The Road to NYC: An Injury Update

 Some people have bad backs; others have weak ankles. Me? I have bad knees. They aren't always bad, but they are always one move away from being injured. It's just always been that way, so again, here I am with a knee injury.

It started out innocently enough, a little tweak on the track while running my cool down mile. I stopped for a moment, shook it out, ran a little slower, and nothing of note happened. Until it did. One step into a lunge and I was done for the week.

It's almost a full week out and my knee is slowly getting better. I've had to lay off all physical activity and even spent a little time on some crutches to let everything calm down. It hurts. It hurts my head and heart too. I haven't even taken the time to put pencil to paper and rewrite how I'm going to do this marathon training thing. I'm honestly not sure when I can even run again.

Just giving the quick update. I'll be sharing the moves I'm doing to safely regain strength over on Instagram. Taping, wrapping, icing, anti-inflammatory meds and foods. I'm doing it all in hopes this will pass quickly and I'm back on the road to NYC soon.

The Road to NYC: Weeks 2 & 3

 The weeks are ticking by and I'm still here logging miles, getting ready to take on NYC and a long list of other races this season.

These past 2 weeks were the end of the first build weeks, so this week I'm taking it a bit easier. I'm finally in double digits again, and runs don't feel too taxing at this point.

I've also added in some track work. Man, these felt awesome! I aim for 400m at a 7:30 pace. Trying to get it faster by marathon day, and also working on getting it more consistent. This type of speedwork is my favorite. It's so easy on the body (due to the track) and I really see results of getting stronger and faster. This next training round will keep me on the track through July. Then I'll be ready to do some serious hill training.

Weekly mileage is hovering around 20 miles per week. Not too bad, yet nothing too serious yet. Maxed out at 10.5 miles on a pretty flat trail. Now is where the work begins!

The Road to NYC: Week 1

 Is anyone here? Do people even read blogs anymore? Recently I've been feeling a lot of content ideas and creativity brewing. Podcast? YouTube? A beefed up Instagram? Maybe a Facebook group? I'm not sure where my creative juices will lead me, but it seemed natural (and let's face it, easy) to start here, the blog where it all began many moons ago.

When I started blogging, it was for myself, journaling my first Goofy Challenge. My first blog, entitled "Just Keep Swimming" was a training log. 

It seems like ages ago--there was no "Dopey" (in fact, I ran the 'unofficial Dopey' that year), I was childless (training without the strain of family life), and we can all relate to a life pre-Covid. No matter what your past year looked like, I'm sure it changed you in some way.

It just seems logical and/or poetic that I start blogging again in the same way I started: a chronical of my training toward a once impossible dream. For me, that dream has been the NYC Marathon. I have wanted to run this race for as long as I can remember (in running years), and my attempts at a lottery entry were denied year after year. In 2019, I scored a covetted 'guaranteed entry' bib for the virtual marathon. 26.2 miles on my own, but the reward was worth it! I earned my way into 2020. Then...2020. Living in New York, I knew it wasn't happening. I actually had even come to terms that 2021 wasn't happening, but here we are, mask free, ready to run in November! I didn't even have a hotel booked (don't worry, I have it now). 

This now presents me with an interesting task: actually train to run the race! I'm not in the best shape of my life, nor my worst, but regardless, you can't fake a marathon. I have lots of support and training races along the way, maybe even reinstating the '40 for my 40th' quest. Who knows?!?!

For now, training week 1 is done! I'm currently running 3 days per week and will ramp up to 4 once I unload a HIIT class to a collegue of mine at the gym. I'm trying to delicately balance overtraining and preparation, body composition and miles, carbs and protein. 

I wrote my own plan, and will incorporate speed work and hill training (sort of). I have the virtual Boston Marathon on the calendar, so I will definitley be trained up for 26.2. 

Week One:

5/5/8 (just mileage, no targetted workouts)

I feel good about pace (long run around 11:30), and have embraced running in shorts! Phew! That will make summer easier. 

I didn't do enough strength trianing this week. I did Les Mills Core twice (perfect), but nothing else. I need to be sure to get at least 2 other strength workouts in. Also did my HIIT classes for general fitness. It's hard being a fit pro and needing to do these things for work. 

Actually used my Theragun! Woohoo! I need more stretching, body work, foam rolling, and care. 

Mindset is awesome! More on this later, but I'm thinking of reframing the '40' goal, and my work is providing some great opportunities to spread my coaching wings. Let's be honest, all the runDisney talk has also reenergized me! Yes, the call is already in to our travel agent and Dopey is planned (if it's happening). 

How are YOU doing with your training? Let me know you're here!

NYC Marathon Update!

Well, the easy part is over--I've raised $500 for Team for Kids and have my entry into this year's virtual NYC Marathon. Now I need to actually run it. Damn.

There is a definite laziness that comes along with a virtual race, for me anyway. I know that I just have to complete it (yes, in an allotted time), so I really don't care at all about my time. I also know that it is 26.2 miles, so even though I have a decent amount of time to do it, I still know it would be best to log some training. At least I know this in my head. In reality, I haven't taken this training seriously at all. Yes, I've done some running, but I would hardly call it training. I've done a few long runs, made it past the half-marathon mark, and even dragged the baby out with me for a few short distance runs. I think I did some speed training once a few months ago.

I had a brief moment of pride finishing my 16-miler, only because I seriously wanted to give up. And now, you can add "being sick" to the list of things against me tomorrow. I've seen a few runners barely make the cutoff and heard of many challenges. Truth is I have no idea what is in store for me. Doing this on your own with no race support, no crowds cheering, no anything is really a big task. I'm getting my fuel ready today, thinking through how I'm going to do my up-and-backs, and planning all the backup devices I can manage because if one fails, there's no way I can do another marathon on Sunday!

So, universe of running, reading, and friends, I ask that you say a little prayer or send a few good wishes to me tomorrow. I hope to report success on the other side!

2020 Marathon Weekend Update!

Well, guess it's time to make it official--we will NOT be at marathon weekend in 2020! Sad faces for days!

There's good reason, though! We are now officially Walt Disney World AP holders, so we have WAY big plans for May 2020-21. This includes a very special running year for me!

As we were getting ready to celebrate Bill's big 4-0, I started to think about my own looming birthday (38 is a few weeks away). I wanted to do something big for my 40th, so why not do 40 races for my 40th? It perfectly coincides with our tenth wedding anniversary in May of 2020 (which obviously means an all-out crazy trip to Disney), so we scooped up annual passes at a discount and we are ready to start planning.

So, no races at the beginning of 2020, but we will be ready to go for 2021. On that note, we won't be coming down for Wine and Dine at all. Super sad faces...sort of! It's because I will be RUNNING NYC!!!! Yes, I have guaranteed entry to the 2020 NYC Marathon!!!!! Yes, I'm still freaking out a little. This is my dream race, and to get to do it as part of my 40 for my 40th is a dream come true!!! More on that later...

So, expect to see lots of support and tips, but you won't see us at the actual race. For those getting ready for marathon, Dopey, and Goofy, it's time to get training! You can find the official runDisney training plans HERE. Best of luck, and I'm always here to help! Who is getting ready for 2020?