Not There Yet...

After my 6.2 miles of pain free running, I thought I had put my foot injury behind me.

No:(

On Saturday, I went for my longest run in a long, long time.  10 miles.  It felt good to run in the double digits again.  However, my foot starting hurting half way into the run.  It still hurts some. The pain is on the bottom of my foot now, around the 3rd metatarsal.  I have no idea what is going on.  I just know that I am frustrated.

The run itself was also discouraging.  I didn't think I was sore at all from the Turkey Trot, but after 3 miles my legs felt really heavy.  It was a slow and painful run.  I am not ready to run a half marathon next week.

But I am ready to go to Vegas!  Not even a bad run can take away my excitement!

Happy Thanksgiving: Turkey Trot Recap

Guess What?  I finished a race!!  Now that is something I am thankful for.

10K Race in 50:38 (8:09min/mile).

After the race photo

What else am I thankful for...

1.  My 3 amazing children!  They are the best things that have ever happened to me.  Pure love=Kaitlyn, Jackson and Nathan

2.  My wonderful husband, Ryan.  Next month will be our 10 year anniversary and we have been together for 16+ years.  I can't imagine going through life without him.

3.  My sister, Katie.  The bond we share is something I will always treasure.  I can be my complete self around her and she loves me no less.

4.  My brothers, Mike,Andrew, and Aaron.  I just wished they lived closer.  Hint, hint...

5.  My parents.  I know they will always be there for me no matter what.  They are also amazing grandparents.

6.  My friends.  I have some pretty wonderful friends from high school through residency and now grown up? friends.  They even let me call them an complain about stupid things like a bad run and listen like they truly care.

7.  My job.  I love my job!  I don't dream of doing anything else (except being a professional runner...ha!)

8.  Running.  Running has changed my life and I can't imagine not having it be a part of my life.  I feel like I can conquer the world after a good morning run.

9.  My healed foot?  Today in over 3 months I ran pain free!  It was amazing!

10.  My life.  It's like that song...What's there to complain about?

So on to my very happy race recap...  It was not a PR and actually is was my slowest 10K time ever (I have only done 3) but I ran pain free.  I forgot how good that feels.

Mile 1:  7:53
Mile 2:  8:09
Mile 3:  8:17
Mile 4:  8:16
Mile 5:  8:20
Mile 6: 8:16
Mile 6.2:  7:17


Mile 1...felt good.  I really didn't want to start out that fast since I have done 0 speed work in months but it is hard to slow down in a race.
Mile 2... Smiling, loving life.  Some down hills that I loved flying down.
Mile 3... Holding strong, still smiling
Mile 4....At this point, I started playing leap frog with a guy.  At the end I pulled away and then he caught me and sprinted past me at the finish.  After the race he turned around and gave me a high five.  I love runners!  It's like we are all in it together and everyone tries to push each other to finish strong:)
Mile 5...This mile was all up hill.  Nothing too steep but constant.
Mile 6... I never felt like I wanted to walk.  I still had the biggest smile on face.  Because did I mention that I was running pain free!
Last .2...I gave it all I had through the finish.

So unfortunately I was not listening at the start of the race and ran over the wrong timing mat (there was also a 5K race) and so my chip time was not recorded only my overall time.  Which was not accurate because I was in the middle of the pack.  So I used my overall garmin time.  My garmin was right on with the mile markers too.

Ryan also ran a great race and Kaitlyn did the 5K and came in 3rd in her age division!

Kaitlyn after finishing her 5K race.  

We had a car full of 9 people that did the Turkey Trot:  Ryan and I did the 10K.  Andrew, Aaron, Kaitlyn, Braedon, Katie, Katie, and Cyndi did the 5K.  Super fun morning!  Followed by a wonderful thanksgiving meal.

I wish I had some more time to actually train properly for my next half marathon in 1 week!  But I am so happy that I finally feel like I am on the right track again with my running.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Quick Update

It's been awhile since I have written a post.  Probably because I didn't want to sound like a broken record...

My foot is still hurting and I have been doing lots of cross training.

Actually my 2nd metatarsal stress fracture feels great.  However I am having pain in a few different spots in the same foot.  I have been taking the running really easy.  Running only 2-3x/week and very low mileage.

I have been spinning, swimming and ellipticalling.  Not as much fun but I hope it keeps me in descent shape until I can really start running again.

Even though my running has been minimal I have two fun races coming up.  I am doing a 10K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and Half Marathon in Vegas in about 2 weeks.  I have to keep telling myself that I am not in racing condition.  I am very competitive with myself and I know my times will not be something that I will be proud of.  But I do not want to push myself and get more hurt either.

I can't wait to start posting some positive reports about running.  Until then I will keep pushing myself in the gym.

Happy Running (and cross training)!

Fall Trip to Brown County

Kaitlyn and Jackson were on fall break this past Thursday and Friday.  We took our third annual trip to Brown County State Park.  It is absolutely beautiful there this time of year.

Brown County State Park

We stayed in a cabin called The Snoozing Moose Lounge for 2 nights this year.  It is so cozy and secluded.  The views from the porches were amazing.

Porch at the Cabin

Warm and Cozy

The kids loved playing around in the leaves, playing family games, and their favorite thing was the hot tub.  My favorite thing was just hanging out with them.

Front Porch

Hot Tub

We also did lots of hiking at the State Park.  Nothing too intense though with a two year old.

Lots of Trails

Climbing Trees

Nathan loves to be outside!

Our dog, Indy

It was a perfect little get away.  I didn't check my phone, email, or blogs for 2 days.  Just what I needed...no feeling bad about how I am not running 10+ miles at at 7 something pace, not worrying about work, laundry, etc.  Just relaxing.

But when I came back to the real world...I had a big present waiting for me.  The pavement!
Yes it has been 3 weeks and my foot is feeling great.  So I did it.

My first run back.  I was scared at first.  Would my legs remember what to do, would my foot hold up, would my lungs be able to keep up.

I felt great for the first mile.  8:20 pace.  I thought...Yes, cross training does work.  Then, oooh, my legs feel heavy, my lungs are burning, and every mile seems to take forever.  But then I remembered how grateful I am to be running at all.  So I slowed down (a lot) and just enjoyed myself.  I did pick it up for the last mile.  I ran just over 5 miles at an average pace of 8:36.

The Monon Trail was Beautiful

I need to work on my endurance.  I need to work on losing these 5+ pounds I have gained while not running.  I need to work on not getting injured again.

But, I love, love, love running.  Yes spinning is ok.  Swimming is fun.  Core work is hard (I did this the first time on Monday and I am still sore).  But nothing compares to running for me.  It is part of me.  I feel complete again.

Happy Running!

My Thoughts on the Gym

I went to the gym 4 times this week.  I am pretty sure that is a record for me.  Even though I love to exercise, I don't love the gym.

I don't feel like I fit in to the gym stereotype.  There are so many cute girls/women there with their cute little outfits and their hair and make up just perfect.  Definitely not me!

But I continue to go because... I can't run.

I  did another spinning class today.  I think I finally found something that will hold me over until I can run again.  I was a sweaty mess.  The class was packed today.  Maybe 50 people.  They actually ran out of spin bikes.

Now even though the class is made up of all shapes and sizes, the front row of girls (and a few guys) are definitely hard core.  I guess some people love biking as much as running.  I don't get it;)

The biggest thing I don't get at the gym is the people that read a book or magazine while they are working out.  Are you there to read or workout?  If I can read then I am not working hard enough.  To me it's like studying while watching TV.  It can be done, but not very well.

There are many other things I don't quite get.  I think I could get burnt out from the gym pretty quick but I have a big goal to reach.  That sub 4 hour marathon will be mine.  Someday!  Until then, I will see you at the gym.

My First Spin Class

Today I took my first spin class.  It was sweatastic!  I have heard from so many people what a great workout spin classes were and it did not disappoint.  My work schedule was flipped around this week and so I had this morning off work.  Ryan also had some free time this morning so we both went to the spin class.

This is the best work out I have had in months.  Since my foot caused me so much pain while running, I was not able to push myself for a long time.  I have been swimming a lot but I still never feel like I get in a great work out.  I felt so good after today's workout.

The instructor was also amazing.  She pushed us but also kept giving inspirational words throughout the work out.  It is very rainy here today and so she said things like, "May you be the sunshine for everyone you meet today."  So cute.

If you are intimated to take a class at the gym, this is the class for you.  First setting up the bike is easy and there will be many people there that can help you.  There are no steps to learn.  Also you could have your resistance at the highest or lowest point and no one will know.  Everyone works at their own pace.

Even though I am excited for my next spin class, I wish I could run so much more.  But still no running for awhile.

Foot update: My foot feels great!  I can finally walk on it with no pain.  I hope to be running again in a couple of weeks.  Until then I will be doing lots of swimming and hopefully spinning too.

My First DNF

I did not finish the Chicago Marathon.  I made it to mile 14 and then I had to stop.  I really knew from mile 3 that I wasn't going to make it.  I think I am glad that I tried though.

Overall, the weekend was a lot of fun.  Ryan and I dropped off the kids at my sister's house.  (I owe a huge thank-you to Katie and Bart for watching my kiddos.  She has three children of her own and had 6 kids under the age of 7 at her house Saturday and Sunday.  Wow-not that is hard work!)

When we arrived in Chicago, we picked up our packet.  Then we ate at Lou Malnatis.  Yummy!  I love deep dish pizza.


I slept ok on Saturday night.  We had the best hotel room possible.  Thanks to my mom who got the room for us!  It was a lot of fun watching them get organized in the morning from our window.

I look ready but I am not

View from our room

I met up with Jacque, Aimee, and Meghan at 6:30 and headed to the start.  The corral was packed.  Their goal was a 4:15 marathon and I was just going to follow them along.  We were so packed in that it was hard to get off to a good start.  Also running with 4 people in such a huge marathon is difficult.  I felt like I was constantly looking around for them.

I never got into a groove during my short run.  My foot was painful from the first step.  My form was off from the first step.  I knew after a few miles that I had the wrong decision to run this race.

The crowds were amazing!  The best cheering I have ever heard!

At mile 10, the pain in my foot really intensified.  Then at mile 12, my right hip started hurting.  I knew this was because my form was so off.  When I saw the medic tent at mile 14, the decision to stop was easy.  I was talking to one guy that had also stopped because he was also running on a stress fracture in his foot.  We described the exact pain.

Moral of the story:  DO NOT RUN ON A STRESS FRACTURE!

Ryan met up with me and we walked back to our hotel room and that was it.

Now it is time for me to take care of this foot.  I will not be running for awhile.  Lots of swimming and biking.

I need some time to heal my foot and my pride.  I have plans to run many more marathons in the future.  I just need to get my body healthy first.

I also think that I will stop blogging for awhile.  Maybe when I start running again, I will start back.

In the meantime, if you run...keep going.   If you are thinking about running...do it!  It may feel hard at first but if you stick with it, I promise it will be worth it.

Happy Running Everyone!