the elliptical

I did the elliptical at the gym today. no real pain in the foot, which is good.

I was trying to push it and really work up a sweat. I love that feeling.

thirty minutes - cross country course; five minutes cool down

the memorial day swim

pete and I went up to the pool on memorial day.

it was a grey and drizzly sort of day. steam was rising off the water when we got there. perfect for swimming, no?

it was actually quite nice in the water since it was warmer than the air. I played coach and gave peter an "official" workout. we only swam for 45 minutes, but it was good enough for a holiday swim.

500 warmup
4 X 50 kick
6 X 50 drill
50 slow
50 medium
50 fast
50 slow

friday masters

my good friend tori and I went to friday evening swimteam last night. it was the first time out in the big pool (the outdoor 50 meter pool) this season for both of us. yikes I'm out of swimming shape! there was no actual coach there either. some guy was just telling everyone what to swim. there were some slightly unconventional sets thrown in. very interesting.

500 warm up
6 50's kick
4 100's free
4 100's free w/no legs (you had to cross your legs at your ankles--it was like swimming with dead weight)
100 skulling on your back, feet up in front of you
4 100's IM
cool down

what good is doing anything if you don't look hot doing it?

so the verdict is in: I LOVE running skirts. I want to get twenty-seven more. they don't ride up the thighs like running shorts do. they stay in place and make your legs look fantastic in any picture. and you just feel cute while running. how could you not love the skirt?!

next I'm going to get a pair with the built in spandex. it seem like perfection.

{both these photos are in the fargo dome.
cool finish venue, but seriously lacking in the photo-opp department.
check out my other official photos HERE}

it's time to feel normal again

it's almost been a week since I've worked out. I'm actually walking normally now, so I figured it's time to get back in the game.

it's been a little rainny around here, so I couldn't go out on a ride. and I didn't really feel like swimming because I need a little break from the pool (though tomorrow I'm back in it for friday masters!). so I decided I'd try the elliptical since the good doctor says I still shouldn't be running.

I had higher expectations, I suppose. I set the time for an hour. my foots been bugging me slightly both yesterday and today, though, so after going a little over twenty minutes I realized it might be a good idea to stop. ease into this slowly. my foot was hurting slightly.

so I went and got one of those resistance bands and did a few sets of arm stuff. maybe now I should actually start focusing on strength. hmmm, what a novel idea. (I'm still too scared to go in the actual weight room, though)

20 minute elliptical, stiener

fargo marathon, the report

I started this post yesterday, but couldn't finish writing it. I feel it was too negative. I was being too hard on myself. let me start over.

* * *

I am extremely blessed. with nothing short of a miracle {thank you all for sending your good vibes + prayers} I had no pain in my foot on race day. not even with one foot strike. nothing. I was pain free.

as for the rest of my body? I'm not sure my muscles were quite ready for the pounding. hey, where's the water?! they kept asking.

I woke up at 6am on race day, showered, ate my PB toast, did the whole routine. due to high traffic (peter did some pretty sweet illegal maneuvers on the way--hey, we're from out of town, I kept telling the other cars) we rolled up to the fargo dome a little later than I had ideally wanted. my warm up was sparse. maybe five minutes. probably less than that. I was not stretched out at all. but o' canada was being sung and then the national anthem -- it was time to line up.

if this race gets any bigger, I suggest to you dear fargo marathon organizers a split in the half and full starts. it was just way too crowded in there. especially when you're trying to follow bobby, your pace team guy. especially when bobby doesn't even slow down at the aid stations, you just have to catch up. catch up?! it was hard enough negotiating my little running self over to the water/powerade peeps and then seeing my pace team already so far ahead. it was a little discouraging + frustrating.

from the onset I was not running my own race. I was trying to keep up. after not having run in a month the pace was probably slightly too fast from the onset and this was only compounded by the fact that since I didn't really warm up and didn't even have the chance to stretch out a little at aid stations my muscles were pretty tight already. especially my hip flexors. (thankfully my IT band and hamstring didn't really bother me at all -- again, a miracle!)

I was able to stay with the group until about mile ten. then the game of catch-up was just too much for me. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up the pace if I already felt like I did that early on. I couldn't run someone else's race; I had to run my own.

so the pace started gradually slowing. I started stopping to stretch out the legs. things changed. I was losing my mental toughness. I should have spotted it right away, but I let it all slip away from me. I let the people slip by, the time, my dream of qualifying for boston this go around.

I haven't really mentioned the fact that it was unexpectedly hot in fargo, north dakota. the previous afternoon was spent walking around downtown fargo in 80+ degree weather. I had brought some mini gloves to wear at the start until things warmed up. . . I never even took them out of my bag.

oh, and 20 - 30 mile an hour winds were on the schedule too. perfect.

so I spent the next miles pouring water all over myself at aid stations. stopping for no apparent reason. and cursing all the hills on this "flat" course. okay, okay. so the course is pretty flat. the hills were mostly just overpasses and underpasses. but when coupled with a fierce headwind, it was just a little more than I could bear in the moment.

and it was a headwind. for the entire second half of the marathon. and a strong headwind at that. at one time I was almost stopped dead in my tracks, and another I was almost blown sideways. for about five seconds there was a blessed tailwind, and then right back into fighting against it. no relief.

but what did I expect? I knew there was a likely chance for wind. maybe if I had raced with the nutrition plan I trained with things would have been a little better. I was going longer in between gu's. note to self: food gives you energy. and for the sake of this argument, gu's are being considered as food. eat them as often as you did in training. thank you, self, for listening--oh, and run your own race next time.

the last miles were hard just because by this time I was stopping for no reason a lot more than I would have ever done normally. my muscles were tight, sure. and I had the expected pains of running for a long time. but it wasn't that bad. it wasn't like last year. I was just mentally kaput.

and that is why I have been so hard on myself. I gave up. I was fine with not qualifying for boston--in fact I know it's not the right time for that; it's hopefully time to start focusing on another marathon of sorts--but that does not mean I had the right to completely give up on myself. to stop. especially for no apparent reason.

maybe I should've hopped on another pace group's bandwagon. had the moral support to keep myself running. these are the lessons I learn. next time it will be different.

and again, I feel I really have no reason for disappointment. I finished a marathon after an injury sidelined me from running for a month. I could've given up the hope long before. I have to remember that the sheer fact of finishing is a huge accomplishment in itself. I had people all over the country supporting me and cheering me on. my injury was pain free. I am truly blessed.

so thank you fargo-moorhead, for the friendly little run through your neighborhoods. I will never forget my fargo dome finish. I was like a rock star on that jumbotron.

and most importantly thank you peter -- you are my biggest cheerleader in life. I feel I can do anything with you by my side. and thank you dad for your continued support + love as well. and mom, that goes for you too--you were there in spirit via the signs (that unfortunately I only got to see once!) and thank you bloggy-peeps who are even interested in this little kenyan's running. it means the world.

I just ran a marathon after not having run in a month!

it was no Boston Qualifyer, but under the circumstances I'll gladly take it.  below are my results.  race report coming soon.

I am ready--bring it on!

{image via the cellular telephone}

everything is laid out and ready for the morning.  I always love pinning on the race bib and getting all my gu's in order.  there is something so exciting about the pre-race preparations.

let's just hope that all the preparations I've made will pull me through tomorrow.  I have to trust in the work I've done.  the months of dedication, even in the face of adversity.  I have put in the miles. and tomorrow, no matter what happens, I will accomplish something great.  

you are stronger than you know;

believe in yourself

hotel gym

me and my dad had some treadmill fun together.  my workout was as follows:

10 minute warmup

15 minute easy run

5 minute cooldown

the body held up and I'll be interested to see how saturday goes.  

tomorrow we're roadtrippin'

I did a 30 minute pool run yesterday. (something was going on with me, I couldn't "run" in a straight line for the life of me!)

didn't have time for anything today. I was even going to attempt a small run at liberty park. yes, you heard that right. a run. outside. sans chlorinated water. oh well, I guess I will reserve that special moment for some rest stop in montana. hey, a girl's got to stay loose out there!

the big run is this saturday. I am so excited and scared all at the same time. but I guess that's what you get with every big race, right?

north dakota, here we come!

uff da!

my last long "run"

I spent one hour in the pool on saturday. this week is the race. I'm feeling overall good about things. but every once in a while I'm in sure panic over the state of my body. will my hamstring hold up? is my IT band going to freak out on me?? will my foot fall off??? you never really know what will happen on race day, but I have to feel reassured that I have put in the work. my body knows what to do, my mind knows what lies ahead. if I can just grit and bear it, I might just be able to hold on.

the not cools

okay, so friday's are definitely not as cool as wednesdays. no up beat 80's mix. no eye of the tiger. just some really lame music for the old ladies to splash around to. seriously. not cool.

so mysteriously I have somehow hurt my little hamstring. don't know how. that's why it's a mystery. I woke up yesterday morning and it was hurting. it pretty much bugged me all day. I did an easy 30 minute pool run today, and stretched in the sauna (my new favorite place to stretch--I might start doing the bikram yoga poses in there) and it still kinda bugs. so that's not cool numero dos.

{all I have to say is that it better get better, 'cause if I go all the way to fargo north dakota after battling all these various injuries, and my hamstring is the thing that flares up--after seemingly getting it under control finally--that will be the not coolest of the not cools}

eye of the tiger

so do you want to know when the best time to pool run at steiner aquatics is? nine o'clock on a wednesday morning. it's true.

the geriatric water aerobics have taken over the shallow end (don't go at eight o'clock if you need the deep end) and will leave you with the deep water. they will also blast the most perfect 80's workout mix ever. who needs a waterproof ipod when you've got eye of the tiger screaming over the sound system?! loved it!

and at this time--especially now that the 50 meter outdoor pool has opened--it's not too busy. I had a lane to myself for most of the "run."

30 minutes in la pool

monday's workout: the pool run. again.

40 minutes in the pool with my cute husband. after about ten minutes he was like, is it time to go yet? apparently getting a good workout in is hard when it's actually time to be eating dinner. he's a trooper and stuck it out for the full 40 minutes. well, almost 40 minutes. whatev.

running a la pool

that is not me in the photo; I have a much cuter swimsuit. but this is a good visual of how pool running actually works. see, you just put on the geriatric floaty belt and run your little heart out. it's like going through all the motions of running but without all the impact. and any sense of speed.

I'll be honest, though, I'm really looking forward to the day when I can just run again. it's a lot less effort, logistically speaking. I have to plan my workouts around pool times and when/where I'll have more of an chance to get a lane in deeper water. I can't wait for the day I can just put on my shoes and head out the door.

I was at steiner this morning and did somewhat enjoy watching the water polo practice. (I didn't love the fear of getting hit in the back of the head with the water polo ball, though.) water polo is probably just about the toughest sport there is. I played it in college. okay, so it was just intramurals, but still--those chicks are ruthless! pullin' and tuggin' on your suit, almost pushing you under the water if they can get away with it. very mean.

1.75 hour pool run

blessing in disguise

maybe my little injury was a good thing, if only for the reason that it has gotten peter and me back in the pool together. he swims. I "run" at an extremely slow pace. it's fun times.

today was an interesting time at fairmont. first of all, who knew there is a water aerobics class going on at 6pm. and then who knew that there was a masters swim team at 7pm! they only had one lane open for lap swimming during the shallow-end water aerobics, so I got to have the whole deep end to my little pool running self. well, besides having to avoid the kid who was having swim lessons. man, was he ever thrashing about!

some lady showed up with a film crew. I use the term lady loosely because I think she was really a man. or used to be one at one point. I wonder why they were filming her. she swam like two laps and then they packed it up, I think. watch for it on the local news, maybe you'll see me pool running in the background or something.

30 minute pool run

marketing scheme

well we all know how I love the GU energy gels. especially vanilla bean. a week or two ago I stumbled across their Stash Your Trash program. at first I was a little confused. were they going to collect all these sticky, used gu packets and then recycle them? or were they just going to throw them away in the end, just like I could throw them away without all the hassle of mailing them in?

so it turns out they just throw them away too. but with the incentive of free gu {5 packets for every 50 empties; and free schwag for 200+ empties!} I've started my own sticky, used gu collection. I know throwing them away myself is just easier + cleaner, but who doesn't love free gu?!

***gladly accepting all sticky, used gu packet donations***

monday:

45 minute pool run.

I always feel like everyone is watching me, wondering what it is I'm doing. have they never seen an injured person--though from the looks of me, I don't think you'd be able to tell I was injured--run in water before? sometimes I wonder if they think I can't swim, like I'm afraid of the water or something. especially when I walk on the deck with my cap + goggles (just in case*) and my geriatric floaty belt. it's pretty awesome.


*fyi - I am not doing my pool running with the cap and goggles on my face. I bring them just in case there are no lanes to do the pool running, since it requires deep water. in that event, I revert to lap swimming.

the update

okay, I'm sure everyone has been dying to know about the injury situation.  I had a consult with the good doctor {aka bro-inlaw, PhD) tonight and after examining my foot he gave me the go ahead to run the marathon.  yes, the go ahead to run the marathon!  

he did all his little tests, all the poking and prodding, twisting and turning.  well, your foot is stable, he says.  he thinks it's my fascia.  he told me to keep doing the pool running to stay fit, wear one of those boots at night--the plantar fasciitis ones that keep your foot stretched--and to roll my foot with a tennis ball during the day.  in a week or two I can try and do some short runs, but if there is pain I should stop.  but no matter what, I can run the marathon.  you might be in pain, but yes, you can run the marathon, he says after about the twenty-seventh time I've re-capped everything he has just told me.  

he kept reiterating that there would probably be pain involved.  but that it's not going to do any long-termdamage.  I can deal with pain.  I feel that just being an endurance athlete means you have a better ability to manage pain than the average person.  I can do it.  

I will have about three solid weeks off the foot.  even if I have a stress fracture (which is possible, but the extreme pain in my ankle/foot could also be from the connective tissue pulling on each other--or whatever) that is enough time to get it healed.  at least mostly.  

he did tell me that I shouldn't run for four to six weeks after.  that's okay, I said.  once I was done with this marathon, I was going to focus more on biking more anyway!  he gave me this look.  that, are you kidding me? look.  no biking.  I can swim and pool run.  okay, I can deal with that.  I'll just focus on swimteam.  

but I can run the marathon.  and that's all that matters.  

and I can try and run it at a good pace, if I want.  I can still try and qualify for boston.  we'll see if I can hang with the 3:40 pace group crowd.  hopefully the pain isn't out of control.  hopefully I haven't lost too much fitness.  we'll see.  and if nothing else, it's always another state.  and that's really the overall goal anyway.  

the weekly recap

wednesday:  rest

thursday:  rest

friday:  45 minute pool run

saturday:  30 minute easy spin + 2 hour pool run  [note to self:  don't ever try and go to steiner on a saturday morning.  especially during the hours of 8 to 9:30am.  masters will inevitably take every lane in the pool.  every single lane.  and even after your thirty minute warm up via the stationary bike, you'll find a lane but will have to share it with the minnows swimteam.  eight year old kids splashing all over the place does not a fun pool run make.  and then you'll just end up getting kicked out of your lane anyway, because they'll have to set up for the water polo practice.  next week I'm hitting the pool at 6am.  hopefully my luck will be better.]

just trying to hold on

remember how my foot was hurting on friday? well, technically it probably hurt a little on previous runs too. . . but friday it was pretty apparent.

since I didn't run on saturday (but I did ride my bike along the salt lake marathon's course a bit) or sunday, I figured my foot would start to feel better. it hasn't. I'm over three weeks out to my race. this cannot be happening to me! the thought of not being able to run it just tears me up inside. I have worked so hard, and devoted my life to this and my goal of qualifying for boston.

so I'm trying to stay positive. I'm trying to focus on the things I actually have control over. the things I can do to help the situation. and hopefully, in the end, make it better. make it work.

so I'm going to implement rest. I'm going to also be implementing active rest -- aka cross training. which pretty much means I will be spending the rest of my life in the pool. I tried water running yesterday for the first time in my life. it's interesting, but if it can keep me fit without being able to do much else I'll take it! I mean, who doesn't love to wear the geriatric floaty belt? love it!

I also think swimming will be okay.

so everyone send some good, positive vibes my way. I'm going to need them. this is just one more road block I'll have to work through for this thing. trust me, this isn't the first time during this training season that I've felt like it's all been totally hopeless. and then I usually come back stronger than ever. pray for me!