Game Day: 2011 Southern California 1/2 Marathon

3:18:38. This is the finish time for my first 1/2 marathon of the 2011 season. I'm hoping it's the last time this year I see a 3 as the first number in my 1/2 time, but that might be wishful thinking.

This race was mentally tough. It was the first time I've ever seriously considered flagging down a volunteer or policeman and posting a DNF. Seriously. I threw myself a little pity part during mile 9. I was having a wonderful conversation with myself.

self: what's the point. my knee hurts. I won't be able to run again. why does running hate me so much. why don't I just sit down on this curb and quit right now.

self: This really isn't the most pain you've ever been in. It's not most disappointing situation you've ever been in. It's not even the most disappointing race you've ever been in, because you KNEW that it was going to be hard and that your knee was not ready.

self: f*ck this. why do I even do this. this is crap.

self: What this really means is you need to get back to cross training. Get to the finish, get home and start planning your swim and cycling workouts while fixing your knee. You know that's what happened the first time. YOU KNOW that's how you finished training for your first 1/2 marathon. YOU KNOW if you even THINK you can do a Olympic Tri in May you have to get back to the other sports AND they'll give your knee a rest. Also, you will probably beat yourself up for posting a DNF when there is no blood or bones protruding out the skin.

self: fine, now STFU and let me get to work.

At some point I started to see people cheering on the course with medals. I forgot this race gave out medals. I didn't want to be the only person in my group, the person who encouraged her friend to train for and run his first 1/2 marathon, not to get a medal.

So I sucked it up and started to post some 15-15:30 min/miles walking. I didn't have enough in my knee to sprint at the finish line, but I could jog.

My plan going forward:

Get through this week. I'm planning the bean's 1st birthday party (yes, he's almost a year. I can't believe it either). I haven't really done anything for this party but send out invitations. I may be screwed.

Find a PT and see them. I need to figure out how to fix my knee issues.

Check out the Y. I need to pick my gym or the YMCA and sign up for the childcare program. It's really the only way I can, reliably, get in the pool or on the bike.

I'll keep you all posted.

9 into 4

After my aborted 9 on Tuesday, didn't even make it 2 miles before my knee started screaming, I tried again today.

It didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I didn't get 9. I didn't get 6.2. I got 4. But that's better than nothing.

The first 2 miles gave me lots of hope. They were nice and easy (12:45ish). I was running on concrete, which may have been a contributing factor to my knee pain. The 3rd mile was do able (~13:20). Still kept up a pretty good pace and ran the entire distance. The last mile was a 3:1 run walk with some stretching thrown in, to spice up the work out, you know.

I'm stretching and doing some strength exercises. Here's to hoping I can get to the start line of the Southern California 1/2!

Why do you hate me?

Running, why do you hate me? I love you so much. I love the wind on my face (when there is wind, I don't run fast enough to create any wind). I love the sun/rain on my face. I love the footfalls, everyone of those little impacts that propel me forward. Love, love, love it!

But you hate me. I tell you I want you, you throw me a stressed/hurting ankle. I tell you I need you, you give me knee pain leading me to believe I'll have IT band issues again. Why do I keep coming back? What pull do you have over me?

And there is the riddle. Why do I keep trying to chase, literally and figuratively, a dream of running long distances quickly?

Running gods, please let me make it to the Start line of the Southern California 1/2 in January. This is all I ask.

Tendonitis and Chocolate Milk

So my shoulder pain came back. I'm not sure I mentioned it before, but 6-8 weeks ago I had a pain in my right shoulder. My chiropractor/physical therapist told me stretch and work on my traps. I did and the pain went away. I stopped working on my traps and now it's back.

I went to a MD on Tuesday. He diagnosed the tendonitis and told me to do yoga. When I told him I was a runner/triathlete he told me to keep doing yoga. Interesting prescription.

What this means is no swimming until either A) my shoulder stops hurting or B) 9/7 the date of the Pacific Coast Triathlon. I paid my money and I'm racing it, even if I'm slow.

Wednesday was a breakthrough cycling workout for me. We did hill repeats on El Toro Trail. Two Sundays ago I got up the hill in record speed for me. This was after a 25ish mile ride on Santiago Canyon. I chalked it up to weirdness.

Wednesday my warm up lap was about 10:30, WTF? The next one was about 9:35 thanks to Martha chasing a fellow diva up the hill. I didn't want them to pass me, so I got the benefit of Martha's yelling, too. Passes 3 and 4 hovered around 10:09-1o:20! The last one was cut short due to darkness and me needing to ride my butt back home before it got pitch black.

I'm very impressed with my badassness. The Triathlon Goddess heard my rant about my swim and chose to show me my improvement on the bike. Well, really I was able to track my progress via my training log and my garmin. I love it when I can see progress.

Due to a few fellow bloggers asking about nutrition, I've decided to take one for the team. I will be using chocolate milk as my recovery drink of choice for the next month. I'll report back on my findings. I usually use Luna's recovery drink and have tried Hammer's Recoverite, which worked for me.

I just need to remember the chocolate milk is for recovery, not dessert. Tonight I drank 1 8 oz container for recovery and another one for dessert. At this rate, I'll have to buy a chocolate cow to make this affordable.

A Bit Premature

The Triathlon and Running Goddesses have a way of bringing you back to reality.

No you are not the stud of the endurance sports world that you thought you were. You're just an under prepared, overweight, short poser. (Okay, I don't really believe any of that, but I'm trying to drum up sympathy here)

I went for the 6.2 ish (really more like 8ish miles with the warm up) run lead by the OC Tri Club. The route was Mission Viejo International's run course. I am soo glad I'm not doing that race.

It goes from easyish (Lake Mission Viejo swim), to challenging (Santiago Canyon ride), to OMGWTFBBQ run. There is one street that I pretty much walked up because running up it was probably slower. Also the path takes you across all kinds of terrain. Yes I mean it. There is pavement, cement, bark, grass, hay type stuff and dirt. Not that any of this is bad, but it adds a certain element that I would be happy to avoid.

Somewhere between these terrain transitions I must have jammed my ankle, which ended up aggravating my IT band. (this is my chiropractor's theory anyway)

As I said before, the Triathlon and Running Goddesses have a way of telling us mortals to back off. So I'm taking my poll down and will be choosing the Bum plan.

So I'm not the stud of the endurance sports world, I'm okay with that. I know if I just listen to my body, I'll live to run another race.

Thanks Goddesses.