Barely Standing

Feeling rushed to increase mileage, I hit the pavement about 9:15 AM.  With the marathon three weeks away, pressure mounts.  At least it was this morning.  I wanted TWENTY miles.  In my heart, I knew I didn't have the time.  But in my heart, given the time, I thought I could do it. 

The morning started off cold and breezy, and that was a delight.  I didn't feel so strong, but I have this cold that's hanging on.  And maybe I shouldn't have taken that cold medicine this morning.  And then there were the negative thoughts floating about this wacky brain of mine -- two of them precisely, some worries (minor ones really, but annoying nonetheless) that I had no answers for.

Anyway, I flushed away the worries and worked on focusing on form.  And when I wasn't doing that, I made sure to think about NOTHING, which is kinda like focusing on form.  Because when I think about nothing, I just feel, and feeling or sensing form is pretty dang close to focusing on it.

I'd say the first ten miles went pretty good.  And then I made that second loop around the island.  That's when my energy seeped away.  Actually, seeped is too slow of a word -- it's more like it rapidly escaped.  I felt like I really couldn't run another step.  I took in some calories, some electrolytes and managed to plug through another five and a half miles.  But it was pretty much hell.  My legs actually began cramping, which is absolutely unheard of on flat, road runs in the spring.  I was pissed to say the least, and finished this run feeling defeated, afraid that there's no way that I'm going to be able to run a marathon in three weeks.

The rest of the day was solemn.  I did my physical therapy exercises in the evening and felt a slight ache in my hip.  That certainly didn't set my mood straight. 

I guess every day can't be jolly.

Tomorrow I swim.

Miles logged: 15.5 miles

Still I Stand

Almost recovered from this illness, I said, heck with it, and went for a quick marina run this morning.  My breathing was a little off (which is quite rare).  Time was short, so I was sure to add a few sprints.  I ran the entire 5.76 miles with a smile on my face (which explains why it seemed like everyone was smiling at me -- they were just returning the smile : )

Yes, I am a nerd.

Camera phone:  running on the island, the mouth of the harbor up ahead, rock jetty to right

Off the island, approaching small pier where visitors dock, and Marine Institute in background

Past the Marine Institute, the smallest strip of beach in town (The Headlands above and in distance)

To Run or Not to Run with a Cold

I went to Disneyland Friday night with a sore throat.  The trip however, was well worth it, having fun with the boys.  I got drenched on Splash  Mountain.  My clothes were still wet when we arrived home just before midnight.  Woke up Saturday even sicker.  Knowing Sunday was my run day, I napped and got to bed pretty early.  Even with the extra rest, I was still on the go, go, go as I usually am, but not as much.  I did not neglect my physical therapy exercises, and I even fit in an "easy" day at the gym.   

Sunday morning, I woke feeling a little better.  Then after some breakfast and Theraflu Severe Cold I felt just fine, perfectly fine, in fact.  I read somewhere, a long time ago, in some magazine or on some website that I cannot recall, that it's okay to run with a cold, but not okay with the flu.  And so, I laced up those running shoes and headed out the door at high noon. 

Skies were overcast in my beach town.  The air was cool, almost cold, and breezy.  I included my warm ups and cool downs and focused on form as I ran through Doheny, Capo Beach, the wharf and much of the marina.  I still felt strong, which is proof, in my mind, that I am successfully strengthening my core (though I still have plenty more to go).  Best of all:  NO HIP PAIN. 

Back at home, I did a few chores, then prompty fell asleep on the couch for two hours.  I woke miserable, cold and sweaty, the medicine having worn off.  Everyone here says that I shouldn't have run.  But I read somewhere, that it was okay to run with a cold : ))

Miles logged this afternoon:  8.36

Increasing Mileage

I have a short time here to increase mileage, being that I've got a marathon coming up mid-April.  My progress plans went down the toilet the end of December.  I haven't run a twenty plus mile since January 2nd.  Plan is now, increase mileage as much as I can, without injury.  Without injury, without injury, without injury!  Then go for it and run those 26.2 miles, even if I don't get a twenty plus mile in before then (though I'm hoping on at least one). 

Oddly, this hip injury could be the best thing that has happened to my running.  Why?  Because I learned firsthand how important core strength is (& I've already experienced the benefits).  I learned how important warm-ups and cool downs are.  I used to warm-up by running slowly, and my cool-down consisted of merely stretching.  Now I've added briskly walking for ten minutes to both the warm-up and cool-down periods.  And  I've learned some good exercises from physical therapy.  And what do I get from all this?  STRENGTH.

My run this morning (flat run!) was strong. (And I by the way, wore shorts!)   I ran in and out of every crevice of Doheny and Capo Beaches (where I passed that train above), the campgroup loop four times, the wharf a couple times, the island, and all along the marina.  The weather was warm, though a slight cool breeze blew around the marina waters that did wonders for me, not to mention the dozen or more drinking fountains along the way.  The whole run did wonders actually.

Miles logged today:  14.29.  I aimed for fifteen, but 14+ is good.  I simply cut it a bit short, because I still had things to do at home.

Felt great back at home.  I had a few blisters on my feet, which is an entirely new thing for me.  Never happened before.  Iced the hips (the injured and non-injured).  Then as evening approached, oh about 6:00 PM as I ran in high heel shoes to make my son's concert (I made it in the exact second they played the first note : ),  my feet took quite a beating in the blistered area.  About 8:00 my hip began to ache and stiffness set in.  After my physical therapy exercises and stretches, the ache was gone. (I suppose I'm still not 100% back yet)

Not a Good Day to Run in Pants

I went for my run this morning in pants.  Mainly because it has been so cold lately, and also before I was a trail runner and ran only roads, I wore pants.  I put them on today out of habit.  Needless to say, I was exasperated by the heat.  I even changed my route to avoid the sun as much as possible.  It was 86 degrees, I hear.  EIGHTY SIX. 

I'm not complaining really.  I swore to never wear pants to run again, and enjoyed my carefree run.  I added a few sprints, experienced no pain whatsoever, most importantly in the hip.  I passed plenty of drinking fountains throughout the marina, made sure to run the shady sidewalks.  And then to my delight, I saw a friend that I basically haven't seen since I started trail running (we used to pass each other at the marina all the time). 

Actually, I didn't see her at all.  In fact, I ran right past her, my earphones blaring. Then ever so faintly, I heard, "Lauren!  Lauren!  Is that you?"

Nowadays when I hear someone say, "Lauren," I don't even flinch.  It seems like every third little girl is named Lauren.  Growing up, I was the only Lauren I knew.  Well, not exactly.  There was Lauren Bacall, Lorne Greene and a boy named Loren in my high school class.  So, today, it was almost like a dream, someone faintly hollaring, "Lauren."  I'm not sure why I suddenly halted and turned around.  But I did.

I love coming across people I haven't seen in a long, long time.  It's one of my delights on this earth.  We chatted for a few minutes, she put back on her headphones, I put mine back on, she continued her walk, I continued my run.  Just like the old days (well, not that old -- I've only been running trails since June '08, and didn't almost entirely give up road runs until last June).

Miles logged this hot, hot morning:  8.66 

Just Shy of Exclaiming -- I'm Back.

Sunday morning, time for a longish run -- it was difficult to get going due to the time change (Spring forward : )

I followed PT orders with a ten minute warm-up.  That is, I WALKED down Highway One (a gradual hill that I am forbidden to run for the time being).  The weather was cold, cold, cold, and being that I was WALKING, made it even more difficult to get these old bones warm.  I wanted to cross the highway to walk the sunny side.  But I was spooked by an drunken old guy who mumbling loudly, stumbled a few steps forward then one step back.  It was 7:50 AM, and I had to wonder whether he had been drinking all night or did he just start early AM?  Sad to see.

As soon as I hit flat ground I took off running.  Slow to start, I ran into Doheny Beach's main entrance, happy to see that today was the Grunion 5k Run.  And I was running on the course!  I didn't see any runners, but off in the distance I noticed an empty start/finish line, so I knew they were out there somewhere.

Much to my amazement, I warmed up less than a mile into my run.  Was it the physical therapy, the planks, or the ten minute walk? Perhaps all.  I've written several times that it usually takes me about four miles to warm up (terribly long, I now realize after Sunday's run).  With a smile on my face I headed on, adding three sprints (okayed by PT) over the next mile or so. 

On the bridge over San Juan Creek, the 5k's front runner made his way toward me -- a delight to see.  As I've mentioned before, it's a rare thing for me to see the front runners.  This guy was a good minute in front of the next runner.  In fact, the first five or so runners were surprisingly spread out.  I studied their forms.  None of them had the swinging left to right arms that I see so often.  All of them kept their torso's facing forward too (no twisting) and most seemed to have relaxed limbs.  Around runner #6 was the first female; the next few in a row in fact were women. 

About that time, I turned into the campground to run my regular loop.  It was full this Sunday morning, bacon sizzling over campfires.  People shuffled along in pajamas, puffing their first cigarettes of the day or holding mugs of steamy coffee.  I was going to run that second loop that I normally add, but I just had to get back out on the race course.  I love the excitement of a race.  And I love how people get out there, especially those who find it most difficult, to conquer the 5k.  (I remember how very difficult it was for me the first several times and how I so feared the dreaded DFL -- last place : (

Then the first large cluster of runners passed by me, followed by a few stragglers, then another large cluster (which I noticed plenty of twisting bodies).  Then the runners thinned out again, with the walkers pulling up the end.  I passed their turnaround point and continued on into Capo Beach.  I felt strong, amazingly strong.  My trunk felt solid, my legs and arms, so, so light.  More importantly, I felt absolutely no hip pain, no ache, no stiffness.

I ran until the side walk ended and made my way back to Doheny, running along the boardwalk with other racers, the finish line up ahead.  I turned off about fifty yards before crossing it, ran onto the grass, around the bathrooms with three or more other runners who did the same. 

Out of Doheny, I ran the road down to the jetty, past a dozen or so longboarders in their wetsuits waiting for that wave to ride in.  Fishermen, and one woman had their lines cast into the marina waters beneath sunny blue skies.  Though my gloves were now tucked into my belt, it was still pretty cold out, with a mild breeze. 

I made all my usual turns, through the wharf, which was lined again with artists and their paintings.  Sunday was the last day of The Festival of the Whales.  Old Woodies lined the grass along the harbor, brand new Fords were out for display too.  Concession stands lined the parking lot at "Baby Beach" just past the makeshift pancake breakfast restaurant. 

I ran every crevice, most of them twice, ending this run with one last short sprint to make the light at the crosswalk.  Then as directed I didn't run up Golden Lantern, instead I walked it and back home briskly for my cool down. 

Great run.

Miles logged:  12.27