Monday, March 21, 2011

Marathon shoes: Decided!

Our computer crashed last week during an upgrade and I almost cried. I thought of all my thousands of pictures, music, e-mails, and files that were all on that computer. And then the reality of how addicted I am to this little machine set in. I love reading about all my friends and receiving inspiration and comments from you guys. And I have been without it for 5 LONG days. Luckily, I have a computer genius for a husband and he assured me that he would be able to fix everything and bring it all back. We've been wanting to get another disk drive to automatically back up the computer, but just hadn't done it yet. We do now. Still, my husband has been able to save everything. My music is copying as we speak and at some point I will get caught back up on all your lives. I sound a bit pathetic, don't I?
On the running front I had a big happy face this weekend! On Thursday I ran to the gym in the evening to my cycling class. And I ran the whole way barefoot. It was only 2 1/2 miles and I've run farther, but it fun running barefoot to a destination. The only hard part was carrying my shoes and water bottle.
Friday night I was up late. We had been out with friends and had a great time. But on the drive home from the restaurant, I started to dread my run the next morning. DREAD. I am sick of my music and couldn't do any changing because of the computer situation. I wanted someone to run with. That wasn't going to happen. I am sick of the places that I run. It seems like I have run everywhere in my little city and I need new scenery. But with no one to go with the hubby was not going to let me run the canyon or somewhere like that alone. I really just didn't want to do it. I whined to my husband.
I woke up Saturday morning still filled with that dread. I finally got a grip and told myself that it really was going to be a sucky run if I kept that attitude. So I pulled up my bootstraps and sucked it up and got dressed. I took my peppermint oil for my stomach issues (thanks toMisszippy!) and packed up my Hammer gels (montana huckleberry) and headed out the door in the hurricane style winds. I told myself that I would do 3 x 5 mile loops and then stick 3 miles on the end. After the first 3 miles in the wind, I told myself that if it didn't let up that I would go home and finish it on the treadmill.

In the middle of that first lap I got a text from my slightly injured running partner Heather, asking me if I wanted some company on my run. She was volunteering to ride her bike next to me. That my friends, is the sign of a true friend. She knew I was dreading that run and was going to help me out. Unfortunately she had a flat. She got the o.k. from the chiropractor to try her foot out this weekend so her husband drove her to me and she ran 2.5 miles with me to finish out loop #2. It was SO nice to have some company. The wind had let up a little and her company totally cheered me up. It also ended up being a really great running day. My body felt good. Really good. We grabbed my husband's bike for the 3rd loop and she rode next to me. So fabulous. She left me to finish out the remaining 3 miles and I knew I could do it.
I was trying to decide where 3 miles would be and finally just made the decision that I was feeling so good I would just make it 20 miles even. I finished out those last 2 miles a little faster and couldn't believe how good I felt. The only thing that was even hurting was my toes and the top of my left foot again. I was to the point where I wasn't feeling it much at all during the week but I guess 20 miles will bring any little aches to the surface. My hip flexors were a little tight, but as soon as I stopped they were fine. I could have kept going but decided to stop and save a little for another day. It was a mileage PR in my monkey feet and I think they are going to be my marathon shoes.


This was just the little boost I needed. My recent long runs were not what I wanted them to be. This run was how I want marathon day to feel like. My stomach was great. I gelled at mile 6,11, and 16. 3 gels. No stomach problems whatsoever! Since I had success with the Hammer electrolyte tabs, I tried Nuun this week and LOVED it. That will be my new drink of choice. What I really love about both products is that there's not a lot of sugar. I can drink it with my gels. No more carrying gatorade and water on long runs. Yahoo! I felt great the rest of the day and absolutely no soreness the next day. Not even in my calves. I expected that I would with a mileage increase. I kept wondering if I counted the loops right. I still almost couldn't believe that I had done it. It's almost like I'm training for my first marathon all over again. I'm quite excited about all of this and can't wait to share another little mind game that I've been working on. If you didn't think I was weird before, you will after that post!
We also got the garden started Saturday. After hauling in 2 truckloads of compost last weekend, my husband tilled and got the rows ready for planting while I was on my run. We have peas and spinach planted and will do broccoli, cauliflower, chard, arugela, cabbage, carrots, and onions sometime this week. I can't wait until we have fresh tomatoes and peppers again. That's by far my favorite.

Do you have a garden?

What fresh veggies are you looking forward to this summer?

What's your best long run tip?

Monday: 5.5 mile run in gorilla feet with strides outside
Tuesday: core work, 60 min spin class
Wednesday: 6.26 mile run barefoot on treadmill, upper body weights and abs
Thursday: 4.5 mile run in VFF's outside, 2.5 mile run barefoot outside, 60 min spin class
Friday: 4 mile run barefoot on treadmill, upper body weights and abs
Saturday: 20 mile run!!! In gorilla feet outside

24 comments:

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

Great job on the unplanned 20 miles!

I am trying my hand at growing stuff (I can't really call it gardening when it's in containers.) this year for the very first time. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries for right now. If I decide I can do it without killing everything, I'll do more next time. :)

Stefanie D. said...

Nice job on your distance PR!

I'm super excited for a garden this year!! Cucumbers, tomatoes, and crook-neck squash are my favorite garden veggies. They just have such good flavor. :)

Julia said...

JEN! Awesome run!!! so excited for you that you pushed through it and it ended up being awesome! Sometime we should meet halfway and run together...that would be awesome!

So jealous of your garden...I cannot wait to have a garden so I can grow my own spices, green peppers, hot peppers, green beans, etc!!! Have a great week!!

Unknown said...

Love those gorilla feet!!

We have a big garden and going to try many new things this year. Hopefully more herbs and both white and sweet potatoes. Of course loads of tomatoes and beans.

Take care!

misszippy said...

Friends like that are the best! Sounds like a fantastic week of running and training. So cool you're going to marathon in the gorilla feet!

I always want a garden, but the reality is that our backyard is far too shady. So, I do a CSA instead. Love it.

Sam W. said...

i am so inspired by you!! sounds like an amazing weekend (and week) of running! also, totally jealous of your garden, we don't have space for one right now...but i'm daydreaming of the day we get to put one in.

katie thompson said...

peppermint oil is good for sensitive stomachs?!? you must tell me more. i get very crampy.

Wendy said...

I love it when you update. ;-) Thanks.

GREAT job on 20 miles. And what a wonderful friend you have.

I hope we can do a garden someday. For real. We've tried last year, but the deer (and squirrels) ruined it. Plus, we have no idea what we're doing. ;-)

Deanna said...

Great job on your run! You have a really great friend to show up and keep you company like that.

I like the "idea" of having a garden, but I'm not sure I'd like it in reality. I do enjoy the farmer's market in the summer though. :)

Glad you're back on the computer!

Mallory said...

Great workouts!!! Keep up the awesome work!!

zapmamak said...

We are excited about our garden this year as well! My boys are finally old enough to leave the tomatoes on the vine. We are converting their dig space into the garden (which is what it was before kids anyway). They are so excited they picked out the seeds for it. We are waiting for a non-rainy day to till the soil and prep it for planting.

Unknown said...

Yeah for PR!!! My is so small but it feels just as good!
So my man is looking into gorilla feet. Where do you get them? Who makes them?

ash & diz said...

WAHOO! so excited you had a great run!!! my mom tried the hammer gel-huckleberry flavor last week and really liked it too! :)

so glad you found your marathon shoe! :) it's coming up so fast! :)

Pere Pasamonte said...

20 mile run! :O I don't like such long runs!

I prefer to run less miles but doing them in progression, increasing speed. In that way you teach your body to do the same the day of the race. :)

trisha*n said...

awesome run! I am sooo excited to get my garden planted this week with my mom. I love garden season!

Evolving Through Running said...

20 miles in the monkey feet .... awesome!! Glad the minimalist is working out so well for you. I'm lurking on the fringes of this 'movement', and may be headed that direction in the near future.

Planting a garden with my kids for the first time this year. Unfortunately the location is pretty shady, so it may be challenging, but the kids are excited, and I know to go with it if the kids are interested and it doesn't involve electronics.

Rachelle Wardle said...

Great job on your LR! And I am so glad the new gels seemed to work for you. I have a feeling you will feel so much more confident going into this marathon and knowing what will work.

I love, love, love fresh veggies. Green peppers, cucumbers, onions, and even the 100lbs of zuccinni my neighbors bring me.

Wendy said...

Awesome run!! I'm still chugging along, and trying to get back into shape. Shame on me and my fair weather running self!

We're just doing a little container garden this year (no grass/just woods here)- peppers, tomatoes, etc.

Anonymous said...

Wow I'm so impressed that you run barefoot, that's awesome! I have never thought about trying it, I'm kinda a scaredy cat lol
I hoping one day I can work up to a marathon status, I'm just working on getting myself stronger so that my next Half Marathon is better than my first!
Thanks for visiting my blog! Love yours!

A Prelude To... said...

Great job! Great friend!!! Gotta love a run like that. No soreness the next day? You are in great running shape!! Pristine shape I would say!

I don't have a garden but I kind of wish I did. They are SO much work, though. My cousin Michael and his wife Nicole had a beautiful ROUND garden last year. It was HUGE and beautiful Strangers would actually stop and come onto their property to ask them about it as they would see it driving by.

I love fresh tomatoes!

Jess @ Blonde Ponytail said...

I wondered where you were?!! So sorry about the comp crash Jen. :(

The hubs and I used Nuun to hydrate b4 our half in NV. Great stuff!

We used to have a garden--you will love picking fresh veggies--jealous!! You will have to post pics of it!

Anonymous said...

I'm super impressed with your barefoot/gorilla feet progress!! I'm starting to long for my barefeet running again. I just dont have the confidence to run one without shoes! Maybe someday...

LAPT said...

Great job on your long run!!!! You're doing awesome. In the summer, I swoon for sugar snap peas. But honestly, I'm a sucker for all fruit... yum.

Also, if you want new music, I put put a ton on a USB key for you! If you don't mind sending back the USB, I could try to mail it out next week? You can shoot me an email -- laurenpt AT gmail DOT com.

The Hungry Runner Girl said...

I DIE WITHOUT A COMPUTER....5 days?!?! WOW!!! Heather is a sweetie for riding with you!! GREAT RUN!!! 20 miles...WOW! I love that you carried your shoes to spin, you are my hero! I WANT a garden. I might just have to come help you with yours! I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT YOUR STOMACH...wow, that makes my day!