Training Run That Led to Plantar Fasciitis :(

Training Run (LSD): Saturday, 2/12/2011

Since I am a "little" behind on my posts, I have to include the date in the body so everyone can follow along with my procrastination! At least I have a few comments when I logged the run on dailymile . Otherwise, I would have trouble remembering some of the details and anyone who knows me well, knows that I am all about the details. ;)

Jeff (running partner) and I decided to run 3-4 miles several times a week and schedule long runs (6-10 miles) on Saturday morning as a way to build a solid base for the January 2012 marathon. Then we will get really crazy this October and toss in the 18-20 miles as part of the necessary preparation!

We ran 8 miles the previous Saturday (2/5) with few issues. Geyer had been struggling with calf issues (I told him to go vegetarian but to no avail yet!) since December I think but recently bought compression sleeves and raved about the tight feeling. He did feel a twinge around mile 6, we slowed down, he ran through it and was fine. I got a stitch around mile 5.5, slowed down, did the 'arms overhead' thing, worked it out.

Ok, back to the 2/12 run. We started around 8:30 A.M., a decent time for a Saturday morning run in mid-February, and decided to run 8, maybe 10, miles again. We parked near 44th Street & Camelback and ran on Lafayette and canal into old town Scottsdale. My legs and lungs felt great but calves were bothering Jeff again and compression sleeves were not helping this time. The run/walk/run/walk/run pattern was sporadic and I had trouble getting into any rhythm. I know Jeff had it worse since he was in pain. Anyway, despite the lovely views along Lafayette, I was frustrated because usually my head is clear after a long run. I dropped off Jeff at his house, headed home to grab a snack and pickup my gym bag, and drove to the gym to cross train. However, it was a beautiful morning, I like to exercise outside and I had the time that weekend. I figured I had 3-4 miles left in my legs since I walked so much of the LSR. I took off, too quickly I realize now. About 1 mile in, the bottom of my left foot started to hurt and I continued to run and tried to ignore the pain. I finally stopped to walk after 3.7 miles, just 0.25 mile from the gym. The heat from the sun beating down on me + the foot pain was more than I could handle. I hobbled through the rest of my gym routine (whirlpool, pool walking & sauna/steam room). On a positive note, I enjoyed a Chocolate Outrage GU after the run and as far as an artificially flavored energy gel goes, CO is Yumster! Unfortunately, I neglected to ice my foot when I got home. And I added to the pain by going to a friend's birthday party that night and danced the night away in heels. PAINFUL!

This reads like a soap opera, right?! Next on 'Plantar Fasciitis', does Chloe tell Patrick that she is carrying E. J.'s baby or does Suzanne get a foot transplant from a Good Samaritan who is really her twin brother switched at birth and then stolen from the hospital? And J. R. may have been shot by an overzealous cyclist on an earlier episode of 'P. F. Dallas'! :D Does this dress make me look pregnant?
Do you think Patrick can tell?

ARR Desert Classic 5K 2011

3rd race in 2011: 1/29/2011, AZ Road Racers Desert Classic 5K, Surprise, AZ.

I wanted to run 1 leg (of 5 legs) of the marathon relay at this event but I did not find enough people to round out the team in time. Plus this location was nearly an hour away from home! About the same time, I started a cross country team with 6th-8th graders from my school and I began to scope out races. ARR offers FREE entry for children under 17 so it seemed like a perfect opportunity! I arranged for Saturday bus transportation and everyone got excited about the race. I did not sign-up for the race because I wanted to cheer on my students so why pay money for a race when I am not running all out.

On this chilly, dark January morning, eight (8) students and I met early at the school and took off in the bus at 6:10 A.M., a little later than planned! It was a little nerve-wracking as we arrived at race start time, seemingly no time to spare. I did not know this area well but it seemed like it was in a residential section and the parking signage was poorly marked. Thankfully one family of a student drove ahead of us and picked up their race bibs! Once we parked the bus and hustled over, Elisa (parent), James (bus driver) and I attached race bibs to front of shirts and looped timing chips through shoelaces. Then we made our way to the start line. The half marathon had already started and the 5K was to start within next 5-10 minutes. James took a few pictures of the team and I quickly checked with the race director to see if I could run along the course to check on my runners. He said I could run the entire course with them if I wanted.

We took off along this narrow course with a gradual incline until the turnaround. It took us about 15 minutes to run off the chill and the students stopped to walk often so I stopped often to walk with them! As we walked, I suggested that they check out the other runners, especially the other kids, notice their form and encouraged them to cheer their fellow runners. That was 1 fun aspect to hear them say, "Great job running" or "Way to Go" to people they had never met. The other thing is how amazed they were at the young runners who were really good and we even overheard a few kids talk about their running goals and past races...too cute! After the turnaround, the team naturally split into 2 groups so I took turns running with the faster group, then slowing down to catch up with the second group and running ahead to get back to first group. At the last stretch, with maybe 0.15 miles to the finish line, I encouraged the faster group to run it in. One of the parents was waiting for us and took pictures as we crossed the finish line. Then I ran back up the hill to meet the second group and run in with them. The sheer excitement at completing the race made it lots of fun to interact with the middle schoolers after the race. We indulged in the FREE snacks and also watched half marathoners finish their race. I ran into Reid, a really fast runner/blogger, after he finished the half marathon and was awaiting his turn in 1 leg of the marathon relay...amazing!

We took the picture below as we waited for race results to be posted. The students started asking about our next race and if we could run longer races.
Joshua: I want to run a 10K next time.
Carlos: Wait, a 10K is like 2 5Ks. I barely made it through the 5K today!

Hahahaha! Great accomplishment and a fun day for all! Next year...running the full marathon relay in 2012!! :D
Motto on back of L.C.K. Dragons T-shirt:
IMPROVING-every minute, every second, every student!

P. F. Chang's Rock 'N Roll AZ 1/2 Marathon 2011

2nd race in 2011: 1/16/2011, P. F. Chang's Rock 'N Roll AZ 1/2 Marathon, Phoenix, AZ.
I ran my 1st half marathon at RNR AZ in January 2010 so this race is my favorite for emotional 'goal setting' reasons. I basically had taken the summer off from training due to laziness and the fact that I was fried from the AZ heat AKA Hades! I ran a pitiful 5K race in mid-September and then hastily prepared for the Lincoln YMCA 1/2 Marathon at South Mountain in late October. I got hit hard by the rolling hills on this course and said, "AYFKM?!" throughout this race. I finished the race, albiet barely, but after that, I decided I better get my $H!T together since I had to defend my crown (I mean, beat my previous record) in January. About that time, Jeff, the P.I.T.A. from Monte Vista, emailed & begged me to train (with) him. We started training together the first week of November. It is a great partnership because we run at a similar pace and both like to run in the morning. Unfortunately I have to endure his ridiculous attempts at humor and other unmentionable habits but I am like Mother Theresa so it works!

We trained well in November and most of December. I ran 2 races (10K and 10-miles) in November and Jeff ran a half marathon in early December. Then Jeff starts to complain (loudly!) about his calves and defaults on this race. He leaves me hanging until we are carpooling to the light rail. Then he drops me off along with a stranger (Meghan, teacher at his school) running her first race. Jeff did let me borrow his Garmin so that was a treat. We walked to the start line, made the usual small talk, and I told her that she was not allowed to pass me at any point in the race. She agreed as I had shared numerous race secrets with her!

I made my way to corral 9 (woohoo, moved up from #12 last year!) and excitedly moved forward as each corral crossed the start line. I tried to run smoothly instead of the usual 'sprint out of the gate' and the crowd at the start definitely slowed me down. I made up time and stayed pretty steady for awhile. I hit the hill at mile 9 and slowed down. I need to train with hills again! I finished strong at 2:12, thank goodness for the crowds along the way. I enjoyed the Post-Race party and I am always impressed with the number of people who run the half or full marathon. Great accomplishment! Next year...running the full in 2012!! :D

Freeze Your Thorns Off 5K 2011

Ok, I am officially the worst blogger ever! I last blogged in mid-December & could not muster even 2 measly minutes to blog during my 2 weeks of winter vacation...nothing!! Well, I set a 2011 goal to run 11 races so I decided to check in at the end of the 1st Quarter to see how I am doing.

1st race of 2011: 1/8/2011, Freeze Your Thorns Off 5K at Papago Park, Phoenix, AZ.
My running parter, Jeff, invited me to sign-up for this FREE, casual race with his running blogger friends. I had heard about a few of them (Adam, Lauren and Rio) and I had met Lauren at the SCC track in December. I LOVE free races (really, free anything!) so I signed up immediately. Adam organized the race and invited people outside the valley to run that day in their neck of the woods and submit a virtual report. Kind of a cool idea. On this chilly January morning, I carpooled with Jeff and his neighbor, Kim, to Papago Park. While enduring frigid temperatures (low 40s in Phoenix...brrrhhhh!), we hung out in the parking lot trying to stay warm for 15 minutes before the race started. There were about 15 Phoenicians ready to run.
Jeff, Kim and I hug it out before the 7:42 A.M. start!

The course was marked with flour (the other white powder was to be enjoyed at the post-race party!) so that gave me a good idea that the goodie bag was likely to be chintzy. Adam gave the official start signal (I think he said, "Go!") and the small group was off and ... running! Jeff and I had quickly assessed the level of the participants and decided we probably would come in close to last place. Other than Adam, there were some impressive runners in that group. We actually ran a solid race and finished ahead of 5 people, including a couple pushing a baby-in-stroller. The only snag was the course was marked just short at the halfway point so we ran 3 instead of 3.1 miles. Oh well.

I thought the organizers did a great job and I met some nice people! I definitely would run this race again and I hear they are planning the 2nd Sweat Your Thorns Off 5K this summer. I will be there, wearing less clothes since it will be 108 degrees! :)