Week Thirteen

Sept 7- 13th

Mon-- 8 mi
Tues-- 5 mi
Wed-- 5 mi
Fri-- 17 miles

total-- 35 miles

Whew! 17 miles! I really felt great. My time was 2 hr 46 min. I felt even better than last week when I ran 16 miles. My foot did not bother me at all on the run, the best it has ever been. I did have to stop at a porta potty , but no other issues.

Unfortunately my foot started hurting a bit the next day. I am approaching the 3 week mark since my last cortisone shot, so am concerned that it is wearing off. I just need to get through the next 2 weeks of training, then I back down on my mileage. If I can just get through that...

Week Twelve

The trails I most like to run


August 31- September 6

Mon--5 mi
Tues-- 8 mi
Wed -- 25 min of hill training (2.5 mi)
Fri -- 16 mi

total--31.5 miles

I have had to change my training schedule slightly to do my long run on Fridays. Vincent has soccer every Sat at 9 am and I do not want to miss that. I thought about doing it on Sunday, but I don't want to be stressing about it all day on Sat, so Friday it is.

My 16 mile run went so much better than last week! I did my 8 mile run twice, that way I could refill my water bottles at home. As an aside, Pete was not waiting outside for me, so I was afraid he would worry that I didn't make it back. So I left my empty Luna Moons wrapper on the porch for him to find. Did he even notice it? No. He did worry and took off in the car looking for me. He went a different route though so never found me. God forbid I ever get kidnapped and try and leave him a clue! Anyway, I felt pretty good after my run, which I did in 2 hr and 36 min, 1 min faster than last week. At least I am consistent! No diarrhea ( I took imodium) and only minimal foot discomfort. Yay!! Next week, I am scheduled to do 17 miles.

Week Eleven

August 25-31

Mon-- 4 mi
Wed-- 7 mi
Thurs-- 4 mi
Sat-- 16 mi!!

total-- 31 miles


Yay!! I survived the 16 mile run. Barely. It was really tough. My foot held up fairly well, which was good. I ran out of water at about mile 10 and was so thirsty. All I could think about was how thirsty I was. I finally came across a lawn with the sprinklers on, and filled up my water bottles. Next week I will go out and hide some extra water on my course. My time was 2 hr 37 min. I took imodium before my run and it worked.


"What's wrong with Mommy? She won't get up!"

On Monday I got my third and final cortisone shot. My podiatrist is concerned that my "cuboid bone is now slipping", whatever that means. What it means is that I now have to lay down the big bucks for some custom made orthotics. The problem stems from my flat feet which grew and got looser over the course of having 4 babies. Just one more thing I can blame on my kids, along with flat boobs, darker hair, and varicose veins on my girly bits! Thanks boys!!


Getting casted for my orthotics. Now my podiatrist thinks I am a total loon for taking a picture while getting casted.

Week Ten

Aug 18- 24

Mon-- 4 mi
Wed-- 6 mi
Thurs-- 4.5 mi
Sat-- 14 miles

total--28.5 miles

The good news I felt MUCH better on the 14 mile run than I did at the NYC half marathon. I found something called Luna Sport Moons which I ate half way. So much better than the Gu or Sports gel which makes me want to vomit. My time was 2 hr 15 min. I really am disappointed at how slow I am.

Unfortunately after my run I had several hours of what my friend Suzie calls "side effects". I won't be vague. It is my blog therefore no such thing as too much information! I had horrible stomach cramps and diarrhea for several hours. What is up with that?!! I actually googled it and found all sorts of information on the so called "runner's trots". Remind me again why I'm doing this?!

On the foot front, I decided to put my SuperFeet orthotics back in my shoes. They were really bothering me (my Aunt Margie stated the sensation was like walking around with a tampon half hanging out. Yep, they are that irritating!), so I had called the podiatrist about some custom ones. I was told they ran about $500! Sooo, I am trying to make these things work. They left blisters on the arch of my good foot. Maybe my arches will toughen up. The plantar fasciitis is bothering me a little, but is tolerable. My podiatrist wants me to have one more cortisone shot, so I am scheduled to get that on Monday. Fun!!

Week Nine

August 11-17

Tues -- 6 mi
Wed -- 5 mi
Fri -- 5 mi
Sun -- 12 mi

total-- 28 miles

Overall I am feeling good. My heel pain is better, but not gone. I can feel it while running, but it is tolerable and does not affect my gait. For the most part I do not feel it while walking, unless I am walking bare foot on hard floors. I am afraid that when the cortisone shot wears off in the next week it will get worse again. Time will tell.

My 12 mile run I did in 1 hr 53 minutes. I had to estimate the mileage based on time since the batteries on my garmin are low and it is not tracking the mileage right. I ran out for 60 minutes then turned around. That is a bit slow for me, but the last 20minutes was uphill so I figured my pace was much slower than usual. If anything I may have run a bit more than 12 miles. I felt good the rest of the day, not sick like after the NYC half marathon! My long run next week is supposed to be 14 miles. I hope I can do it!!

Week Eight

August 4- 10

Mon-- 75 min on exercycle
Tues-- boot camp
Wed-- 20 min exercycle and 45 min spin class
Thurs--boot camp
Sun-- 11 miles!!!

total run- 11 miles

I started off the week with lots of cross training. My heel was a bit better, but I could still feel it while walking. If I felt it while walking, I was afraid to even consider running. On monday night I was doing a simple stretch and felt it pull again. I was in tears! The next morning it felt better, but not as good as it had felt. I went back to the podiatrist on Tuesday. He gave me another cortisone shot and said I might even need a third (and final) in a couple of weeks. Have I mentioned those things hurt?! By Saturday my heel felt great, but I was afraid to go out and run on it. Sunday it felt even better, so off I went. I felt great and strong while running! It felt so good to be out on the road again. I could feel the heel, but it was not bothersome and did not affect my running. In NYC I felt myself rolling on the outside of my foot while running. That was not the case at all this time. For some reason I did feel some pain in my right groin that started less then a mile into the run, similar to the pain I had before. Not sure what that was about. I completed the 11 miles in 1 hour 43 minutes. Not fast, but I did it!! I am crossing my fingers it continues to hold up and that my hip issue is not returning.

Week Seven

July 28- August 3

Wed-- 60 minutes on exercycle
Fri--- 45 min spin class
Sun-- 60 min on exercycle


After the half marathon, I was pretty sore all over. My foot did hurt more, but then quickly went back to the baseline pain I had prior to the run. Thankfully it does not seem like I messed it up more by running in NYC. I am hoping 2 weeks off will take care of the problem, then I can get back on my training schedule. I don't think I can afford to lose more then that. Riding the exercycle at the gym is incredibly boring. I am not sure how much of that I can take!!