Pep talk from the Mizz

This morning I got a pep talk from the Mizz.

This is what they said to me:

Natalie,
Put me on & lace me up.  This is ridiculous.  You don't have to go far.  You don't have to go fast.  You just have to go.  I know you're discouraged from your 11-day running hiatus, but you kind of couldn't help it.  So just get back on the horse and go for a run.  We have a half marathon this weekend.  There's no pressure other than putting me on and going out there and having fun.
So, let's do this.
Thanks,
Mizz

Surviving the Storm

I have to admit - after the last 12 weeks of training, I thought I'd be so much more excited for my first half marathon than I'm feeling right now.  It's crazy how quickly things can change when you unexpectedly take 7 days off from training.

Last Saturday morning I boarded a flight to New York City for a quick 48-weekend trip to visit my two best friends.  We hadn't seen each other since February and I found a super cheap flight.  I knew I was going to be missing my long run on Saturday, but I ran Friday night and I was going to be back on Monday so I wasn't concerned about missing any training.  Did I know the biggest storm was heading up the East coast on its way to NYC and still go anyway? Yes.  But I'm an east coast girl and I've been through a lot of hurricanes.  I've also been through a lot of hurricane prepping.  I went anyways. [obviously.]

Saturday & Sunday in the city were amazing, and my flight home to Nashville was cancelled well before the storm hit, so I knew I'd be there a couple of days.  A couple of days turned into 7 days, but really, I was excited about getting stuck and having all of that extra time to spend with my friends.  We lost power on Monday in Manhattan, but didn't have any of the flooding.  (We also only had 1 flashlight, no back-up batteries and were mostly concerned about getting wine & beer than non-perishable food.)  We literally got through it day by day.  3 days straight without power, hot water or cell phone service.  We finally made it down to Brooklyn on Wednesday where there was power and got to spend the last couple of days at least with power & showers.  Needless to say there was no running those 7 days.  There was also barely food.  There was A LOT of drinking.

I made it back to Nashville on Friday and I'm glad to be back but also still going through a lot of emotions of what I have just gone through - I don't know if you're allowed to have post-partum after making it through a hurricane...but I might have that.  I know I'll feel better, just trying to get back to a "normal" routine.

Normal is now finishing up training for the Hard Rock Half Marathon.  Yesterday I grabbed my ipod, set it for 1 hour and headed out for a power walk.  I knew that running wasn't even something I should attempt, so I didn't.  I had a great walk on a beautiful, warm Saturday.  I am feeling SUPER nervous for Saturday's half but also know that it's about the experience and I know it will be a good one and that I'll go out and have a good time doing what I love doing.

I do want to know what everyone's half routine is -
   What do you eat the day before?
   What do you eat / drink the morning of?
   Do you stop and get any of those gel things along the way?
   What miles do you get water, and what miles do you get sports drink?

6 day countdown begins!

Also, if you are able, or feel so inclined, here's a link to the American Red Cross website to make a donation to Hurricane Sandy disaster relief - there truly aren't words to describe what it's like up there right now.  OR even easier, you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Runner's High

My #1 source of information Urban Dictionary defines "Runners high" as: When the endorphins from running kick in and make you feel as though you have done drugs. You become happy, everything is funny and you can't stop laughing! It makes you love to run.

Saturday morning my Nashville running buddy & I set out early in the morning for 10 miles.  10 MILES.  I wasn't even really scared to be honest.  I knew we could do it.  We had a great route planned taking us through some Richmond-esque neighborhoods and having a buddy to hit this huge training milestone with made me so excited.  Mile 4-5 was a little rough followed by feeling AH-MAY-ZING miles 5-8.  Seriously we got to 8 and I might have said out loud "I could probably do 13 today!"  Then miles 8-10 tried to murder me in cold blood.  As always I blame this on the topography of Nashville.  We had to walk up some wicked steep hills but WE DID IT!  We got back to our cars and were just giddy.  I felt like frolicking!!

Then my RB got a weird look on her face as she was walking to her car.  Then she stopped.  Then she said, "My car was broken into."  The biggest runners high I've ever experienced was quickly diminished by this:

And this:

Which was then followed by that "everything is funny and you can't stop laughing" feeling.  I mean, WHAT A JERK!  Nothing was stolen.  In broad daylight, someone just took a hammer or ax or something to her window...just to be a jerk.  Really??!!??  Things got even funnier when the Police showed up and RB had to explain why her tags were expired and she didn't have her drivers' license with her...whoopsie! [Insert lots of giggling on our parts here.]

I start tapering now in prep for the Nov. 10 Hard Rock Half.  2 more medium length weekend runs then race day.  Can't decide if I should try and go up or stick with the plan I have....I think I'm going to stick with it.  Eye on the Disney prize, this first half is for training & giggles! :)

Problems ahead

I woke up on Monday morning and actually got out of bed, saw that it was a BEAUTIFUL morning, slightly chilly and decided it was perfect for a run.

I made it a half mile, good pace and then my left knee started to hurt. Now, leading up to this run, I've had some pain in my IT bands and know that I can run through it and it'll get better. So I trudged on and hoped my body would warm up. Just before I hit the 1 mile marker I had a shooting pain in my left knee - not entirely in the same place as the IT band pain. I tried to run through it but it was getting worse. I stopped, rubbed it out and then started back - only to have it start up again. I did this for about .65 miles - stop, start, stop, sit, start and then said F IT. Turned off my iPod and walked back to the house.

I called my Sports Dr. as soon as I got back and left a message that I need to get in to see her as soon as possible. I went in after my morning meeting and Dr. Stadler took a look and listened to what I had been feeling, when, etc. First look would suggest that I've either inflamed or torn my Meniscus in my left knee. She explained that the Meniscus is designed to take pounding but not necessarily rational pounding. As I run on streets in downtown Richmond or working out with free weights, it's likely that I tweaked over and over again my knee causing this. I appreciate Dr. Stadler because she's not quick to suggest surgery and really really listens to you and what you're saying. What's interesting about her is that she's progressive in her approaches which I'm just not used to (and honestly, shame on me and the medical profession for that). I'm so stranger to knee pain and surgery so I generally know what questions to ask - but with her - I just sit there and stare at her and am thankful that she walks me through the pros and cons. She's not suggesting knee surgery for the time being. She wants to see if she can repair it more naturally first. So yesterday she injected my knee with sugar water which causes inflammation and thus increasing the blood flow and healing to the area. This form of treatment is still relatively knew and not entirely recognized by traditional orthopedic surgeons. However, after doing my home work here's what I know: the side effects are incredibly minimal especially where the knee is concerned and the principal is sound in terms of sugar water causing inflammation. The debate is whether or not you believe inflammation, increased blood flow can help increase healing or not.

I got back Thursday to check in with her and talk about next steps. She gave me a brochure called "Regenerative Injection Therapy" and asked me to familiarize myself incase we go down that road. It's another alternative to surgery and uses your own blood (from your arm) to extract the platelet rich plasma and then inject it in to my knee which causes a strengthening of your tendons, ligaments and tissues.

Stay tuned! My ability to run in Nov appears to be slightly up in the air but I remain hopeful until told otherwise!! And honestly, as long as I can run in February - I'll be ok :)

Public Service Annoucment

Dear blog readers and fellow bloggers -- If you have not let me know what color tutu you'd like, if you'd like one, then you'll be getting an orange one with lime green feathers :)

JK!
Also, wish me luck!  Tomorrow is the Army Ten Miler! Good luck on your weekend runs, loves!
Also, also -- why isn't AKP blogging?

10 Miles!!

10 miles down - whew! Interestingly, I found out that the likely cause of my pain on the outside of knees is due to being tired and losing my form. Women especially (so I'm told) when they get tired will cross the plane with their feet. Imagine a line in front of you that starts in the middle of your body, when I'm tired, my right foot crosses over the line and lands on the left side of the line etc. The outer tendons and muscles end up having to over extend to compensate and then get strained and sore. Tid Bit of the day :)

The Long Run: 60 Miles Later

I don't have a lot of perspective about 99% of the time, especially if I'm in a bad spot.  At work we call them White Girl Problems, but sometimes they seem like the worst thing ever:  I don't like my lunch today, I HAVE to run 10 miles to get trained up for my vacation run in February, etc.  But every so often, I see something that gives me a little bit of perspective and helps me get through the "long" runs.
Like when my little sister walked 60 MILES FOR BREAST CANCER.

I'm sure Little A (who is also an SD marathon finisher and my running inspiration) will fill us in on all the details in between working her bomb job in Annapolis and getting ready for her fall nuptials.  As I followed along on her 60 mile journey over three days the only thing I could think, after she is seriously my hero, is I will never, ever complain about having to get my long runs in ever again.