Week Six

My new night brace-- much more comfortable

July 21- 27th

Tues- 45 minutes on exercycle

Wed- 45 minute spin class

Sun- 13.1 mile NYC half marathon

Not sure how to classify the cycling. A 45 minute run for me is about 5- 5.5 miles, so I guess it is equivalent to that. I did make it through the half marathon, but am continuing to have pain. Read the details of the race here. My time was 2 hr and 7 min. Not bad considering I was on crutches a week prior, was having heel pain during the run, and had to stop once at mile 5 for diarrhea! I was really hoping to break 2 hr, and probably would have had the circumstances been different. I am grateful that I was able to finish. We will see what the next 2 weeks brings for me in terms of pain.

Week Five

July 14- July 20th

Mon- -4 mi
Wed--5 mi
Thurs--2 mi plus boot camp
Sat-- 3 miles---> my heel went out!

14 miles :-(

My plantar fasciitis had been pretty stable. On Friday I went to a push therapy session and it felt great after! Better then it had felt in weeks. I woke up Saturday still feeling really good, so decided to go for an 11 mile run in preparation for the NYC half marathon the following week. I had essentially no pain when I took off running. Then 3 miles into my run I felt a sudden sharp burning pain in my heel. I stopped and tried to stretch it out. I tried to run again and I could not. I called Pete and he had to come pick me up. I was unable to bear weight and had to use crutches the rest of the day. I iced it, took lots of motrin and started some prednisone.

On Monday I went first to a highly recommended sports medicine doctor. She told me I partially tore off my plantar fascia, no running for 3- 4 weeks, keep treating it the way I am. She also admitted that feet were not her specialty and that I may want to check in with a podiatrist. I left her office in tears. I then called the podiatrist. He said I did not tear it, it was just very inflamed. He gave me a cortisone shot (ouch!) and told me if it felt better, I could run the half marathon still. Sigh... What to do. It now feels 90% better and I am walking without a limp. Of course I want to believe the podiatrist. I will play it by ear. In the meantime I am icing, taking motrin and wearing a splint to bed at night.

Looks comfy huh? It sucks. I found a more comfortable that I am going to buy tomorrow and try out.
Wahhh!!!!

Week Four

July 7th- 13th

Mon--4 mi
Wed--5 mi
Thurs--3 miles plus boot camp
Sat--10 miles

22 miles

My time for the 10 mile run was 93 minutes. I feel like I should be going faster then I do. It was a very hilly run though, so maybe that is the deal. My heel did not bother me at all during the run, but I felt it after. If I can keep the pain at this very tolerable level I should be fine! Pete went out and did the exact same run when I got home but did it in 72 minutes. Stinker! Only 2 more weeks until the NYC half marathon. Yay!!

Week Three

June 29 th- July 6th

Tues--4 mi
Wed--5 mi
Fri--1.5 mi
Sat--8.5 mi

19 miles

Friday, July 4th was our neighborhood fun run, hence the very short distance. I am quite a competitive person so I felt the need to run that as fast as I could. As I was turning a corner I turned my ankle and did one of those slow motion stumbles, but actually caught myself before hitting the pavement at a full run. I did have a sore and slightly swollen ankle for a few days after, but nothing that prevented me from continuing to run (and kick butt in my age category! So what if there was only about 10 others in my category. It is the win that counts!).

I felt great on my 8.5 mile run and completed it in 75 minutes.

Week Two

This week my friend Suzie was in town. She joined me on my 6 mile run. It was beautiful and we had a great run!

Week 2 (June 23-29) --19 miles
Mon- 4 mi
Wed - 4 mi
Fri- 5 mi
Sun- 6 mi

I felt great on the 6 mile run. No hip pain at all! But now I am having some mild plantar fasciitis pain in the right heel. Ugh!

Week One

My love of running started in 1985. My family had just moved from Washington down to Southern California. It was the summer before my senior year in high school and I did not know anyone. I began to run with my aunts who were runners and did many 10k races those first few years. I have been running off and on since, but mostly on. In all that time I have never run a marathon. I have never even had a desire to run one until this year. This year I will running the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on October 19, 2008.

I have just completed my first official week of training. One down, 17 weeks to go. I just completed a 2 week running hiatus in attempt to get over a hip problem I have been having. Between the running break and physical therapy, I am feeling pretty good!!

Week 1 (June 16-22)

Tues-- 4 mi
Thurs-- 3 mi
Fri-- 5 mi
Sun--5 mi

17 miles