Gobble, Gobble...Wobble, Wobble...and Run

I have been feeling really run down lately. I can't decided if I'm coming down with an illness or am completely over tired and in need of extensive rest. I came back from a lovely conference and running adventures in Arizona, refreshed from a very relaxing Swedish massage, only to find that my legs feel like lead.

I did a 5 mile turkey trot last week, only a few days post-return, and although it was a PR, I wasn't happy with my performance. The calculators and my other race times suggest that I should be able to run faster. I did the 5 miles in 32:30, which is a 6:30 pace. But I ran 4 miles over the summer at the end of a tri at a 6:14 pace. I went out close to my goal pace during the trot, despite some hefty hills, but then started to slow after mile 3 as my legs ran out of gas. My hips were burning and my quads were lifeless. I can usually sprint hard to the finish, but not on this day. My legs were dead. Don't get me wrong, I'm still proud of my improvement, but I just can't seem to race my potential in short distances, and feel a bit frustrated. I don't know if it's not warming up completely (it takes me a while, especially in the cold) or residual fatigue.

Well I have another shot this weekend. So I have been focusing on rest, taking naps and trying to go to bed early. As well as trying to run slower (I realized I was running all my runs a bit too fast post-marathon). I have also focused on caring for my muscles, taking epsom salt soaks, stretching, rolling, and massaging out the kinks. In fact I got the most painful massage today. Really, I thought I was going to die. Unfortunately, my back was so knotted, my legs didn't get as full a treatment as they needed. I find massages in the states to be lacking in the leg department. If only I could find a place as good as the blind masseurs of Thailand. No one can beat 2 hours of torture for $20, with an ending of complete relaxation. I left today with a burning back and grimace on my face. I suppose I will give up on massages.

I am also focusing on my diet, which has been horrible lately. So after the best Thanksgiving meal I have had in my life...no really, it was the best! My husband and I were invited to the home of one of my nursing school professors, who happens to be the sister of a dear running friend. Besides great company, who can resist a menu of creamed mushrooms and brussels sprouts, caramelized onions and string beans, apple salad, roasted root vegetables, mashed potatoes, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, and of course turkey...all after loads of brie and fig jam and followed by apple pie. Just thinking about it makes me excited for next year!

Anyways, as you can see I had a smorgasbord and now it's time to get back on track. I'm skipping the Paleo diet this time around though, because I really missed and felt deprived without dairy (yogurt/cheese) and peanut butter. So I am going back to my low-carb regimen of eliminating grains, potatoes, and anything with a high glycemic index. I know it's counter intuitive. I run for endurance, so I must need carbs, but eating this way teaches my body to burn fat instead of carbs for fuel, which allows me to sustain a constant energy level for a longer period of time than relying on carbs alone. I am hoping that eating this way will allow my body to feel better, perform better, and lose those extra pounds I gained over the last few months. I want to lose the weight and run faster, but most of all, I want to feel better! I think eating a crappy diet has had a huge impact in my recovery and fatigue. So good-bye sweets, good-bye chocolate, and good-bye french fries.

Finally, after this weekend's race I'm planning to take some extra recovery time. I thought I had taken a few weeks off after my marathon, but after some prodding from a running mate, realized I only took 10 days. I think my body needs a bit more recovery to prepare for Boston training. Besides it will be just in time for a marathon of studying for finals. Hoping some more rest will ease the fatigue and allow me to be fresh come January when my training will ramp up again.

Mountain Lions, Scorpions, and Rattle Snakes...Oh My!

I had the privilege of going to Tucson last week for 5 days...all expenses paid at a swanky resort. Yeah, I had to work, but I also had the opportunity to have lots of fun...

The first day was filled with travel, lectures, mingling, eating...and relaxing in the hot tub. Day two we (my colleague, Rebecca, and I) opted to skip a drug rep lunch for a more enticing adventure...a hike/run in Sabino Canyon. She wanted to walk/run, while I had plans to run/run, so on arrival we inquired on the best trail to take. We were immediately advised that we shouldn't run alone or with headphones as there have been more mountain lion sightings this year. "Oh hell no!" As someone who watches too many episodes of "I'm Alive" and "I Survived", I am horribly afraid of running into a mountain lion. I think I am more afraid of mountain lions than bear. I mean, it's jut a bit creepy...mountain lions stalk you and wait for the perfect time to attack, and you will never know they are there... And, although I was advised by a friend that I should be more worried about the rattle snakes and scorpions, I felt it was easier to tackle and avoid these little beasts compared to a giant ferocious cat. So, while Rebecca chose to adventure more slowly on a less traveled trail, I opted for the more populous tram road.

I started out very cautiously, eyes and ears attune, afraid of what hid in the bushes. I even stopped one time after hearing a rustling that was...just birds...heart pounding through my chest. But shortly enough the joy of the run took over...passing other tourists and racing the tram...rolling hills that gradually got tougher and tougher to climb as I approached the peak. At the top, I rested briefly to enjoy the view and then flew back down. The climb up was tough, but the reward of flying down was fabulous! I stopped at the trailhead Rebecca took, but was advised by another runner that if I was afraid of mountain lions, I shouldn't take that trail. That was all I needed to hear to keep me away, so I called Rebecca and told her I would run to the starting area and come back to meet her at the trailhead. I ended up doing that a couple of times as I was having so much fun running and didn't want to stop. At one point, I was asked by an older man, "Are you done yet?" as I passed him for the umpteenth time. I simply smiled and replied "Nope!", and off I went. When I finally decided to stop, I had completed the most enjoyable ten mile run I think I have ever had...if only I had the time to keep going! But alas, it was back to schmoozing and networking with conference goers.

Day three was packed with activity. It was the day of my presentation, so my nerves were shot. I had planned an early evening run to relax before the end of the day. My presentation went well, the lectures were stimulating, but I was tired. Rebecca and I decided to take a short nap prior to heading out for another adventure. After resting a bit, we headed out, with map in hand. The nice thing about the resort was Runner's World created a 3.3 and 5.5 mile route for runners, all documented on a handheld map. The bad part was that it was initially confusing to follow, which wasted precious time. We ended up running on a pseudo dirt trail next to the main road, followed by smaller residential roads. I started out at my usual pace and gradually got slower as I ascended a steady one mile climb. The funny part was I didn't realize at first that I was climbing because it was such a gentle slope. I had wanted to run seven or so miles, but by the time I completed two, the sun was setting. So I turned around, to fly down the hill and head home, faster and faster, trying to beat the oncoming darkness. Then into the hot tub with a little sangria. Fabulous ending to the day!

I was determined to run farther on day four since my measly four mile run on day three seemed like nothing. So I opted to skip the morning activities and headed out with the same helpful map, this time understanding the route. In order to add some mileage, I crested the mile hill a couple of times, being rewarded doubly with the amazing view and the flying run back down. I ran around the residential streets in solitude, as there were very few people out. Again I felt free and light hearted as I had a few days before in Sabino Canyon. I didn't want to stop, but knew I had to get back to the conference. I tried to take in all I could from this final run in Tucson.

On our final day of the trip, we got up early and relaxed at The Red Door Spa with a lovely massage. What a nice way to prepare for the long journey home.

I will leave you with a little advise in case you should ever run into a mountain lion...

Running Home...my niece, dirt roads, and covered bridges

Hurricane Sandy prevented me from getting home as soon as I wanted. You see my niece was born the morning of the storm...breach and via c-section. Luckily, I was able to get away this weekend, only 10 days later, to meet her and congratulate my amazing little sister. I am do proud of her!

World's next speedster!

You would think given her choice of entry into this world, my niece would be a terror. But she is the sweetest, calmest baby...nothing like her mother, who was a wild child. I am not one to really enjoy babies, but I couldn't get enough of her. I spent my days cuddling with her, preparing her new home, and of course running. I can't wait until she can run herself!

My sister has been living at home and was about to sign a lease for her new apartment when she went into labor. And of course after surgery she has not been allowed to do any lifting...or much of anything. So after my daily runs, I helped her to clean the new place...scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees, cleaning the cabinets while climbing the counters, and shampooing the carpet. Then we started moving what was packed and setting up her kitchen, bathroom, and part of the baby's room. She still has some work to do...wish I could have stayed to help finish up...but at least we got a good chunk done. And I am pooped...that was more tiring than my running!

And now for the running part...Every morning I would get up and head out for a run on my favorite dirt road. The weather was beautiful. The cow manure was fresh (yeah, I'm the weird one that enjoys the smell). I ran hard and pushed myself with hilly runs, hill repeats, and short sprints. I have been feeling lethargic since my marathon, so it was nice to get some speed in and not feel too spent afterwards. On my second day home I decided to go for a longer run towards where my favorite covered bridge once stood, destroyed by hurricane Irene only a year ago. To my surprise, it was being resurrected. This little piece of history was important enough to the community to have it replaced. In the wake of Sandy devastating many communities in New York and New Jersey, it was a relief to see how much progress could be made in only a year. Soon enough their little pieces of history will also be restored.

Pre Hurricane Irene

Post collapse caused 

Resurrection

Sorry...I couldn't resist another pic of her cuteness!

Sandy's Marathon of Destruction...NYC's Marathon of Hope

This week has been one of mixed emotions, confusion, and shame. Hurricane Sandy came through the beautiful city of New York, and not only demolished entire communities, displacing thousands of residents, but created a divide through much of the city. At a time when people should have come together for the better good, prevailed against the hardship, they instead attacked the runners. Why? Because the NYC marathon was scheduled to run less than a week after the storm. Despite the catastrophe the New York Road Runners (NYRR) president and NYC mayor decided that the marathon would be good to boost the moral of the city. This became the hot topic. A divide between people who agreed the marathon should go on and those who argued against it.

I found myself feeling guilty that I thought it should be run. Not only because of what the marathon means to so many people, but because I truly believed that it would bring positive attention and uplifting energy to those in need. However, I don't think it was handled well. And because of this, people against the marathon verbally attacked the runners. We were labeled as selfish and arrogant. Words that I never associate with my running community. Because running is more than just a fulfilling physical activity, it's about being a part of a loving community, a team of people who are there to support you.

Victims of this terrible storm tried to take that away. I admit, that once I realized the extent of the devastation, I thought maybe the route should be changed, but continued to believe we could bring about a positive experience for the entire community. We could band together and support the communities in dire need, just as we do our running families.

There was extensive new articles, blogs, Facebook comments, and Twitter feeds, but the following quote from Long Run Pain: A Staten Islander's View on Why the Marathon Should Not Have Been Cancelled resonates the most with me:

"That the marathon became the focal point of worst natural disaster in New York City history is a disgrace. As a native Staten Islander and as a runner, I couldn’t be more appalled (and I wasn’t scheduled to run Sunday’s race).

Of course, this was never really about the marathon. It was about anger. We had just been devastated by a terrible tragedy. We were upset. We needed someone to blame.

To see ourselves as the victims of a randomly cruel universe didn’t offer much comfort. Existentialism is unsettling...

I’m not concerned about the runners. They’re disappointed, but they’ll adjust their training and find other races to run. Dealing with adversity is what we do.

No, I’m worried about the rest of New York. Our propensity to point fingers, our inclination towards anger, our tendency to be destructive rather than constructive.

I’ve seen how the marathon can represent New York at its best and I’m saddened to see how it’s become a symbol of New York at its worst."

~Mike Cassidy, an Olympic Trials qualifier, is a native of Staten Island with a marathon best of 2:18:52. He was 22nd overall and the sixth American at the 2010 ING NYC Marathon in 2:24:05.

In the end, the marathon was canceled, but that didn't stop the thousand of runners who had trained for months from running. Almost immediately groups were assembled to run through Statin Island with full backpacks in stow and deliver much needed supplies...the Marathon of Relief. An activity, I wanted so dearly to participate in, but couldn't get there due to transportation issues...and still feel guilty about. At last count, I believe a thousand runners disembarked for this destroyed Island, putting aside all the negative comments made about them in order to help.

Another massive group of runners decided to Run the Marathon Anyway. They were not running for themselves, but for the charity they had raised thousands of dollars for, or in the memory of loved ones with a devastating illness. They were determined to see the end of there journey for a cause, to see the fruition of there blood, sweat, and tears. But, they too banded together to collect massive amounts of donations, items highly needed by Sandy victims. And these are just the large organized events. Local running clubs, such as my own, the Vancourtland Track Club, packed a few car loads of supplies for donation.

You see, all this was done by so called selfish runners. But we are not selfish at all! And I will no longer feel ashamed for being a marathoner in the wake of the storm. I will stand tall and run proudly.