Back to it

My legs and mind were ready to run days before my toe would allow.  I was shuffling along in dress shoes with no socks (in 30 degrees some mornings, brr!) because any extra friction on my shoe caused extreme pain.  I had to drain my toe's blisters daily.  Barf.  Finally Thursday I was all set to enjoy our 60 degree Thanksgiving day for a run in the sun.  And then my parents dropped me off at my place and I realized that my cell phone was in the back seat of their car.  Fail.

Instead of getting my nice little spring weather frolic in, I had to jump in my car and chase them down the interstate.  By some grace of God, I managed to see them pull off to get gas about 30 miles south of my city, and could retrieve my phone, instead of following them all the way home-home, only to turn around and drive back.  Once I got back to town, I was so hungry and crabby that a run was the last thing on my mind.

But since I wasn't able to get in a run, I wasn't able to commit to a super fun 5k on Friday night.  A bunch of my runner friends were doing the Jingle Bell 5k, and were dressing up as Santa and his reindeer, decked out in battery pack Christmas lights.  I'm cheap, and just could not justify spending $35 and possibly being injured in a 5k, because I wasn't smart enough to make sure my legs were okay beforehand.

While they were running, I got a nice leisurely 3.5 mile run in and everything seemed ok.

Sunday I got a nice 6 miler in, with what could be one of the last days I can run sans coat.  Judging by everyone else out running, I probably should've been wearing one too, but it was nice in the sun (but I froze in the shade, holy brr!).

My next round of training starts the 2nd week of January, and Shawn had recommended that until I start up, I should really focus on some good base building.  Try to rack up the miles, but to do so at recovery or general aerobic heart rate zones.  He also recommended that I do a max heart rate test so I know my exact zones instead of my rough guestimation.

I created a pre-training program (because that's what all normal people do) based on Pfitz post marathon plan, and then a couple more weeks tacked on, and put it on the fridge on Sunday.  After logging my 6 mile run, I realized that I needed 141.7 miles to hit my goal of 1400 miles for the year.  That averaged out to 28.7/week which seemed.... tough but doable.  So I quickly consulted the fridge to see that from November 28th-December 31st, I have 142 miles planned.

Interesting how things like that work out, eh?  :)

First Post-Marathon Run + Half Marathon Photos From Deep in the Archives

Thursday night I set out for my first run post-marathon.  I'd like to say I was cautiously optimistic, but really I was just cautious.  I was extremely excited to try out my new heart rate monitor (Thanks TARA!) that came in the mail.  If anyone has any good reads on heart rate monitor training, please send them my way!  I had originally extended a cordial invitation to Kyle to join on the run, thinking that non-distance runner Kyle pace and Jeri's post-marathon pace would probably be somewhat similar.  Instead he wussed out.  (jk lol if you're reading this KK, although I'm sure you're not). 

I dashed out the door for a nano second forgetting that I was 4 days out from the 'thon and then was VERY QUICKLY reminded of this information.  Uff.  Sore.  Tight.  I slowed way down and was just tuned in to how things felt.  After the first 1/2 mile I seemed to warm up a bit, then the last 1/2 mile my IT bands got extremely tight, lending to some sore hips.  I had my screen of my Garmin set to HR, so I didn't know my pace, which was probably good.  I was extremely happy that I didn't have any shooting pain in my knee.... that's been my main concern given it's issues post-race.

I did 2 miles in 19:50.

I was cleaning off a folder on my work computer and stumbled across some old half marathon photos.  These photos were taken at the Sioux Falls Half Marathon in 2008.  This was my slowest half marathon to date (2:19:57), and I think I completed approximately 12 training runs total in the 12 weeks leading up to the race.  I was also a little bit hefty.  But hey, at least I'm still rockin' the GREEN!  Enjoy.

At the start.  Lap around the track.

Through Falls Park.

Evil look.... 2 inch stride.  YAYZIES!

I think I have 5 photos of me in this exact spot from the 5 of 6 years my parents have spectated this race.  That's kind of cool. OMG a through the years flip book is TOTALLY happening.

This photo accurately portrays how I felt during this race (around mile 9).

My best side. Haha. Man I loved those shoes.

Finishing sprint.

Slightly glad you can't see the finish time.  jk.

My roomies sporting the green. TEAM GREEN! :)

Notice the fam wouldn't touch my sweaty mess of a self.