Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wednesday Workout Update

I know most of you are waiting to hear about how Jeff did in Austin on Sunday, but first, let's talk about me.  Haha, egotistical much, Shelley?  Why yes.  Actually, I had such polar opposite experiences with my last two runs that I wanted to talk about them.  The Austin recap will be coming soon, I promise.

On Saturday, I had my last long run before I start tapering for the upcoming half marathon on March 3rd.  This was an 11-miler.  Jeff didn't run it, because he had his half the next day, so Julia, Amy and I set out on our "Tour de Copperfield" - we decided to run the side streets in a neighborhood where we normally would just run the perimeter.  It was going to be a little crazy, directional-wise, but we had a couple spots where we knew we needed to reach a certain mile point, and as long as we did that, we would be on track to get the entire 11 miles in.

It was 32 degrees when we started, but it wasn't windy, so it didn't feel too bad.  We did the usual 2:1 intervals, and it was interesting to do a different route...sure, we hit a couple of dead ends along the way and got turned around a few times, but all in all, it was an adventure.  However, my back, which had been bothering me all week, was really hurting during the run, and I was not able to get into the groove of it.  In fact, when we reached mile 7, I considered turning back toward the start, but Julia said "it's only 4 more miles" and that sounded like nothing at that point, so I kept going.  Still, I was hurting - back, ankle, foot, toes...just one of those runs where nothing feels good.  I ended up taking some longer walking breaks, which I haven't done since I started doing the intervals with the Gymboss.  We finally finished, but man, I was hurting.  I smiled for the camera - part of participating in Lori's Healthy Heart Weekend was that you had to send in a picture after you'd completed your workout - but all I really wanted was to go home, take some Motrin, and lay on a heating pad.
That's Amy's finger adding to my hands, so we could show 11 miles.  I'm beginning to think that running more miles than I can count on two hands is just plain crazy!

After I got cleaned up, we stopped for an early lunch on our way out of town.  We usually split a cinnamon twist pastry as a treat, but got there too late and they were sold out.  So I got my next favorite, an oatmeal cookie.  Dang, it was GOOD.  I took a bite before Jeff could take a picture:
 
And yes, I do look tired.  I WAS tired!  

So to recap:  Long run, everything hurt, why in the hell do I do this to myself?

Then yesterday happened.  I had such a great run that there aren't enough superlatives in the world to describe it.  The weather was perfect - 45 degrees, sunny blue skies...the kind of day that makes you happy to be outside and participating in life.  Backstory is that last week, Jenny and I had a long talk about how good we ran back in 2010, and tried to figure out how we could do that again.  We decided to try running quarter-mile intervals, as quickly as we could stand it, followed by a quarter-mile recovery walk...our thoughts were that this would build up our endurance and speed for a 5K.  We settled on 2 miles of this, and I set my Garmin accordingly...or so I thought (math+Shelley=disaster).

Anyway, we set out and ran the first quarter mile fast - we were breathless by the time we got to walk.  But we recovered pretty quickly, and kept at it, for a total of 4 miles!  Oops - obviously I didn't work the Garmin right.  Now, we (OK, Jenny) realized fairly early on that the count was off, but we decided to keep at it - and I can't tell you how awesome we both felt when we finished!  We pushed ourselves just enough to feel like we'd really worked hard, but not so much that we were hurting.  The endorphins were surging, and we couldn't stop talking about what a great run that was...and that's why I run.  And why I keep running, even when I feel as bad as I did on Saturday - because when these great runs happen, that makes it all worthwhile.

However, I have to say that I really am looking forward to not running longer than 5 miles at a time in the very near future - my body needs a break.  I'm going to my orthopedist this morning for another set of lidocaine injections in my ankle and the top of my foot - yes, they hurt like crazy to get, but it's worth it considering the relief I had from the first round of injections.  I'm hoping that the next few months of running will not only be really fun, but fairly pain-free.  I'm ready for both!

25 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had a great run. This is a good sign for your half marathon. Oh my, that is a yummy looking cookie.

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    1. I should get a shirt that says Will Run For Cookies!

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  2. You said it to me and now I'm saying to you: a good great fantastic run makes it all worth and reminds us of the love we have for running. So happy that you had such a great run.

    I think you are smart to cut down on the miles after the half and give your body a break. I think it deserves that and you deserve that.

    Let me tell you a little secret: on the day you are running your half I have my first "race" in about a year. It's just a 5K but it's time to put my game face on again.

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    1. How exciting - I love that we will both be racing on the same day!!! I hope you have a fantastic 5K, Fran. :)

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  3. You need to call me so I can help you set your Garmin intervals up ;)

    I hope the lidocaine gives you the relief you need and that your upcoming half is everything you've trained hard for!

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    1. I set them up right, it's just that Shelley-logic said "I want to do 8 intervals - 4 running, 4 walking" but Garmin-logic read that as 8 SETS. Oh. Now I know, lol!

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    2. Girlfriend, I would have just stopped, I don't care how many times the Garmin beeped at me. But maybe it's good that you didn't, especially since you had such a good run!

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  4. I could say so much to your post...but all I am going to say is this.....YOu are amazing and inspiring! :-)

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  5. How did I miss that you are still scheduled for a half marathon?! Now doing those long runs makes more sense to me!

    I'm so glad you had that great run yesterday! Hope there are a lot more of those in your future.

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    1. I'm not doing those long runs for my health! LOL - yep, one last half marathon until next winter.

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  6. When I do my intervals on the treadmill, I do the same thing - make my 3 minute run as fast as I can each time - on Monday I held an 8:45 pace for 3 minutes!

    Sorry about your back and feet though - I think once you rest after the half you'll be good to go. :D

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  7. Coookie!!!! Why is it that I zeroed in on the cookie??

    Katie titled her blog Runs for Cookies because that is what she does LOL!

    Hooray for the better run. I bet you will be glad when the half is over. Then a week after that and you will be looking for the next one :D

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    1. You make me laugh, and not just because I'm already signed up for another half (but it's not until December!).

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  8. If you create a "Will run for cookies" t-shirt, I will totally buy it!

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    1. I bet there's one out there already...we need to shop! ;)

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  9. Big big yay for a better run!!!! And the cookie. :)

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  10. Those runs that feel so great make up for all the pain of the not-so-great runs!!
    Yea for the better day!! (and for getting back out there!)
    Very cool that you have such a large group of running friends!

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  11. I was so so so so so so SAD not to be there spectating with you in the ATX!!!

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  12. Hate that you've been hurting but you earned a BIG cookie! :D
    Glad you had a redeeming run afterwards.

    Are you looking forward to your half? Just around the corner. Thank FSM for tapering, right?

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  13. Shelley...what is 2:1 intervals...run 2 walk 1 or run twice as long as you run? Great job by the way! I am trying to get my mileage back up after my injury last year...blessings

    http://runningsurvivor.blogspot.com

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  14. It is run 2 minutes, walk one minute. I use a Gymboss for the intervals - it's a little timer that's easy to set, and it beeps at me to run and then beeps at me to walk...pretty simple way to run without thinking about when you can walk - this device tells you.

    Good luck with your running! :)

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  15. Shelley that is what I thought...thanks so much...I ran today with a 5:1 ratio and it felt great....much better than running the whole time

    http://runningsurvivor.blogspot.com

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