Marathon Mom

Sorry for my disappearance! 6 weeks of nothing, but lots has happened so here is a quick recap in pictures... Celebrated with my running girls! We changed out of running clothes and relaxed with food and drinks instead of miles for a change. O started skiing (and so did Matt and I!) We went to our first concert as a family...The Lumineers, so good! The boot making it's first appearance Celebrated my baby turning 7 while vacationing in Cancun! No pictures but I spent 2 weeks in a boot, out of running thanks to a stupid ankle injury from a slip on the ice while running. It coincided with Mexico so the only positive was no 19 mile long run on vacation! Things are all good now and it is back to running and regular mode... Back to regular running and life posting this week! More to come and even a race to report! What have you been up to lately?

Now 8 days post the marathon that got away the emotions have settled and I have become much more rational. I've gone through everything from I'm done with marathons to when can I sign up for the next one and I need to race as soon as possible. Last Thursday I had a talk with coach Nichole and looked a little into training and running. Here are my thoughts on the past year and training... The past year in pictures! The Good I kept lower mileage I took rest days from running and high impact cardio work Increased speedwork, tempo pace of long runs,  Easy runs were just that...easy! I stopped being afraid of running slower on long runs Strength training at least 3x per week and good core work I started the marathon slower than goal pace The hamstring gave me no issues! The Bad I never really took a break since TCM last October. In the past year I ran TCM in October 2015, New Orleans in February, 50K in April and then right back to TCM last week I started feeling...

Sorry, the month of September brought a lot of frustration and craziness with back to school, work and wrong injury diagnoses. Over the next few days I'll fill in the missing details and end with a fun giveaway before getting back to regular writing... I ended my posting by talking about my 20 miler, sore leg and icing. I skipped a couple key workouts due to pain but by weekend I typically felt fine again. Well I managed a 22 mile run with a little achiness but not terrible. This was a Saturday, I took Sunday off and walking around the State Fair. Off the 1st Grade I headed out for an easy run Monday (Labor Day) with friends and it hurt but I ran because I could (yep, stupid I know!) my gait wasn't too different. Come Tuesday, first day of school, I met friends for our annual school's back breakfast, volunteered at lunch and tried an afternoon tempo run. It all went downhill from there... I was liming from the start, I was limping. I made it to the end of the block...

The past few weeks I had a mild achy pain on my inner left calf, it would come and go. Some days it was bad, then it would be gone. I thought it was due to the Baker's cyst behind my left knee swelling more but who knows now. It was worse when I started running so I started with a walking warm up most days. Then it was fine. Until Saturday! I ran a pretty comfortable 20 miles with mid miles at marathon pace, leg was a little sore but nothing more than from normal running. Afterwards I jumped in the car and drove to watch Matt finish a triathlon and walking after was sore and got worse as the day progressed. I sat around on a rainy Saturday with ice, walked in a compression sleeve and took ibuprofen. Th pain comes and goes and messes with my brain...is it a stress fracture? The pain can be pinpoint at times, but diffuse, and it gets better with running so I think probably not. Is it a tendon? Maybe, gets better when loose, ice helps. Related the cyst? Another possible cause, but i...

Since last winter/spring I've been dealing with this weird mass that would come and go behind my left knee. In the beginning it never hurt, it was just odd and on occasion it came with a pressure. It went away much of the summer until August when it pretty much decided to make home behind my knee expanding and shrinking just to keep me guessing if it would be gone! Source I started my research and decided it must be a Baker's Cyst but how? These are usually associated with a meniscus tear, but I have no knee pain other than some mild aches sometimes after a long run. As I started back to marathon training I decided it was time to deal with this and know if there was an underlying issue. On one of the rare not busy days at work a couple weeks ago I headed over to talk with the ortho PA. On exam my medial line was mildly tender and some laxity. Then he noticed the large scar on my knee from last winter's fall. Remember my lovely long run in Mexico .. Unable to stra...

I’m not a walker, at least not today! There is nothing wrong with walking, I mean I love it! Taking O or Cooper out on a nice day or walking to grab a few things from the store. I love it when that is my intention. But as a rehabbing runner being called a walker sucks! Source   I’m sure some of bitterness is from the fact that the past couple weeks have been crazy and mixed in with that is that marathon training started and I’m limited. Don’t get me wrong I am happy that I have progressed like I have. 17 days ago I was cleared to run 5 mins and increase, well I’m up to 7 mins of running and it is pain free! Don’t get me wrong this is huge but I’m ready for more. I head back on Wednesday for a re-evaluation and further clearance. Tuesday I was out for a run/walk after a long, crazy work day when I needed to clear my mind and find clarity for a few things. Any runner knows this clarity only comes through a great run. Here I am out running, feeling good but watching my watc...

Marathon training after an injury can be both scary and exciting at the same time, the what ifs are awful. Will things go great? Will the injury come back? How much can I push myself? I’ve been on this injury/training roller coaster for the past two years and I want to be done, I want a smooth road ahead! Here are my tips to get through a success come back marathon training Accept that I probably won’t PR! I had originally this fall would be my big goal marathon but now rethinking my plans and may just aim for a BQ instead. But first we see what the next 16 weeks brings. Listen to my body! This is huge and something I (and most runners/athletes forget). We think we just need to push through, running hurts right?! Pain in the hamstring = stop! Start slow and build slow. Don’t expect to be where I left off preinjury. I need to learn my new comfort zone and work with this for now until I can progress. Fix the underlying problem. Now that the injury is gone the goal is fo...

4 weeks ago I got the news I already knew…no running! Over the past year I have been forced to take off 4 months of running, not good for me! I’m done with forced time off, I want to be smart and run well. Yesterday I met with the doctor again and he’s happy with my progress! I’ve gone from barely being able to move to using weight for exercises. I couldn’t walk pain free now I’m pain free 99% of the time! He cleared me to start more aggressive PT and they had a cancellation for yesterday so I grabbed it. My strength has gone from 2/5 to 4/5! With all this I have been cleared to run! Well only 5 minutes at a time but it is something. So I can do run/walk (elliptical) intervals to mimic the same running I’d normally do. I can slowly increase run time as long as I have no pain. They both think I should be fully running and strong in 2-3 weeks! The nitroglycerin worked! I will continue the nitro and have about 1 hour PT exercises daily. I have to roll twice on days I do cardi...

Well I survived another week of not running, almost there but this weekend hasn’t been nice to my body! Saturday the elliptical irritated my peroneal tendon, didn’t have an issue until after or I would have quit and then Sunday While carrying laundry I managed to kick a 25 lb weight with my bare toe and pretty sure it is broken. At least it is only my little toe. It was great to get in 2 tough spin sessions and more strength work. Monday:  P90X+ Intervals and BB Chest/Core Tuesday:  BB Legs and 1 hour elliptical Wednesday:  BB Back/Core and T25 Alpha Cardio Thursday:  BB Arms Friday:   BB Shoulders/Core and Spin Saturday:  2 hours Elliptical Sunday:  BB Chest/Core and 75 min spin class This is it my final week of no running, I’m being optimistic! I can not handle any more elliptical, not just mentally but my foot doesn’t like it. Everyone send my good thoughts tomorrow around noon! I’m hoping to start marathon trai...

I debated even doing a weekly post this week, I lost it…my motivation has disappeared, my acceptance of not running is gone instead these are replaced by frustration and lack of motivation for another minute of indoor workout! But would I be honest if I only shared my good weeks…I did manage to do PT exercises daily so that’s a bonus. The week ended with a glass of wine and wanting to run. A fried sent me this and I think I need it! Monday:  BB Shoulders/core and T25 Speed Tuesday:  Yoga and 1 hour elliptical Wednesday:  BB Back/Bicep and T25 Alpha Cardio Thursday:  BB Back/Biceps Friday:   BB Chest/Tris and Yoga T25 Core Cardio Saturday:  2 hour Elliptical and 15 min Rowing and core Sunday:  Work BB Back/Biceps and P90X+ Kenpo (Love it!) 1 hour walk with Cooper Today is a new week and a new month so I am focused I can do this. 8 days until I see the doctor! Monday:  P90X+ Intervals and BB Chest/Core T...

You know how earlier this week I had that great attitude abut not running...well it has disappeared! I'm now frustrated and annoyed as I pass the halfway mark of the 4 weeks off. This is my favorite time of year to run and I'm missing it. I'm tired of being stuck inside staring at walls or the TV while I do kickboxing, elliptical, etc. I'm tired of the elliptical...IT IS NOT RUNNING. Then I start t doubt my future as a runner, the what ifs come flooding in. Will I achieve my big goals or just keep sliding backwards, will I run a marathon again, will I heal from this. What if I don't?! You know how as a kid you'd just scribble, okay I've done this as an adult plenty of times when I'm stressed, frustrated etc. I'm in the midst of a huge decision and change ahead and I need a run to get to my best answer but I can't. The elliptical or a walk just don't provide the clarity a great head clearing run do. Deep breath and time to focus on o...

Another week of no running, busy work and now cold, rainy weather. I’m almost halfway through my 4 weeks of no running. Luckily this week I was able to focus on fun with friends and family; a few dinners out, AMR Book Party and more. I even tried a new workout and went back to spin for the first time in nearly a year! Our Memorial weekend has been full of rain and clouds meaning I got lots of organizing done. Last month I decided to quit being a Beachbody coach, I love the programs and have built a great collection for myself but I hate the way Shakeology is pushed as the greatest thing ever and can fix anything. I tried it, it is okay but I have found much better options that agree with my body much better. I will continue to share my experience with the workouts and how great those are and would be happy to share my opinions and advice on the workout programs if anyone has questions. Monday:  BB Legs (this is the last time since 1 hour of legs causes too much hamstring p...

Right after O was born I won the book Run Like a Mother to be honest I have still only read parts, not because it isn’t a good book but because I can’t sit long enough to actually read a book! A few months ago when I heard the authors Dimity and Sara were heading to Minneapolis to promote their new book I was excited. Last night was that book party and so much fun to go with my mother runner friends (Moms Run This Town). At first I thought it would just be a fun night out with friends; dinner, wine and running…what more do you need?! We all left with a great bag of run goodies including 4 pairs of socks!! All my goodies! Then Kara Thom read her essay from the new book Tales from a Mother Runner and I related a little too much! She spoke on her life as a runner and Ironman and then how injury after injury changed her perspective. Next she mentioned her background as a dancer and how the damage probably started years earlier and now I was really wondering if I had written thi...

Last Wednesday my week took an unwelcomed yet not fully unexpected turn when I was told no running for 4 weeks by the sports MD. So with this my plans were changed bigtime. O had her dance recital on Saturday and it was amazing to see the difference in the past year, she has a blast on stage, knows her dances and looks natural on stage. Monday:  BB Chest/Tris and Core Tuesday:  BB Legs and 6 mile run Wednesday:  BB Back/Biceps and core Thursday:  4-6 mile run and BB Shoulders kickboxing Friday:  BB Cardio in morning, Shoulders and Abs evening Saturday:  Run and yoga , 1:36 elliptical and 15:00 rowing Thank you Netflix and old Friends episodes Sunday:  8 mile run 35 min walk with Cooper and BB Chest/Tris Post walk treats! This will be week 2 of no running, it has been 6 days since I last ran and I think the toughest part is that my leg feels pretty good. I’ve done nitroglycerin since Friday and wow even at a super low dose I h...

Well I had my appointment with the sports doctor on Wednesday and it went as I had hoped it wouldn’t but had thought it might. Still dealing with this hamstring that started 2 (maybe even 3) years ago. I stupidly kept running, took a few days off, felt better, hurt again..you get the cycle! Finally last spring I got smart after terrible pain at Boston. I took 6 weeks off worked with PT, strengthened my core and glutes, worked with a postural restoration specialist, worked on changing my gait. I changed my focus to yoga, strength training and more cross training. I decreased my weekly mileage and running days and had a decent although not great marathon last fall. Then somehow did something to my foot/ankle and took another 6 weeks off and once back trained for my last marathon 3 days a week. Despite all this 6 weeks before the race the hamstring was angry! And we all know how the marathon went … After a full assessment he doesn’t think my back is causing any of the issues,...

What a day and not what I had expected! Lots to think about in the next nine days (more realistically 8 days). The big questions that embraces my mind is whether to run or not. Not happy today! For the past month my hamstring has been achy, nothing big but achy and tight off and on. I decided to fix it early this time rather than waiting years like in the past and scheduled an appointment with PT. Tuesday I ran 10 miles with 8 tempo pace, or that was the intention. I tried to get at 7:30 pace and no go. Slow down to 8:00 pace and fine. Ugh! I continued to run and fond anything under 7:50 and pain. I finished at a slower pace and immediately scheduled with my chiro. Wednesday brought graston and acupuncture and then came Thursday morning and the PT eval. After 1 ½ hour eval and the PT needing the think aloud to figure out my complexity I was swimming with information. Our plan is intense hamstring eccentric exercise. The Good My core is no longer a useless weak part a...