You can officially call me the worst blog updater in the world. I love following blogs and really admire people who keep theirs up to date and include fancy stuff like videos and pictures, but where do they find the time? Or more specifically, where do the find the time to update their blog AND have a life? I don't know... maybe they sleep a lot less then me. I guess it's beside the point now. Here I am, five months later, and I have a lot of writing to do to fill you in on what has happened since April. Let's call it the Reader's Digest Version:
Injury: Plica Syndrome. After my "lucky" twenty (hello, note to self: never call anything lucky again) I started having serious knee pain in my left knee. I went to the Ortho who said I have Plica syndrome. It's left over fetal tissue in the knee that can get irritated by repetetive motion (i.e. running.) I had a cortinsone shot and he told me that the decision to run the marathon was up to me and what I thought would be best. I rested for a couple weeks, but the pain was still there. As much as I wanted to run the Flying Pig, Chicago is more important to me, since I don't know if or when I will go back there again. I know I will have a chance to run the Pig again next year. It was a difficult decision, but in the end, I didn't run. Instead, I made other impulsive decisions that would have lots of implications in my life.
Personal Training: One of my impulsive decisions and efforts to make myself feel better after missing the marathon. I committed to a year and I'm trying to take my overall fitness up another level. With the trainer I work mostly on upper body and core. Having a stronger upper body has really had a positive affect on my running. Its expensive, but worth it so far. I have noticed a difference in my body, too. After so many years of being a bigger girl, its kind of strange getting used to looking different and being noticed. At first, it is flattering to know that people are looking because I look good. But the more I think about it, the more I start to wonder. Would these people have cared or gotten to know me before when I was out of shape and less attractive? Wasn't I the same person then as I am now? Wasn't I worth knowing before? The experience is just making me aware of how much looks can affect the way people are treated. People can be so superficial.
Recovery: So, I took about 3 weeks off running, then started gradually running again. First on a treadmill, then back to running outside. Once I was able to do 5 miles outside without serious knee pain, I knew I would be good to go for Chicago. That 5 miles felt so good.
So, now I am back with the training group. We started up again in June. Lindsay and Holly are both running, but they are training for a half, so I don't get to run with them very often. I have been able to pick up my pace, and have been doing my long runs at a consistent 9:30. I think it is possible that I will finish in under 4:15. It would be so sweet to be able to say I cut 40 minutes off my previous marathon time. This past Saturday we ran 2o miles. I was feeling pretty tired at the end, but still strong. The tank wasn't empty, so I think that's a good sign. The weather is cooling off and we have had a much milder summer in general compared to last year, which has really helped me.
I'm going to try and start updating regularly again. I am about 1 month away from Chicago. I also signed up for the Indianapolis half which is one week after that. I am going with Lindsay and another girl from the running group, Melanie, for a girls weekend. It should be really fun. September 20th is my last scheduled long run (22 miles) and then the taper begins. It's all about staying healthy and injury-free until race time.
Recovery: So, I took about 3 weeks off running, then started gradually running again. First on a treadmill, then back to running outside. Once I was able to do 5 miles outside without serious knee pain, I knew I would be good to go for Chicago. That 5 miles felt so good.
So, now I am back with the training group. We started up again in June. Lindsay and Holly are both running, but they are training for a half, so I don't get to run with them very often. I have been able to pick up my pace, and have been doing my long runs at a consistent 9:30. I think it is possible that I will finish in under 4:15. It would be so sweet to be able to say I cut 40 minutes off my previous marathon time. This past Saturday we ran 2o miles. I was feeling pretty tired at the end, but still strong. The tank wasn't empty, so I think that's a good sign. The weather is cooling off and we have had a much milder summer in general compared to last year, which has really helped me.
I'm going to try and start updating regularly again. I am about 1 month away from Chicago. I also signed up for the Indianapolis half which is one week after that. I am going with Lindsay and another girl from the running group, Melanie, for a girls weekend. It should be really fun. September 20th is my last scheduled long run (22 miles) and then the taper begins. It's all about staying healthy and injury-free until race time.
No comments:
Post a Comment