I just copied and pasted what I wrote on my family's website, so some of this I've already addressed here, but I don't feel like coming up with another way to convey this sucky news:
For those who may not have heard through the grapevine, I will no longer be running in the Boston Marathon. Due to a pain in my knee that began about a month ago and got progressively worse, I ended up where I was last Friday--in pain and unable to finish a 3 mile loop, limping home.
After I got stopped during a long run for the second time, I took advantage of the free injury evaluations offered at Aurora. The PT did some poking and prodding and determined to the best of her ability that a weakness in my hip muscles was causing this pain in my knee. Knee bone connected to the ankle bone and all that, except the other way. I'm about 93% sure this is unrelated to my occasional hip pain from the car accident way back when. Actually, I'd say 100% if I could, but since I'm not on good terms with my hips or knees right now, I can't tell you what they are thinking.
Either way, she prescribed some strengthening exercises and said if it didn't get better, an Ortho guy was the next stop. While it hasn't got 'better', I can't say for sure it won't and either way, seeing a really expensive doctor before I've given significant healing time to the knee still won't get me across the finish line.
With all of that, I made the difficult decision (or rather my uncooperative body part made the decision) that a marathon in 19 days just isn't going to happen. We'll still be taking the trip out East with the flights and lodging already paid for. And after wrestling with "fraud" like feelings decided that I did deserve to pick up my tshirt and race packet even if I don't run.
The silver lining in all this is that we'll have plenty of site seeing time and no concerns about getting sleep or staying off my feet. Plus, as of yet, my knee didn't hurt when rock climbing on Sunday or walking on Monday. We'll see how it does with other cross training all while staying diligent with my prescribed exercises. And once I am healed, I'll have lots of motivation to work really hard for another qualifying time so some day in the future I can go back to Boston and really earn the tshirt. In the meantime, I'll try and remember that athletes get injured and that everything happens for a reason.
Doesn't mean I won't pout a little bit though : /
Showing posts with label The Road to Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Road to Boston. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Updates! Road to Boston
56 days until the gun goes off at the start of the Boston Marathon. 56 days left to train hard, eat right, and get the mental strength ready for 26.2 miles of hills, sweat, and cheers.
Training has continued to go well with this awesomely mild winter. While this can never compare to the joy of Spring and Summer, if we have to have winter, this is the way to have it.
This week I bump up to an 18 mile long run. I'm doing speed work, hills, extra long runs. Doesn't this all sound like fun?
In other news, life has been going at a whirlwind pace, but more to follow. For now, I'm here, I'm running, and I'm going after Ness.
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Training has continued to go well with this awesomely mild winter. While this can never compare to the joy of Spring and Summer, if we have to have winter, this is the way to have it.
This week I bump up to an 18 mile long run. I'm doing speed work, hills, extra long runs. Doesn't this all sound like fun?
In other news, life has been going at a whirlwind pace, but more to follow. For now, I'm here, I'm running, and I'm going after Ness.
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Sunday, January 22, 2012
FINE! It's Winter. Otherwise known as training weeks 3 & 4
Sigh. I hate winter. I find myself longing for the simplicity of just walking out the door in the morning. Instead I'm gathering hats, boots, gloves, scarves, making sure I have appropriate work shoes to replace the boots. And to run I'm grabbing my gaiter, hat, headband, glove, tights, pants, shirt, jacket. And after all of those clothes I STILL have to jump straight in the shower after I run so my cold sweat doesn't put me into hypothermia. I love running, I just hate winter.
But here I find myself, January 22nd, having finished my 4th week of training. There have been two snow storms and too many days of single digit temps. And it turns out East Side residents still haven't learned to shovel.
My training plan includes specific workouts. Like doing downhill repeats at 5k pace. Or 5 miles at marathon pace. Both of those things become a lot harder when patches of ice and 4 inches of 'used' snow are present at every other step. A year ago I found myself battling these same conditions while preparing for the Green Bay Marathon. When Spring finally poked it's head back out, I found myself stronger and faster than I was before spending months running in what basically felt like a giant sandbox. I want to do well at Boston. I'd like to try and improve my time to 3:35 or 3:30. But honestly, Boston will be awesome even if I take 5 hours to finish. It's BOSTON!!
So I'll be here, dreaming of warmer weather, keeping up my anti-treadmill stance, and running through it all. Cause that is my Ness.
In other news, I now have 10 followers. YAY! Thanks all :)
In Pursuit,
Sarah
But here I find myself, January 22nd, having finished my 4th week of training. There have been two snow storms and too many days of single digit temps. And it turns out East Side residents still haven't learned to shovel.
My training plan includes specific workouts. Like doing downhill repeats at 5k pace. Or 5 miles at marathon pace. Both of those things become a lot harder when patches of ice and 4 inches of 'used' snow are present at every other step. A year ago I found myself battling these same conditions while preparing for the Green Bay Marathon. When Spring finally poked it's head back out, I found myself stronger and faster than I was before spending months running in what basically felt like a giant sandbox. I want to do well at Boston. I'd like to try and improve my time to 3:35 or 3:30. But honestly, Boston will be awesome even if I take 5 hours to finish. It's BOSTON!!
So I'll be here, dreaming of warmer weather, keeping up my anti-treadmill stance, and running through it all. Cause that is my Ness.
In other news, I now have 10 followers. YAY! Thanks all :)
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Road to Boston--Week 2 done!
Second week of training done, 14 weeks left. This past week included another hill workout, a marathon pace run, and a long run of 9 miles.
This was the first time I made a marathon pace (MP) effort on purpose. I ran the Green Bay Marathon in 3:37:45 which equated to 8:18 mile pace. I want to train for a 3:30 marathon in Boston which is 8:00 mile pace. That is a huge jump in pace when the hills of Boston are looming. But even if I decide to adjust my goal, I can still train for an 8:00 goal. Or, at least I thought I could.
I started my MP run with a nice slow mile, then geared up for a 24 min 3 mile loop. I finished it in 25:07 which is about 8:22/miles. Quite a disconnect in times there. And pretty disappointing to not even hit my previous marathon pace. A few things I'm going to try next time.
1) Try and keep a steady pace. I went out too fast and had a hard time keeping up the pace.
2) Push myself. I think I gave up a little at the tough pace. Hard workouts are hard. That is why I have easy days. If I want to enjoy the easy days, I need to earn them by working hard the rest of the time.
3) Relax. The time goals are goals and they are mine. I won't lose a shoe contract or TV deal if I don't run a 3:30. While I enjoy improving myself, running is fun for me and it will be fun even if I don't hit my goals, so RELAX!
My long run went well. It was a gorgeous 30 degress (ah...perception :)) and calm. I finished in an hour, sixteen minutes. That tells me that I can improve on MP days and I also probably was running too fast for a long run. But it felt good and took me 9 miles closer to the marathon.
Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. And on we go!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
This was the first time I made a marathon pace (MP) effort on purpose. I ran the Green Bay Marathon in 3:37:45 which equated to 8:18 mile pace. I want to train for a 3:30 marathon in Boston which is 8:00 mile pace. That is a huge jump in pace when the hills of Boston are looming. But even if I decide to adjust my goal, I can still train for an 8:00 goal. Or, at least I thought I could.
I started my MP run with a nice slow mile, then geared up for a 24 min 3 mile loop. I finished it in 25:07 which is about 8:22/miles. Quite a disconnect in times there. And pretty disappointing to not even hit my previous marathon pace. A few things I'm going to try next time.
1) Try and keep a steady pace. I went out too fast and had a hard time keeping up the pace.
2) Push myself. I think I gave up a little at the tough pace. Hard workouts are hard. That is why I have easy days. If I want to enjoy the easy days, I need to earn them by working hard the rest of the time.
3) Relax. The time goals are goals and they are mine. I won't lose a shoe contract or TV deal if I don't run a 3:30. While I enjoy improving myself, running is fun for me and it will be fun even if I don't hit my goals, so RELAX!
My long run went well. It was a gorgeous 30 degress (ah...perception :)) and calm. I finished in an hour, sixteen minutes. That tells me that I can improve on MP days and I also probably was running too fast for a long run. But it felt good and took me 9 miles closer to the marathon.
Run. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. And on we go!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Road to Boston--Week 1 done!
Well, I've finished the 1st week of training and have 15 weeks left to go! As tired as I was after training for two marathons in 2011, it feels really nice to be back on a plan. I can just check out the fridge to see what's on tap and I go out and do it.
This first week was pretty easy with one hill workout and 3 easy runs, plus my Sunday long run. Thank goodness for this plan that made sure I did that long run! I was staying with friends over the weekend and would be on country highways for my run. I woke up and got completely dressed before seeing the 'blizzard' out the window. Plus the sun wasn't up...not safe running conditions. I put off my run until about noon, and let's just say I'm glad it is over. The wind was terrible! And I ended up going head to head with it for the last two miles, ice crystals on my lashes and brows and a frozen face. Yuck.
The good thing about winter training is the strength it will give me when we are finally blessed with snow again. And thankfully, back here at home, the winter hasn't been too awful. Got the first dusting of snow last night, but the roads and sidewalks are still pretty clear.
Moving on to week two, I have an extra 'tough' run with a marathon pace workout, but overall, we are still easing into things. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can check off another sucessful week.
Oh--and Happy New Year!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
This first week was pretty easy with one hill workout and 3 easy runs, plus my Sunday long run. Thank goodness for this plan that made sure I did that long run! I was staying with friends over the weekend and would be on country highways for my run. I woke up and got completely dressed before seeing the 'blizzard' out the window. Plus the sun wasn't up...not safe running conditions. I put off my run until about noon, and let's just say I'm glad it is over. The wind was terrible! And I ended up going head to head with it for the last two miles, ice crystals on my lashes and brows and a frozen face. Yuck.
The good thing about winter training is the strength it will give me when we are finally blessed with snow again. And thankfully, back here at home, the winter hasn't been too awful. Got the first dusting of snow last night, but the roads and sidewalks are still pretty clear.
Moving on to week two, I have an extra 'tough' run with a marathon pace workout, but overall, we are still easing into things. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can check off another sucessful week.
Oh--and Happy New Year!
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Road to Boston
Today starts my 16 week journey to prepare for the Boston Marathon. On April 16, 2012, I will run my 4th marathon. This is a journey I have taken before. Each one different, but each also the same. The time, the commitment, the pain, the nervousness. 16 weeks to break down the body, build it back up, and be one of thousands, hitting the streets for the time it takes each of us to run 26.2 miles. To finish the journey, sweaty, sore, the scent of gatorade and triumph surrounding all of us. This is my Ness. Today I begin the journey again.
In Pursuit,
Sarah
In Pursuit,
Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)