Week 11- 1st run -Running in Beautiful New Hampshire

It is Sunday, Febuary 14 and we are away in New Hampshire. It is absolutely beautiful here. The trees are covered with snow and the lakes are all frozen. I went for a 30 minute run around the wooded area and lazily avoided the hills. The run was easy and uneventful. I picked up speed during the last mile and pushed hard. During my cool down, my right foot began to hurt as usual. My new pain. It hurts from the pinky toe to the heel on the outer right part. It hurts to walk without shoes. With shoes on, it is better but still I am reminded constantly of the injury with every step.

After the run, we all went for a long hike over a frozen lake and through the woods. My foot was killing me but I wanted to get a good walk in. When I got home, I iced my foot and after about two days, the pain was completely gone. I find that when I slowly stretch the foot from toe to heal, it feels better. Icing and stretching are my quick solution right now.

Snow Days and Sickness

We had a blizzard on Wednesday (2/10) and have been stuck in the house for two days. I also had a stomach virus and have been sick for days. I haven't run since Sunday. With the snow, I won't be running outside until next week. I am hoping to get on the treadmill tomorrow if I am feeling better.

I feel like I take two steps forward and one step back. I never feel like I am accomplishing as much as I want to. I want to keep my spirits up and fight through it but it is discouraging.

On a more positive note, I am more than half way to my goal in fundraising. That is good news.

Week 12 (Sunday- 2/7) - First Run of the Week

I checked my fundraising page today at Lustgarten Foundation and found out that I am halfway to my fundraising goal ALREADY!! The people in my life are so supportive and generous. I know that I am very lucky to have such wonderful friends and family helping me to reach my goal.

I had a chance to do a run around 2 pm. It was cold. I decided to do an hour run and a faster pace than my marathon pace. My husband watched the kids and I got ready. I decided to warm up on the treadmill downstairs before running outside. I walked on the treadmill for about 6 minutes and then headed out.

The run went well except for a nagging pain in the back of my left leg. It felt like a muscle strain. I really stretched afterwards and felt fine hours later. I also iced my foot and my leg as soon as I got home. I finished the run in 65 minutes, running at a fast pace and feeling very good.

I hope to run again on Wed., maybe interval training and a short 2 mile run on Friday. Then on Sunday I will do my long run and aim for 2 hours and 5o minutes.

Week 13- Last Run of the Week

I had a chance to complete a short run yesterday (Fri.) so I headed out. I ran 2/12 miles in 24 minutes. I tried to run fast and not focus on the pains in my foot. I did have some but it was not bad at all. I am having a problem with focusing too much on injuries. I know I have very far to go and it I get hurt, it is over. I am listening to my body too much. I need to step back and just run.

Week 13- Injuries are part of the deal

It is Wednesday, four days since my long run. My right foot has been causing me a lot of pain when I put any weight on it. But it was time to run again. I had to test it. I went on the dreaded treadmill for 33 minutes, doing intervals. Three minutes fast and three minutes slow. My foot hurt but it was not unbearable. It hurt less while I was running than when I am walking (what does that mean?). I worked out hard and then iced it for a while. I do not know what this injury will mean for my future trainings. I am hopeful the pain will fade.

My training plan is to run three times a week for the next 10 weeks. On every other weekend, I will do my long run, increasing the time by 20 minutes to get to a maximum time of a 4 hour run. That last long run will take place during week 4. That should be about 20 miles. That is the max I will train in distance. After that, I will run only short distance for the three weeks before the marathon.
I am very scared about my foot getting worse but I have to be positive and I have to understand that I will hurt body parts during this training. IT IS 26.2 MILES.

Just when I commit......my foot is hurt!

I can't believe that I decide to make it official yesterday for my fundraising and..... yesterday, my right foot started to ache. Soon after, sharp shooting pains all day. I haven't run since Saturday and suddenly I have my first injury. Today the pain is bad. I am walking with a limp. I can't run and have to rest it but that is not going to happen! I am very upset but need to calm down and just rest it for a few days. Ahhhhhh!

Committed officially

I sent the email to loved ones about the fundraising for the marathon. I guess I really have to do it. I will register for the race tomorrow. One step a day.