Hi there....It has been awhile since I last updated in my training diary. Some of you that are close to me know why....
On August 18th the team was to run 16 miles. I had been having some IT Band issues as I am sure you all saw from my previous postings. I had gotten a deep tissue massage the Thursday before the BIG run. My leg felt great, I felt great...I was ready for this 16miles.
We started around 7:30am north of San Francisco, it was going to be a great day. The day was already starting to warm up and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! I was ready! Once Kael and I took off we looped up through the trail and ran on a dirt path (normally my body would be screaming, "Danger Elliott, Danger!"....but today I felt good) for about a mile and then we hit the road and off we went! Kael and I ran strong...that is until I started coughing really badly. I didn't want anyone to know this but, I had swallowed a bug! Just like that story when I was a kid..."Golly Gump!" I swallowed what I only hoped had been a fly! Anything else made me start to mentally freak out....I coughed for a long time and in all honesty didn't even admit having swallowed the bug to Kael until mile 5! I didn't want to tell him b/c I knew he was going to laugh at me and I didn't want to break out stride up the hill! Wasn't that nice of me???? I think so! Okay fine...I was really disgusted that I had eaten a bug! LOL
After climbing this long hill, and having gotten my morning protein with the bug incident, we got to flat land...and yes, Kael and I were still running strong! About mile 5.5 is when my leg from knee to butt started to hurt, but I thought to myself, "Self...you will be fine...just keep going." Maybe not the smartest thing, but I did....we rounded the corner to the water stop, grabbed some lovely beverages and then I couldn't put weight on my leg. Yes that is right...I think I had physically hit a wall at that point. But being as driven (nice wording right?) as I am or stubborn...whatever you want to call it, I kept going. I walked it off for awhile b/c the pain was so bad in my knee at this point that I could barely put weight on it. I remember crying and thinking that maybe I should stop....but the thought of why I was doing this race pushed me on.
At one point....all the miles sort of blended into each other after that first water stop.....Kael got stung by a bee...so we laughed for at least a good mile off and on about how I ate a bug and how a bug had eaten Kael. Okay not so funny now, but let me tell you...when you are in pain and trying to get your mind off of it, ANYTHING is funny! :)
As we circled back to where we had started I really thought I was going to have to be sagged in. One of my coaches stopped to make sure I was okay, my mentor stopped and walked with me for awhile and of course Kael was with me. Then at one point I just mentally decided that I wasn't going to hurt anymore and I started running. The first few steps were painful and I felt as if my ligament was twisting (I know.....I should have stopped!)...but I continued on and then I wasn't in pain in anymore. We hit mile 10 pretty easy enough, excluding my pain of course. And we circled back out to do the other 6 miles. I should have stopped at mile 10...but like I mentioned previous. I am a DRIVEN person....so I continued on.
I walked a lot of the last part of that days training. And in all honesty I don't remember much, except for when the pain set in again. And trust me I have done enough sports that I know the difference from a good pain and a bad pain. This wasn't a good pain. But I had to get back to the finish line so I had to continue on.
After we finished, I felt great! My knee was sore and so was my leg...but I felt great. I stretched for a good 30 minutes, ate some and then Kael and I jumped in the car to get back to SF.
When I got out of the car I could barely walk with out saying "Ouchie" every time. We got sandwiches to eat and drank a beer to congratulate ourselves and even laughed about me having eaten the bug...all the while I was worried about my knee.
After getting home, I took an ice bath...yes you read the right....I sat in a bath tub with ice to help out my lower body! Heck people, I had just run 16 miles! I think that was the ONLY thing that saved my knee that night. I rested for a good portion of the day and then that evening my sister came to town. We were going to see Avenue Q, a musical...hilarious by the way...the next day. That night my knee was uncomfortable but bearable.
Sunday morning I woke up to not being able to bare weight on that leg and my knee was swollen. The swelling only got worse as the days went by. My worst nightmare had come true....I had messed up my knee.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Highway to Hell!
Well yesterday was the 12-14mile run for the full marathoners. It was hard. With having been sick last week I was rough around the edges....though there was a small part of me that felt stronger for having taken a week off. The course was to run around Lake Merced (4.5miles), then to loop up on to Sunset towards the park (Golden Gate Park)....Heading that direction on Sunset meant that we were running up hill, fun! Once we hit the park we were to go left and run through the park on Martin Luther King until we hit the beach, we were to turn left again, run along the path until we hit Sloat. Once on Sloat we needed to run past the Zoo and head back towards the lake. After we hit the last water stop at the lake we needed to keep running until we hit either the 12 mile marker turn around point or the 14 mile turn around point.
Once I hit the beach I started to struggle energy wise. My leg was bothering me but my energy was zapped. I stopped at all the water stops to get water and any snacks they had to offer. I tried to run strong after that water stop, but when we hit Sloat it was a gradual uphill for a while....in all honest THIS WAS FREAKING TORTURE! But I have no one to blame but myself. I am doing this for a good cause....but did it have to be so painful? :)
After circling back up towards the lake is when I one of our coaches ran up along side of us and asked us how we were and what distance we were doing. I told her I was the verge b/c after having ran up Sunset on uneven terrain my knee was bothering and my IT Band was starting to really hurt. She told me, "Then don't push it. 12 miles is still huge and it is too late in our training for you to injury yoursefl...however it is still early enough to back off the training if you feel like you might be on the verge of hurting yourself. Save yourself now, thank yourself on race day." I looked over at Kael and said, "Man, I think we have our answer." He nodded and really didn't seem to want to argue....which I was grateful for!
We ran strong past all the folks that had either finished the 9miles (we were broke up into groups of 9, 12 and 14 miles) and of course the fast ones that were just done with either the 12 or the 14 miles. I looked down at my watch and even with the walking that we had done that day...we were pretty strong pace wise. So we pushed on. We were running and then we hit the 12 mile turn around marker. I looked at Kael and said, "We are going for the 14 miles." He nodded and we continued on. Once I had gotten onto flat surface my knee and my IT Band had stopped hurting....so we pushed on! That is until I was close to 1/2 mile from the turn around location and then I just hit a freaking wall! My body wouldn't let me go anymore...even though my mind was still ready for this. So we walked and walked. Our run manager was training with us that day and ran past us and I said, "How much further until the marker to run around?" She said, "It isn't that much further but you can turn around at any point." I then retorted back, "Its a matter of principle. I can't turn around until I hit the marker....and people with cancer can't turn around...so I am not." Not sure if she heard all of that b/c she was running away from me...running towards the finish line. I think I just had to say it to talk myself into continuing to move. We hit the marker, turned around and walked a good portion of the distance back. We were encouraging folks that were running towards that marker...and by doing that it was helping me stay focused on anything other than feeling like I was going to throw up. After having been sick all week and stuffing my body full of power drinks and food not to mention pushing it beyond its limit running wise, my body was on the verge of protesting.
We rounded a corner and I saw the finish line...so we started running and we ran it in strong. Folks were cheering for us...which felt great. I had run 14.50 miles by the end of the day. I may have walked a small amount of that...but I completed 14.50 miles. That was hard....and the trainings will only get harder, but I can now say...I have ran over a 1/2 marathon! I rock!
Once I hit the beach I started to struggle energy wise. My leg was bothering me but my energy was zapped. I stopped at all the water stops to get water and any snacks they had to offer. I tried to run strong after that water stop, but when we hit Sloat it was a gradual uphill for a while....in all honest THIS WAS FREAKING TORTURE! But I have no one to blame but myself. I am doing this for a good cause....but did it have to be so painful? :)
After circling back up towards the lake is when I one of our coaches ran up along side of us and asked us how we were and what distance we were doing. I told her I was the verge b/c after having ran up Sunset on uneven terrain my knee was bothering and my IT Band was starting to really hurt. She told me, "Then don't push it. 12 miles is still huge and it is too late in our training for you to injury yoursefl...however it is still early enough to back off the training if you feel like you might be on the verge of hurting yourself. Save yourself now, thank yourself on race day." I looked over at Kael and said, "Man, I think we have our answer." He nodded and really didn't seem to want to argue....which I was grateful for!
We ran strong past all the folks that had either finished the 9miles (we were broke up into groups of 9, 12 and 14 miles) and of course the fast ones that were just done with either the 12 or the 14 miles. I looked down at my watch and even with the walking that we had done that day...we were pretty strong pace wise. So we pushed on. We were running and then we hit the 12 mile turn around marker. I looked at Kael and said, "We are going for the 14 miles." He nodded and we continued on. Once I had gotten onto flat surface my knee and my IT Band had stopped hurting....so we pushed on! That is until I was close to 1/2 mile from the turn around location and then I just hit a freaking wall! My body wouldn't let me go anymore...even though my mind was still ready for this. So we walked and walked. Our run manager was training with us that day and ran past us and I said, "How much further until the marker to run around?" She said, "It isn't that much further but you can turn around at any point." I then retorted back, "Its a matter of principle. I can't turn around until I hit the marker....and people with cancer can't turn around...so I am not." Not sure if she heard all of that b/c she was running away from me...running towards the finish line. I think I just had to say it to talk myself into continuing to move. We hit the marker, turned around and walked a good portion of the distance back. We were encouraging folks that were running towards that marker...and by doing that it was helping me stay focused on anything other than feeling like I was going to throw up. After having been sick all week and stuffing my body full of power drinks and food not to mention pushing it beyond its limit running wise, my body was on the verge of protesting.
We rounded a corner and I saw the finish line...so we started running and we ran it in strong. Folks were cheering for us...which felt great. I had run 14.50 miles by the end of the day. I may have walked a small amount of that...but I completed 14.50 miles. That was hard....and the trainings will only get harder, but I can now say...I have ran over a 1/2 marathon! I rock!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
No Running Tonight
Well, the bug that was going around my office ran and caught me this week...so there was no running for me. I have been down and out for 2 days. I did however go and talk to our sports therapist that volunteers his time with us. My leg has been hurting me a lot lately (I think it is my IT Band....which scares the hell out of me). The only way to make that better is to rest...CRAP. I guess it is a good thing that I am sick this week....forced down time!
My talk with the sports therapist wasn't what I wanted to hear. He basically told me that the only thing that I can do is to stay off my leg......which means NO RUNNING. He said to focus on swimming and cycling (likely I like both) and to weight train...but no running.
Since I am under the weather this week...that shouldn't be a probably. What I am worried about is the long run on Saturday. 14 miles....that is starting to give me nightmares! Hopefully I will be feeling better and my leg will be better in order for me to run well....here's to hoping!
My talk with the sports therapist wasn't what I wanted to hear. He basically told me that the only thing that I can do is to stay off my leg......which means NO RUNNING. He said to focus on swimming and cycling (likely I like both) and to weight train...but no running.
Since I am under the weather this week...that shouldn't be a probably. What I am worried about is the long run on Saturday. 14 miles....that is starting to give me nightmares! Hopefully I will be feeling better and my leg will be better in order for me to run well....here's to hoping!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Keeping it UP!
Well I ran my almost 12 miles last Saturday and then trained through the week....and then yesterday I ran 5.50 miles with the team. This past week has been hard b/c my leg is starting to bother me a bit. It isn't my knee...let's set the record straight! It is my leg. I spoke to one of my coaches about it and he seems to think that it might be my IT Band....all I have to say to that is CRAP!
I am stretching every chance I get and rolling on my foam roller (sort of like a deep tissue massage but it HURTS..and makes you want to scream obscenities). It started to feel better and then we had our run yesterday. I ran well with the team. Ran a solid 4+ miles before I had to stop to shake it off.
My sister came into town and I dragged her along with me to the run yesterday. She hadn't run in awhile and was a bit nervous about it. I knew that she would do fine. While we were running she kept saying, "Don't worry about me..keep your pace. I'll be fine." She saw me continuing to look behind me to make sure she was okay! I worry....what can I say!?
We both made it in....and we finished strong!
Afterwards we were going to see Jersey Boys..that is a GREAT show....just one thing to keep in mind....DON'T RUN ALMOST 6 MILES BEFORE AND THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AWAKE THROUGH THE WHOLE THING!!!!!
I am stretching every chance I get and rolling on my foam roller (sort of like a deep tissue massage but it HURTS..and makes you want to scream obscenities). It started to feel better and then we had our run yesterday. I ran well with the team. Ran a solid 4+ miles before I had to stop to shake it off.
My sister came into town and I dragged her along with me to the run yesterday. She hadn't run in awhile and was a bit nervous about it. I knew that she would do fine. While we were running she kept saying, "Don't worry about me..keep your pace. I'll be fine." She saw me continuing to look behind me to make sure she was okay! I worry....what can I say!?
We both made it in....and we finished strong!
Afterwards we were going to see Jersey Boys..that is a GREAT show....just one thing to keep in mind....DON'T RUN ALMOST 6 MILES BEFORE AND THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AWAKE THROUGH THE WHOLE THING!!!!!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Holy Crap That Was Hard!
So yesterday was a group run in Marin. It was a gorgeous day north of SF and it promised to be a great run....then we started running and realized, "Holy crap it is hot out here!" We all were hydrating as much as possible. There were several water stops along the way. Kael and I were running strong and keeping focused. We were mentally trying to decide if were were going to do 9.75 miles or 11.75 miles. There was a loop once we got to Tiburon that we needed to do to add mileage to get to the 9.75 distance. If we wanted to get closer to the 12 miles that we had anticipated doing then we needed to do that loop 2 times. April, our head run coach, had mentioned that the loop had a short but steep hill on it. So of course that was in the back of my thoughts the whole distance!
We ran through downtown Tiburon...wow the views were awesome! Once we got to either the turn around point or the point where the hill was we obviously decided to add to the mileage and climb the hill. After running what seemed a long time uphill I huffed and puffed and then finally blew out, "this is not a SHORT hill!" Kael laughed it off and of course we kept going...and going...and so did the hill! Once we got back down the hill I was ready to call it quits and run back to the car and I was honestly going to be happy with having ran 9.75 miles. But then Kael and I stood there just sort of thinking about it and wondering if we should go for it....and of course we did! We ran up the flipping hill again and it did seem to go a bit faster the second time then the first.
Though after running up that hill and back down it and then knowing that I had at least 2 miles back to the car I really did want to cry! My legs were starting to turn to jello. This was the furthest I have ever ran before and my body was starting to get angry with me. We stopped at the water stop to chug-a-lug water and then we took off again. Off and on on the way back to the car I had to walk b/c my legs just didn't feel like they could continue running. But of course they did.....
Kael and I ran 11.75 miles that day...it was hard and we were tired, but we have almost officially hit the 1/2 marathon distance and we still have 3 months to train.....so we are thinking of pushing to train seriously for the full....
I am open to the idea of doing it, however I will listen to my body and if it just can't handle it, then I'll be happy with the 1/2. Hell it only took me 2.5 hours to run 11.75 miles....that is faster then I even imagined!
All I have to say is that WE ROCK!
I do want to put in a special thank you for one of our honorees. She was in the school yard with her family and when Kael and I rounded the corner she was there with her 2 kids and her husband cheering us on to the finish line. I didn't have my glasses and so I didn't know who it was cheering us on. So as we started to run past her I said thank you to her and her family....her response, "No thank you for doing this." Then I realized it was Gretchen there to cheer us on.
The running has been difficult, but the one of our honorees will come out to a practice and talk to us and cheer us on and say such heartfelt thank yous that in all honesty I can't imagine not doing this event.....
So to our honorees....thank you for keeping me going!
We ran through downtown Tiburon...wow the views were awesome! Once we got to either the turn around point or the point where the hill was we obviously decided to add to the mileage and climb the hill. After running what seemed a long time uphill I huffed and puffed and then finally blew out, "this is not a SHORT hill!" Kael laughed it off and of course we kept going...and going...and so did the hill! Once we got back down the hill I was ready to call it quits and run back to the car and I was honestly going to be happy with having ran 9.75 miles. But then Kael and I stood there just sort of thinking about it and wondering if we should go for it....and of course we did! We ran up the flipping hill again and it did seem to go a bit faster the second time then the first.
Though after running up that hill and back down it and then knowing that I had at least 2 miles back to the car I really did want to cry! My legs were starting to turn to jello. This was the furthest I have ever ran before and my body was starting to get angry with me. We stopped at the water stop to chug-a-lug water and then we took off again. Off and on on the way back to the car I had to walk b/c my legs just didn't feel like they could continue running. But of course they did.....
Kael and I ran 11.75 miles that day...it was hard and we were tired, but we have almost officially hit the 1/2 marathon distance and we still have 3 months to train.....so we are thinking of pushing to train seriously for the full....
I am open to the idea of doing it, however I will listen to my body and if it just can't handle it, then I'll be happy with the 1/2. Hell it only took me 2.5 hours to run 11.75 miles....that is faster then I even imagined!
All I have to say is that WE ROCK!
I do want to put in a special thank you for one of our honorees. She was in the school yard with her family and when Kael and I rounded the corner she was there with her 2 kids and her husband cheering us on to the finish line. I didn't have my glasses and so I didn't know who it was cheering us on. So as we started to run past her I said thank you to her and her family....her response, "No thank you for doing this." Then I realized it was Gretchen there to cheer us on.
The running has been difficult, but the one of our honorees will come out to a practice and talk to us and cheer us on and say such heartfelt thank yous that in all honesty I can't imagine not doing this event.....
So to our honorees....thank you for keeping me going!
Friday, July 20, 2007
A little encouragement from Kael!
Today Kael sent me an email to help boost my self confidence about tomorrow mornings run (we will be running between 10-12 miles....yikes!). Can you tell that we are seriously thinking about running the full.....can I again say that I think we are on drugs????
Anyway...his email was so encouraging that I wanted to share it with everyone. I know that I moan and groan about my training, but I do have a great support group to help me through it.....
Kael's email is below:
I feel the need to send a note of encouragement about tomorrow's run, just in case you might still be feeling uneasy. You kicked the hills' ass the other night when you weren't feeling up it. So, flat ground will be much easier. You weren't sick this week, so you'll have much more energy than the last time. Plus, I'll be there. So, you're not alone. The first few miles will go by quickly because we're used to 5 miles now. I KNOW you can do it. Does any of this help at all? Should I just be quiet? Cya tomorrow, Elliott !
Isn't that great.....and apparently he knows me well enough to know that there are times when I just need quiet (unfortunately he has come across those times in many of our runs!).
So to that I say....I will run tomorrow as strong as I can....Thanks Kael for all the encouragement!
Anyway...his email was so encouraging that I wanted to share it with everyone. I know that I moan and groan about my training, but I do have a great support group to help me through it.....
Kael's email is below:
I feel the need to send a note of encouragement about tomorrow's run, just in case you might still be feeling uneasy. You kicked the hills' ass the other night when you weren't feeling up it. So, flat ground will be much easier. You weren't sick this week, so you'll have much more energy than the last time. Plus, I'll be there. So, you're not alone. The first few miles will go by quickly because we're used to 5 miles now. I KNOW you can do it. Does any of this help at all? Should I just be quiet? Cya tomorrow, Elliott !
Isn't that great.....and apparently he knows me well enough to know that there are times when I just need quiet (unfortunately he has come across those times in many of our runs!).
So to that I say....I will run tomorrow as strong as I can....Thanks Kael for all the encouragement!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I have a medical condition AND it is called being STUPID!
Hi there.....so tonight I ran hills. And many of them. I wasn't have a great training week to this point and so I had a mental mind set that I was going to run with the level 2's.....level 1= beginners to slightly intermediate runners, level 2= intermediate runners and level 3= advanced runners (AKA....people that are NUTS!). I was perfectly happy to run with the level 2's....that is until Kael, my running partner said, "Oh we can totally run with the 3's. We can do this. We have been training so hard. It will be a good workout." Even though I was slightly apprehensive, I agreed to run with the 3's.
The course was to run up a HUGE hill that seriously felt like it NEVER would end....then just when you thought you were going to pass out you started to run down this trail towards a set of steep stairs to take you back down to the bottom. That was known as the BIG HILL. Then we had the small hill to climb....which was most of the big hill and then we would cut into the woodsy area to cut out part of the big hill and it would get us to the stairs and then we would head down them to the bottom. The Level 3's were to run the following: 1 Big Hill, 1 small hill = that equaled one set......we had to do that 3 times....and for all those folks out there that aren't following me....that means I had to run those hills 6 flipping times! Yes you read that right.....6 times!
There were times that I went silent and poor Kael would continue talking to get my mind off the mental edge that I had put myself on....and then there were times that curse words would come out of my mouth like I had tourettes. On the 5th loop I told Kael, "I don't think that I have one more loop in me....seriously." And his response...."Yes you do Elliott....you can do this. We can take it slow and you can do this." So instead of looking like a complete baby, I said okay and up we started to run again. Halfway up I once again yelled out a few choice words and stopped running. Kael asked if I was okay and the determined person in my said, "I am going to make it up this freaking hill if it kills me....just give me a second to regroup." After a few seconds we started running again...and by golly we ran up the rest of the hill and the back to the car (with 1 other stop involved).
At the end of the practice we had run over 5 miles and the majority of that was hill work. I am definitely getting stronger, but I have our Saturday run looming over me and it is starting to stress me out. As we start to increase in numbers I start to freak out internally. I was never a runner before this and in all honesty I truly don't like running. And so many people have asked me and will continue to ask me, "Why then am I training to run a 1/2 marathon?" And the answer is that I am STUPID! Just kidding! Though a part of me does believe that.....I am training b/c if there was ever any year that I could physically do it, it would be this year.....and I am raising money and awareness for a disease that is continuing to attack people and take their lives.
I do this for Brenda, my honorees (both from run and ski team), my cousin, and for everyone that either has a blood cancer or who will be diagnosed with one. And so I continue on with my training, even though I don't like to run....and in all honesty there is a part of me that is so excited at the idea of crossing the finish line and never having to run again if I don't want too! I have my good run days and my bad...and in all honesty my good do out way the bad....but dang is running hard!
The course was to run up a HUGE hill that seriously felt like it NEVER would end....then just when you thought you were going to pass out you started to run down this trail towards a set of steep stairs to take you back down to the bottom. That was known as the BIG HILL. Then we had the small hill to climb....which was most of the big hill and then we would cut into the woodsy area to cut out part of the big hill and it would get us to the stairs and then we would head down them to the bottom. The Level 3's were to run the following: 1 Big Hill, 1 small hill = that equaled one set......we had to do that 3 times....and for all those folks out there that aren't following me....that means I had to run those hills 6 flipping times! Yes you read that right.....6 times!
There were times that I went silent and poor Kael would continue talking to get my mind off the mental edge that I had put myself on....and then there were times that curse words would come out of my mouth like I had tourettes. On the 5th loop I told Kael, "I don't think that I have one more loop in me....seriously." And his response...."Yes you do Elliott....you can do this. We can take it slow and you can do this." So instead of looking like a complete baby, I said okay and up we started to run again. Halfway up I once again yelled out a few choice words and stopped running. Kael asked if I was okay and the determined person in my said, "I am going to make it up this freaking hill if it kills me....just give me a second to regroup." After a few seconds we started running again...and by golly we ran up the rest of the hill and the back to the car (with 1 other stop involved).
At the end of the practice we had run over 5 miles and the majority of that was hill work. I am definitely getting stronger, but I have our Saturday run looming over me and it is starting to stress me out. As we start to increase in numbers I start to freak out internally. I was never a runner before this and in all honesty I truly don't like running. And so many people have asked me and will continue to ask me, "Why then am I training to run a 1/2 marathon?" And the answer is that I am STUPID! Just kidding! Though a part of me does believe that.....I am training b/c if there was ever any year that I could physically do it, it would be this year.....and I am raising money and awareness for a disease that is continuing to attack people and take their lives.
I do this for Brenda, my honorees (both from run and ski team), my cousin, and for everyone that either has a blood cancer or who will be diagnosed with one. And so I continue on with my training, even though I don't like to run....and in all honesty there is a part of me that is so excited at the idea of crossing the finish line and never having to run again if I don't want too! I have my good run days and my bad...and in all honesty my good do out way the bad....but dang is running hard!
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