Donut fumes that is. Tonight was track night again. I avoided it last week due to my cold, but I had to go back and face the music tonight. Armed with my new strategy and buddy Melinda I met Sarah after work and we headed for the workout.
Sarah looked amazing. I enjoyed watching her jog away. I found my buddy and we started running. Tonight was a 3 minutes of fast (ha ha, theoretically that is) and 1.5 minute of recovery. We picked up the speed on the 3 and walked the 1.5. I intended to slow jog the 1.5 but ended up walking. I'm really nervous about the Saturday long run this week which is 8 miles. So I figured I'd save my track legs this evening. The night went great and we ended up doing 3.8 miles with a total average including walking breaks of 10:31/mi so I feel really good about it.
My sister lapped me 3 times. I'm so proud of her. I'm no longer deluding myself that I can try to keep up. I feel good in my own right. I've found a nice little niche for myself with new running folks who are trying to enjoy it just like me. We are kind of having fun even. Who knew.
Like tonight when at about 2/3 of the way through the workout we suddenly all smelled donuts at the same time. I don't know where the scent came from, but for about one lap we chatted about what color, shape and type of donuts they were. Then we discussed Voodo donuts and before we knew it, our last interval was done.
Friends, fumes and no extra calories consumed. For the first time ever I can say that this track night was a very good night!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Finding peace in intervals!
I missed the group long run yesterday due to my cortisone injection on Thursday. I was supposed to wait at least three or four days prior to running again. Today was day 3 and there had been a post on the training board from someone looking for a partner. She is slightly slower than I am and is on a 3:00min run/30 sec. walk recovery program at about an 11:00 min mile. I figured that would be a great way to easy back into it after my week off due to various injuries and illness.
We met downtown at the skate park with plans to repeat the 6 mile route of the prior week. I didn't clue her in on my secret plan to bail at my house if the run wasn't going well. The route literally runs within 100 yards of my front door. I set my Garmin to start and kept track of our pace. She set her phone to it's pre-programed application of an electronic male voice which would command us to "high" when it was a running sequence and "low" when it was a walk break. Funny how much quicker the walk breaks ended. At first his electronic voice was annoying. We laughed at it and discussed whose voice we would prefer to be speaking to us as we trained. I found out that there is a Lance Armstrong application and you can bet your sweet ass that I'm going to be looking into purchasing it. However as the run progressed, I noticed something I wasn't expecting at all.
Walk breaks made all the difference in the world. We actually ran a 10:30 or less pace the entire running sections. But knowing that you were going to get a regular recovery time in between kept me going. I finish the run today pain free. Yes, pain free. My pace was slower than last week, but who cares. Slower and pain free, and not even that much slower either. I can't believe how much better I feel this week.
And so I shall with my ego in check switch groups next week to the run/walk group. My pride is slightly bruised, but I feel so good that this has to be what all those people are talking about when they say they find peace in running. I just had to slow down long enough to listen to the voice, be it an electronic voice prompting my speed or the voice in my head saying-"this is what you are supposed to be doing dummy". I don't know. Either way, I feel better than I've felt in months and I'm going to go with it.
Of course, if I have to have a voice whispering sweet commands to me, you can bet I'm headed out looking for the Lance version I've given up some pride at this point but not my ability to dream!
We met downtown at the skate park with plans to repeat the 6 mile route of the prior week. I didn't clue her in on my secret plan to bail at my house if the run wasn't going well. The route literally runs within 100 yards of my front door. I set my Garmin to start and kept track of our pace. She set her phone to it's pre-programed application of an electronic male voice which would command us to "high" when it was a running sequence and "low" when it was a walk break. Funny how much quicker the walk breaks ended. At first his electronic voice was annoying. We laughed at it and discussed whose voice we would prefer to be speaking to us as we trained. I found out that there is a Lance Armstrong application and you can bet your sweet ass that I'm going to be looking into purchasing it. However as the run progressed, I noticed something I wasn't expecting at all.
Walk breaks made all the difference in the world. We actually ran a 10:30 or less pace the entire running sections. But knowing that you were going to get a regular recovery time in between kept me going. I finish the run today pain free. Yes, pain free. My pace was slower than last week, but who cares. Slower and pain free, and not even that much slower either. I can't believe how much better I feel this week.
And so I shall with my ego in check switch groups next week to the run/walk group. My pride is slightly bruised, but I feel so good that this has to be what all those people are talking about when they say they find peace in running. I just had to slow down long enough to listen to the voice, be it an electronic voice prompting my speed or the voice in my head saying-"this is what you are supposed to be doing dummy". I don't know. Either way, I feel better than I've felt in months and I'm going to go with it.
Of course, if I have to have a voice whispering sweet commands to me, you can bet I'm headed out looking for the Lance version I've given up some pride at this point but not my ability to dream!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Evolution of the Shoe
Last night was the 4th annual girls Bridgeport trek. My friend Kathy quit smoking 4 years ago (or would it be 5?) and each year we commemorate the event by piling a bunch of tired teachers into a Chevy Tahoe and driving to Portland to shop for shoes and enjoy a decent meal together. It is always a blast and a not to be missed event.
It's funny how much can change in 4 years. Over the past 4 years we have had three babies born and one more set to arrive any day now. There have been marriages and a divorce and a separation. We've been transferred to different schools. So many changes. I'm still married, have no children born, nor unborn, but I too am not impervious to the changes in the group. The one big change I've noticed is the shoes I've purchased on the trip.
The first year I bought a red pair of Mary Jane's with a 4 in heel. They are beautiful and still sit proudly in the top of my closet. I have no idea when the last time I wore them was.
Year two, another mile high strappy sandal. I walked around in the store for 40 minutes before I decided for sure to purchase them. Unfortunately, I think that was the most I ever wore them and I honestly can't quite even remember what they looked like.
Last year I was nursing my twisted ankle during the trek and I purchased an ugly set of flats. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now. I still have them and they get worn, but no one is happy about it.
This year I went in looking for something specific. Beauty and function. I found it too. In the form of two pair of Jambu shoes. They are beautiful and they feel like pillows on my feet. Beautiful pillows of work shoes.
I'm not going to even make a box for the top of my closet for these shoes. They will not be placed in the shrine of the shoes that once were but rather they get a front and center spot in the row of shoes that are. I think my knee, ankle and any other part of my leg that I will surely manage to injure prior to the completion of this 1/2 marathon endeavor will appreciate them.
Functional, sensible shoes. I have officially become an athlete. Well, at least in my head I have because that is the only way that I can possibly reconcile the purchase of these shoes on my once yearly girls trip to shoe heaven.
Yes, a lot can change in 4 years.
It's funny how much can change in 4 years. Over the past 4 years we have had three babies born and one more set to arrive any day now. There have been marriages and a divorce and a separation. We've been transferred to different schools. So many changes. I'm still married, have no children born, nor unborn, but I too am not impervious to the changes in the group. The one big change I've noticed is the shoes I've purchased on the trip.
The first year I bought a red pair of Mary Jane's with a 4 in heel. They are beautiful and still sit proudly in the top of my closet. I have no idea when the last time I wore them was.
Year two, another mile high strappy sandal. I walked around in the store for 40 minutes before I decided for sure to purchase them. Unfortunately, I think that was the most I ever wore them and I honestly can't quite even remember what they looked like.
Last year I was nursing my twisted ankle during the trek and I purchased an ugly set of flats. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now. I still have them and they get worn, but no one is happy about it.
This year I went in looking for something specific. Beauty and function. I found it too. In the form of two pair of Jambu shoes. They are beautiful and they feel like pillows on my feet. Beautiful pillows of work shoes.
I'm not going to even make a box for the top of my closet for these shoes. They will not be placed in the shrine of the shoes that once were but rather they get a front and center spot in the row of shoes that are. I think my knee, ankle and any other part of my leg that I will surely manage to injure prior to the completion of this 1/2 marathon endeavor will appreciate them.
Functional, sensible shoes. I have officially become an athlete. Well, at least in my head I have because that is the only way that I can possibly reconcile the purchase of these shoes on my once yearly girls trip to shoe heaven.
Yes, a lot can change in 4 years.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Waiting on pins for the needle
Tomorrow I have a cortisone injection scheduled. It has taken all my will power not to call and cancel it. I am a gigantic baby about this. I've been dreaming about it, in nightmare form all week. At a minimum it will at least be over with!
This is the first of the conservative treatment options to get my left knee back to it's pre-"Big Climb" self. I miss that knee. I miss what it could do. It has come a long way since it hit rock bottom back in July and swelled up so much it wasn't recognizable as a knee. However, months of PT and gentle coaxing have not returned it to it's totally normal state. I visited a second opinion Dr. a couple of weeks back who informed me that unlike Dr. opinion #1, who claimed there was nothing they could do, this guy said there are loads of things we can do. I guess that is why it took 6 months just to get into a consultation and every athlete I know loves him.
And so I start with the most conservative approach. Two injections into my knee joint. One to numb the pain and the other to pump the drug. I hope they get the order right.
I hope this works. I hope it doesn't make it worse. Please, please, please don't make it worse. I hope I don't puff up like that former olympian on the Biggest Loser from the steroid. What if I get 'roid rage. Wait, would that even look any different than my normal personality?
I wonder if I at least get a balloon or a lollipop when I'm done. After all, isn't that normal shot protocol? At least I took the entire day off in case it I need to stay off my knee. I sense a little General Hospital therapy in my future. And a Starbucks. Grande....no Venti....
This is the first of the conservative treatment options to get my left knee back to it's pre-"Big Climb" self. I miss that knee. I miss what it could do. It has come a long way since it hit rock bottom back in July and swelled up so much it wasn't recognizable as a knee. However, months of PT and gentle coaxing have not returned it to it's totally normal state. I visited a second opinion Dr. a couple of weeks back who informed me that unlike Dr. opinion #1, who claimed there was nothing they could do, this guy said there are loads of things we can do. I guess that is why it took 6 months just to get into a consultation and every athlete I know loves him.
And so I start with the most conservative approach. Two injections into my knee joint. One to numb the pain and the other to pump the drug. I hope they get the order right.
I hope this works. I hope it doesn't make it worse. Please, please, please don't make it worse. I hope I don't puff up like that former olympian on the Biggest Loser from the steroid. What if I get 'roid rage. Wait, would that even look any different than my normal personality?
I wonder if I at least get a balloon or a lollipop when I'm done. After all, isn't that normal shot protocol? At least I took the entire day off in case it I need to stay off my knee. I sense a little General Hospital therapy in my future. And a Starbucks. Grande....no Venti....
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunshine and Sucker Punches
Today is a beautiful day outside. I'd love to be riding my bike or walking the dog. I'm not doing either of those things. Rather, I have spent the last several hours inflicting severe pain by catching up on my grad class this term. It's called "Cultural, Social and Philosophical Issues in Education". Sounds smart right? Well they should have just called it "You Suck."
Basically the entire premise of this class is that the public school system is a sham and we are slowly and painfully killing our children with our current system. The current theme of the week is that school and education are completely unrelated. The sad thing is that I'm starting to agree with a big chunk of what is being said.
Add that to the fact that our preliminary budget for next year came out this week. Next year I look forward to us loosing 17 teachers, 20 assistants, 8-10 furlough days, closing a couple of schools and consolidating others, and a pay freeze. It makes me wonder what the hell I'm even doing anymore.
The irony here? I paid for this! I'm taking this class in my on-going pursuit of my master's degree. Which is of course required to renew my license, so that I can........
wait for it.....
teach in a public school.
Basically the entire premise of this class is that the public school system is a sham and we are slowly and painfully killing our children with our current system. The current theme of the week is that school and education are completely unrelated. The sad thing is that I'm starting to agree with a big chunk of what is being said.
Add that to the fact that our preliminary budget for next year came out this week. Next year I look forward to us loosing 17 teachers, 20 assistants, 8-10 furlough days, closing a couple of schools and consolidating others, and a pay freeze. It makes me wonder what the hell I'm even doing anymore.
The irony here? I paid for this! I'm taking this class in my on-going pursuit of my master's degree. Which is of course required to renew my license, so that I can........
wait for it.....
teach in a public school.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sink or Swim
Today was the first day of swimming lessons for the 3rd graders. Most kids have some level of water experience at this stage of life, however through a generous gift of an anonymous donor, each 3-5th grader in my district receives 7 days of swimming lessons each year. As I have experienced so many times before, the first day is almost always a mixture of excitement, nerves and general 3rd grade chaos. Today was no different.
Each session always starts with a basic water proficiency test. The kids gather in the shallow end (about 3 1/2 feet). In groups of 3, the kids jump in and put their face in with arms clasped out front and flutter kick to the middle of the pool. If they are proficient at that, they cross a lane line and do the back stroke. From there they turn directions and do the crawl. Very few 3rd graders are proficient to that stage. Depending on skills and comfort level they are placed in a group by color - Red for those with little to no experience all the way up to Green for the fish of the class. I have a lot of fish this year which was really cool actually. I love swimmer athletes because you can't judge a book by the cover on that one. My best swimmers are those kids who are completely non athletic in any other area. It makes them stealthy rock stars and I just love that! But, I digress. My favorite moment of the day was with one of my less "fishy" kids.
Child "A" has been excited about swimming all year. I had no clue of what was to come. He walked right up to the edge of the pool when it was his turn and he jumped in with the rest of the kids. He jumped in with the confidence of Michael Phelps right up until he hit the water, at which point he started screaming in the loudest voice I have ever heard, "I can't swim, I can't swim, can you people hear me, I said I can't swim". He is flailing arms and legs everywhere, it was like a Tasmanian devil in the pool. I leaned over the edge and said to him "stand up" "Oh", he says. And I see his legs hit the bottom of the pool and about 1/3 of his body emerge from the water as he realizes he is fine. He then spends the rest of the test going through all the hand motions while walking with feet firmly planted on the bottom of the pool. Needless to say, he was placed in the "red" group. He then spent the rest of the swim session, clutching the wall but trying to sneak into another group. I know it is wrong to find the whole thing funny, but I really did.
It all come back to me again tonight when I had my 3rd track session for the half marathon training program. I hate track nights. It is cold and my legs always hurt. I even have fantastic new shoes that proclaim "run happy" right on the box. While they felt soft and nice on my feet, I still had right leg pain that was as annoying as hell. To top it off, we were doing sprint work tonight. Much like my experience of last year, I cranked up the speed and pretty much looked the same as when I have a normal "tempo" run. Whatever, I'm no Usain Bolt.
But my sister is. Well, to me she is. And to the coach too because he was trying to talk her into moving into the fast group. She has been hanging out with me and going way too slow for her own running. I have been trying to go faster, but it isn't fast enough for her. So the coach was telling her how she should move. She tried to hem and haw about how she shouldn't, that she couldn't maintain that fast speed for a long time like the others in the fast group. I could tell the coach wasn't buying it. He told us that you shouldn't be afraid to run fast because it is when you run too slow that you get hurt. She then mentioned that she had noticed that on our run last week when she was running with me that she kept feeling like she was loosing her form. Yes, like I said, I'm slow. I try and I'm faster than I used to be but I'm still slow. And I'm always in pain. Makes me wonder if I would be in less pain if I moved faster.
The whole thing reminded me of my student at the pool this morning. He couldn't swim, yet that didn't stop him from wanting to be with the better swimmers. Maybe he is on to something. I can't run fast, but it doesn't stop me from wishing that I'd be asked to run with the faster runners. I know I'm not one of them but I still wish I was. When I watch the Biggest Loser, they always push the contestants to do things they never knew they could. How do you find that balance between what your mind and maybe even your heart wants and where reality lives. Maybe that is the key that separates athletes from the rest of us. They see the vision and they go for it. Their hearts and minds are in charge.
I don't know how it will all turn out. I know that tomorrow my student will still be in the red group and on Saturday's long run I will still be in the back of the pack. But maybe just dreaming a little of the what if, might be worth a shot. Maybe sneaking into another group for just a glimpse of their world wouldn't be such a bad idea.
My hope for 7 days from now is that my student will take a chance, let go of the wall and get those feet off the bottom of the pool. Maybe I can take some inspiration from that myself and get my feet off the track in just a slightly faster motion. We all need a little inspiration sometimes. Sometimes we need to let go of the wall to be able to break through it.
Each session always starts with a basic water proficiency test. The kids gather in the shallow end (about 3 1/2 feet). In groups of 3, the kids jump in and put their face in with arms clasped out front and flutter kick to the middle of the pool. If they are proficient at that, they cross a lane line and do the back stroke. From there they turn directions and do the crawl. Very few 3rd graders are proficient to that stage. Depending on skills and comfort level they are placed in a group by color - Red for those with little to no experience all the way up to Green for the fish of the class. I have a lot of fish this year which was really cool actually. I love swimmer athletes because you can't judge a book by the cover on that one. My best swimmers are those kids who are completely non athletic in any other area. It makes them stealthy rock stars and I just love that! But, I digress. My favorite moment of the day was with one of my less "fishy" kids.
Child "A" has been excited about swimming all year. I had no clue of what was to come. He walked right up to the edge of the pool when it was his turn and he jumped in with the rest of the kids. He jumped in with the confidence of Michael Phelps right up until he hit the water, at which point he started screaming in the loudest voice I have ever heard, "I can't swim, I can't swim, can you people hear me, I said I can't swim". He is flailing arms and legs everywhere, it was like a Tasmanian devil in the pool. I leaned over the edge and said to him "stand up" "Oh", he says. And I see his legs hit the bottom of the pool and about 1/3 of his body emerge from the water as he realizes he is fine. He then spends the rest of the test going through all the hand motions while walking with feet firmly planted on the bottom of the pool. Needless to say, he was placed in the "red" group. He then spent the rest of the swim session, clutching the wall but trying to sneak into another group. I know it is wrong to find the whole thing funny, but I really did.
It all come back to me again tonight when I had my 3rd track session for the half marathon training program. I hate track nights. It is cold and my legs always hurt. I even have fantastic new shoes that proclaim "run happy" right on the box. While they felt soft and nice on my feet, I still had right leg pain that was as annoying as hell. To top it off, we were doing sprint work tonight. Much like my experience of last year, I cranked up the speed and pretty much looked the same as when I have a normal "tempo" run. Whatever, I'm no Usain Bolt.
But my sister is. Well, to me she is. And to the coach too because he was trying to talk her into moving into the fast group. She has been hanging out with me and going way too slow for her own running. I have been trying to go faster, but it isn't fast enough for her. So the coach was telling her how she should move. She tried to hem and haw about how she shouldn't, that she couldn't maintain that fast speed for a long time like the others in the fast group. I could tell the coach wasn't buying it. He told us that you shouldn't be afraid to run fast because it is when you run too slow that you get hurt. She then mentioned that she had noticed that on our run last week when she was running with me that she kept feeling like she was loosing her form. Yes, like I said, I'm slow. I try and I'm faster than I used to be but I'm still slow. And I'm always in pain. Makes me wonder if I would be in less pain if I moved faster.
The whole thing reminded me of my student at the pool this morning. He couldn't swim, yet that didn't stop him from wanting to be with the better swimmers. Maybe he is on to something. I can't run fast, but it doesn't stop me from wishing that I'd be asked to run with the faster runners. I know I'm not one of them but I still wish I was. When I watch the Biggest Loser, they always push the contestants to do things they never knew they could. How do you find that balance between what your mind and maybe even your heart wants and where reality lives. Maybe that is the key that separates athletes from the rest of us. They see the vision and they go for it. Their hearts and minds are in charge.
I don't know how it will all turn out. I know that tomorrow my student will still be in the red group and on Saturday's long run I will still be in the back of the pack. But maybe just dreaming a little of the what if, might be worth a shot. Maybe sneaking into another group for just a glimpse of their world wouldn't be such a bad idea.
My hope for 7 days from now is that my student will take a chance, let go of the wall and get those feet off the bottom of the pool. Maybe I can take some inspiration from that myself and get my feet off the track in just a slightly faster motion. We all need a little inspiration sometimes. Sometimes we need to let go of the wall to be able to break through it.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Can I get a matching cape?
So today was the long run day of the week. I have been dreading it since track day on Wednesday. As previously posted, it was a disaster. I even went and got a massage on Thursday after work as an attempt to undo the damage of Wednesday. The massage was only successful in aggravating other areas of my leg that hadn't previously hurt at all. My IT band which I have never even felt before was on fire all night Thursday and all day yesterday. My ankle which had been perfectly healed since last January crunched like a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal all day. I have never eaten so much ibuprofen in 48 hours trying to prepare for the long run of the week.
Last night I drug out my Chi Running video in an attempt to dramatically alter my gate so as to avoid heel striking. It looked too hokey, but I agreed to try and shorten my stride and strike lighter. I got out my compression sleves, went to bed and prayed to god that I could make it through the run.
All night I dreamed of running. I had special coaches, I was living in a studio apartment training my form. I was exhausted from all my running when my alarm went off.
I drug myself out of bed and headed to the coffee pot. My shin still hurt but not as bad as it had. I got ready and realized I hadn't tried my CWX compression tights my sister got me for my birthday. What the hell I though, why not. So I compression rolled myself into them. It was like wrestling a baby into a set of spanks to get them on. I'm slightly too short for the knee spot, but with a little adjusting it worked. I then decided to go for full aid and put the compression sleeve on my right shin to help in any way possible.
We headed to the group and as usual the groups quickly spread out. I needed to run a little slower this week, but still kept it at a jog rather than walk. Did my shin hurt, yes it did, but not as bad as at the track. Interestingly enough, my left knee (the bad one) and my right ankle also hurt, but all of it was tolerable and I finished the entire 5.3 miles in ok shape. It hurt initially when I stopped but after stretching out, I feel pretty good right now. I'm going to ice and ibuprofen again and stretch later, but I actually am somewhat hopeful at this point.
I'm pretty sure it was the tights. My new magical tights. If I could only get a cape to go with them I think I'd be set!
Last night I drug out my Chi Running video in an attempt to dramatically alter my gate so as to avoid heel striking. It looked too hokey, but I agreed to try and shorten my stride and strike lighter. I got out my compression sleves, went to bed and prayed to god that I could make it through the run.
All night I dreamed of running. I had special coaches, I was living in a studio apartment training my form. I was exhausted from all my running when my alarm went off.
I drug myself out of bed and headed to the coffee pot. My shin still hurt but not as bad as it had. I got ready and realized I hadn't tried my CWX compression tights my sister got me for my birthday. What the hell I though, why not. So I compression rolled myself into them. It was like wrestling a baby into a set of spanks to get them on. I'm slightly too short for the knee spot, but with a little adjusting it worked. I then decided to go for full aid and put the compression sleeve on my right shin to help in any way possible.
We headed to the group and as usual the groups quickly spread out. I needed to run a little slower this week, but still kept it at a jog rather than walk. Did my shin hurt, yes it did, but not as bad as at the track. Interestingly enough, my left knee (the bad one) and my right ankle also hurt, but all of it was tolerable and I finished the entire 5.3 miles in ok shape. It hurt initially when I stopped but after stretching out, I feel pretty good right now. I'm going to ice and ibuprofen again and stretch later, but I actually am somewhat hopeful at this point.
I'm pretty sure it was the tights. My new magical tights. If I could only get a cape to go with them I think I'd be set!
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