Columbus Half Marathon Training: Week One

July 5, 2016July 5, 2016Leave a comment

Base miles are finally over and I’m finally back on a training plan! I’m excited to have structure back in my running and my workouts will be focused on the goal of running Columbus half in October. I’ve made a few changes for this plan, mostly because I’m still a bit worried I could fall back into the injured category. Here’s what’s different this time around.

-Back to 16 weeks. I’m spreading out my mileage more than my sweet spot of 14 weeks. Hopefully I won’t get burnt out with the longer training schedule.

-Running 4 days a week. I’d prefer to run up to five days, but I’m keeping mileage a bit lower this time, and adding more days to recover in between workouts.

-Lower mileage. I’ve always done well on the lower end of mileage, but I’m keeping it a bit lower than normal. Lower mileage plus fewer days running will hopefully keep me injury free.

-Yoga, lifting, and ab work. The more cross training I do, the stronger I hope to be.

Here’s what I have planned for the next 16 weeks.

Columbus_Half_Training_-_Google_Sheets (1)

And now to week one recap.

Monday: 4 Miles + Abs & Hips

Tuesday: 0

Wednesday: 3.25 Miles (1 mile w/u, 2×800 w/200 recovery, 1 miles c/d) + Abs & Hips

Thursday: 6 Miles

Friday: 0

Saturday: 3.5 Miles

Sunday: 0

Total Miles: 16.75 Miles

Monday was the first day of the training cycle, and typically I use Monday as a rest day. Because of some travel later on in the week, I had to get my run in then. Lucky for me, it was incredibly hot and still 90 degrees when I got home from work. But even though it was toasty, I still managed to stay just above 9:00 and my legs still wanted to go faster. Thankfully I had sprinklers to keep me cool along the way.

Too hot.

Wednesday was the first track workout of the cycle. I ended up at a new track near my parent’s house and ended up having the whole thing to myself. It was nice to focus in and not have any distractions. Starting from scratch, I did just two 800’s, and ran 3:51 and 3:47. It’s been a long time since I did 800’s, but they felt a lot better than the 400’s from a few weeks ago.

All by myself…Until the fox showed up.

I ended up running my long run on Thursday. Typically my long run would start at 8 miles, but I decided to start at 6. I met up with Mo and we ran a loop through her neighborhood. It was pretty hilly, and my legs were a bit tight. But I still managed to get it done in a decent pace. It wasn’t my best run, but they can’t always go as planned.

We traveled to Houston over the weekend so I moved things around to do my recovery run on Saturday. And I’m so glad I did. I went out with Cori and her pup and we headed to Hermann Park. I was definitely not prepared for the heat and humidity. As early as 7am it was already 85 and felt like 90+. I felt like I was wearing heavy fleece and had a harder time than usual breathing. I had to take a few walk breaks, but we managed to get 3.5 miles in.

Smiling, but sweating to death.

So beautiful, yet so humid.

It was a good first week of training. I got all my workouts in and even though my mileage was lower than I typically run, I hit all my miles. I’m hoping to stick to the plan as much as I can, but also know that things may happen and if I feel any ounce of lingering injury then it’s time to back down.

I’m excited to get back into training and see what the next 16 weeks hold!

Weekly Workouts Recap

June 20, 2016Leave a comment

Another week of base building, which means another week closer to official half training. This was a really good week and I think I’m right where I need to be for fall racing.

Monday: 0

Tuesday: 3.5 Miles + Abs & Hips (1 mile w/u, 4×400 w/200 recovery-1:47, 1:39, 1:33, 1:35, 1 mile c/d)

Wednesday: 3.12 Miles + Abs & Hips

Thursday: 0

Friday: 0

Saturday: 4 Miles + Abs & Hips

Sunday: 4 Miles + Abs & Hips

Total: 14.62 Miles

Tuesday was my first day back on the track in a long time. I kept it easy with 400’s but it was still a tough workout. I was hoping to get down to 1:30, but it was still a bit out of my range. But with some more work, I should be able to get there.

Back on the track!

Wednesday was a surprisingly good run. I set out for an easy recovery run, but my legs had other plans. I didn’t focus on my watch, but instead went by feel. Apparently the track workout the day before woke up my legs because I had two sub 9:00 miles for the first time since January. I ended up with 9:06, 8:29 and 8:35 and it felt great!

Saturday’s run was miserable. I pushed off my run until 10 and it was a hot mess outside. I went over to Buckeye Woods, hoping for some shade. I only managed 4 miles, but I somehow got them done.

A little bit of shade for my sanity.

Sunday I met up with Mallory at Mugrage. We did a few paved loops and a trail loop for a total of 4 miles. My body was a little sore, but nothing too extreme to worry about. Thankfully it wasn’t too hot yet, so it wasn’t as miserable as the previous day.

Overall, another good week of building base. This next week will be my final base building week and then I’ll start training again. I just need to start on my training plan….

Weekly Workouts Recap

June 13, 2016June 12, 2016Leave a comment

Another solid week of base training is complete. I’m starting to see my fitness getting closer to where I used to be, but I still have a ways to go. Thankfully, I have a few weeks until training starts, so I’m not too worried yet.

Monday: 0

Tuesday: 4 Miles + Abs & Hips

Wednesday: 0

Thursday: 7 Miles + Abs

Friday: 0

Saturday: 3.3 Miles + Abs

Sunday: 0

Total: 14.3 Miles

Tuesday’s run was a nice surprise. It was cooler than what is has been, which I think helped to get me to some faster paces. It also helped that I ran with Jennifer, Sheri and Cynthia, and they pushed me to go a bit faster than what I have been running. We ran around Lake Medina and a few surrounding streets. I felt good, but also felt that I was working hard. Mile splits ended up at 9:49, 9:11, 9:13 and 8:57. Finally seeing progress!

Post run views, can’t complain!

Thursday I met up with Michelle and Mallory and we ran the full Lester trail. The heat was back, but we held a nice conversational pace, keeping things easy. I ended up with 7 miles, a bit more than I had planned, but that just meant I had my long run for the week complete. The only thing I didn’t enjoy were the random attacks of Cicadas.

Saturday was a hot run! I didn’t started until after 9am and it was already 80 degrees. I decided to stick close to home and ran the developments. Within the first mile I was already a sweaty mess. I kept the miles slow and easy around a 9:30 pace. I did stop from time to time in the shade just to catch my breath.

Working on that tan 😉

I had hoped to get another workout in on Sunday, but the day just didn’t work for me. I felt good this week and I think I’m starting to adjust to the heat as well as get back in shape. With every run I’m getting closer to where I was and where I want to be.

Weekly Workouts Recap

May 23, 2016Leave a comment

I have to admit that my running has been a bit sporadic lately. Not because of injury, but mostly because of a crazy schedule. Without actually training for anything, my motivation isn’t always there. But I’m also not stressing if I’m not running a ton of miles. Here’s a look at the past week.

Sunday: 3 Miles + Abs, Hips & Arms
Monday: 0
Tuesday: 4 Miles + Abs, Arms & Hips
Wednesday: 0
Thursday: 0
Friday: 0
Saturday: Crescent Moon 5k
Sunday: 0
Total: 10.1 Miles

Sunday was my first run in a week, I felt a little out of shape, but not horrible. I took it easy on the treadmill while everyone else was battling whether up in Cleveland. I think this was the only year I wasn’t jealous that I wasn’t running.

Tuesday was almost a run I could have gone without. Mallory and I met up at Lester and just weren’t feeling the run. We did a walk/jog for 4 miles. Between her leg cramps and my cramps, it just wasn’t our day.

I had planned to run on Wednesday, but I had a borderline migraine so I knew I was out for the night. Again, since I’m not in training, it’s ok to skip a workout or two.

Saturday I ran the Crescent Moon 5k. I ran with my sister in law Nicole, and we took it as a fun run. A recap will be up later this week.

Overall it wasn’t a horrible week, but I know I need to start adding in some speed work and increasing my mileage.

The biggest thing I dealt with this week was a time change in my schedule. I started a new job, so now I’m getting to work an hour earlier, so some exhaustion is definitely slowing me down. The plus side is that I get home an hour earlier, so now I feel pretty spoiled getting home before 5:30. It will take a few weeks to get used to, but it’s going to make a world of a difference for my overall health and happiness.

Weekly Workouts Recap

May 9, 2016Leave a comment

The past two weeks of workouts haven’t been as scheduled as I had hoped, but I was still able to get out there and work on my base. I’m trying to be conservative when it comes to my running because the last thing I want is another injury. But with each run, I’m becoming more confident and know I’ll get back to where I was pre stress fractures.

Week of 4/25

Monday: 0

Tuesday: 0

Wednesday: 4 Miles

Thursday: 0

Friday: 0

Saturday: 3 Miles + Abs, Arms & Hips

Sunday: 0

Total: 7 Miles

I met up with Mallory on Wednesday at Mugrage Park to run a few loops. We did a few loops of the paved path, one loop of the trail and went out into the development nearby. We kept an easy pace, especially after the trail loop, which was partially covered in mud. It was my first run after the race last week, and I felt really good.

Saturday I kept my run short. I would have preferred my second run of the week to be during the week, but I ended up with something going on every night after work. I stuck to the treadmill and tried to work on my form a bit. Another easy run with no pain.

A relatively easy week, but another week of no pain and more mileages to add to my belt. I ended up closing out April with a total of 24.85 miles. It’s not a whole lot, but after a few months of no running, I’m happy with any amount of miles I’m able to run!

Week of 5/2

Monday: 0

Tuesday: 4 Miles + Arms

Wednesday: 0

Thursday: 0

Friday: 0

Saturday: 3.1 Miles

Sunday: 5 Miles

Total: 12.1 Miles

Tuesday I met up with Mallory and we ran on the indoor track. We kept it at an easy pace and lifted once we were complete. I felt a little off the next day, but that usually happens any time I end up running on the indoor track, too much of one direction and turn isn’t the best.

Saturday was my first solo run outside. I didn’t want to focus on pace, I let my legs lead the way and I would check on pace just once in awhile. I felt like I was working, but not too much that I wouldn’t be able to continue past the first mile. I stayed close to home and ran the surrounding developments. I ended up with a 9:37 average pace, and ended up negative splitting the entire run. It’s humbling to see what used to be my easy recovery pace, is now my current pace. Even though this is still about a minute slower than where I was, it’s nice to see that I’m getting faster than when I started recovery.

Fastest run since January! Progress!!

Sunday I met up with Mallory again and we ran with her dog Walter through Buckeye Woods. We kept it at an easy pace and ran through the marsh, the woods and a little of the paved path. There were a few times in the woods that the run felt like hard work, but there were also a few hills in there as well.

Perfect day at Buckeye Woods.

These past two weeks I’ve been able to continue working on my base and hopefully each week I’ll be able to add a few more miles. I’ve still got a long way to go, but as long as I keep working and I don’t push myself too much, then I should get to where I used to be by mid summer.

Coastal Delaware 9k Recap

April 27, 2016Leave a comment

Over the weekend, I ran my first race of the year. It was much shorter than I had originally planned, but I’m thankful I was able to run at all. It was exactly three months from my first day of absolutely horrible shin pain to the day I crossed the finish line in Dewey Beach, Delaware. Pain free, and wearing this biggest smile I’ve had in months.

Pre Race

When we planned this trip back in the winter, we decided we’d make the 8 hour drive. As it approached on Friday, it seemed a lot more daunting. We left Friday night after work, and made it about 3 hours before we decided to stop for the night. We picked up on Saturday morning, and made the rest of the drive through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Thankfully the packet pickup and expo didn’t start until 2:00pm, so we didn’t have to rush.

After a few stops for food, gas and outlet shopping, we made it to Dewey Beach. Packet pickup was held outside of The Starboard restaurant, and gave the event a bit more of a beach feel. Packets came with our bib, official race shirt and a custom Tervis cup.

Beach town packet pickup

Pick up your packet, head to the beach!

From here we stopped at the beach, dropped our bags off at the hotel and went to find something to eat. We had been given recommendations to stop at The Lighthouse, but after stopping in, it wasn’t a place we wanted to test the day before a race. Instead, we crossed the street to the Rusty Rudder, and after a few turns down a few hallways, we found the pasta dinner and buffet that was set up for the race. The food was great and we had some amazing views of the sunset.

The views are ok…

The only thing left for the night was to lay out our outfits and try to get some sleep!

Race Day

We woke up between 5:15am and 6:00am on race day. The marathon, half and 9k had different starting times, which was nice because I got to sleep in a few extra minutes. Michelle and Mo left early to catch the bus to the start, while Mallory and I took our time getting ready before heading outside to watch the marathoners run by. Luckily we were able to see Michelle and Mo run by before we headed down to the start for our own race.

Looking goo at mile 1!

The bus line was quick and fairly empty, and the ride last 5 minutes at most. We were dropped off at the start, and had plenty of time to use the porta potties, relax and get in line.

Not your typical Ohio start line

At almost exactly 8:00am, we were off. We didn’t really have a plan for the race, other than to take it easy and walk if we needed. I had hoped to stay under and hour, but wasn’t going to put too much pressure on myself.

The first mile we ran along the coastal highway from the watch tower to a little outside of Dewey Beach. We had some views of the water, but it was mostly filled with high grass and some houses. I felt pretty good, but noticed I had some tightness in my left calf. It eventually went away and didn’t bother me the rest of the race.

Strong start to the race

From here we continued on into town seeing more shops and restaurants, showing it’s true colors of a little beach town. We also noticed how flat the course was, almost too flat. Which, had we been in perfect shape, it would have been perfect for a PR. We also had a bit of a headwind, but with the sun out, it kept us cool and wasn’t too much of a bother.

Mile 1 – 10:23

Mile 2 – 10:29

We pulled off the Coastal Highway and now we were running down Silver Lake Drive. We were able to run next to Silver Lake, which was absolutely beautiful, and picked out a few houses we wouldn’t mind buying. We still felt good, and didn’t have a need to push it at this time. Runners were starting to spread out, but it was also starting to warm up a bit.

Halfway there!

From here we turned into a housing development and ran through a few different streets. We had a bit of shade from time to time, but nothing too helpful. We didn’t see too many people outside, but noticed a lot of cars and furniture on the side of the streets.

Mile 3 – 10:32

Mile 4 – 10:20

We turned back onto the Coastal Highway and knew we were in the home stretch. I grabbed a water and took a few sips at the water stop around mile 4. It was starting to warm up and I didn’t want to be too dehydrated.

We ducked off the highway again and back into some more housing developments where we finally had a decent amount of shade. Then suddenly, the first place half marathoner passed us. He was the only one we saw, and wondered where everyone else had gone. (He ended up finishing in 1:20, 6 minutes ahead of second place).

Mile 5 – 10:20
Once we hit mile 5, I knew we only had about .6 left to go. We were out in full sun and all of the tan colored buildings looked the same. Finally we ran past our hotel and all that was left was a turn to the finish. I couldn’t help but get excited and had the biggest grin the whole way to the finish. I think I almost started to tear up a bit as well.

All smiles into the finish

I was so excited to cross that finish line that I completely forgot to stop my watch, so I have no idea what my last split was. We grabbed our medals and water and headed to the beach. It was still relatively empty so we had plenty of room to spread out. Luckily they had a computer out where you could check your time, I finished at 58:33, meeting my goal of under 1 hour!

I ran the entire race without walking or stopping and I had no pain at all. Despite the fact that I was running a 10:27 pace, I could not be happier. A month ago, I had no idea if I’d be able to run, let alone run the entire race. I’m far from PR shape, but I’m running again and building myself back to where I used to be.

Finished!

Medal and beach, all you need post race

Overall, I think this was a great race. The packet pickup was easy and went fairly quickly. The race was very well run and according to Michelle and Mo, the full was the most beautiful race they’ve run. After the race, they had a huge party on the beach which included music and a full buffet of real food including chicken, pasta, salad, bread deserts and a few others. Plus, every runner was able to get three beers for free after the race.

I would highly recommend this race, especially since they did such a wonderful job and it was only their second year. The full and the half are a bit expensive, so signing up early is key. The 9k option was a lot cheaper, and almost an automatic PR for everyone since it’s not a common distance. If the drive wasn’t so far, I’d consider doing it again in the future.

Results:

Official Time: 58:33 (First 9k, automatic PR)

Overall Place: 223/517

Female Overall: 142/375

AG 25-29: 16/27

Weekly Workouts Recap

April 25, 20161 Comment

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a weekly recap of my workouts, but I’m happy to say that I’m back to running and building up my base. I went back and forth on whether or not I would publish these, but I think it helps to keep me accountable, as well as making sure I’m building a strong, healthy foundation before training starts for fall races.

This was my first full week of running. The previous week I had two workouts that consisted of running/walking increments and then I was finally able to switch to running full time. Although I don’t consider the weekend part of last week, because of how important it is to my recovery, I’m adding them this one time.

Saturday: 2.12 Miles + Abs, Arms, & Hips

Sunday: 2.63 Miles + Abs, Arms, & Hips

Monday: 0

Tuesday: 4 Miles

Wednesday: 0

Thursday: 2 Miles + Abs & Hips

Friday: 0

Saturday: 0

Sunday: Coastal Delaware 9k (5.6 Miles)

Total: 4.75 Miles & 11.6 Miles

The first Saturday listed was my first true run since January 23rd. I ran 30 minutes, on the treadmill, and didn’t have an ounce of pain. I ran at an extremely slow pace, mostly because I was still nervous but also being cautious. It was probably one of my best runs ever, only because I finally felt like I was on my way again.

First run in new shoes and 2.5 months!

That next day I couldn’t help but jump on the treadmill again for some more slow miles. This time I went for 35 minutes and still felt pain free. As slow and as awkward as I felt, things were starting to feel normal again and not so much like a giraffe learning to walk for the first time.

Post run relaxation and Nuun

Tuesday I met up with Mallory after work and we ran Roscoe with her dog Walter. Our pace was easy, the weather was nice and I felt pretty good. A few times I felt out of shape, but that’s to be expected and eventually running will feel effortless again. I may have gone a little longer than I had planned, but the pace was slow enough that I didn’t feel I was pushing myself beyond my current limits.

Slow and steady win recovery

Thursday, I knew I’d be short on time while trying to get ready for a weekend away. I opted for a shorter run of two miles, instead of my planned three. I could have had time for another mile, but instead I Face Timed with Darren while he was in Brazil. Priorities.

Sunday was a big day. Way back at the end of last year I registered for the marathon at the Coastal Delaware Running Festival. Well, we all know how training went, but thankfully, through hard work, tears, and a lot of patience, I was able to work my way up to attempting the 9k without it being too much of a stretch for me. My recap will be up on blog later this week, but even though it wasn’t my typical race, it felt like the beginning of a new way of training.

Packet Pick Up. We made it!

My recovery has been a good one so far, and I feel that I’ve been able to really examine all parts of my running, including cross training, form, nutrition and sleep. I’ve been keeping up with my ab workouts and lifting on days of workouts, but still struggle at times to remember to do abs on the days I’m not running. I’m feeling stronger, especially in my hips which has always been a week point for me.

I’ve tried a few new foods and I’m hoping to figure out what works for me and what doesn’t. Finding Lactose free butter has made a huge difference in my life and substituting Nuun at dinner instead of wine can have its benefits. But let’s be honest, I’m still eating at least a box or two of Cheez It Grooves every week. Some habits just can’t be broken.

I also took the time to get my shoes fitted again. I never thought my shoes were the reason I got injured, but when you’re starting from scratch you might as well check everything. Turns out my shoes aren’t really an issue, but there are shoes out there that can be a better fit. Enter Saucony Guides. I’ve been faithful to Asics for about 15 years, after one year of Adidas. This time I vowed to be open to all shoes, no matter what brand. I have to admit, I was scared to break from my normal shoe and brand, but the Saucony Guides felt amazing. Turns out they were so amazing that I got a second pair when Amazon had a sale….bringing my shoe rotation to 5 or 6? Let’s not judge here.

All in all, I think things are going well, and I’m excited to slowly bring up mileage and speed and get ready for a hopefully race filled summer and fall!

The Road to Recovery

March 28, 20162 Comments

Oh, hello. It’s been a while. Seven weeks to be exact. I didn’t intend to let the blog sit empty for so long, but it was a rough couple of weeks, months really. The last time I wrote, I gave an update on my injury. So let’s catch up, shall we?

Since the appointment where I found out I had two stress fractures, I was on a roller coaster of emotions. Instead of thinking I’d need a few weeks off, I ended up taking two months off. Sixty days came and went from my last long run to my first steps back on the treadmill. I spent three weeks in a boot, and worked my way to walking on the treadmill for extended periods of time. Mentally, I was in a deep, dark area, but I was also able to figure out what I needed and what I wanted. Not only in running, but also in life. When you have time off of running, you spend a lot of time thinking.

I’m excited to say that I’ve started running again. Well, slow jogging really. I’m taking the cautious way back into running, and taking things slow. I was nervous to make that transition from walking to slow running, but I couldn’t hold off forever. When one of your best friends is a PT, she helps you take that leap of faith and the first steps of running once again.

First run in 60 days!

Those first steps were awkward and timid, but exciting! I didn’t know when I’d be able to run again, or if I’d want to try, for fear that I would still be injured. But I tried, and I did it. And those three minutes of extremely slow and awkward running, were the best moments I’d had in two months.

So what happens now? I have a plan set to get me slowly back to a comfortable pace, but also making sure I stay healthy and uninjured. It’s a 30 minute workout that includes both walking and running, building myself up to a full 30 minutes of running, and I’ll do it every other day as long as I’m pain free. So far I’ve done 3×9 minute walking/1 minute jogging and 3x 8 minute walking/2 minute jogging. It’s a slow process, but the minutes I get to spend running (even at a very slow pace) are magical.

I’ve also been adamant on doing abs and lifting as well. The goal is to try to do an ab workout everyday and lift on the days I run. I know doing this extra bit will help to keep me healthy and fit, but hopefully keep any injury away. And maybe I’ll get back into yoga, but let’s not rush it.

I have no time goals set or a certain mileage I want to hit each week. I just want to come back healthy and hopefully stronger than before. It wasn’t until I was truly injured, that I took a step back and realized there were things that needed to be changed, and what I need to do in the future to make myself a better running.

I’m no where near where I was, and I’ve got a long road ahead of me. But I’m finally starting to feel like myself again, and I couldn’t be more excited!

Injury Update

February 8, 20162 Comments

This past week has been quite an emotional one, and I apologize to anyone who has been in my path. After the X-Ray didn’t show too much on my tibia, my doctor decided I should get a bone scan done. So Tuesday morning, I headed off to the hospital for part 1 of my scan. I had never done a bone scan before, so I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. But if it was a way to find out what was wrong, then I was on board.

Around 10am I was called back and injected with radioactive dye. I was scanned a few times, and then I was on my way. It was more uncomfortable than painful, but a lot easier than I expected. I was told to come back three hours later for part 2. Because of the inconvenience of the procedure, I ended up taking a vacation day, so with three hours to waste, I did a little shopping. If you’re going to spend a vacation day at the hospital, you should at least make part of it fun, right?

I got back to the hospital around 1:30 for scan number two. This one took longer, and they did a series of shots. I was told that over time, the dye went from my blood, and was now sticking to damaged parts of my bones. Interesting, and weird. I wasn’t given any results that day, but would have my follow up appointment that following Friday.

Surprisingly, the next two days I had very minimal pain, I was hoping that maybe I just needed an extended rest period, and I would be ready to go back to running. Unfortunately, the pain came back on Thursday, and was still present during my appointment Friday. And then, I got the news. My gut was right. Not only did I have a stress fracture in my right tibia, I had two. One in my upper tibia, and one in my lower, both points where I’ve had horrible pulsing pain. And they’re pretty deep too, which doesn’t help. To make matters worse, my left tibia was a bit weak as well. Had I continued to run, it would have been a matter of time before I had a stress fracture there as well. When it rains, it down right pours.

Not what you want to see.

I held it together for the rest of the appointment, but I shed a few tears as I headed into work. Hearing the news of a stress fracture just tears me apart. I’m in new territory here, and can’t be certain how long I’ll be out. I do know that Coastal Delaware Marathon is out though. They still have a half and 9k 😉 Thankfully the doctor understands how much running means to me, and is helping me get back into running in a safe, yet slow timeline. Here’s the projected path of recovering, considering everything goes right.

Week of 1/25 and 2/1: ~~No exercising. Do abs and lift.~~ Check!

Week of 2/8 and 2/15: 15-20 minutes of bike or elliptical, every other day. Continue to do abs and lift.

Week of 2/22 and 2/29: 15-20 minutes of speed walking, every other day. Continue to do abs, lift and bike or elliptical.

Week of 3/7: Run 2 minutes slower than regular pace for 20 minutes, three times a week. Continue to do abs and lift.

Week of 3/14: Run 1 minute slower than regular pace for 20 minutes, three times a week. Continue to do abs and lift.

Week of 3/21: Run regular pace for 20 minutes, three times a week. Continue to do abs and lift.

Week of 3/28 and forward: Increase mileage by 10% only, three times a week. Continue to do abs and lift.

*Subject to change depending on pain.

I’m certainly devastated to be injured. I’ve had every emotion under the sun this week, and sunk down pretty far into a hole of despair Saturday. But I needed to hit bottom, to let my tears out so I can build myself back up. I’m definitely nervous and a little fearful I’ll slip back into injury, but I have to take things slow and learn not to push myself too hard. I’ve had about two years of running injury free, so my time was due. And after 16+ years of running, I can say that I’ve finally had a stress fracture, and I will beat it.

Any tips on recovering from a stress fracture?

Coastal Delaware Marathon Training: Week Six

February 1, 20162 Comments

Well, what can I say about this week. I planned on running 32-25 miles, increasing my long run to 17-18 and spending some quality time with my running shoes. That didn’t quite happen, it was actually the exact opposite. I ended up with 0 miles for this week, and here’s why.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ll have random shin pain that really only lasts a day and I try to take the next day off. No big deal, it wasn’t causing harm or making me miss multiple runs. It was just there, and then gone. So after taking a rest day Sunday, I figured by Monday afternoon, the pain would be gone, just like always. But the pain didn’t go away. In fact, it lingered. From a dull ache to a random burst of mild pain, I decided I’d take this past week day by day. Surely after two rest days it would be gone, right?

Nope. Things got worse. When my shin hurt during my entire commute Tuesday morning (45 minutes of driving), I decided to call a doctor. Hoping that since I made an appointment, the pain would go away. That’s typically how it works, fingers crossed.

I had my appointment on Wednesday morning, and the results weren’t great. With symptoms of a stress fracture, we did an X-Ray. Unfortunately, the results didn’t show much, just as expected, with the exception of a minor faint horizontal line near the base of the pain. With what I’m sure was an absolute pathetic look in my eyes, I asked the doctor what we should do. He replied with treat it as a stress fracture and we’ll get some more tests done.

I took the rest of the week off running and will be taking next week off as well. We’re hoping that with two weeks of rest, the pain will be less and I can slowly get back to normal. But here I am, a week later, and I’m still having a decent amount of pain. No biking, no elliptical, no doing anything that will add any more pressure to the leg. But thankfully, no walking boot, at least not yet.

I have a bone scan scheduled for Tuesday morning, which I’m sure will be a delight. And we’ll be following that up with another appointment on Friday to discuss results and what to do next.

I go through moments of no pain at all, thinking that maybe it’s just in my head, to a dull ache, to random bursts of sharp pain. It’s definitely worse after being on my feet for long periods of time and after driving. I’ve never had a stress fracture before, but in my gut, I believe that’s what it is. If it were typical aches and pains, it’d be gone after a few days, but here it is, still lingering, still preventing me from doing what I love. And what keeps me sane.

I’m not exactly sure where training will be going from here. I’m almost 100 percent certain that running the full will be out. Hopefully this is just a minor issue and I’ll be able to get back into training and run the half. This is definitely not where I saw my spring going, mostly because I felt so strong during my runs, and never felt that pain was limiting me. I’m trying to put a positive spin on everything, which has been hard. So for now, I’ll be taking it easy, working on my core, and counting down the days until I can run again.

Masher Runs

I am a runner and I am getting stronger

Category: Running

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