The Week of Two Ten's

5/11/09 - The Week of Two Ten's. My friend Ginny and I are running the San Diego Marathon together at the end of May. She has been training on her own but matching the Team in Training schedule and decided to come to Austin with me to run 20 miles this past Saturday. In talking, we decided 20 miles was too much and way to overwhelming and we would rather run 2 - 10 mile segments. So it was the weekend of Two Ten's. Our first mistake might have been not running on Thursday like we were scheduled, instead we ran Friday morning. I wear so much technical equipment on my arms, I managed to chaff the inside of my left arm pretty raw. Who would have thought I would need Body Glide for just three miles?! I put Neosporin on it and tried to let it air out and at least scab over but I sweat so much I knew Saturday was not going to be very fun. Then, some how on the way down to Austin Ginny and I managed to damage ourselves even more, she with a pinch mark from the seatbelt that welted up and me with a large scrap on my leg. We looked like we had been through the ringer and we hadn't even run yet!

We had discussed our route and decided to stick close to Town Lake because several running stores provide water and it is fairly safe. It was abnormally hot and humid, only adding to the joy of running Two Ten's. Our plan was to run up Congress, around the capital, down to the lake and around the lake twice.

Somewhere around mile 14 or 4 of my second 10, I knew my knees were really mad and the remaining 6 were going to be pretty tough. But I was on the downward slope so I kept going. The nice thing about the Nike ipod sensor is the count down of miles so it tells you how much more you have to go. The down side is it tells you how much farther you have to go. Pushing the button every few seconds doesn't make it tell you less distance faster...it is very methodical that way. Mile 18 I realized I had gone as far as my last long run and I only had two more miles to go. That isn't hard right? Two miles, less than a 5K...easy breezy. As my watch beeps for me to run another 5 minute...I winch at the thought of picking up my legs one more time. My walk is more dragging of my feet and I notice my shoes are covered in dust from the trail.

I managed to get all the way around the lake twice and had about a mile left. I ran up Congress and around a few buildings, well, walked/hobbled around a few buildings and was never more happy than when the ipod said I had completed my workout! Such joy! I had made it! Two Ten's!

Body Glide is a Good Thing

4/28/09 - When I was thinking in January of something to do with my free time that would allow me to meet new people in Dallas and be active, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training seemed to be the perfect solution. Wow, I never knew how perfect that would be, such a great group of people, a wonderful cause and the perfect training program.

I ran 18 miles with my group on Saturday, again, the longest distance to date. We ran up Flagpole hill, if you live in Dallas, feel free to try it! It has to be a solid three minutes of running a steady incline. To be fair, I did not make it to the top, I had to stop and walk the last little bit but we did another hill around White Rock Lake, perhaps equally long and I made it to the top of that one.

I bought new shoes and that seems to have helped with the massive knee and foot arch pain. I was feeling pretty good at 15; I struggled through the last three but still felt better than my last long run. I also found out what Body Glide is for- chafing. I never thought I needed it until after I finished 18 miles and realized my bra top had been rubbing under my arm and around my chest- I know have lovely rash markings. I am not sure if they are as bad as all the scars I have from falling off the bike but they at least run a close second. Gum and Body Glide - must haves in San Diego.

I Have Officially Run in My First Marathon.

4/13/09 - I have officially run in my first marathon. Granted, it was a half, but for those of you who do not know, that is 13.1 miles! I decided to run in the Big D marathon/half marathon after I realized I could not ride 30 miles and run 13 all in the same day. The Big D half marathon was my answer! So I ran Sunday, April 5, 2009 13.l miles and finished in 2 hours 40 minutes 23 seconds. This time is the fastest run I have had to date! Running with others really made a difference, I think this was a good test for how San Diego will go.

I also ran 13 miles this past weekend in Austin. It took me 4 minutes longer but in my defense, I had more obstacles and no gum! Gum you ask?! Well, apparently gum is the magic to running long distances, that and an ipod with great music. I got started and ran about 5 minutes and realized I had not remembered gum. I toughed it out but honestly, I'm not sure those around me appreciated it. I found myself humming and grunting a lot which I don't recall doing when I have gum. So, must remember gum!

And oh, the knees! Goodness! I am normally not prone to injuries which I attribute to the yoga I have been doing but lately on long runs my knees ache and have a hard time working. So if you see me hobbling around, just know it is because I probably ran over 13 miles!

Team in Training Beginning - Marathon Training

1/21/09 - Thank you to all of you who have donated or given me encouragement and words of wisdom! We haven't officially started our training but almost everyone I know that has done a half marathon or full marathon insisted I start running NOW! So, I've started running!

I mostly run on the treadmill because for one, it is darn cold here in Dallas and two, I am scare to run outside for fear I will run to a spot and be too tired to run back!

It was a beautiful day this past Sunday though and I had missed yoga class already so I decided to put on my running shoes and hit the road. I went down to the lake and ran what I thought was a long distance. It turned out not to be, only about a mile and a half but it was good practice. The wind around the lake makes it more difficult too, or at least that is what I am going to tell myself!

My next goal is to run at least 2 miles around the lake. Some day I will run the full 9 mile lap and maybe start from the house, that would make it about 15 miles.