Running Recap 2017

I don't know how it got to February and I still haven't done a running recap for last year.  It was a good year, in spite of an injury in October that almost shut down my running.  I ran more than ever before, for a total of 1850 miles.

I also did a running streak.  This is where you don't take any days off.  So you must run every single day, for at least one mile.  I had two days that I found this exceptionally challenging.  The first was in January, when I was sick with a fever and sore throat, and had to run on the treadmill at 5:30 am.  That was rough.  The second was in November, on the day following the CR24 (in which I covered 33 miles) when my IT band was really hurting from injury and the rest of my body was very sore.  That was a rough mile too.  But I stuck with it.  This was the first time I ever attempted a running streak.

So it was a good year.  My favorite run was the 9 miler I did in the desert in Arizona, around 4:30 am last summer.  It was amazing!

I don't have any recent pictures of me running.  So here's a picture of Pierce hanging from the ceiling.  Because that totally makes sense, right?

Wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day! 

CR24 2017

The only race I ran this year was CR24.  You may remember I ran it last year and had an excellent experience.  It's a 24 hour run on a one mile loop, and you stay out however long you can.  Last year I completed 46 miles.  I injured my IT band during a 20 miler, training for the race this year, about a month out from race day.  The IT band takes a while to heal, so I knew that I wouldn't be in good running shape for the race.  But I thought I would still show up and do what I could.

My friend, Trina, came this year.  It was her first ultra.  I ran the first few laps with her, but by mile 3 my IT band was really hurting.  So I switched to walking.  She continued running and was able to run 27 miles, and then walk enough miles to complete 50K. 

It's very humbling to just walk a long race like this.  Walking certainly takes a lot longer than running.  At 1:00, I was discouraged I wasn't near marathon distance yet.  But we had good weather, and the volunteers were supportive, and there was plenty of good food.  So I just kept at it.

This year was the first year they gave out medals if you made it to 26.2 (marathon distance).  It took a loooooong time, but I did grab my medal.

 

 

So I walked and I walked and I walked.  Turns out you can walk really far in a day if you just keep pushing.  In the end, I covered 32.98 miles (let's just call that 33 miles to console my mind that prefers whole numbers, shall we?).  I stayed long enough to do a few laps in the dark and eat pizza for dinner.  Then I headed home for the night.

 

It was a fun race again, and I enjoyed it even though I didn't get to run much.  I loved seeing how successful my friend Trina was with her first ultra.  Hopefully I'll be back next year, and in better running condition next time.

Running Recap 2016

The past year wasn't my best running year, but it wasn't my worst either.  I developed Morton's neuroma on my right foot last January, and battled it all year.  I had a couple of cortisone shots, which helped, but didn't cure.  I've been using metatarsal pads in my shoes and had active release therapy (ART) done on it a few times.  Surgery isn't an option in my opinion, as it is not always successful and can cause problems worse than the neuroma.  Some days are better than others.  But it did affect my mileage this year.  In all, I ran 1419 miles.

I ran three races, and those were fun.  I especially enjoyed the 24 hour race I did in November, even though I didn't run the full 24 hours.  Here's a picture from our first snow dusting this winter.  You can see the little chalkboard on the left where I keep track of my miles when I'm doing long runs at home.  You can also see Francie checking me out.  She's doing well.  And to the right is my garden area.

Hoping my foot will improve over the next few months.  Taking time off doesn't seem to help much, so I'm just trying to learn to manage it run by run. 

Crooked Road 24 Hour Ultramarathon Race Report

The past couple of months I blogged some about the training I was doing for an upcoming 24 hour race.  The goal was to cover as much distance as you could over 24 hours.  The morning started off as a chilly one, but had warmed up by 9 am.  The race course was a loop of about 1.18 in distance.  This was great because it meant you passed by an aid table for food and drinks, plus a bathroom, every single mile.  And I was able to park quite close to the crushed gravel track so when I needed to get supplies from my car (I removed and added layers throughout the day) it was convenient and didn't eat up much time.

My friend, Gloria, came down from Northern Virginia to do this race.  She had a goal of at least 50 miles (which she met!).  I didn't have any set goal.  I just wanted to push myself and hopefully run further than ever before.

Here's a picture of Gloria, Pam Rickard, and I taken in the first hour of the race (photo credit: Matt Ross).

As the day (and miles) wore on I started having a lot of calf cramping, which was unusual for me.  I think this was a fueling issue.  In a marathon I would've eaten Gus every 3 miles.  But I was craving salty snacks and they had the table of food so I was eating stuff like a handful of pretzels here or a handful of olives there.  In retrospect, this was not substantial calories.  I really enjoyed some salted baked potatoes in the afternoon. 

Two of my running friends, Trina and Steve, came out in the late afternoon to offer company and motivation.  I was just walking at this point due to the calf cramping.  Although I was bummed I couldn't run any longer, I was feeling good mentally and was having fun.  I was so thankful to have friends willing to come brave frigid weather just to cheer me along. 

I saw a guy who had what looked like stickers on his calves and I talked to him for a bit about it (he had calf cramping too).  He recommended Salonpas (which is what the stickers were) so Paul picked some up for me at CVS.  I think they may have helped a bit.  I also took arnica, which is a homeopathic remedy for sore muscles. 

I took breaks for stretching and rolling out sore muscles a few times, plus changing layers.  It became extremely cold and windy as the day went on.  The wind gusts were so huge they blew whirlwinds of crushed gravel and dust at the runners (the next day, my eyes felt gritty and were swollen as a result).  They had warm pizza for the runners around 6 and it really hit the spot (and after dark, they also had some soups).   

My furthest run prior to this was 34 miles.  I ended up covering 46 miles total.  Much of it was walking.  I loved when it got dark and there were glow lights all around the track and you could see the bobbing headlamps of all the runners.  Plus, the stars were amazing.  It was a magical feeling, despite the cold and wind.  I wished I could have kept going, but a muscle back behind my right knee started hurting at a level that suggested injury, and my knee was starting to give with my steps as a result.  In addition, I had long ago lost the battle to some significant chaffing issues.  So I decided to head home, which luckily isn't far from this race.  Once I got in the car, I realized I was starving, and had to stop at Bojangles for a chicken biscuit.

I loved this race!  The camaraderie among the runners and the race volunteers is amazing.  I met so many interesting people and learned a lot from my own performance.  I think I'll give this another shot next year, and try to at least hit the 50 mile mark.  I've run a lot of races over the years, but this one really had that extra something special. 

Salem Half Marathon Race Report 2016

On Saturday I ran the inaugural Salem Half Marathon.  They also had a kids' race (1 mile) and the boys came along to do their first race.

I arrived in plenty of time to pick up my packets as well as the boys' (I knew exactly what to expect and where to go because I'd had helpful email communication about the race in the days leading up to it).  This process went very smoothly - no lines; all three races (there was also an 8K) were divided and organized.  They had plenty of safety pins for numbers, and all racers received a nice race t-shirt (the half marathon shirts were long-sleeved technical shirts, the boys got long sleeved cotton shirts). 

I don't wear a watch when I run, but it seemed as though the race started right on time.  They had a huge firetruck parked at the top of the hill with a large American flag hanging down for the American Anthem.  The first mile was a little crowded but things thinned out quickly.  The first hill started at mile 1, and there were hills all through the race.  Even the last mile had a doozy of a hill!  Definitely a rolling course that you would want to hill train to run.

This race was so well-organized.  They had tons of volunteers, water stations, and from mile 5 on portajohns.  They also gave out Gu gels around mile 9.  Every mile was marked (very helpful for me since I do not wear a Garmin) and there were also time clocks at a couple of spots throughout the race.  The race goes through all the high points of Salem - it passes the duck pond, the golf course, the downtown area (it starts and finishes at the Farmer's Market), the Civic Center, neighborhoods full of historic homes, and Roanoke College.  Of course around every curve you get scenic views of the Blue Ridge mountains.  Also interesting is that you will experience a variety of terrain - while the majority of it is on pavement - at times you will run on dirt, grass, and brick pavers. 

I am training for a long distance, slow race next month, so I wanted to be cautious not to injure myself during this race.  I had just done a 26 mile training run on the Sunday before my race, and was concerned about some foot pain I was having afterwards.  As a result, I treated the race as a tempo training run and pushed myself, but did not race all out.  I tried to make sure I kept some healthy distance between myself and the people who tend to be around my speed. 

You can tell as I crossed the finish line that I enjoyed the race and ran with some conservation (most of the time at the finish line I look like I'm dying).  My mom caught this picture with her cell phone (she managed to watch the boys race and then keep them entertained while I ran).

The finisher's area was great - they had Chick Fil A sandwiches, fruit, Gatorade, and water.  There was a band called Uptown (which my boys loved) as well as massage and stretching and granola bars.  My time of 2:02 was good enough to earn third in my age group, so in addition to the very nice finisher's medal that everyone receives, I also got a trophy. 

This was a great race!  I loved the course and had a wonderful overall experience.  Would I run it again?  Absolutely.

Disclaimer:  I received free entry into the Salem Half Marathon for review purposes.  The opinions above are all my own. 

20 Mile Adventure Run on the Appalachian Trail

In training for a race in November I'm trying to put in as much time on my feet as possible.  I thought maybe I should try to do a run that would prove to be very challenging, in an effort to build up resilience and confidence.  I've always wanted to run a 20 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail that goes from Route 311 to Troutville, passing by a number of scenic overlooks.  I have backpacked the stretch before, but have taken two days to do so.  A normal 20 mile run for me on pavement would take under 4 hours, and I needed to spend more time on my feet than that for training purposes.  It takes a significantly longer time to cover 20 miles on the AT due to the terrain, but it would be a fun and novel way to do it. 

I decided to do the first 3.5 miles with the boys, as it went to McAfee's Knob (some say the most photographed location on the AT - and indeed, it was crowded up top with people and their selfie sticks) and since it was uphill and rocky in places, I wouldn't have been able to run much of it anyhow.  We got an early start, as the day was expected to hit 90 degrees.

Reid stuck with me and we kept a nice pace to the top.  Pierce and Cort quickly lagged behind, and Paul stayed back with them. 

Unfortunately, Reid and I had to kill almost an hour on top before the others caught up!  I wasn't planning on such a long break and was itching to move on, as I knew I had many miles to cover in the heat.  Once Paul and Pierce and Cort arrived, I headed right out on my own.  I carried with me a small Camelbak day pack that included first aid supplies (including a few meds like electrolyte pills, ginger chews, and ibuprofen), headlamp, knife and firestarter, map, water filter, food and water.  I knew some of those things I was unlikely to need, but I wanted to have them just in case things didn't go as planned.

My plan was to run any part that wasn't severely rocky or steep uphill (those parts I would walk).  After McAfees, I had a decent runnable stretch before I had to walk up the section to Tinker Cliffs.  It was getting really hot by this point and I was feeling queasy and concerned I wouldn't have enough water for the amount of heat I was experiencing.  I stopped for a minute to enjoy the view (if you're curious, I wore Hoka Challenger trail shoes with running gaiters over top to keep out debris), check my water situation, and take a liquid lemonade energy form called Glukos.  I only had about 20 ounces of water left and wasn't even halfway.  With temps nearing 90 at this point, I knew I'd be rationing.  I had a LifeStraw in my pack and planned to drink from streams at any places I found them. 

Shortly after Tinker Cliffs, were some fun rock formations I scrambled up and through. 

I was able to run a bit after the rocks and was headed downhill.  I started to feel a little better and was able to take a Gu.  I took a picture here, at the halfway point of my run. 

Not far from halfway, I came to a trail shelter.  I asked the people at the picnic tables if there was water, and they pointed me downhill.  Unfortunately, it had been really dry for weeks and the stream was almost dried up.  Still, beggars cannot be choosers.  I whipped out the LifeStraw, which filters out everything but viruses (which are extremely unlikely in the North American backwoods), and hoped for the best, as the water there wasn't even really a trickle.  I drank as much as I could.

I had so many beautiful overlooks along the way.  The next section had many runnable areas.  It was very hot and I got so thirsty.  I continued to feel queasy off and on, but tried to take a Gu when I thought I could stomach it (throughout the day I only ate 7 Gus and was unable to eat any real food - this is definitely because of the extreme heat that day). 

At one point I came around a bend and heard a loud scritchscritchscritch sound.  What on earth?  It was two black bear cubs sliding their way down a tree when they heard me coming. They were right there!  I smiled so big as I watched them run off.  Then I looked for the mother.  I found her on a ridge above me.  She and I eyed one another warily for a moment (I did have mace in my shorts pockets in case of emergency).  Then I walked down the path until I was out of her sight before I started running again. 

 As thirsty as I was, I didn't encounter another water source until a tenth of a mile from the finish. A nine mile dry stretch. So I got dehydrated because I didn't want to drink what water I did have too fast.  With such high temperatures I really needed double the amount of water I had.  I was even seeing double a bit towards the end.  The views of Carvins Cove were amazing though, and gave me a sense of elation despite the hard conditions.  Even though I had discomfort, I never felt like I was in danger of not finishing, and I kept in touch with friends via text throughout.  Most of the time I seemed to have a cell phone signal. 

The final miles were very runnable and mostly downhill.  I had a sense that my downhill muscles would be trashed the next day.  I had been on the trail over 8 hours (if you include the hour break when I waited for the boys to catch up in the beginning) and my feet and muscles were all feeling it.  I fantasized about buying the biggest size fountain drink I could at the Exxon station beside where I had left my car so many hours earlier (which was exactly what I did - with lots of ice too!). 

I loved this run and hope to have the opportunity to do it again someday.  Next time though?  I'm definitely picking a day with cooler temps! 

Time on the Feet

I won an advanced reader copy of the newest book by Dean Karnazes (scheduled to be released in October) on Goodreads.  The book is about ultramarathoning, and it details the events leading up to the first marathon in ancient Greece.  In reading this book, I had a moment where I completely lost my sense of rational, became weak, and impulsively registered for a 24 hour race.  As in you race for 24 hours to see how far you can go.  24. Hours.

I've never done anything like this before, and can't even begin to be prepared for this sort of undertaking.  The good news is that it isn't too far from home, so I can always just turn in for the night if I can't continue.  In the meantime, I'm trying to run and walk as much as I can.  I'm trying to get used to time on my feet.

I'm doing my usual morning runs, and then am trying to get back out in the evenings for an additional walk or a hike.  The other night I suggested that Pierce come with me.  I told him we could hike over the mountain to a local highway and back.  Pierce did not think such a thing could be possible!  We often drive it, but even driving it is treacherous at times, and it's a long way to go over the mountain and back again.  But he agreed to give it a try.

It was hot, even starting out in the evening, and there were a lot of bugs.  At one point, we heard something big snuffling off in the woods and thought it might be a bear.  Because it is so steep, the four mile trip took us about 90 minutes.  And we even ran about 1/2 mile of it.  Pierce had a blast!  So did I.  It was nice to just catch up with him about school, and enjoy nature.  We only saw one car the whole time.

The next night, Pierce said, "Let's go hike again!"  He wanted to do the same route again.  And the following night?  Again!  I've created a monster! 

Not really though.  I'm glad that he's loving taking these hikes so much.  As long as he wants to go for hikes in the evening, I'm sure Paul or I will indulge him.  Training for a 24 hour race sure is a lot more fun when you have a little friend making sure you get out for your workouts. 

Running Recap 2015

Yes, I'm still running frequently.  I just don't blog about it much lately.  This year I ran more than I have ever run before.  I got a little obsessed for a while.  Then a hamstring/glute issue let me know I needed to back off towards the end of the year.  Which I did. 

I ran 5 races this year, because friends talked me into it..  Four of the races were local, but one was at the beach.  I placed in the races, and even won one of them (they were very small races though).  I entered the local ones into a regional race series, and placed in that, too.  I still don't like racing much though.  It stresses me out.

You know what I do like?  Just running.  Me and my dog.  Even though sometimes he does sneaky things like poop in the middle of my running path.  Guess what?  Dog poop sure blends in well with the leaves this time of year. 

Running total for 2015 - 1800 miles

I don't know if I'll ever run that much again in a year.  It was several hundred miles more than my previous higher year, so I kind of doubt it.  But maybe I'll sneak into a couple of races in 2016. 

Readers, do you have any fitness or health goals for 2016?

A Fluke Run

Before now, I have been first female in only one race, way back in 2008.  It was a small 10K in Danville.  It was at 5:00 and very hot, but it poured rain during the race, which helped keep me cool.  I got a huge trophy.

I don't do a lot of trail races.  But the Great Country 5 Miler is at a local park that I enjoy, so I figured I'd give it a shot.  It was hot and humid the day of the race.

The race was very hilly.  I think the first hill was over half a mile long.  There was another wicked hill towards the end of the race.  And lots of little hills interspersed.

I never thought I'd win.  A female passed me and took the lead a mile in.  She seemed strong and I couldn't seem to catch her.  It wasn't until the last mile when she seemed to slow down just a tad, that I got the opportunity to pass her again.  I was so tired at that point that I figured she would just pass me again before it was all over.  I am not accustomed to winning.  This was a VERY small race.  The previous year, had I run it, I would not have been first.  With the heat and the hills, my time was slow.  I got lucky.

I won the above pictured light box.  It says first female on the other side.  You fill it with Christmas lights.  I've also seen them filled with tissue paper.  It was fun to win something different than a trophy.  I also got a watermelon door prize. 

Two weeks after this, I ran a 5K at the beach on the 4th.  I ran poorly and was disappointed with my time.  But I knew it was a good speed workout, so no regrets in running that day. 

That's the thing about racing.  You just never know what will happen.  Maybe that's what keeps so many going back for more.

Happier Hips and IT band

A couple of months ago, Runners World had an article with a hip strengthening program that goes through four phases, over the course of sixteen weeks.  It mentioned that something like 80% of people are pain free after the first 6 weeks.  And it also said that it specifically helps IT band syndrome.  Which you might know, if you are a long time reader of my blog, that I have struggled with for years. 

I started the program.  Indeed, by the six week point, I was able to stop using my foam roller on my IT band after runs.  I didn't miss it a bit.

Then one day I saw muscles in my legs that had never been there before.

I felt stronger.  Faster.

I'm now in Phase 3, and I haven't missed a single day.  Each phase is tough the first week - in Phase 2 I had sore hamstrings for days.  In Phase 3 I've had sore glutes.  But by the end of each phase, I am no longer wobbly on the exercises - I have a new strength.

In March I ran 162 miles.  I haven't seen mileage that high since 2008.  And I had no complications from it. 

I might....just might....even consider running a race again.  It's been 2 1/2 years.  Do you think I've forgotten how?

Runners World says this program is also very helpful for knee problems and plantar faschitis.  .  Even if you are not a runner, you might think about looking into it if you have aches and pains in your legs and feet.  I've had such great results that I wanted to share with my readers, in case you are looking for something like this too!

Serendipity

All winter long, in the most horrendous of cold and windy and damp weather, I could count on one thing.  I knew that the older guy in the black running suit with the white baseball cap would always be out battling the elements too.  We always waved and smiled, going in opposite directions.  I felt a silent camaraderie with him - knowing that he was so passionate about his running that it didn't keep him from looping the park in a pleasant jog when the wind chill was in the teens. 

And then, a couple of weeks ago, it seemed we were going the same direction.  I saw him up ahead, and thought that perhaps rather than passing I'd slow to his pace and introduce myself.  I'm not one to do this - it takes me a long while to warm up to someone - but it seemed almost as though we knew each other, as we had both been in the trenches of some nasty weather running over the previous months.  He appeared well into his retirement years, and I admired his fortitude.

And so, instead of passing, I jogged alongside and we started talking.  He was really quite friendly.  He, too, had been happy to see I was the other runner out, the one pushing through the bad conditions.  A misery loves company sort of ideal.  And, on this day, it was a beautiful and sunny 60* and we had the most fun chatting.  It turned out that we had a lot in common.  Before his retirement years, he was a social worker, and had his masters in the subject and spent his career at the V.A. hospital helping others.  We talked about the rewards and frustrations of such a job.  We talked about how the zen of running over the years helps you learn to cope with the stresses.  I learned that he qualified for Boston in his youth and ran it successfully.  He's been running such a long time that he is now in a place where he's happy to just run for enjoyment, and doesn't worry so much about speed or racing anymore.

And then somehow our topic turned to fossils and arrowheads and he began talking about finding fossils in a creek bed in Texas, when he was stationed in Ft. Hood during a stint with the military.  And I mentioned in passing that I had gone to college in Texas.  He asked where and I told him Baylor.  And do you know what?  He went to Baylor too!  In all my years in Roanoke, I have not met another Baylor alum.  I've seen his car a couple of times (he has a Baylor sticker) - and always wondered.  We were delighted - I think both of us had to restrain from yelling Sic 'Em Bears right there.  We talked about some of the sociology classes there (I took a few, mixed in with my psychology background).  He attended before my time, but was part of the yell leaders for the football team, and played some basketball too.  We talked about how bad their football team used to be.  And - just like that - I knew I had a new running friend, when I least expected it.  Serendipity.

Disappointment

I spent the past couple of months training for the Virginia Creeper marathon.  I ran quite a few long runs in dreadful wintry conditions.  The day before the marathon, I packed my bag.  I had tapered, and I was ready.

I planned to wake up at 4:00 am and do the drive to Abingdon, about 2 1/2 hours from us.  Around dinnertime, I pulled up the weather for Abingdon the next day, to make sure I had the appropriate layers.

The weather that night?  Ice pellets for us, snow for Abingdon.  100% with 1 - 3 inches of accumulation, and high winds.  I thought about trying to drive so early in the morning on roads that hadn't been plowed yet.  I decided not to go.

This is the first time I've skipped a race due to weather.  Usually I just dress appropriately for the conditions.  I could've run fine in the snow - it was the drive that concerned me.  After all that training, I was so terribly disappointed. 

Readers, have you had any big disappointments lately?

February 2014 Running Recap

Sick boys and 20 inches of snow were not kind to my running this month.  I fought through it all, but did have to do a rather gnarly 14 mile treadmill run one day.  Not my idea of fun, but easier, perhaps, than trying to run 14 miles in twenty inches of snow.  The following week, I chose to brave the conditions and do a 16 miler outside in pouring rain and wind gusts.  It was a long, slow run.  Also not my idea of fun.  But I was glad to be able to run it.

Needless to say, my treadmill broke the 1,000 mile mark this month.  I was happy to have the treadmill option, even if I am tired of running indoors.  Paul was kind enough to get me an Ipod Nano for Valentines, and it helped to have some new music along the way.

Total mileage = 136.
I also had quite a few "unscheduled" snow shoveling workouts which lasted a couple of hours in duration.  Fun, fun, fun.

Hooray for March!

January Running Recap

Need I say that it has been a challenging month for running outside?  All these polar vortexes are messing with me!  One day it was 6* outside, and windy.  I had all the good layers on, and was totally comfortable except for my feet.  They hurt so badly from the wind blowing right into my shoes that I only made it 3 miles.  I need to find a better way to keep my feet warm when it's that cold. 

I ran on the treadmill a lot. Thank goodness it is fixed.  The treadmill is in the basement, and it has been rather cold even in the basement lately, because it is unheated.  Usually our basement stays between 60-70 degrees regardless, but with these polar vortexes our basement temperature dipped down to around 50 degrees.  I know this because of the thermometer that hangs right in front of my treadmill.  At least I stay cool while I run!

I had some issues with the top of my left foot having sharp pains this month, but I'm hopeful it will correct itself.  My shoes had high mileage, so I switched to new shoes and it seems to be getting a little better.

I ran 138 miles total in January.  I guess you could say I was running from the demons of January.  It would be nice if February had milder weather, but I'm not counting on it.

Unencumbered

On many of the afternoons that I pick up Pierce from school after he has Odyssey of the Mind, I see a lady running the country road I drive.  It's hilly, and curvy, with no extra room on the sides.  Not the sort of road that invites running.  But this lady....she's determined.  Perhaps even more determined than I. 

Why?  Well, she's German Baptist.  Which means she runs in traditional handsewn, fitted dresses.  A stiff net cap covers her hair, and is tied under the chin.  It seems like dreadful running gear.  Winds would creep under the dress, which might flap and chafe the legs.  Surely the tied cap under the chin can't be comfortable while trying to gasp for air.  If it were to drizzle, the dress wouldn't shed any water (or sweat) and probably proves to be mighty weighty.  Does she get sores, where it buttons snugly around the neck?

Google Image

 



Each time I see her, her focus and determination to run on this curvy hilly road in such a get-up fills me with admiration.  And I feel thankful for every stitch of running gear I own.

Francie likes to watch me running.  When I run alongside her pasture, she often trots beside me.

 

Readers, do you think you could run in traditional German Baptist clothing?

A Year Without Racing - 2013 Running Recap

This year marked my 10th year of consistent running, and the first year since I started that I didn't run a single race.  A couple of good things came out of this year, the first of which is that I ran all year without being injured.  Sure, there were a couple of times when one part or another was twingeing, but nothing developed from it. 

The other thing I realized is that I don't need racing to hold my motivation.  When I taught psychology classes, one of the concepts I covered was intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation.  People who are intrinsically motivated find their motivation deep inside themselves.  People who are extrinsically motivated find it from outside sources - in the case of running, this could be races, people commenting on Facebook statuses about their workouts, prize money, etc.  In examining my year-end mileage, I see that this year was one of my highest mileage running years (the highest was in 2007, the year after Pierce was born, when I ran 3 marathons).  I ran 1240 miles, with not a single race or running partner for motivation.  I run because my soul wants to, because it feels freeing and keeps me happy, and I don't need anything more than that.

I was surprised to realize this.  Here I thought that I needed racing.  That if I didn't race, my running would fall apart.  That hasn't happened.  I'm certainly slower because of not racing, but you know what?  I'm healthy, and injury-free.  And that's a good thing.

That said, I'm going to try to race again in 2014.  Not a lot.  Maybe just one or two. I do have a race in mind.  I'll see how it goes.  It's low-pressure race, which I'll do for fun, if I feel like I can run it without injury.  Mostly, I'm just looking forward to many more zen miles this year.

How about you readers?  Are you still discovering things about yourself that are surprising?  I hope 2014 is a great year for all of you!

First I Will Lose My Mind. Then I'll Get Fat.

Oh dear, trouble in running paradise.  I burned rubber on my treadmill last week, and not because I was running too fast.  The problem had likely been going on for a while, but I just hadn't noticed.  I use my treadmill almost every day lately, super early in the morning before everyone is up for the day.  We've been so busy that it's often the only option I have for fitting in runs.  But then, on my 919th mile I started to smell a burning rubber smell.  I didn't get off - I finished my mile first.  (And yes, treadmills gather dust even when you do use them all the time!).

So the problem is that the belt got pushed all the way to the left, and was cutting in to the plastic.  And I didn't know.  Okay, maybe there were some warning signs (like that rumbling it did from time to time).  But I didn't think much about it.  No telling how long this was going on, but it cut a groove into the plastic, which you can see below.

It also cracked the metal on the roller, and shredded the side of the belt. 

This is big trouble for me.  My treadmill is my lifeline.  If I can't use it this time of year, with the short days, I will likely only get in a couple of runs a week; when Paul is home during the day or during preschool hours, if I don't have to work during that time. 

Running is my outlet.  I can technically live without it, but of all the things I could sacrifice in my life, this is one thing I really can't imagine doing without.  I'd rather give up my cell phone, chocolate books, movies, and maybe even hot showers!  I don't blog about it that much, because there is more to me than just running, but it is such a HUGE part of what fills my life with happiness and health. 

I ordered a couple of parts and Paul is going to try to doctor up the treadmill when they arrive, since a service call on it would be $168.  Hopefully he can figure out how to replace the parts and get things moving again.

Until the fate of my treadmill is decided, you all might just want to stay away.  I'm going to be really grouchy (insert Grinch theme music here). 

Readers, do you have a modern device you just can't live without?

Running Recap for November 2013

Before I had kids, back when I worked full-time, you could find me on Monday and Wednesday evenings, at 5:30 sharp, running with a group of runners through the streets of Roanoke.  I ran with them on weekends too.  I made some great friends that way, and my running improved.  There's something wonderful about the companionship of a long run with friends.  Somehow, it just never worked out after I had the twins to meet up with the group.  The original group I ran with fizzled away - injuries, kids, and other factors broke us apart.  I miss it often.

These days, my running partner is primarily of the furry variety.  He has a tendency to get distracted by things like deer and basketballs.  Still, I'm thankful to have him by my side for the miles.  He never complains about the cold or the wind.  Or that I'm running too slow (although I bet he's thinking it sometimes). 

No, he's just happy to be by my side.  If he could talk, no doubt he'd be full of encouragement, just as my human running group always was.

I ran 106 miles in November, and lifted weights twice, and did a couple of sessions of yoga.  It was a tough month - the boys were sick frequently (seriously - croup, stomach flu, hand foot and mouth disease, and pneumonia!), and I couldn't get my runs in as much as I'd hoped.  But when I did, the running was good.  Hopefully everyone will be much healthier in December!

Running Recap October 2013

Below is a statue that I love, which is on the back part of the greenway, on a loop I run from time to time.  Sometimes, running makes me feel just like this statue.

I backed off some on the running this month.  More than I had planned to.  It's been hard - time constraints, shorter days, an illness, and a hard time finding continued motivation for the treadmill early in the mornings on days I don't have time to run outside.  Still, I ran 108 miles this month.  I also did weights a couple of times. 

Readers, what has you lifting your arms up in joy lately?

Running Grandin and the Coolest Trash Cans Ever, plus, September Mileage Recap

I thought this month instead of doing my usual fitness update, I'd take you along on one of my favorite runs.  When you see all the interesting finds along the way, no doubt you'll recognize one of the reasons I love to run so much.  This is a six mile route, called simply "Grandin" and it starts along the greenway next to the Roanoke River.

 After a mile and a half on the greenway, you pop out on Main Street.  Where cool trash can #1 is found.  It's a solar trash can, with a compactor in it.  And when it gets full?  It just emails Waste Management so they know to come empty it.  I love the historic picture of Howbert Cabin on the outside. 

 Up a hill on Main Street, and then a right turn onto Sherwood.  There is a cactus garden I love there, but it was too weedy this time of year for pictures.  I did, however, catch a picture of the door in the tree.  It's in front of an Elementary school, and I always wonder as I pass if Atticus Finch put it there. 

A few hills later, and we come to my favorite part of the run - Grandin Ave.  Lots of historic buildings, this area is my old stomping ground.  My parents lived here for a few years when I was in middle school, and I loved to ride my bike down to the historic Grandin Theatre (which back then was a dollar theatre).  It's since been restored, but back then I loved the shabby Victorian style bathroom parlor on the second floor. 

Next up is a cute little firehouse and firedog.  One day, the firedog had an unfortunate accident, and his head fell off.  Happily, he is no longer the headless firedog. 

Then we come to cross Memorial Bridge.  According to the sign, it's been there since around 1917. 

On the other side of the bridge is Black Dog Salvage.  They have some neat (albeit out of my budget) things if you ever have a chance to wander through.  Apparently they are on some tv show, but since we don't have tv I have never seen it.

Alright, coolest trash can ever #2.  This one has the Fishburn Family on it, and sits on the corner of 13th Street.  I don't know how many of these trash cans there are in Roanoke, but if there are more I'd love to see them.

The picture to the bottom left used to be an apartment complex, but it burned down, and it seems they are building community gardens in their place.  The middle picture is a rose garden, and the last picture is an interesting marker that sits right in the middle of the sidewalk along Ferdinand. 

Finally, back across the bridge, headed down to the greenway again.  You can see in the bottom right the part of the greenway that was covered in the beginning of the run.

Past the skate park (which is nestled under the bridge) and over the Roanoke River again.  When the river is stocked, this bridge is covered with fishermen.  You can see, in the distance, the hospital - so if I ever run too hard I know where to go (ha ha). 

See why I love running?  Maybe next time I'll take you all on the downtown loop.  It's always fun too.  As for my monthly summary - I ran 140 miles in September.  I'll be cutting back next month to rest my legs a bit.