…”this life is more than just a read through”

I am going to go out & measure the distance. I also forgot to press stop on my watch so, I am not sure on the time, I think I was out for about 13 mins. I walked a bit. I am really concerned about my knee. I have to make an appointment to see my ortho. that operated on it in Jan. I think I have torn it again. Something really bad is going on, since it is more sore than it was prior to having surgery. When I run, my knee is screaming “STOP!”. I will make an appointment on Tuesday, but then there is this 5k to run tomorrow a.m. I am going to take some Motrin before I leave in the a.m. I am really not feeling that confident. But I will lie and say I am, so that subconsciously I will be more confident than I really am.

I did load a new ipod shuffle with music specifically chosen for this run:

John Frusciante, “The Past Recedes” (awesome song for any John Frusciante fans out there!)
Presidents of the USA, “Lump”
Red Hot Chili Peppers, “By the way”
Bel Biv DeVoe, “Poison”
Vampire Weekend, “A-Punk”
Deee Lite, “Groove is in the Heart”
The Call, “I still Believe”
Outkast, “Hey Ya”
Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Can’t Stop”

I am kinda psyched, I think that that should get me through the race.

The kids are looking forward to the fun run after the race!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/31/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:13:00.00
• Calories: 200
• Distance: 1.2 miles
• Average Pace: 10:49.82/mile

So, I took two of the crazies to the movies to see “Wall-e” - TOO CUTE! Well, the movie theatre is right near the 5k route, so I went over and drove through the route. I think I will be fine. There are essentially no hills to speak of. I spoke with a friend, who is an experienced racer, this a.m. and she gave me pretty much all of the same advise that you guys gave me, so I feel o.k. Hey, what happens, happens. My i-pod is one of those massive ones from I think the 2nd year that they came out - it holds every photo that you could ever possibly take in a lifetime. It is heavy and bulky, so my husband has a new shuffle with nothing on it, I am going to load it with exactly 35 mins. of music and only songs that I LOVE!! I am going to carefully arrange them so they are in the order of how I usually feel when I do 3.1, for example: I know that at mile 1 I usually need to slow to catch my breath, well, with a cranking Gorrillaz song, I wont feel like stopping, etc. I will finish at 33 mins. (hopefully or less) to the Red Hot Chili Peppers “Can’t Stop” and call it a race. The following is a link to the charity benefitting from the race: http://www.stcharleshome.org. Here is a neat article from “runner’s World” magazine about the Sisters who run the home: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,sss6-243-297–9987-1-1-2,00.html. The sisters run 4 miles/day in a full habit - and I complain about getting too hot wearing a tank top!

Damn, damn, damn. I tried, TRIED, this morning to listen to tje210’s advise and just be super positive and got on the treadmill to run my last 3.1 training run before the 5k. I sucked! I had the Early Show on the t.v. and talk about a downer - Richard Marx and some other guy come on to do an acoustic set of some song that was already lame before they turned it into an acoustic nightmare. God!!! Then, I had to stop two times to go use the potty (note to self: do not, I repeat do not, drink any tea on Monday a.m.). I had to stop a few times to slow down because my bad knee was screaming. Then I got a darn knot in my right calf - the same leg as my bad knee. If that wasn’t enough to completely psych me out, I could not run more than a 1/2 mile with the stupid new shirt that I bought. I get way too hot. #%@$, #%@$, #%@$. I also tried the Gu stuff and that did nothing but make me puke in my mouth while I was running my second mile. So, wont try that again. Wow, what a great last run.

I am going to listen to his advise and do a slow 15 mins. on the mill tomorrow and then some good stretching for that calf, shins & knee.

Why did I sign up for this 5k? Man, why does it have to be so hard.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/30/2008
• Time: 10:40:00
• Total Time: 00:34:39.00
• Calories: 469
• Distance: 3.11 miles
• Average Pace: 11:09.14/mile

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Got some new running duds. I needed to buy a new shirt and light weight shorts. I usually run on the treadmill with my running bra and shorts, I hate wearing a shirt while I run. So, I got the lightest moisture wicking shirts I could find. I get too darn hot while I run. I also found some low rise black (key color) super lightweight running shorts with the right leg cut for me. Woo hoo! Shopping and running what a combo! I bought a bottle to run with my water, you have to squeeze it for the water to come out and it is molded to fit in your hand. I would feel stupid running 3 miles with a “camelback” - if I can’t continue to run holding the bottle - I will leave it. I want to get something that I can strap a bottle of water to my arm. Heck, maybe a big piece of velcro? Do they make anything like that? Am I rambling? Crap, only one more training run tomorrow, Sunday off. Maybe I will do a quick 1 mile on Sunday just to keep my head in the game. I feel so dumb that I am freaking over a 5k, with all of you ironmen & women out there doing real races. So, should I wear the pink shirt with the black shorts or the green (it is a real cool grass green)? Do I have to stick a number on my shirt? How does it attach? Is it going to wreck my new shirt? Goofball, I know.

Well at least after I finish this 5k the nightmares will stop. I am pumped, scared #$@&less, worried, excited, nervous. Everything all at once. Well, it is happening in 4 days, now I have 2 questions and I really need advise on this. What should I eat the morning of the race to give me the most energy with the least amount of impact? My other question is should I keep my schedule of every other day until the race (which means only 1 more run on Sat.) or should I do tomorrow and Sat. and rest Sunday????? Arrrggggghhh. HELP! I don’t feel prepared!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/28/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 00:33:20.00
• Calories: 469
• Distance: 3.1 miles
• Average Pace: 10:45.16/mile
• Max Pace: 9:13.85/mile

It was overcast and I figured no one would be there, well, it cleared up nicely and we had a beautiful afternoon at the beach. I, comfortably, wore a bikini to the beach! I tanned the tum a bit and it is looking pretty darn good. I say in about a month, it is going to look great!

Only 5 days left!! Ran 3.111, I stopped to walk 2 times for a few mins. So, I still did a pretty good time, I am happy with it. Hey, at this point, it is what it is, and if I can run the whole thing without walking to catch my breath, I will be happy.

My knee is twitching and the shins were a little sore while I was running. But, essentially, a good run and I feel pretty good about it.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/26/2008
• Time: 11:00:00
• Total Time: 00:33:45.00
• Calories: 471
• Distance: 3.11 miles
• Average Pace: 10:50.99/mile

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 08/26/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 00:03:00.00
• Calories: 13
• Distance: 0.13 miles
• Average Pace: 22:33.38/mile

Yesterday, 9:30 am. I didn’t want to do it. I had drank 2 margaritas the night before (and I am quite the lightweight drinker) had the WORST sleep EVER (up from 1:30 a.m.-5:00 a.m.) and thought that I got my monthly visitor in the a.m. I was NOT going out for a run, but I felt the guilt, and then someone in the house went out for a street run, so I got dressed. I stretched well, and headed out. It was the first time ever that I ran on the beach (with shoes). I really liked it! I think I started out too fast, I wish I knew how fast I was going, but I know that within a few mins, I felt like I had to stop to walk. I slowed a bit and felt like I got into my 10:30-11:00 min/mi. pace that I am comfortable running. I ran out about what I guessed to be a mile and then speed walked back (with someone staying at the house).

I think I would like to try it again. I may during the Fall, on Sundays, drive to the beach and run just to get used to it. I really liked the way it felt on my legs. I just wish I had a traveling treadmill dashboard to tell me all of the stats that I need to know. I will have to get a better watch. What I did find interesting is that I felt it when I got into the pace that I am comfortable running. I need to know that feeling for the 5k. I saw how I can start out too fast and tire out too quickly. Run today for 3.1 in prep for the 5k. Slow and steady again. Holy crap!! Only 7 days! I think I am going to cry.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/25/2008
• Time: 07:45:00
• Total Time: 00:25:00.00
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 12:30/mile

I know I am going to receive comments about using ice instead of heat for the shin splint (I only have 1). I need to clarify… I used a heating pad last night because I was in bed and ice didn’t sound too relaxing or conducive to sleeping. I am going to try to ice/Motrin all weekend and see if it helps. I guess my running form could be causing this problem. Now I feel like I need to find a running coach to straighten me out. Wikipedia had an interesting page on the definition of “running”.

Man, laying in bed last night was so painful! I finally turned on the heating pad and laid it on top of my shin. Do I have shin splints? It is just my left shin, and it is sooo uncomfortable. I goes down the front of my shin, down the front of my ankle and radiates onto the top of my foot. It didn’t hurt that bad when I ran yesterday, but it progressively got worse through the day. Great, more aches and pains.