Saturday, October 15, 2011
Marathon Bound
Well...my foot has taken quite some time to heal. It still hurts if I wear my tennis shoes for a couple of hours. I haven't even tried to run again yet but plan to do so soon. Obviously, I'm way off my training schedule for the marathon so that's not going to happen this time around. I still want to accomplish that goal though so I'll get back at it and do it someday! More to come on this but first, I need to start back from scratch. Ugh.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Marathon Bound
I'm sad to report that my marathon training has been put on hold for a bit. I had a freak accident last Sunday that involved a remote control essentially becoming a roller skate under my bare foot on the tile. I pretty much did the splits and my other foot landed face up on the tile with a very hard smack. The pain sent me through the roof! I thought for sure I had broken my big toe or a bone in the top of my foot but thankfully, after having it checked out, that doesn't appear to be the case, just a bad bruise on the bone. This means no running or other jarring type of activities until the pain is gone. Well, it's been a week and there is still a fair amount of pain when pressure is applied to the top of my foot. Strangely enough, there has been little to no pain when I'm walking or put pressure on it from the bottom so it doesn't even look like I'm injured at all! I'm not sure how this is going to impact my marathon training. I'll have to see if I can catch back up to the schedule, otherwise, I may have to alter my plans and run the 1/2 instead. I'm hoping I can persevere though and get back on track for the full.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Marathon Bound
Well my marathon training is beginning to escalate now! I'm running 3 - 4 times a week, following a schedule I found online that includes short runs, "fartlek" training (this is speed training where you vary your running speed within a specified timeframe), cross training (cycling, swimming, etc..) and then a long run on the weekend.
My long run yesterday was 4 miles and they are getting ready to increase rapidly from one week to the next. The maximum distance I will be running during training is 20 miles on 12/18, The distances drop off the last 2 - 3 weeks before the marathon so I won't be overworked going into it. So, the first and potentially last time I'll run 26.2 miles will be on race day, January 15th!
I've been stretching and using the foam roller before and after my runs to avoid the IT band problems I had in 2009/2010. So far, I have no pain but I say that with caution because I didn't have any trouble then until I got up to a 10 mile run. We'll see how I do with the longer distances.
I would never have guessed that running would be my thing. Although I sometimes literally argue with myself to get going, I feel great when my breathing levels off during the run and of course, when the run is over and I've accomplished what I set out to do.
My long run yesterday was 4 miles and they are getting ready to increase rapidly from one week to the next. The maximum distance I will be running during training is 20 miles on 12/18, The distances drop off the last 2 - 3 weeks before the marathon so I won't be overworked going into it. So, the first and potentially last time I'll run 26.2 miles will be on race day, January 15th!
I've been stretching and using the foam roller before and after my runs to avoid the IT band problems I had in 2009/2010. So far, I have no pain but I say that with caution because I didn't have any trouble then until I got up to a 10 mile run. We'll see how I do with the longer distances.
I would never have guessed that running would be my thing. Although I sometimes literally argue with myself to get going, I feel great when my breathing levels off during the run and of course, when the run is over and I've accomplished what I set out to do.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Summer Vacation
Our summer vacation this year started in Flagstaff. Jim and A.J. hiked Mount Humphries along with several other friends and family. Humphries is the highest point in Arizona so it is quite an accomplishment to reach the summit. I will conquer it one day as well but I knew I wasn't ready for it this year.
Karyssa and I spent the day looking at wedding venues with my sister-in-law, Marianne, her fiance' Andrew and Marianne's friend Anna. We had a great time and joined the hikers for dinner that evening.
The following day, we departed Flagstaff for a long but very scenic drive to San Diego. Along the way, we all somehow neglected to think about filling up the gas tank! As the needle plummeted to "E" and after I freaked out way more than necessary, miraculously a gas station appeared literally out of nowhere. What a relief!
San Diego holds a lot of great memories for our family as we took the kids there many times over the years. We were feeling nostalgic and thought it would be great to vacation this year somewhere familiar since Karyssa will be getting married soon and this was to be our last summer vacation before the big day.
We opted to forego the typical things we've done in the past like the Zoo, Sea World and Wild Animal Park (now called San Diego Zoo Safari) because we wanted to do some new things this time now that the kids are grown. So, we ventured into the Pacific in kayaks! Unfortunately, Karyssa got seasick and didn't have much fun. Jim and I had a great time but no one enjoyed it more than A.J. He was the kayak king! On another day, he and Jim went deep sea fishing while Karyssa and I got massages. We did keep some traditions like eating at the Old Town Mexican Cafe and going to Coronado Island and also going to Seal Beach in La Jolla.
Whenever we go to San Diego, we try to meet up with my friend of over 30 years, Holly, her husband Anatole and their boys Ethan and Joshua. They invited us to their home in Carlsbad for a BBQ and then brought their fire pit to the beach near their house so we could have a bon fire, something I had told her I've always wanted to do! Holly invited several of their friends and their kids to join us. It was an evening of great conversation, s'mores, kids playing in the sand and the calming effect of the ocean waves crashing on the beach. What more could we have asked for? As we talked about the trip on the way home, we all agreed that this night was one of the highlights for sure.
The thing that struck me the most about this vacation was the perspectives on life that my children have now that they are young adults. Karyssa is planning a future and A.J.is becoming a man. These shifts in responsibilty and maturity came through loud and clear as they saw a familiar city through new eyes. I love going on trips like this with them because although we are close already, there's nothing like a long drive and undivided attention to strengthen a relationship. I'm so blessed.
Karyssa and I spent the day looking at wedding venues with my sister-in-law, Marianne, her fiance' Andrew and Marianne's friend Anna. We had a great time and joined the hikers for dinner that evening.
The following day, we departed Flagstaff for a long but very scenic drive to San Diego. Along the way, we all somehow neglected to think about filling up the gas tank! As the needle plummeted to "E" and after I freaked out way more than necessary, miraculously a gas station appeared literally out of nowhere. What a relief!
San Diego holds a lot of great memories for our family as we took the kids there many times over the years. We were feeling nostalgic and thought it would be great to vacation this year somewhere familiar since Karyssa will be getting married soon and this was to be our last summer vacation before the big day.
We opted to forego the typical things we've done in the past like the Zoo, Sea World and Wild Animal Park (now called San Diego Zoo Safari) because we wanted to do some new things this time now that the kids are grown. So, we ventured into the Pacific in kayaks! Unfortunately, Karyssa got seasick and didn't have much fun. Jim and I had a great time but no one enjoyed it more than A.J. He was the kayak king! On another day, he and Jim went deep sea fishing while Karyssa and I got massages. We did keep some traditions like eating at the Old Town Mexican Cafe and going to Coronado Island and also going to Seal Beach in La Jolla.
Whenever we go to San Diego, we try to meet up with my friend of over 30 years, Holly, her husband Anatole and their boys Ethan and Joshua. They invited us to their home in Carlsbad for a BBQ and then brought their fire pit to the beach near their house so we could have a bon fire, something I had told her I've always wanted to do! Holly invited several of their friends and their kids to join us. It was an evening of great conversation, s'mores, kids playing in the sand and the calming effect of the ocean waves crashing on the beach. What more could we have asked for? As we talked about the trip on the way home, we all agreed that this night was one of the highlights for sure.
The thing that struck me the most about this vacation was the perspectives on life that my children have now that they are young adults. Karyssa is planning a future and A.J.is becoming a man. These shifts in responsibilty and maturity came through loud and clear as they saw a familiar city through new eyes. I love going on trips like this with them because although we are close already, there's nothing like a long drive and undivided attention to strengthen a relationship. I'm so blessed.
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| Jim and A.J. on the Humphries hike |
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| A.J. lovin' life! |
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| A.J. deep sea fishing |
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| Jim on the beach in front of the Hotel del Coronado |
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| Seal Beach in La Jolla Cove |
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| Karyssa and I shopping at Horton Plaza before our massages |
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| Me and my friend Holly - it was early June so I was cold, thus the big warm sweatshirt! |
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| All four of us chillin' at the beach by the bon fire |
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Marathon Bound
I'm gearing up for the 26 week training schedule I'll begin on July 18th to prepare for the PF Chang's Full Marathon on January 16, 2012. When I ran the 1/2 Marathon in 2010, I had some serious IT Band issues just a few weeks prior to the race. I'm stretching diligently before and after every run this time so hopefully I won't encounter that problem again. Wish me luck! I'll be posting updates as my training progresses.
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