Two weeks ago I ran 20 miles. At the beginning it was exciting and fun; at the end it was grueling and rewarding. Somewhere in between a man ran into a light post and bled rather profusely from his forehead. A woman documented the run with her cell phone and posted it piecemeal on facebook as she went... until she was taken back to the finish line with an injury. Several people were spotted running in odd attire: a red leather dress, a red tutu, and a red feather boa to name a few. A man that none of us had ever seen before joined our running group somewhere around Navy Pier. To top it all off, a bird shit on my head right before we did the last mile. I believe the Italians think that is a good omen. Mostly it was just messy.
There was an 8 miler the week before that, which went seamlessly, and another after the 20 miler, which we purposely cut short. It was really humid and my foot was still in healing mode. Luckily, it seems to be okay now. I'm prepared for a full recovery run this week and a 23 miler the week after that. In the meantime, I will find out if there is any truth to the "good omen" that I furiously scrubbed from my head.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
4 Mile Blip
We were supposed to run 8 miles on Saturday, but my foot has been killing me, so to prevent further injury we only ran 4 miles. It was only Gabbi and I-- everyone else was gone, so I didn't feel too bad about keeping it light. Especially since I could barely walk after 4 miles.
But this weekend we'll do the 8 miles again, and this time I will probably feel much better because I gave myself time to heal. The lesson here-- don't overdo it, and always give yourself time to recover. Whether it be your foot, your calves, or your heart-- if it doesn't feel right, it probably needs time. :)
But this weekend we'll do the 8 miles again, and this time I will probably feel much better because I gave myself time to heal. The lesson here-- don't overdo it, and always give yourself time to recover. Whether it be your foot, your calves, or your heart-- if it doesn't feel right, it probably needs time. :)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
17 Miles
If you ran from Naperville to Schaumburg, that's 17 miles. Or if you ran from Chicago up to Wilmette, that's 17 miles too. Or if you got up at 5 am and ran up and down the lakeshore with my pace group on Saturday, that would have been 17 miles as well. It's a long effin' way on two legs.
So we ran super slow and extra steady with lots of little breaks in between. Despite our diligent care it was difficult to walk immediately afterward, and an hour later Gabbi and I concurred that it felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to our legs.
The run itself was an exercise in will power. There were so many moments that it was tempting to give up and walk the rest or turn around early. For some reason, each time I thought about that it reinforced my resolve to continue. Surrender is never an option.
So we did shots of salt packets in the hot summer sun with the humidity melting the energy out of us. We pounded the warm asphalt in rhythm every time the watch beeped signaling us to run. And we finished 17 miles.
So we ran super slow and extra steady with lots of little breaks in between. Despite our diligent care it was difficult to walk immediately afterward, and an hour later Gabbi and I concurred that it felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to our legs.
The run itself was an exercise in will power. There were so many moments that it was tempting to give up and walk the rest or turn around early. For some reason, each time I thought about that it reinforced my resolve to continue. Surrender is never an option.
So we did shots of salt packets in the hot summer sun with the humidity melting the energy out of us. We pounded the warm asphalt in rhythm every time the watch beeped signaling us to run. And we finished 17 miles.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Heaven on Seven
Seven miles is like running on a cloud of easiness. I was very happy to have a nice healing run on the 4th of July. Holiday or no, a commitment is a commitment.
Of course, there were only 4 of us who really subscribed to that philosophy. Gabbi, Suzan, Carita (Cheeks), and I came out for the run. Gabbi and Carita ran side by side and I ran with Suzan. We kept a quick pace because the run was so short, and Suzan and I chatted the entire time. It was actually pretty fun.
What was even more fun was the fact that a friend had VIP tix for the Taste that day. Free beer, free food, and exclusive port o potties are the only way to go! (pun intended)
Of course, there were only 4 of us who really subscribed to that philosophy. Gabbi, Suzan, Carita (Cheeks), and I came out for the run. Gabbi and Carita ran side by side and I ran with Suzan. We kept a quick pace because the run was so short, and Suzan and I chatted the entire time. It was actually pretty fun.
What was even more fun was the fact that a friend had VIP tix for the Taste that day. Free beer, free food, and exclusive port o potties are the only way to go! (pun intended)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
14 Miles
14 Miles... it's the distance from my house to my place of work-- Oswego to Naperville. Or the distance from Union Station in Chicago to the center of Park Ridge. It's a little longer than the island of Manhattan... and a heck of a long way to run.
But we ran it-- in the brutal summer heat, with knees popping and IT bands squishing, and cramps attacking our insides-- we did it as a team.
And I knew I would learn about the limits of my will power (which I suspect may be limitless...). And I knew I would find out about the strength of my body (which hates me just a little right now). But I did not expect a lesson in stoicism-- and I did not expect to hear it second hand.
As we pummelled forward on the pavement I pulled our team as best I could. With optimism and with leading by example, I trudged forward and asked them to do the same. They did wonderfully. When the run was over, Gabbi told me about a little conversation she had with Cameron, who had remarked how she couldn't believe I was still going. Gabbi told her, "believe me, she's in as much pain as we are, she's just pushing through it."
To which Cameron said, "that's what makes her a good leader." And that struck me as quite a compliment.
But we ran it-- in the brutal summer heat, with knees popping and IT bands squishing, and cramps attacking our insides-- we did it as a team.
And I knew I would learn about the limits of my will power (which I suspect may be limitless...). And I knew I would find out about the strength of my body (which hates me just a little right now). But I did not expect a lesson in stoicism-- and I did not expect to hear it second hand.
As we pummelled forward on the pavement I pulled our team as best I could. With optimism and with leading by example, I trudged forward and asked them to do the same. They did wonderfully. When the run was over, Gabbi told me about a little conversation she had with Cameron, who had remarked how she couldn't believe I was still going. Gabbi told her, "believe me, she's in as much pain as we are, she's just pushing through it."
To which Cameron said, "that's what makes her a good leader." And that struck me as quite a compliment.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Drop Back: 6 Miles
We only ran 6 miles on Saturday because we needed to heal from the previous 12 miler. That was fine with me because I was pretty sick-- lots of sniffles. I could hardly breathe and the sun was beating down horrendously. Our entire group was pretty miserable in the heat. I cannot imagine next week's 14 mile run if it's going to be that hot.
Gabbi and I went to the community garden after that to plant more stuff. Our plot is really coming together now and we're starting to make friends. Next week there's a cook out that we're volunteering for. I don't know how much we'll feel like cooking in the heat after such a long run, but it's easy to be ambitious a week in advance!
Gabbi and I went to the community garden after that to plant more stuff. Our plot is really coming together now and we're starting to make friends. Next week there's a cook out that we're volunteering for. I don't know how much we'll feel like cooking in the heat after such a long run, but it's easy to be ambitious a week in advance!
Monday, June 15, 2009
12 Miles in the Rain
It was pouring down rain Saturday morning as we ran 12 miles. This was by far the most challenging run to date-- because we were soaked, we were cold, and we were all exhausted.
When my right leg went pretty much numb and I ran 5 of those miles with 'pins and needles' throughout that leg I began to think about inner strength. When the rain started to pelt me and I was running against the cold wind drenched in water and sweat, I began to ask for inner strength. When we finished the 12 miles I realized that I had gained some measure of precious inner strength. I was pretty stoked (and sore).
When my right leg went pretty much numb and I ran 5 of those miles with 'pins and needles' throughout that leg I began to think about inner strength. When the rain started to pelt me and I was running against the cold wind drenched in water and sweat, I began to ask for inner strength. When we finished the 12 miles I realized that I had gained some measure of precious inner strength. I was pretty stoked (and sore).
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