It's supposed to be 53 degrees today so the hope is to run outside! However, I have to call in to work in an hour or so to see if I have to go in, which could squash my dreams of 3 miles outside.

If I don't work, I'm also going to head to Scheels to check out sports bras. If they don't have anything other than the CW-X, I'm going to order something online. Tho, that makes me nervous because what if it doesn't fit? What if it doesn't hold the girls down?

sigh.

real quick...

So I just got the mail and a flier for the first annual Stillwater Marathon came! It is 3 weeks after I run the half in Lincoln, so I am considering running a half then too! Another race to add to the schedule! I think it would really help me from getting deterred when I move up to MN for my rotation.

Anyhoo, yay!

cool = coughing

Had 2 miles to run today. Went to the gym after class, at 3:00. Place was packed. It's a popular time in the gym, apparently. All the treadmills were taken and I wanted to run then so I could get home and chill for awhile before studying. So I headed to the gym. Twenty-four laps later and just over 18 minutes later I was done. Walked and stretched. Shins were a little sore before, and oddly enough, my ankles were hurting a little. Made stretching slightly difficult. Eitherway, got it done and out.

Haven't been able to go look at sports bras. I am hoping to on Friday. Also I learned about SI belts today. Well I already knew about them, but we talked about them in class too.

Future blog post? Probably.

Run on!

UPDATE: I realize the title doesn't make sense because I didn't explain it. The air in the gym was cool and whenever I run in cooler air I cough for about three hours.

Run in circles...

Quick update, because it's 1) LATE!! 2) I have to be up EARLY!! and 3) I'm having a boring day.

Ran 3 miles on the TM today. Simulated slight hill at mile 2 (just like Lincoln) again. Made it 3/4 mile before I got bored as shit and went back to 0% and upped the speed. I can't wait for it to warm up. Running on the treadmill is so boring. I went through my notes for tomorrow's test in under 20 min, which screwed up my vision/proprioception/awareness/ability to run looking up and out the window. Focusing on the papers in front of me whilst running is hard to transition into looking ahead when running. I liken it to looking at the ground when running as compared to looking ahead. I cannot switch between the two without feeling like crap for awhile.

Anyhoo, back to the run today. I had a little acid shoulder (left this time) and my SI keeps getting knocked outta whack. I think I will have to dig out my SI belt to wear when I'm running from now on. Also, my sports bra (yeah the one and only) is getting stretched out. Not in the chestage region, but the straps are a little. Aka, the girls are bouncing more than normal. May be contributing to my finicky SI. So I am headed to Scheels tomorrow (or Dick's - haven't decided) to see what I can find. If I go to Scheel's I'll just get another CW-X bra (it's the only one in the whole store that fit last time...well fit is a relative term. I digress.). If I go to Dick's I'll have to explore options. Either way, I'll let you know how it goes.

I have 2 miles tomorrow, on the treadmill as snow is in the forecast and I don't feel like subjecting my lungs to that just yet. I'm an L7 weenie when it comes to running in the cold. Which doesn't make sense, but oh well. I plan on running it tomorrow morning around 10AM, before my exam at 1. Wish me luck!

Oh wait, no one probably reads this :)

Run on!

Meg 

Forgot to Post Yesterday..

Yesterday (Thursday) it was 50 degrees outside! I was scheduled to run 3 miles and when I got out of lab at 3:00 I headed outside. I ran from school 1.6 miles (guesstimated wrongly), turned around and headed back. It was gorgeous out and the run was awesome. I completed the run (including 2 stoplights I waited at forgetting to turn my watch off) in 29:33. It was quick and my calves were killing me. I jogged the warmup but walked the cool down. I stretched the crap out of my legs, iced my calves and felt better. Then I went to write down my time on my poster of scheduled runs and realized I was supposed to run 2 miles. Instead I ran 3.2! I was excited, because I didn't get bored at all. And today, it's snowing. Blast Nebraska and its rollercoaster weather!

Back has been just fine, just the occasional zinger. I threw my SI a little off whack but it hasn't bothered me too bad. Le sigh.

Calves were still SOOOO SORE today, stretched as much as I could and I am so glad I have a couple days before my next scheduled run.

See y'all on Sunday! Run on!

Shins! Incline! %#@!

Well, on to week 2 of half marathon training. I figured out the hills for Lincoln:

Mile 2 - LONG hill (1.5 mi)

Mile 4.5 - harder hill (1 mi)

Mile 8 - small short hill

Mile 9 - HARD short hill

I've heard horror stories about the hill at mile 9. Sounds super. Anyway, I added incline to my treadmill runs early. If I can't run outside up and down the glorious hills of Omaha, I will just have to do it that way. The longest I've run on an incline is 1 mile (thus far) and today I upped the incline to 3%. Whew! It was tough. My shins were screaming and I am now experiencing my first pain secondary to the girls. SI pain. It didn't last though, I stretched out my back a little extra and it really helped. The problem is, when I have short runs I usually do them at lunch. Then I go back to class. Today I ran my tail off and then went and sat in a chair for 3 hours during my neuro lecture. So I needed a little extra stretching afterward. Anyway, if anyone has some SI pain here's a handy stretch that might just help! Lie on your back (supine) and pull your knees to your chest one at a time. Hold the knee to your chest while your other leg is extended flat (as you can) on the floor. Hold 30-45 seconds, or whatever's comfy. After doing both legs see how you feel.

(disclaimer: this is not a substitute for medical advice from a medical professional seen in person. PLEASE! If you feel you are seriously hurt, consult your doctor or PT.)

Anyway, off from running tomorrow, so I will probably hop on the bike at the gym. During lunch as always. I have 3 exams next week so I will definitely be pressed for time. Eek!

Oh, everyone check out Daily Mile. I signed up last week and it's a great online way to keep track of your training and connect with others running in  your area. I also was contacted by Just Finish! (the starter followed me on twitter), which is a really nice website for meeting other runners and getting support from other runners who just want to finish their races! I know that I mainly compete against myself (and the occasional runner I reallllly want to pass) and so this is a great site.

Ok, I'm done rambling on. I better get back to my homework.

Me on Daily Mile

Me on Just Finish

Me on Twitter

Please find me and run on!

So here's what I have plans to run in 2009 and 2010:

Lincoln Half Marathon

Lincoln, NE

May 3, 2009

They don't have a picture of it, so it's linked to the website. The race is the first Sunday in May. I started training last week, starting quite slow. So far so good. There is a huge hill (or so I hear) at mile 9 so I've been adding increases in elevation already. This will be my second half marathon. I am running it with some girls from my class and my friend Kim, who is going to drive in from Denver to run too. It should be a great time! We get done with finals on April 30th and the race is May 3rd. I will then leave for my rotation in Minnesota the next weekend.

Bill Seymour Half Marathon

Grand Island, NE

August 29, 2009

This was where I ran my first (and only, so far) half marathon. I volunteered at this race as a high school cross country runner and it was so cool to finally compete in it. That was back in 2006. I plan on running again this fall. I will have all summer to compete in miscellaneous smaller races and build on my Lincoln half to prepare for this. It will be my third half.

Then comes the biggie: my first full blood marathon.

P.F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Marathon

Phoenix, AZ

January 17, 2010

I will only get to attempt this marathon if I get a rotation in Phoenix or Tucson. I am really hoping I get it, this marathon sounds so awesome. Music all along the course! This will be my first full marathon, and my friend Keri said she'd come cheer me on. Of course, I know one other person in the area but he won't be getting a personal invite. If he's there, he's there.

Regardless, it sounds like a really good time.

The Sedona Marathon

West Sedona, AZ

February 6, 2010

This Marathon is actually happening about a month after RNR, so I figure I might as well maintain and try to run this one too. I will still be there, so what the hell. We'll see if my knees survive Phoenix first, however.

And finally, my first marathon (the one I couldn't actually run in - stupid knee!)

Grandma's Marathon

Duluth, MN

June 19, 2010

Sorry the picture is so ghettofied but they didn't have it as a single file. Oh well.

So I wanted to run this marathon in 2007, but I hurt my knee when my long run was at 14 miles. I was so pissed. I actually ran 14 miles and then I couldn't run 100 feet without collapsing. Next year is my year. There is a huge chunk of missing time between Sedona and Grandma's (4 months) so maybe I'll find something to do in the mean time.

Anyway, keep checking back for updates on training and results. I will do my best to post when I can, but as always, PT students are quite busy.

Run on people!

Meg