An Old Lesson

A wise person once told me "Focus on distance, speed or hills".

If you want to increase your distance, you shouldn't try to shave a minute off your pace. If you want to run faster, you shouldn't try to do it the first time you run hills.

And if you want to increase your distance, you shouldn't do it the first time you've run hills in 2 months. I didn't follow this sage advice.

I planned to run a 10K around the lake. The hilly lake. After not running for 2 months. After run walking a 1/2 marathon, which I knew I shouldn't have attempted. After a week of recovery. (AKA not running for a week)

I was able to run most of the lake. I walked most of the uphills, though. Only did one lap of the lake, then went home and ran 2 more miles around my 'hood and called it good.

I just need to rinse and repeat.

Nike Women's (1/2) Marathon - 2010

At the expo with Rachel and the bean

I really have a love/hate relationship with this race. I do love that it's mostly women. I do love that (the 1/2 at least) is very scenic. And I absolutely love how many spectators there are on the course. I hate the hills. I hate how many other runners participate. And this year, I hate the rain.

Beautiful views

So many runners

What puts it over the top? Firemen, in tuxes (in the rain) with little blue boxes.

I did finish in under 4 hours this year. This was in doubt at the start line. The last time I ran more than 2 miles was in August at the Peter's Canyon Trail race. I didn't run all of those 5 miles. I ran 2 miles Wednesday before the race. (Note: This is not a good half marathon training plan.)

I headed to the start with my friend Rachel. We met up with my friend Bethany and went in search of the bag check. Found some of Rachel's friends as we lined up in the corals. (Never was able to meet up with my friend Louise or my twitter peeps. It's such a cluster at the start!)

Me and Bethany at the start

As planned walked the first 2+ miles with my friend Bethany. We split off and I started to run. Ran past the wharf, up the cable car turn around, down into the Presidio, up Fort Mason. Took pictures of the Golden Gate, mile signs, and one awesome "Run like zombies are chasing you" sign.

The awesomest sign ever!

About 9.5 miles in my outer left knee started talking to me. At first I couldn't run the steep down hills. Then it was any down hill, then I couldn't run. As soon as I realized I was swinging my leg at the hip, I gave in and walked. I walked the last 3 miles. I should have walked the last 3.1.

I ran the last .1, as soon as I saw the finish line. It was pure vanity. As soon as I crossed the finish line a first aid worker asked me if I needed her. I shook her off and headed straight towards the the firemen and the little blue box.

Official time: 3:36:39

I ran!

What a difference a week (or a week and a half) make. I decided to see how the old surgery was healin' today. Went for a 3.1 run/walk (ran ~2 miles of it). And it felt great!

I was able to run with no pain from my side/gallbladder surgery. The only thing that slowed me down, other than the 30+ lbs that is the bean in his jogger, was my lungs.

I don't have high hopes that I'll be able to run 13.1 miles on Sunday, especially since I haven't really run in almost 2 months. But I'm hoping my run/walk will beat my 4 hour time from last year.

But it doesn't matter when I finish. The men in tuxes with the little blue/turquoise boxes, will be there when I finish.

Not at 100%

The title says it all. I tried to run Saturday. Didn't start until 11am. It was sunny, and a bit hot. Ran for 5 minutes and got a side stitch. I thought (hoped) it was due to heat and hydration. So I bailed and walked.

Went out to support my triathlon team at their mock tri, and to do some running, and to eat the hot breakfast. (Ok, I was most motivated by the hot breakfast.) I was able to complete 5 intervals of a 5 min run/1 min walk. By the end of the last interval, I couldn't ignore the pain in my side. I was running at Back Bay, in comfortable, overcast weather, with a full 20 oz bottle of water.

Now I know I'm not completely healed. I've had side stitches due to running too fast. I've had side stitches due to insufficient hydration. This hurt much different, and much more, than either of those.

I'm back to taking it easy. The last thing I need is for something else to go wrong.