How I got here...

(Response to an email from my coach checking in about how things are going with everyone, personal goals, etc.):

Hi Ken.

This will probably be more info than you wanted, but here goes...

I ran about 6 miles on my own on the trail on Saturday morning. It wasn't a very good run. I had shin pain for the 1st 1-2 miles, so I had to stop several times to stretch. That helped and the rest of the run was pain-free. I had stomach issues though after that and had to take a detour over to Barton Springs to go to the bathroom. And, my cardio just sucks right now. So, it was another bad run in a string of bad runs lately.

Since we ran the half-marathon in San Antonio last Sunday, my mileage for last week was 30 miles. I think I'm going to follow the beginner schedule right now since (a) I'm scared of pushing too hard since my lower leg pain hasn't gone away completely, and (b) I'm terribly out of shape compared to where I used to be.

My running history - I started running with my 1st 5k in Nov. 2004 and then ran the Freescale half-marathon in February a few months later. I joined Rogue in May, 2005 and started training for Chicago, but I got injured (bone stress injury in right tibia) and I was out for 3 months. I diligently cross-trained during that time to develop my fitness. I started training again in September, 2005 for Freescale and ran a 4:08 in my 1st marathon last year (2006). I then went through the 5k/10k PR class and saw huge gains in speed - my 5k and 10k PR's came last Spring (5k 22:59 and 10k 50:23). At that point, qualifying for Boston seemed like it was within the realm of possibility if I trained hard enough (my 2-mile time-trial last May was 14:06). So, I trained for Chicago again last summer with a goal of qualifying there, but I got sick the week of the race and had a horrible race (I probably shouldn't have even run). With the disappointment of that race, I immediately jumped into the Performance Project with Mac last November to train for AT&T. But, mentally, I needed a break after training so intensely for 1+ years, so I stopped training right before Xmas and ran minimally in January and February of this year. I started training again with Mac's Performance Project for the 5k/10k PR class in the Spring and regained some speed (5k 23:26 in April). Mentally, I felt like I was ready to take on marathon training again and joined Ruth's Boston Qualifier Fall Marathon group with intent to run Columbus in October. But, I had been dealing with shin splints intermittently all year and they seemed to get worse, to the point where I just stopped running completely in July and August. I've been going 2x a week since September for ART with some improvement. But, I've also lost a lot of fitness over the past 4-6 months, which brings me to where I am now.

My only goal right now is to get to the start line of a Spring Marathon, probably Big Sur or possibly Flying Pig. I'm not focused on a specific time goal right now - I just want to get healthy, get back into good running shape, and then re-focus on a BQ later.

Hope this helps! Thanks for asking.

Melissa

For the boy who LOVES sports...

What do you get the boy you love who LOVES sports?

Well, for his birthday:
Toronto Maple Leafs at Atlanta Thrashers on Friday, 12/14
Charlotte Bobcats at Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, 12/15

And, for Christmas:
NCAA Basketball 2008 South Regional on 03/28-30

(Yes, he already knows about all this, so I'm not ruining the surprise by posting this).

Plans...

It's been a short week since I was off on Monday for Veteran's Day, but I'm still so glad that it is Friday! I had my first turkey and associated Thanksgiving foods at our Department Thanksgiving luncheon today. Now, I need a nap.

I ran an easy 4-miles on TLT last night (instead of the 6 or 7 mile fartlek that the intermediate and advanced runners were scheduled to do). No shin pain, but my left calf was really tight and causing me some problems while I ran. As a result, I'm going to give sports massage a try (in addition to ART) because I think my tight calves are one of the underlying problems that causes some of my other problems if not properly addressed. So, I have an appointment on Wednesday afternoon. The long run tomorrow morning is 6, 7, or 10 (depending on level) on TLT. I'm going to see how my legs feel, but I will be alright if I only run 6. That will still put my mileage for week 1 at 30 miles, which is a good start. And, you have to start again somewhere...

I think this is interesting and I'm not sure what to make of it. The marathon at Big Sur is 37% full (limited to 4,500), while the 21-miler has already sold out (race is April 27, 2008).

We don't have any set plans for this weekend, which is kind of nice since it seems like the next month will be hectic (but good). We finally made plans last night for a trip to Atlanta for my brother's college graduation and K's birthday celebration in a few weeks. I had hoped to go to ATL for the graduation then fly out from there to somewhere else, like NYC or DC, for the weekend, but we couldn't get the flight schedule to work out and there's nowhere cool within easy driving distance. So, we'll spend 4 days in ATL instead.

The holidays are here!

So, as you know from my post last week, the holidays have been a sensitive topic with me and K recently. That aside, I love the holidays! But, who doesn't? I just wish that it would finally get cooler and STAY cooler to really get people in the mood for the holidays.

My mom is driving down from Dallas next Wednesday morning and my brother is flying in from Atlanta that afternoon. My mom has been to the house already, but my brother hasn't. I'm excited to have them here with us. My mom will cook all the Thanksgiving goodness (since I obviously can't). K and I are thinking about running the Turkey Trot that morning. My mom has to get back to work on Friday, so she'll head back on Thursday afternoon while my brother will stay until Saturday. K is flying out to Ohio on Friday and won't be back until Monday night. This will be the 1st time we have been apart since I went to Illinois for work back in January. Christmas plans have not been decided yet...

I can't wait to decorate for Christmas. This will be our 1st year in a house together, so we're going to get a tree. My mom has been busy getting decorations for us. I can't wait to see what she's gotten. Since K will be gone for Thanksgiving weekend, then we'll probably get the tree the following weekend. And, then the Xmas party for my staff that I can't believe I offered to host is the next weekend, so things will be busy getting ready for that.

We've already gotten our Xmas cards printed for this year. A lucky few are getting special ones from "Big K Designs."

And, then of course there's the gift-giving. I love giving gifts, so I've been busy this week trying to gather Xmas lists from everyone. I've already started shopping for K's presents. His birthday is the week before Xmas so he gets double the gifts. It's so much fun though!

Beginners still cross the finish line...

I had ART after work today. No significant pain today - it was the good kind of hurt. Finished the session with anodyne on my tendons again. Next session is on Monday. I told the doc that I have "officially" started marathon training again. My only goal is to get to the start line this time. And, that's what I reminded myself during my run afterwards. I got a late start after ART, so it was nearly dark by the time I got to the trail. Beginners were supposed to run 3 miles today, intermediates 6, and advanced 7. I really set out to run 6, but then decided to cut it short at 3 because there's no need to push it this 1st week, especially when my running health is still somewhat precarious. After all, beginners cross the finish line too...

Getting back to mel...

Today was a reminder of a time when my days were filled with things that I enjoy.

For the first time in many, many months, I actually got to see a kid at work. It was nice to use those clinical muscles that haven't been used in so long. I am good at what I do. And, I miss it terribly. It's not that anybody is telling me that I can't see kids at work - it's just a matter of figuring out how to fit it in with everything else that my position demands. I'm going to try to work on that...

And, tonight was the 1st quality workout of the Spring Marathon program. I have to admit that I was excited and a bit nervous at the same time. Our group consists of all levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) since it is relatively small for those training for Paris, London, or any other marathon in April. I met our coach, Ken Young, who seems like a really nice guy. It's actually kind of nice to have a coach who doesn't know me (and my running demise) so he doesn't have any expectations for me. And, my sole expectation for myself is to get to the start line at Big Sur or whatever marathon that K and I settle on. This program is about getting me back into marathon shape, enjoying running, and being part of the Rogue community again. It is NOT about trying to BQ or achieve a specific time goal. That will be the next step after this one...but not now. This is no pressure running, as I am calling it.

But, you put a stopwatch on and are told to run 2 1-mile repeats at a "comfortably hard" pace and it does bring out those personal expectations that I am trying to let go of for now. We ran the 1-mile loop over at Zilker (down the hill on the backside, thankfully). Since when did a 8:31 mile and 8:41 mile feel that hard???? Oh, since I've gained XX pounds and haven't ran fast in months, that's when. For better or worse, I'm one of the faster girls in the group (but remember that's not saying a lot right now).

I had some tightness in my shins during the 1-mile warmup over to Zilker and had to stop to stretch briefly. Thankfully, the pain went away during drills before the workout, so I was pain-free from that point on. K and I ran together back to the Annex on the roads rather than via the trail since it was so dark. We never run together, so that was nice.

I had ART yesterday morning - ART followed by anodyne on my tendons. I have another session tomorrow afternoon. At this rate, I really am going to max out my insurance benefits for the remainder of the year.

Oh, and K and I seem to have resolved some of the issues that we've been dealing with for the past week or so. So, things are better on that front too.

A challenge...

The past few days haven't been easy. Thanks for the kind words that some shared. It was much appreciated and needed.

K and I are still working through the fallout from the holiday planning, particularly within the context of the larger issues at play here. It wasn't easy to go to San Antonio with him this weekend and try to act as if I'm fine since we were around our friends.

We went down to SA early yesterday afternoon so that we could pick up our packets from the Expo and get to Gabby's in time for him to watch the Ohio State game that afternoon. Ohio State lost, so as you can imagine it was not a pleasant afternoon. The stomach issues started then - possibly from lunch at EZ's, possibly emotionally based because I knew how much he would be angry and upset if OSU lost. After the game, we all went out for dinner to a really good Italian restaurant (Little Italy). It was very good - I had beef tortellini. But, my tummy really started acting up then. I didn't have a good night's sleep.

5:30 am came early, although we were both sleeping restlessly. Holly called at 5:50 or so - she had driven down from Austin and was already at the start. She's Holly, so of course she was already there before we had even left! K and I got down there and parked at the Alamodome about 6:30 then made the trek over to the Alamo where the race started. Note to race organizers - get a shuttle to transport the runners from the finish to the start 'cause they're about to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles and don't really need that extra 10-15 minute walk beforehand. I'm just saying...

I met up with Holly at the race start and it was funny how relaxed we were both approaching this whole thing compared to how anal we'd both be if this was a marathon or a key race. We heard a cannon go off and I just thought it was ceremonial (like a flyover or something), but it turned out to be the signal to start. Oh, guess we better jump into the start corral! And, off we went.

Today's run was the opposite of my great run in Columbus a few weeks ago. It was very, very warm (it's November in Texas!). I knew within the 1st half mile that my shin pain was not going to go quietly today. I think at that point I knew that it was going to be a long 13.1 miles. I stopped to stretch several times within the first 4 miles and fortunately the pain abated at that point. But, my tummy issues were not going away. I stopped to go to the bathroom at mile 4 - a 10 minute stop, mostly waiting in line for 1 of 2 port-a-potties. Even with all my stopping to stretch, I had managed to make it to mile 4 at about 40 minutes or so. But, I didn't leave that point until 50+ minutes into the race. By then, I was surrounded with a lot of slower folks. I had another (quicker) bathroom stop at mile 7, but my stomach just never seemed to settle down. I was also worried about getting water-logged since it was so warm and I was trying to drink a lot.

There was a never-ending out and back stretch for a couple of miles soon thereafter. That just sucked. I kept looking for Holly and Rob to be coming back in and I finally saw Holly - she assured me that it really does turn around. It was a rough run today, mentally and physically. So far off my PR too. 2007 is turning out to be the year of my PW (personal worst). The race finished inside of the Alamodome, which was pretty cool. I was just glad to be done with that horrible run at that point.

K had a pretty good run, despite GI issues too. I'm proud of him.
*Update - he got 4th in his age group (based on chip time)!*

I have ART tomorrow morning. During my session last Thursday, my "spot" really does seem to be moving down to a very small area on my ankle, particularly on my right leg. It really does seem like progress (despite the reemergence of the pain early during today's run). The doc opted to do ultrasound on my legs instead of anodyne treatment because he felt like that would be better for that area. We'll see how things feel when he works on me tomorrow...

Bracing for a difficult day...

It's 8:30am. I've been in my office for 15 minutes and I have already been stopped by people needing something BEFORE I even made it into the building and returning phone calls and emails from others who have something "urgent" that I need to attend to. Today is likely going to be a difficult day...I have prominent visitors coming to observe a meeting that I conduct this morning and then I have a meeting with my staff where it will likely be full of problems and few solutions offered. Oh, and then (stop - the phone just rang) add the lack of sleep that I got last night after the big fight that K and I had and it adds up to a very promising day!

For the 2nd year in a row, K and I do not have a mutually-agreed upon plan for the holidays. He/we apparently cannot compromise. And, I end up being the one who gets screwed (as usual). I am very angry and hurt right now (and I am not taking this post down!).

ART, Session 14

Wow. Session 14, really? I guess I am going to max out my insurance benefits to get my full 30 visits this year!

I had another good session of ART today. The doc was pleased that I had a pain-free run last night. I came in and proudly said that it was a zero when he greeted me as I walked in; however, he didn't agree with my assessment once he started working on my legs. The pain area does seem to be shrinking - he's been focusing more on the Achilles area, worse on the right as usual. Did anodyne on the tendons again. I told him about the half in SA this weekend - he was excited for me. I'm going back in on Thursday.

After ART, I went to pick up my new shoes at Betty Sport. Fortunately, the girl who helped me last time was there so we got to talk some more about my shoe situation. She thinks that the original Asics might still be a good option for me at some point (at least on paper), despite the blister. But, bottom line is that any shoe other than the Wave Creations is likely to cause me some problems, at least initially. Like I said, I'd rather dance with the devil I know at this point. I can't wait to try them out tomorrow.

I did it...

I applied for the job in Denver this morning.

It doesn't commit us to anything. They may not even be interested in me since I've been out of the medical setting for the past few years. And, if they are, well then at least we'll get a ski trip out of it if I go up to interview.

Back to zero...

That's right, my pain rating was back to zero during my 7-mile run on the trail tonight. I was really hopeful that it would be since I took a few extra days off after the good ART session last Thursday. I did struggle with cardio somewhat though - it seemed slightly warm and humid before the sun finally went down. I ran in an old, old pair of Mizuno's again without difficulty. My new shoes came in today, so I'm going to pick them up tomorrow after ART.

There's a lot of different things going on this weekend that we have been considering...my 10-year reunion at SMU in Dallas, the Skirtchaser 5k, the Run for the Water 10-miler, the first long run of the Spring Marathon training program, opening weekend at some of the CO ski resorts, and the half-marathon in San Antonio. We are opting for the half in SA. I am excited about getting to see Gabby, so that was one of the big selling points for me. A couple other P*Dipps may make the trip down as well, so it has the potential to be a fun time. Regarding the race itself, my approach will be very similar to Columbus - just an easy long run with a break at the water stops. I'm not out there to race it...just to get the miles in. And, a medal and t-shirt are nice too.

After dinner tonight, K and I spent the evening talking about several big topics. It was productive.

Did I really just...

Did I really just email my former internship training director at The Children's Hospital in Denver to get more info about a job posting I just saw? Yes, I did.

Did I really just feel disappointed that she's out of the office and won't be back in until next week to respond to my email? Yes, I did.

Did I really just call K to tell him about it too? Yes, I did.

Did I really just try to get more info online about this position? Yes, I did. I came across this article, which is probably a good overview.

Did I really just consider applying online? Yes, I did.

Did I really just update my CV? Yes, I did.

Must stop. Must come back to reality. K and I love Austin (although I do not appreciate this warm weather in November!). We love our 'lil blue house. Moving sucks. K's job is here.

But, the reality also is that I am not happy in my job. I miss seeing kids.

TCH is a great place. I have a lot of experience working in children's hospitals and it is really what I thought I would be doing after post-doc, but the jobs weren't there in Dallas or Austin. And, they still aren't.

Good weekend...

I won't admit this to K, but I actually had a relatively good weekend (after the stress of Friday passed).

While K watched football on Saturday, I did a little bit of shopping and went to the movies, one of my favorite Saturday afternoon activities. I saw "Dan in Real Life." It was funny and touching. K was wrapping up football watching when I got home after 5, so we went to Torchy's for dinner. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather. Then, we went to Ben & Jerry's for dessert. K got ice cream that tasted like a cinnamon roll! Then, we walked over to check out Anthropologie. I got something for the house - I'll post a picture when it's done in a few weeks. We finished off the night by making photo Christmas cards (hence the launch of "Big K Designs," Katie).

Yesterday, we went to see "American Gangster" in the afternoon. We had both been really looking forward to seeing it. It was a bit too long for K's taste. I would have liked to seen more interaction between Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington since they are such amazing actors. Overall though, it was a pretty good movie.

We finished off the weekend with a partial P*Dipps dinner at Holly's. The food was delicious and the company was excellent too. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening with friends.

RW Quote of the Day...

"The truth is that running hurts."
-Unknown

This made me laugh.