

Next is a 7 miler and then I'm in Albuquerque visiting a good friend for the rest of the week/weekend. She's promised breakfast for me when I get back my runs in the morning. Good friend :) Thank you, Janelle! Maybe I'll get you out there for my "chump change" run on Friday...it's only 5 miles...

Week 12: Day 6: 10.5 miles (or 1hr 38min on an elliptical)

Still smarting from Thursday's run, and trying to soothe my achilles tendon, I decided to do a run at the gym on Saturday morning instead of attempting to pound pavement. My friend, Heather, helped me realize that I'm better off taking it a little easy this week than hurting myself and not being able to do the 16 miler next weekend.

Heather, not only am I updating this thing, I have mentioned you personally. Honestly, I think you're maybe one of 3 people that have actually read it, so you deserve the shout-out :)

So, resigned to elliptical cardio-training, I looked up the movie on TBS for Saturday and was delighted to see that it was Varsity Blues! I can easily run for 2 hours if I'm watching a movie, and in fact, it's one of the few saving graces of a long run brought indoors on a Saturday morning.

Felt pretty good afterwards, and looking forward to a run outside on Monday. Nothing better than a crisp fall run. I'm working on psyching myself up for the 16 I have waiting for me while I'm in Albuquerque...

Week 12: Day 4: 6 miles

New Shoes.
Normally very exciting, and in fact I was doubly excited because these particular new shoes were not only a new brand but a new color! Yellow! I could hardly wait to get home and run.

It all started out so well...until about mile 1. That's when I realized that my right shoe was too loose, and decided to tighten the laces. Mile 1.3, and I felt like there was a wooden board in my shoe that was slamming into the bottom of my ankle with every step. I deal with this pain (why!?) until mile 2.5 when I finally loosen the shoe again only to run about 1/2 a mile before I have to sit down, take off my shoe and re-tie it. As I took off (now on my way back) all was good for a hot minute before the wooden board was back, this time coupled with an uncomfortable feeling in my lower intestine.

Awesome.

I'm 3 miles from home, limping, angry at Brooks for making torture-shoes, and now I'm trying to weigh the pros & cons of a public restroom.

By the time I got home, my right achilles was tender to the touch and walking was painful. I ripped off the shoes, shoved them back into the box they came in and vowed to never own a pair of Brooks again. I marched back to the running store (Bryn Mawr Running Store - awesome staff and excellent customer service) on Friday during my lunch break and left with my tried & true Saucony Omni 7's.

I have no idea what made me think I should stray from these...I was tempted by the thought of something better, but got burned. Sticking with what works.