Soo.. today is officially four weeks since my last run (Turkey Trot 10k on an injured leg). I'm not sure what was wrong with my leg; maybe a shin splint, or a baby stress fracture, or some kind of pulled muscle, but since a month ago, I haven't been able to make it more than a quarter mile without awful pain - and I had been running 15-17 miles for each week's long run beforehand. SAD.

Anyway, today I wrapped my leg and put on my very first pair of tennis shoes - they are SUPER heavy stability shoes, but I figured better safe than sorry. And I made it two miles! Unfortunately after four weeks off, two miles FELT like two miles in a not-so-good way, but still! I've really missed my stress release from running so it felt great to get out and go again. And - bonus - it's much more satisfying to run than to give dirty looks to all the runners you pass while bitter and unable to run. Ahem.

I'm going to try for another short beach run tomorrow. YAY! And to everyone who is injured, best of luck recovering. Imagine how great it will feel when you're back out there. Happy running, everyone!

Good morning runners! Here's the daily training thread!

I put a major dent in my sleep debt last night, getting about 9 hours collectively and I feel pretty refreshed this morning. After a hearty bowl of oatmeal, I'm going to do something like 9 miles around my hometown, checking out Christmas decorations in the process (I'd wait til evening so I can see the lights but 1- I really wanna run now and 2- it's gonna be less icy in the daytime). There's also this CrossFit WOD (Deadlifts 1-10-1-20-1-30 reps) that looks mighty inviting.

So what is everyone else up to today, training and otherwise?

Question! Seeing as how it's Christmas eve after all, Santa's coming (as The Boss informs us below) so have you been naughty or nice this year? Me? I think everyone knows that answer.



Discuss... and HAPPY RUNNING!

I had been planning to run in the Lost Dutchman 10K on Feb 14, exactly four weeks after the PF Chang Rock and Roll Marathon. Instead, I'm going to run two weeks later in the Arizona Senior Olympics 10K.

This is the "important announcement" I alluded to in my post in the daily thread.

About how long does it take for your toenail to fall off (if you are susceptible to it)?

I tripped and ripped my second toenail 1/2 way off back in September and it's been holding on since then. It has scabbed underneath, so the toenail is gradually lifting up and it's becoming more difficult to run comfortably. It isn't loose and doesn't feel like it'll just fall off if I push on it. I'm not really in the position to have it removed professionally and am more of the "let nature take its course" kind of person anyway.

It doesn't hurt, and in fact doesn't have much feeling at all, but the pressure when it is pressed on from my shoe is a little uncomfortable.

Today's dailies are brought to you LATE by Jess sleeping 11 hours after driving (like a ROCK) and Mark's Internet being really crappy since last night.

Good AFTERNOON runners! I'm home sweet home in Michigan, and to celebrate surviving my my day long (9am-6:45pm - with a one hour lunch break at a Quizno's on the PA Turnpike, because the next guest plaza was 80 miles away in Ohio and I really wanted the sub despite the 100 HS choir kids from Indiana that had stormed the rest stop a MINUTE before I staggered in ravenous), I did a quick two loops (2.05 each for 4.1 total) of my subdivision. We have about an inch of snow that'll never get plowed, so there was a little bit of ice. The second loop was considerably faster than the first because I was more sure of my footing. It was a good little run. Today, I'll go into town and run the perimeter (my town is tiny, so this is 5.5 miles) as a mini-homecoming.

What's everyone else up to running-wise? Otherwise?


( Background info for the question of the day. )
Question of the day: Are there any songs where you only accept ONE TRUE version? I feel very strongly about Bing Crosby having the ONE TRUE version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." I think I do this with other holiday songs, too. I would expound upon this BUT I HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW FOR LAST MINUTE SHOPPING WITH MY ADORABLE 18 YEAR OLD (NO LONGER LITTLE!) BROTHER.

Happy running!



Also... Happy Festivus! Feel free to air your grievances!

Hey guys, I used to run 15-20 miles a week and then after an ankle injury I fell out of it. I want to sign up for a half marathon for July of 2010. Do you think its possible to be ready for it by then?

Thanks to everyone who commented on my whiny injury rant post.

I talked to the PT today and she said that my hamstring is probably tight again because I ran on my ankle, which is still kind of weak. We're doing strengthening stuff for the ankle (which I've sprained many times), and for the hamstring, we're focusing (again) on strengthening my weak hips.

I brought up that many of you suggested yoga. She agreed, and said I should go for pilates instead, to really focus on building strength. It absolutely makes sense that my lack of core strength could be the reason behind all these injuries, especially when you combine that with flat feet and overpronation. I signed up for a pilates class that will start in January.

She also said I'd be ok to use the elliptical, so I'll keep doing that, and I'll keep doing the rowing (yes - I looked it up and I've been doing incorrectly - thanks, to the person who suggested that).

Overall, I'm relieved that we might have an answer. Hopefully this means that when I finally do get back to running, I won't just end up with the same injury.

Thanks again for your suggestions and support!

This past weekend, I ran in my very first race :):) It was our annual Christmas Race, where many people dress up in costumes and all festive, and it had a HUGEEEE turnout for little Boise, Idaho.

( Christmas Race 10k Report! )

I've been running since I was 14 years old and I'm 26 now. No other exercise makes me feel this happy, fulfilled, healthy, and energized. Even when I hate it, I love it. It's been part of my life for 12 years, and I have no intention of stopping.

But this past year I've been really frustrated with the recurring injuries. I started running more consistently in January, and subsequently tore my hamstring in April. Between January and April, I lost 15 lbs. Thank you, running! But the hamstring tear took six months to heal. Over those six months, I did everything I possibly could to keep the weight off - aquajogging and rowing, which I couldn't stand - because I knew that eventually I'd get back to running and it would be fine.

I started training again, and within a matter of months, I sprained my right ankle. Really? Another injury? I stayed off of it for another month, and it was feeling much better. I powerwalked 2 miles on Friday and ran/walked 3.25 miles on Sunday. Now, not only is the ankle sore again, but once more, my right hamstring is very tight and uncomfortable.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Everything I know about stretching, training properly, RICEing, slowly building up mileage, etc...seems to be failing me at this point. I have flat feet and I overpronate, so I've always used really good, motion-control/stabilizing shoes with orthotics, so I know that's the culprit. I've gained 5 lbs and I'm not happy about it. I haven't really changed my eating habits, so I can tell this is from the lack of exercise. Rowing bores the hell out of me and it's not really that much of a cardio workout anyways. I don't know what to do instead, and I don't want to just get injured again every time I go back to running.

I'm not ready to give up on it - ever. But I really need to know how to stop this from happening. Am I just getting older, is my body getting tired of the pounding, have I been reduced to a perpetual beginner, now that I'm always in a state of injury or rehabbing from an injury?

I hope the PT will have some good suggestions, and that those suggestions are not simply "um...pick another sport?" I'm so tired of hearing that.

I just want this to stop happening :-P Any other runners out there with recurring injuries? I'm so frustrated! What have you done to make it stop? Thanks for hearing the whining, and thanks in advance for any words of advice you might be able to share. *sigh*

/rant.

Now with video!
Good morning, runners! Your favorite dailies guest host here...

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be a very good guest host, because I can't prod the conversation along. I'm going to be driving 500 miles cross-country in order to be home for Christmas. I was supposed to leave yesterday, but due to a massive frontal lobe malfunction, I left my car keys in a jacket pocket in Philadelphia (my body was in New York, my car was in Maryland. Yup, special). So instead, yesterday was spent retrieving my car keys and taking advantage of the extra time with my boyfriend. We had a really nice dinner (I had to fight him to pay let me pay. Hhe didn't like that at all, but he was carting my sorry butt 200 miles round trip, so I was buying dinner and he was going to deal with it) and got to bed at a reasonable hour.

Anyway, I should get home at a reasonable hour (goal: 5:30!), catch family dinner, and sneak in a 4-6 mile run in my subdivision. What's everyone else up to, training-wise and otherwise?

As for today's question.... I just shared a massive brain malfunction, so why don't you do the same? Or tell me about the last time you drove cross-country... :)

Happy running!

I posted here a few months ago thinking something was horribly wrong with me because I couldn't run farther than a mile without having to stop for a walking break. Thanks to all your brilliant advice, I ran (without any walking breaks!) a 5 mile race on Thanksgiving, and a 5k this weekend.

The advice that helped the most was to just slow down. So I have been running about a 10:30/mile pace (slower on longer runs) pretty consistently since September.

I was wondering if you all had any insights on how to build up speed without it being too painful. Or is the answer, to borrow a turn of phrase, "Just do it!"?

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

I know some of you on here have GPS watches you use for training so I'm looking for some opinions/reviews on them. I'm looking more at Garmin though I think I'll probably overpay because of the name. Aren't they like the iPod of GPS? heh. Though the reasons I'm looking at them are because I have a GPS by them for my car which I enjoy and has served me very well and partly because I am a fan of their cycling team.

I don't need anything too fancy since the winter has just barely begun and I won't be running outside anytime soon. I'm kind of looking at the Forerunner 50 and 205 because they're both fairly economical but the 205 looks better for not too much more. But, looks and price are nothing compared to quality.

Even if you don't own a Garmin, let me know how you enjoy your GPS watch. This will be my first one so I'm not at all familiar. I don't want to walk into a store to just be sold to instead of a caring opinion (not to say all running stores are like this!).

Thanks in advance!

yesterday- i ran the 12k of christmas, the 5k version, i did it in 32.07- second best 5k for me this year- i hadnt run a race or ran more than a mile on the treadmill ( but i play soccer 3x a week)since the Torchlight 8k- which was 98 degress outside at 6 pm in seattle and i did that one in 55.01 Sorry to those who didnt like me singing to the GLEE sound track- you all can suck it I had fun, I ran with my sister who almost broke the 30 min mark for the first time at 30.27- and she has been running - like every day- crazy kid- It was a good race- a surprose gradual hill and then the gradual down hill- i only wish that i had also Ibeatjohncurley.com but he didnt race this one- next year john you are going down!

One of the local running stores is offering this service immediately before the marathon next month:

Stay out of the elements and let us pamper you with everything you need before the PF Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon. Take advantage of our exclusive buses which will transport you directly to the Warm Zone. The WARM ZONE will provide you with the following:

• Dedicated UPS truck stationed at the Warm Zone for a gear drop to save you time.
• Optional bus transportation to the start.
• Private parking garage for Warm Zone participants who opt to ride our buses. The bus pickup will be located a short walk from the finish line.
• Very close to the starting lines: 1/4 mile in front of the marathon start and 500 feet from the half marathon start.
• Lots of port-o-potties
• Indoor comfort out of the cold
• Bagels, muffins, yogurt, coffee and other pre-race nutrition
• Complimentary running gloves, Body Glide, sunscreen lotion, safety pins, energy gels, & fluid replacement drinks
• Massage therapist from Performance Massage on hand to help you loosen up

And it costs only fifty bucks. I'm inclined to pass.

Good morning runners! Here's the daily training thread!

My park is covered in snow and not particularly run-able. After work I think I'm heading into town where they took care of the streets a little better and running for about an hour. I'll get about 7 or so miles in. And I'll be shoveling, that totally counts as cross-training!

So how is everyone else starting off their week, training and otherwise?

And it's Monday so, how was your weekend? Highlights? Lowlights? Anything you wanna brag or bitch about (or both)? The NYC weekend was fantastic, better than anticipated, which is saying a lot. Weekends like this you hate to see Monday roll around. For more, see hbfs's comment below.

Seems appropriate after this weekend:


Discuss... and HAPPY RUNNING!

I read a lot of running blogs, and I get a good deal of inspiration from all of them, but Catra Corbett's Dirt Diva blog takes the cake for me in matters of inspiration. This woman is amazing.

For those of you who don't know who she is, she's a former addict/alcoholic who took up running about 15 years ago, and quickly became an ultrarunner. She's completed over 250 ultras now, including well over 50 100-milers. Every year on her birthday, she runs as many hours as the years she's been around. This year she turned 45. So she ran for 45 hours with the help of some friends, for a total of 130 miles. You go, girl. I want to be like you some day.

http://trailgirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/it-will-be-ok.html