Oh no...

I just took off my toenail polish. My big toenail looks like it's turning black. A quick email to Coach George about my condition garnered this response: Yaaahooo. Now you have passed the final initiation.

Sadly, I think he's actually quite proud of me.....

Fired Up or Burned Out

Details first. Then whining.

Apparently my Nike iPod isn't quite callibrated yet. Nike Voice Man said 3 miles. I think it came in closer to 2.5 or 2.75. But that's better than it was on Saturday when he excitedly told me "half way point!" at about mile 5 (when I had set it for 18).... Oh well, I'll try to recallibrate that tonight or tomorrow.

Temps were *very* warm this morning. 67 when I got back inside. I had originally grabbed a long sleeved running shirt, but changed my mind and opted for the tshirt because I thought I would rather be cold than hot. Who was I kidding. I was hot WITH the tshirt. And it was very windy too. The first mile and a half were brutal. Just dreadful. The last mile was moderately decent.

Now, bear with me while I vent for a while.

First, the burned out...

I just don't want to run anymore. Well, it's not that I want to QUIT. I'm just tired of it and experiencing some burnout. I'm ready to be DONE. I'm sick of running. Sick. Of. Running. I'm ready for June 1 to be here. I want to just do the marathon. Although I know I'm probably not ready to do the marathon. I'm just sick of training for it. I didn't want to run this morning. I don't want to run Saturday morning. I'm tired of my entire Saturday morning being taken up by running. I've been running for 14 weeks. And it's been hard. And some times it's just not fun. I'm sick of hurting and aching and icing and stretching and rolling. I'm sick of sports bras and gels and wheat bagels and advil and icy hot.

And I know the burn-out will go away. I'm so close to the end of this journey. Only four more long runs. That's all! I can do it and I will totally do it. But today I just don't want to.

Now the fired up...

I have seen the importance of the support and encouragement of others while I attempt to take on this challenge. I am surrounded by friends and family who are continually cheering me on. People who are just as excited as I am that I accomplished - and survived - a long run. Or ran an official Half Marathon. Or can walk down the hall without limping. I have a friend who has been saying "Run Angie Run!" since January. I have a huge cheering section of friends at church who are keeping up with my progress. Last night I had just told Jodi "I'm sick of running." and a minute later, two family friends said "Look how far you've come! You're doing great!" I have friends here at work who send me home on Fridays with good luck wishes for Saturday's long run. And, of course, my family and extended family. Huge cheerleaders! My biggest fan club. Especially Jodi -- who has probably had it worse than me on Saturdays since he's the one who is home alone with the kids every Saturday morning. Big thanks to him for doing that so I can do this. (I heart you Captain!) My examples of things you all say to me could go on and on.

So, all of your support and encouragement gets me through this -- even when my own excitement isn't all there.

There's a song on my iPod that I love. It's by the All American Rejects. Sums it up nicely.
"When all you got to keep is strong, move along, move along like I know ya do. And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through. Move along. Go on, go on, go on go on."

OK, I think I'm done now. I'm feeling better already.....

Houston we have a problem...

My stupid IT band has flared up today. Where did that come from? My knee feels so tight and it just HURTS. Real hard to even walk tonight. I'm so peeved. I was feeling so good this week and then this just pops up. I was supposed to run tomorrow but I don't see that happening. I'm bummed tonight....

A detour and a slight rerouting prevents a derailment

I gave in today and saw Nanette the PT about my continued knee pain. I told her I had self-diagnosed myself with the IT band ouchy thing and I had been doing stretches, ice, NSAIDS, etc. but needed to make sure I was on track. She wanted to take a look to see if I was doing the right stretches.

You should be doing this. Check.
And this. Check.
And this. Check.
And get a foam roller and use that every day. Check.

So, I am doing everything I needed to do. Glad about that. She put another one of those cortisone patches on my knee. Remember those? She suggested getting a few more next week.

I'm laying off tomorrow. I know that if I can't walk down the hall without discomfort, then I do not need to be running 16 miles all over Shelby Farms. Or even 1 mile for that matter. So, rest it is. I'm ok with that. Because I know that I've got to back off when I'm hurting. I have got to listen to my body. There's just some pain you can't push through, nor should you. I've learned that.

George if you're reading this, you should probably quit at this point. Nanette also suggested that I alter my training plan a little bit. I can't run 5's and 9's during the week and then take on a long run on the weekend. My body just can't keep up. And it shouldn't take an entire week to recover from the weekend's long run. All I really want to do is run and have fun doing it. It shouldn't hurt all the time. Nanette said the main goal from this point forward is to help my body recover and stay healthy. She assured me I was on track and could remain on track even with this detour and rerouting.

Now don't get me wrong, George is a great coach. He is patient (Wow is he patient. He has probably wished more than once that he never talked me into doing this marathon thing....) and he is encouraging and I think he's proud of his peeps. He totally knows his stuff. He's a REAL. RUNNER. For Pete's sake, he's running the Boston Marathon next weekend. Again. And he's already qualified to run it in 2009 too. If you will remember, he says things like "a nice little 15-miler" and "I like hills". He's run 23 some-odd marathons in just 4 years. He. Is. A. Runner. And I'm not. And I'm not trying to say he's totally killing me with this training schedule. Well, maybe that IS what I'm trying to say.

The long and the short of it is, I am going to have to slightly rewrite my training plan to accommodate my body. If I don't, I don't think I will be able to hold up. I didn't enter this challenge as a runner. I didn't enter this challenge to become a runner. I remind all of my faithful readers what my goals are for the marathon: (1) to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia Society, (2) to honor and remember my Daddy, (3) to finish in a vertical position. And at this point, I am on track to do all those things.

The morning after the day before

No real news to share. I took today as a rest day. Felt bad last night. I'm trying not to give in to this yucky head cold. And, my knee is still bothering me from the IT band issue. I'll shoot for some movement tomorrow, rest Friday and then hit the long run (16 miles I think - need to check schedule) on Saturday. I'm getting a massage this afternoon to try to get this IT band loosened up.

The day of mourning is officially over, but Tiger pain slightly remains. But pride is winning that one. Gotta' move on....It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes. Would be nice to keep 'em all just one more year. GO TIGERS!

I leave you today with this little cartoon. I can relate. Hope everyone has a good day!

Actual conversation via email

Angie: Wolf River Trails are closed until the flooding subsides. The Wolf River is rising and parts of the nature area are underwater. Is -- WAS -- this part of Saturday's run? Where exactly will we be having this little party anyway?


George: Looks like we need to reroute. I know there are some nice hills around Walnut Grove Lake subdivision. And I checked the schedule - silly me thought it was a 14 miler. Nope. 15. Lucky one and all.

Angie: No hills. "Nice" and "hills" can't be in the same sentence. DISTANCE or HILLS. Pick one. I'm trying not to get freaked out at 15.


George: Then break it down into smaller bits. 3+3+3+3+3. Or 5+5+5. But remember, what goes up (hills) must come down (hills). Hence the "nice" part.


Angie: OK... 1+1+1+1+1.....Are we stopping for lunch?


George: As long as we finish by 5:07 pm.

Let's Rock 'N Roll!

Progress I guess if the only things that are hurting this morning are my calves, ankles and achilles.....Still pretty tight. oooooowwwwww. That is really only a small percentage of my body now..... It is looking like my knees are deciding to rejoin the rest of us. George said there would be pain 2-3 days after the race. Today is day 3. Can't wait til tomorrow.




After Sunday's half marathon, I've been reading a bit more about what the Rock 'N Roll Marathon is like. It is going to be *HUGE* and fun! Here are some neat things I found out:

• This year will be the 11th annual race.



• Over 20,000 runners are expected (Germantown Half had 700)



• About half of these participants are running their first marathon (that's me!)



• Over 4,000 of them are members of a Team in Training (hey, that's me too!)



• Fifty percent of the runners are female (well what do you know...)



• There is a live band at every mile and there are themed water stops.



• You can register to run as part of the "Running Elvi" and dress up like Elvis. They are trying to set a world's record this year and already have 50 signed up. (Jodi thinks I should do this...)



• In ten years, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has raised over $125.1 million at the RNR Marathon. This year alone they expect to raise $12 million.

I hope you will go to the Rock 'N Roll Marathon website and watch the video on the right hand side of the home page. It's only about 3 minutes, but you will definitely get a feel of what the race is all about. Make sure and notice of all the purple tank tops ("racing singlets") -- those are Team in Training members. Go Team!

Only 74 more days!! I am already feeling nervous and excited. I can't wait to be a part of it. I cannot imagine the feeling of accomplishment that I will have when I'm finished. I also cannot imagine the pain I will have... ugh. But I continue to remind myself every single day why I am doing all of this. And you know what? I think he would be real proud of me....