Knitiot Savant

Personal Best

I had the most amazing, wonderful and awesome weekend!  Saturday I went to Kid n Ewe and had a fabulous time.  I even have pics and comments to share but that has to wait.  The high point of my weekend was my race Sunday morning. 

The weather Sunday was absolute perfect for running.  It was bright, clear and just a bit chilly.  We got up well before sunrise to head downtown.  After parking at the Alamodome, we hiked down to Alamo Plaza for the start of the race.  I stretched a little, hit the port-o-john and made sure Boogie and Big B were comfy and warm.  Before I knew it it was time to line up.  I went to the back of the pack.  I knew I was going to be slow and I didn't want to get in the way of the faster runners. 

There is nothing like standing in a huge group of people waiting for a race to start.  The adrenaline starts pumping.  People are moving around, stretching, trying to stay warm.  Some are encouraging their friends.  Others are chatting on cell phones.  (Really.  It was odd.)  The rush really slams you when the gun goes off.  Everybody sort of shuffles forward and then, before you know it, you're running.

I remember thinking how cold it was between the buildings, how nice the cops were to be out there, hitting mile 1 and grabbing some Gatorade.  My iPod was blaring away and and I quietly sang along.   The sun came out from behind the buildings and I felt warm.  I watched women and men, all ages and all sizes, run past.  Then I passed them.  Then they passed me.  By mile 2 my hip was on fire.  I could have cared less.  I grabbed another Gatorade, swigged, ditched the cup and kept moving.  I stopped to walk 3 times, maybe 50 steps each time but that was it.  We rounded a corner and I'll be damned if the Alamodome wasn't in sight.  I could see a couple of folks cheering us in.  I decided that, once I hit the tunnel, I was going to sprint.  A lady wearing a purple boa and ringing a cow bell was shouting at the entrance of the tunnel and I ran in with everything I had left.  I ran because Big B loves me and believes in me.  I ran because my baby was in the stands watching her Mommy finish.  And I ran because I deserved and loved it.  I deserved a strong finish.

I ran a personal best yesterday.  I took a total of 5 minutes off my average time for a 5k and came in 14th in my age group.   Think I'll be investing in some new shoes.  After all, there's a race on Thanksgiving Day.

Running on empty

My race is next Sunday.  I just checked the website and there, bigger than life is my name and the race I'm registered to run.  Or hobble.  Which ever comes first at this point. 

About 3 weeks ago I pulled a muscle in my hip.  I think saying that I 'pulled' said muscle sounds a hell of a lot nicer than how it feels. It's more like a ripped, shredded and sort of crippling.  It hurts to sit/stand/drive/holdmydaughter/walk/run/sleep.....so what does all this mean for Sunday?

I'm still in.  I'm not running at all this week.  Instead I'm resting, taking a little anti-inflammatory med and using my heating pad every second I can. 

Instead of leaving you with the depressing and sad image of me on a heating pad stinking of Icy Hot and hopped up on drugs, I'll share my running play list with you.  Enjoy!

'Crazy' (James Micheal Mix)- Alanis Morissette
'Walk Away' -Kelly Clarkson
'It's My Life'-Bon Jovi
'Holding Out for a Hero'- Frou Frou
'Fighter' - Christina Aguilera
'Whenever, Wherever' - Shakira
'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' - Green Day
'Objection (Tango)' - Shakira
'Not Ready to Make Nice' - Dixie Chicks
'So Unsexy' - Alanis Morissette
'Spoon' - Cibo Matto
'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' - Green Day
'Everlong' - Foo Fighters
'You Oughta Know' - Alanis Morissette
'Free Your Mind' - En Vogue
'Best of You' - Foo Fighters
'This is How it Goes' - Aimee Mann
'Pavlov's Bell' - Aimee Mann
'Not the Doctor' - Alanis Morissette
'Sugar Water' - Cibo Matto
'Wake Me up When September Ends' - Green Day

End of week 9

"When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear." - Mark Twain

The end of this week in my whole running thing marks the beginning of sort of a holding pattern.  The training plan I was following uses 10 weeks to train and run in a 5k.  My race is 12 weeks away so I'm using the time to speed up, lose some weight and take care of my freakin' knee.  That's right.  My knee.

For the last month just about all my runs have been at the gym on a treadmill.  The treadmill isn't supposed to be as hard on knees as the road plus the gym doesn't have the triple digit temps that the great outdoors sports.  So a couple of days ago I'm running.  I'm running as hard as my fat, worn out body will let me.  My right foot hits and I feel a sharp pain.  Screw it.  I'm running.  But every time my right foot struck I felt pain.  When I got home I iced my pesky knee and didn't run for 2 days.  When I did start moving again it was on an elliptical.  Guess what?  F**king knee still hurts.   

Today I'm blowing off my knitting group to hit the gym and the treadmill.  I'm slapping a brace on my knee and running for all I'm worth.  I absolutely did not come this far to get screwed up by my knees!  The rational side of me knows that I have 12 weeks to get through this.  Twelve long weeks to love my battered little knee up and treat it like it deserves to be treated; with painkillers and a healthy shot of Bengay.  The angry inner chick?  Well, she's an angry chick and wins this fight.  Wish me monsters.

End of week 7

I've been doing a lot of my long runs at the gym on the treadmill.  Even the mornings down here are incredibly hot and when you factor in road temp...well it's just a little piece of hell I'd rather not subject myself or Boogie to.

The treadmills at my gym all face a huge glass window that serves as the gym's store front.  They look out onto a parking lot with the occasional stone pillar thrown in just to mix it up a bit.  I usually pick a treadmill right in front of one of the stone pillars.  Looking at the cars is interesting but the glare of the sun bouncing off shiny windshields can be a little uncomfortable. 

Running on the treadmill is boring.  It's nice only in that my knees and hips don't take the pounding that they do on the road, I don't have to worry about dodging oncoming traffic and I have my own little fans to help cool me down.  But I miss having Boogie and, every once in awhile during the run, I'll hold onto the handle just below the treadmill's screen and imagine that I'm pushing my Boogie in front of me.  She's sticking out her feet yelling, "Faster Mommy!  Faster!".  Race day is going to be a blast.

End of the 3rd week*

Today marked the end of the 3rd week.  Instead of running I rode my bike for about 40 minutes.  I actually managed to pass Big B on a hill.  Believe me, that never happens.  I've been incredibly tired lately.  I thought working out was supposed to make me feel better but I feel pooped!  I've started taking an iron supplement, ('cause I've always been a whisker away from being anemic) and I'm taking my rest days and actually resting!  No running, no bike, no movement; just sweet recovery time!

I know ya'll are sick to pieces of hearing about my stupid running so I won't post much about it for awhile...unless something really weird and cool happens!

I do have some knitting stuff to share but no pics.  I'll remedy that some time tomorrow and share 'til it hurts. 

*Edited:  It was actually the end of the 3rd week.  See why I'm a bad knitter?  I can't count!

End of week 2

I'd planned on writing about knitting foo but decided to write a little about my running goal.  Yesterday marked the end of the first 2 weeks of my 10 week training program.  I'm pretty pleased that I've made it this far and, in spite of myself, it seems to be getting a little easier.  Until now my focus has been time.  Not how fast I can run but how long can I keep the sad genetic legacy that is my body moving.  This weekend I decided to go ahead a peek at my distance.  Turns out my runs are just over 2 miles.  A 5k is a smidge over 3 miles.   Right now it takes me about 30 minutes to run/walk that 2 miles.  With every road run I'm pushing a stoller with my 31 lb. 2 year old along for the ride which slows me down some.  Not too bad, really.  My only disappoinment is weight.  I'm not losing any.  I haven't gained but I haven't lost.  Big B put it in perspective by telling me the focus is the run.  Weight loss is a side benefit.  He's right but I can't help being a bit sad when I step on the scales.

I've added a few incentives to my training.  At the half-way point of training I'm getting new shoes and a better watch.  When I complete the 10 week program, and barring any difficulty with my knee, I'm going to try to prepare for a 10k or the half marathon.  Of course, just before the race, I'm buying a hot little running outfit.  Just so I'll look like I know what I'm doing.  And 'cause buying clothes is fun.