Diagnosis

So, I went to a podiatrist and she told me that I had plantar fasciitis and did an x-ray of my foot and it was not pretty.  Good news is she said I could start running again, but to listen to my body and if it's not going well, then, well, stop.  I have a few stretching exercises to do a few times a day and a really cool big ass boot to wear at night.  I wore it for the first time last night and it is not very conducive to good sleep.  Oh well.  If it fixes the problem, I'm fine with it.

I did go running this morning and I was totally happy.  I only went 1.43 miles and finished in 18:14 which ends up being 12:45.  I'll take it :)

Damn Foot

I took last week off of running because I'm having problems with me right heel.  I'm nervous as hell and not quite sure what to do.  My heel feels like there is a bruise on it and everything I've read says to stay off it, but how the hell does one do that?  I mean, my gosh, I'm constantly doing something...except when I'm watching trash tv.  Sigh.

I ran tonight with Aren, age 11, and he wants to run a 5k so we did C25K W1D1 and ran 1.7 miles.  My heel hurts but is doable with a little ibuprofen and diet coke.  Tomorrow I'm going to run three miles and see what happens.  I've got my six my run...again...on Saturday.  Please let this thing work out.

Run Away With Cirque du Soleil 5K - Race Report

When Kylie and I registered for the race, we'd envisioned a lovely family morning. Dads would hang with the kids and enjoy all of the fun activities (face painting, circus school, etc.), we would run the 5K, and then we'd all go out and enjoy a lovely, fattening, delicious breakfast.

Then reality hit.

Turned out Kylie's oldest had t-ball pictures at the very same time as the race and Martin ended up having to take a last minute business trip. Such is life, right?

I awoke on Saturday morning to the worst weather imaginable. 50 degree temps, with 25 MPH sustained winds and 40+ MPH gusts. Ugh. I was not hopeful. Kylie and I arrived early, picked up our packets, and then got back in the car to wait. It was that icky.

We eventually made it into the facility, where we saw all manner of creepy Cirque characters. Finally, the race started. Lovely course - a few small hills, paved roads, closed to traffic. The only negative was that it was an out and back course so we were only permitted to run on one side. Normally, that is fine but there were a number of morons who had jogging strollers or were walking side-by-side (holding hands! Really?!!?). It required a lot of navigating.

Kylie, despite being sick, left me in the dust about 100 yards into the race.** I managed to keep a strong, steady pace for the 1st half. After the turnaround, I started playing mental games. I wasn't physically tired but my mind wanted to give up. I told myself, I'll run to the 2 mile mark, then walk. OK, I'll run to the 2.5 mile mark and then walk. OK, I'll run til the end of this song and then walk, etc. I didn't end up walking (except for a few brief moments so I could take off my pullover) and pushed hard at the end.

My official finish time was 36:00! That's 2:45 off my PR!!

**Kylie, of course, finished around the 32:00 mark. Sickness? What sickness?

Half Training - Week 4

Great week!  I actually did each run for this week and even completed the five miles without walking!  I'm feeling better about this whole half thing and am confident I'll be able to do my six miles next week :)

Tuesday - 3.5 miles in 47:21
Thursday - 3.5 miles in 46:35
Saturday - 5.0 miles in 66:25

Half Training - Week 3

This was a hard week.  Rick was out of town from Monday morning until Friday night and so finding time to run was exhausting.  I didn't get my full runs in and I think that made my Saturday run very difficult.  I was scheduled to do five miles, and I did, but I walked some of the way.  Combine the fact that I didn't run 3.5 miles two times this week and add it the fact that the route I ran was downhill for the first three miles and uphill the last two, and well, it was a disaster.  Luckily next week is the same schedule so I can redeem myself.

Wednesday - 3.5 miles in 47:02
Friday - 1.52 miles in 19:01
Saturday - 5.1 miles in 70:27

Record-Breaking

I ran my personal best for a 5K distance last night - 38:44.

And then I cried.

This morning, I saw this quote.

"I am not a good runner because I am me. I am a good me because I run" - Kristin Armstrong

And then I cried again.

Half Training - Week 2

Completed week 2 this morning and times are as follows:

Tuesday - 3.1 miles in 40:40
Thursday - 3.1 miles in 40:19
Saturday - 4.0 miles in 52:00

My time improved slightly this week which makes me happy.  I'm nervous for next week because Rick will be out of town which will make getting my runs in a little more tricky, plus they go up 3.5 during the week and 5.0 on Saturday.  Deep breathing - in and out...in and out...