Marathon Mom

I am now 15 days post marathon and have gone through all the emotions of happiness, disappointment, anxiety of what if I can't get faster, excitement of what is next, and more. Marathon training is all consuming and to lack the end results you hoped for comes with all the emotions of any big event. Things are even tougher when it is completely out of your control. I feel that I had great training, yes there were days I struggled but overall it went well. My best training in years, I was hitting paces I hadn't hit in years, I wasn't in pan during and after every run, I was recovering great, I even kept up with the strength training. Yet, the factors out of control make or break the day, for me this was a lovely GI illness 3 days before the big race, meaning I was dehydrated and consumed less than I needed to be fully fueled and ready to run. It took me time to accept that this wasn't my failure at the race but instead I couldn't have changed it (accept maybe keepin...

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...

Another week of proving to myself that I can still stay active without running. It has been 3 weeks and I am finally starting to walk with no pain without the boot, although long days at work remain painful even with the boot! Fitness Accomplishments Morning workouts 6 days P90X3 x 7 days, I finished Week 9! Elliptical x 2 Bike x 3 Non Fitness Accomplishments Stuck with meal plan this week and make good choices at restaurant except the pumpkin ice cream I splurged on Submit IRB paperwork for thesis, done! O and I had a blast at Barbie Dreamhouse complete with lunch and mommy sneakily buying her a Christmas present! This week marks the start of the holiday season as we are heading to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Saturday and possibly putting up our tree. Time to figure out Thanksgiving meal plans. Fitness Goals Morning workouts daily P90X3 x 7 days, I’m on Week 10! Swim XC Ski or Snowshoe (I need new warm boots first for snowshoeing, suggest...

A little more randomness and some complaining for Thursday... I hate DST! We are now on Day 5 of way too early wake ups. Normally Monday and Wednesday I am awake for woke before 4am but get to sleep the other days until at least 5 or later, not this week. Someone has decided that 4:15 is now morning. Three long work days with minimal sleep mean a tired unproductive me. The worst part this is even more then 1 hour early, she normally sleeps until 6 or 7. Usually we have a day or two of bad sleep then all is fine, but this is too much! Besides the sleep issue I hate the lack of daylight in the evening! This week has been rough. I started training a group for a New Year's 5K, many new runners and we are now starting runs in the dark. How discouraging for new runners. And thank you to the city for removing street lights! I can't even come up with a good reason for that. My headlamp gives me a headache. As I said above the lack of daylight means need for headlamps, which ...

A little randomness for Thursday, first my exciting news... A few weeks ago I took the RRCA coaching course and yesterday passed my test! Just waiting on the official word that they received my information and then I will be an official RRCA Certified Run Coach! Next I need to pass my NASM CPT test (next month). I am so excited to finally add this certification and utilize all my new knowledge in coaching. Starting in November I will be starting a new adventure and coaching a 5K group (much different then my usual half and full marathon runners). I am excited for this and being part of the huge iniative of Commitment Day ; a New Year's Day 5K in cities throughout the United States. Want to join all the runners/walkers? Use code CHA0070 for $5 discount and access to free group training at many locations.   What better way to kick off the New Year! What is your Commitment to better health?  Now one last request: There is a week left in voting for the Top Mom...