Ragnar Chicago 2013 … Rookie Relay Yogger

Several months ago a friend of a friend’s brother, Colin, whom I (with said friend) drunkenly recruited to join my running club/team/mafia, and who did so, asked for people to join his 10 runner Ragnar Team, the “San Diego Yogging Club”.

Did you follow that?

If the moniker is lost on you here is a video to jog your memory (or is it yog? I’m not sure, it might be a soft “j”)…the first 30 seconds are the important bit.

Anyway, I signed on and kindly asked (begged?) my ladies Meredith and Erin to join too. They did. Duh. And so we became part of the Van 1 News Team.

Friday morning at the last “major exchange”.

I’ve only had about 4 good, solid, enjoyable, (tolerable?) runs in the last 7 weeks, so in the week leading up to Ragnar I was trying really hard to muster up a positive attitude…with very limited success.

Ragnar specific “training” literally began on the trip to Madison. (Mere taking on fuel, and me working out a calf sized knot…)

Once the rapid fire team meet-and-greet was done, and joking immediately began, I was excited. Finally.

I’m not sure what I was doing…

Meredith started us off.

This is my favorite exchange picture…Erin was amazing, she didn’t complain a single time (I complained nonstop), and she picked up a FIFTH leg about 23 hrs in to sub for an injured yogger. Amazing.

I was the 5th runner (the last for van 1), and when it was time for my first leg to begin, the enthusiasm I’d drummed up, sadly, had waned.

The incoming yogger literally gave me a push out of the exchange chute. I ran decently, but significantly slower than planned. I was surprised to find that time went really fast, there really didn’t seem to be any down time between exchanges. Even the time between finishing my run and when it was time for our van to start again for our second round of runs when by quickly. This really surprised me.

I seem to be taking a page out of my running book from last summer because I got lost in the last mile of my first leg of running. The entire Ragnar course was marked clearly and accurately (as far as my experience went anyway), but by design it does require you to give up a lot of control. Basically you’ll see a sign telling you where to turn (or stay straight, whatever the case may be) and then you just keep running, sometimes for miles at a stretch, until you see another sign indicating that you need to turn. When I saw the “One Mile To Go” sign, it happened to be at a side-street, and my automatic reaction was to turn…

Whoops. I figured out my no-brain mistake pretty quickly. An elderly man was out for a walk, pushing his walker along, I sidled up to him and asked if he’d seen any runners go by: “nope” he said, “no runners here”.

I added just over a quarter-mile to my run. Dummy.

The best part of Ragnar was certainly the exchanges, I enjoyed each one, little mini races, in quick succession. It’s a running geek’s paradise. My personal experience was just like most marathons, where I downright terrified at the start, and then smitten with running for the first 30% of the event, then for the middle 30% I am more or less clinically depressed, and then for the last 30% I’m totally focused, goal oriented, and smitten with running again.

From about a mile into my second run, until about 90 minutes after my 3rd run, I hated everything about running. I even fell down (for the 4th time in the last month…not sure what that’s about), and sort of sat in a heap in the middle of a side-walk for a minute or two, debated whether I or not I could just remain there. Forever.

It was all rather pathetic really.

My 4th and final leg of running was just fine, enjoyable even.

I’m a nutcase.

I really didn’t fully have all the logistics and rules of Ragnar clear in my mind until excessively late in the game. There are several not perfect little quirks. Like the need for lights and reflective gear when the sun has fully risen (Mr. Safety Casey here had to start running just a few minutes before the cut off time for safety gear – 6:30am – but safety makes no exceptions, apparently)

By hour 20 we were all exhausted (duh?):

Last I heard we finish 33rd out of 438 teams…so that’s pretty good.

I’d definitely do a relay event, possibly even this one again, but I really want to train for it. Which had been the plan but my body and my spirits just didn’t allow for it. It’s the same as with marathons, you have to register and commit to them so far before the actual event date that you just don’t know what will unfold.

I haven’t run since Ragnar ended last Saturday, hell, I didn’t even walk the poor dogs until tonight. I haven’t engaged in any other form of exercise either. I’m flying to New Hampshire tomorrow (Friday) to run the Mt. Washington Road Race on Saturday.

I wish I felt like this about it:

Bootleggers Karaoke the week before Ragnar.

…But I’m not excited at all about the race, I’m extremely disappointed that I’m totally out of shape for it because I have wanted to do this event since college.

When I get back I need to sit down and take a serious look at the intense fall running I’ve set myself up with and see what kind of plan I need, and if I can even face it.

*AB

Spartan Race Winner!

This is my first giveaway/contest ever, so indulge me as I milk this, and , OK, I can totally see why bloggers like doing giveaways. This was both very anxiety producing and fun…which is a lot like running.

I received four submissions to compete for a free entry to any Spartan Race in the continental US. I am totally in love with all four, so it was utterly unreasonable for me to select a winner myself. Instead, I used the power of Facebook and my running buddies (thank you Bootleggers!).

In no particular order here are the submissions:

I can totally relate with the first one (Seth), I think the baby is simply awesome (Katie), Grumpy Cat made me snort (literally) with laughter (Jasper), and number 4 might be the most adorable thing I have ever seen, and, she’s totally nailed why I think people want to enter these races (Jennifer).

So: Seth, Katie, Jasper, and Jennifer, THANK YOU, so much, for entering! I don’t know what it will consist of yet but I am going to send you all a token of appreciation for entering!

AND THE WINNER!

It was some seriously impassioned war-fare between GRUMPY CAT and THE BABY, but in the end the baby won by ONE VOTE!!!!

Congrats, Katie, for winning the first ever Fluency’s Folly contest! I can’t wait hear all about your Spartan Adventure!

*AB

The Booty Short Challenge

Prelude: did you start preparing to enter my contest yet? I have only ONE entry so far! C’mon! Show me! Show me!

A few of my Bootleg Runner’s Coalition lady pals have been talking for awhile about doing a “Booty Short Challenge”. Basically, they (well, 16 of us, as it turns out) want to run, and race, in very little clothing, and not think twice about it.

You know, like these women:

Ok, maybe not exactly like them, it is afterall called the “Booty Short” challenge, not the “Bun Hugger” challenge. Perhaps that will be round 2.

A little discussed social phenomenon that a lot of runners (I suspect both male and female, and other endurance sports athletes, or, athletes, period) experience is non-athletes not understanding that just because we are fit and look lean and healthy, does not mean we don’t have improvements we would like to make. Not only terms of our physiques but also our dietary habits, other heath habits (my teammates are called “bootleggers” for a reason), strength and fitness imbalances, stress levels, and so on.

Sometimes the social disconnect is so apparent that people often minimize our trainings efforts without meaning to. And it can be really aversive. Everytime a group of my co-workers does or wants to do a fitness or weight loss challenge I’m told “you can’t participate, that’s cheating”. It’s offensive, frankly.

And, moreover, for my ladies and I, these gains in fitness and fat loss aren’t just motivated by vanity, we’re also informed enough to expect some PR’s on the other end of this challenge.

Sometimes, when you spend so much of your energy and your heart on the hard work that is getting out there and running nearly everday, you need the pressure of vanity, and the social support, that our 5-10 pound weight loss goal is just as important as anyone else’s, to get things going. (read: and do the ancillary work required to get faster!)

I would even argue that it is similarly challenging for someone already focused on training for specificity in one sport (or 3 for triathletes), and aiming to balance their energy so they may still perform all of life’s other responsibilities, to add new exercises, and further clean-up their diet, as it is for a sedendary person locked in their routine to get moving.

(My apologies for all the run-on sentences. You dig so far?)

The challenge began yesterday. Here are just a few examples of the shorts we’ll be unvailing to race in this August:

Viole:

Me (Boston, duh)

Erin and Lee Ann:

Today is day 2 of the challenge and I’m a little grumpy because I’ve just put in a 12hr day at work and thus missed my opportunity to go for a long run. I’ve been daydreaming about this blog post for several days, I was going to post tons of links to cool and motivating and useful stuff, and also a list of my goals and how I was going to get there…instead I’m gonna just hang the bait and keep it brief.

You’ve probably already seen this, and I thank my SIL for altering me to it. I share this not with an ounce of mockery, I actually think this lady is awesome. And, I know of many, many, people for whom this would be a totally great and valid workout.

If Richard Simmons could start a movement I don’t see why this women couldn’t, like I said, it’s all about the social support.

I’m so tired I think I’ll just go to bed early and watch some cheesy BBC programming, and dream about a sub 1:30 half marathon and a 3:10 marathon this fall.

*AB

Two Great Run Workouts: and a Gluten Free Pizza Binge.

First, because this post will likely be a bit on the long side: Happy Mother’s Day! Today was tough knowing my mother is far away. But I’ll see her in July, and I am lucky to have her at all! Here we are at my graduation (masters)  in Chicago two years ago. Isn’t she pretty?

As this weekend closes I feel like I mostly just lazed, watched Merlin, drank my weight in Cider (w/ ginger! yuuum!), and ate anything I could find that was A) gluten free, and B) full of sugar and/or fat…Yah, I don’t know. Usually the wheels come off for the two weeks after a marathon, then I tighten it back up as I get back to training. This time the gluttony tour and the training increase are happening at the same time. I fully plan to do join the “Monday Diet” club, so that tonight I can have my third, yes third, GF pizza with in a 7 day period.

unsolicited shout-out to Udi’s pizza crust…

I actually just noticed(click image for link) that you can order in bulk directly from their website….my credit card is twitching

Jorge (who does not require nor follow a gluten-freen diet) and I use these crusts about once a week (clearly, hopefully, this week is an anomaly).

We’re both huge pizza fans. We’re Chicagoans, who isn’t? But neither of use are fans of how pizza makes you feel. We usually make a basic cheese and sausage (turkey) with our Udi’s, and we each eat a whole one, and just feel happy and pizza filled, as opposed to grease and regret filled, after.

Here’s what our pizza’s usually look like. Clearly, this is one serving.

Clearly.

(don’t tell my father I referred to myself as a Chicagoan. He’ll cry. It won’t be pretty.)

One of these men is my dad, I’m not saying which one.

That may indeed be how I spent three-quarters of my weekend, but the other 25% was spent on some really excellent running!

I wanted to get in a decent long run this weekend, but have been thinking a lot over the past week about the intense racing schedule I’m lining up for the rest of this year, and decided I should start doing some recon for hill training.

Recon, because at some point I need to start figuring out how I’ll train for this:

This is what happens when your 6 year old nephew is the final judge in fall race planning.

Additionally, you may have forgotten, but a while ago I posted about getting into the Mt. Washington Road Race, it’s 7.5 miles, and ALL UPHILL!

Also, it’s in a few weeks.

So, I settled for 13 miles on Saturday morning, Just shy of 10 of those miles were spent going up-and-down “Big Bertha”. This is a hill that is part of the 9.5mi loop at Waterfall Glen in Darien, IL.

Most places you look, people refer to Bertha as a half mile hill that climbs 125 feet. The way I measured “her” on Saturday made her stretch to .95mi and cover closer to 160 feet. Which is nothing compared to what I’ll be climbing both in New Hampshire in a few weeks, and off the coast of California in November, but it’s a great start. It’s also measurable, and repeatable, which means I’m sure to get addicted. Here’s how my effort went (the basic metrics, I have more, but would rather you stay awake):

2mi repeats have officially been de-throned as my favorite run workout!

I had only planned on doing three repeats on Bertha, but was enjoying myself so much that I did 5. I’m confident that I can greatly improve these splits. And can’t wait to try!

The other great workout this weekend was this morning. Two of my Bootleg Runner’s Coalition ladies were running the Susan G. Komen 5k. All week my plan had been to run down and watch them finish, then hang out for a while, and run home, thus piecing together a nice recovery run. But, by Friday I was enticed, and I don’t have a 5k planned for quite a while. So I decided that if I felt decently sound of body on Sunday morning after another round of snack foods and cider for dinner, then I’d run.

This is my favorite pre-race picture! Feel free to email us for fashion tips! (Erin, Lee Ann, Annabelle = Bootleg Runner Pride!)

Run I did. And shocked myself by being pain-free until mile 2.5, I was even more surprised that I was able to run my second ever sub-20 finish!

19:56.

I’ve never run the lead of a race with a friend and training partner before (in fact, I’ve still only led a few races, period [the women's contingent anyway]) and my plan to run conservatively went away without any debate when I realized that Erin was still right in front of me after 2 miles. I know she has another gear, and was prepared to be dropped.

Racing is often about whose body is being cooperative, and whose isn’t. Erin’s been sick, and I was elated to be out front (and had ART therapy yesterday, first time, and I swear I run better already). So I kicked in the last 3/4mi and we finished 1 – 2. It was a blast! I sure hope we get to re-play a scenario like this soon, because having someone to strategize with and play off, but whom you trust, can make for an amazing run!

We danced really poorly, but exuberantly, for about an hour before getting our medals.

As a final cherry on top of some good running moments this week, the BRC grassroots and fiercely tight-knit running club has a logo. I think I can safely claim that we’re the only team that has artwork created by a talented contemporary artist.

Check this:

Credit: Alan Salabert

(hopefully I’m not offending him with the less-than-perfect quality of this image. It’s a copy of a copy…I’m still a noob at this stuff.)

*AB

Transitioning from Boston

Pre-Boston, my plan for post-Boston had been to take 10 days mostly off of running to recover, and put together a killer training program that would span from the 11th day after Boston and carry me through my last planned event for 2013: The Catalina Eco Marathon on November 9th (FYI, that’s the day after my birthday, feel free to send gifts). I have only completed a few uncomfortable runs, and have barely thought about what my training for the next 6 months is going to look like. One run worth noting, however, was the back half of a friend’s marathon, the week after Boston.

My motivation to run, even a little, took a sharp nose-dive two and a half weeks ago. I recognized it for what it was, which was, I think, equal parts:

1. a bizarre “injury” to my right side…
2. legitimate post-PR need for rest
3. a conflagration of conflicting emotions that were a bit slow to take shape regarding the events post-marathon in Boston
4. frustration when I realized how big my goals are and how limited my resources seem (and the profound guilt at thinking that way, see #3)

The 3rd point has taken a lot of forms, but the one related to running is that it has seemed foolish to focus at all on my very self-indulgent, self-interested running goals, amidst what has happened.

I spent some time last weekend speaking with a friend who was writing an article that focuses on having ran the Boston Marathon and coping with the stark change in tone that occurred during the experience. It was a hugely therapeutic exercise that made me realize I’ve been avoiding blogging, planning my training, reading blogs/articles, and indulging in all things running, because admitting how important it is to me is uncomfortable given the recent context.

Although this is a personal blog, I still don’t want to re-count my experience in Boston here (it’s not going to add anything to what others have already written), but people have been so kind to inquire so I’ll say this: I felt safe the entire time and  was surrounded by friends. The way the bombing has affected me, personally, has nothing to do with running (Except that I will not be posting a race re-cap) and doesn’t belong in this format.

I will say this piece though: I am very disappointed in the general attitude amongst running-bloggers that it’s important to “move-on” quickly. Within 8 hours of the bombing in Boston I saw posts mentioning moving on and focusing back on your goals and training. I think that is OK, for some people, but to pressure everyone to do the same is not.

Being “Boston Strong” doesn’t mean to push ahead with aggressive defiance, it’s ok to be shaken.

If terrorism didn’t make us self-reflect, didn’t scare us, and didn’t throw us off our game for a while, then we would call it something else, and we’d be changed fundamentally, and in a way that reduces freedom.

Running is perhaps the ultimate expression of freedom.Very often my motivator to get out there when I’m not feeling like it, is to remind myself how amazingly fortunate I am to have not only the capacity to make such a choice, but the freedom to execute that choice.

So please, stop telling me that I am “entitled to celebrate” my PR.

I know that I am.

I just don’t want to.

On a happier note, although jumping right into training again hasn’t panned out, I did, last weekend make a list of the things that would help me move up another “level” in racing. I’ve got two items crossed off already: I am currently “shopping” a few chiropractor, and with help from some former colleagues, I got a membership to the kick-assingest gyms in Chicago (slight bias there). This morning marked my first swim workout in years. Which, as you can see, I was thrilled about.

Flattering picture, isn’t it?

I’m running this Sunday in Palos (First Midwest Half Marathon). Back in March I was planning on a PR effort, and to break 1:30, however, it appears I can’t maintain my marathon pace (so certainly not Half pace) for more than a mile without some pain, so I’ll be running just to soak up the environment, and the energy.

*AB

Packing a suitcase is harder than running a marathon.

In 16 hours or so I’ll be in Boston, and I am finally feeling simply excited. Not nervous, not scared or worried, not doubtful, just excited.

I had to make some accommodation changes yesterday, my hotel roommate injured her hip and can’t run. My heart breaks for her, I was devastated when I had to bail on Boston in 2011, and that was still many weeks out, to have to back off in the final week…I can’t even…I know she’ll recover and nail it next year!

Anyway, we worked this all out, but I panicked. The thought of staying alone seemed just unbearable (I know, tiny violin). So I called my sister-in-running Lee Ann, who has, graciously as always, solved all my problems.

It’s not the first time she’s come to my rescue. She’s also saved me from myself at Karaoke:

I’ve mostly finished packing but have gone through the same debate as last year: travel very light with only running gear and lounge clothes, or attempt to dress like a free-range human for at least part of the trip. I’ve unpacked and repacked several times, and now have no idea what is in that suitcase.

The little girls helped:

Early this morning Penelope and I went over my race-strategy…well, not really, mostly we just looked at the course pictures and day-dreamed about a perfect run. That’s sufficient at this point I think.

I have also spent the required time playing with and photographing my race-day get up.

Fits well, doesn’t it?

There are several higher quality things I could use your time (and mine) posting about, but right now I just want to be self-interested and happily and on my way to Bean Town.

I’m not bringing a computer with me, just my phone. I’m sure I’ll post something, but I have no plans for what or when. Follow me on Twitter, Instagram (all are @fluencysfolly) or Facebook.

If you’re racing anywhere this weekend (or in Boston), may the course be with you, and the wind ever at your back!

*AB

 

Gear!

The theme for the 30 Days To Boston Photo Challenge today is GEAR. I could post many pictures for this one…here’s a few. There’s nothing minimalist about most runners I know.

I skipped several days of this challenge for lack of creative lightning strikes…and the fact that I did exactly 30 minutes of cross training over the past 17 weeks, and all of those minutes were last week. And cross training was the theme for 2 different photo challenge days. I was set up!

This is an old picture from a rainy/snowy week:

Most used and best gear-gift ever received:

Garmin Forerunner 305! Yes, it’s an old model. It’s also the BEST model.

*AB

Take your head out of your arse and put it back in the clouds.

I sincerely apologize for my radio silence. But now that we’re officially a week out (less, if you want to be precise) from the start of the Boston Marathon. I promise you I will be present and transparent, as I usually (compulsively) am.

Thank you so much to those who have reached out via email, comments, and social media to check in on the status of my (runner’s) body, and offered words of wisdom and encouragement. You make me feel like this:

If you would like to track my race next Monday you can set it up via text (as indicated below) or click on the image below to sign up via email.  I won’t know you’re tracking me unless you tell me, so let me know! Last year at Boston as well as Chicago, knowing that people were following along with my progress was a tremendous help in keeping a positive and focused mindset when things got rough.

Speaking of a positive and focused mindset, I’ve not had one since the week after the Cary March Madness Half (read about it here). Very quickly post-race I went from a confirmed knowledge that my training plan was showing some seriously desirable results, to panicking and obsessing that my fitness had peaked too early and now the marathon would be a total slog.

Yes, I’m a brat. Go ahead and take a second to mutter comments in that direction.

My foot isn’t any better other than the swelling having gone down. My plan called for around 55 miles last week and I clocked 25 plus a lot of sulking. I ran 6 miles tonight, and they were slow and uncomfortable, my foot/ankle/soul wasn’t painful at all until after I stopped but I just have no rhythm and I feel like this is a new body, not the one I was training with all winter.

Again: wah-wah-wah!

I’m having a complete shoe crisis, because I bought a pair of excellent new kicks (Brooks Pure Flow 2), but now I’m worried that the former model (Brooks Flow: a fine shoe, but maybe I put too many miles on them real fast) is actually what might have caused this issue, and so now wonder if I should pick up a new pair of  Mizuno Wave Riders (which is what the bulk of my mileage was done with), and race in those next Monday. I love the Brooks Pure Flows, but I haven’t been running in the low drop shoe’s as much this year as I did last, and though I can certainly endure the marathon in them, I fear I’ll develop an injury that will then need 6 weeks to recover…or the injury is from overused Wave Riders…

The outside tongue is attached…why are all shoes not built this way?

Ach! The conflict!

Advice is very welcomed, If I’m going to go buy shoes (again) it has to be tomorrow after work (Tuesday).

But, back to what I really want to say. There are plenty of possible disasters regarding next Monday that I can mull over, but it’s time to work on my dreaming again.

I’d always rather set a potentially too high goal and joyously strive for it, than to be so caught up in limitations that I end up swirling around, miserable, and stagnant, which is where I’ve been for the last 10 days. And it stinks.

(Except at work: I’ve been extremely productive there…coping mechanisms are amazing.)

So back in the clouds I go! And I am going to keep running over my perfect race in my mind, and picture running a 3:15 at Boston.

Also, not sure if anyone else noticed but Shalane and Kara clearly want me to join their ranks, because their uniforms for Boston look very much like something I would race in:

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Yesterday my friend Erin (who KILLED the Shamrock Shuffle in 31:10!!!) reminded me that right after the race pictured above, a woman said to me “I love your costume”.

Yup.

Not a costume.

Other than day-dreaming about keeping up with the pro-elites, I started plugging away at the list of items I need to pack for Boston tonight. Which rendered my first sincere swell of genuine excitement for the trip, and race day. I was even tempted to get my suitcase out.

My last pair of cheap glasses broke a few weeks ago after 6 years of sweat!

Did I share yet my gel epiphany from a few weeks ago? It’s hilarious and self-effacing (humiliating), you all will love it.

And with that, before I make this lumbering post more awkward than it is, have a great day and dream-on friends!

*AB

Hypocondraisis is normal during taper. But I didn’t start tapering yet!

I owe you all a race report from Saturday’s 10k…hopefully this will suffice, I really don’t excel at writing race reports. But I am really good at sharing the potentially comedic and definitely woe-is-me-first-world-problem elements of my (running) life. So consider that fair warning and let the whining commence.

Here’s a picture of the kids mile before the Fast Cat events to hook you. I love watching kids fun runs, it’s just like watching a marathon:

All the runners start full of smiles and enthusiasm, and at the end at least half are in hysterical tears.

Last week I had a touch of a cold, or something. It came, it sucked for a couple of days and it passed. I had a great tempo run, and a great “YASSO”-esque workout.

Then, before the 10k Saturday morning I woke up annoyingly early to follow my normal pre-race routine. 5am, drank my usual glass of water, brushed my teeth, gagged inexplicably, and threw up in the sink. Twice.

Like I said, totally normal routine.

I ate a cashew almond bar and tried not to throw up inside old blue while driving the hour out to Plainfield.

I shrugged off my body’s bizzare antics and did a 2 mile warm up and kept my little heart set on trying to break 40 minutes. I was right on target too!

For the first mile.

Then I felt a lot of tension in my hip flexors, so I shortened my stride and picked up my feet. Then I got a side stitch so I slowed down and focused on my breathing. Then the lower part of my abdominal muscles (yah, I don’t know either( started to cramp)…

This routine continued up until the last 800 meters. Which is when I decided to speed up for the finish thinking I could salvage a high 40:++ time. Nope.

I’m not sure if anyone was taking pictures at the end there, but I sure hope so, because they will be amazing. I Quasimoto’ed my way down the last quarter-mile, with my right hand grasping my side so hard I’m surprised my obliques aren’t bruised.

I had such severe abdominal muscle spasms that I probably looked ridiculously dramatic when I finished and crouched over. For a quick second I actually thought I had fractured a rib.

I recovered enough after about 5 minutes to hobble my way through a one-mile cool-down. Taking deep breaths was not an option.

I have DOMS from the whole ordeal.

I felt really uncomfortable and continued to have random but far less intense muscle spasms all weekend. Of course, I asked a random and very obliging stranger to take a post race picture:

I assumed the route of my problems was a lack of core strength/endurance and a lack of flexibility.

The next day before my long run, I did some half-pigeoning and pulled out an old anatomy book.

I concluded that my issue has to do with my right psoas. But I know neither the precipitating factors, nor what to do about it.

I managed to run a reasonably comfortable 15 miles on Sunday.

Then on Monday (yesterday), while at work I grew suspicious of my left foot.

For about a week now I’ve thought I had an irritated spot, or bruise, from either a pair of work shoes, or hitting it randomly (it happens. frequently). I took off the old trouser sock and found some swelling.

I then poked, prodded, did some internet “researching” and had a very lengthy text session with Marron. Conclusion: a bit of peroneal tendonitis. This is probably from either lacing my shoes too tightly, wearing the 4mm Brooks pure-Flows too much too soon (unlikely: i’ve peppered in use of other low-drops and I’ve only used them a handful of times), or from wearing shoes that are too worn (my wave riders have something like 800 miles on them…but they look great, it’s so confusing!). I am not totally convinced that any one of these things is the cause…but self-diagnosis is not really an exact science anyway.

I’m not in any acute pain. It really does just feel like a bruise, and a little stiff. And I pretty unclear on the judgement call of running when there is swelling (even this small amount) present.

Boston is less than two weeks away. Which presents another decision-making challenge. I basically have until Friday to get in my last two quality workouts (6x1mi repeats, and a 10mi tempo/MGP), then I have to start my taper…because that would be 10 days out.

I know that very often you can train through tendonitis, and two weeks is a very short amount of time. I also know that sometimes it only takes one hard workout, or one mile too many to turn a niggling discomfort into a full-blown side-lining injury.

All this “knowing” has made staying in an anxiety-free zone very tough, and making a firm decision and a plan to follow even harder. So for now I’m chosing the middle road.

Last night instead of running I went for a stroll with my little family:

And tonight instead of running I am going to go to a blogger event at Road Runner Sports.

Hopefully tomorrow the tenderness and swelling will be gone, and my core area won’t be sore anymore, and then I’ll go for a run.

My training has gone so well all winter that I feel really silly to be so worked up and complaining, and worried. But that’s the pull of the Boston Marathon, it makes you want perfection.

*AB

P.S. for those interested my 10k time was 41:22, good enough for second place….I got totally taken to school by a blazing 14-year-old runner.

Who accidentally runs 20 miles?

The answer, apparently, is me. I do that. I run 20 miles in one day, 4 days after a planned 20 miler, 2.5 weeks out from my biggest goal marathon of the year. I wish I could say that it was no-big-deal, that I often run twice a day and have that kind of mileage, but I don’t. Not yet anyway.

We (work peeps) are trying to organize a 5k to incorporate into an existing annual fundraiser for the agency I work for (Garden Center Services), so on Tuesday I planned to go scout out the course. What was supposed to be an easy 3mi run and a short break in the workday, turned into an 8mi shuffle into the Twilight Zone.

First, it grew to a 6mi run so that my running buddy Meredith could join me. But we couldn’t figure out where the course was supposed to be. Then, we saw some trippy birds that we thought weren’t real, or had escaped from some stoners bedroom.

We saw a flock of about a dozen and they were shockingly green. Then a mile or so later, I realized that we were not where I thought we were. At all. We were about 3 miles from there, and in a totally different direction. I decided that we’d clearly discovered a wormhole in Burbank Illinois, and on one side live Monk Parakeets. Because, I have a spectacularly infallible sense of direction. You can trust me on this, don’t ask around.

Conclusion: from now on I’m going to refer to Meredith as “Alice”, as in, “Shit, Alice, I think we fell into the rabbit hole again”.

This is Meredith: heretofore known as “Alice”

I had a series of miserable runs last week, and finally hit my pace targets again  for a tempo workout on Tuesday morning. So by the end of our misadventure, I had logged 20 miles for the day. Crap.

Instead of facing another speed workout alone on Thursday I decided to join the Boston Bound training group at Fleet Feet on Wednesday evening. 10×800 repeats. My legs felt like maybe the heaviest they ever have but after easing in for the first two I ran the rest all between 3:01 and 3:06. So a nice clean session. I think. Actually, I have no idea. But I was glad to be done with a solid workout.

I don’t really have a sound point for this post. Just felt like reaching out and saying:

HURRY UP APRIL 15TH!!!

*AB