Packet Pick-Up

As aforementioned, I have a half-marathon Saturday morning. Today is packet pick-up, so I decided to test the healing process and jog over to the NYRR office (I have not run since Sunday). I was disappointed to feel virtually no improvement, and as such decided to only run to the office, about a mile, and walk back. I immediately popped a motrin and iced when I got home. 

RICE

Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

Repeat. 

Check It

In my escalating frustration with this blasted injury and a looming marathon date, I decided to take action not chances. So in 5-8 business days I will be the proud owner of a bike trainer! And I got it at 60% off with free shipping. Aaaahhh, it's like it was meant to be. My husband and I have wanted one of these for years, so I know we will get a lot of use out of it even after the marathon. So excited!

(PS - I did not  run today...again)

Rainy Days

are meant for splashing in big puddles in your rain boots with your one year old in his rain boots! (plus after a long run Saturday and a race yesterday, I figure I deserve a day off)

5th Avenue Mile

This race is always so much fun, racing down 5th avenue in New York City as fast as you can in the gorgeous Fall weather. I had already decided that it would be more beneficial to get my long run in yesterday than to perform well in today's race, so I wasn't expecting a PR. In fact I was bracing myself for an 8 or even 9 minute mile (PR of 6:56). I ended up running a 7:24! I will take that considering I ran 18 yesterday and am nursing my leg. Plus it was so fun to have my son there and for us to watch my husband run his heat. Love this race. 

Yield

Good news first: I was able to complete 18 miles of my scheduled 20 under a less than desirable physiological condition. Bad news: said condition is not improving and forced a pedestrian 10:56 pace for the run. I am trying to stay positive and appreciate that I am not completely sidelined with my injury, I mean 18 miles no matter the pace is nothing to snub! The root of my frustration falls mainly in that I have already put in so much work and was just beginning to see fitness gains when I got injured. Yes, I hear you. It's my own fault that I forgot to change out my shoes. 

Here is the recap: when I first started my run, my leg was causing excruciating pain that I thought would force me to quit after only a few miles. Thankfully, the pain in my right leg actually subsided after about 4 miles and I felt comfortable enough to press on, but carefully. I had to yield to my leg today in order to get as many miles out of it that I could. My pace suffered but, again, I can't complain about completing 18 miles. Here are the splits I managed to remember as I looped around the park:

1st loop (5.4 miles): 60:00 (11:06 pace)

2nd loop (9.4 miles): 1:42:24 (10:53 pace)

3rd loop (14.6 miles): 2:36:32 (10:43 pace)

4th loop (18 miles): 3:16:53 (10:56 pace)

I was also scheduled for a 'fast finish' to this run, which typically means you pick up the pace in the last 1-2 miles to simulate running on very taxed legs at the end of a race. I wasn't able to perform a fast finish for the last 1-2 miles, but gratefully I was able run about a 9 minute pace for the last half mile. It was painful, but I tried to imagine myself at the end of the race and wanting to have a kick. 

I have a half marathon race next week, so I will be making decisions about how much I run on a daily basis in hopes that I will be able to complete the race. My goal is to run the race at my marathon pace to give it a test drive...if I am feeling well enough (fingers crossed)

Off in Hopes

I am completely taking the day off today in hopes that I will be able to complete my 20 mile run tomorrow. I have been icing and taking motrin every day; some moments or stretches of time I see improvement and others I do not. The stone still has not passed but I am actually feeling better in spite of that; perhaps it just shifted to a position by body finds more tolerable. In any case, I am grateful that it is not bothering me now so I can focus on my run tomorrow. Time to turn in.

Worse

Feeling worse today, both in terms of my leg and the kidney stone. I was only able to run over to the NYRR offices to pick up my race packet for the 5th Ave mile on Sunday; a total of 2.5 miles. I am beginning to think I am in trouble both for my long run Saturday and my race Sunday. Frustrated does not even begin to describe how I am feeling. Cursed comes to mind...

Regression

I thought I was out of the woods with my right shin/calf, but todays run (or job more aptly put) was proof that I may have done some actual damage. I went out for an easy 4 miles (actually scheduled for 8-10) and only completed 2.7. Very acute pain in my right shin...oh yea, plus I am trying to pass another kidney stone. Great. 

Say What?

After all of the time off required lately, I looked at my schedule last night and realized I get today off. Legitimately. I guess with my 20 miler on Saturday, that is over half of my mileage for the week. Nice. This will be bonus time for healing...my right leg really started bothering me at the very end of yesterday's run. Today's agenda, therefore, is: icing, motrin, repeat.