Filed under: Encouragement, Lindsey, gym, pain | Tags: elvi, elvis, fitness, half marathon, health, i.t. band, injury, Lindsey, marathon, mastis, patrick, runner's knee, running elvi, spark
It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten on the blog. That’s because I wasn’t able to run the marathon, and it was too hard to write about what I considered a failure. While attempting to run 14 miles on a Saturday long run, pain in my leg became too intense. I got half way around Forest Park and had to stop. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t even walk. Patrick had to run to the car and pick me up.
I took a week off from running, but it didn’t help. Eventually, I went to the doctor and learned I had runner’s knee and had injured my I.T. Band. I started physical therapy, but it became obvious I would not be able to make the marathon. And because the injury was so bad, I couldn’t do a half marathon either.
It’s taken me months, but I’m finally ready to begin running again. I’ve learned a lot from the journey. I’ve always been a sprinter, when it comes to running and everything else in life. I did not pace myself. I approached every run like a race. And I did not stretch properly or enough.
I love to focus on beating my time and have realized a half marathon race is more suited to my personality. Patrick and I are already registered to run the 2008 half marathon in Vegas. We may even join the running Elvi. We are also looking to run another half marathon before the December race.
I’m glad things turned out the way they have because I’ve learned many important lessons about running and about my personality. During the course of our training, we ran three 13-milers, so I’m very excited about running an “official” half marathon!
I’ve also focused on other areas of health and fitness. Yoga has helped my injury and I’m now focusing on becoming more flexible. I’m also taking classes at the gym, using the elliptical, and I have a personal trainer to help modify my workouts so I can gain strength. I’m also using the pool at the gym for a full body challenge.
And, I’ve created a series called “Spark Your Health” to motivate others to get in shape and eat well. I report and anchor on WSIL-TV and this series runs Monday nights. This series is based on the SparkPeople site. More than 700 viewers have joined the online Spark Challenge Team I created online. It’s so inspiring to reach out and help others accomplish personal goals.
Everything is on the up and up. I’m anxious to start running, but it’s still too early and too cold to officially start training. I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and advice. I can’t wait to start blogging about my new journey to half marathon success!
It was 100 today, so back to Gold’s Gym after work for my 3-miler. I did my free weights first, then ran my 3 miles. My cousin, Cheryl Salamone, is also a member at the gym, and I talked with her about my running. I asked her which is better: running first or free weights first. She said it was up to the person, and if you’re doing long runs, then it would be best to run first, that way you don’t become exhausted when doing free weights. I like free weights first because then I can exert all my energy into that and treat the run like a cool down. Well, after about 10 minutes on the treadmill, I was whipped, and ran off and on.
Conditions: indoors.
Results: today: 3 miles; total: 21 miles; time: 39:34, pace: 13:11
Thoughts: So, I tried the treadmill again. Didn’t like it. These extreme temps are killin’ my training.
What I’ll remember the most: Hating the treadmill.
This week is the hottest week in St. Louis weather. We are experiencing 100+ temps most the week, and running in those conditions is a big health risk. So this morning, I decided to get up mega early and hit Gold’s Gym before work. I got there at 5:30am, and ran my three miles on a treadmill. One phrase to describe it? Not good.
I’m so used to the environment, the air, the people I pass over and over, the wind, and the feeling of being in control of the ground I run on. This treadmill just doesn’t do any of that. I have a TV screen in front of me, constantly staring at a clock, and the steady speed of the machine throws me off, because I’m constantly thinking about being stable and not slipping on my stride.
I tried the 10/2 rule again, but with a treadmill, it just doesn’t work. So I just ran, taking walk breaks from time to time. I finished with a much slower time than if I was outside, but at least I got the run in, and it wasn’t 94 degrees doing it.
Conditions: indoors.
Results: today: 3 miles; total: 18 miles; time: 34:27, pace: 11:29
Thoughts: OK. This idea of getting up early to run will not work for me. I should have just ran in the park.
What I’ll remember the most: The early morning members at the gym. It was pretty packed for 5:30am!
I really felt the diet kicking in today. I tossed and turned a lot during last night’s sleep, even though it was the first time I had gotten to be before midnight in months. I was hyper having my metabolism raised all day, and I even drank my gallon of water before I worked out at 5:00pm!
The gym was better than yesterday, and I’m really enjoying the Cardio Cinema at Gold’s Gym. Today’s movie was “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” again, and I picked up from where I left off yesterday. Kinda cool.
I also saw my cousin Cheryl Salamone, who is very physically fit and has competed and won in bodybuilding competitions. I told her about Lindsey and I running a marathon, and she was supportive. She said she used to run Track & Field in high school, but was only able to run 5 or 6 miles.
I went to the grocery store and bought the right foods for my diet and didn’t cheat at all. I didn’t want to. I’m ready to get this weight down and be ready for my first run at the end of the month.
I’m feeling pretty good about getting back on my fitness track. I stepped on the scale and had lost 3 pounds last week. That’s a good start! I will only weigh myself twice a week, because the daily scale will mess with my psyche. I’m shooting for Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Looks like I got down my gallon of water (which is a first in MONTHS), and as far as the diet goes, I consumed about 1,400 calories, most of it protein and only 15 grams of fat ALL DAY. NICE! It was a great workout at Gold’s Gym, even though I had a couple bad mood people at the gym today (the guy who was washing the front glass door was cranky, and some dude put his weight belt on the weight bar, claiming he was still working out even though he was no where near the weights). I tried out the “Cardio Cinema” and it was kickass! Not only because I can do 30 minutes on the elliptical while watching a big screen movie…but it was a little warmer in the room, so I really sweat a lot! And what better movie to get me in a good mood: “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”. I was LOL on some parts, then realized people were sweating their butts off all around me. Oh well, I was having a good time.
I came home and almost napped, like I would usually do, but forced myself up to get some stuff done around the house and get tomorrow’s meals/water ready. And even after some laundry folding, I’m still going to get a good night’s sleep.
