It's that time again! Team In Training is recruiting for their fall events, and I've signed up to complete the Twin Cities Marathon on October 3, 2010 again this year, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I couldn't be more excited!
As a running experience, I'm a bit apprehensive this time around. My experience in taking on large, complicated tasks has been that the first time is actually a bit easier - it's the SECOND time that things can really go very differently. My expectations are higher; last year, I hoped to finish before the course closed at 6 hours and 15 minutes! (I finished in 5:33 and change, in the end.) I make assumptions based on last year's experience. Why aren't I running faster by now? Why do our 15-mile training runs seem to just wipe me out? Etc, etc.
This is probably not the most compelling blogging material to anyone but me, but with that said, I also have a sense of what went well last year and what to improve upon. While I expect to complete all my training runs, I know that I can be more flexible with daily runs, but the longer weekend runs really must be completed on schedule. I know what I need to do to improve flexibility and core strength to ensure I don't have the same IT band issues that I experienced last year. And I have a better idea of what to eat and feel full as those increasingly long training miles start to make me feel famished all the time.
So - here's to being gentle. Gentle in my expectations and my critique of my performance. No matter how many times you cross, one never steps into the same river twice. And of course I couldn't be happier to accomplish these goals to benefit an exceptional cause - finding a cure for blood cancers, honoring those who have fought them, and supporting the families whose loved ones fight them.
I have two wonderful honorees in whose names I will be training this year. I may have a third - I will let you know soon. But in the meantime, I wanted to say "hello" and "welcome back." Team In Training will start training on May 15, a full month from now. Keep checking back here around that time - I'll be posting regular updates. And thanks, as always, for your help in reaching our goal of eradicating blood cancers. Onward!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
WE DID IT!!!
I'm sorry that this has taken so long to write - all those things that you put off to prepare for a marathon start popping up after the marathon. You know... Thanksgiving, holidays, New Year's... ; )
However, for those of you following at home - WE DID IT! That's right. Not only did we surpass - substantially - my goal of raising $1700 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (to the tune of $2,111.80 - you guys ROCK!), but on Sunday, October 4, I ran my first consecutive 26.2 miles.
It. Was. Awesome.
What? You don't want the blow by blow? Ha. You're getting it anyways.
[ABOVE: Jannette, myself and my mother-in-law, Carolyn Ruccolo. Carolyn is taking our picture after finishing, with the homemade banner with our names/bib numbers on it that she made. Go Carolyn!!! Cathedral in the background - mile 26.]
My friend and old college roommate Jannette came to run the marathon with me, staying the days before the race with Tony and I. It was our first marathon. Before that, I had only run a 5k; Jannette, a much more seasoned runner than I, had run half-marathons and 5ks. We were discovering this whole marathon race day thing together.
Friday, we later picked up our race packets, which includes little electronic timing "chips" that you lace into your shoes. The chips allow timing mats throughout the course to register the time you pass them - and hence figure out your pace. And of course we got our runner's bib with each of our race numbers. We also received a bag filled with coupons, flyers for running-related services and other marathons, as well as a pair of our very own Twin Cities Marathon technical socks. Sweet! We briefly wandered the race expo - tents and tents of running products, services, and even a few workshops in the St. Paul River Center - but quit early. We were warned to stay off of our feet as much as possible - and specifically not too spend too much time walking around the expo. However, we did snag some free disposable running gloves (folks often throw them on the route when they get too warm - race volunteers pick them up.) And Jannette got to meet Hal Higdon!The evening ended with a dinner with Jannette's aunt and uncle; her uncle was an experienced marathon runner. The route, hydration strategies, and related discussion were, naturally, the topic of the evening.
[LEFT: Self-portrait, race day morning.]
The day before the race, we figured out the race route and drove along it, starting from the Metrodome in Minneapolis and ending at the Capitol in St. Paul, noting the major hills along the way. (Note to self: This was such a good idea. I will do this again for any other marathon(??) I decide to run.) Many parts of the route were very familiar to me, owing to my Team In Training runs - I was better prepared than I thought!
Saturday night, I assembled my running gear. Runners are advised never to use new equipment right before a race - sound counsel. And I am not a low-maintenance runner - I have a whole fuel belt (two water bottles and a pouch for gels), a visor, sunglasses, and an arm ipod thingy. But I also had some arm warmers (little sleeves that can be pulled off easily, if I got too warm) that I needed because I knew I would be too warm in a long-sleeved technical shirt. Fortunately for me, it worked out beautifully.
[ABOVE: My running jersey, taken the morning of the race. "In loving memory: Aunt Mickie, Dad."]
Now, for the harder part. I added ribbons with names to my running shoes - several folks had contributed in the name of loved ones who fought or were fighting cancer. One was a colleague of mine in Madison (Elizabeth) who contributed in honor of another colleague (hi Sam!) who is currently fighting leukemia (and is in maintenance as of now - GO SAM!!). Finally, I added my personal honorees to my shirt - my Dad and my Aunt Mickie. A sad and yet proud moment. Finally, I added my first name on the front of my shirt, so that spectators could cheer me on. I would need it! On a much lighter note, I also discovered that I am not skilled in the ways of puffy paint (and we will leave that at that.) We had our carbo-ish dinner and ended the evening early.
[LEFT: ACTION SHOT! All my gear (except my belt)! Me before we drove to the race, Sunday morning. The dog on the couch is wondering why on earth we're up at this hour. By the dog is my drop bag, which you'll hear more about soon.]
Sunday, we left the house at 6:15am; Tony dutifully drove us to the Metrodome at that ungodly hour. The race started at 8am; a different 10-mile race sponsored by the Twin Cities Marathon folks started at 7am. Jannette was a lifesaver - I was almost hyperventilating. I met with my Team In Training team, and we took a group picture. Jannette and I had packed our drop bag for after the race - a jacket, socks, comfortable shoes. (You can see the drop bag on the couch, by the dog.)
[LEFT: Self-portrait of a tired husband about to drop off his wife and her friend on some crazy running adventure at some god-forsaken hour of the morning.]
After a bout of nervously tying my drop bag too tightly and ripping the draw string, then getting another bag that had accidentally been slashed by the razor opening the box (!!) we were finally able secure both bags and drop them off in the proper cannister out of the rows and rows of them. The bags would be transported to St. Paul, waiting for us at the finish line. From there, we proceeded towards the runners corral.
The weather was perfect - around 45, with the promise to warm up to around 50. Excellent running weather. As I've said before, running can make you feel almost 20 degrees warmer than the air temperature - so running in 50* can feel like 70*. Before we got started, though, it was chilly to be dressed twenty degrees cooler than it actually was - I actually put on a garbage bag, with holes cut for my head and arms, to ward off the chill. Jannette used an older long-sleeved shirt.
Now, I had no idea that the runners' corral before a race was so organized. Placards were up by the pace each runner hoped to maintain. If you were a slower runner, you went towards the back. For better or worse - sorry, all of you faster runners - Jannette and I started a little bit further up from our actual pace because we would get across the starting line more quickly. We couldn't hardly see the spectators along the chute; there were tall wire fences separating runners from the crowd. We also saw pace groups - groups lead by an experienced runner who kept a particular pace and who would finish the race at a particular finishing time - marked by the group leader carrying colorful balloons with their pace and finishing time printed in black marker, attached to a stick. There were a couple of speeches, and finally, the starting gun fired. We started to slowly move forward - some people jogging in place, others just walking forward. There were so many runners, in fact, that we didn't even cross the starting line until about 10 minutes after the gun went off.
This was it! After months of training, I was actually running the marathon! I felt great. During training, and even in August, my goal was to simply finish before the course closed (you'll remember my preoccupation with THE BUS - the bus that picked up (ate?) straggling runners who couldn't finish by the course closing time 6 hours and 15 minutes after the starting gun. As far as I was concerned, that bus was a shark, complete with toothy grin and a fin on top). Then, my IT band injury had relegated me to the pool for the last month of training. But I was doing so well in my Yasso track runs before the IT band injury, and I had rested, iced, medicated and generally was so awesome to that IT band that I decided to increase my goal just a bit - work a 12:35 run/walk pace, and complete the marathon in 5:30 (five hours, thirty minutes.)
[ABOVE: My timing chip, tracked along the marathon route. You can see my times at various points along the route, including my finish time (5:33:47) and average pace (12:45). See this map enlarged.]
The first mile, all of the disposable things started to come off. People who had worn an old shirt, garbage bags like myself, and gloves threw them along the route, some more careful about not throwing them in the path of their fellow runners than others. Volunteers along the route picked up the discarded clothing and trash; clothing in good shape would be donated. We ran downtown, past the Basilica and up Hennepin, then turned right up the hill. I felt so good that I had to keep checking my pace - I was running too fast. A common beginning runner mistake. But I felt so good. In fact, the first ten miles were completely flawless. I was constantly amazed at how quickly the mile markers flew by. Literally, I got to the 10 mile marker and thought to myself - "Ten miles? Already?? This is great!!"
Every couple of mile markers (I think) there was water and Powerade. I kept up a routine of Powerade at one stop, water and gel at the next, and nothing at the next, then Powerade again, and so on - enough to stay hydrated, but not so much that I would develop a gut ache from too much sugar or fluids in my stomach at once.
And the spectators! They were great. I was so worried about my first marathon, but when I signed up for Twin Cities, the Team In Training staff assured me I had made a great choice. And now I knew why. First of all - spectators were EVERYWHERE. The Twin Cities Marathon has a contest for the neighborhoods on the racecourse for who can throw the best themed party, and people were CRAZY. They dressed up in costumes. One had set up a coffee bar along the street. People offered runners bananas, candies, everything you could think of. Whole sound systems set up with music blaring was not uncommon. They didn't care if you were fast or slow. They were just so excited that you were there! And then there were the purple and green Team In Training cheer squads. I couldn't believe I was part of such a cool program.
[LEFT: Family friend Anna, cheering runners on!]
We rounded the lakes of South Minneapolis, waved to my colleague Kate and her husband who cheered us on, and eventually headed down Minnehaha Boulevard, which wound around to River Road along the Mississippi River. I saw my in-laws and Tony there, and our family friends Al, Jen, Lisa, Liam and Anna! There was even a whole banner with my and Jannette's name on it and our bib numbers made by my mother-in-law, Carolyn. How sweet is that??? I don't think I've ever had my name on a banner!
[LEFT: Spectator Liam watches the race along the course.]
[LEFT: Tony holding Liam, Anna's brother, waiting for me along the course.]
[ABOVE: Can you see me? Purple jersey with the racing bib on my pants leg (on purpose, it didn't fall there!) Just to the right of the woman with the light blue shirt and black shorts. The guy directly in front of me, African-American (maybe African?) with black/top bottom looked REALLY fast - like an elite runner - but we had a very similar pace for much of the course.]
By that time, though, I was starting to feel the distance. Crossing the river at Franklin Avenue, I passed mile marker 19. And then began the climb.
Everyone says that mile twenty is the worst in a marathon. Well, I suppose that's not exactly true - everyone has their most difficult miles in a marathon. But the ones I've heard the most about are after twenty. You see, after twenty miles, you've exceeded your longest training run. It's kind of an unknown (or it least it was for me, who had never run a marathon before.) Mississippi River Boulevard, as the river road is known on the east side of the Mississippi, gradually goes upward before it hits Summit Avenue. In fact, the rest of the race route - from about mile 19 on - is pretty much uphill. Let me say it another way: after running 19 miles of not exactly easy hills along lakes in Minneapolis, you get to run six MORE miles almost exclusively up.
Around mile twenty, my left leg started to cramp. And not cramps I had never felt before - seizing was more like it. The top of my thigh, then the bottom, then my calf. I limped to the side of the road and stretched; the muscles loosened. I made it about two more miles - mile 21 or 22 - and they seized again, much worse this time. I didn't know if I could go much further, but as luck would have it, my running coach was right there. She showed me how to physically rub out the knots in my leg. I could run a little, but I had to do much more walking. Before, I was running a steady 10:30 minutes and walking two minutes. Now... I couldn't risk it. I ran as much as I could before my legs felt like they would give, then walked some more. Ran some, walked some more. Tried to run a block at a time, a minute at a time, whatever would get me going! I saw my 5:30 pace group and kept up with them for about a mile before they pulled ahead. Turns out they finished WELL ahead of the 5:30 pace, as I finished at 5:33.
I kept limping and running and limping some more. The spectators were so encouraging - if it was possible to run on cheers alone, I would have! I was determined, though, to RUN across that finish line, and that meant my legs had to be in good enough shape to try it.
Finally, I got to the Cathedral - mile 26. The Cathedral is on top of a hill and there was only a mere two-tenths of a mile between myself and the finish line. However, after all that running hills, my quads were completely shot - I wasn't going to be running down that hill, anyway! Finally, I got to the bottom of the hill. And I saw a throng of people and the finish line.
[ABOVE: Me (purple jersey, black pants, ponytail & hat) in the finishing "chute." The mat extending across the road - those are the mats that read our timing chips. They're distributed across the course. You can see the finish line banner across the street ahead!]
[ABOVE: Me at the finish line - ALMOST THERE! You can see the Capitol in the background.]
[ABOVE: Me going across the finish line - look for the purple jersey and black pants, with the arms up. You can also see my Team In Training colleague (I think it was Nolan?), also with a purple jersey but with black shorts, just crossing the first of the final two timing mats. He finished less than a minute later.]
I entered the finishing chute - surrounded by cheering spectators - exhausted but determined to start running before the finish line. And I did, finishing with my arms above my head. In my mind they were straight in the air, but the pictures were much more funny and a little sad - bent at the elbows, level with my shoulders, with only my forearms reaching up. But that's all I could do.
[ABOVE: Myself and Jannette with our finishing medals, holding the banner my mother-in-law Carolyn made for us. I especially love the little "WOW"s on the banner! : ) ]
I received my medal, finishers shirt, and picked up my drop bag with my sweats, fresh socks, sandals and a jacket. From there it was to the Team In Training tent, where my picture was taken, I got to congratulate my other teammates, and got a spiffy 26.2 Team In Training pin. I went to find Tony and my in-laws, and saw our friend Lisa. We waited for Jannette, who I had lost in the first mile; she had tremendous knee issues that day. After she crossed the finish line, she told us she had been battling the bus most of the way to the end. I know I couldn't have finished with a similar injury. We got bags of ice for our knees, and eventually went to go eat some extraordinarily carb-heavy comfort food.
In the days after the marathon, I was hobbling around like I was eighty. I couldn't walk down stairs more than a step at a time for three days!
The marathon, though, was something I am so glad that I did. And you all made it happen! I couldn't have gotten nearly as far without your support, your encouragement, your contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission of helping those who battle cancer in their families and in their lives. At the risk of appearing sanctimonious, the honest truth is that I ran a marathon because I could; because unlike others, I am lucky enough to enjoy the physical health allowing me to train for an endurance race. So many others don't have that option. At the very beginning of the training program, I was convinced that the best I could hope for was finishing before the course closed. I was the kid who played sports in high school but hated the Presidential Fitness mile in gym. I thought that because I couldn't sprint for miles at a time I just wasn't destined to be a runner. But I decided to embark on this program go one day at a time, and if I got to a point where I couldn't do it... well, then I wouldn't do it. But I never got to that point.
[LEFT: My dad, Ned Jimmerson.]
I ran a marathon because I wanted to do something - a difficult challenge that would take discipline; something I had never done before and wasn't sure I could do - to honor the memory of my Dad and my Aunt Mickie. I ran because the folks battling cancer - those for whom several of my friends' contributions were given in honor of - were up against something much more substantial than any hill workout or track routine that my coaches could dream up (and believe me, they were creative.)
I've since completed another half marathon. In 2009, I ran over 600 miles - or the equivalent of running from St. Paul to Indianapolis, IN. I hope to complete two 5ks, two half marathons, and the Twin Cities marathon again in the coming year. It's going to be more difficult, in some ways - the first year is all about learning and new experiences. Now I have expectations, and the work gets that much more difficult. I've learned a great deal about myself, but even more about the network of folks that I have the privilege of calling my family, friends and acquaintances.
So many thank yous are due. Poor Tony had (has?) the yeoman's work of putting up with my running schedule, making running a part of our family budget, and attending those races in the early morning, among many, many other inconveniences. Thank you, sweetie. My in-laws John and Carolyn have been there for pretty much every race I've ever run, no matter what unearthly hour they start. Thank you to Jannette, who always encourages me to run, no matter how many times I fall off the wagon. And thanks to all of my friends, who offered so much encouragement when I wrote about training. Y'all are a pretty awesome bunch and I am fortunate to have you in my life. Thank you, so much, again.
However, for those of you following at home - WE DID IT! That's right. Not only did we surpass - substantially - my goal of raising $1700 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (to the tune of $2,111.80 - you guys ROCK!), but on Sunday, October 4, I ran my first consecutive 26.2 miles.
It. Was. Awesome.
What? You don't want the blow by blow? Ha. You're getting it anyways.
My friend and old college roommate Jannette came to run the marathon with me, staying the days before the race with Tony and I. It was our first marathon. Before that, I had only run a 5k; Jannette, a much more seasoned runner than I, had run half-marathons and 5ks. We were discovering this whole marathon race day thing together.
Friday, we later picked up our race packets, which includes little electronic timing "chips" that you lace into your shoes. The chips allow timing mats throughout the course to register the time you pass them - and hence figure out your pace. And of course we got our runner's bib with each of our race numbers. We also received a bag filled with coupons, flyers for running-related services and other marathons, as well as a pair of our very own Twin Cities Marathon technical socks. Sweet! We briefly wandered the race expo - tents and tents of running products, services, and even a few workshops in the St. Paul River Center - but quit early. We were warned to stay off of our feet as much as possible - and specifically not too spend too much time walking around the expo. However, we did snag some free disposable running gloves (folks often throw them on the route when they get too warm - race volunteers pick them up.) And Jannette got to meet Hal Higdon!The evening ended with a dinner with Jannette's aunt and uncle; her uncle was an experienced marathon runner. The route, hydration strategies, and related discussion were, naturally, the topic of the evening.
The day before the race, we figured out the race route and drove along it, starting from the Metrodome in Minneapolis and ending at the Capitol in St. Paul, noting the major hills along the way. (Note to self: This was such a good idea. I will do this again for any other marathon(??) I decide to run.) Many parts of the route were very familiar to me, owing to my Team In Training runs - I was better prepared than I thought!
Saturday night, I assembled my running gear. Runners are advised never to use new equipment right before a race - sound counsel. And I am not a low-maintenance runner - I have a whole fuel belt (two water bottles and a pouch for gels), a visor, sunglasses, and an arm ipod thingy. But I also had some arm warmers (little sleeves that can be pulled off easily, if I got too warm) that I needed because I knew I would be too warm in a long-sleeved technical shirt. Fortunately for me, it worked out beautifully.
Now, for the harder part. I added ribbons with names to my running shoes - several folks had contributed in the name of loved ones who fought or were fighting cancer. One was a colleague of mine in Madison (Elizabeth) who contributed in honor of another colleague (hi Sam!) who is currently fighting leukemia (and is in maintenance as of now - GO SAM!!). Finally, I added my personal honorees to my shirt - my Dad and my Aunt Mickie. A sad and yet proud moment. Finally, I added my first name on the front of my shirt, so that spectators could cheer me on. I would need it! On a much lighter note, I also discovered that I am not skilled in the ways of puffy paint (and we will leave that at that.) We had our carbo-ish dinner and ended the evening early.
Sunday, we left the house at 6:15am; Tony dutifully drove us to the Metrodome at that ungodly hour. The race started at 8am; a different 10-mile race sponsored by the Twin Cities Marathon folks started at 7am. Jannette was a lifesaver - I was almost hyperventilating. I met with my Team In Training team, and we took a group picture. Jannette and I had packed our drop bag for after the race - a jacket, socks, comfortable shoes. (You can see the drop bag on the couch, by the dog.)
After a bout of nervously tying my drop bag too tightly and ripping the draw string, then getting another bag that had accidentally been slashed by the razor opening the box (!!) we were finally able secure both bags and drop them off in the proper cannister out of the rows and rows of them. The bags would be transported to St. Paul, waiting for us at the finish line. From there, we proceeded towards the runners corral.
The weather was perfect - around 45, with the promise to warm up to around 50. Excellent running weather. As I've said before, running can make you feel almost 20 degrees warmer than the air temperature - so running in 50* can feel like 70*. Before we got started, though, it was chilly to be dressed twenty degrees cooler than it actually was - I actually put on a garbage bag, with holes cut for my head and arms, to ward off the chill. Jannette used an older long-sleeved shirt.
Now, I had no idea that the runners' corral before a race was so organized. Placards were up by the pace each runner hoped to maintain. If you were a slower runner, you went towards the back. For better or worse - sorry, all of you faster runners - Jannette and I started a little bit further up from our actual pace because we would get across the starting line more quickly. We couldn't hardly see the spectators along the chute; there were tall wire fences separating runners from the crowd. We also saw pace groups - groups lead by an experienced runner who kept a particular pace and who would finish the race at a particular finishing time - marked by the group leader carrying colorful balloons with their pace and finishing time printed in black marker, attached to a stick. There were a couple of speeches, and finally, the starting gun fired. We started to slowly move forward - some people jogging in place, others just walking forward. There were so many runners, in fact, that we didn't even cross the starting line until about 10 minutes after the gun went off.
This was it! After months of training, I was actually running the marathon! I felt great. During training, and even in August, my goal was to simply finish before the course closed (you'll remember my preoccupation with THE BUS - the bus that picked up (ate?) straggling runners who couldn't finish by the course closing time 6 hours and 15 minutes after the starting gun. As far as I was concerned, that bus was a shark, complete with toothy grin and a fin on top). Then, my IT band injury had relegated me to the pool for the last month of training. But I was doing so well in my Yasso track runs before the IT band injury, and I had rested, iced, medicated and generally was so awesome to that IT band that I decided to increase my goal just a bit - work a 12:35 run/walk pace, and complete the marathon in 5:30 (five hours, thirty minutes.)
The first mile, all of the disposable things started to come off. People who had worn an old shirt, garbage bags like myself, and gloves threw them along the route, some more careful about not throwing them in the path of their fellow runners than others. Volunteers along the route picked up the discarded clothing and trash; clothing in good shape would be donated. We ran downtown, past the Basilica and up Hennepin, then turned right up the hill. I felt so good that I had to keep checking my pace - I was running too fast. A common beginning runner mistake. But I felt so good. In fact, the first ten miles were completely flawless. I was constantly amazed at how quickly the mile markers flew by. Literally, I got to the 10 mile marker and thought to myself - "Ten miles? Already?? This is great!!"
Every couple of mile markers (I think) there was water and Powerade. I kept up a routine of Powerade at one stop, water and gel at the next, and nothing at the next, then Powerade again, and so on - enough to stay hydrated, but not so much that I would develop a gut ache from too much sugar or fluids in my stomach at once.
And the spectators! They were great. I was so worried about my first marathon, but when I signed up for Twin Cities, the Team In Training staff assured me I had made a great choice. And now I knew why. First of all - spectators were EVERYWHERE. The Twin Cities Marathon has a contest for the neighborhoods on the racecourse for who can throw the best themed party, and people were CRAZY. They dressed up in costumes. One had set up a coffee bar along the street. People offered runners bananas, candies, everything you could think of. Whole sound systems set up with music blaring was not uncommon. They didn't care if you were fast or slow. They were just so excited that you were there! And then there were the purple and green Team In Training cheer squads. I couldn't believe I was part of such a cool program.
We rounded the lakes of South Minneapolis, waved to my colleague Kate and her husband who cheered us on, and eventually headed down Minnehaha Boulevard, which wound around to River Road along the Mississippi River. I saw my in-laws and Tony there, and our family friends Al, Jen, Lisa, Liam and Anna! There was even a whole banner with my and Jannette's name on it and our bib numbers made by my mother-in-law, Carolyn. How sweet is that??? I don't think I've ever had my name on a banner!
By that time, though, I was starting to feel the distance. Crossing the river at Franklin Avenue, I passed mile marker 19. And then began the climb.
Everyone says that mile twenty is the worst in a marathon. Well, I suppose that's not exactly true - everyone has their most difficult miles in a marathon. But the ones I've heard the most about are after twenty. You see, after twenty miles, you've exceeded your longest training run. It's kind of an unknown (or it least it was for me, who had never run a marathon before.) Mississippi River Boulevard, as the river road is known on the east side of the Mississippi, gradually goes upward before it hits Summit Avenue. In fact, the rest of the race route - from about mile 19 on - is pretty much uphill. Let me say it another way: after running 19 miles of not exactly easy hills along lakes in Minneapolis, you get to run six MORE miles almost exclusively up.
Around mile twenty, my left leg started to cramp. And not cramps I had never felt before - seizing was more like it. The top of my thigh, then the bottom, then my calf. I limped to the side of the road and stretched; the muscles loosened. I made it about two more miles - mile 21 or 22 - and they seized again, much worse this time. I didn't know if I could go much further, but as luck would have it, my running coach was right there. She showed me how to physically rub out the knots in my leg. I could run a little, but I had to do much more walking. Before, I was running a steady 10:30 minutes and walking two minutes. Now... I couldn't risk it. I ran as much as I could before my legs felt like they would give, then walked some more. Ran some, walked some more. Tried to run a block at a time, a minute at a time, whatever would get me going! I saw my 5:30 pace group and kept up with them for about a mile before they pulled ahead. Turns out they finished WELL ahead of the 5:30 pace, as I finished at 5:33.
I kept limping and running and limping some more. The spectators were so encouraging - if it was possible to run on cheers alone, I would have! I was determined, though, to RUN across that finish line, and that meant my legs had to be in good enough shape to try it.
Finally, I got to the Cathedral - mile 26. The Cathedral is on top of a hill and there was only a mere two-tenths of a mile between myself and the finish line. However, after all that running hills, my quads were completely shot - I wasn't going to be running down that hill, anyway! Finally, I got to the bottom of the hill. And I saw a throng of people and the finish line.
[ABOVE: Me going across the finish line - look for the purple jersey and black pants, with the arms up. You can also see my Team In Training colleague (I think it was Nolan?), also with a purple jersey but with black shorts, just crossing the first of the final two timing mats. He finished less than a minute later.]
I entered the finishing chute - surrounded by cheering spectators - exhausted but determined to start running before the finish line. And I did, finishing with my arms above my head. In my mind they were straight in the air, but the pictures were much more funny and a little sad - bent at the elbows, level with my shoulders, with only my forearms reaching up. But that's all I could do.
I received my medal, finishers shirt, and picked up my drop bag with my sweats, fresh socks, sandals and a jacket. From there it was to the Team In Training tent, where my picture was taken, I got to congratulate my other teammates, and got a spiffy 26.2 Team In Training pin. I went to find Tony and my in-laws, and saw our friend Lisa. We waited for Jannette, who I had lost in the first mile; she had tremendous knee issues that day. After she crossed the finish line, she told us she had been battling the bus most of the way to the end. I know I couldn't have finished with a similar injury. We got bags of ice for our knees, and eventually went to go eat some extraordinarily carb-heavy comfort food.
In the days after the marathon, I was hobbling around like I was eighty. I couldn't walk down stairs more than a step at a time for three days!
The marathon, though, was something I am so glad that I did. And you all made it happen! I couldn't have gotten nearly as far without your support, your encouragement, your contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission of helping those who battle cancer in their families and in their lives. At the risk of appearing sanctimonious, the honest truth is that I ran a marathon because I could; because unlike others, I am lucky enough to enjoy the physical health allowing me to train for an endurance race. So many others don't have that option. At the very beginning of the training program, I was convinced that the best I could hope for was finishing before the course closed. I was the kid who played sports in high school but hated the Presidential Fitness mile in gym. I thought that because I couldn't sprint for miles at a time I just wasn't destined to be a runner. But I decided to embark on this program go one day at a time, and if I got to a point where I couldn't do it... well, then I wouldn't do it. But I never got to that point.
I ran a marathon because I wanted to do something - a difficult challenge that would take discipline; something I had never done before and wasn't sure I could do - to honor the memory of my Dad and my Aunt Mickie. I ran because the folks battling cancer - those for whom several of my friends' contributions were given in honor of - were up against something much more substantial than any hill workout or track routine that my coaches could dream up (and believe me, they were creative.)
I've since completed another half marathon. In 2009, I ran over 600 miles - or the equivalent of running from St. Paul to Indianapolis, IN. I hope to complete two 5ks, two half marathons, and the Twin Cities marathon again in the coming year. It's going to be more difficult, in some ways - the first year is all about learning and new experiences. Now I have expectations, and the work gets that much more difficult. I've learned a great deal about myself, but even more about the network of folks that I have the privilege of calling my family, friends and acquaintances.
So many thank yous are due. Poor Tony had (has?) the yeoman's work of putting up with my running schedule, making running a part of our family budget, and attending those races in the early morning, among many, many other inconveniences. Thank you, sweetie. My in-laws John and Carolyn have been there for pretty much every race I've ever run, no matter what unearthly hour they start. Thank you to Jannette, who always encourages me to run, no matter how many times I fall off the wagon. And thanks to all of my friends, who offered so much encouragement when I wrote about training. Y'all are a pretty awesome bunch and I am fortunate to have you in my life. Thank you, so much, again.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Countdown to the marathon and thank you!
Well, folks, we're almost there. Here's what my preparations are looking like:
IT band update. You've heard me moaning about my IT band for about a month now. Well, some positive news: all that icing, taking naproxen, rolling, sticking and stretching is FINALLY paying off. My chiro saw that my left foot pronates like crazy, and suggested a special lacing routine on my shoes to leave plenty of room in the toe box (did you know that your feet swell when you run long distances? Sexy, I know.) but support the ankles. Well, it all came together. I ran pain-free with very little stiffness for the first time in three weeks yesterday. My IT band was a bit sore and stiff last night, but still - a major improvement. I feel more optimistic about race day than I have in three weeks. I think I might actually cross that finish line!
Leading me to my regular regimen this week:
- Twice a day, at least: work over my quads, glutes (to the extent possible), and calf muscles with The Stick; use the foam roller on my IT band. Stretch the glutes.
- As often as humanly possible: icing my quads and IT band. Probably extend to glutes where possible. No less than four ice packs involved in this effort - work and home.
- Drinking at least 64 oz and something like 80 oz of water every day.
- Grazing on high-quality carbs all day (okay, this isn't so bad.)
- Waking up at my race day wake up time to get the system *ahem* used to being up to speed at that time. (This has been less successful, as it basically means I have to go to bed by 9pm.)
Other preparation:
- I need a new album on my mp3 player. Been listening to mostly the same stuff since May (three new albums over that time) and I need something new!
- Decorating my race shirt. I want my name on my shirt (apparently crowds yell your name if you have your name on the shirt) but in a way that is not permanent (would like to use the race day shirt when I train after the race, but don't need to broadcast my name there!)
Thank you!
And the contributions keep coming in! A tremendous thank you to Ron M. for your contribution. The support from friends and colleagues has been truly humbling - you have all been incredible.
Onward!
IT band update. You've heard me moaning about my IT band for about a month now. Well, some positive news: all that icing, taking naproxen, rolling, sticking and stretching is FINALLY paying off. My chiro saw that my left foot pronates like crazy, and suggested a special lacing routine on my shoes to leave plenty of room in the toe box (did you know that your feet swell when you run long distances? Sexy, I know.) but support the ankles. Well, it all came together. I ran pain-free with very little stiffness for the first time in three weeks yesterday. My IT band was a bit sore and stiff last night, but still - a major improvement. I feel more optimistic about race day than I have in three weeks. I think I might actually cross that finish line!
Leading me to my regular regimen this week:
- Twice a day, at least: work over my quads, glutes (to the extent possible), and calf muscles with The Stick; use the foam roller on my IT band. Stretch the glutes.
- As often as humanly possible: icing my quads and IT band. Probably extend to glutes where possible. No less than four ice packs involved in this effort - work and home.
- Drinking at least 64 oz and something like 80 oz of water every day.
- Grazing on high-quality carbs all day (okay, this isn't so bad.)
- Waking up at my race day wake up time to get the system *ahem* used to being up to speed at that time. (This has been less successful, as it basically means I have to go to bed by 9pm.)
Other preparation:
- I need a new album on my mp3 player. Been listening to mostly the same stuff since May (three new albums over that time) and I need something new!
- Decorating my race shirt. I want my name on my shirt (apparently crowds yell your name if you have your name on the shirt) but in a way that is not permanent (would like to use the race day shirt when I train after the race, but don't need to broadcast my name there!)
Thank you!
And the contributions keep coming in! A tremendous thank you to Ron M. for your contribution. The support from friends and colleagues has been truly humbling - you have all been incredible.
Onward!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Twin Cities Marathon: Spectators wanted!
So, as you've probably heard, the Twin Cities Marathon is this coming Sunday, starting at 8am. The route goes from the Metrodome in Minneapolis to the State Capitol in St. Paul. I'm planning on running a 5:30 (five hour thirty minute) marathon, which translates to about a 12:35 pace (12 min, 35 seconds per mile.)
1 - 12:35 (12th St/Hennepin Av; 8:22am)
2 - 25:10 (Lyndale/Douglas Av; 8:35am)
3 - 37:45 (Douglas Av and Oliver Av?; 8:47am)
4 - 50:20 (Dean Parkway/Lake of the Isles Pkwy; 8:59am)
5 - 1:02:55 (West Calhoun Pkwy, between 32nd St & 36th St; 9:11am)
6 - 1:15:30 (West Calhoun Pkwy/Sheridan Av S; 9:25am)
7 - 1:28:05 (22nd/East Harriet Blvd; 9:38am)
8 - 1:40:40 (W Minnehaha Pkwy/Humboldt Av S; 9:50am)
9 - 1:53:15 (Minnehaha Pkwy/35W; 10:03am)
10 - 2:05:50 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Chicago Av; 10:15am)
11 - 2:18:25 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Cedar Av; 10:28am)
12 - 2:31:00 (Cedar Av S/E Nokomis Pkwy; 10:41am)
13 - 2:43:35 (E Nokomis Pkwy/52nd St; 10:53am)
14 - 2:56:10 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Nokomis Av; 11:06am)
15 - 3:08:45 (Godfrey Rd/Hwy 55; 11:18am)
16 - 3:21:20 (42nd St/W River Pkwy; 11:30am)
17 - 3:33:55 (West River Rd/36th St; 11:43am)
18 - 3:46:30 (West River Rd/28th St; 11:56am)
19 - 3:59:05 (West River Rd/Franklin Av; 12:09pm)
20 - 4:11:40 (East River Rd/St. Anthony Av; 12:21pm)
21 - 4:24:15 (East River Rd/Marshall St; 12:34pm)
22 - 4:36:50 (Summit Av/Cleveland Av; 12:46pm)
23 - 4:49:25 (Summit Av/Snelling Av; 12:50pm)
24 - 5:02:00 (Summit Av/Oxford; 1:12pm)
25 - 5:14:35 (Summit/Dale, 1:24pm)
26.2 - 5:30:00 (John Ireland Blvd & 12th St/Rice St, 1:40pm)
Spectator tips
- Participant guide
- Map of the course [squares on the interstate are ramps]
- Road closures
1 - 12:35 (12th St/Hennepin Av; 8:22am)
2 - 25:10 (Lyndale/Douglas Av; 8:35am)
3 - 37:45 (Douglas Av and Oliver Av?; 8:47am)
4 - 50:20 (Dean Parkway/Lake of the Isles Pkwy; 8:59am)
5 - 1:02:55 (West Calhoun Pkwy, between 32nd St & 36th St; 9:11am)
6 - 1:15:30 (West Calhoun Pkwy/Sheridan Av S; 9:25am)
7 - 1:28:05 (22nd/East Harriet Blvd; 9:38am)
8 - 1:40:40 (W Minnehaha Pkwy/Humboldt Av S; 9:50am)
9 - 1:53:15 (Minnehaha Pkwy/35W; 10:03am)
10 - 2:05:50 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Chicago Av; 10:15am)
11 - 2:18:25 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Cedar Av; 10:28am)
12 - 2:31:00 (Cedar Av S/E Nokomis Pkwy; 10:41am)
13 - 2:43:35 (E Nokomis Pkwy/52nd St; 10:53am)
14 - 2:56:10 (Minnehaha Pkwy/Nokomis Av; 11:06am)
15 - 3:08:45 (Godfrey Rd/Hwy 55; 11:18am)
16 - 3:21:20 (42nd St/W River Pkwy; 11:30am)
17 - 3:33:55 (West River Rd/36th St; 11:43am)
18 - 3:46:30 (West River Rd/28th St; 11:56am)
19 - 3:59:05 (West River Rd/Franklin Av; 12:09pm)
20 - 4:11:40 (East River Rd/St. Anthony Av; 12:21pm)
21 - 4:24:15 (East River Rd/Marshall St; 12:34pm)
22 - 4:36:50 (Summit Av/Cleveland Av; 12:46pm)
23 - 4:49:25 (Summit Av/Snelling Av; 12:50pm)
24 - 5:02:00 (Summit Av/Oxford; 1:12pm)
25 - 5:14:35 (Summit/Dale, 1:24pm)
26.2 - 5:30:00 (John Ireland Blvd & 12th St/Rice St, 1:40pm)
Spectator tips
- West River Road is known as a vacuum for spectators. If you can be there, your cheers will be greatly, greatly appreciated!
- Don't yell "You're almost there" until mile 25. When you're really tired, a few miles seems like a LONG way!
- "You're looking awesome!"
- "You can do it!"
- "Way to run!"
- "One stride at a time!"
- "Way to focus!"
- "Stay relaxed!"
- "Keep it up!"
- "Way to go!"
- Call out something unique about the runner (bib #, color or logo on the shirt, etc.)
5 days to Marathon: What have I gotten myself into, Race preparation, and Spectator's guide
Well, the marathon is on Sunday. My god that went fast. Knock on wood, the weather is supposed to be good - low 60s (forecast is saying 59 today), no rain. Runners dress for temperatures about 20 degrees warmer than it is, so an ideal running temperature is mid-50s. And of course no rain. If any of you paid attention to last year's Twin Cities Marathon (I surely did not), it was cold and rainy. Our current TNT head running coach actually ended up dropping out because she became hypothermic. So do your anti-rain dance - no rain please!
Our race will start at 8am. I am planning on running a 5 hour 30 min (running with the Clif Bar pace group, I think), which would make my pace about 12:35 on average, and possibly as slow as 13:10 per mile. The lowest pace a participant can go without getting picked up by the bus will be 13:44. I should be fine if my IT band doesn't act up. We'll see.
Now's the time: download and print your spectator's guide!
I am anxious - not only because it's my first marathon, but also I've had a nagging IT band injury that's prevented me from running my short workouts during the week (hello pool jogging, the most ridiculous-looking exercise you will ever do.) I've tried to keep up with the longer weekend runs, but have had to cut the last three short. Been to a chiropracter once on Friday, once yesterday, and will probably go once or twice again this week. Did I mention that while he's excellent and helped me a great deal, the office is not in network? Yep. Thank goodness for my Health Care Flexible Spending Account.
So my time these days is spent on the following priorities, at work and at home:
* Taking two to three naproxen a day to keep down swelling (race day, this will become acetaminophen, as I understand this is a better choice for the kidneys during the marathon);
* Icing my knee and left quad (I feel like such a jock talking about "icing my quad") as often as I can during the day - my chiro says apart from the anti-inflammatory properties of icing, this also acts as a "pump," telling fluids to leave when it's cold, and pumping them back when the ice pack is removed, accelerating healing);
* Drinking at least 64 oz of water a day;
* "Grazing" carbs starting on Wednesday;
* Getting up around the time I'll get up on Sunday all this week to get my system, ahem, going at the proper time. (Runners are a very, very earnest and upfront bunch.)
* Getting to the chiropracter at least one more time, and possibly two, before race day.
To add to that, I have the following regimen to squeeze in twice a day:
* Rolling my IT band with a roller (big foam roll) - also an awkward exercise
* Massaging the bejeezus out of my quads, calf muscles and IT band with "the stick"
* After 5 minutes of a warmup activity, stretching my IT band.
Off to my stretching routine. More soon!
Our race will start at 8am. I am planning on running a 5 hour 30 min (running with the Clif Bar pace group, I think), which would make my pace about 12:35 on average, and possibly as slow as 13:10 per mile. The lowest pace a participant can go without getting picked up by the bus will be 13:44. I should be fine if my IT band doesn't act up. We'll see.
Now's the time: download and print your spectator's guide!
I am anxious - not only because it's my first marathon, but also I've had a nagging IT band injury that's prevented me from running my short workouts during the week (hello pool jogging, the most ridiculous-looking exercise you will ever do.) I've tried to keep up with the longer weekend runs, but have had to cut the last three short. Been to a chiropracter once on Friday, once yesterday, and will probably go once or twice again this week. Did I mention that while he's excellent and helped me a great deal, the office is not in network? Yep. Thank goodness for my Health Care Flexible Spending Account.
So my time these days is spent on the following priorities, at work and at home:
* Taking two to three naproxen a day to keep down swelling (race day, this will become acetaminophen, as I understand this is a better choice for the kidneys during the marathon);
* Icing my knee and left quad (I feel like such a jock talking about "icing my quad") as often as I can during the day - my chiro says apart from the anti-inflammatory properties of icing, this also acts as a "pump," telling fluids to leave when it's cold, and pumping them back when the ice pack is removed, accelerating healing);
* Drinking at least 64 oz of water a day;
* "Grazing" carbs starting on Wednesday;
* Getting up around the time I'll get up on Sunday all this week to get my system, ahem, going at the proper time. (Runners are a very, very earnest and upfront bunch.)
* Getting to the chiropracter at least one more time, and possibly two, before race day.
To add to that, I have the following regimen to squeeze in twice a day:
* Rolling my IT band with a roller (big foam roll) - also an awkward exercise
* Massaging the bejeezus out of my quads, calf muscles and IT band with "the stick"
* After 5 minutes of a warmup activity, stretching my IT band.
Off to my stretching routine. More soon!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Cheer me on at TCM Oct 4!, thank you, hills, 18 miles and knee injury
Mark your calendars - cheer me on at the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 4, 8am! TCM is a mere 28 days away,. I'd love to see you at a Team In Training cheer station! I'll be finishing around 2pm. More details soon - they're all in my gmail which seems to be down now. Boo. Here are the details!
First things first - a tremendous thank you to fellow TNTer Jennifer Koper for her contribution towards my goals. Jennifer was a participant in the Lifetime Tri for Team in Training and a veteran of Team in Training. Thank you so much, Jennifer!
I haven't run for about a week - on my last long run a week ago, I had a lot of tightness and some pain in my outside left knee. I've been taking it easy, and even had a NP look at it when I was in for an unrelated condition (viral conjunctivitis - good times) - she suggested if it continues, to go into a sports medicine specialist. I am hoping that rest and naproxen will do the job, but I might end up in a doctor's office yet.
In any case, I went on a long-ish walk yesterday - hoping that lower intensity would be charitable to that knee. Today I ran hills - 1 mile warmup, 6 reps of hills at the cabin we're at (up and down BOTH sides of the hill - the lock and dam hills that regularly test my endurance in team runs are only ONE side of the hill!), and another mile cooldown. Still felt tightness in my left knee, and my PT friend suggested a technique to "recruit" my inner knee muscle to hopefully reduce the strain on the outer knee (thank you Jen!). I'll try that for awhile and see if it takes care of the problem.
My long run this weekend - 18 miles, which will be a new personal record - is scheduled for Tuesday. And next weekend, right before the Autumn Brew Review, I'll be completing a 21 mile run - the longest run in our training. Onward!
Thirty-five TNT athletes - including myself - will be racing on Sunday, October 4 and could really use some TNT fans out there to support them.Wow... it's hard to believe that the marathon is less than a month away. I am increasingly excited and especially anxious. I know that my training is preparing me, but at the same time... I've never done this before. I just started running in January, for heaven's sake. But I should remember that even in that amount of time I've come so far. I remember when we first started training on lock and dam hills - we did two and I was exhausted. Our last hill team training I did six!
Leukemia and Lymphoma staff are looking for people to man cheer stations and the finish area tent. If you can help, please contact Kim Mitchell. We will need help from 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. Please let her know what times you are available and preference of cheer station below. We need every station to be loud, crazy and fun! TNT gear is a must!!! Wigs, crazy hats, TNT logos, signs, cowbells, etc. - the more purple and green the better!
Mile 4.5 (Cheer Captain: TBD) - 8 a.m. Located in Minneapolis at the northwest corner of Lake Calhoun near the Calhoun Beach Club (corner of Lake St. & Dean Parkway)
Mile 10 (Cheer Captain: TBD) - 8:40 a.m. Located at the intersection of Portland Avenue and 50th Street.
Mile 17 (Cheer Captain: TBD) - 9:15 a.m. The TNT cheering section will be just prior to the official mile 17 water stop of the marathon. We will set up at about 34th Street and West River Road. Park along Edmund Boulevard. It runs parallel to River Road. You will need to walk down a small hill to get to River Road. (It is about 4 blocks south of Lake Street)
Mile 22.75 (Also Mile 6.75 of the 10 miler) (Cheer Captain: TBD) - 9:35 a.m.
This is our official Honoree Cheer Station. Located at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Snelling Avenue.
Finish Area Check-In (Captain: TBD)
First things first - a tremendous thank you to fellow TNTer Jennifer Koper for her contribution towards my goals. Jennifer was a participant in the Lifetime Tri for Team in Training and a veteran of Team in Training. Thank you so much, Jennifer!
I haven't run for about a week - on my last long run a week ago, I had a lot of tightness and some pain in my outside left knee. I've been taking it easy, and even had a NP look at it when I was in for an unrelated condition (viral conjunctivitis - good times) - she suggested if it continues, to go into a sports medicine specialist. I am hoping that rest and naproxen will do the job, but I might end up in a doctor's office yet.
In any case, I went on a long-ish walk yesterday - hoping that lower intensity would be charitable to that knee. Today I ran hills - 1 mile warmup, 6 reps of hills at the cabin we're at (up and down BOTH sides of the hill - the lock and dam hills that regularly test my endurance in team runs are only ONE side of the hill!), and another mile cooldown. Still felt tightness in my left knee, and my PT friend suggested a technique to "recruit" my inner knee muscle to hopefully reduce the strain on the outer knee (thank you Jen!). I'll try that for awhile and see if it takes care of the problem.
My long run this weekend - 18 miles, which will be a new personal record - is scheduled for Tuesday. And next weekend, right before the Autumn Brew Review, I'll be completing a 21 mile run - the longest run in our training. Onward!
Monday, August 17, 2009
48 days until TCM: 16 miles (and more) and new shoes
Well, race day is officially less than two months away. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. Training has been going well. I did finally defeat the evil plantar fasciitis, but not before it made a point of moving to my cuboid bone (who knew I had one), and then to my knee before it finally succumbed to a rigorous regimen of naproxen and coldpacks. One of the great things about living (and training) in a well-established running community are the community running stores and their fabulous workshops and deals for people belonging to running clubs. Marathon Sports on 50th and Penn in Minneapolis, for example, has a free sports podiatrist every first and third Tuesday on site to examine foot injuries and give advice. Hence, my icing and naproxen regimen for the pain on my foot. Hooray for neighborhood running stores! Dr. Langer told me to try a shoe insert if the pain didn't go away, but fortunately it has. Hooray!
Two Saturdays ago, I ran a new personal record: 15 miles! However, I got horribly lost, so I'm sure it was closer to 16 or 17 miles. My cartographical war with South Minneapolis continues. That old axiom about Minneapolis being easier to navigate than St. Paul? Complete and utter crap. I have never been so stymied by city geography in my life - this from a woman who has learned the nooks and crannies of St. Paul over the past ten years - trying to maneuver around South Minneapolis lakes.
On the bright side, though, it IS the longest I've ever run, and I felt pretty good - better than I did at the end of my 13 mile run a couple of weeks ago, anyway. This Saturday, our team run took us 16 miles. It was so hot, though, that I started getting dizzy around mile 14, so I just did the last two at home on the basement treadmill. Works for me. I felt something snap in my left knee, so let's hope that doesn't stick around.
I have officially put over 200 miles on my shoes that I just got in May. Team in Training advises us that shoes last about 400 miles, and that would put me square on my marathon date, so I bought another pair to alternate during this last leg of training. Onward!
Two Saturdays ago, I ran a new personal record: 15 miles! However, I got horribly lost, so I'm sure it was closer to 16 or 17 miles. My cartographical war with South Minneapolis continues. That old axiom about Minneapolis being easier to navigate than St. Paul? Complete and utter crap. I have never been so stymied by city geography in my life - this from a woman who has learned the nooks and crannies of St. Paul over the past ten years - trying to maneuver around South Minneapolis lakes.
On the bright side, though, it IS the longest I've ever run, and I felt pretty good - better than I did at the end of my 13 mile run a couple of weeks ago, anyway. This Saturday, our team run took us 16 miles. It was so hot, though, that I started getting dizzy around mile 14, so I just did the last two at home on the basement treadmill. Works for me. I felt something snap in my left knee, so let's hope that doesn't stick around.
I have officially put over 200 miles on my shoes that I just got in May. Team in Training advises us that shoes last about 400 miles, and that would put me square on my marathon date, so I bought another pair to alternate during this last leg of training. Onward!
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Hi, I'm Erin. I am committed to not only run a marathon but set a personal goal to