Well it has been 10 days since I have written about my running and a lot has happened in that time. For staters, I had to take five days off and was getting cabin fever as I am now less than a month out from race day (Oct. 10). I have also been suffering from some major writer's block. So instead of individual posts, I'm going to go day by day and hit the highlights of the runs or non-run days. Saturday (9/5) Before I ran today, I did some quick math and found out that I have run 401.15 miles since July 1! If that isn't motivation for my 16 miles, I don't know what is. I still was struggling with my foot pain (it went away around mile two). I also kept the theme of my 16 miler long run of running to a different town by venturing to Farmington, Ct this week. Another big difference from the previous week - I had Gatorade with me that I dropped at mile three. I froze it over night and it was very cold to carry but when I picked it back up again at mile 13, it was a great thirst quencher and truly made a difference in the run. I did my 16 miles in 2:37, a minute faster than the week prior, which isn't much but when miles 8-12 for the most part are uphill, I felt really good. I averaged 9:51 which is still way off the desired 8:47, but it always could've been worse and with my foot hurting as much as it did, I didn't want to push it. Sunday (9/6) I was still feeling the foot pain today, but at work yesterday, I found out about a road that is relatively flat and safe for runners! I was excited to run a new route it was a great temperature for running. I did my easy six miles in 59:50, a little slower than my easy pace is supposed to be, but my foot was still bother me. I made sure to ice and roll it out when I got home both from my run and work later that day. Monday - Wednesday (9/7-9/9) With much consideration from my friend Katie and my mom, I decided to go to urgent care about my foot and a cough I have been fighting for a while before I ran today. As suspected, I had plantar fasciitis in my right foot. The doctor told me that I need to take five days off, and as we know, I am stubborn; clearly I wouldn't want to hear that. (*This is where the title of the post comes in) The cough is a whole other problem, but one that isn't as big of concern as finding out 34 days before race day that you have to take five days off. Like most people who gets upsetting news, I turned to retail therapy to make me feel better. I knew that I wanted at least a month to break in my race day shoes and as my shoes had more than 350 miles on them, I got my new Asics to race in. I had also decided to invest in a runner's water belt - I might look like a dork, but I will be hydrated and after Saturday's run, I know it will help me in my training. It seems very ironic that my retail therapy was all gear I couldn't use yet because I was supposed to be resting. It was also Labor Day and I was going to a BBQ with my friends, so even with the bad news, it was a decent day. Tuesday, I decided to attend restorative yoga at my work's gym to help me stretch out and to get me out on my off day. It was a great way to spend an hour and I wasn't feeling like I was losing all my hard work. Also, I went with my roommate to the driving range - probably wasn't the best idea, but she had a bad day and is a professional golfer, so it was her way to relieve stress. Wednesday, I was really starting to get cabin fever and wanted to run. This was most likely due to the fact that I missed an important strength run on Monday and Wednesday is tempo run day. However, I resisted the temptation even though my foot was doing much better and I was feeling confident that I was beating my plantar fasciitis. I did attend my friend's coaching debut as a soccer coach at Trinity College and then had a great dinner of homemade pizza, chicken breast and some Ben & Jerry's fro-yo. Not to mention, I'm working on overcoming my fear of dogs and they have the cutest dog name Moose. Overall, I dealt with not being able to run pretty well. Thursday (9/10) WE ARE OFFICIALLY 30 DAYS FROM RACE DAY!!!!! Get pumped my friends, it is going to be a crazy ride this last month. As a little incentive I posted a photo of all my previous medals with my race days shoes. It was also the first day I was going to try and do some form of physical activity that is draining on my foot. I planned on doing eight miles on the stationary bike and then two miles on the treadmill. I got my eight miles on the bike done in 29:30 but couldn't do the two miles on the treadmill. I got to half a mile in 5:04 but felt it was too painful to continue. It was frustrating as I felt great on the bike, but the hard pounding on the treadmill was too much. It didn't bode well for wanting to do eight miles on Friday. Friday (9/11) I got back to running today. I decided to take it slow and was originally planning on doing eight of the scheduled 10 miles. I ended up bargaining with myself and running 7.15 miles. I went back to the route I took on Sunday and even later in the day (running at 5:50 p.m.) I enjoyed that particular road and scenery. It also helped my friend was willing to speak with me on the phone while I ran :) I did the 7.15 miles in 1:10 flat, an average of 9:48, which still isn't in the average pace of slow run, but I didn't want to push it when I would be doing 10 miles on Saturday morning. Saturday (9/12) Today was an "easy" 10 miler! I got a break from those 16 mile long runs -- only one left in the cycle! I decided to go on a route that would take me back to Farmington, Ct (just not as far into it as the previous week). It took me 1:36.45 to complete the 10 miles in perfect temperature. If I could sign up for weather like Saturday's on Oct. 10th, I would be golden. It would also be the first time I was running with my water belt. I felt a little dorky, even though I have seen plenty of runners with them. I filled one bottle up with gatorade and the other water. It worked perfectly as I felt well hydrated throughout the run and they were easy to get in and out of the belt. As far as my foot was concerned, it felt pretty good, maybe a 1 or 2 on pain scale to 10. I thought it was pretty great workout for having to take the time off that I did. I was even lucky enough to get a nap in before work as I worked an 11-hour shift. That is what I get for working in sports on a college football Saturday. This run gave me the confidence that not all was lost during my rest time and the BQ hopes are still alive and well. Sunday (9/13) I got a late start for my eight miles as I didn't start until 8:23 a.m., but I still managed to complete them with enough time for a nap before work. The post run nap is almost as important as the chocolate milk, ice and stretching. It took me 1:20 to do the run, but I wasn't feeling that inspired because of working for 11 hours the day before and not eating properly. I decided to call my mom during the run, which was fine because I was on a relatively quiet road, but I know that it can't be easy to have a conversation with someone on speaker phone as they run. I was proud of myself for completing the workout, but I wish there was a way to make it better in the moment. Now, more than ever, every workout counts towards the BQ and making sure I give myself the best possible chance to achieve my goal. Monday (9/14) Well, it is officially a week since we learned of the plantar fasciitis, and today I got back to the normal schedule. Today's strength workout was 3x2 mile with 800 recovery with the intervals to be completed at 7:51 pace. As we know, these workouts now happen on the treadmill and I was happy that there were only five other people in the gym with me. I was going strong for the first interval -- I did the first mile at 7:47 pace and the second at 7:53. The workout started to go south during the second interval as I struggled to continue at the desired pace. I did the same thing -- first mile at 7:47 and second at 7:53 but I kept stepping of the treadmill to take a water break and refocus. Even with music -- my U2 concert from this summer -- my mental game was not honed in. I managed to do 1.25 miles of the last interval at a 7:53 pace with multiple hop-offs. Those 7.25 miles took 1:01.23 and then I did the last 2.25 miles on the station bike. It only took 8:12 on the bike. I was extremely disappointed with today's workout and it wasn't because I was strong enough; it was because my mental game won the battle over my physical one. But I did learn that physically the time off was okay, but I do have to work on refocusing the mental game. Tomorrow is a well deserved off day, but I plan to try the restorative yoga again. Tuesday (9/15) I enjoyed sleeping in today and attending my restorative yoga. I feel the yoga will help me with the mental aspect of running the race and also with making stretching more of a daily routine. For the second week in a row, my roommate and I also went to the driving range. My right arm is killing me, but at least my plantar fasciitis isn't hurting anymore. The ice and rolling out has been treating me well. Tomorrow we are due for a tempo run and we get to increase the tempo to 10 miles this week, a total of 12 miles run with the warm up and cool down. I'll be happy to be on the treadmill again to test that mental game. But for the most part, I hope that I am able to complete the whole workout. Parting thoughts -- the writer's block might not be gone, but I am happy to have updated you all on the success and failures of my runs. Enjoy these pictures -- some evidence of the last 10 days and the fun I've had (even with time off)!
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Megan FloodMegan is 29 and a 14-time marathoner. She is hoping to Boston Qualify one day. She doesn't know exactly how this blogging will go, but she is giving it her best shot! Archives
June 2019
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Marathoning Megan