Shins and Shoes

So this is the first official week of training. I need to get better about blogging and logging. I ran this week but I'm having a lot of discomfort in my shins. I got the new Hurricanes (11) and I think that they are the culprit. I had bad shin splints when I started running, which I attributed almost exclusively to over-pronating. The Hurricanes were the only shoe that I had total comfort in. So, I'm pretty bummed that the 11s don't seem to be giving me the same support. I had to go through SO MANY shoes to find the right one. I am going to try to work on my gait, especially make sure I'm not heel striking too much. If that doesn't work, I may shell out the big bucks and try the Newton shoes. And I mean BIG bucks. Fortunately, they have them at Luke's Locker up here, so hopefully I can give them a test run first.

I really hate starting training with pain.

Haha - a whole month?

Ok, so I HAVE been running - I promise, just not logging faithfully, or blogging for that matter. AK had her birthday party last weekend and it was a crazy nightmare weekend and preceding week (making many batches of allergen free cupcakes, having out of town visitors, ordering cake wrecks.

But this morning the weather was a very pleasant 73 degrees, maybe a little humid but ok, and I was able to go out for a run. Going out for a run is much more inspiring than watching TV on the treadmill. I ran almost 4 miles of gentle inclines. It was harder than I expected. I'm really not looking forward to training. My hip and lower back has been hurting a lot, so I think I'm going to go to the doctor. I hope it isn't my ligaments again.

Other business news - I would like to add some interesting things to this blog that might actually inspire OTHER people to read it. With AK starting school next week (I'm not hiding my glee very well), I will have some extra time on my hands to cogitate on some interesting material. Maybe I will list local resources, races, and running news. Hmmmm... I know no one is following me right now, but if you stumble across here with some ideas, let me know!

Already getting tired of this...

Today I was so tired. Granted it is always bad at the end of the week - I'm run down simply keeping up with life. These children of mine wear me out! Anna Kathryn had an allergic reaction to a corn muffin last night and was a grump all day today - which is what I'm attributing it to. When she is like that, it just beats me down. I ran a mile and a half and walked another 20 minutes just watching TV. I blew off body pump which is bad since I didn't go last week. BAD ME! It is getting hard with Eva's nap schedule too. I hope I can work out a better routine before I have to get really serious.

In other news, I have come up with what I think is the perfect post-run stretching routine. It is based on yoga sun salutations. I find that a lot of the poses provide really great stretches of the calves, hammies, and IT band. It doesn't really do a lot for your quads, but you can just stretch those with the whole heel to butt thing. Really, if you do a couple of sun salutations, triangles and proud warriors, you can strech most everything.

Here is what I do - 1) Stretch up to the ceiling (Urdhva Hastasana) 2)reach down and touch your toes or floor (Uttanasana) for a really good stretch in the hammies 3) step back to a lunge with left leg (stretch calves) 4) then down dog 5) lunge with the right leg 6)proud warrior one 7) triangle bending forward to touch the floor 8) proud warrior one on the other side 9) lunge with other leg 10) down dog again or touch toes again. Probably doesn't make a lot of sense if you can't see it. But it works for me!

Happy trails!

Fellowship on the Trails

I ran outside on Saturday which was nice. I did a little more than the 3.5 miles that Hal called for. It was pretty freaking hot though. 82 degrees with 82% humidity. But running outside gives me time to think, and just generally have time to myself, which is so difficult with two little ones underfoot all day.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy the fellowship of the running path. When you pass people walking or running on the many paths out here, you get smiles, waves and friendly hellos. This morning I ran past a woman running the opposite direction I was, but apparently on the same loop. When we passed again, she had stopped to walking but she said to me "you are doing well!" - I assume referring to the fact that I was managing to continue running through the steam. That little comment was so encouraging it gave me the motivation to run the whole route without stopping to walk. I mean, I couldn't let her down! It is amazing how a little off-hand remark from another runner can be all the encouragement you need to make you want to be a better runner! So to all my fellow runners, "YOU ARE DOING WELL!"

Day Four - part II

So I just mapped my round on LogYourRun.com (very cool feature BTW) and the route I took today was almose exactly three miles. Looks like I still have a good feel for distance and pace. Even if it is S-L-O-W.

Day Four

Ok, so more about the plan I'm using. I decided to use Hal Higdon's Novice I plan. It is pretty easy and doable. I used it for Paris, and I didn't have any problems. Well, except the whole hip pain thing.

It doesn't start for a couple of more months, so in the meantime, to ease up to the milage I'm using one of Higdon's "Spring Training" plans. I hate to admit I'm using the Novice spring training plan, too. Well, I am doing other things, too, like Pilates and Body Pump, so its not like I'm ONLY running 1.5 and then calling it a day.

This morning I ran outside for about 33 minutes. I don't know if I did the full three miles or not, but it was probably pretty close. It was harder than I expected because it has been a while since I have run outside and it was pretty darn hot. Tomorrow, I'm doing 1.5 and body pump. Body pump kills me! Stacey is killer.

So I ran my first run- a whopping 1.5 miles. I'm a champ. I'm doing the higdon novice I plan. More later... (i'm out celebrating with beer now.)

Day One

So, I have been registered for the Houston Marathon on January 17, 2010. D-Day. Note, I did not say "I" registered - I WAS registered by my well meaning husband. He has far more faith in me than I do. So, here we go.

This year's marathon seems to be impressive already. The race upped its registration by 4,000 entrants to 22, 000 - which sold out in less than 48 hours, far exceeding the organizer's expectations. So, here I am, holding a golden ticket and fearing the road ahead.

So if you know me, you know I have two little girls - LITTLE girls, one is turning 3 in a month and one is 7 months. So me training for this is an uphill battle of getting back in shape in general. Not to mention managing both girls while training.

This will be the second full marathon I have trained for, but if I complete it, it will be the first. I trained for the Paris marathon a few years back, but then I had a doctor tell me not to run because of tears in tendons in my hip. They pretty much just cause a lot of discomfort in longer runs. So we will see how that goes.

I am going to use Hal Higdon training plans, they tend to be pretty easy to follow and I have had success with them in the past. More about that tomorrow.

Wish me luck everyone!